At the Feeders and in the Trees - Week 22

The Goldfinches are at the feeders daily and now, with the weather turning much colder, they are depending on the food.

I put out a large cake with meal worms this past week and was surprised to see the finches (photo on the upper right) eating it.

The meal worm cake is a medley mix so it could be there is something else in the mix they are attracted to. 

I always love seeing the Carolina Chickadee at my feeders. This past week on Rosyfinch Rambling's blog, I saw the Black-capped and the Mountain Chickadees pics that Kenneth posted. It's interesting to see the differences of the chickadees. 

I took this Carolina Chickadee at my daughter's house on Christmas Day. 

I did snap a quick pic of the chickadee taking off from the branch. It's not a great pic but I enjoy trying to capture them just as they depart.

The mourning dove usually walks around on the deck eating loose seeds.

The Downy Woodpecker is enjoying another large cake.

I need some help identifying this next bird. Not sure what bird he might be. He reminds me of a wren but his coloring is throwing me off. Hope someone can help me out. 

For Thankful Thursday, I am thankful for the time we spent with our grandsons over the Christmas holidays baking cookies, decorating gingerbread houses and making gift containers filled with cookies for friends and neighbors.

Thanks for stopping by - Judy.

Linking to: 

Talk of the Town @ Knick of Time on Tuesday
Outdoor Wednesday @ A Southern Daydreamer
Wild Bird Wednesday @ Paying Ready Attention Photo Gallery
Nature Notes @ Rambling Woods

Home and Garden Thursday @ A Delightsome Life
Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have A Cup of Mrs. Olson
Thankful Thursday @ It's a Small Town Life

Friday Photo Journal @ Serendipity is Sweet

Saturday's Critters @ Viewing Nature with Eileen on Saturdays
Camera Critters on Saturday
I'd Rather Be Birdin' on Saturday at noon

Do You Know This Cute Little Bird

Take a look at this first collage below and see if you can identify him but don't scroll scroll past the collage until you have a guess.  

Do you have a guess? Check out his tail, color and peak. Now you can scroll down and get a better look at him.

Here he is:

Now play along and please tell me who he is and if you got it correct.  

For Thankful Thursday: I am thankful to be a Christian and live in a free country. - Judy

Linking to:

Outdoor Wednesday @ A Southern Daydreamer
Wild Bird Wednesday @ Paying Ready Attention Photo Gallery
Nature Notes @ Rambling Woods

Home and Garden Thursday @ A Delightsome Life
Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have A Cup of Mrs. Olson
Thankful Thursday @ It's a Small Town Life

Friday Photo Journal @ Serendipity is Sweet

Saturday's Critters @ Viewing Nature with Eileen on Saturdays
Camera Critters on Saturday
I'd Rather Be Birdin' on Saturday at noon

Our Christmas Mantel and Hearth

Just a week from today Santa may be coming down our chimney. 

The mantel is dressed for his arrival with lanterns and red candles so he can see his way down the chimney. 

The hearth is shinning bright for Santa too. Two small twinkling trees sparkle on each side of the fireplace.

The tree on the left side is trimmed with Old World ornaments that haven't been out of the box in years. Bird girl is always on our hearth and for Christmas, she holds two red shiny balls. 

The tree is secured to the brick fireplace with fishing line and a brick clip. A clip was also used for hanging the wreath over the mantel. 

I used only the smallest of our Old World ornaments for this tree. Most date back to the 80's when we lived in Southeast Missouri. The tree topper is new. 

I added a few snowflakes to the tree. 

The tree on the right side of the fireplace is trimmed with mini Shiny Bright ornaments and garland by Christopher Radko.

Thanks for stopping in to see our Christmas mantel and hearth - Judy.

Linking to these fabulous parties:

Met Monday @ BNOTP

Amaze Me Monday @ Dwellings
Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life on Tuesday
The Scoop @ Stone Gable Blog
The Scoop @ Confessions of a Plate Addict
The Scoop @ Worthington Court
Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style on Tuesday evening
Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have A cup of Mrs. Olson on Wednesday evening
Share Your Style Link Party @21 Rosemary Lane on Wednesday evening
Home and Garden Thursday @ A Delightsome Life on Wednesday evening
Grace at Home @ The Charm of Home
Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch
Foodie Friday & Everything Else @ Rattlebridge Farm on Thursday
Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage
Sundays at Home @ My Soulful Home on Saturday
Table It Link Party @ Life and Linda
Inspiration Monday @ Our Southern Home
Dishing It and Digging It @ Rustic & Refined on Sundays

Christmas Table with Tartan and Santa

Goodness, I'm still in the hustle and bustle of getting ready for Christmas. My gifts are bought but not one is wrapped. Hope I'm not the only one still in full speed and heading toward the 25th.

Today, my Christmas tablescape is designed around a tartan plaid tablecloth that I recently purchased and a Fitz and Floyd Winter Holiday Santa.

This gorgeous Santa has so much detail. He is surround by foxes, rabbits, and polar bears. His bag is filled with lots of toys and a gingerbread house.  

This Santa is stunning whether used as a centerpiece for a tablescape or in the vignette seen below. 

Santa is standing tall as part of a centerpiece made of fruit, berries, greenery and tucked with plaid ribbon. 

Red candles and antique mercury glass taper holders surround the centerpiece with additional votive candles at the base.

Another tartan used for this table are the Lenox Holiday Tartan salad plates. 

This beautiful Christmas pattern features graceful plaid ribbon that winds through holly sprigs and clusters of fruit and nuts. 

Flatware for the table is Lenox Eternal Gold. 

Thanks for joining me for my Christmas Table with Tartan and Santa - Judy.

Linking to these great parties:

Met Monday @ BNOTP

Amaze Me Monday @ Dwellings
Talk of the Town @ Knick of Time on Tuesday
Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life on Tuesday
The Scoop @ Stone Gable Blog
The Scoop @ Confessions of a Plate Addict
The Scoop @ Worthington Court
Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style on Tuesday evening
Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have A cup of Mrs. Olson on Wednesday evening
Share Your Style Link Party @21 Rosemary Lane on Wednesday evening
Home and Garden Thursday @ A Delightsome Life on Wednesday evening
Grace at Home @ The Charm of Home
Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch
Foodie Friday & Everything Else @ Rattlebridge Farm on Thursday
Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage
Sundays at Home @ My Soulful Home on Saturday
Table It Link Party @ Life and Linda
Inspiration Monday @ Our Southern Home
Dishing It and Digging It @ Rustic & Refined on Sundays

Winter Holiday Santa Tablescape

I know everyone is so busy getting ready for Christmas. It will be here is just the blink of an eye. Today, I am sharing my Holiday Day Santa tablescape with you.

The place setting features my Fitz and Floyd Winter Holiday Santa Portrait salad plates. 

These pale green salad plates have Santa and his forest friends in the center. 

Fitz and Floyd Snowy Woods Collection pieces are also used on the table. This sweet white snow bunny is from the collection.

The deer candle holders are from the Fitz and Floyd Holiday Leaves collection. 

Thanks for joining me for my Winter Holiday Santa Tablescape - Judy.

Joining these fabulous parties:

Met Monday @ BNOTP

Amaze Me Monday @ Dwellings
Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life on Tuesday
The Scoop @ Stone Gable Blog
The Scoop @ Confessions of a Plate Addict
The Scoop @ Worthington Court
Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style on Tuesday evening
Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have A cup of Mrs. Olson on Wednesday evening
Share Your Style Link Party @21 Rosemary Lane on Wednesday evening
Home and Garden Thursday @ A Delightsome Life on Wednesday evening
Grace at Home @ The Charm of Home
Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch
Foodie Friday & Everything Else @ Rattlebridge Farm on Thursday
Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage
Sundays at Home @ My Soulful Home on Saturday
Table It Link Party @ Life and Linda
Inspiration Monday @ Our Southern Home
Dishing It and Digging It @ Rustic & Refined on Sundays