After my three day adventure in Michigan’s thumb I settled back at home, grateful for a more comfortable bed, my husband and my Katie-girl.

Still, it’s hard for me to take pictures for three days and then just put the camera away. Especially when there’s so much going on in my own backyard.

Do you want to see? Well settle in, because this might get a little long. But I guarantee you’ll be smiling just like me.

The weather was changing and the birds seemed to realize it. They were in a frenzy at the feeders.

Lots of comings and goings and squawking and jostling for position.

And then it started to rain, the first rain we’ve had in many weeks.

But rain didn’t keep my birds from coming in.

I especially enjoyed watching this young oriole.

I think she may have a cognitive problem. She spends lots of time at the hummingbird feeder.

She works very hard at trying to get to the sugar water.

But eventually she’ll move over to the oriole feeder. If she thinks I’m laughing at her she gets a little bent out of shape.

Meanwhile, the juvinille red winged blackbird watches everything from his elevated perch.

We still have one adult male oriole stopping by. When he’s eating the youngsters aren’t so welcome at the feeder.

They try to quietly swoop in for a bite, but he’s not having it.

He never stays long though, so if they are patient they can get back to enjoying lunch.

The chickadee stays out of the orioles way by feeding at the finch feeder. I hardly ever see any goldfinches these days, but the chickadee eats plenty.

And little Miss Confused checks out the hummingbird feeder again.

The other young orioles are fine with that, leaves more oranges for them.

So now you know why I’m smiling on a dim, rainy summer day. Oh yea, there’s this too.

I hope you’re smiling by now. You should write a post about what makes you smile and link it to Trent’s weekly smile post. He’ll recap next Monday and share it with lots of other smiling people!

Thanks Trent! You make us all smile too!