We Love Mt. Nebo

Is there some place that you enjoy returning to, over and over???? We have a place like that--and it's Mt. Nebo State Park near Dardanelle, Arkansas. This next week will be the FIFTH time since 2006 that we have been back to our little cabin (Cabin 60) sitting on the top of a mountain. We just cannot stay away from that gorgeous place. It is just MADE for us. Here are some of the reasons!!!! Above you can see the mountain from below---looking toward our cabin!!! Below are five more reasons we keep going back.







This is our adorable, rustic cabin looking toward the front. The cabin is really not rustic though, since we have a jacuzzi tub and all of the modern conveniences. It is a small romantic cabin with only one bedroom, a living/dining area with fireplace, full bath and kitchen. There is a fabulous back porch, with concrete deck, picnic table, and grill. The view from the porch looking down into the valley is incredible.







Here is another view of the cabin--from the side. If you look to the left, you can 'almost' see the view down into the valley below. We feel as if this is the best cabin on the mountain--and we ask for Cabin 60 everytime we go!







We always choose to go to Mt. Nebo in the winter---because the cabin has as fabulous wood-burning fireplace. Life can't get much better than sitting beside the fireplace drinking a cup of hot cocoa!!!!!







Mt. Nebo has a Sunrise Point and a Sunset Point. There are even benches where you can sit and relax and ENJOY it.. This is a sunrise photo taken from Sunrise Point when we were there this past December. Look closely at the picture and you can see the Arkansas River to the left.







This picture was taken last year at this time when we went. The best thing about going in February or March is that we can see the sunset (above) from our cabin --and we don't have to go to Sunset Point (like we do when we go in Nov/Dec). Imagine seeing this from your back porch... WOW!!!!!


Tell me about some of your favorite places --where you go over and over.
Hugs,

P.S. If anyone is interested in my UPDATE about my bird situation from the last post, I added a comment in the comment section that you may be interested in reading. Thanks for your help!!!

Bird Questions and Thoughts

As most of you know, I'm a fairly new birder. I never paid much attention to them (how silly is that?) until the bluebirds nested in our backyard this past Summer... I 'caught' the bug then--and my love of birds has just grown and grown. I started reading and looking at photos and information, and learning all I could. I started feeding the birds, added a birdbath ---and then started reading others' blogs about the birds. WELL---everything has gone fine until recently. My problem: the Pine Siskins have taken over the feeders and have almost run off all of my favorite birds.


For awhile I was thrilled to have all of the little siskins... I fed them and fed them and fed them... They were truly eating us out of house and home! We probably had well over 100 of them off and on all day long. AND-- I have noticed fewer and fewer of my other birds. SO I began to read some others' ideas on getting rid of the siskins. Here's some of what I have found out:
-Pine Siskins are supposed to go to Canada SOON (once it gets warm). Will they???????
-Quit feeding them.
-Take away all of the nyger/thistles/mesh feeders/finch blend bird food.


So--this past week, I've been experimenting.. I totally put away ALL of the feeders for about 4 days. I couldn't stand it. The Cardinals would just sit on the deck looking so pitiful. I than began putting out just a little Sunflower seed. I've done that for a couple of days --and there have been a few Siskins, but not many. AND--a few of my old regulars have been coming back.


We are going to be gone all next week. I guess my question is:
--Would it be best to leave all of my birdfeed inside ---to totally eliminate the siskins??
--OR---should I just leave Sunflower seed out --so that the others will have something to eat??? I don't want to lose all of our regulars---so I'm confused as to what to do. Any thoughts would be appreciated from all of you who are birders!!!


A couple of more questions:
--Is there any good way of getting the sunflower seed hulls off of the ground below the feeders???? I tried to rake ---but got everything up except the hulls.
--How often do you totally clean your feeders? I haven't cleaned them very much --and just continue to add more birdfeed to them. I did throw everything out this week and cleaned all of the feeders really well. There's no evidence of any mold or bad food in them. I always take them in during rain and at nights. (Feeders that I have: suet feeder; mesh bag with thistle; seed bell; plate with combo of sunflower seeds and chips, and safflower; a house with the same combo as the plate; and 3 hanging feeders (one with Finch blend, one with sunflower seeds, and one with safflower.)


Thanks for your help, Birders.. If you prefer to email me, that would be fine (betsyadams@mac.com). For you non-birders, IF you are still reading, here are some of my regular birds that I want to see MORE of again --like I had BEFORE the siskins came!!! Above is a beautiful male Bluebird and below are some of the others..







This is one of my fav's, the Carolina Wren. We still have a few, and they love the suet feeder along with our regular woodpeckers. But--I'm hoping that more of these little wrens will return.







We used to have lots of Goldfinches.. I've seen very few recently. Sigh!







I love our Tufted Titmice. We still have them--but not as many as we did. Hopefully, they will start coming back.







This beauty is a White-breasted Nuthatch. We still have a few, but hopefully more soon.







Finally, I LOVE this picture. It was taken on a very foggy afternoon. The little Carolina Chickadee came there and talked to me for awhile (since I was standing out on the deck). Isn't he a Cutie????
Hugs,