Not Ranging Far

I have not been ranging far this week, because Keith has been hospitalized again since 

Wednesday. 

This time has been more serious, and we ask for prayers. 

Tomorrow (Sunday) he will be having several procedures that 

they cannot put off any longer. 

We expect him to be home around mid-week. 

Needless to say, this has been a going back and forth week 

for me. 

I am going to run to do the chickens this morning (now down to 20) and 

then on to the hospital.  Keith called as I finished showering, and sounds

good for the first time in days, so prayerful thanks from me. 

The dogs have been getting walked... on short hospital breaks. 

The weather has been glorious, every day.  There is cloud cover today, but no rain expected until 

mid-week. 

Notice my dainty little finger in the shadows? 

My patio flowers have been coming to the end.  I need to collect seeds tonight, if I can remember. 

See that rogue tomato?  It has bloomed and set fruit... there are three tomatoes on it. 

I'll be starting my own seeds next year, the tomato plants I bought this year were not 

great. 

I did get to spend a little time with the chickens... I have to get away from the hospital off and on. 

I found this character on his/her way up the hummingbird pole.  As mantises can kill hummers, I was glad that it was literally the day of the last hummer!  

I have left two feeders up just in case some late stragglers come by. 

I did not kill the mantis (you all know me better). 

Here is something else I am doing: 

Yes, the deck rail is getting gooey. 

I don't care. 

I was bringing in the finch bowl every night... now I leave it out.  Once the bees leave, 

the moths come, and they are just as much fun to watch. 

I have three blobs out.... I realized the bees had taken over. 

I notice they found the hummer feeders, too. 

They are making honey for their long winter. 

I'll post as I can over the next few days. 

(still no stings!  I am calm around them, and they don't bother me) 

The Random Saturday Post

Comments about things this morning: 

I read an article on the web this week about a nationwide pumpkin shortage because of the weird weather we have had this year. 

On Wednesday, I was at the Leavenworth WalMart.  There were big boxes of pumpkins there, for 4.88 apiece.  They were very nice ones, and I made a mental note to come by and get some next week. 

THEN, Thursday morning, I made a trip to the post for what I thought was an appointment. 

It was actually for Friday (and was rescheduled for next week).  I decided to run in the commissary there while I was on post... and lo and behold, they had GIGANTO pumpkins for 4.50 apiece.  

I told Keith this morning at breakfast that we need to go there next week, load up on pumpkins, and bring 'em back for the little ones, since we did not get any in our garden.  

So, I guess my decorating isn't quite finished. 

Oddly, the Bonner Springs WalMart does not have any pumpkins yet, other than small pie pumpkins. 

Keith did not make it home until 1:30 AM, after missing an early flight because of traffic, and then being delayed by weather all day long.  He came in worn out, and I don't blame him.  It's hard to be out of your own bed for six days. 

We're all glad to have him here, even though he is sound asleep right now. 

The red mum bush has repaid me for all the watering and care I gave this bed this summer.  My gosh... it is a cushion of flower.  The darker red bush is about to bloom behind it, as well. 

While behind it, the mums given to me by stepdaughter Andrea are also starting to bloom... I love this tiny pink, which is probably a lavender. 

With the cooler temps, Abby and Ranger have been able to get out more this week. Actually, Ranger was eating here, and Abby was lurking to see if she could get some. 

No, no, Pudgy Princess! 

This, for those of you who do not know... is a cicada. 

For two months now, they have serenaded us with their song in the evening, by the hundreds.  

Now I am seeing them dead, everywhere, their gossamer wings silenced. 

Yesterday in the big henyard, I saw one in a feeding bowl.. it was still alive, on its feet... but I could tell was almost gone. 

Indeed, when I passed it by a little later, it had flipped onto it's back, dead.  Their lives are so short. 

Hmmmm.  I wonder what's living down here, right in front of the door to the old henhouse? 

Not a snake... and I have not seen any rats in a year and a half. 

That hole is probably as big as a silver dollar. 

Here's Big Brother Kelly last night, watching Lilly in the yard. 

So far, we have not seen any signs of inability to urinate from him, and believe me, I am watching him. 

I have ordered ammonium chloride from Jolly German livestock products, and am going to dose him with it several times when it gets here to make sure any crystals in him have a chance at dissolving.  He is finally let me scratch along his spine and love on him a little... and really has turned into a nice little boy. 

It's a glorious fall day here, and I'm going to get off this computer and get outside! 

P.S.

I did take one neat picture this week which I never showed you: 

BOO!