On May 18, 2004 exactly
a week after we attended a graveside funeral
for an Aunt, the Scarlet
Tanager, made its first appearance ever on our
bird feeder.. . They
are not too plentiful and are birds that usually live
in the deep woods.
Needless, to say my husband Dorsey, and I were
thrilled to see
this first time visitor and ecstatic that it allowed me to
move in close enough
to take a few pictures through the window..
(Please read a
description of the Scarlet Tanager and the last
picture I shot of it
before it flew away ..underneath my poem.)
THE SCARLET TANAGER
There are special birds
who go far to exceed
Some of them are resilient...
excelling as managers
We have seen a brilliant
species... a star lit breed,
Aglow with pure light...it
was a Scarlet Tanager.
On May 11th and 13th,
we attended two funerals;
Aunt Olga had been a
school teacher in her day,
She taught more than
spelling and roman numerals.
Doris, had managed
a Red and White grocery store,
Where she'd kept close
track of profit and loss...
Her husband in this town
was Dorsey's first boss.
Altho' Aunt Olga and
Doris in this life ne'er met..
They both went on trips..and
talked of their travels
With so much in
common.. they e'en loved to knit;
Using their needle and
yarns from coils to unravel,
They made pretty
afghans and shared a great plenty
The gifts toiled
from their hands, they gave to many.
Such as the Scarlet Tanager
who came to our feeder
They left behind inspiration
to blest families and friends,
Not only from work baskets
of bright threaded strands,
Thru' shining example,
these mother's were star leaders .
The skein of yarn and
knitting needles held in Doris's hands,
Were shown in the casket,
and brought with her to the end.
© Andrea Jeanne Petersen
Written May 19, 2004
*In memory of two great
ladies*
Olga
Carlson ...December 3, 1911....
.May 8, 2004
Doris
Larson...April 7, 1914...May
8, 2004
I
(There is a picture of Aunt
Olga at this Archives page: Uncle
Wally
with a poem that I dedicated
earlier to both of them who were
such special people in my
life..Also you will read memories in the
life of my father,
(Aunt Olga's brother) who passed away on
December 21, 2003
at these Archive pages:
Filling
in the Pieces
United
Pieces
Recording
Trails
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*Description from Reader's
Digest North American Wildlife*
Length 6-7 inches
What to look for: male
scarlet, with black wings and tail
(in fall, red replaced
by yellowish green); female yellowish
green with darker wings
and tail. Habitat:
thick deciduous woodlands,
suburbs, parks.
The Scarlet Tanager's
song is not hard to pick out:
listen to a robin sing
for a while, then listen for the
same song with a burr
in it. The species also has a
distinctive, hoarse call...chic-kurr
in
the East, sometimes
chip-chiree elsewhere.
Scarlet Tanagers devour many
destructive caterpillars
and wood-boring beetles, most
often but not exlusively
in oaks. Young males may be
principally orange or
splotched with red and yellow.
    
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for: Andrea's Looking Glass
My background graphics
are created one of a kind
from my photography to
be used only for my site.
© Copyright of this
Memorial page May 19, 2004
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