Hummingbird Happiness
I am way too tired and way too sore to write about health conditions so this will be a “nature healing” post. I have a backlog of posts I would like to get published (including guest blog posts) but I need to follow my gut with timing and my gut is telling me to share some more nature photographs today. Aside from the tulip picture I took in our garden this spring (below), the remaining pictures in this post were taken by my husband.
A few years back, we noticed hummingbirds by our tulips. At that point we didn’t yet have a hummingbird feeder set up but we decided it would be a good idea to get one. My husband got some nice shots of one of our hummingbirds eating from our feeder posted on the side of our house. (They LOVE that feeder and use it daily).
I grew up in the suburbs and never got to see hummingbirds. They are fascinating to watch. By the way, those black perches you see on the feeder were added on by my husband for the birds to perch on. They love them and often rest their feet while eating rather than fly the whole time like they used to.
It is amazing how quickly they drink what’s in the feeder too. We think we have three hummingbirds that drink out of it. They move so fast it’s sometimes hard for me to keep track but we often see two at the feeder at a time and my husband has seen a third one there at once.
Growing up I never spent a ton of time watching or thinking about animals. I appreciated them and all but I just didn’t spend much time thinking about them, in part because of where I lived. Living in the country has given me a whole new appreciation for what I wasn’t fully appreciating before.
Sometimes I think that getting in touch with nature can be healing. For some, gardening is therapeutic. For others, spending time outdoors is helpful. Taking time to watch and appreciate the beauty and wonder of nature can sometimes improve mood, distract from pain, entertain, and make people feel connected to nature.
Here’s one more parting shot of my buddy:
Hopefully checking out my feathered friend will give you a lift today.
This post was written by Jeanne at http://chronichealing.com. Copyright © Jeanne — chronichealing.com. All rights reserved.
“Peace is not something you wish for; it’s something you make, something you do, something you are, and something you give away.” ~~ Robert Fulghum
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thank you to everyone for continuing to support this blog by shopping Amazon via my ads & spreading the word to others! So many of you have supported my blog in this way; I greatly appreciate your support!!
Thank you for your blog comments!
New to blog commenting? Just click “comments” below the post. If you grab a Gravatar, your picture will show with your comment. 
>> Stumbling & tweeting my blog posts is greatly appreciated! <<
Amanda
Matthew Smith
22 comments
The hummingbird represents us in ways. They appear to be still yet their little wings are going strong – as our minds do. And they have a lot of trust in nature and humans that they’re not being poisoned.
Jasmine´s last blog ..The Vestibular System
I just love hummingbirds! Almost as much as I love butterflies.
Jasmine,
Wow! Deep thoughts… You are so right! Like hummingbirds, we human beings can look still even when there is plenty of activity going on inside. Also, I know my husband has told me to make sure to never use soap when cleaning the hummingbird feeder because even a tiny residue could be fatal to them. If someone had a feeder and didn’t know any better, they could easily accidentally kill hummingbirds by using soap. Like the hummingbirds, we humans can be fragile and need to be careful what we’re exposed to. What a great analogy!
Jeanne
Alicia,
Wow… you really do love hummingbirds then because I know where butterflies rank in your book!
Jeanne
I just love nature in all ways – it never fails to soothe my soul… recently when I had an emotional meltdown Tim had to literally drag me from our garden as I was freezing cold and it was way past our bedtime but it was the only place I felt “safe”. I even chose my university based on how beautiful the campus was and I spent many a happy day walking home past the lake, feeding the squirrels (often with whatever food I had for my own lunch) and the ducks and pigeons when they found out I had food to share lol
How wonderful that you get hummingbirds in your garden – I’ve never seen one so what a treat for me to see these pictures! I never even knew you could get feeders for them – how amazing!
Have a good week, Jeanne, and look after yourself xx
p.s. there’s some singing (badly recorded singing I admit) on my blog (I hope it worked anyway) – I recorded it this morning as I know you were eager to hear it and I didn’t want to leave you waiting too long.
Tim has expressed an interest in joining in with my blog so now my plans for the changes are changing again so who knows what will happen – how exciting!
Amanda´s last blog ..When you lose who you are
Amanda,
I know from reading your blog how much you love nature!
Yes, hummingbirds are amazing.
You have a good week too and get as much rest as you can with work being so busy now.
I am about to head out the door but I will definitely have to check out the singing ASAP!
That’s great that you two can work together on the blog.
Jeanne
I’m mesmerized by them whenever they come around my yard. I also grew up in the city, so I find myself fascinated with many of the rural charms that those that grew up here don’t think twice about. Sometimes I find myself sitting on my deck on a sunny day just looking around with “What a Wonderful World” playing in my head. There truly is a healing ability!
Alyssa´s last blog ..making up for lost time (again)
I love hummingbirds. Reminds me of being at my grandparent’s house. They always had feeders out. I need to get one now!!!
Allison´s last blog ..It’s all about supression
I always feel so much better when I am outside with plants. Trees, grass, shrubs — everything. Give me lots and lots of that. Even in this Texas heat I still appreciate nature’s healing wonders. Thanks for sharing.
Jannie Funster´s last blog ..Why we usually eat at home
Alyssa,
Mesmerized. That’s a perfect word for it. I am mesmerized by the hummingbirds too.
Isn’t it funny how we often take for granted the things we’re used to and how we appreciate more those things we did not have previously? I love that song. Yes, everyday things really can be healing. Sometimes it just takes a few years (or decades) to figure that out. At least that’s how it feels to me.
Jeanne
Allison,
Aren’t hummingbirds great? That’s nice that it reminds you of your grandparents’ house. That’s awesome that you’re going to get a feeder!
My husband makes up the hummingbird solution for them to eat. Here’s what he uses: start with 1 cup warm water and then add 1/4 cup sugar so that the total solution ends up being 1 and 1/4 cups. It’s important to avoid anything other than just regular white sugar and water. Avoid food coloring, honey, or any other kind of sugar. Water and regular sugar in solution are best. Having the water warm helps the sugar dissolve. Keep me posted on if you get some pretty winged visitors.
When I just asked Hubby to remind me of the proportions for the feeder solution, he suggested changing the feeder solution weekly at a minimum. (Here they eat it faster than that so we never make it that long). We have at least 3 hummingbirds. I have seen 2 on the feeder at once many times but have yet to see 3. My husband has seen 3, though. Pretty cool, huh?
Jeanne
P.S. You want to avoid using any soap on the feeder. Just rinse it with hot water. Soap can kill the hummingbirds (even a small residue).
Jannie,
Sorry it’s so hot there (how hot is it, anyway?) but glad that you find being outside healing.
Jeanne
a grounding post – thank you. We had lots of hummingbirds this year in the early spring, but it has been so cold as of late they have left.
I like to work in the garden in my bare feet – the feel of the soil makes me feel rich and well. Nice pictures too
Patricia´s last blog ..Understanding Agenda For a New Economy ~ David Korten
Patricia,
Thank you. Sorry your hummingbirds have left. Yeah, there’s nothing like bare feet, huh?
Glad you liked the pictures.
Jeanne
FREAKING HOT!!!!!
xo
Jannie Funster´s last blog ..Flying By The Seat Of My Soul: A Review
Jannie,
So sorry it’s so hot there in Texas!
Clearly with my heat intolerance (and recent batch of spells where I feel faint on top of it), I wouldn’t last a day there….. or an hour. Hope it cools off for you!
Jeanne
xo
[...] This post was Twitted by jeanneendo [...]
[...] Healing reminds us of the importance of a break from health issues to see the beauty around [...]
Readers,
This post was picked by the How to Cope with Pain blog to be featured in its Summer 2009 Pain-Blog Carnival.
Check it out here:
Pain-Blog Carnival, July 2009
I am pleased that the How to Cope with Pain blog selected this post to be featured in the pain-blog carnival. What a nice surprise in my email today!
Jeanne
[...] Hummingbird Happiness [...]
Congratulations Jeanne
Jasmine´s last blog ..The Vestibular System
Jasmine,
Thanks! What a nice surprise this was!
Jeanne
Leave a Comment