A helluva time to get sick. Really sick.
I simply could not let Christmas go by without wishing my readers a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.
I’m not one to collect and label “Christmassy” photos but I thought this Song Sparrow on a frosty perch would serve the purpose. ‘He’s” eating frosty seeds from his frosty perch and of you look carefully you can see some of that frost falling next to his tail.
It’s been my long-standing tradition to go shooting on Christmas morning but this year that’s not happening. Two days ago I came down with an extraordinarily nasty bug that has kicked, and continues to kick, my butt. It’s been a very long time since I’ve felt this rotten.
When I was teaching I used to come down with many of the bugs my students brought into the classroom (teaching is like spending time in a pre-inoculated petri dish) but I haven’t been seriously ill since I retired from the classroom 20 1/2 years ago. Because of no sleep at all last night due to almost constant coughing and sneezing, I don’t dare drive my pickup the relatively long distance required to reach any of my usual birding locations. Driving on no sleep is asking for trouble.
At least it isn’t Covid. And as of this morning my temperature (99.1) is almost back down to normal so I’m hoping the worst is behind me.
On that note of optimism, I wish all of my readers a merry, and healthy, Christmas.
Ron
I pray you well get well soon and be out birding with the rest of us! Merry 3rd day of Christmas! Love the song sparrow in snow!
Ron, Wishing you the best health. Having been a teach I know exactly what you went through. Always love seeing your work, and reading your notes. Always something to learn and take with me into the field as I go out to take my photos. Thanks, and Happy New Year.
Take care…. & “Thank you” for all you share with us through out the year.
Merry Christmas Ron and thank you for your wonderful photos and entertaining and educational writing. Take care and get well soon. And keep testing now and then, just to be safe.
Best wishes for a rapid recovery!
Sorry,,,,,,,
Oh no! Feel better soon. My husband is ill w coughing and fever. Off to the VA if not better tomorrow. Happy holidays’
Merry Christmas from Rhode Island Ron !! I’ve got the same thing. Not COVID but kicking my butt !!! Get so,e sleep !!
Oh what a bummer to be sick on a day that’s supposed to be at least cheery if not merry! Hoping you get to both before the end of the day, Ron … and thanks for the holiday Song Sparrow even though you’re feeling puny! ❤️
Merry Christmas to you too, Ron.
Hope you get better soon.
What a lovely photo.
But the news of a monstrous bug? Well, hell’s bells, what was Santa thinking!
Perhaps your kind and generous heart will help you kick the illness very soon.
Merry Christmas and may the New Year find you healthy.
Merry Christmas Ron! Rotten time to feel rotten- take good care of yourself. Thank you for all the joy you share throughout the year!
Wishing your a fast recovery!
Merry (after you feel better) Christmas, Ron, and thank you for all the enjoyment you bring to us throughout the year. Wishing you a speedy recovery and a healthy start for the new year.
Merry Christmas, Ron. Be well for the new year.
So sorry you are sick! I was worried if Mia wasn’t well you might catch something too! I hope you an Mia can still have somewhat of nice holiday. Open up that whiskey I gave you, it’s strong enough to maybe knock you out for a nap.
Lovely photo, I have always loved that series with the hoar frost.
April, that whiskey is long gone. I still have the decorated bottle on display on my bookshelf though.
Get well soon! Both my husband and I caught a nasty head cold a week ago – ugh!!! Even being completely congested we’re enjoying mimosas and Christmas tunes! Merry Christmas Ron! Appreciate you 🎄🤗🦌🦅🦉
Get well soon! Merry Christmas the best you can !
Oh Ron. I am so very sorry to read this. I hope you are feeling much, much better and recovery from your decidedly unmerry Christmas.. And SOON.
Thank you for the lovely Song Sparrow image this morning, Ron. I’m so sorry you’ve been sick and that you weren’t feeling up to going out this morning. Please take care of yourself — maybe a little Bourbon in the coffee to cool it off. 😉❤️
(Also, a couple of doctor friends of mine have both suggested to me that I take a second COVID test a day or two later because so many of their patients are testing negative and then positive with the current strains.)
Happy Holidays and hope you have a speedy recovery 🎄 and a nice New Year!
Thank you for all your wonderful posts this year!
What a bummer. Hope this does not drag on too long.
Take some much needed time for recovery, Ron, and hopefully you’ll be back in the field before long. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Merry Christmas to you as well. Looking forward to another year of Feathered Photography. Feel better!
Have a wonderful Christmas & a happy healthy New Year, Ron. Three drops of Oregano Oil in a shot glass of water three times a day seems to be helping with the nasty bug that is attacking people here. Every time one of my coworkers gets sick I buy them a little bottle of Oregano Oil, if you lived closer, you would get one too. Take care of yourself!
Have a Merry Christmas as best you can and continue a speedy recovery on to a joyful and photo-filled New Year. Take care.
Glad, glad, glad it isn’t Covid! Merry Christmas to you, Ron, and to all the feathered photography friends here. Take care of yourselves.
Merry Christmas!/Users/Boeder/Desktop/M Xmas 1664.jpg
Best wishes for your speedy recovery and hope the rest of the holiday season is much healthier and happy. Take care and stay safe.
Merry Christmas and I hope you feel better soon.
Get well Ron- I’ve got a miserable cold and now my wife has gotten it, but we shall all survive. Merry Christmas regardless.
Hoping you’re over the worst of it.
Take care & get well😊
Merry Christmas to you and my Feathered friends🎄
Well HELL! Agree with the retest BUT with Flu and RSV and who knows what else out there………. 🙁 I was lucky working at the City (another petri dish with the public in/out and co-workers with kids of various ages) that I rarely caught anything and, as with you, since retiring I haven’t really been sick.
The sparrow DOES say “Christmas” Even tho not “merry” for you hope it’s not a total wash out. Merry Christmas, Ron and Merry Christmas to all! 🙂
Dear Ron,
Hope you can get some sleep today. Stay hydrated and know that we all care for you! If we were in your living room we’d pamper you. And probably make a big mess cuz you’re living room isn’t big enough for all of us.
That is beautiful Ron! You are an artist, and a very thoughtful man.
It is a measure if your indominable character that you prepared and gifted this post to all of us.
To you sir, I wish you a speedy and full recovery, and (as much as possible in your condition) a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and healthy New Year!
Merry Christmas, Ron. I hope you are feeling better soon.
Wishing you a speedy recovery!
Merry Christmas!!
Merry Christmas Ron. Hope you feel better soon.
Thank you for the sweet Song Sparrow. I love how it is so fluffy and squatting over its feet to keep them warm.
Please continue to stay indoors and pamper yourself. We all treasure you. We appreciate your photos and all the hard work and long hours you put into finding your subjects, taking the pictures then selecting, editing and sharing them with us.
Merry Christmas, Ron. Feel better soon!
Well said Melanie ❣️
Yes, Ron you are so very appreciated…do take gentle care so you can get back to what you enjoy doing ❣️ Blessings for 2024 ✅
May you feel better soon Ron.
Leslie (above) is right– you should retest, for whatever it’s worth,
at least tomorrow., COVID is definitely on the upswing where I
live– hopefully you got boosters in the past, if not the recently
reformulated version of the vaccine. I’m glad that you were well
enough to post this greeting ! Merry Christmas– sort of– and I
hope you have a very FAST RECOVERY !
AGH!!! I’m so sorry, Ron. If I could suggest a couple more rapid tests, on a daily basis…it took five days from the onset of symptoms (for me) to finally test +.
But whatever it is, may it be short lived, and may you get lots and lots of sleep and drink lots of water. Happy Holidays to you and yours.
Leslie
Speedy recovery to you and a Blessed Holiday Season.
May you have an improving Christmas, since “Merry” doesn’t seem to be in the cards.
Thank you, Ron. For the cheery Christmas card to all of us, and for the joy your photos give. Wishing you well!
Sorry you’re sick, and very glad it’s not Covid. Merry Christmas!
I hope you feel better soon.
I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy, Happy New Year! May it be a peaceful one for the world.
Thank you all the beautiful photos, you have enriched my life.
Take Care,
Kaye
Merry Christmas to you Ron, and to all of your readers. Praying for your quick recovery.
Angie