Stalking hummingbirds, my new profession

It started last summer when I first installed our cheapy plastic feeder. I'd find myself standing by our bedroom window, just staring out, waiting for the tiny birds to appear. Sometimes, I'd peer out of the living room window, as if a sideways glance might encourage visitors. And then one day, they showed up. A greedy brigade, completely happy to suck down the "hummingbird crack" I so cheerfully provide. (Recipe: Boil one part sugar to four parts water until the sugar is dissolved. Let cool before "serving." The secret, I think, is that I keep vanilla beans in my sugar.)

Well this year, my fancy pants new glass feeder seems to have attracted all of the pretties. Emerald backs, ruby throats, swatches of purple. Gorgeous itty bitty birds everywhere. So, I confess, I am a 29-going-on-85 bird watcher, and I stare at them all of the time. AND I just might keep my long lens on the dresser so I can catch them mid-meal.

Enjoy!