Schaudenfreude much?

Learned a new word - although I doubt that I can pronounce it, at least I know the correct context: Schaudenfreude is German meaning taking pleasure in the misfortune of others.

I guess the modern, internet version is lulz; which is fun at someone else's expense (especially when it relates to trolling)


A New York Times article in 2002 cited a number of scientific studies of schadenfreude, which it defined as "delighting in others' misfortune." Many such studies are based on social comparison theory, the idea that when people around us have bad luck, we look better to ourselves. Other researchers have found that people with low self-esteem are more likely to feel schadenfreude than are people who have high self-esteem.

My observation of the Schaudenfreude phenomenon - when it comes to overblown celebrities and notorious villians that are deserving of their downfall - it'll be around for a long time.

Birding in Tennessee: Eastern Bluebird

What a comeback! Eastern Bluebirds were almost elimated from our state due to a shortage of nesting cavities. But their numbers are increasing, thanks to many wildlife lovers who put up thousands of bluebird boxes. With 2 broods per year, the young of the first brood will help to raise the young of the second.

Sometimes bluebirds seem tame, but they don't often visit feeders in your yard. Finding them in the meadows, you might notice there's not too much concern over your presence. Their main food sources are insects and fruit. Bluebirds tend to perch on a pole or low branch and pounce on insects with an abrupt drop to the ground.

Eastern Bluebirds have similar coloring to robins, however they're much smaller than the robin. Bluebirds can be found year round in Tennessee and they move around in search of food.

Would you like to make a bluebird house? Find some easy to follow plans on Cornell Lab website - and you'll hear those 'chur-lee chur-lee chur-lee' songs in no time!

SONGBIRD WOODBURNED BOX BY WILDWOOD

BIRDING IN TENNESSEE is a series of articles for Edge of the Wildwood. We feature wild birds, and their habitats. Come again soon, and share our love for these incredible woodland creatures.

really in touch with my tools

Do I have power to make things happen, just by thinking of it? As I sat at my workbench recently, inspecting my burning tips, I wondered how much longer some of these would last.

As I burn wood, carbon builds up on the tip. The buildup can easily be removed by rubbing the tip on sandpaper. I keep a sheet of sandpaper nearby, and constantly tap or rub the tip to keep it sharp and clean.

Sooner or later the tips wear out. Heat, friction, and pressure cause them to crack or just break off.

So, I'm giving it just a whisp of thought and working along . . . when my burning tip cracks! Did I cause this to happen? Surely not. But it is a strange coincidence. Time to order some replacement tips.

My first experience with a broken burning tip was in 2008 and I was just stubborn enough to try to continue burning - click on the link to see what happened.

Trust me, I have no intention of pushing my luck with an electrical device. My safety record is not good, and no reason to add electricution to my injuries! Broken tips go directly to the dust bin.

OOPS I DID IT AGAIN May 2011

SAFETY FIRST Aug 2008

I'm kinda a big deal around here

Found an interesting self-promote website called about.me that allows users to setup a profile with links to their blogs!

Makes sense that people who share my interests will want to see more. And it's a nice place to design a dreamy bio. So, I built my spot and within 14 hours I have 11 views.

Check out my about.me profile!

I don't really understand how the trending or searching of about.me works, but they developed a cool 'klout' feature that might be helpful as I earn click thrus and views.

When I created my profile, I entered 10 keywords, but I haven't yet found how to search the keywords to find others with similar profiles.

Oh, you can also vote me into stardom for a chance at a color display in Times Square:)

wordless wednesday

recipe Impossible Cheeseburger Pie

1 pound ground beef
1 1/2 cups chopped onion
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 cup Bisquick baking mix
1 1/2 cups milk (no whimpy skim milk)
3 eggs
2 tomatoes sliced
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

heat oven to 400
grease 10" pie pan
brown the beef & onions
add salt, and pour into the pie pan
beat bisquick, milk & eggs till almost smooth, about 1 min.-pour over meat
bake 25 min. top with cheese and tomatoes. bake another 5 t0 8 min till knife comes out clean when inserted in the middle.
cool 5 min.

This hearty family dish was a favorite of my Dear Aunt Lucy of Birmingham, Alabama

Roy D Mercer has a vet bill

caturday hamper hiding

you might think this would be a good time to do the laundry...



think again!

BUBBA CAT has his own blog and online profile at catster

spider web shaped like a cone

I was doing my duty and mowing grass one day, with not a thought in the world. Then I noticed this odd spider-contraption! Time to take a break, grab my camera and see how close I dare to get.

Built in a basement window, and resembling a cone, this web was large and scary

What was this spider thinking? I did some research online and found that most spiders who build these funnel-type webs are known for ambush tactics. watch out!

I wasn't able to identify this particular spider, and I plan to ask hubby to vanquish the varmit. We have plenty enough spiders around here already.

sneak peek: Lovgren sign

I've been working on a custom sign order for a father/daughter team of woodworkers from Pennsylvannia...LOVGREN AND DAUGHTER makers of quality pens, bowls and rings!

These photos showing the woodburning on Italian Poplar. When the satin finish is applied, the wood will take on a soft, amber tone with delicate grain.

Edge of the Wildwood is pleased to provide Lovgren and Daughter with a sign for their vending booth. Signs are my specialty, and I'm proud to work on this project for the Lovgrens.

Need a sign? send me a message! wildwood.etsy.com

wordless wednesday

Birding in Tennessee: Purple Finch

The purple finch is a traveler. In Tennessee, these chunky little birds appear in the winter in flocks up to 50. They search for food along the edge of the wildwood, with most of their diet consisting of seeds. Occasionally, you might see a purple finch on a bird feeder - and they look alot like the House Finch.

Don't be disappointed if the purple finch doesn't appear very purply...the name comes from the Latin species purpureus, which means crimson. The males have a raspberry head with brownish wings; the females are heavily streaked brown and white with large white eyebrows.

WOODBURNING 'THIS PLACE IS FOR THE BIRDS' BY EDGE OF THE WILDWOOD

Purple finch has a loud, melodic song and they also make a TIC note only in flight. There are many collective nouns for this bird species: a 'charm' a 'company' or a 'trembling' of finches. The purple finch is the state bird of New Hampshire.

So, where are the Tremblings of Purple Finches? Their erractic migration habits create a scientific puzzle – one that requires lots of data all collected simultaneously over a huge area for us to begin to understand. One great way to help scientists get a handle on finch movements is to contribute your sightings to the Avian Knowledge Network by participating in eBird





A delightful and indepth description of purple finches by John James Audubon (1785 - 1851) can be found on 50states.com






BIRDING is a series on wild birds in my home state. Follow Edge of the Wildwood for more interesting bird subjects in this ongoing series!