Spring arrived and everything was happening so quickly that I did not realize the trees would not bloom forever. I wish I could move after the blooming trees from South to North and spend more time looking at them...

Summer is almost here, and it is time to pick up and write about the harsh winter months :)

I had four bird feeders installed in my backyard, and the birds loved to come and eat, and occasionally posed for me while I was taking  photographs. They ate total of 160 pounds of seeds (4 bags with 40 pounds of seeds each). I had so much fun watching them and taking their portraits through the window. Squirrels have been coming to eat every day, and we had so many snowstorms this past winter, they needed help, too. I've also installed a special squirrel feeder, and they appreciated it very much.

Bird Feeder at the Shed

My Precious...

House Finch

Let's Talk!

Sparrow

White-throated Sparrow

Squirrel in a Bird Feeder during the Snowfall

Male Red Cardinal

Sharing the Feeder

Blue Jay in Snow

Female Red Cardinal

I'm Hungry!

Give me some food, please!

I will pose for you!

I'm so beautiful!

They don't hear me, will go and check those bird feeders...

Mourning Dove

 

Happy Couple: House Finches

Hawk on the Fence After the Iced Rain

What is this?

Looks like corn, my favorite!

Yummi!

Checking the feeder

Not an easy thing to do...

My house reflected in his eye...

Did you see the squirrel?

Link to the short video clip about the squirrel on youtube:

The first day of 2011 on Brigantine Island

Every year on January 1st my husband and I go somewhere. We have this belief that you will spend the year exactly like you spend the first day. If you sleep the whole day, you will sleep the entire year. If you go outside, travel, hike, do something - you will be active the entire year. Last year we went to the waterfalls at Delaware Watergap, and this year we decided to go to the ocean, especially because it was snowing so heavily last week. Brigantine Island was our place of choice because we like it so much. We did not know that the Polar Bear Club has a dip into the ocean the first day of the year, and we came a little bit late to be able to see the event and take close-ups of people in bathing suits. I was able to take some pictures and short video clips after the dip.

Blue Heron and Trump Taj Mahal Casino Hotel in the background

Dunes Grass

Panorama of Borgata, Water Club, Harrah's Resort and of the bridge linking Atlantic City to the Brigantine Island

 Snow on the beach and Harrah's Resort in the background.

Shells the size of the shoe

Big event of the New Year day - Polar Bear Club dip into the ocean. 

It was very cold, the snow can be seen on the right, but a lot of braves walked into the ocean 

to support the tradition. See the video below:

  

Four-wheeler leaving the beach after the event.

Jet ski ready to go to the water. This person came alone, and he spent quite a long time on the water. 

It was his way to celebrate the first day of the New Year. Atlantic City hotels can be seen behind him.