It's winter and it's cold, but nature always manages to entertain and surprise me. Here in Southern California we expect annual howling Santa Ana winds, which can blow up to 70 miles per hour, along with some liquid sunshine every February. However, yesterday I enjoyed a temporary break from the winds which were replaced by a surprising downpour of hail! Yes, because I reside in the land of almost perpetual sunshine, I like love rain~
A local school posted this photo of their football field, along with some hail-angels!
I've never seen that much hail in Orange County all at once. It reminded me of a deluge of hail we experienced once in New Mexico.
I was driving when the hail began. Hail *pinged* off the hood of the car, turned sidewalks white, and had people running for cover. It was funny to see bare spots without hail under large canopied trees!
I was driving when the hail began. Hail *pinged* off the hood of the car, turned sidewalks white, and had people running for cover. It was funny to see bare spots without hail under large canopied trees!
Roofs were covered in hail and so were parked cars. Alas, the hail melted quickly and by the time I stopped the car and retrieved my cell phone camera (note to self, always keep a camera in the car!) most of the magical-looking white mantle had disappeared.
Once I was home, I discovered Mother Nature wasn't finished with my day. Look what we spotted in the backyard at the feeder...
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After a bit of online research I found that this handsome fellow is a Black Headed Grosbeak. He enjoyed some sunflower seeds, investigated the birdbath, cast a disinterested glance at the wild cottontail rabbits nibbling grass nearby, then flew off.
We were so excited! We've never seen this particular species in our yard before.
I receive so much joy from simple pleasures! With Spring ahead I know there will be more little things to smile about, and additional surprises from Mother Nature. I'll keep you updated.
Sharing this post with:
Gratitude Sunday #6 at A La Carte
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Gratitude Sunday #6 at A La Carte
Mosaic Monday
Clever Chicks Blog Hop at The Chicken Chick
Sunny Simple Sunday
You're Going To Love It
Keep the smiles coming! Smile! That may be all the sunshine you get for a bit! Your feathered friend's adorable, too!
ReplyDeleteSweet with the hail angels. We get tons of snow here, and I love a good angel, no matter where it pops up. Happy Sunday Shawn.
ReplyDeleteThe hail angles made me smile! I grew up in Orange County and ever remember hail like that...wow! Love the bird sighting! thank you so much for joining Gratitude Sunday! I hope you will come and join in each week!
ReplyDeletehugs,
Linda
WOW! that was quite a lot of hail! I love that photo you posted of the "hail angels!" So beautiful and cool. I also want to thank you for stopping by my blog. Your visits always make my day. Hope you are having a good Sunday. Hugs!!!!!
ReplyDeleteLove the "hail angels"! Being a Californian too, althougth a northern Californian, I understand the excitement of the rain and hail!! It is fun!! And what a colorful bird to visit your feeder!
ReplyDeletechris
what a gorgeous bird - love those colors. nice to meet you. great group here. have a great day. ( :
ReplyDeleteLove the hail angels and the beautiful bird. Little things all around us to stop and be thankful for when we just take the time. :)
ReplyDeleteWow, hail in southern Cal! Didn't know that it fell there. I have a sister in Mission Viejo. Thanks so much for your visit and comment to my blog. Isn't blogland wonderful? Susan
ReplyDeleteMy sister lives out there - I will have to ask her. We had hail once so bad it ruined the roof on our house. I am your newest follower - 201! sandie
ReplyDeleteLOVE that Eleanor Roosevelt quote. The snow angels are sweet too!!!! Nice post:)
ReplyDeleteFun bird sighting--what a beauty! And I love the snow angels in the hail. Gotta take what you can get, when it comes to winter play. :)
ReplyDeleteHiya, Shawn! Good to catch up with you - been trying to make the rounds slowly as I've been virtually AWOL over the past few months, hardly posting at all! Trying to get back in the wing of writing and reading again. Looks like you've been making some cool creations. I've been puttering about, too - making Valentines for the Circle Journal group I participated in last year - another overdue blog post! I've got photos of my Valentine project that I'll be putting up by month's end - I hope!. Say - you best enjoy that hail - the North-east has plenty of snow to share if you want more coverage. My poor son and his family were buried in it - they have power back now and cute pics of grandbaby playing in the snow. Normalizing after the storm. God is good!
ReplyDeleteBe in touch - Joy!
Kathy
Beautiful capture! I love bird visitors to the backyard. I also love your "Tea is Liquid Wisdom".. I totally take my tea seriously!
ReplyDeleteOh wow, what a beautiful bird. Congrats on your Black-headed Grosbeak. I would be tickled if it showed up in my yard. Awesome photos and mosaic. Have a happy day and week ahead.
ReplyDeleteThe Hail Angels are just too cute! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeletehail??????
ReplyDeleteLovely post! I always have a family of Grosbeaks every spring and they stay though the summer. The babies are noisy little things who try to get their parents to feed them long after they are quite able to feed themselves. I just love watching the show.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your sweet comments dear friend.
Love,
Linda
Love your happy hail stories and your beautiful bird blogging, Shawn! Big hugs to you!!!
ReplyDelete