Summer Birds

We are lucky to have so many different birds visit our feeders.  And a little walk in the woods gives us glimpses of many more.  The weather here has been hot and the birds have been active.

White-breasted Nuthatch doing some tricks

 The Downy Woodpecker is feeding herself now

She hesitates a bit before taking off for the suet

 There seems to always be a goldfinch at the birdbath

 The juvenile Red-bellied Woodpecker is getting a little bit of red on its gray head

Watching the birds helps to soothe us when we get too caught up in the politics of our state and nation.  The birds don't make demands or break promises; they just go about living as birds should live.  And providing us a respite for a while.

We love lucy

We've had a rather quiet week here on the mountain.  For several weeks we had workmen of one sort or the other and now they've all finished and gone.  The days have been bright and sunny with thunderstorms most evenings.

Lucy gets to go for a run by the lake nearly every morning.  She loves the freedom of running off lead.  After she runs and runs, she walks along the lake looking and sniffing.  Sometimes she looks as if she is stalking some prey but we have yet to actually see what it is that grabbed her attention.

Sneaking up on something she never finds and we never see

 This park by the lake will be filled with families in a few hours

But for now it belongs to Lucy

 Lucy is not at all concerned with thunder and lightning.  She loves to sit with us on the porch and watch the storms.  When we come inside she lies on her bed looking out at the rain falling on the deck until she starts to snooze again.

 And so the dog's life goes on

A pretty good life if you ask me

This weekend is expected to bring us some very hot temperatures.  When it's 90 in the mountains, it feels even hotter than 90 in much warmer places of the south.  Needless to say, we will stay inside except for the early morning hours.  At least it will be cooler then.

Today's quote is a familiar one by James Russell Lowell:

And what is so rare as a day in June?
Then, if ever, come perfect days;
Then Heaven tries earth if it be in tune
And over it softly her warm ear lays.

I hope heaven lays softly on your June days.

HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY WEEKEND WITH WARM AND PERFECT JUNE DAYS

 

Woodpecker Fledgling

Our woods are home to several types of woodpeckers.  We have at least two pairs of Red-bellied Woodpeckers coming to our feeders.  They have predictable patterns that signal that they have fledglings.

First is the parent loading its mouth with suet and flying swiftly away.  We think this is food for a bird in the nesting cavity.  Later we see the parent taking the food into the woods.  Occasionally we glimpse the offspring in a distant tree.  As time progresses, the woodpeckers bring the little ones closer and closer to the house.  And that is when we finally see the little birds and occasionally are treated to a feeding.  Unlike the parents, who have red heads, the head of the fledgling is gray at first.  As the season progresses, the gray begins to turn more and more red.

The fledgling sits patiently while the parent gets some suet

 Note the color contrast between the parent on the left and the fledgling on the right.

The fledgling's gray color and stripes blend in well with the tree trunks.

We feel very lucky to be able to watch the little woodpeckers as they become more and more independent.  Finally, one day the parent will go to the suet and fly into the woods, leaving the little one confused.  It finally occurs to them that the free meals are over and if they want suet they will have to fly to the feeder to get it.  Their early attempts are rather humorous, much like a human baby taking those first wobbly steps.

When Fridays Were Even More Golden

I think of our Ellie every day.  But recently she has been on my mind more than usual.  Perhaps it is because of a dream I had several weeks ago.  I dreamed Ellie and I were in a beautiful meadow amidst a profusion of wildflowers.  I wanted to photograph her among the flowers but she kept following me.  Then she looked at me and said (animals talk in my dreams) that she had been away from me for too long and she was not going to leave my side.  It was a sweet dream of my sweet girl.

Ellie was older by two years and she and Lucy were never far apart.  Here are some photographs of the two Golden Girls.

Running in tandem up and down the stairs to a dock on the lake

Patiently waiting at a down/stay while I answered the door.

Running like mad through a local cemetery.

Ellie was a little bigger and a lot faster.

 Taking a little break

 Snoozing in the sun with Ellie serving as Lucy's pillow.

Friends and neighbors ask us regularly why we don't get another dog.  There are several reasons.  Our house is not well designed for training a puppy so our next dog will be an adult.  While Lucy is definitely friendly with other dogs, she never enjoyed playing with them as much as Ellie did.  At the dog park, Lucy tended to gravitate from owner to owner while Ellie romped with the other dogs.  Bringing in the wrong dog would be devastating to Lucy, especially as she is getting older.  Last (but not least) we plan to move into a comprehensive retirement community within the next five years or so.  We hope to be independent and active there and if Lucy is no longer with us we will definitely get another dog.  Our home would never be complete without a dog.  But we fear disrupting Lucy's happy life by bringing in another dog right now and we won't take that chance.

So we have our Lucy, our sweet and goofy Lucy.  And the memories of our wonderful Ellie.  And for now that is enough.

Today's quote is from Omar Kayyam:

"Be happy for this moment.
This moment is your life."

HAVE A MOST WONDERFUL WEEKEND AND REMEMBER THIS MOMENT IS YOUR LIFE

 

Birds by the Lake

We have several lakes in our community.  And I love to linger near the shores at twilight and watch the mist rising.  I especially like to watch the antics of the Barn Swallows as they skim just above the water's surface catching insets.

Barn Swallows are amazing birds and nest in the summers throughout the United States.  They are the most common swallow of all.  They are beautiful in flight with their scissor-tails and darting movements.  Legend says that the forked tail came about because the swallows dared to steal fire from the gods and bring it to the people.  The gods were furious at the theft and one of them hurled a fireball at the swallow, burning away its middle tail feathers.

Swallows tend to live in caves or under man-made structures such as bridges, sheds, and (of course) barns.  They carry mud and dab it on the nest until it is large enough.  They are amazing birds and I enjoy them.  I secretly cheer every time they catch an insect.

Typical Barn Swallow nest made of little dabs of mud from the lake.

 The forked tail, punishment for giving fire to humans

 Finally she tires of my being around and shouts for me to go away

The little Barn Swallow fledglings are adorable.  They have white circles around their little mouths and look for the world like they are wearing clown makeup.  Like several other birds, the first brood may stay around to help with subsequent broods.  They are indeed lovely birds.

We Love Lucy

It's already the end of May.  As Dr. Seuss said, "How did it get so late so soon?"  Our lives change quite a bit when June arrives.  We are after all, a tourist town.  And we are near so many wonderful natural attractions, including two State Forests and a National Forest, perfect for hiking, camping, and picnicking.  Our county is home to more than 20 summer camps for children and when the schools empty the camps fill up.  Those of us who live here year round learn to be patient behind the camp buses, the cyclists, and the sightseeing tourists.  We stay in our own communities during the weekends.  We entertain guests who visit us.  And we enjoy good wine and good conversation with neighbors.  Yes, summer in the mountains is good.

Lucy enjoys summer but only in the early hours of morning and the later evening hours when it is cooler.  She loves running free whenever possible.  And she loves just hanging out in the yard while we sit under the trees.  However, she definitely does not love the camera.  She feels much more comfortable when the camera is out of sight.

I'm not at all sure what has her attention, but it clearly is not me.

 As the sun fades and the good lighting is gone, she gives me a rather disgruntled look.

Not a smile in sight.
My daughter says if the police ever need a Lucy mugshot, this would be the one.

Our thoughts go out this week to those who are suffering from the effects of wars, famine, and severe weather.  So many are troubled and in pain.  Please help them in whatever way you can.

Today's quote is from George Eliot:

"It's never too late to be what you might have been."

HAVE A SAFE AND WONDERFUL WEEKEND EVERYONE

Honor Those Who Gave Their Last Measure