• Saturday-What'sUP December 22 - 08:02 pm

Typically, when you hear folks talking about "snowbirds", they're referring to the U.P. residents that head south for the winter to escape the cold and snow. Whenever I hear that word, though, I end up thinking about the real birds that stick it out here in the North Country, with the rest of us Yooper troopers.

Today's photo from Joanie Sinkler, shows us two of those birds. The ones that despite the freezing cold and the snowflakes falling down, they're right here with us, visiting our feeding stations and entertaining us with their flitting back and forth. That's a Downy Woodpecker eating from the suet on the left and the one in the middle of the feeder looks like a female Pine Grosbeak to me. Perhaps one of our "birding experts" can verify that ID, as it could possibly be a female Evening Grosbeak, too, but I'm leaning towards the Pine ID. Remember to fill your feeders so our feathered friends don't go hungry this winter.

The second two love birds, seen cutting their wedding cake on this day in 1972, are Charlie and Edie Hopper – pasty.com’s webmaster and his wife. Today they celebrate 40 years together, and they haven’t changed a bit. (Well… maybe just a little bit.) They’ve lived full time in the Keweenaw for almost 25 of those years, where Edie researches Pasty Central’s Day in History and Charlie provides the voice and production. Happy Anniversary to our Day in History team!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, Edie and Charlie!!! Wishing you 40 more wonderful years!

Mary, does look like female Pine Grosbeak. There has been a healthy "irruption" of this species this year south of their usual range, even in Winter!

Happy Anniversary Charlie and Edie. My wife Sarah
and I just had our 40th this passed October.

I love all the photos today. The bird in the snow photo is awesome and congratulations to the handsome couple!

Definitely a female Pine Grosbeck; female Evening's have a more gray body and whiter wings.

Happy Anniversary, Charlie and Edie, and congratulations for
40 years of marriage. May God bless you with many more!

Happy Anniversary God's richest blessings to you. Thank you for
starting each of our days with great memories of da' UP.

Bob and Diane in Illinois

Happy Anniversary Edie and Charlie! I sure do hope you used that newer picture for your Christmas card. What a nice picture. Thanks for all you do to make this site possible :-)

Happy Anniversary Charlie and Edie,gee 40 years,Shirl and I got ya beat by a few. Will be our 59th Jan 2. Wouldn't trade a day of it either.

It's good to see all the love behind Pasty.com. Thank you.
Happy Anniversary Charlie and Edie.

Good Morning! Happy 40th Anniversary, Charlie & Edie! It's a small world: my husband and my 40th anniversary is on in just a few days, on December 30. :-)

Happy Anniversary, Charlie and Edie. What great photos ...glad you
shared them. Edie, I hope you still have your wedding dress
somewhere...very cute. You have the exact smile in both pics!

Cheers....

Love Edie's dress too. I think that's an 'empire waist', very beautiful!

Oh the marriage of your spirits here has caused him to remain.
For whenever two or more of you are gathered in his name, there is love, there is love.
(Paul Stookey)

Happy 40th Anniverary!

Alex, sounds like you were there 40 years ago. My brother and a good friend sang that song from 1971 at our wedding.

Kitty, Edie wanted me to tell you she still has that dress. And I bet it would fit her perfectly still today.

If anyone's wondering what we're up to on our anniversary, we just had dinner at Eagle Harbor Inn, and we are headed to a Bed and Breakfast that is so remote, it is off the Pasty.NET grid. So we may have to do tomorrow morning's Shoebox Memory by carrier pigeon :o)

Charlie and Edie,before I am off to bed I want to add my wish for
a very Happy Anniversary, and I hope you celebrate many more.