Monday Musings: Books, Birds and Birks
Happy Monday ladies. I’m not sure what difference it makes that it’s Monday but let’s start the week off on a happy note:) Our temperatures hit the 80’s over the weekend which seems ridiculously early to be so hot but I’m loving it because the sun is out. These are a few of the ramblings on my mind this week.
Dust Jackets
I’m really enjoying this book by Pulitzer-prize winning fashion journalist Robin Givhan. It’s a fascinating topic but the dust jacket isn’t holding up well. Trivial I know, but there it is. I like dust jackets because they give you a little synopsis of the book and you can fold them to the inside to keep your place. They’re designed to keep the book clean and it turns out, a book without its jacket, isn’t worth very much. Who knew? People have been known to take off their book jackets, file them neatly, then put back on when they loan the book to friends. Do you remove your dust jackets? Enquiring minds want to know:)
Hummingbirds
I’ve just bought a third hummingbird feeder and am still striking out. The previous owner left me this feeder which they wouldn’t drink from, so I bought these, which they also won’t go near. I make the recommended 1 to 4 sugar and water mixture, clean the feeder, and yet the hummingbirds want nothing to do with them. My friend Terry had a birdfeeder on her back porch that the birds swarmed. It looked so easy. I read that you should not put red food coloring in the water so I’m not. If I could get even one bird to sip from a feeder, I’d order this adorable glass one. Or this one so I could see them up close. Any suggestions?
Birkenstock’s
I don’t think of myself as a “hippie-type” person but I seem to be leaning that way. I use and wear mala (meditation) beads, I use and diffuse essential oils, I have healing crystals on my desk and bedside table, I eat organic food and now I’ve ordered my first pair of Birkenstocks. I’ve ordered these for the garden and around the house because they’re waterproof and have lots of support. I’ve never worn Birks before but many of you swear by their comfort so I’m anxious for mine to arrive. I may even wear them with the caftan I am obsessing over..more on that another day.
Be well and wear what makes you feel confident.
xx
Humming bird feeders are a real mystery. I have purchased the beautiful and fancy ones, mostly for myself it seem, as the birds like the simple ones best. I get the Walmart type, and find the ones with a perch are used most. Cleaning often is required and the fancy ones are difficult in most cases also. As for the books, I leave the covers on unless reading in the tub. I worked in a library when young, and had to make covers many times. Had not thought of that for decades. Books are in my blood and could not imagine a home without them. Enjoy your outdoor time and warm weather, ours is finally warming up a bit. Yay
This brings back memories. Every new school year we made covers for our text books out of brown paper bags:)
Our bird feeder is under a tree limb, half full, no red coloring, water on top to discourage ants, cleaned once a week, and has a rim to rest on while drinking. One bird has claimed the feeder as his territory, but the other keep trying. As to Birks, my feet sweat too much to use any plastic/ vinyl/ synthetic shoes, and I’m allergic to rubber, so I use my old exercise lace up shoes in the garden.
I have been reading your blog and look forward to it every day. Like anything you discuss.
At this time with the virus around you are a breath of fresh air
We have purchased the cool glass feeders before and the hummingbirds didn’t give them the time of day. We used our plain plastic red one with the yellow flowers. . . Once they found it we seemed to have a family of them drinking from it. We have some flowering plants in our yard so they didn’t need to search far. They certainly are interesting little birds.
That sandal has never been comfortable for me but a lot of people where them.
Have a great day.
Try a hummingbird feeder with a perch on it…that is what I have and I usually have about 50 to 60 birds. I live in a very isolated area….but I tried the feeders without the perch with little success so my brother bought me one with a perch….it was the thing. My yard always sounds like it has a helicopter in it with the hummers flying about! But, I love the little critters!
Hi Jennifer! I’ve had hummers for many years. Sounds like you are doing the right thing in terms of the nectar. I hang my feeders under the house eaves and close to a leafy tree. They like to sit on branches and survey their territory. They are very territorial! They supply endless hours of enjoyment. Be patient, they will come! I always take off book dust covers and store. No on the Birks for me. Hope they work for you.
I have been wearing Mephistos for decades – love them for the comfort, fit, and relief they give my very difficult feet. I can be on a concrete floor for 8 hours in them at my volunteer work. They are an engineered sandal or shoe made in France and while I find them expensive they have been invaluable to me. All the best with the Birks. Naots, made in Israel, are another well made possibility.
Good morning! I am taking note of all the great advice on proper placing and care of the hummingbird feeders. I have struggled to have much luck at all. I do have my orange slices out trying to attract the first orioles of the season. If they show up, I will switch out to grape jelly.
I love book covers and tend to leave them on. I grew up attending a “country school” and every fall we made book covers for our new books. (Yeah, I know this really dates me) lol! Maybe it just shows how powerful our childhood experiences impact our adult choices. Hmmm
I don’t own any birks. I throw on some flip flops for a quick trip to my garden but when I am out for any length of time, I put on a lace up canvas shoe. I really need that more secure fit when walking on uneven ground.
Hooray for the sunshine! 🌞
My very best friend has a PhD in poultry science and gave me the scoop on how to attract hummingbirds! They do not seem to enjoy the beautiful feeders as much as we do! Stick to simple like a Perky Pet which is inexpensive and found at Walmart, Target, many grocery stores. Make your own food…boil 2 cups water and dissolve 1/2 cup sugar, cool completely. No red food coloring. Keep your feeders clean and change the food out at least twice a week as it sours quickly in hot weather. Following that advice, I have tons of hummers at my feeders from April until October!
This is my recommendations also. Excellent advice and does work since I too have used all points she made in attracting lots of Hummers each season.
We get hummingbirds when the rhododendrons are in bloom. They love the pink color. Sometimes we get them in the summer, if I make sure to put some red/pink flowers in the flower pots.
I’ve only had luck with hummingbird feeders near the flowers they go to anyway. I wanted them up on my raised deck, but they wouldn’t come there. Probably too exposed. Then the bees found the feeder. Yikes! Swarms of them. I gave up.
I never liked the clunky look of birks, but tried them recently hoping for comfort. My back started aching (I have back issues) and as the birks were the only change, I stopped wearing them. My doc said the lower heel doesn’t work for everyone. Back they went! Good luck with yours. Keep the box, you may meed it!
Good morning! I love waking up and reading your posts. Always gives me something to think about for the day. I would never take a dust jacket off a book, but then I worked in a library during college and saw what happened to books that lost their “jackets”, poor souls!
I don’t have any better luck with hummingbird feeders up here in the north so can’t offer any advice to you on that. However, if you like hummingbirds, have you read “The Fastest Things on Wings” by Terry Masear? She rescues and rehabilitates hummingbirds in Los Angeles. Her stories are fascinating about the little creatures. I’m listening to it on Audible on my daily walks. One more way to get in some literary time. Have a great Monday!
Although Birkenstocks FEEL good initially, I find that I cannot wear them anymore, as the heel cup in Birks is lower than the rest of the sole (which my podiatrist pointed out), which aggravates my plantar fasciitis.
I don’t know if you suffer from that, but if you do, you might want to return them after they arrive.
Thank you for your continued posts and musings. They really brighten up my day!
I found that the hummingbirds wouldn’t come to the feeders if they were too exposed. I have mine on low shepherd’s hooks near my hydrangeas and they seem to like that. Maybe they feel safer with the foliage as protection? That triple feeder is darling–I may need that!
I just went out and moved mine. Great idea:)
I have found that hummingbirds like the simplest plastic feeders. Very inexpensive. Start with one of those and when they’ve found your place you can try switching to your fancy ones.
I use a small amount of the mixture and change often. Every other day.
Hope this helps. I have feeders in the front and back and I really enjoy these little guys!
I love them so hopefully I can figure this out. I’ve also been putting too much liquid in. I can do this!!
I have two large boxes of book covers, I lay them flat in the boxes and they are in alphabetical order, so when a new book is purchased it can be filed. Very easy to find when it’s time to lend out the book. When we moved a couple of years ago about 200 books were donated to local organizations. Now we use our kindles and borrow books from the library.
Hummingbird feeders are a hit/miss they see, to prefer the kind of feeders you purchased though. Try putting the feeders around flowers, and make sure you put fresh nectar in feeder everyday, they like it cold. I don’t put much in the feeder either that way it’s always fresh and the ants/bees don’t eat it all up.
Good point! I’m going to try moving mine. I am bound and determined to get at least one to drink. They’re so cute
I leave the covers on to use as book marker. I have been buying more paperbacks as I like to read when I walk in the pool ( condo pool closed weeks ago and boy, do I know it, bad knee so hard to walk on land). We had the feeder you ordered from Amazon at our Mn. lake house. The hummingbirds came but not as happily as they came to the flowers around the feeder. I don’t know why. Our neighbors have same one and it is used all the time. Birks, I tried but I felt like they were too low heeled. I wear a pair of rubber mudders in the gardens. Your feet do sweat but the toes stay clean! I am too full to wear a caftan, my Mom used to make them for sis and I to wear as lounge wear. I was slimmer! Loved this post. Keep us entertained, please and thank you!
I’m thinking the caftan could cover a multitude of sins 🙂
Good Monday morning! I love books but where we live ( very small town in NC) there really isn’t anywhere to purchase hardback books. I do order some and use the library but usually resort to reading on my I-pad since I am so impatient.
My 3 granddaughters and two daughters love Birks. I have never liked them. My daughter insisted I needed a pair but I think she did that knowing I would give them to her😂 when I was young, I did not like the look, and now I find they do not have enough support for my aging feet! Plus, I could not wear them to the garden because we fight a losing battle with red ants! I always wear an old pair of tennis shoes. Those ants have a mean!
Have a fabulous week!
You’re daughter sounds clever :). Happy Monday
I got these Birkies in black several months ago and love them! Even in our cold Vermont winter I’ve worn them with socks around the house. My leather Birkies are size 41, and for these I started with 41 then tried 40 and ended keeping those. I wonder how yours will fit. (My daughter has them in pink in her usual size 38.)
I really debated about those pink! Such a happy color
Good morning Jennifer! Well I’m hoping that your feeders do begin to attract a hummingbird or two really soon. Maybe when you least expect it! Hope so!
On books, I consider myself an avid enthusiastic reader but always leave the jacket on. I tend to read while chomping on pretzels and other salty (bad ) snacks and want to keep the book cjean I guess. Can’t imagine reading without the jacket! Sounds odd, but that’s just me. The cover is getting salty anyway so that’s why it’s odd.
Don’t care for the look or feel (knee ) of my one pair of Birks. They’re now boxed and put away. I wear old canvas sneakers when gardening here. I don’t want my toes in the soil with fertilizers even my organic stuff. Another odd me habit. Happy Gardening!
You’re so funny. Happy Monday Paulette!