Tuesday Twosomes - Cleaning Time

I'd have to say the editing I'm doing is more like cleaning. I have some extensive rewriting to do on the ending of A Fly on the Wall and yet I'm concentrating on fixing the typos and assorted other errors. I claim it is because it gives me a framework with which to think about what I might do.
Mostly, it lets me put it off a bit longer as I haven't decided the direction it would take.
The current ending is completely logical, but too pat, too feel-good, and much too convenient for my liking. It feels tacked on, and in many ways it was. I wanted to finish the story so it could simmer and then I could get to fixing it up.
I'd like it to be a reasonably happy conclusion with a wee dram of edge to keep readers from being too comfortable. All I have to do is sort out how to do it.

Here are two sentences from a chapter I edited a few days ago:

"He sat quietly as he had been directed. The mirror had been told to be quiet as well, but no one was willing to guarantee that would happen."

And from what I read about the habits of the American Goldfinch:

A goldfinch and a pine siskin contemplate sharing a bath.

"Though bathing is less frequent that preening, it is also an important part of feather maintenance. It provides an additional means of keeping the feathers clean and may also be important for skin care."
- Wild Bird Guides American Goldfinch, by Alex L.A. Middleton, (Stackpole Books 1998)

Thanks so much for coming by.
For more or to get in on the fun, please see the Women of Mystery.

A Bird in the Hand

A too-stuffed pine siskin.

Mike and the siskin strike a pose.

The pine siskins love us and need to be with us. They love us so much they eat everything we put out for them. This makes them full and dopey and easy prey for any prowling puss.

This little fellow was too full to fly so my husband picked him up and minded him for a bit until he could muster the gumption to take wing.

Soon the young 'uns will be out and eating and they are much too trusting. We'll be doing a fair bit of bird-minding before the summer's out.

Not A Creature Was Stirring...

Mike waits for the pine siskin to wake up and notice him so he could refill the feeder.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.

Bath Time

The bird bath has been quite popular in all the hot weather we've had. They prefer their bathwater a bit cloudy. When it's clean they ignore it until it gets a bit of texture to it.

Below are some young pine siskins.

A young white-throated sparrow.

Same sparrow. He's just enjoying himself so much.

Just about done.



This is a young evening grosbeak. He chose to soak up the ambience rather than venture into the water.

Scenes From The Feeders

Coming in.


Busy place.

Goldfinches took over the boat feeder.

Until the pine siskins found it.

The young birds are out and about and feeding now. The swarm feedings have started and will continue for a few more weeks, then they'll be gone for the winter.