On to the Big Weekend!

Tomorrow is the first day of our busy weekend. 

The National Agricultural Center (Ag Hall of Fame) has 

"Tractor Daze and Touch-a-Truck" this weekend, 

and it's all hands on deck. 

I was asked to take pictures for them, and am gearing up for this with 

comfortable shoes, shorts, water, and plenty of protein bars. 

So, I tried to get a lot done today. 

I did extra chores at the old house, and cleaned out the water bowls. 

I keep refilling the big water fountain in the old henhouse, and the 

red hens keep getting straw in it.  It's up on a cement block, 

but they rearrange the straw every day! 

I put out extra feed today, and then went again tonight.  However, I've 

decided now to go out really early in the morning, 

and double-check everything, since we are to have temps in the nineties tomorrow. 

I'm telling on myself here... I've been practicing making landscape shots.... and you can see I am FAR behind pulling weeds.  I'm going to try to get to them next week, and then put some straw mulch down. 

On Sunday after church, grandson Jacob is going to do some serious weed-eating here. 

The crazy thing is, those weeds pull right out... but I just haven't been able to get to them. 

I was in Michael's on Monday... and realized they were putting summer away, and getting fall out! 

I realized, too, that the colors in the fields are changing ever-so-slightly, and browns are coming to the fore. 

Does anyone know what this beautiful bird could be?  It appeared out of the blue 

this evening... and disappeared quickly.  I have never seen it before, and it was larger than the 

finches that have been feeding.  I'm assuming it was a female. 

We had a swim in the full-to-the-top pond this morning, because for the next two hot days, the dogs won't be going to the farm. 

Even though Jes doesn't get INTO the pond, he loves running around it, and splashes along the edges.  They both love to chase the frogs. 

Another little visitor today. 

I wish I had gotten these girls in focus, they were both on beautiful horses.  

I think it was a mother and daughter.  I had to hold onto Lilly's collar as we crawled past, as 

she barks (crazily) at anything unusual. 

It was a beautiful day for riding, in the low 80's with sun and clouds. 

I passed this red tailed hawk as I was leaving the old place, and 

backed up to take another look. 

It let me take a few pictures before it took off after something. 

I'm going to try to post tomorrow night and Saturday night, with 

pictures from our big event. 

The Day Before the Day

July 3rd, and we are having balmy weather. 

And I have tomatoes by the Fourth of July! 

Yes, they are cherry tomatoes and the huge green tomatoes are getting bigger by the day, but they are still tomatoes. 

They are sweet, too, and live up to their name 

Sweet Cherry 100. 

Yum! 

A handsome marauder has been visiting the back deck feeder off and on. 

I am NOT encouraging him. 

Look what I found about a mile from us yesterday! 

LOVE! 

This little feeder is on a shepherd's hook in a planter on the back deck. 

This little girl is a frequent visitor in the evenings. 

While this little one preferred the one in the yard. 

I am changing this sugar water every other day now, it gets bad in the sunlight. 

When we rebuild the deck, hopefully, later this summer... we are going to make a 

shady spot for the hummingbird feeders.  

The bees at the National Agricultural Center and Hall of Fame were working hard today! 

We are having a huge event on the 11th, and everyone, volunteers and the few paid employees, are gearing up for it.  Keith and I will both be helping. 

Sorry, I love the bees. 

This little dove girl has been eating on the back deck for the last four days with 

all the sparrows and finches. 

I have been watching her often. 

She looks beautiful, doesn't she? 

Her beak is crossed, and her right leg is not right.  She hops, mostly on the left leg. 

I know it's summer and they should be finding their own food. 

I'm trying to only put one full feeder out in morning and evening. 

But, she's the reason. 

A reminder to everyone.... keep your dogs and cats in for the next few days... 

more animals are lost at the Fourth than any other holiday. 

This beautiful girl of ours is scared to death of the boomers. 

She is in the bathroom, where it's dark and cool, and 

tonight will go down the basement with Keith to be safe where she can't hear the noise or 

see the flashes. 

Everyone be safe! 

A Busy Tuesday

It was a gorgeous spring day today! 

If you click on this picture, you will see the parents are getting sass from the gosling in the middle. 

These geese are living on a large pond in someone's yard here about five miles from us, and I pass them frequently.  In the early morning, there is little traffic, and I'm able to pull into a lay-by and take a few pictures. 

I've started looking up every time I pull into the gate at the old place. 

It's such a good observation point for the redtail hawks, and for lots of other little birds! 

The byways are still gorgeous, and I want some of this color Iris next year! 

My peonies are about to pop. 

Even though I am not feeding at the old house now, I am still putting out suet. 

As you see, it's VERY popular! 

I have been stunned to see the number of birds using it. 

Here is a sparrow and a female goldfinch. 

This morning, I went back to the National Farming Center and took pictures of the 

kids who made the beehives (they actually constructed them)... and decorated them. 

The Wyandotte County Master Gardeners had them planting bee-friendly 

plants. 

The beekeeper showed the kids how well their bees had settled in, and answered many questions.  The parents were also interested. 

The bees are happy! 

The kids and their parents learned about composting, too. 

I can't tell you how happy everyone was to be planting... these are our future gardeners and farmers! 

I also can't say enough about the volunteers who give their time and expertise to do this. 

Oh, Rooster Cogburn is doing a GREAT job of taking care of his girls out in the yard... 

and so far, I have not had a bit of trouble rounding everyone up for the night. 

Our black hen on eggs is still setting, and I've got the chick feeder and water 

ready... and tomorrow am running to get the chick feed.  

I think it will be soon, and I keep listening to hear her clucking to the 

chicks as they start hatching every day as I come in the door. 

Soon! 

Let's Use Up Some Pictures!

First, one of Paiton's program last night.

Here she is in yellow last night, on stage.  The school did something good here... each of the four kindgarten classes was in separate colors, so you could find your kids easily.  Paiton's was yellow, as you see. 

There were no instrumentals as in Jax's program last week, this was all singing. The kindergarteners did a good job, though.  There are ten kindergartens at this school... five performed last night, and 

five tomorrow night. Whew! 

I took this picture on the way home from doing chores, after the program. 

I actually passed him before my brain registered that he was sitting there... 

I backed up, and lo and behold, he did not fly away. 

I caught this dove in the tree at the old house. 

This looks, from a distance, like an Upland Sandpiper, formerly called the Upland Plover.  

I watched him for quite a while yesterday morning, as he plunged that beak into the pond 

over and over. 

Here is one pair of the three pairs of Blue-Winged Teal on the same pond, thanks for the ID, Friend Jill. 

You can see that the country roads are an absolute pleasure to drive.  This was about the ONE time yesterday and today the sun was shining.  This whole road is lined with red buds.  I have tried and I 

just can't get a picture showing how beautiful it is. 

I have the WORST luck getting deer pictures.  

I'm better at sparrows. 

And roosters. 

The dogs and I came across this small group... ten hens and two toms, this morning. 

I am rarely able to get such a clear picture of these birds (and I got fifty!). 

Today was the first day of turkey season, and I was mentally willing them to go deep into the woods. 

This was the bigger tom... does he look like he has plastic caught around him???

It does to me. 

If I had gotten out of the car, they would have been gone in a flash.  

I saw trucks (hunters)  parked all OVER the place this morning, and Keith noticed them, too, on the 

way home from dialysis.  

Another owl, tonight... I drove by HIM, too, stopped, 

took pictures (which were ALL blurry)... and then 

drove around the corner and got out of the car and took a few. 

They were MUCH better! 

Hope you all have enjoyed these!