Friday Roundup

I took this at 6:10 this evening: 

This is what cracks Keith and me up...I can work around this guy now without him going anywhere.  He was sitting atop a pole, looking for mice, etc... and he looked at me once, saw whom it was... then I went about pulling the game camera and fixing the card that I had accidentally locked when I inserted it.  I got the legend "Locked"... thought it might be the SD card, and came inside to look up the specs and double-check.  When I went back out, it was truly dark, so I had to take a flashlight.  The owl glanced at me... as I came through the gate from the yard, and then turned back to the east, and didn't look at me again.  I was able to take a couple of pictures of him without bothering him, so did.  I think he is a barn owl of some kind, and not a great horned, because his head is round, with no tufts of hair.  He is brown and tan, or brown and white, with black bands on his tail.

Added at 7:09 PM: 

Photo by Bob Gress	Barred OwlStrix varia Measurements: Length: 19 - 20 inches Wingspread: 42 - 44 inches Weight: 14 - 18 ounces

Comments: Barred owls are found in deep deciduous woodlands, commonly along river valleys. Their distinctive “who cooks for you, who cooks for you all” call is heard more often than the birds are seen. When several birds are vocal, they can provide an entertaining chorus of calls accompanied by cackling and barking. The barred owl, along with the barn owl, are the only dark-eyed owls found in Kansas. They normally nest in tree cavities but will sometimes use large stick nests built in previous years by hawks or crows. Distribution: In Kansas, barred owls are found throughout the year and occur primarily in the eastern third of the state. They are found erratically further west. Food: The bulk of this owl’s diet consists of rats and mice but it will also eat a wide variety of other animals, including birds, fish, insects, snakes, turtles and crayfish.

Thank you, website... http://www.gpnc.org/owlba.htm Owls of Kansas! 

I took this picture for Keith this afternoon, between the two henhouses, we got 20 eggs again. 

As you see, the girls are using two rows of the henspa nestbox.  I am going to put fresh straw in them tomorrow.  I stood off to take this... but they love the lower boxes with the deep insets.  I am going to try putting curtains on the upper row, to see if some of the little girls will use it. 

Herd Dog on Duty 

The moon is beautiful through the branches of the walnut tree. 

Lilly and the Owl are keeping the mouse population here under control. 

If you did not have a chance to read "The Cranky Puppy"  yesterday, 

please go read their blogpost about the new neighbors, there is lots of good information in it.  They have just restored a beautiful old Victorian house across the street from theirs... and it has been sold to the most interesting new owners who have a very neat blog of their own.  (I guess that word "neat" dates me, huh?) 

I'm following their new neighbor now. 

Also... I want to publicly thank Ramsey's mom Kris from "The Dancing Donkey" , who was kind enough to take time out of what are incredibly busy days for her during Ramsey's rehab, to answer questions of mine about donkey care, in case some donkeys come to live here this spring. 

I've been pinning on Pinterest this afternoon, as I am getting ready to paint our living room and kitchen, and having so much fun looking at what people have done with their interiors.  I like almost everything that Brenda from "Cozy Little House"  has ever pinned, I admit it.  And I also think I may have found the perfect color, that will coordinate great with the carpet I have picked out.  More on that later! 

Linking with 

Farmchick's Farm Photo Friday