I am hoping I have finished taking these short “vacations” at Danbury Hospital. Three times in a month is too many. All unexpected visits. I’m so glad to be home this week. The bird activity in my yard has never been better! May is generally the great migration time, but this year is an exception to the others. Things have been different around here and I get the same message from Vermont.

Something caught my eye just outside the sliding door while I was glancing at the paper this morning. When I looked up and saw the male cardinal — two feet outside the window, sitting on the suet feeder, I froze. He turned and twisted around the wire feeder for ten minutes, whacking off pieces of suet with that powerful bill, I could not believe it. I saw him pull off a large chunk and fly away with it; I’m sure it was a treat for his lady friend!

As I reported before, last winter there were four large, healthy chipmunks and one tiny, delicate-looking one, roaming the yard. One weekend they all left to get in a long sleep, except the small fellow. He stayed until very cold weather, and I made sure to scatter a bit of seeds near his favorite spot near the water dish. Finally, he left and when the first warm spell of spring arrived, he reappeared, but I have never seen the others!

In the rain and drizzle last Friday night, Laurie drove to Connecticut for the weekend. She stopped at my house en route to a visit in the hospital and brought a fistful of flowers. Purple, white, lavender and the old-fashioned purple and white violets, had budded and bloomed over night, with a sprig of yellow forsythia, a few beautiful blooms of periwinkle — (myrtle) it was a nice touch of spring.

Ben and Megan came to visit too, bringing a beautiful white rose in baby’s breath, and looking very grown up indeed. When it was time to come home, Susan rounded up some clothes and brought a bottle of scented spray. Wendy arrived with food galore, some of which I’m still enjoying, plus a tin of chocolate chip cookies. Ed was here earlier that day and cleaned the birdbath, fed the birds a couple of days’ food, and did some other chores. Many helping hands were all much appreciated.

It is interesting these days to watch the parade of dogs (and owners) going by on the road in front. Everyone goes round the pond and even past all three ponds. Most of the poodle dogs and a few of the others have had a “spring hair clip” and look smaller and different than they’ve looked for a long time. The big black lab pants, and slows down, on the way back from the pond. There are three different golden retrievers, all quite mannerly.

I haven’t heard of anyone seeing a hummingbird, yet, but it is about time to put up the red feeder. I am anxious to see whether the one that took showers last year, when I watered the flowers, will return.

The quote that ended last week’s column, which Laurie wrote again, was by the well-known skater Scott Hamilton. Who wrote “For to the noble mind rich gifts wax poor when givers prove unkind?”