This is a quick reminder that the voting for the SDS Challenge Sloth Stories is underway.

If you are new to the SDS Challenge, a little background.

Three writers will each write one story a month, going down the list of deadly sins. The stories can be anywhere from 666 words to 6,666 words in length, although those numbers are not set in stone (and Perry has blown them out of the water and into orbit). If ambitious, the writers will provide accompanying graphics. These stories will not be anonymous because some writers may want to use the same characters for each story and write a series — or book — encompassing all seven sins. Finally, interpretation of the titular sin is up to the writer. Meaning, each ‘sin’ can take multiple forms.

Disclaimer: The writing challenge has no restrictions, and the stories will likely span a wide gamut of genres. Most of the stories fall in the PG-rating range, with a few perhaps pushing into the soft R-rating. Some readers might find a few of the stories disturbing because of the topics, language, and/or plot points, and if so, stop reading and move on.

If you want to read the Seven Deadly Sins submissions for the Sin of Sloth, and then vote, your gateway is THIS POST <<link. There, you’ll find links to each of the three stories and a poll for you to vote after you finish them (if you be so moved).

Once again, no artsified versions of my photos. Instead, I give you the bird . . . er . . . I mean, birds.

As usual, you can find the full-size version on SmugMug HERE<<link. 

Let me begin this post about birds by . . . showing you a disrespectful squirrel mooning us.

No, wait . . . it was just drinking.

Since I’ve put up the bird feeders — and started throwing out peanuts (shelled and unshelled) — I’ve had as many as five squirrels on my patio. Most are very small, so this is likely their first year of life. I can just hear their grandparents telling them what’s what . . .

“You kids have too good! Back in our days, we wouldn’t find peanuts just laying around, let alone already shelled and ready to eat. Why, if we wanted peanuts, we had to run all the way to Georgia, uphill, in the snow!”

So, what’s next in this post about birds? Ah, yes . . . seeds!

All of those are now gone (I trim the ornamental grass in late January or early February). But, before I trimmed them, they looked like this . . .

Wait; those are from a different type of ornamental grass . . . .

But, you’re waiting for birds . . . OK, here are the first two. A pair of House Finches at the feeders.

It’s rare that I get a photo of the male’s lower back coloring (the above is just a hint of it). It’s visible in flight, but when not flying, the wings cover it up.

Here’s another House Finch female dining al fresco . . .

Here’s a Carolina Chickadee contemplating the unshelled peanuts . . . Nah! … it’s just looking for some of the sunflowers hearts I throw out.

This last offering is a White-throated Sparrow (male). I didn’t know they come in two flavors (morphs); one has a white stripe and the other has a tan stripe for their head colors. The tan stripe makes it difficult to see the yellow patch between the beak and eyes.

This is what the white-striped morph version looks like (neither of these photos is very good because of the poor lighting, rain, and high ISO, but you can see the difference in the head stripe) . . .

Let’s finish this with some humor . . .

I wish I’d thought of this next one . . .

OK, let me wrap this up. Thanks for reading, and stay safe out there . . . remember, 2022 is a midterm election year, and you know what that means . . .

Wait! … one more pun (young’uns might miss this one). . .

OK, OK just one more, and, no puns, I promise . . .

Anyway, if at all interested in reading three tales about Sloth, you now know where to find them (and where to vote for the one you like best or hate least) . . . you be got about two weeks left.

That’s it. This post has ended . . . except for the stuff below.

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