Spring is near

Hello from Buddy's Backyard!

Are you all practicing the "Stay at Home" yet? my state had just issued an "almost" complete shutdown. I'm on Day 4 self Quarantine; so far I haven't gone insane YET.

As far as Buddy's Backyard goes; We have at least 11 does that comes and two bucks, there was an 12th deer but for the first time since having deers.

We have Red-Winged Blackbirds! It's been hard to take pictures because they been singing up in the trees!

Herbert our chipmunk has appeared again!

Today I saw our first Grackle! I don't know how many are here yet, they might have been here with the Red-Winged Blackbirds.

Our Goldfinches are slowing getting their color back; I even saw one today that had more yellow than the others.

I've seen a nuthatch, which been awhile since I've seen one. We had a fairly red house finch I wasn't sure what kind of bird it was because I thought maybe it might have been a purple finch.

We have a male red-bellied that still hangs around, I've seen our Hairy and our downy woodpecker every now and then.

Hopefully, soon more birds will show up and while during my self-quarantine that I'll take some of this time to take pictures.

2020 New Year Resolution

Hello,

I realizes that Buddy’s Backyard has been extremely quiet on here and I apologize for that. Blogging for me isn’t something I like to do now for many reasons. One coming up with words for the blog post can take me a long time, where sometimes I just want to post pictures. Also posting pictures you can always follow me on Instagram at KatSassyNature.

Two I use to Blog on another platform on books but now I find that not fun to do anymore, because like I said it’s hard to come out with words and writing reviews on what I thought about a book is extremely challenging. I am planning on closing out that Blog altogether and strictly post my books reviews on goodreads and amazon.

So for this year resolution, I’m hoping to do once a month posting on Buddy’s Backyard, anything on our birds, Buddy’s stories and Photos. My life keep me fairly busy especially with work, so like I said I hope to do maybe once a month post along with doing some more throwback of Buddy on Instagram.

Here’s the first Post:
Our feeders have seen it’s better days, but to find ones that the birds will actually use is a challenge because I truly think that the Color of the feeder makes all the difference. For example we have our big Maroon feeder that has really seen its better days & trying to find one very similar to it has been hard. Well luckily I was able to find almost the exact same feeder through Lowe’s, because I’ve tried everywhere else.

And let me tell you it is Sooo Close maybe a little bit more newer design to our old one. I’ll plan on switching out the feeder this spring or if the squirrels wreak the whole thing. We tried to fix the hinges that the birds sits on, but those squirrels have chewed off two of them and that feeder have also fell to the ground multiple time. Thankfully it hadn’t broke yet, but our white replacement had broke from falling to the ground.

We did order two because we got naughty squirrels, and we need to have a backup and a backup after that one. We will make our birds happy by picking the right type of feeder and color. Red has always been a popular color for our birds, like they are drawn to that color for whatever reasons. Kind of like how Orioles are drawn to orange colors or in our case Purple because that’s the same color as the jelly.

Buddy’s backyard did get a peanut feeder but I haven’t seen anyone go to it yet. I might purchase those whole peanut rack because I know our blue jays will love those.

I’m hoping to find more feeders access around the yard, but the problem with that is some are going to be way out of sights.

In the spring I hope to do a lot of cleanup in our garage because it a disaster now that one of our squirrel(s) has been getting in there and opening our buckets that we have corn and seeds in. I’m almost to a point of getting galvanized buckets but they run so small and I like to be able to put 100lbs of sunflowers seed in it. I’m hoping to find another solution.

That’s all for now, I’ll post on here again sometime (maybe) in February!

Returnees

Hello to all that follows Buddy's Backyard,

Winter has been tough this year, we broke our 1929 snowfall record. We had brief snow in November and December then to ring in the New year in February we ended up having the snowiest month ever on record ending with 53.7 inches of snow. As of right now, we stand with a record total of 97.9 inches of snow. Luckily right now we have had most of our snow melted in Buddy's backyard, but man it was hard to keep everyone fed with all that snow we got in February as well as major wind chill in January where you were recommended to not go outside because of the high risk of exposure to frostbite.

Now that SPRING is finally here, we have a few of our returnees

• Red-winged blackbird
• Grackles
• a few European Starlings on and off
• White-throated sparrow 
• Possibly a Brown Thrasher 
• Our ducks pair Donald and Daisy 
• We have at least 12 deers that visit Buddy's Backyard
• Today we saw Petrie our Pileated Woodpecker on our Suet near the house
• Red-bellied woodpeckers are doing their trills calls
• We are seeing fox sparrows and song Sparrows 

We are looking forward to seeing more birds as they migrate back to us, I'm also going to be scouting areas to take pictures of birds that are not in Buddy's Backyard. 

We do have one orioles feeder up but we know that they are not due to come until the first week of May. I hope they are able to live across the street from Buddy's backyard since the city had cut down numerous trees to take away camouflage and ward off deers. 

Make sure you follow me on Instagram since that is where I mostly post pictures for Buddy's backyard. 

Happy Late Thanksgiving! Everyone was fed at Buddy's Backyard, our chipmunk that I've been seeing has been coming out from the woodpile as I put sunflower seeds on the ground. So I add good heap of sunflowers down for him/her.

A lot of people often write about what they're thankful for and that really wasn't my thing, but as I wrote to Buddy last night. I wanted to write what I was thankful for from Buddy, I may be off a little but I'll share what I wrote to Buddy until I ran out of the one page.

To Buddy, I'm thankful for all these things you did when you were here with us.

• When you talk to us
• When we would take you on your walks
• When you slept with me, dad and even mom
• When you would let me carry you to bed with me when I was younger
• When we would play with you, whether it was pulling you across the room with the sleeping bag, or tossing your hoops, string or even your catnip toys
• When you hooked your tail around our legs
• When you purred 
• When you gave us your love and devotion to us
• When you let me carry you, even when you didn't want to be carried 
• When you have that spunky outburst and run around silly
• When you show us your belly for belly rubs
• When you greeted us on the dishwasher many years ago
• When you greeted us on the computer chair many years ago
• When you sit on your heated pad by the window waiting for us to come home
• When you sit on the green platform watching your yard and waiting for us
• When you wait for dad to go outside on walks or go out with dad

Most of all, I'm thankful for is for ALL the Memories and Years we had with you. 

I came across a quote I saw,

"If Love could have saved you . . , You would live forever." 

You are LOVED for Infinity, Love is what helped you cross the rainbow bridge at the comfort of your home and by us. There's not a day where I don't wish to have more time with you or a way to enter the heaven and spend the day with you, rubbing your big belly or taking you on your walks. Just to hear, feel and hug you once more.  

I'm thankful for you sending us Copper and Coal, I do truly think that you would have enjoyed them both in their own way. 

`

One year Anniversary

October 4th, 2017

Our biggest baby boy passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by all of us.

I can't believe that a year had gone by, there's still much I miss of Buddy. I miss his big furry belly, his unique meow, his purr, his belly fluff when he runs around and so much more. He was the baby of our lives, the light of our lives until old age became of him.

So to honor Buddy in the best way possible, we brought Copper and Coal into our lives and they give us a lot of joy and laugher throughout the day. But they can never replace Buddy, but they can enjoy the same thing Buddy loves the most. 

The most important thing to Buddy was his porch access to the outside world, believe it or not we didn't always have an enclosed porch. We still had an open porch that was getting old and showing it's age, so when my dad decided that we needed a new porch. We built it for the sole purpose for Buddy, and now Copper and Coal can enjoy the same thing although we will have to replace one side of the screen due to their claws. 

I'm going to share some pictures from Buddy's younger years, we brought him into our lives at some point in 2001. Maybe May? He was born in April and we got him fairly soon after checking out the Humane society Shelter, I would say between 10-14 weeks?

YEAR 2001- 2002

 

S

See that hairtie? There's a story about Buddy and hairties  

 

See that Vampire? There's a Buddy Tail about that.

See how eager this boy wanted to go outside on his porch?? 

Year 2002 - ????

Let me explore!! But there's a little story about Buddy Vs. the Pool, but that will be for another post sometimes later.

I can't believe that spot he's looking at that we called the JUNGLE was not a JUNGLE. Like everything tripled in size from when this picture was taken. 

Buddy not only got big and bigger, but we added a small platform for that corner in the next few years after this photo, until last year we added another expansion because he was a BIG cat. 

So remember that Funny Photo at the beginning? When we got photos developed, we discover that we couldn't tell which way was up or down. What do you think? Up/Down??
***Note I did edit this photo to get rid of the flash spots on Buddy's eyes, but then I decided to keep the original flash spots. 

Some Backyard visitors

Hello everyone!

Right now we are getting at least five turkeys, two males and at least three females but no younglings or Poults as they call it. I don't suspect we'll get any. As you know we used to have 24 hens and down we're down to three. Whatever happen to the rest? I'm not sure, mostly likely moved on when the winter hit us hard and never returned.

But I wouldn't be surprise if we do end up seeing more turkeys as we approach late summer into fall.

Next our orioles have had their babies; but right now we're having a hard time doing a head count because they come at different times and we seems to have a lot of female as well plus one that is clearly a baby.

Right now our wasps are a huge PEST to us and to our orioles, we are trying to find a way to ward them off better and not using stuff that can harm our birds.

Next we have now identified according to the MERLIN app that we have two Immature Grackles.

Our crows are still visiting as usual, they typically are there right away in the morning waiting for us to put the food out. The yummy treats.

Right now we have one of our crow with a sore of some kind on it's beak that got infected, so we will be keeping an eye on it hopefully it will heal on it's own. 

As for our woodchucks: Lately I've only been seeing one because one will sometimes be out there when I'm out trying to get the food out. Often time he/she been watching me but then walks back to where its sleep. But I've been at least three feet away from it, not that I'm trying to do human connection but it seems like it's not sure what to think or what to do when I'm right there with the food.

And last but not least, we had three different bucks in Buddy's Backyard at once!!!

Here's an earlier picture a few days before we had three at once at our house.

Buck #1

Deer #2

Deer #2 again

Deer #3

Deer #2 (Left) Deer #3 (Right)

Deer #1 again

That's it for Buddy's Backyard!

Copper & Coal turns ONE!!!

Birthday DUO

I can't believe that both of my boys are going to be One! Like how is that possible???

Copper turns one on July 11th and Coal turns one on July 14th, I am making July 13th as their combined birthday. Plus it's Friday the 13th and Coal is a black cat with good luck.

So let's look back . . . We brought Copper into our household October 21st, and Coal came into our household December 3rd. Little did we know we would have two opposite cats!

How to describe Copper in one word?

. . . . DOG . . . .

How to describe Coal in one word?

. . . . Devoted . . . .

I kid you not I think we're raising a CatDOG, Copper's personality and attributes are very much like a dog. He constantly love to eat, play aggressively, very talkative, makes all kind of sounds that I've never heard from a cat and he shows his love in his own way.

Coal is the laidback, but proceed with cautious and is conscious. He walks like he's walking on glass, he thinks before he jumps, and he loves to snuggle/cuddle with me. Coal only has a few favorite things that makes his world go round.

What are some of Copper's favorite things?

He loves to play with any balls with bells in them, but now he's obsessed with the Jackson Galaxy dice balls. We can't seem to find them half the time.

He will take whatever food you are eating, hence DOG. He wants to try whatever it is you're having.

He loves to wrestle Coal and goes for the neck area, even though I have to break it up from time to time because Copper plays aggressively.

He loves to play footies when you're in bed, No feet are safe from him!

He loves to drag open bags of cat treats and trots around with it in his mouth even though he's not supposed to.

What are some of Coal's favorite things?

He loves to play with water, especially when the water bowl has Ice Cubes in it.

He loves to climb on the computer chair to practicing his upper strengths and knead

He LOVE LOVE his sparkling green mouse that was lost in Early March and was found in late June. He starting loving the other big fluff green mouse, but nothing is compare to his little sparkling green mouse.

He loves to play with shoelaces, once he is drawn to it he won't stop playing with it.

Coal is obsessed with our Ice Machine, every time we use it he'll come running from the other room to the Ice Machine like he expects something to fall out.

~

I think if the two boys have a favorite color,
Copper would be Yellow because he's only really play with the yellow dice ball
Coal is clearly green, but I haven't been able to get him to play with the green dice ball.

Copper will find that anything can be and will be a toy, while Coal just loves his little green mouse.


While we still miss Buddy he still lives on in spirit; he's watching over Copper and Coal, giving them great insight about the house and trying to teach them the way of the house.