Almost

This is about as close as I'm going to get to a cardinal in the Pacific Northwest (which is why I appreciate Life's Little Moment's blip of 18 Nov. so much).

I've never been able to figure out why I love these birds, but I do. All I have in my yard are mostly little brownish birds which are dear but not very colorful, some nifty crows and a flock of pigeons which passess by all too often. (they eat everything!).

These two rather poor substitutes for the real thing sit on my bed. The one on the left I bought in a garden center in Summerseat England in 1998 and the one on the right I bought in Rhode Island at a craft fair in 1983. Both are reminders of special times shared with my husband (hey, there's a hint as to one reason why I love cardinals -- duh). I've only seen one in real life and he was in South Carolina, and once again, I was on a special trip with my husband. Believe it or not, I'm just now putting 2 & 2 together. Anyway, I did get a picture of the one in S.C. (this was back in the days of film) and it was a really great picture -- good enough to frame., so I can't say I'm totally cardinal-deprived. But keep 'em coming anyway Deb & thanks.