Cardinals Celebrate the First Day of Spring at the Stone House

Posted on March 25, 2013 by artsifrtsy

Spring in the Ozarks – redbuds, dogwoods, bluebirds, snow…SNOW? You heard me right, snow.

Tonight we are under a freeze warning for the 3rd night in a row. I am heating the cellar to keep the pipes from bursting, I am wearing long-johns, I am stoking a fire – yeah, feels like Spring.

My driveway on the first day of Spring.

I suppose this view beats the bare trees, if it was warmer I would be out shooting macro shots of snowflakes on my daffodils. Before we get a mob together to take out that lying groundhog – there is an upside. My snobby cardinals come out in droves in the snow. They must know that the contrast makes them look amazing.

There’s nothing more classic that a shot of a cardinal in a tree in the snow – makes me feel like Christmas, well, maybe next Christmas…

Ignoring me in a tree…

Puffed and posing in the branches…

Ignoring me behind a bird house…

Avoiding my glance in the crepe myrtle…

Of course, they can ignore me all day out there on the limb – but when the snow stops for a minute, they feed like there’s no tomorrow.

Stomping in the snow, looking for seed…

Digging through the ice for his next meal…

Doing his best impression of an Angry Bird…

Out on a ledge feasting on cracked corn…Is it just me, or does he look inflated?

Once the snow starts again, it’s time to take cover and wait for that next meal…

No superstition here, he’s taking refuge under a ladder.

Spring is supposed to return sometime around Wednesday. I’ll probably keep putting out that expensive songbird food they like so much. They will likely continue to ignore me. Ungrateful snobs, beautiful ungrateful snobs. I love them.

49 thoughts on “Cardinals Celebrate the First Day of Spring at the Stone House”

Carol Ann Larade on March 29, 2013 at 10:10 pm said:

Beautiful contrast with the white and red. Lovely eye candy!

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- artsifrtsy on March 30, 2013 at 12:04 pm said:
  
  Thanks! Eye candy, and they know it 🙂
  
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victoriaaphotography on March 26, 2013 at 5:25 am said:

Those red cardinals look gorgeous against the white snow and I’m loving your images of them.
Yep, he does look a little fatter (or pot-bellied). Probably ate too much.

Nice to see some more snow – send it over to me (if you don’t like it) – today, we went back to hot humid summer heat (and worse tomorrow).

I wish the seasons would get themselves all sorted out around the world.

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- artsifrtsy on March 26, 2013 at 8:32 am said:
  
  Thanks Vicki, they seem to puff up when the wind blows.
  
  My 99-year-old neighbor told me that she thinks the seasons are just a month off 🙂 We didn’t get a lot of snow, but it was very cold and windy until this morning. It’s only 24 degrees but with no wind it’s fine. I’m not ready for summer, but some sunlight would be nice.
  
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harulawordsthatserve on March 26, 2013 at 1:36 am said:

I love your gentle sense of humour and indeed, these birds look stunning contrasted against the snow. Beautiful post.

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- artsifrtsy on March 26, 2013 at 8:26 am said:
  
  Thanks so much – I put up these feeders with visions of photos of cardinals feasting and posing for me, the cardinals had other ideas…
  
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artblablablablog on March 25, 2013 at 9:04 pm said:

I share your attitude on snow but these are beautiful and I think he is posing, do you think he knows he does not blend in with the environment?

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- artsifrtsy on March 25, 2013 at 9:23 pm said:
  
  I’m certain that he knows he stands out.
  
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  - artblablablablog on March 25, 2013 at 9:24 pm said:
    
    😉 me too!
    
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    - artsifrtsy on March 25, 2013 at 9:28 pm said:
      
      I swear he’s been checking out his own reflection in the birdbath…
      
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      - artblablablablog on March 25, 2013 at 9:30 pm said:
        
        too funny!
      - artsifrtsy on March 25, 2013 at 9:36 pm said:
        
        🙂
dianasschwenk on March 25, 2013 at 7:57 pm said:

They do look absolutely gorgeous in a winter wonderland! Great photos – very pretty little snobs. 🙂

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- artsifrtsy on March 25, 2013 at 8:12 pm said:
  
  Yes they are pretty – and they know it 🙂
  
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  - dianasschwenk on March 25, 2013 at 8:16 pm said:
    
    that shows through!
    
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    - artsifrtsy on March 25, 2013 at 8:20 pm said:
      
      🙂
      
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lisaelskerarvid on March 25, 2013 at 12:28 pm said:

😃Flotte bilder

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- artsifrtsy on March 25, 2013 at 1:15 pm said:
  
  Thank you!
  
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  - lisaelskerarvid on March 25, 2013 at 1:16 pm said:
    
    Bare hyggelig vakre dame😃
    
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    - artsifrtsy on March 25, 2013 at 1:18 pm said:
      
      Takk så mye 🙂
      
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lylekrahn on March 25, 2013 at 11:53 am said:

Sounds like you’re warming up to the whole idea of snow.

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- artsifrtsy on March 25, 2013 at 12:08 pm said:
  
  I like my snow short and sweet. I don’t even mind being snowed in for a couple of days – but then I want it gone. I lived in the Cascades for about a decade and had those winters with over 150 inches of snow – it looks pretty and sledding’s a blast, but you got tired of it by Christmas.
  
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  - lylekrahn on March 25, 2013 at 12:17 pm said:
    
    That’s a lot of snow!
    
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    - artsifrtsy on March 25, 2013 at 1:15 pm said:
      
      Yeah – one winter my dogs were able to walk over the top of my 5 foot fence. I remember sledding off a roof. I don’t miss shoveling a bit.
      
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georgefloreswrite on March 25, 2013 at 11:11 am said:

Such cuties! He does look puffed up.

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- artsifrtsy on March 25, 2013 at 12:06 pm said:
  
  He’s got on a down coat
  
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Elyse on March 25, 2013 at 11:02 am said:

When did you come to my house? Cuz that’s just what it looked like.

And if you got a bunch of “unlikes” that was my fingers not my heart pressing the wrong damn keys! I LIKE this!

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- artsifrtsy on March 25, 2013 at 12:05 pm said:
  
  LOL – I’ve been too crazy to notice any “unlikes” – but that happens to me sometimes too! My house is a bit further south that yours so it rarely looks like this in late March.
  
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russtowne on March 25, 2013 at 10:21 am said:

I love them too. Thank you, Lorri!
Russ

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- artsifrtsy on March 25, 2013 at 12:04 pm said:
  
  Thank you, Russ!
  
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bulldog on March 25, 2013 at 10:09 am said:

I do enjoy the fotos of this little red fellow stands out so well in the white…

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- artsifrtsy on March 25, 2013 at 12:04 pm said:
  
  Thanks Bulldog – they do really show off in the snow.
  
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Brigitte on March 25, 2013 at 10:03 am said:

Wow, Lorri — just beautiful. My favorite was the puffed and posing one. Your driveway is beautiful!

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- artsifrtsy on March 25, 2013 at 12:03 pm said:
  
  Thanks Brigette – the driveway is like a tunnel to my secret meadow – as long as a football field and curves so you can’t see in. I like how they just puff up when they are cold – that could come in handy.
  
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Soul Walker on March 25, 2013 at 9:53 am said:

I love pictures of birds. Great shots. They do seem pretty good at ignoring you. Maybe one of the neighborhood cats is teaching classes.

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- artsifrtsy on March 25, 2013 at 12:01 pm said:
  
  Hah – yes, they do remind me of cats with that attitude.
  
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Honie Briggs on March 25, 2013 at 9:45 am said:

Old man winter makes once last ditch effort! Snobby cards don’t care. This made me smile. Big!

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- artsifrtsy on March 25, 2013 at 9:53 am said:
  
  Glad you got a smile from it – This weather did give me that one shot at getting a cardinal in the snow shot. Sadly it was pretty dark and they are not as sharp as I like, but when you’re dealing with personalities like this you take what you can get. I’m sure they think I’m the paparazzi.
  
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  - Honie Briggs on March 25, 2013 at 9:54 am said:
    
    Personality plus! Posers 😀
    
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    - artsifrtsy on March 25, 2013 at 12:01 pm said:
      
      🙂
      
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northerndesert on March 25, 2013 at 9:42 am said:

Nothing prettier than a red cardinal in the snow. Great shots.

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- artsifrtsy on March 25, 2013 at 9:51 am said:
  
  Thanks – I struggled with the darkness that day it was tough to get a shot in focus during the snow fall. They do look great in the snow and I’m certain that they know it 🙂
  
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The Course of Our Seasons on March 25, 2013 at 9:31 am said:

I’m telling you – the most cardinals ever in our yard. So beautiful and as long as the feed held out, they were there. Still running off hoards of grackles tho – boo hiss! Have a great week, Lorri – 60s by thurs – yea! K

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- artsifrtsy on March 25, 2013 at 9:50 am said:
  
  They were really fluttering in and out on Thursday when I took these shots. Still there heavily through the weekend with the cold. I am ready for some warmer weather and a long weekend.
  
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stuffitellmysister on March 25, 2013 at 9:26 am said:

Beautiful shots, Lorri! We barely got a dusting here…I was actually disappointed this time around. Good for you for feeding the beasts. They love you as well 😉

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- artsifrtsy on March 25, 2013 at 9:49 am said:
  
  Thanks, I’m not so sure they love me, they tolerate me as long as I keep the feed coming. Snobs.
  
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  - stuffitellmysister on March 25, 2013 at 10:03 am said:
    
    😉 Like a cat
    
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    - artsifrtsy on March 25, 2013 at 12:02 pm said:
      
      Yes – a great deal like a cat. I’m a dog person.
      
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      - stuffitellmysister on March 25, 2013 at 5:53 pm said:
        
        yep….me too