There were two bluebirds on the birdseed bell outside. I caught a glimpse of them through the kitchen window.

On my way out, I couldn’t stop for long to watch them. But there they were, a male and female, clinging to the swinging bell, enjoying a snack, or perhaps a meal.

My sister feeds the birds. Daily, she fills the feeders and attracts a variety of wild creatures. We see cardinals, blue jays, chickadees, various finches and wrens, mourning doves and, of course, squirrels. The latter claim one feeder for their own and spread seed far and wide on the ground for the birds inclined to clean up.

Occasionally, I’ll see a variety of woodpecker, black and white with a touch of red. Once, there was a hawk on the fence, but not at the feeder. In warmer weather, the humming birds flit about.

But the bluebirds were a surprise.

In Wisconsin, we didn’t have them frequent our yard. Rather, they were rarely seen, at least by me, making them more intriguing perhaps. Being warm-weather birds, they migrated in winter.

Here it is winter, and here they are, in warmer Tennessee.

It still amazes me that it’s mid-December and we have no snow, sort of green grass and warm-weather birds. Our highs this week will be mostly in the 50s (10-15 C). Temperatures will barely get to 32 (0 C) this week in central Wisconsin.

I’m grateful I made the choice to leave the cold winter behind. Now, I understand even better why some birds fly south.

It also makes me smile when I see them, these delicate creatures, settling in to a mild Tennessee winter. I am pleased to be here with them, me and the birds.

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How to Be a Better Writer Tip

Description in your writing

How much description do you use when you write?

It’s a matter of choice and preference for writers. Some writers use a lot, while others very sparingly add description.

Personally, I fall somewhere in the middle. Sometimes, I find I want to give more detail, which usually means I’m trying to evoke a mood or paint a complete picture.

As a journalist, I needed to use description only when necessary. Newspaper readers prefer shorter stories. The more description you add, the longer a story, and the less likely someone will read it. Also, newspaper readers typically are looking for just the facts. Unless it’s key to the story, the color, texture, scent or taste are probably not important. I learned to pick and choose description carefully for greatest emphasis or impact.

Of course, there are times when more description helps set a tone, or shows readers what something looks like or feels like.

I think of this because I’ve been reading a novel written in 1922, and the description is a bit over the top. Yet, I can see how the author would be captivated with describing the world and characters she created. While not every last thing is detailed, there still is more than I care to read. And then I find myself skimming paragraphs, to see if there’s anything important there, or just a pretty picture.

It made me think of my own description, and how much is too much. There’s no right or wrong answer – just something to consider. For that author — and others — a lot of detail is what marks their writing. The type of writing, the audience and your personal style will help determine the amount of description you need.