Adventures

Tax Preparer Rests Then Becomes a Bird Watcher

There’s a peace of mind that happened when one (aka, me) FINALLY got her tax papers all organized and ready for submission to the accountant.

Insert any imaginative photo of ME smiling. πŸ˜†πŸ˜πŸ€ͺ

I’m doing a happy dance too. Imagine that look as well.

πŸ’ƒπŸ»

On to other things! YAY! I get to rest and play!!!

Tizzie’s favorite toy is the orange string and so much fun when it’s tossed on tissue paper!

I’m damn ready for winter to take a respite for another year, and for spring to arrive. I’m relaxing my thoughts on “I’m SICK of winter blues” and focusing on the good things to happen now that my tax prep is done.

My mind is at peace. I’m listening to this channel on YouTube.

Ahh….it’s almost like being on a calm beach where the waves (of snow) blow and form beautiful images as they crash into the sand. I’m doing my staycation kind of dreaming.

The madness of spring is so enticing. I love it when things are opening up and emerging from the ground. I also love the middle of summer when fruit is bursting forth, but I even love the garden in the winter when everything is resting.

Ross Gay

I’m as happy as a bird who is about to land on a frozen black-eyed Susan bud in the middle of February.

I kicked back from my work to discover what crazy birds are here already. It’s been mighty cold here. We’ve seen a variety of birds reappear this past week. I hope that means spring will arrive soon.

There’s not much to eat except for birdseed and flower buds. The crab apples on the tree above must be yucky – none of the birds or the deer want to eat them. Weird.

When the mini-flock of birds arrive, they fly between the trees, the fence, the bird feeder, and the black-eyed Susans. It’s quite the show to sit back and watch.

They don’t rest here that often, or for long, only in the morning and when the winds are low. The last two snowstorms came and went leaving a new layer of snow. Since it arrived, no deer have appeared. Oddly, the yard is free of critter tracks.

This week the American Goldfinches arrived. They prefer thistle-type seeds. They’re the ones on the far right birdfeeder.

The other bird on the middle feeder is a House Finch (they are on the list of common birds for WI) or possibly it’s a Pine Siskin? He/She must be waiting for other friends to arrive, or trying to blend in with new friends?

Now that I think about it, Mr. and Mrs. House Finch were eyeing up my Christmas wreath that was still hanging by the front door. They were chatting on the roof about what a cool house it would be. I’ve since moved the wreath into the garage. No house building in that! It’s sitting on the hood of the car until I move it again when/if I decide to go anywhere. πŸ€”

The House Finch or Pine Siskin joining all the American Gold Finches

It’s very important that we re-learn the art of resting and relaxing. Not only does it help prevent the onset of many illnesses that develop through chronic tension and worrying; it allows us to clear our minds, focus, and find creative solutions to problems.

Thich Nhat Hanh

If I hadn’t paused my morning routine, on the third-quarter moon morning this past week…

I would’ve missed the delightful show of birds resting and playing as they did their important bird things.

The more often we see the things around us – even the beautiful and wonderful things – the more they become invisible to us. That is why we often take for granted the beauty of this world; the flowers, the trees, the birds, the clouds – even those we love. Because we see things so often, we see them less and less.

Joseph B. Wirthlin

I hope you can take a pause in your busy day and rest your eyes on the photos too.

Rest until you feel like playing, then play until you feel like resting, period. Never do anything else.

Martha Beck

Post Inspiration – Linda G. Hill’s Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is β€œrest.” Use it any way you like. Enjoy!

PS – I hope your week is off to a splendid start. What do you think? Is it a House Finch or a Pine Siskin? What did you pause and notice this week that brought a smile to your face?

46 thoughts on “Tax Preparer Rests Then Becomes a Bird Watcher

  1. It is odd that there are no critter track, where are they? And no deer too, weird! The field next to you is beautiful, like a lake frozen solid in an instant. I love the little birds, it’s amazing that they can survive such cold, and land on those tiny flower stalks, so cute! I’m glad that your tax documents are in order, the “big” day comith soon… ☹️

    1. Hi John, thanks for sharing your thoughts. Yes, it been about 10 days since we’ve seen any deer tracks. One rabbit braved the cold, but other than that, no critters. The wind has created some really cool snow patterns.
      I’m glad I left the plants there for the birds. I had read about doing that last summer. The birds and the bunnies have been snacking on these plants all winter.
      Me too on the tax documents. It’s such a relief…now if I could just keep up with them all year, next Jan/Feb I won’t be crabby about it! I like to get them done early and wait until the last minute to pay what we owe. April will be here before we know it.

      1. Death and taxes, the only guarantees in this life, right? Such a positive thought… I think of tax day in April as “feeding the federal beast”. Uhg!

  2. I like Martha Beck’s advice. “Never do anything else.” Would that it was easy to do. Maybe that’s what retirement is all about! I’m sick of winter, too.

    1. I like your take on it. I’m not retired yet, so your thoughts are encouraging.
      I feel like if we get past February, the below zero temps are rare, at least I hope that’s the case for March!

  3. Ignoring the chances we have to rest leads to problems. Clearly, given the pictures you shared, taking advantage of those chances can lead to very nice opportunities.

    1. Excellent point, Dan. Thanks about the photos. I think you do a great job of noticing the world around you. Your photos always make me either think or smile and often it’s both!

    1. Thanks, Janis. Me too. I’m amazed at what critters and birds have taken advantage of me leaving the dead flowers there for them. It was an experiment. The other flowers that I had pulled out I put in the field and they were eaten as well. Marigolds are a treat to them I guess.
      I wish you speedy tax prep – it’s a great feeling to have it all done!

  4. This post is so full of spring frolicking ideas that I willing join in – oh and listening to your link. Restful and love the fish and sun and clouds…sigh

    1. Yay, Chris, thanks for joining in. That link…I’m listening to it again, it is so peaceful. I feel extra relaxed and productive at the same time.

  5. I dread getting all the tax stuff together, hopefully this year will be easier since I won’t have a business folder. Good to hear from you, I always enjoy your posts

    1. I’m glad I’m not alone in the dread for tax prep. If I’d be good and keep up with it all year-long, I wouldn’t be so stressed. I’m usually good until April. πŸ€”πŸ™„πŸ€ͺ I hope your prep is easier and smooth sailing.
      It’s great to hear from you too! Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

  6. It’s good you left them the seed heads of your black eyed Susans. I did that too, and from the coneflowers. I was looking at the garden last week and all the seeds have been eaten. Or spread around to make more plants…we’ll see in the spring. We are still quite a ways away from true spring, no numbs coming up here yet.

    1. I think I’ve done the leaving plants there for two years now. It’s amazing how the critters and the birds enjoy them. I watched a funny rabbit standing on its hind feet reaching up to eat them too. They definitely spread…I’m looking forward to what pops up in the spring.
      I hope March brings you some warmer weather.

  7. I love how you said “important bird things”
    Hahahah and thanks for sharing such a delightful and uplifting post celebrating the pauses we need and our avian friends with your custom images and rich quotes

    1. Thank you, Yvette. I’m glad you enjoyed the post. Your photo of the cardinal is stunning. My photos could’ve gone with your interview post with VJ. I’m with you – I loved Robin’s Absence too.

      1. Your photos would have gone so well with much of what VJ shared!
        And Again – there was such a pure joy feeling in this post – and I zoomed in on the feeders and just enjoyed the feeling that comes with spring and birds coming back to certain areas

  8. How DO you get those birds to pose so nicely for you? LOL. Such cute photos! The value of rest and relaxation is undervalued in our culture. Maybe that’s one of the reasons Mother Nature uses for Winter. All that cold and snow keeps us a bit quieter and less busy. I heard a relevant quote today and I don’t remember who it is attributed to: “Don’t just do something. Stand there!”

    1. LOL – I stay in the house and they just pose for me! πŸ˜‰
      I do think Mother Nature encourages us to have some down time. This winter seems longer than normal. Probably because I work from home too. Today, I went out for lunch and to the store to pick up a few things. It felt weird – I need to do that more otherwise I’ll end up liking being a hermit. With a camera and taking bird photos. πŸ˜‰
      That’s a great quote! Thanks for sharing. πŸ™‚
      Hey, did you see VJ’s interview with Yvette at Prior House? I see VJ comment on your posts often. Maybe you’d enjoy the interview? Here’s a link: https://priorhouse.blog/2022/02/05/introducing-author-artist-vj-knutson-priorhouse-interview-5feb2022/

      1. I appreciate what she does for us. πŸ™‚ If you end up as a hermit, at least you’ll have great photos to show for it! Thanks for the interview link!

  9. Congratulations on getting your tax paperwork together and at least on its way to the tax preparer. Reminds me that I wil be working on that this weekend. You can relax while your accountant plugs the numbers into his or her program and comes out with all the numbers for you. Hope you have a light tax burden…

    1. Thanks, John. It’s funny how much it costs to have our accountant plug those numbers in…!
      I hope it’s a light tax burden too – and for you and Mary as well. Good luck with your prep. I have a hunch you’re much more organized than I was/am!

  10. That’s the way to get things done just like I do. Sit at the computer, gather information and then……..hey look, there’s a bird in the garden. If I wait more might come as well πŸ˜‚

    1. Thank you, Indira. I enjoyed your photo of your Golden Retriever relaxing in the pool. I hope you have a wonderful day too!

    1. Thank you – I appreciate the words of encouragement. I’m glad you enjoy the bird photos – they seem to be the only ‘activity’ happening in my neck of the woods right now. LOL!

  11. Oh, I love watching the birds outside our window. Our place is covered with lots of snow so they need the feeder I have for them. Pleasant post.

    1. Bird-watching is so darn fun! Where in California do you have lots of snow? Glad you have a feeder for the birds. Thanks for stopping by to say hi!

  12. The video is so relaxing – almost hypnotizing. Thank you for sharing it Shelley. I guess the best thing I saw on my walk today was a Red-Winged Blackbird, always a sure sign of Spring when you hear them calling and also some Snowdrops in a garden where there was still ice and snow. I see these Snowdrops every Spring – they are there before the crocuses. I have not seen either a IHouse Finch or a Pine Siskin so can’t help you out. I thought a bird in my post was a Purple Finch and someone said it was a Crossbill – oops!

    1. You’re welcome – I’ve been playing that while I work too, it seems to help with the stressful moments and when I need to focus.
      I haven’t seen any flowers yet – too much snow. But, soooooooon I hope!
      If you ask me, I think that was a House Finch in your post.

      1. Yes, it is soothing to hear – we need that sometimes. The snow melted from the Snowdrops, so not as stunning of a photo now. A House Finch – I do not know a lot of birds, just the “regulars” – going to check it out now though. Thanks for the tip Shelley. A woman walker at the Park said she saw 17 Robins yesterday!

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