A rainy week in Chicago ends with two days of full sun.
It’s spring out here and the birds are excited.
They squabble round the bird feeder, competing for the special nuts that Mary bought on Amazon–and word’s got out that there’s pickin’s for all on Lake Shore Boulevard.
The squirrels are frustrated by the round shiny feeder hood Mary also purchased online–and have to settle for the discarded husks on the grass beneath.
There’s competition, though, from a single rabbit incongruously hopping around as though this is familiar territory.
Could be an escapee from one of the large family houses that face the lake along this stretch of the North Shore.
Its corpulence suggests a history of domestic comfort–not a wild animal but an animal in the wild.
It shows no sense of awareness that danger lurks; unlike the small variety we see darting from one burrow to the next in the Tarn.
Meredith says it is not long for this world–and she may be right; there are preditors roaming at night, looking for a meal.
Darters stand a chance—hoppers, less so.
Go bunny–learn a little street wisdom or your toast!
The bird feeder is a source of endless fascination, as unfamiliar species circle and swoop.
A brilliant red cardinal waits its turn as a red headed woodpecker hangs off the feeder taking its time.
A young swift—we guess that’s what it is—looks around anxiously for its mother; another innocent in the wild.
Mustn’t wag my finger too much though—every time we hit the pavement on our first day in Manhattan, I feel a little like the rabbit and the swift—an innocent on the wild side.
Robin Ellis 
SAFE TRIP FOR YOU AND MEREDITH FROM CLAIRE IN BROOKLYN
Thank you, Claire.
R
Enjoyed your post! Marilu Ellis
Thanks, Marilu.
Dear Sir: Great Stuff!
Wonderful personal journalism travel account.
Thank you for popping back onto the blog I had followed.
All the best
Gerald Meaders
TThanks, Gerald.
It is nice to be back!
R
So happy to have you both stateside. Greetings from across the river in New Jersey.
Thank you, Susan–we are happy to be back.
R
Really lovely, and cheerful, which is just what I needed at this moment in time/ Thank you and “Happy Spring”
Same to you Fiona–lovely here in Manhattan.
R
Enjoy New York😊
Sent from my iPhone
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We always do!
So sorry the weather wasn’t better for you! When my brother did his military service 1,000 years ago, he was stationed in Greenland as a meteorologist. After he returned, he built a two-room igloo in our Wilmette back yard. We put carpets and candles inside and he iced down the roof to make a slide for us. Part of it was still standing in chilly May. I do not miss those LONG midwestern winters, despite the beauty of the snow with cardinals at the feeder, but do get homesick for the welcome tulips, violets, lily of the valley and lilacs. Glad the wildlife greeted you! Hope you and Meredith had a wonderful time, despite the rain.
Has soon as I saw this lovely view I thought of ‘You’ve Got Mail’ with you and Meridith has the protagonists. I’d be the first in the queue for tickets if it were so. Kind regards to you both.
I did “She loves You” on TV years ago–the musical version of Little Shop on the Corner the original film with Jimmy Stewart.
R
I was amazed at how fast the squirrels ate the bird feed…hindered, they feed on the ground and compete with others who feed. As innocent as a house rabbit let loose still feeds as it must to survive, it is unaware…as the many birds from above wait their turn, politely? Ready to feed them selves. I do not understand? What am I missing?
I love that you love animals as much as I do. I’m having a catio (cat patio) built this week so my cats can enjoy the outdoors. Indoor only cats due to the coyotes (and deer, wild turkeys, raccoons, fox) that pass alongside my house. Today was the first warm day of spring. PS Looking forward to your new cookbook.
Thanks Ellen–out next year.
R
Hi Robin,
Is your bunny visitor mostly brown with some white and darker brown or black interspersed? Hopefully s/he is an Eastern Cottontail and not an escaped domestic bunny. We have many in our yard here on Long Island and they have become very accustomed to sharing the yard with us. One, who I have named Blaze, actually comes when I call her to get her treat of corn!
I’m glad you are winning the battle of the squirrels. Ours are decidedly smarter than humans and have outwitted every “squirrel proof” device thus far. I’ve stopped keeping score (it was something like squirrels: 397 Human: 0), and have instead hoisted the white flag of surrender. “If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘me”. I’ve had to make that my backyard motto. 😂
Enjoy your travels in Manhattan!
Kind regards,
Tessa
Thanks, Tessa.
R
Robin,
It’s good to hear from you! I’ve been wondering how you and Meredith were doing, considering everything. How is your church, and the remodeling going? As always, I enjoy your writing style. Glad you are enjoying Chicago, and that life is good.
Best wishes,
Linda
I’m glad to find that you’re blogging again. I know you’ve been busy writing, but it takes quite a lot of mental effort to restart any routine that has lapsed. I’m looking forward to reading.
Thanks, Liz.The book is due next Spring.
R
Good to see you writing here again, Mr. Ellis. Spring in Manhattan looks pretty. Best Wishes to you and Meredith from England!
Thanks, Heidi.
R
Nice to have you blogging again, Robin. I look forward to more!
Rod Lipman
Hi Rod!
Glad to be back after a year writing the new book.
R
At last, a post from Robin and Meredith! I had begun to despair.
So you’re in Chicago, though the photo looks more like Greenwich Village. I thought about you – and your church – when Notre Dame burned, but your eglise has already been restored. When is the next concert there?
We are now in Manhattan!
Ah-ha! I thought it looked like the West Village.
I’ve been missing your posts. And recipes. Soon it will be time to make your wonderful quinoa salad. Hurry back to your kitchen in Lautrec and send new recipes.
Thanks, Nancy.
The new book is at the publishers and will appear next Spring.
Good cooking!
R
kroneWhat a lofty feeling ! Like the rabbit and the swift in Chicago.
Thought you look at least from behind like a very sexy Chicagoan.
Hi Hedvika,
R
Thank you for posting again–I’ve missed the peeks into your experiences.
Thanks, Cathy.
R
Hello Robin,
What a joy to hear from you again!! Such wonderful pictures you summon up with you most lyrical writing! Enjoy and thank you for including us in your travels!
Best Regards,
Fran . Shaw
Thank you, Fran.
R.
I too have missed your story’s. I don’t like twitter as much as your blog. Enjoy your words and pictures. How are the cats doing?
Thanks, Viginia,
R
Hi I’ve missed u hope u and Merridith r well.
Boy have I missed u! Hope all is well with u and Meredith!
Welcome back to your blog! We missed you. I enjoyed your posting about Chicago critters & birds. Hope you both enjoy the sunny spring days in NYC.
SO good to have you back – have missed your postings. Chicago is the Windy City, isn’t it – so WAS it (as well as wet!).
Thank you Mary.
Your comment about “pickins’ for all” took me right back to Nampara Beach. 😎
Welcome back, Robin! I’ve missed reading your blog! 😊
Good to have you back!
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What a lovely picture of Chicago you have painted!
Wow, it’s been so long, Robin! Sounds like you & Meredith are enjoying a little vacay–hurrah!
We’ve got a bit of wildlife in our yard this year–not particularly welcome, however. We are so used to seeing our fat gray squirrels and hearing the “chuck, chuck, chuck” of cute little chipmunks hanging around the bird feeder. But this spring, none of that! After a very poor supply of acorns last fall, the predatory birds have lost their shyness and are venturing closer to homes and people. We’ve had two hawks hanging around the driveway in the day and not one, not two, but THREE barred owls hanging around at night. It’s not even safe for our songbirds! My sister had two hawks actually fly around in her barn and clean out all the finches’ nests! 😦 I know everybody’s gotta eat, but sometimes I wish the animal world was more a bit more “vegetarian”!!
So good to hear from you again! Safe travels.
Cheers & hugs–
Gene & Dianne
Thanks, Dianne. Hawks we have again too!
Robin and Meredith- since you live in France, I don’t know if you are aware of Randy Rainbow. His videos (political parodies – fake interviews of real people , clever lyrics set to Broadway show tunes are pretty much the only thing that can make me smile in these troubled times: Check him out by searching Randy Rainbow-website and Facebook page My favorites are:” (Tr…mp’s Favorite Things,” ( ref Sound of Music) “A Very Stable Genius: (ref Gilbert & Sullivan) “Kavanaugh (ref Camelot) ” “If You Ever Were Impeached” ) ref Wizard of Oz) “Omarosa” ref Oklahoma.
Thanks, Myrna.
Robin and Meredith-By an odd coincidence, there’s right now a feature article on Randy Rainbow in the Washington Post Magazine. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/magazine/wp/2019/05/28/feature/randy-rainbows-witty-world/?utm_term=.b8a267d7a367