Back In the Real World

Back to the Ag Hall today on the front desk, and even in the debilitating heat, 

there were lots of tours by day care groups.  Whew. 

I was glad to be in air conditioning. 

I did take some pictures of the Master Gardener's garden in the 

front of the building... it is so beautiful.

(the orange asclepias I transplanted last year did not live, 

but I have two clumps of yellow, I love this flower) 

Love this peach... 

and this buttery yellow. 

When I got home, I watered my own garden, and then 

let the hose trickle into the gardens. 

I looked down through the spare bedroom window to see this!  

(She fed it) 

But this little finch drew my eye. 

Instead of flying off as soon as I opened the door, as the other birds did, it lingered. 

I sat down in a chair on the patio and watched it for a while... it was able to eat while the other birds were gone. 

I really was watching him... I think it is a juvenile... but... house finches are prone to a terrible eye disease, their eyes crust over, they become blind, and cannot find water or food.  I saw probably five last summer, it breaks my heart. 

This little one appeared to have two working eyes...

But the thing that really worried me is that I looked down there ten minutes ago, and it was still there, next to the water bowl, eating and hopping around.  It should be going to nest by now. 

I'll keep an eye out for it. 

Lilly is past chasing after little birds like this, she laid there while I was taking pictures. 

There won't be any dog-walking going on for a few days while we are in the middle of our heat wave.  We might try VERY early tomorrow morning, though. 

Jes has the right idea, he got some of his toys together and he is sleeping right in front of a fan. 

At the Park and Along the Way

My dogs are bullies. 

Keith and I have to spell P.A.R.K. and we can't spell 

W.A.L.K. any more, because they know what that means!

When they decide it's time we need to go, they start following me around and 

staring at me, or nudging me.  Lilly is the WORST. 

I had some errands to do early this morning, then came home to get the bullies. 

Happy now, because we are at the park. 

(Sorry for the date, but I need to leave it on the little point and shoot for a while) 

It was 50 degrees out, with the sun in and out of clouds, but... there was a cold wind blowing. 

We have walked at the park so much that I can identify the parts of the path in our pictures! 

You know we have to stop and check the pee mail. 

Many times. 

The Basehor community gardens share space in the park, and the public works department has been over to do the tilling for the season. 

That mulch smells good! 

Two weeks ago today, benches were installed at each of the turns on the new track. 

This is the "old park" side.... and in the distance, the new park with it's big walking trail.  There are only young trees on that side.  2 and a half trips around the old park is one mile, but as near as I can figure, one full circuit of old and new is equal to a mile, and that's what we try to do daily. 

Sometimes, Lil wears out.  Then we go home. 

We saw this little guy on our way.  He was trying to hit the milk bar. 

Mom kept walking (see how dirty my window is?) 

Our pastures have greened up nicely in Leavenworth County. 

The sun came out (and I rolled the window down)... and she was STILL walking. 

He finally got to drink for a few minutes. 

While their friends watched. 

A meadowlark was watching, too. 

When we got home, I took a few pictures out the back door. 

It amazes me how the birds can rest on the wires. 

This dove was waiting for a chance at the feed.  There are VERY few starlings coming down because of the grackles, cowbirds and red-wings. 

But there's the starling behind her. 

I took the one feeder down today, and removed the suet cage. 

I did put a little feed out. 

I'm going to see how things go for a few days without putting the 

feeder up.  I had long since taken the second winter feeder down, and the nyger feeder, because 

the finches won't come with the big birds here. 

Tomorrow is a work day at the Ag Hall of Fame, so I am going to go 

over in the morning and clean for a few hours, preparatory to our 2016 

opening. 

I hope to take some pictures while I'm there. 

Everyone have a great weekend! 

ARGHHHHHH!

Guess what? 

We got about 3 inches of snow... and the intrepid dogs and I walked in it! 

Yes, it was pretty darn cold, and I realized after a few minutes that 

there was ice underneath. 

Pluckiest. Dog. Ever. 

I know he was cold and he came right along, did not hold back. 

I am so proud of him! 

We were alone, as you can see... except for these ... 

The snow showed how many different animals had been there overnight and this morning. 

Lilly took off as soon as we got out of the car... 

And then, as you see... totally got away from me.  Boy, I was worried for a second that she 

was about to take off after squirrels, because there is an open pasture in the direction she is 

looking.  She stopped another ten yards down the path, and I was able to get her.  

As you see, there was no wind, and that's what saved us in the 30 degree weather. 

The ice-covered trees were gorgeous. 

When we got home, there was a gold and a purple finch eating at the nyjer feeder. 

I was glad to see them, I see very few goldfinches here, and we had lots at the old place. 

This blurry pictures shows some of the mourning doves eating... they constantly drive each other off, though we think of them as gentle creatures.  

And then... it happened... I looked out the window to see this. 

Mourning doves on the fenceline. 

See the bird on the post? 

STARLINGS!!!!

That's why I'm screaming. 

They poop all over everything.  They drive the other birds off. 

They eat EVERY BITE. 

Once they find the feed... look out! 

Remember the chicken houses at the old house?  

The European Starling. 

I guess they have to eat, too.  

At least they will clean up the seed pile! 

And I'd better stock up on seed! 

A Full Weekend

And I mean full. 

Friday night, my spouse treated me, his mom and dad, 

daughter Amber with husband Jesse, and their 3 kids, 

my son Jim and wife Amy and two of their kids, and our good friends
Troy and Kathy and their family to a party for my birthday. 

Yep, we were in a suite at the good old ballpark. 

(Keith's dad watching the doubleheader) 

Tiny baby Hayden, born just a month ago, was there. 

Sizzle the Mascot was there, along with Troy's daughter and 

grands... 

Here is your blogger opening gifts... my awesome husband 

gifted me with photography equipment... this is a professional-quality 

tripod.  The equipment is so awesome, I am going to have to take 

some lessons at Wolfe's camera to learn to use everything. 

Saturday, we were so tired ... and Keith had a bad day physically... that I took only a few pictures. 

Today, through, I had time to do some "playing". 

In 20 years of keeping chickens, I have always believed that a busy 

hen is a healthy hen.  I was given some old straw at the Ag Hall 

when they got their new straw for this year's hayrides... and I give a 

flake to the girls from time to time, since I don't let them in the pasture as of old. 

They have a blast with it! 

My beautiful Silver was used to running in the yard with the cochins that 

have gone home to my friend. 

She tries to get out every day when I go there.  She talks to me a lot, too. 

She and another hen are going to come here to live at some point, we 

already have a little coop for them. 

Here is our girl Lil laying on the new back deck here. 

I will show you this week... we had a very old, unsafe 

builder's grade deck here, and it has been replaced by two 

awesome framers from Sands Construction of Leavenworth, KS. 

It should be finished tomorrow, and I will show you the grand unveiling. 

I took this picture tonight with my new Tamron 150-600 mm lens

which Keith gave me. I was on the deck at the old house, and did not even have it extended 

the whole way.  MY GOSH.  I should be able to show you hummingbird eyeballs with this 

baby!  

Speaking of hummingbirds, the migration will be starting soon, so keep 

filling your feeders and tending your flowers for our little migrants. 

Hopping back to this morning, for the first time in almost four months, 

I was able to see the hawk's nest.  It has been hidden by leaves all summer... more proof that fall is coming like a freight train. 

The camera kept trying to focus on the umbels of the Queen Anne's Lace. 

I am going to collect some of these seeds. 

Can you see the tiny "no see-ums" in the air? 

They are everywhere right now. 

This is a blurry picture, but you get the idea... I came upon a murmuration of starlings. 

That wasn't even all of them!  Please don't let them find my house! 

This little guy was grazing right by the road... with the little pond still shrinking behind him. 

So goes another weekend in Leavenworth County, Kansas, 

end of August, 2015.