Coffee's Ready, Come and Sit on the Porch

[The Porch]

All ok, cold but ok
so that was the longest we have been without power here 13 hours. It was fine but I feel bad for folks with no wood stove.
The heave snow caused trees and limbs to go down, there were downed power lines in Jefferson County. So a lot of folks without power, in all of Western Wa.
I did get a few pics with the camera yesterday around 7:30am, it snowed all day. I did NOT go outside, except to swap out the humming bird feeder, it kept freezing. I put a coat hanger up by the feeder for him, he sat on it all day guarding the feeder. I had to put a second feeder out cuz he wouldn't let the female have any.

It is currently 14 out on the porch,, the wind is suppose to pick up. the road is a sheet of ice, all of the neighbors are walking from the bottom of the hill up to their home. DH said he was glad he left the car at the bottom. The road out to 101 is a sheet of ice also.
And it will be like this for the next week or more.

these are yesterday around 7:30am








I dont know how he survives,, he have been here all year, every year (maybe not the same one) for 9 years. this is the first year a female stayed.

 

[baymule]

A hummingbird in that kind of cold? Wow, he is tough. We had a hummingbird show up one October, starving, weak, could barely hang onto the perch. We watched her weaving from weakness, drinking often, the first day. The second day, the same, but she gradually gained strength and guarded her honey hole. LOL She stayed 3 weeks and was gone.

 

[The Porch]

A hummingbird in that kind of cold? Wow, he is tough. We had a hummingbird show up one October, starving, weak, could barely hang onto the perch. We watched her weaving from weakness, drinking often, the first day. The second day, the same, but she gradually gained strength and guarded her honey hole. LOL She stayed 3 weeks and was gone.

These are Anna's hummingbirds, we normally stay between 35 and 42 through to the end on Ja. and dont really get cold until late Jan. & Feb.



In late March through May the Rufous hummingbirds show up,


Every year starting in late Feb. I keep 4 feeders on the front porch for the males and 4 at the back living room window for all the girls and babies. Last year there were 10 Rufous babies and 8 Anna's.


I keep one of these hanging for them to build their nest with,

 

[Cecilia's-life]

Morning everyone! I’m down at the NICU this morning feeding the kiddos.

Today is a sad day at the NICU. One of the babies that was placed next to mine was born at 24 weeks. They were doing just fine from what I could tell, they were placed on comfort care this morning.

It isn’t my child but my heart breaks for the parents. I just couldn’t imagine. It is just so small.

Frankie had a good latch this morning. Val has a good latch but she does this weird thing with the tongue and breaks it. And freaks me out.

I wish we had snow here! This is the warmest winter I’ve ever had. Beautiful hummingbirds! I don’t really see those either.

 

[CLSranch]

I thought humming birds migrated and would be long gone by now. Around here they suggest that you quit feeding them and other birds just so they don't stay past their migration date. And once the others are in Mexico or where ever dump out some more for the long haulers. Although my old neighbor leaves hers out and they all come back the next year.

Odd fact. Humming birds hibernate every night even in tropical weather. Their metabolism is so high if they don't slow down their heart beat they will starve to death before morning.

 

[tortoise]

I did! Though it wasn’t much use, I did find out I have a sprinkle of Austrian in me! Like 2-3%

I want to do ancestry DNA too. I have a decent family tree. There are a couple short branches but we think we know what nationality they are. But hey, maybe there was infidelity and lies and it's not MY family tree? Amazing how often ancestry DNA uncovers those stories!

 

[Cecilia's-life]

I want to do ancestry DNA too. I have a decent family tree. There are a couple short branches but we think we know what nationality they are. But hey, maybe there was infidelity and lies and it's not MY family tree? Amazing how often ancestry DNA uncovers those stories!

I did 23 and Me, but I really want to do ancestry. It seems more thorough.

 

[tortoise]

I did 23 and Me, but I really want to do ancestry. It seems more thorough.

I did IntellxxDNA and found out I have really terrible DNA. As bad as can be without having a rare life-threatening genetic disease. Makes me wish I didn't have children. Yikes. Also makes me think that everyone should have DNA testing at birth so that parents can make informed parenting and wellness decisions. If my parents had known my melanoma risk they might have used sunscreen or common sense a little more? If they knew my increased diabetes risks they might not have served sugary snacks and desserts almost every day? I know it's unrealistic and a super complicated topic with ethics and what-ifs. I'm not interested in discussing those.

 

[The Porch]

Morning everyone! I’m down at the NICU this morning feeding the kiddos.

Today is a sad day at the NICU. One of the babies that was placed next to mine was born at 24 weeks. They were doing just fine from what I could tell, they were placed on comfort care this morning.

It isn’t my child but my heart breaks for the parents. I just couldn’t imagine. It is just so small.

Frankie had a good latch this morning. Val has a good latch but she does this weird thing with the tongue and breaks it. And freaks me out.

I wish we had snow here! This is the warmest winter I’ve ever had. Beautiful hummingbirds! I don’t really see those either.

So glad they are eating, have the pediatrician check Vals mouth inside, some babies get a , I think its called tie /tied lip, where the inside lip is tied to the gum and it prevents babies from nursing right

 

[tortoise]

So glad they are eating, have the pediatrician check Vals mouth inside, some babies get a , I think its called tie /tied lip, where the inside lip is tied to the gum and it prevents babies from nursing right

Excellent suggestion. It used to be routine for pediatricians to check for them. They don't anymore. DS6 had difficulty latching when he was little but even lactation consultant had no advice since he was gaining weight. I found out he has a lip tie... from his dentist... when he was 6 years old!

Here's excellent resource on ties, how to identify them, and what to do about them. https://kellymom.com/health/baby-health/bfhelp-tonguetie/