When I got where I'm at now, there was a birdhouse hanging from a dogwood tree out back. It was old, 20 years at least. It was in dire need of a renovation.
It was blue. And old. Decrepit, completely engulfed in moss and mold and bugs and slugs, looking like it hadn't seen a flight itinerary since before covid.
What a hammer might say:
~ Co-racK❗️
Destroyed it. Old ass thing didn't stand a chance. One swing - game over. I sheathed my hammer victoriously like an adolescent stashes a fake ID following a successful beer run.
There's a wrought iron table and chairs out there between two old oak trees. Both are lit up around the base in white party lights like Disneyland in California.
Just me and Atlas now.
Chillin.
Birds are 🎼🔊
Squirrels are on date night, she's playing hard to get; up and down and around the trees—run, chase, hop-hop :pause:
Run some more.
I loaded up the grinder we brought back from Amsterdam with some Kush Mintz from Los Angeles. Twisted and twisted and twisted it. Packed a cone and barely got the thing lit when that voice that stops me in my tracks every.single.time echoed across the yard from the kitchen window.
What happened to the birdhouse that was in that tree?
It was hammered.
Awwwe. It was cute.
I know that (insert air quotes) Awe. Thing is, she doesn't like getting her shoes dirty so she only saw it from a distance. It was not cute. The voice from the window continued, only this time a few octaves higher like cat lady who didn't just get a cat for Christmas but two CATS for Christmas!!!!!!
Didn't you say TheBigsWeed made us one when we didn't have an address?!?
She's right. He did say that. Something like that, it's been awhile. Made us one or will make us one, I don't remember now. And something else about if we stayed in one place long enough.
I ashed my cone, scrolled through about a year of Sweed content and, there it was, safely filed away on the blockchain forever.
When they decide to return from their latest venture....
He didn't say make. He said made as in all he needs now is a shipping address.
Dear Erica:
I'm sure it's a nice beanie, looks real warm. My wife thought it looked real warm too. She put it on while I was admiring the countersunk holes in the bird feeder your dad made us and..
Dear Sweed:
My man, you know how to set the bar. And you, @farm-mom, you know how to pick'em, you. That's the coolest delivery I've received at this house you guys. Thank you. <3
You can't miss the feeder if you look out back from the dining room or kitchen where the majority of time is spent. A pair of doves stop by regularly. All of the passerby's are in pairs actually.
The little gray ones with black spots like a Dalmatian. And the red chested ones, too, dark red like wine with black wings and heads. Redheaded gutterpeckers, they're bigger than the other birds, that's what I call them anyway. Woodpeckers, probably. Bastards frequently mistake the rain gutter above the art room for a tree—gutterpeckers. Sounds like they're installing solar panels on the roof.
I tried snapping pictures of them numerous times, no dice. They won't stick around long enough. Soon as I step foot off the deck they fly away. Could probably use a zoom thing but I don't think I'm ready to talk about how when I focus on something like that I'm not convinced I'm the only :pause:
I fill it up about once a week with that sticky cornmeal stuff. They love it. We can't enjoy all of the new flight itinerary out back without thinking about you guys.
Thanks, Jurg's—coolest upstaters I've never met.
Thanks for the ink. I did have the bird feeder in cold storage, figuring this guy and gal can't hop around the world forever.
I'm glad I read the entire article before I looked up what the Gutterpecker looked like. If I couldn't find him I was going to ask @melinda010100, the resident pro in the #featheredfriends community, for some help. Now that would have been hilarious.
We've got a Ladderpecker that behaves in the same way. When we first heard that ringing sound we had no idea where the noise was coming from.
We're thrilled that you folk are enjoying our gifts of appreciation for being the finest people that used to reside in California.
Keep the feeder full or you may hear all of the birds that stop by, knocking on your front door.
It must be really cool looking at all of the pics you took while traveling, reminding you of some great times.
Peace my friend.
So cool Bob. Really cool thing you did sir, please accept my gratitude.
Ladderpecker. Funny, what's wrong with those things? I'm not kidding man, took about three times to figure out wth it was. I honestly thought the neighbor was anchoring something to concrete.
Sometimes we wish we were still mobile. When we're mobile we want our own walls. When I'm here I want to be there and when I'm there, well, you get it. I had to get an Atlas to ground myself.
I can't type Thank You big enough Sweed. You're a gem. The world needs more people who lead by example.
Being able to travel with a dog and being able to take them into a hotel/motel with you has become standard practice. I'm not sure how most BNBs handle rentals when it comes to allowing pets. I would imagine that most would frown on this practice.
Your flattery has got me blushing.
Thanks for such a heartfelt comment, coming from you guys it takes on a very special meaning.
I had to send you this pic that I see every time I sit down and kick up the computer. It's a picture of my screen saver that just happened to pop up a few months ago.
Who does this pic remind you of? I know that it reminds me of the lady that makes you feel like you're the luckiest guy on this planet. When we first made your acquaintance, I can remember many pictures of Pura running like the wind, effortlessly.
I hope her health still allows her to do something she seemed to so enjoy, stay fit, and get lost in the moment.
Peace brother!
I'd like to lie to you right now and say she still runs every day. I haven't bullshit you yet, though, so, not gonna start now.
Man, I wonder how many shots it took the photographer to get that shot. Incredible.
Limitations are a heckuva lot different with a dog. We pretty much X'd out about 90% of rentals. We were aware of that. It's not a bad trade off—roaming or Atlas.
Telling it like it's, more folks should put this simple practice into use.
Have a splendid day.
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Upperdeck got covering to keep you warm going out to fill the feeder, hope they don't peck you as you roam.... Gutterpeckers have a dislike to those who taunt them!
Well done to @thebigsweed building a new feeder and daughter for making extra beanie hats for winter.
Show is almost over, have a good one!
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Ain't they the coolest? Hopefully they understand how much this community admires their family's love. Imagine a BBQ out at their place in the summer.
Hello. Sure do appreciate you keeping an eye on me.
You mean they hold grudges?? Are you serious? I wonder if maybe the family that was here before us pissed them off. They apparently pissed off everyone.
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BBQ at their place, followed by a breakfast of bragged about pancakes, bacon and maple syrup would be a treat, prepared to sleep under canvas if they allowed hooligans to arrive !LOLZ
Always have to keep an eye out for each other, rough world out there....
Some come crashing down at you to give fair warning, so wear the protection 😌, yup blame the recent inhabitants perhaps they did not put the right food out, or feeder was not up to standards.....
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I'm not surprised then. The neighbor behind us and on each side all had some things to say about the previous owners.
BBQ and breakfast. @thebigsweed @farm-mom you guys getting this, need help sending out the invites?
OMG, slow down fella, give us a chance to build a bath house, we only have one bathroom, of course we could resurrect the old out house for our guests. hehe
You got a minute, years ago, at least 30, we had a band come up for our annual Memorial Day weekend bash. The band took it upon themselves to put up signs along the way to announce the gig.
Within a few hours after their arrival all these strangers started showing up at the farm, our kids were very young then and I was nervous so I went out to the road to "greet" these strangers vetting them for entrance. Most of them were students from local colleges, so I gave them some rules, no entering the house, no cussing, when the music stops, you're gone. etc. and charged $20 a head.
We made a bundle that day and met some really nice people.
Ran into some trashy looking rednecks who I very politely said NO, We are sold out. Thank goodness they left without a fuss or I would have had to get "my boys" to escort them off the property. That wouldn't have been pretty.
What a F'ing story. I've enjoyed quite a few blogs this am, about to take Atlas out and none, young lady, painted a picture as vivid as the one you just did.
I think I heard the music.
Oh man, now I am blushing.
Sounds like a brilliant time was had by all, under your watchful eye!
Big bash gatherings..., fast became a thing of the past, always had fun.
Keep a watchful eye on what you do then, they spread the news !LOLZ
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There's still genuinely nice folks in the world and that is superb...countersunk holes truly shows love and care has been put into this! Looks awesome and there's nothing so soothing to the mind as watching birds flittering around .
I did however, at first, think you were about to write about a mobile kebab stall you'd bought in Brighouse...
I know you're OK but all the love and best wishes I can muster to your better half. Hope she's as well as she can be.
'@dandays. The man who writes so well, the AI checkers think he's a bot'
Your new tag line!
Take it easy guys :-)
Can I buy you a drink? Lunch, anything? All I got are these words, I can't be expected to reciprocate an adequate thank you.
What's up my man? Good morning. I haven't been awake very long, going off-roading today with a dude I recently met. A black dude who cracks racist jokes—my kinda people. Yours was the first comment I read this am. Love it when things work out the way they're supposed to.
Much thanks for the well wishes. Know that I always know you wish us the best and we appreciate it. It goes both ways. <- ->
Thanks Nathen. Genuine is a good word to describe them Upstaters. And you.
That guy is literally closer to me than the closest Pizza Hut, I really need to go check out his operation sometime!
That's a mighty fine bird feeder. Inspiring, even. The live edges (bits of tree bark) on the roof pieces are an extra nice touch. I hope he won't be too bothered when I ask him 1000 questions about this.
That hand-knit camo cap should really help when it comes to 'blending in' with the neighbors!
If you have an interest in learning what birds are which, National Audubon Society has a great free phone app. It'll even help you learn the bird songs.
Sometimes, I forget you're funny. = }
Whaddup! Thanks for checking this one out. Pizza Hut, funny. Dude those and Subway are worldwide. And just as many too. Are you serious though? I'm a helluva lot farther than that but if there's an open window I'll fly right into the thing. Say when.
Thanks. I am interested. I'll go look up the little spotted one in a minute and report back.
I'm not actually certain if he's closer than Pizza Hut, but they've closed all my local ones, and he's pretty close, if I remember correctly. Pretty close in NY language means 'less than a 4 hour drive'. So, if you talk him into hosting a Hive summit in Upstate NY (like a rally to get the state to change its stupid crypto laws), let me know and I'll definitely be there.
If I talk him into it first, I'll let you know. Teamwork makes the scheme work.
@thebigsweed You getting all this?
I've read every comment several times and I'm taken aback by such wonderful remarks. This journey through life has not been all rosy, but as a team, we've been able to navigate the rough waters. Staying true to our beliefs, family first, and unconditional love has always gotten us through trying times. I see many people who don't have a soulmate and wonder just how they get through all that life throws one's way.
We are truly the lucky ones.
That summarizes those comments you enjoyed, what you said right there.
See, some of us write about it, paint it the way we want it to end and stuff. 2023 and now there's AI.
All you do is talk.
I'm glad you saw those.
Most times when I read a post that I enjoy, I'll also read the comments, which at times are just as good as the article or better.
What do you like on your pizza?
Anything that used to have a face. And mushrooms.
Seems all I gotta do is read face and mushrooms in the same breath and the carpet smiles. Then it doesn't smile. And blinks. Hair moves around except for the ones wearing hats.
Carpet never smiles for very long, probably because it sucks to have people walking on your face all the time.
What wonderful people! Their true kindness radiates outward whenever a person has a chance encounter with them. The gift given are treasures, made with their osn hands.
Le sigh.
That is awesome for you and Pura. Enjoy the feeder and the beanie! I hope you are enjoying the new hkme, which brings to mind, why North Carolina??
Hello??? Yes, thanks. Now we can all visit them when we pass through that neck of the woods. You know, when we are headed towards the hedge.
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Hey, Jay was right! = }
Hello, again. Those are some good people them Upstaters. They probably don't know it because it's their normal but what the platform admires most is their family bond.
I've lived in a lot of states. I'll die in Ca but I don't plan on doing that for awhile so I'll hold off going back home. I can still maintain a mailbox in Tennessee and avoid taxes but enjoy the mountains and culture and real estate opportunities of the east coast in NC—win win win.
Thanks more than THIS for the tip.
You know what I am thinking.....
Something that grabbed my attention is the address mentioned on the carton
By the way, this new birdhouse is also cute . The love of the friend who sent it made it cuter, didn't it?
Have some !LUV
Absolutely. Finest hand crafted bird feeder I've ever seen. I look at it in the backyard like a treasure.
Hello, you. You know what I'm thinking? I'm thinking I gave out Sweed's address before he said it's cool. = }
Thank you.
I am sorry. I couldn’t make sense of it. Would you explain? 🙏
I was being facetious about how I addressed it he likes his wood but really, it just means he just does all of his own woodwork.
Cool little bird house (too bad they were not any pics of the one that got hammered :-)). A nice gesture (with the hat included, really cool). I am curious about the birds, but when they are the scary type, well good luck :-)
I didn't think to get a picture of the old one. It had seen better days.
What's up Pegarissimo? Thanks for checking this one out.
Ain't they the coolest? Made it with his own hands and sent it across states to me. But street that dude.
I thought you were supposed to get hammered before you started smashing things?
I know, trust me I know this. Once you've been sober as long as me, getting anything done is miraculous!
It does complicate things a bit...
😊😉🌈 Score! sweet new birdhouse AND a bonus hat too! Awesome!
Whaddup Chinito, Aloha.
The Luckiest Guy I Know strikes again.
😉🤙👯♀️
Wow that’s a cool bird feeder 😎 and the beanie fits her well 😋
Have an awesome weekend both of you. 🤗 huggsss 🤗
Hello LittleBee. Is Sweed not the coolest or what?? Those Upstate New Yorkers are a class act. Tough one to follow.
Hello @dandays 👋🏻😊
Yep, definitely the coolest!
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That’s an awesome bird feeder and I’m sure it will last a lot longer than that cheap thing on the tree. I love me a homemade beanie! I had one years ago but lost it at some point, I’ll get another one one of these days at a craft fair or some hipster shit.
In T minus 10 hours we are hitting the open road and traveling down to the sunshine state finally. Sticking to the coast though, the wife isn’t looking forward to the drive but we are now committed to the plan finally. Hoping she doesn’t back out of it in the morning lol.
Maybe I’ll run into the Sweed’s down in the sunshine state! I’m still trying to convince my wife to take a trip over to Memphis and we can make a pit stop near y’all to hang out with some root beer floats.
Lotta history in Memphis. Beal street, the Gibson guitar museum. The Lorraine Hotel. Did you know MLK was only 37 when they shot him? Graceland, of course. Been about 5 years since I've been in Memphis. Eh, I woke up in a fancy ass hotel there on Beal on Thanksgiving Day once—true story. If you go, say when.
Sweed's a gem. Can't say enough good things about those people. Good, family first, heart on their sleeve, lead by example people. Fascinating, isn't it? This virtual world we create.
Am I still talking?
Whaddup! Thanks for checking this one out. Congrats finally getting in the got dang car. That only took a couple years. = } What's the itenerary, where's your first stop? Where you staying? How long?
That was a lot of questions.
We haven't quite gotten in the car yet so the jury is still out. I think she's nervous to leave the condo alone for a few weeks more than anything. Then it's being afraid we will get stranded somewhere lol.
Hoping to make it down to North Carolina somewhere tomorrow then right on down to Orlando hopefully the day after. I wanted to get a head start on the journey today but got vetoed.
I've never been to Tennessee but I want to see these places one day, it sounds like a fun road trip!
Helluva road trip, actually, you guys really should and I'm not just saying that.
I fell in love with Tennessee the first time I visited a little more than 20 years ago now. The Appalachians make it convenient to have the best of both states. We can own a home in NC, enjoy the coast and culture but close enough to shoot over to TN to my friends' house in under 30 minutes. Live on one side but convenient enough to maintain a mailbox in TN to avoid state taxes on the 15th. #LoopHole
Why Orlando? I don't have too many choice things to say about Florida in general but why Orlando?
She can't stop trippin tf out huh and you've been ready to split for months. Sounds like holy matrimony. = }
That is just the sweetest gift I've seen in a long time, from the sweetest couple here on Hive, to the luckiest guy I know! The bird feeder looks sooo good hanging in that tree, and I'm sure that beanie is helping keep some of the cold out.
Nice seeing this post so early on a Sunday morning, warms my heart.
Well if it isn't my favorite silver Air B&B host. Good morning, young lady, if it warms your heart then I did something right.
They're the leaders in family around here. I'm sure there's others who can hold their own but as far as that family bond, love, heart on their sleeve, those two from Upstate NY set the bar.
Thanks for having me. = }
We are blessed to have crossed paths with those two special souls, you are so right, they certainly set the bar, a beautiful family!
I hope you & Pura are having a good Sunday 🤗
You're doing that thing again where you're really sweet.
Now with the feeder expect to go broke, those little birdies are hungry and from my experience you start to feel bad when you leave them a day without something 😂.
I ❤️ the ❤️ for the 3 of you 😊
That figures. The cost of wasting time is getting outta control! = }
What's up you? Did you get out of the house yet?
Thanks for keeping an eye on me. And thank you for noticing. I don't take any moment for granted, say thank you out loud numerous times each day and stuff. I shoveled so much shit to get wherever I am.
Much love Anna. <3 Thank you.
I started work 2 weeks ago, but in between still a lot to deal with. It is a rough time and as much as I would love to write about it, it is still so confusing and way too much to rant about. My sis faced some harsh moments from his family during the funeral and like a ton of other shit going on.
I'm currently working on getting back on track somehow. You know, missing starts as the new normal starts to reveal. Missing someone like that sucks. For my sister even worse. Sucks so much.
Not knowing if I am homeless or not sucks too lol. Germany, once you lose an affordable place you are screwed these days.
But it is week 6 or what, it takes time. The greedy fam empties the house March 24th. The storm is not over yet and nothing is written in stone. Who knows, maybe all will be good somehow 😅.
How is the kiddo doing?
Teeth are falling out of her head. Either that or she figured out if she stops eating, I'll believe her teeth hurt and add peanut butter to her turkey broth soaked food so that she'll eat.
I hope that gave you something else to think about for a minute.
Ahhhh you're such a Daaaad 😍. She figured it out already, smart pup 😂. I hope the tooth fairy is not a cheap bastard and will provide lotsa toys 'n stuff for the lil one lol.
Very cool! And it looks great there.
Not as cool as Sweed! = }
You're gonna get a zoomer, just you wait. The once you have your first shot with serious feather detail on some ridiculously derpfaced chickadee-a-dee-a-dee-a-dee you'll get hooked. At least for a little bit.
Don't worry, it's fun.
Sweet post by the way! Hope it's ok to use that word. Sweet. We can change it to sweat if that feels more masculine.
How do I know I'm not the only zoomer when I'm zooming and check you out, two years on the block and you're all shreddin my rep score like :pause:
Happy 'birthday'. = }
Thanks for keeping an eye on me. Atlas just friended Pilot. She imagined it, she said, and it's better than not imagining it, she said.
You won't have to worry about your rep score if you just keep the zoomer pointed at the damn birds and not at/inside the kitchen window of that weird couple that likes to line up empty pickle jars outside the house and throw disturbingly quiet parties.
Pilot and Atlas are definitely friends. Pilot loves to boss puppies and loves to chase big dogs. Atlas will sleep through night after a romp with him. Either that or they'll do the total Gen D (for dawg) thing and friend each other and then never talk or even chat.
Thanks for the birthday!!
Really nice post, @dandays. We are so pleased you are enjoying the birdhouse, pura knows a cool hat when she sees it. You helped us so much in the beginning of our #hive journey, although it wasn't called that yet, we will never forget that.
Now set me straight, where the hell are you? Tennessee or NC? I can't seem to keep up with you.
Ok, perfect. It's working. = }
You guys are special. Can't say enough good things so I'll just write a whole post and hopefully it gets my point across. Thank you.
Did you click the blue thank you?
I just reloaded the feeder about an hour ago. Two little gray ones with black wings flew in and were waiting on me. The little ones gotta get in there first, that's all they'll get.
Happens all day long now. You guys did that. <3
I always love colorful bird houses and bird feeders. All the better if they are a gift !
Put that hammer down !
I think I would have been tempted to have left the vintage one though, although it's true, I didn't see it. Old stuff like that is kind of a mental time machine and makes me wonder about the stories of their past. Moss covered things. I'm thinking it would have at least made for a good rickety photo of nature taking over anything that stands still long enough.... right before the hammering.
Although I thought I understood what you were talking about, I had to "goog" Kush Mintz.
😂
Interesting. Had to google Kush Mintz eh? Good stuff. You're in the states, I know that much, where are you from? I mean, I'm not a stalker or anything, I won't ask for your address. Curious who doesn't know what Kush is.
Or maybe I shouldn't admit how familiar with it I am dot dot dot dot.
Mhmm.
Interesting, again. We saw two different things out there. I like your view. Mine had a big huge ugly knuckle on a tree branch where it grew around the rusty hanger of the house. I might've exaggerated the condition sliigghtly. I saw out with the old, in with the new. I should've asked you first.
It's sheathed.
I am not only in the states, I am in the same state as you. How much Kush Mintz have you had since our first conversation anyways??? ha ha...maybe you should keep that a secret.
I readily admit I know nothing about any brand of such things. A hundred years ago when I was young, I had a rare toke or two and I had nothing against it, but I have mostly worked jobs where random drug tests are possible and I only want to lose my job when I am ready to quit myself, so, it has not been part of my existence. It's ok if you want to look at me with a little pity in your eyes right now. LOL !
Wow... the birdhouse had been there long enough for the tree to grow around the hanger? That had to have been a lot of years. Maybe it had special meaning to someone at some time long ago that just couldn't part with it. Or.... maybe it was just neglect.
It's good to hear many views on things I'm thinking.
That's funny. Now I remember. What happened was, I regularly switch my location so no one knows where I am but occasionally someone catches me by surprise and is where I said I am.
What matters is I didn't forget about your fireplace or tooth that isn't sensitive.
LOL !
Ok...ok... I'll remind you. The last fib you told about where you were was in North Carolina.
Funny. Second time today someone was "wait, where, I thought you were.. Where are you?"
It's working
You could just say you're from Mars and you'd never have to change it again.
Those are very nice gifts. The bird feeder is gorgeous, and the beanie is too.
You are so lucky to have such special friends:)
Agreed. I don't remember how or when we crossed paths, it's been awhile, but it's been good the whole time.
How's it goin Coquicoin? I've seen you around a lot, don't think we've done this til now. Pleasure to be met.
Hi! It's a pleasure to meet you too. I've also seen you around, especially in the coffee corner. But I tend not to be very active on Discord, my bad, I know. I like to engage more in the posts:)
Not bad at all. Discord has done me more harm than good. You're not missing anything.
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