Well, I got the car dug out. Yeah. Now, it has a dead battery. LOL. I expected that, hadn't started it in two weeks and with negative numbers showing on the thermometer it didn't stand a chance. Gonna have to get the charger off the fence and get her up. A couple more storms and it'll spend the rest of the winter where it is.
The next door neighbor that moved to the valley apparently showed up last night and tried to drive all the way to the house. It hadn't been cleared all winter and there had been some pretty good storms. The berm at the front of her driveway settled snow three feet high. Now, any idiot would have known that a Dodge van ain't gonna make it. She got over the berm which was hard packed and onto the soft stuff and just sank.
She lived here for 10 years, I just looked at her and asked what she was thinking. Well, she had her new boy friend with her. Seemed like a nice guy, but I don't think snow is his thing. She wanted me to pull her out. Nope, can't do it. I wasn't being a bitch, just no way I was going to put my vehicle at risk. She borrowed two shovels and finally dug it out. I gave her the phone number of a guy that could get in, but even he said it would take most of the day and the Bob-cat, no way the PU with plow could do it. She decided to leave the car at the road. Smart move!
The Stellar's Jays and Norther Flickers have been stopping buy for a quick meal. They had a little battle between them the other day. Looked like the Flicker had won, then the Jay went and got his buddy and the Flicker decided it wasn't worth it. LOL.
When I was shoveling the berm at the end of the driveway the other day, I wasn't paying attention and one of the dogs snuck out. I mean, I noticed he was there, it just didn't register that he was outside the gate. He stayed near, then some idiot woman in her car decides to stop rather than just drive by. All three dogs get excited and go to see if it's some one they know. If Jack hadn't already been out, I could have stopped it. So, this idiot woman opens her car door and lets the dogs in her car and baby talks to them about what sweet dogs they are. This is two terriers and a Labrador. Are you F'ing crazy Lady!!!
I was beyond pissed!! "Oh, I love dogs." Lady, just keep driving, honk at them, run over the dumb ass animals, but don't stop and let them in your car! Now they're going to try to get in every car they see. "oh, I love dogs." She really did keep saying that. Geez, REALLY, call some ones dogs and encourage them into your car when the owner is right there trying to stop them. "oh, I love dogs" REALLY????? Yeah, I really wanted to kill that woman.
So, today, open gate and if the dogs got with in 10 feet of the open gate they got scolded. Didn't take long for them to go back to, "oh, yeah, we don't go through gate."
31 December 2010
24 December 2010
Competition and Stale Crackers
A few years ago we had two grocery stores in town, they were competitors. Then, one of them decided to sell and for a while we thought we were going to get a Safeway, but in the end, the company that owned the store at the other end of town bought it. So, now we have two stores, both owned by the same people - so, NO competition. In fact two weeks ago, Ray's had run out of some stuff, so they sent their guy up to Shop and Save to raid their shelves to refill their own. He didn't even have to take note of what he got, just loaded it up in a basket, threw it in his car and off he went. Okay, so much for competitors.
When this all happened a couple years ago, the locals were pretty upset as we knew that with no competition the prices would be high and the quality low. They promised that they would run them as though they were truly competitors, not to worry. Yeah right.
For the third time this year I bought an item with out checking the expiration date. The first was some Rye Crisps, I don't think I'll ever be able to eat Rye Crisps ever again. I assure you, stale RC are really awful. Then a month ago I ended up with some Turkey Bacon that had an expiration date of 2009. Really??? 2009???
So, today, I'm returning a box of Premium Saltines that was expired. As I'm standing in line, another woman that I know said that she had run into the same thing several times and was making sure that she was hyper vigilant looking at dates.
We both indicated aloud that if items were available at the local BiMart or Corner Store, we bought there as we had always found their stocks to be fresh. Now, the assistant manager is listening to this. So, I get up there, he gives me my money and says "I guess I'll have to have the Nabisco guy check the stock." He wasn't particularly upset, just have the guy check the stock.
He asked if I wanted to exchange them or get my money back. I said that I'd already replaced them at BiMart and I'd take my money thank you very much.
Okay, if I'm the manager or assistant manager of the store and some guy is losing me business, I'm gonna be a bit more upset than that. "Ah, yeah, I'll have a talk with Gary and have him check the stock." Really??? Do you not keep track of the amount of food that comes back as stale?? Do you not care that your customers are doing their best to not enter your store? Geez, you have got to be kidding! How does this guy keep his job??
I know that I buy probably 1/4 what I used to when there were two truly competing stores. There are more people living in the area, so maybe they just don't notice it. Having two pissed customers standing in a busy line complaining about your lousy food and the fact that they buy elsewhere when possible can't help. Ah, well, I did get some fresh Saltines at BiMart.
When this all happened a couple years ago, the locals were pretty upset as we knew that with no competition the prices would be high and the quality low. They promised that they would run them as though they were truly competitors, not to worry. Yeah right.
For the third time this year I bought an item with out checking the expiration date. The first was some Rye Crisps, I don't think I'll ever be able to eat Rye Crisps ever again. I assure you, stale RC are really awful. Then a month ago I ended up with some Turkey Bacon that had an expiration date of 2009. Really??? 2009???
So, today, I'm returning a box of Premium Saltines that was expired. As I'm standing in line, another woman that I know said that she had run into the same thing several times and was making sure that she was hyper vigilant looking at dates.
We both indicated aloud that if items were available at the local BiMart or Corner Store, we bought there as we had always found their stocks to be fresh. Now, the assistant manager is listening to this. So, I get up there, he gives me my money and says "I guess I'll have to have the Nabisco guy check the stock." He wasn't particularly upset, just have the guy check the stock.
He asked if I wanted to exchange them or get my money back. I said that I'd already replaced them at BiMart and I'd take my money thank you very much.
Okay, if I'm the manager or assistant manager of the store and some guy is losing me business, I'm gonna be a bit more upset than that. "Ah, yeah, I'll have a talk with Gary and have him check the stock." Really??? Do you not keep track of the amount of food that comes back as stale?? Do you not care that your customers are doing their best to not enter your store? Geez, you have got to be kidding! How does this guy keep his job??
I know that I buy probably 1/4 what I used to when there were two truly competing stores. There are more people living in the area, so maybe they just don't notice it. Having two pissed customers standing in a busy line complaining about your lousy food and the fact that they buy elsewhere when possible can't help. Ah, well, I did get some fresh Saltines at BiMart.
16 December 2010
Meniere's Disease
Ah, such fun, a Meniere's attack. It's been almost exactly 12 months since my last full on attack. Never know how long they will last, as I recall the one last year was close to 3 weeks long. I've never been able to identify a common pre-condition that sets them off.
Meniere's is one of those fun things that no one quite knows what the cause is. One theory is that it's a autoimmune disease, but they really don't know. The main symptom is vertigo, which is NOT dizziness. It does tend to cluster with other autoimmune problems such as arthritis, which I have, big time. The obvious source is the inner ear and I have had inner ear problems all my life. I've also had serious tinnitus since the early '80s and I wonder if there is a connection.
I have found that doctors are worthless with respect to both tinnitus and Meniere's. I've tried every possible treatment for the tinnitus, none have worked. With both, most doctor tends to think it's all mental. Well, no question, I'm mental alright, LOL. If they can't identify the exact cause, it must be all in your head, not real in the least. Yeah, right.
I read about 6 months ago that there had been successful treatment for a case of Meniere's with surgery. I personally had doubts and thought that the surgery was worse than leaving it alone. But, when you first start getting the attacks and they are coming often and long term, surgery might be a real relief.
The thing is that the apparent natural progression of the disease is that the attacks come less frequently with time. That is the case with me. When it started some 15 years ago, they were often and they lasted what seemed forever and they made life pure hell. With time they were 2 or 3 a year and now I appear to be 1 a year.
I think I was lucky, I figured out fairly quickly how to hold my head to stop a body dropping case of vertigo and if the world did start to spin, I got pretty good at stopping it. Early in the disease there is no stopping the world from spinning and you just lay there waiting for it to stop, it doesn't matter if you're eyes are closed or open, it's like being inside a clothes dryer, it just won't stop. Yeah, I remember that, I'd have gladly gone for surgery. Some people are never able to stop the clothes drier from spinning. I am ever so thankful that most of the time, I can get it to stop spinning in under 5 minutes and usually in under 1 minute.
I remember those early day, when the world would spin for 10 or 15 minutes and all you wanted was to die. Hopefully I won't ever go there again!
Meniere's is one of those fun things that no one quite knows what the cause is. One theory is that it's a autoimmune disease, but they really don't know. The main symptom is vertigo, which is NOT dizziness. It does tend to cluster with other autoimmune problems such as arthritis, which I have, big time. The obvious source is the inner ear and I have had inner ear problems all my life. I've also had serious tinnitus since the early '80s and I wonder if there is a connection.
I have found that doctors are worthless with respect to both tinnitus and Meniere's. I've tried every possible treatment for the tinnitus, none have worked. With both, most doctor tends to think it's all mental. Well, no question, I'm mental alright, LOL. If they can't identify the exact cause, it must be all in your head, not real in the least. Yeah, right.
I read about 6 months ago that there had been successful treatment for a case of Meniere's with surgery. I personally had doubts and thought that the surgery was worse than leaving it alone. But, when you first start getting the attacks and they are coming often and long term, surgery might be a real relief.
The thing is that the apparent natural progression of the disease is that the attacks come less frequently with time. That is the case with me. When it started some 15 years ago, they were often and they lasted what seemed forever and they made life pure hell. With time they were 2 or 3 a year and now I appear to be 1 a year.
I think I was lucky, I figured out fairly quickly how to hold my head to stop a body dropping case of vertigo and if the world did start to spin, I got pretty good at stopping it. Early in the disease there is no stopping the world from spinning and you just lay there waiting for it to stop, it doesn't matter if you're eyes are closed or open, it's like being inside a clothes dryer, it just won't stop. Yeah, I remember that, I'd have gladly gone for surgery. Some people are never able to stop the clothes drier from spinning. I am ever so thankful that most of the time, I can get it to stop spinning in under 5 minutes and usually in under 1 minute.
I remember those early day, when the world would spin for 10 or 15 minutes and all you wanted was to die. Hopefully I won't ever go there again!
15 December 2010
Wave after Wave
After the melt came another wave of snow, well, actually, two small waves. I spent today moving snow around with a shovel. The snow blower just doesn't blow when the snow warms up and I didn't get out early enough. I am pretty sure I can get the horse trailer out if I need to.
It's suppose to be nice tomorrow, then we're scheduled for another wave of snow. Hopefully I can get the stalls cleaned up tomorrow before it hits. As long as it give me a few days between each wave, I should be able to keep up. If we get a really big dump or several waves in a row with no relief, gonna be in trouble.
Still, I'm glad I'm not in the mid west. I have a friend that lives in Minnesota and it doesn't sound pretty.
As skittish as the Flickers are, the Red Breasted Nuthatches couldn't care less. I was moving snow near the suet and looked up. Not 2 feet away were two Nuthatches eating, watching me, but not really particularly worried. LOL.
It's suppose to be nice tomorrow, then we're scheduled for another wave of snow. Hopefully I can get the stalls cleaned up tomorrow before it hits. As long as it give me a few days between each wave, I should be able to keep up. If we get a really big dump or several waves in a row with no relief, gonna be in trouble.
Still, I'm glad I'm not in the mid west. I have a friend that lives in Minnesota and it doesn't sound pretty.
As skittish as the Flickers are, the Red Breasted Nuthatches couldn't care less. I was moving snow near the suet and looked up. Not 2 feet away were two Nuthatches eating, watching me, but not really particularly worried. LOL.
13 December 2010
Fall Thaw
Yuck, after several weeks of early snow build up, the last 3 days have been warm and rainy, rainy, rainy. The stalls and paddocks are a mess. It's the kind of mess I expect only in the spring with the spring thaw and I don't mind it then, 'cause it means summer is near and it doesn't usually last long.
I was sort of prepared though, so the stalls haven't flooded the way they did a few years ago when we had the last el nina. Only one of the stalls got slightly flooded last night as the last of the snow on the roof melted with the warm weather and tons of rain. The other stalls are still completely dry. Whew. Every year is just a bit different, prepare for snow from the west, it comes from the south and so it goes.
The hay in the barn is fine but the hay shed doesn't have a vapor barrier and the ceiling is sweating, or should I say raining on the hay and fire wood in there. Better feed it first and get a tarp out there. We're at 4,200 feet, it's suppose to get cold, snow, stay cold until spring, then thaw. Ah, well.
After cleaning up the stalls I tried to clear the way in front of the horse trailer so I can get it out and use it. We'll see, a bit muddy, but I think I can get it out. A couple of us are trying to arrange the use of a covered arena to work the horses, so would like to be able to actually get out.
Have to take all this snow and manure moving slow and easy, do a little, rest a while, do a little, rest. The back is holding up, but it's talking to me. Rather ironic that after spending time moving snow, I have to come in and ice my back before going back out to move more snow. Actually, my arthritic hands are giving me a whole lot more constant pain than the back. I'll come in and they ache some thing awful.
Suppose to start snowing again tonight, so maybe homebound for a few days. Just gonna be one of those years I guess. Well, better get back to work.
I was sort of prepared though, so the stalls haven't flooded the way they did a few years ago when we had the last el nina. Only one of the stalls got slightly flooded last night as the last of the snow on the roof melted with the warm weather and tons of rain. The other stalls are still completely dry. Whew. Every year is just a bit different, prepare for snow from the west, it comes from the south and so it goes.
The hay in the barn is fine but the hay shed doesn't have a vapor barrier and the ceiling is sweating, or should I say raining on the hay and fire wood in there. Better feed it first and get a tarp out there. We're at 4,200 feet, it's suppose to get cold, snow, stay cold until spring, then thaw. Ah, well.
After cleaning up the stalls I tried to clear the way in front of the horse trailer so I can get it out and use it. We'll see, a bit muddy, but I think I can get it out. A couple of us are trying to arrange the use of a covered arena to work the horses, so would like to be able to actually get out.
Have to take all this snow and manure moving slow and easy, do a little, rest a while, do a little, rest. The back is holding up, but it's talking to me. Rather ironic that after spending time moving snow, I have to come in and ice my back before going back out to move more snow. Actually, my arthritic hands are giving me a whole lot more constant pain than the back. I'll come in and they ache some thing awful.
Suppose to start snowing again tonight, so maybe homebound for a few days. Just gonna be one of those years I guess. Well, better get back to work.
12 December 2010
Greedy Girl
The female Northern Flicker was in eating lunch today. Wow, she was really going at that suet, it was flying all over the place and you can see she had plenty sticking to her as well. They are still skittish as all get out, but now that I know that I can get a decent picture through the storm window, I don't scare them off as quickly. Still, if they see me move, off they go.
10 December 2010
Finally Got Him
Wow, these Northern Flickers have been coming in to feed for a couple weeks and I've had a heck of a time getting a photo of them. I got a few on the ground, but it's in the tree that shows them in all their colorful glory.
Finally, today, I got the male in the tree. I had to do it though the double panes of a storm window and the result was a bit muted. BUT, I have Apple's Aperture to help and I was able to undo the muting effect of the window panes and show this fellows true colors.
Finally! I'm happy now. LOL.
Finally, today, I got the male in the tree. I had to do it though the double panes of a storm window and the result was a bit muted. BUT, I have Apple's Aperture to help and I was able to undo the muting effect of the window panes and show this fellows true colors.
Finally! I'm happy now. LOL.
08 December 2010
Getting Closer
I wasn't paying a lot of attention to the activity but suddenly out of the corner of my eye, I realized that one of the doves looked different. Uh, yeah, it was the Northern Flickers coming in.
Not just one, but three Flickers. One of the males looked young, maybe mom, dad and son. Any way, got an okay pic of the female. The two males were quicker to take off at the slightest noise or movement. They even scared each other a couple times. Darn they're skittish!
The white snow doesn't help a lot in getting a good shot. It's been raining all day but I don't think the snow is going away any time soon. Hate it when it rains and warms up on top of the snow. It turns the entire area into an ice sheet. Plus it's heavy to move.
Anyway, they are all a whole lot prettier than these shots suggest. I'm sure it's all the white as the female is a bit truer to color with the other brown around her than the male is with all the white.
They are beautiful. Hope I can get them in the tree next.
05 December 2010
Getting closer
Well, I almost got a picture of one of the Northern Flickers today. Darn, they are skittish little buggers. They'd been coming in off and on all day and every time I'd get close to taking a picture, off they would go.
Right as the sun was about to go down, one came in for one last bite. Close! Not enough time to snap a second. I WILL get a decent picture, I WILL!
Right as the sun was about to go down, one came in for one last bite. Close! Not enough time to snap a second. I WILL get a decent picture, I WILL!
03 December 2010
Hmmm, Hairy or Downy?
From the illustration and description, I was starting to think this was a Downy Woodpecker, but when looking at an actual photo, the beak makes it very clear that this is a Hairy Woodpecker. I refuse to change my mind on this again, it IS a Hairy Woodpecker. What an odd name.
I always pulled any feeders before winter because I didn't want to encourage birds to stay that should be migrating, but, I live in a sub-division and I have noticed several all year feeders around. So, what the heck, if they're going to stay, I might as well have them stop by here.
As for those darn Norther Flickers, they are the most skittish little buggers. The slightest noise and they are gone. They've been coming in all day today as I work at the computer. It's as though they know when I'm trying to get a photo. Switched things up a bit out by the tree in hopes of making it a bit easier for them to feed. They are so much larger than the other birds that they have trouble with the suet feeder. They are so beautiful, I really want to get some photo's.
02 December 2010
Strong Arms
So, winter is here, the yard is white and the wood stove is getting used. Some years I don't mind the white stuff, but then years like this when it warms up and turns the snow into a substance similar to cement, I could do with out.
A few birds have stuck around, mostly the Mountain Chickadee's and Red Breasted Nuthatches, but there have also been a few woodpeckers, including a beautiful Norther Flicker. I was never able to get a photo of the Flicker, but did get a couple good shots of this Hairy Woodpecker during a snow storm. I haven't seen the woodpeckers in a couple days, so maybe they've moved on.
As for me, I've been alternating between moving horse manure or snow. I think the snow has finally gotten deep and heavy enough that the horse manure will be staying where it is until spring, but I still have to move snow to get to the barn and the front gate.
A fair share of moving snow requires shovels and my arms and back are getting plenty strong. My lower back was causing considerable problems lower down in my leg and foot and I had to ice it to get some relief. Such fun, come in from the 32 degree outside and stick ice on my back. Well, it worked, along with a fair amount of asprin, got the swelling down and my leg/foot feels a whole lot better.
I think maybe today is take a day of rest before more snow has to be moved and enjoy a good book and a warm fire. Stay warm all!
As for me, I've been alternating between moving horse manure or snow. I think the snow has finally gotten deep and heavy enough that the horse manure will be staying where it is until spring, but I still have to move snow to get to the barn and the front gate.
A fair share of moving snow requires shovels and my arms and back are getting plenty strong. My lower back was causing considerable problems lower down in my leg and foot and I had to ice it to get some relief. Such fun, come in from the 32 degree outside and stick ice on my back. Well, it worked, along with a fair amount of asprin, got the swelling down and my leg/foot feels a whole lot better.
I think maybe today is take a day of rest before more snow has to be moved and enjoy a good book and a warm fire. Stay warm all!
17 November 2010
Evergreens less work - NOT
I know the months long snow is not far away, so I've been trying to clean up the yard so there will be nothing to impeded the tractor or snow blower. I live in the forest, my yard is a mass of Ponderosa and Jack Pines. They drop needles all year long, huge numbers of them along with cones every fall and spring and fewer in the summer and winter. So, you have leaf/needle raking duties twice a year unlike a deciduous tree that drops it's leaves only in the fall.
I've been hauling needles out back for three weeks and now I'm looking out front and seeing a new mass of needles. They are just a little bit too wet to get them to burn. I really don't want to go rake and haul today, I have other things to do! Sigh.
I've been hauling needles out back for three weeks and now I'm looking out front and seeing a new mass of needles. They are just a little bit too wet to get them to burn. I really don't want to go rake and haul today, I have other things to do! Sigh.
12 November 2010
Amazon.com and Pedophiles
I am a long time customer of Amazon.com. They used to be a very customer oriented company. Maybe they've grown too big. Last night CNN did a story concerning some how to books for pedophiles that Amazon promotes and sells. They had received several customer complaints concerning these books but maintained that it was a matter of "freedom of speech" and so they would continue to carry them.
It was not until CNN got involved that any of the books were removed and then only the specific books that CNN had inquired about, the rest of the pedophilia books remained for sale.
I was repeatedly raped and molested as a 9 and 10 year old child. This is not about "freedom of speech" as Amazon claims, it is about destroyed lives. Pedophilia is illegal in all 50 states, yet Amazon considers it a matter of "freedom of speech"??
For me, I am affected enough that I will never buy another item from Amazon, but mostly, my reaction is because they had to be repeatedly shamed by CNN before they decided that "well, maybe, well okay, if you're going to make such a fuss about it, we'll remove a few of the books." It does not matter to me if they go ahead and remove every single book. I will never buy another item from Amazon.
Pedophilia destroys people, it destroys lives, it changes who you are, it changes who you become. The victim NEVER, NEVER forgets. Now, 50 years after the event, this story causes me such great pain, causes me to relive the horrors that man did to me, causes me to hate humanity, causes me to hate myself because I'm not strong enough, 50 years later to get past it.
Freedom of speech? No, for Amazon, it was freedom to make a buck. Kinda makes you wonder what else you can find for sale at Amazon.
I don't ask others to boycott them, that is some thing each of you has to search your own soul about.
It was not until CNN got involved that any of the books were removed and then only the specific books that CNN had inquired about, the rest of the pedophilia books remained for sale.
I was repeatedly raped and molested as a 9 and 10 year old child. This is not about "freedom of speech" as Amazon claims, it is about destroyed lives. Pedophilia is illegal in all 50 states, yet Amazon considers it a matter of "freedom of speech"??
For me, I am affected enough that I will never buy another item from Amazon, but mostly, my reaction is because they had to be repeatedly shamed by CNN before they decided that "well, maybe, well okay, if you're going to make such a fuss about it, we'll remove a few of the books." It does not matter to me if they go ahead and remove every single book. I will never buy another item from Amazon.
Pedophilia destroys people, it destroys lives, it changes who you are, it changes who you become. The victim NEVER, NEVER forgets. Now, 50 years after the event, this story causes me such great pain, causes me to relive the horrors that man did to me, causes me to hate humanity, causes me to hate myself because I'm not strong enough, 50 years later to get past it.
Freedom of speech? No, for Amazon, it was freedom to make a buck. Kinda makes you wonder what else you can find for sale at Amazon.
I don't ask others to boycott them, that is some thing each of you has to search your own soul about.
06 November 2010
Zen-Aughta Ride or Not?
Last day of day light savings. Pretty day, little windy, but nice. So, do I stay home and watch Zenyatta try for perfection or do I take Angel out for what will likely be the last ride from home before the snow falls? I know that if I stay and watch, Zenyatta is sure to lose. Just the way it is, if I watch an event, I seem to hex the one I want to win. Okay, that settles it, I'll take Angel out.
We did a nice little 12 mile loop, went up to a view spot to see what Wickiup Reservoir looks like. They started holding back water to start filling it about a month ago. Looks like that was a good idea, she's pretty empty. That group of trees in the middle is suppose to be an island surrounded by water, not bare land.
The Twins have their first snow. It was a bit smokey since they are doing a bunch of controlled burns around the area, so some of my photo opportunities were hardly worth the attempt. The weather was starting to change as well and my view of the South Sister was restricted to her base. Ah, well.
Angel and I mostly had a nice ride. I never know what to expect from Angel. Some times she's an Angel and other times she's the Devil. Today, she was mostly an Angel. No, really, it was a nice ride and I'm really glad we went. We got home just before 6pm, the sun was dropping fast and so was the temperature. About a mile from home I saw a hawk sitting in an old snag all fluffed up and braced against the wind. Yeah, it might just be a bit chilly tonight.
It seems that Zenyatta didn't win. Well, can't blame it on me!
The Twins have their first snow. It was a bit smokey since they are doing a bunch of controlled burns around the area, so some of my photo opportunities were hardly worth the attempt. The weather was starting to change as well and my view of the South Sister was restricted to her base. Ah, well.
Angel and I mostly had a nice ride. I never know what to expect from Angel. Some times she's an Angel and other times she's the Devil. Today, she was mostly an Angel. No, really, it was a nice ride and I'm really glad we went. We got home just before 6pm, the sun was dropping fast and so was the temperature. About a mile from home I saw a hawk sitting in an old snag all fluffed up and braced against the wind. Yeah, it might just be a bit chilly tonight.
It seems that Zenyatta didn't win. Well, can't blame it on me!
01 November 2010
Passing Through?
After the snow melted, I spent a couple days continuing to get ready for the longer staying snow. Sunday, I really didn't feel like doing much, but finally got irritated with myself and took the dogs for a walk. There were smaller birds out and we did see three three geese, but the most interesting and unexpected sighting was a coyote walking across a downed log bridge on the river
The river is way down, I mean way down. If you wanted to float it now, I expect you would have considerable trouble in places, even in a boat with no keel. The Coyote was taking advantage of the low river and downed trees to get around. He was in full winter coat and quite pretty. Most of the coyotes I see are kind of rangy looking, but not this one, he had such a full coat he almost looked like a wolf. Wasn't, wrong profile. As big as it was, must have been a male.
Monday morning as I was watching ground squirrels and trying to think of a good way to kill them all with out harming any other animals when I saw a new bird near the suet containers. They were on the ground foraging. I new instantly it was a thrush of some sort. Robins stop by often but I'd never seen these here. Very similar to the Bullock's Orioles that I used to see in the Rogue Valley, but different head and much brighter than the Robins. Looked it up and they are Varied Thrushes. According to the guide, they do winter in this area. We'll see, can imagine them wintering in Bend, but not here.
Now you see, if I get a cat to take care of the ground squirrels, all these birds will go away. I love watching the birds. I added several new one's to my lifetime list this year. Not all in my front yard, but some of them. Sigh, what to do. Wish I could train the dogs to sit patiently and then pounce on the little dirt bags. But, no, they have to bark and run and give them all kinds of notice they're coming. Patience is definitely not their strong suit. LOL.
The river is way down, I mean way down. If you wanted to float it now, I expect you would have considerable trouble in places, even in a boat with no keel. The Coyote was taking advantage of the low river and downed trees to get around. He was in full winter coat and quite pretty. Most of the coyotes I see are kind of rangy looking, but not this one, he had such a full coat he almost looked like a wolf. Wasn't, wrong profile. As big as it was, must have been a male.
Monday morning as I was watching ground squirrels and trying to think of a good way to kill them all with out harming any other animals when I saw a new bird near the suet containers. They were on the ground foraging. I new instantly it was a thrush of some sort. Robins stop by often but I'd never seen these here. Very similar to the Bullock's Orioles that I used to see in the Rogue Valley, but different head and much brighter than the Robins. Looked it up and they are Varied Thrushes. According to the guide, they do winter in this area. We'll see, can imagine them wintering in Bend, but not here.
Now you see, if I get a cat to take care of the ground squirrels, all these birds will go away. I love watching the birds. I added several new one's to my lifetime list this year. Not all in my front yard, but some of them. Sigh, what to do. Wish I could train the dogs to sit patiently and then pounce on the little dirt bags. But, no, they have to bark and run and give them all kinds of notice they're coming. Patience is definitely not their strong suit. LOL.
26 October 2010
October Winter
I did get a lot of winter prep work done, but, it seems there is always some thing left to do.
The horses find that going out in the rain to do their "business" is just too much, so much easier to do it inside. Besides, more work for mom! Yeah.
I need to run into town to drop my ballot in the mail. Don't have a single nice thing to say about politics or politicians, but, to do nothing, to not vote, seems rather foolish.
I also need to get my hair cut. It's odd, my hair dresser is a recent convert to a new political party and she has plastered her business with political signs. That combined with her need to talk about it, seems rather foolish to me and truly disturbs me. Yes, I disagree with her, but, that's only part of it.
My grandfather was both a business and community leader. While he had no problem letting people know his political thoughts as a private citizen, he believed to use his business to promote politicians, even though they may have been good friends, was foolish. His business was open to people of all persuasions and to force people to pass those political signs to come into his business was tantamount to flipping half of his customers the finger. He refused. May have pissed some of his friends off over the years, I don't know, but his customers were more important.
It's one of the few political ideas that I agreed with my grandfather about. So, do I find a new hair dresser? All I want is a hair cut, not a political debate. Yeah, I probably will find a new hairdresser. Better do it soon, hairs starting to drive me crazy.
23 October 2010
Getting Ready for Winter
They say we could have up to 14 inches of snow by weeks end. Sigh. They say the snow level will be 4,000 and I'm at 4,100, so, will likely see some of it. A little bit early for the white stuff and I hope that it will melt quickly before the winter really hits. El Nina.
I've been putting up walls on the horse motel, an open air set of stalls. Every year I prepare for what happened the previous winter and every year the winter decides to do something just a bit different. Still, I think we have a good chance of keeping the stalls of filling with drifting snow this year. New plywood, new look, Hawk in particular just can't leave it alone. Chew on it, paw at it. Jo was so upset by the stall suddenly having walls that she wouldn't go in it for more than a few seconds. My method of attachment and measurement are a bit amateurish, but it'll work and that's all I care about, especially with the snow about to fall.
Taro and Angel, Arabians, were a perfect weight for summer, but I wanted to put a bit of weight on them for winter, it does often go below zero, so I bought a popular Senior feed to supplement with. I didn't know that my gelding was pre-cushings and it put him into a full on crisis. I can't tell you how frightening it is to watch your beloved horse stand there, rocked back on his heals, refusing to move to eat or drink, pain screaming in his eyes. It turns out that this rather large company had changed hands a few years ago and they reformulated the feed and not for the better. It turns out that "senior" feeds are really bad news for Cushings and insulin resistant horses. Thank you to Dr. Kellon and her internet group for helping us through this crisis. Fortunately one of the local feed stores carries Triple Crown and I am able to get their Low Carb feed, one of the best that's not special order. His laminitis has subsided and he has started to put weight on and move freely around the paddock again and his eyes have that mischievous look in them again. Whew.
Toni, the Amazon is holding weight, but she's not putting any on. Her pancreas just isn't making use of her food. I've been feeding lots of fresh foods, birdie bread and processed pellets. She still gets her seed, but she seems to understand that her body isn't making use of them and prefers the pellets and birdie breads that I've been making her. Toni is special, she was my first and I adore her. I know that I'm watching her slowly die and it breaks my heart. She doesn't appear to be in any pain, she still plays with the cockatoo and harasses the macaw at every chance but she's soooo thin.
Shoring up for a hard winter.
I've been putting up walls on the horse motel, an open air set of stalls. Every year I prepare for what happened the previous winter and every year the winter decides to do something just a bit different. Still, I think we have a good chance of keeping the stalls of filling with drifting snow this year. New plywood, new look, Hawk in particular just can't leave it alone. Chew on it, paw at it. Jo was so upset by the stall suddenly having walls that she wouldn't go in it for more than a few seconds. My method of attachment and measurement are a bit amateurish, but it'll work and that's all I care about, especially with the snow about to fall.
Taro and Angel, Arabians, were a perfect weight for summer, but I wanted to put a bit of weight on them for winter, it does often go below zero, so I bought a popular Senior feed to supplement with. I didn't know that my gelding was pre-cushings and it put him into a full on crisis. I can't tell you how frightening it is to watch your beloved horse stand there, rocked back on his heals, refusing to move to eat or drink, pain screaming in his eyes. It turns out that this rather large company had changed hands a few years ago and they reformulated the feed and not for the better. It turns out that "senior" feeds are really bad news for Cushings and insulin resistant horses. Thank you to Dr. Kellon and her internet group for helping us through this crisis. Fortunately one of the local feed stores carries Triple Crown and I am able to get their Low Carb feed, one of the best that's not special order. His laminitis has subsided and he has started to put weight on and move freely around the paddock again and his eyes have that mischievous look in them again. Whew.
Toni, the Amazon is holding weight, but she's not putting any on. Her pancreas just isn't making use of her food. I've been feeding lots of fresh foods, birdie bread and processed pellets. She still gets her seed, but she seems to understand that her body isn't making use of them and prefers the pellets and birdie breads that I've been making her. Toni is special, she was my first and I adore her. I know that I'm watching her slowly die and it breaks my heart. She doesn't appear to be in any pain, she still plays with the cockatoo and harasses the macaw at every chance but she's soooo thin.
Shoring up for a hard winter.
18 October 2010
Taking Advantage
It's not as though I didn't have lots of things to do around the house this weekend, but when an old friend called and wanted to ride, well, heck, why not? These nice snowless days will be gone soon enough, so, what the heck, let's take advantage of it!
Saturday we took Tassie and Jo to LaPine State Park. Even though half of the park is open to hunting, we decided to do the Fall River loop, passing through the open hunting section, combined with the Deschutes River loop which is closed to hunting. A total of about 10 miles. At the end of the ride we took the horses into the Deschutes. This time of year they hold back the water to fill up Wickiup Reservoir, so the river is pretty low.
There were a lot of people in the park, even ran into three horseback riders from Bend.
Not sure why the hunters would want to hunt in an area with that many people passing through, but we did run into 2 hunters. I'd bet they didn't get their elk!
Sunday afternoon we took Son and Hawk over to a section of the upper Deschutes that is closed to motorized traffic. I was a little worried since it is Elk season and there is a herd that makes the area home. There were fisherpeople all along the river and the road stays close to the river and no way the elk are at the river that time of day, so we took a chance. None the less, we did run into 3 groups of hunters. I'm sorry, the hunters both days have got to be the laziest hunters on earth. "Lets park here and walk a mile down the road and if we see anything we can shoot it." Well, my neighbor down the road maybe a bit lazier, they feed the deer all year long, then when hunting season comes, they walk out the back door and bag their limit. That's lazy! Really, I don't have a problem with people hunting, but come on, lets make a sport of it.
Anyway, Hawk is green and a LOT of work to ride. I'm just getting too old for the silliness of a youngster. He's a truly beautiful horse, but I just don't enjoy the work any more. Started a lot of horses over the year and mostly really enjoyed it. The last one I started and enjoyed was Jo, the palomino in the picture above. 60 years on, I'm just not quick enough any more. Sigh. Hawk is the one on the right in the picture below.
So, if you have some good weather, better take advantage of it.
Saturday we took Tassie and Jo to LaPine State Park. Even though half of the park is open to hunting, we decided to do the Fall River loop, passing through the open hunting section, combined with the Deschutes River loop which is closed to hunting. A total of about 10 miles. At the end of the ride we took the horses into the Deschutes. This time of year they hold back the water to fill up Wickiup Reservoir, so the river is pretty low.
Not sure why the hunters would want to hunt in an area with that many people passing through, but we did run into 2 hunters. I'd bet they didn't get their elk!
Sunday afternoon we took Son and Hawk over to a section of the upper Deschutes that is closed to motorized traffic. I was a little worried since it is Elk season and there is a herd that makes the area home. There were fisherpeople all along the river and the road stays close to the river and no way the elk are at the river that time of day, so we took a chance. None the less, we did run into 3 groups of hunters. I'm sorry, the hunters both days have got to be the laziest hunters on earth. "Lets park here and walk a mile down the road and if we see anything we can shoot it." Well, my neighbor down the road maybe a bit lazier, they feed the deer all year long, then when hunting season comes, they walk out the back door and bag their limit. That's lazy! Really, I don't have a problem with people hunting, but come on, lets make a sport of it.
Anyway, Hawk is green and a LOT of work to ride. I'm just getting too old for the silliness of a youngster. He's a truly beautiful horse, but I just don't enjoy the work any more. Started a lot of horses over the year and mostly really enjoyed it. The last one I started and enjoyed was Jo, the palomino in the picture above. 60 years on, I'm just not quick enough any more. Sigh. Hawk is the one on the right in the picture below.
So, if you have some good weather, better take advantage of it.
06 October 2010
Hairy Woodpecker
This woodpecker and it's mate have been coming in for an occasional meal. I think this is the female as the other one has a bit more red. They had always managed to hang on the backside of the suet, keeping me from getting a picture, but today, I had moved the suet just a bit and this was the result.
Patience pays off!
Mostly Mountain Chickadees of late and an occasional Oregon Junco or Robin. Caught this Robin yesterday before I refilled the suet. Suppose to rain Thursday. Still tempted to get a cat to go after the ground squirrels, but I'd hate it if the birds left too. Sigh.
Patience pays off!
Mostly Mountain Chickadees of late and an occasional Oregon Junco or Robin. Caught this Robin yesterday before I refilled the suet. Suppose to rain Thursday. Still tempted to get a cat to go after the ground squirrels, but I'd hate it if the birds left too. Sigh.
01 October 2010
River Otters
What a beautiful autumn day, mid 80's, sunny, light breeze. Ran into town then drove out to LaPine State Park. Lots of trails along the river. I took my lunch and ate along the river. A few people came and went but it was other wise devoid of people. Oh, my goodness, the birds were in fine tune and ever so vocal in expressing their joy in the day.
A few years ago, along this same stretch of river I saw several River Otters playing under the ice. They'd pop up through the ice, spy their buddy, then go back under only to pop up some where else. They were having such fun.
I had never seen the Otter other than during the winter and was marveling at their ability to stay so hidden during the summer. Not that I blame them, during the summer, the park is one busy place, but now, with autumn here and the quiet, I was wondering if I might see them. Darn, I'd no more thought it and sure enough, I heard some splashing. Ah, it can't be! I was high up on a bank, looking down on the river. I stayed quiet and looked and looked. Finally, I spotted two Otters. One swam up river past me, the other headed down river. The river was just clear enough that I was able to watch the one for about 10 minutes. Just lucky, for sure. I sat there for another 30 minutes and didn't see another sign of them.
Would love to go back to get photo's, though I doubt I could get close enough to get a good photo. They blend so well with their background, you'd need to be close or have a professional level camera, a good SLR. I have a good camera, a Sony, but it is an amateurs camera. We'll see.
A few years ago, along this same stretch of river I saw several River Otters playing under the ice. They'd pop up through the ice, spy their buddy, then go back under only to pop up some where else. They were having such fun.
I had never seen the Otter other than during the winter and was marveling at their ability to stay so hidden during the summer. Not that I blame them, during the summer, the park is one busy place, but now, with autumn here and the quiet, I was wondering if I might see them. Darn, I'd no more thought it and sure enough, I heard some splashing. Ah, it can't be! I was high up on a bank, looking down on the river. I stayed quiet and looked and looked. Finally, I spotted two Otters. One swam up river past me, the other headed down river. The river was just clear enough that I was able to watch the one for about 10 minutes. Just lucky, for sure. I sat there for another 30 minutes and didn't see another sign of them.
Would love to go back to get photo's, though I doubt I could get close enough to get a good photo. They blend so well with their background, you'd need to be close or have a professional level camera, a good SLR. I have a good camera, a Sony, but it is an amateurs camera. We'll see.
28 September 2010
Are You Kidding?
So, had to run Toni and Liza up to Lake Oswego to the bird doc. Beautiful day for the 8 hour round trip. Traffic wasn't too bad, cops were out on I5.
Took Toni up a week early because she started to lose weight again. Her tests didn't look too bad but she put her on Enulose for life and 30 days on a second antibiotic. Hopefully she'll start to gain weight. She's a veracious eater, well, yeah, she's an Amazon, they are usually good eaters. So, just needs to get her body to make use of those nutrients.
Took Liza up for a quick look at her picking. Fall is hard on them as they go through the molt. We're trying some thing new, a topical. Topical ointments are hard on birds because like cats, they lick it off. We'll see. Parrot's don't belong in cages, they belong in the wild. But, they're here, so you have to try to make their stay as comfortable and happy as possible. With some, not so easy.
Decided to stop at McD's on the way home in order to try to stop the low blood sugar that happened on the last trip. Usually I get the small hamburger, apples and ice tea, about 300 calories. Decided, that wasn't going to be enough, so got a Frappe and one of these new Angus burgers. I guess those things are 1/3 pound of meat. You have got to be kidding me. There was enough there to feed me all week! At least I didn't get any fries. I munched on it from Wilsonville to Eugene. My GOD, no wonder we're the fattest nation in the world.
Well, I didn't have a sugar crash, made it all the way home, bright and alert.
Took Toni up a week early because she started to lose weight again. Her tests didn't look too bad but she put her on Enulose for life and 30 days on a second antibiotic. Hopefully she'll start to gain weight. She's a veracious eater, well, yeah, she's an Amazon, they are usually good eaters. So, just needs to get her body to make use of those nutrients.
Took Liza up for a quick look at her picking. Fall is hard on them as they go through the molt. We're trying some thing new, a topical. Topical ointments are hard on birds because like cats, they lick it off. We'll see. Parrot's don't belong in cages, they belong in the wild. But, they're here, so you have to try to make their stay as comfortable and happy as possible. With some, not so easy.
Decided to stop at McD's on the way home in order to try to stop the low blood sugar that happened on the last trip. Usually I get the small hamburger, apples and ice tea, about 300 calories. Decided, that wasn't going to be enough, so got a Frappe and one of these new Angus burgers. I guess those things are 1/3 pound of meat. You have got to be kidding me. There was enough there to feed me all week! At least I didn't get any fries. I munched on it from Wilsonville to Eugene. My GOD, no wonder we're the fattest nation in the world.
Well, I didn't have a sugar crash, made it all the way home, bright and alert.
24 September 2010
Never Static
I decided to go see what changes have taken place along the upper Deschutes since I was there a few days ago. Things are changing so fast. I absolutely love that walk/ride, it's never the same twice. Today I rode my Arab gelding, hoping that not having the dogs would help in getting wildlife photo's.
There were lots of Gray Jays or what I've always called Camp Jays, Juncos, Mountain Chickadees, a Red Tail Hawk, two Cranes and two Bald Eagles. We saw a doe trying to find some where to hide and lots of elk track. We came around one corner and down on the river sitting on a log were about 20 ducks, all in a row. They were very skitish and the second they heard us they took off, so didn't get a photo.
There were several fisherpeople on the river. I had to laugh, 3 days ago the fish would have practically been jumping in their boats. Today, apparently the mosquito population is down and there weren't many jumping.
There was a Hawk flying over them, but, I just couldn't get a shot of it.
At one point, a fishing boat with an outboard engine moved through an area causing 2 cranes to take flight, one of them very noisy in it's complaint about being bothered. They also flushed a Bald Eagle.
I watched that eagle hoping it would land and I'd be able to get a photo. It did land and Taro and I rode to the area that I thought it should be. Lot's of branches and it was well hidden. Just as I was about to give up, I saw it. She was sitting in a way that made it difficult for her to watch us, so she turned around. LOL, either direction, I'm happy with the photo! Darn, I LOVE that walk.
There were lots of Gray Jays or what I've always called Camp Jays, Juncos, Mountain Chickadees, a Red Tail Hawk, two Cranes and two Bald Eagles. We saw a doe trying to find some where to hide and lots of elk track. We came around one corner and down on the river sitting on a log were about 20 ducks, all in a row. They were very skitish and the second they heard us they took off, so didn't get a photo.
There was a Hawk flying over them, but, I just couldn't get a shot of it.
At one point, a fishing boat with an outboard engine moved through an area causing 2 cranes to take flight, one of them very noisy in it's complaint about being bothered. They also flushed a Bald Eagle.
22 September 2010
Cycle of Life
The gang and I decided to do our favorite walk for the last full day of summer. The upper Deschutes was quiet, you could see, hear and feel the change in season's taking place. Last week the river was high and running fast, yesterday, slow and lazy. Obviously they have closed the gates at Wickiup to start filling her up for next spring.
As we started the walk, it was sooo quiet. Usually there is a constant background noise of birds and squirrel's. Yesterday, they were there, but rather than a crowded room with the constant noise where you have to strain to make out any single conversation, it was an almost empty room with just a few stragglers left behind and you could hear their every word.
The river was low and slow with large mats of algae that hadn't been there a week ago. Wow, it grows fast. The low water had made ideal conditions for mosquitoes. Oh, how nice, now I have to make sure I include the bug spray in the backpack. The fish were doing their best to keep the mosquito population down, jumping up out of the water, taking advantage of the fresh feast. I've never seen so many fish jumping.
We walked the 2 1/2 miles of river up to a bend where the ducks will be congregating soon, but no ducks, nothing. So, quiet. On the way back we stopped and sat at a favorite S in the river. Quiet, yes, at first glance. There were of course fish jumping every where, then the dogs flushed two cranes. Oh, cool, I thought, then I looked to my left to see a Bald Eagle flying up the river, passing right in front of me, unconcerned by our presence on his/her hunting grounds. Oh, WAY cool! Sooo beautiful! No picture, even if I'd had the camera at the ready I doubt I could have gotten it. After the Eagle flew by a flock of ducks sitting unseen in the algae patch close by took flight.
Ah, so, the cycle of life, the hunter and the hunted, the fish hunt the mosquitos and the Eagle hunt the fish and . . . so it goes.
Later, away from the river we saw a hawk like bird flying low through the trees. It landed, but, with the dogs in tow, I couldn't get close enough to get a good look to see what it was. Probably a Red Tail, but don't know for sure.
A nice afternoon walk to center and lighten the soul.
As we started the walk, it was sooo quiet. Usually there is a constant background noise of birds and squirrel's. Yesterday, they were there, but rather than a crowded room with the constant noise where you have to strain to make out any single conversation, it was an almost empty room with just a few stragglers left behind and you could hear their every word.
The river was low and slow with large mats of algae that hadn't been there a week ago. Wow, it grows fast. The low water had made ideal conditions for mosquitoes. Oh, how nice, now I have to make sure I include the bug spray in the backpack. The fish were doing their best to keep the mosquito population down, jumping up out of the water, taking advantage of the fresh feast. I've never seen so many fish jumping.
We walked the 2 1/2 miles of river up to a bend where the ducks will be congregating soon, but no ducks, nothing. So, quiet. On the way back we stopped and sat at a favorite S in the river. Quiet, yes, at first glance. There were of course fish jumping every where, then the dogs flushed two cranes. Oh, cool, I thought, then I looked to my left to see a Bald Eagle flying up the river, passing right in front of me, unconcerned by our presence on his/her hunting grounds. Oh, WAY cool! Sooo beautiful! No picture, even if I'd had the camera at the ready I doubt I could have gotten it. After the Eagle flew by a flock of ducks sitting unseen in the algae patch close by took flight.
Ah, so, the cycle of life, the hunter and the hunted, the fish hunt the mosquitos and the Eagle hunt the fish and . . . so it goes.
Later, away from the river we saw a hawk like bird flying low through the trees. It landed, but, with the dogs in tow, I couldn't get close enough to get a good look to see what it was. Probably a Red Tail, but don't know for sure.
A nice afternoon walk to center and lighten the soul.
18 September 2010
Well, Hello Stranger!
In the 11 years that I've lived here, I have never seen a Scrub Jay (Aphelocoma califorinica) in my yard. Stellar's Jay's, yes, but never a Scrub Jay. My yard in the Rogue Valley ALWAYS had Scrub Jay's, to the point that my parrots would mimic their fighting. So, look who came to visit today!
15 September 2010
Cyanocitta stelleri
As I said before, it is clear that the season's are changing when the Steller's Jays come to visit. With the loose seed feeders gone, the Pine Siskin's are down to a small trickle, sharing the suet mostly with the Chickadee's and Nuthatches a few at a time rather than a hundred at a time.
There is at least one Hairy Woodpecker coming in but I haven't been able to get a picture yet as it seems to manage to always hang on the backside of the suet. Robins and Jays are also coming in for suet and water and I was able to get a photo of one of the Jays. They are a handsome bird. Noisy and bossy but handsome.
There is at least one Hairy Woodpecker coming in but I haven't been able to get a picture yet as it seems to manage to always hang on the backside of the suet. Robins and Jays are also coming in for suet and water and I was able to get a photo of one of the Jays. They are a handsome bird. Noisy and bossy but handsome.
11 September 2010
Gang's Day Out
Last week the gang and I went up to Johnny Lake to play around. It's a smallish lake and we walked all the way around it. I forgot to take my camera but as it turned out, there wasn't much in the way of beaches for the dogs to go for a swim. They, Sarah and Jack, did play in the water while Bay Li tried to keep his feet dry while greeting some other people with their dogs.
Today we went to their favorite watering hole, the upper Deschutes. As you can see, Sarah and Jack took to the water again, but Bay Li was well up on the bank watching. Jack really had fun, doing some real swimming, had me worried at one point as he went quite a ways out. Sarah decided to be a bit more cautious. You would have thought the Labrador would be chasing the stick, but, no, it was the obsessive compulsive JRT.
It was a bit warmer than I expected and we were all a bit tired. Not a lot of bird activity, kinda in between right now, but I did see a hawk playing on the thermals and two other birds so high that I wasn't sure what they were, but they were playing up there on the thermals, coming together and separating and diving and gliding. Probably a couple youngsters practicing for next spring when it will mean some thing. LOL.
Life marches on!
Bird Feeders
The Pine Siskin's have finished off the bird seed, a combination of thistle seed and shelled sunflower seed. I removed the feeders and hung a second suet container. The waves of Siskin's are gone, replaced by Red Breasted Nuthatches and Mountain Chickadee's.
I kinda miss the large flocks but, my oh my, they can get to be a bit much. The Nuthatches and Chickadee's come in more reasonable numbers. I have two types of suet out there and each hanger usually only has 2 birds at a timed. In the afternoon I occasionally see Robin's and Stellar Jay's taking a bite or two. There is also a White Breasted Nuthatch or two that come in, but mostly it's the Red Breasted.
I think they are relieved that the Pine Siskin's are gone. It was like a big mob and only a few others birds would venture in. It is a bit quieter with them gone and I did rather enjoy their chatter. They sure did move on quickly, though I see some out there getting a drink.
The bird bath has been completely frozen the last two mornings. I may have to look for a heater, other wise I'll have to cover the bath for the winter. I've had that bath for 20 years and I'd hate for it to crack.
Well, I have some hooves to trim and about 2 cord of wood left to split. Did appreciate Dale and Dave stopping by to help on the wood the other day. Every little bit helps. Ah, better get busy.
I kinda miss the large flocks but, my oh my, they can get to be a bit much. The Nuthatches and Chickadee's come in more reasonable numbers. I have two types of suet out there and each hanger usually only has 2 birds at a timed. In the afternoon I occasionally see Robin's and Stellar Jay's taking a bite or two. There is also a White Breasted Nuthatch or two that come in, but mostly it's the Red Breasted.
I think they are relieved that the Pine Siskin's are gone. It was like a big mob and only a few others birds would venture in. It is a bit quieter with them gone and I did rather enjoy their chatter. They sure did move on quickly, though I see some out there getting a drink.
The bird bath has been completely frozen the last two mornings. I may have to look for a heater, other wise I'll have to cover the bath for the winter. I've had that bath for 20 years and I'd hate for it to crack.
Well, I have some hooves to trim and about 2 cord of wood left to split. Did appreciate Dale and Dave stopping by to help on the wood the other day. Every little bit helps. Ah, better get busy.
04 September 2010
Hmm, Maybe a bit much.
No question as to whether the Pine Siskin's have found a good deal or not. Being a finch, they tend to flock and boy are they flocking in to the feeders I put out and when done eating, they quite like the bird bath.
There must have been close to a hundred out there this morning. They come in waves. Don't know if it's the same birds coming and going or if each wave is a new group of birds but you have to feel a bit sorry for the other birds. The Junco's have given up but the Chickadees and Nuthatches try to time their visits in between waves. One Chickadee in particular persists on coming in for his/her fair share.
Then there was the ground squirrel perched on the $7 feeder this morning. His cheeks full to bursting. When I went out to move the feeder so it wouldn't be quite so easy, he sat there stuffing as much in as he could then tried to run off. Lucky for him I didn't take the dogs with me. After I moved the feeder the little dirt mover was climbing up and down the tree trying to figure out where the feeder had gone. I knew last night that the squirrels were having a hay day when I saw the feeder was empty. I moved it over on the Aspen with the other feeder. The squirrels don't seem to like to climb it, though they are coming in to feed at the base. Gotta get a live trap!
Okay, I really enjoy the birds and the sound of their activity outside the window, but, really, this may be a bit much. Especially with the ground squirrels. They are doing so much damage. The birds lighten my soul and the ground squirrel's darken it. When this batch of feed is gone, that's it, back to being an Oger. Though I might leave the suet out, it's not so messy.
Then there was the ground squirrel perched on the $7 feeder this morning. His cheeks full to bursting. When I went out to move the feeder so it wouldn't be quite so easy, he sat there stuffing as much in as he could then tried to run off. Lucky for him I didn't take the dogs with me. After I moved the feeder the little dirt mover was climbing up and down the tree trying to figure out where the feeder had gone. I knew last night that the squirrels were having a hay day when I saw the feeder was empty. I moved it over on the Aspen with the other feeder. The squirrels don't seem to like to climb it, though they are coming in to feed at the base. Gotta get a live trap!
Okay, I really enjoy the birds and the sound of their activity outside the window, but, really, this may be a bit much. Especially with the ground squirrels. They are doing so much damage. The birds lighten my soul and the ground squirrel's darken it. When this batch of feed is gone, that's it, back to being an Oger. Though I might leave the suet out, it's not so messy.
Sugar Rush
Had to drive to Portland yesterday. Didn't realize until I had started that it was a long weekend. Oh, no I thought, that means the drive home will be bumper to bumper as I'll be leaving PDX the same time every one else does.
Turned out it wasn't all that bad. Was surprised that the traffic going into PDX was pretty close to the speed limit. I've done that drive when the traffic is moving at 80 mph plus from about Eugene on, so, hovering between 65 and 70 was rather novel. Figured people were worried about extra police presence for the weekend.
I had to take Toni, my Blue Front Amazon to the avian vet. I have tried and tried to find a vet in central Oregon that I can trust with my kids when they are really sick, but when an emergency hits, I know with out a doubt that Dr. Litner can handle it. She saved Liza Cockatoo's life when the local vet said to put her down and she saved Toni's life a couple years ago when her liver started to fail. So, only one place to go when Toni needed help.
Toni had been to the local vet about two weeks ago and I had not been pleased with the experience. It was just for a nail trimming, nothing wrong. The vet had taken Toni in the back room, closed the door, did what he did and then returned her. I've been to a lot of avian vets and that's the first time one has insisted on doing their work in private. Toni came back traumatized and that was it for me, back to Dr. Litner in PDX, 8 hour of driving or not.
Anyway, Toni's pancreas is failing and she has an infection. It's not good, but she's a fighter. She is the sweetest bird. Dr. Litner laughed and said that "sweet" was not an adjective she often heard to with respect to any Amazon. Well, the challenge right now is getting the medication in her twice a day. We used Cheerios and yogurt this morning.
We managed to get out of Dr. Litner's by noon, stopped by Safeway to get some ice for the medicine and a sandwich for me. Good sandwich! The traffic was heavy, but moving pretty well. Around Eugene I started getting pretty tired. As I headed up 58, it really hit me, I could hardly keep my eyes open.
I was so glad to get to Oakridge. Got gas and stocked up on sugar. A large Starbucks and a couple of candy bars. Thank goodness for sugar, I'd never have made it home. The sugar lasted me until I got home a bit after 4pm, then I crashed. I think it was a combination crash, a bit, you didn't get enough sleep last night, a bit, worry and a bit sugar crash.
Have to take Toni back in a month.
Turned out it wasn't all that bad. Was surprised that the traffic going into PDX was pretty close to the speed limit. I've done that drive when the traffic is moving at 80 mph plus from about Eugene on, so, hovering between 65 and 70 was rather novel. Figured people were worried about extra police presence for the weekend.
I had to take Toni, my Blue Front Amazon to the avian vet. I have tried and tried to find a vet in central Oregon that I can trust with my kids when they are really sick, but when an emergency hits, I know with out a doubt that Dr. Litner can handle it. She saved Liza Cockatoo's life when the local vet said to put her down and she saved Toni's life a couple years ago when her liver started to fail. So, only one place to go when Toni needed help.
Toni had been to the local vet about two weeks ago and I had not been pleased with the experience. It was just for a nail trimming, nothing wrong. The vet had taken Toni in the back room, closed the door, did what he did and then returned her. I've been to a lot of avian vets and that's the first time one has insisted on doing their work in private. Toni came back traumatized and that was it for me, back to Dr. Litner in PDX, 8 hour of driving or not.
Anyway, Toni's pancreas is failing and she has an infection. It's not good, but she's a fighter. She is the sweetest bird. Dr. Litner laughed and said that "sweet" was not an adjective she often heard to with respect to any Amazon. Well, the challenge right now is getting the medication in her twice a day. We used Cheerios and yogurt this morning.
We managed to get out of Dr. Litner's by noon, stopped by Safeway to get some ice for the medicine and a sandwich for me. Good sandwich! The traffic was heavy, but moving pretty well. Around Eugene I started getting pretty tired. As I headed up 58, it really hit me, I could hardly keep my eyes open.
I was so glad to get to Oakridge. Got gas and stocked up on sugar. A large Starbucks and a couple of candy bars. Thank goodness for sugar, I'd never have made it home. The sugar lasted me until I got home a bit after 4pm, then I crashed. I think it was a combination crash, a bit, you didn't get enough sleep last night, a bit, worry and a bit sugar crash.
Have to take Toni back in a month.
31 August 2010
We're Hungry Too!
Sigh. I do enjoy watching the birds on the bird feeder and bird bath. As I said earlier, I had hesitated putting the feeder up because the rodents aren't far behind. In the valley it was rats, here, it's ground squirrels, the population of which has exploded since the loss of my two cats. Of course, the birds didn't come in while the cats were here either.
Yesterday, while enjoying the birds, including Stellar Jay's and Robins on the suet feeder since they can't get into the seed tower, I was not surprised to look down on the ground to see a ground squirrel with stuffed cheeks. I wasn't able to get a picture of the squirrel, but I did get a mother Robin and her child.
Well, we've been found. Robins, Mourning Doves, Pine Siskins, Mountain Chickadees, Oregon Juncos, Brown Headed Cowbirds, California Quail, Red Breasted Nuthatches, Stellar Jays and of course, ground Squirrels at the feeder. The bird bath has also lured in a Western Tanager pair, even the male came in one day.
I may remove the feeders by the end of September in order to encourage the birds to move on, though, I have discovered that some of the birds are year around residents, even with the snow. I don't know, the ground squirrels have to go. I'll have to get some live traps and transport them MANY miles away. Sigh.
Yesterday, while enjoying the birds, including Stellar Jay's and Robins on the suet feeder since they can't get into the seed tower, I was not surprised to look down on the ground to see a ground squirrel with stuffed cheeks. I wasn't able to get a picture of the squirrel, but I did get a mother Robin and her child.
I may remove the feeders by the end of September in order to encourage the birds to move on, though, I have discovered that some of the birds are year around residents, even with the snow. I don't know, the ground squirrels have to go. I'll have to get some live traps and transport them MANY miles away. Sigh.
28 August 2010
Weather Change, Wood and Birds
Last week we got close to 100 degrees. Whew! I was helping place water for horses on the trail at a 6 day endurance ride with a friend. Did feel the heat. I tried hard to make sure that I drank enough water, but I think maybe I should have drunk a bit more on a couple of days as I did get a head ache.
Today the weather has changed. Mid 50's and rain. I wouldn't mind except, on my first day off in a week, I had planned on getting some of the dead wood on the back end of the property moved up front to be split for heat for the winter. I did get most of the wood that is already here covered but just really don't feel like hauling wood in the rain, even if it is a light rain. I sure do hope we get our usual two weeks of late good weather so I can get it done.
Instead of hauling wood, I've been watching the bird feeder that I said I'd never ever place out. Apparently Pine Siskin's, which are finches, gather in large flocks to feed after they raise their youngsters. That darn feeder and near by tree have been full of Pine Siskin's all afternoon, rain or no rain. Must have been nearly 50 at one point.
The Red Breasted Nuthatches and Mountain Chickadee's sneak in every now and again, but mostly it's been Pine Siskin Restaurant all day. The Junco's have been ground feeding and I was surprised to see a White Breasted Nuthatch at the birdbath. Really didn't expect that as I haven't seen one all summer, had to take a second look. There's a Mourning Dove at the bath getting a drink right now.
Following through on my vow to never place a bird feeder near the house ever again, I bought a cheap little feeder at BiMart. Filled the thing, started out to hang it and it fell apart. Well, what do you expect for $6.99? I did a little jury rigging and hung it outside the kitchen window. Sigh, well, it is fun to watch them, though they haven't found the new feeder yet.
Ah, well, here's to keeping vow's!
Today the weather has changed. Mid 50's and rain. I wouldn't mind except, on my first day off in a week, I had planned on getting some of the dead wood on the back end of the property moved up front to be split for heat for the winter. I did get most of the wood that is already here covered but just really don't feel like hauling wood in the rain, even if it is a light rain. I sure do hope we get our usual two weeks of late good weather so I can get it done.
Instead of hauling wood, I've been watching the bird feeder that I said I'd never ever place out. Apparently Pine Siskin's, which are finches, gather in large flocks to feed after they raise their youngsters. That darn feeder and near by tree have been full of Pine Siskin's all afternoon, rain or no rain. Must have been nearly 50 at one point.
The Red Breasted Nuthatches and Mountain Chickadee's sneak in every now and again, but mostly it's been Pine Siskin Restaurant all day. The Junco's have been ground feeding and I was surprised to see a White Breasted Nuthatch at the birdbath. Really didn't expect that as I haven't seen one all summer, had to take a second look. There's a Mourning Dove at the bath getting a drink right now.
Following through on my vow to never place a bird feeder near the house ever again, I bought a cheap little feeder at BiMart. Filled the thing, started out to hang it and it fell apart. Well, what do you expect for $6.99? I did a little jury rigging and hung it outside the kitchen window. Sigh, well, it is fun to watch them, though they haven't found the new feeder yet.
Ah, well, here's to keeping vow's!
Parasitic Birds
So, for the last month or so I've been watching this Oregon Junco take care of a bird that was clearly not a close relative. The Junco is a very pretty little bird and the bird that it was taking care of was half again as large and while clearly in juvenile feather making it difficult for me to identify, was definitely not going to be a Junco.
My brain finely engaged and I remembered that Brown Headed Cowbirds, of which there are many around here, are nest parasites. They will remove an egg from the chosen host and replace it with one of theirs. Then the chosen host will take care of the fledgling as though it is their own. This is the first time I've actually witnessed it. I'll tell you what though, that little Junco is taking excellent care of it's, uh, adoptive child. LOL. Hope the pictures are clear, I had to use a lot of zoom and they do blend well into the ground. Hmm, I wonder when the Cowbird figures out it's a Cowbird and does the Junco ever have a clue that this isn't it's kid? Ah, nature.
My brain finely engaged and I remembered that Brown Headed Cowbirds, of which there are many around here, are nest parasites. They will remove an egg from the chosen host and replace it with one of theirs. Then the chosen host will take care of the fledgling as though it is their own. This is the first time I've actually witnessed it. I'll tell you what though, that little Junco is taking excellent care of it's, uh, adoptive child. LOL. Hope the pictures are clear, I had to use a lot of zoom and they do blend well into the ground. Hmm, I wonder when the Cowbird figures out it's a Cowbird and does the Junco ever have a clue that this isn't it's kid? Ah, nature.
20 August 2010
Bird Feeders
Okay, okay, I know I said I'd never put up a bird feeder again. But, it was just sitting there looking so lonely, no seed, no birds. I did it, I put shelled sunflower seed and thistle seed in it. I am hoping that the already shelled sunflower seeds will prompt a cleaning up below the feeder.
Only the smallest birds are willing to go through the grate to get to the seed. Pine Siskin as seen here, Mountain Chickadees and Pygmy Nuthatches are the only ones I've seen inside.
Down below the feeder though, the larger birds are coming in to do clean up work, mostly the Oregon Junco such as the young fellow below. They seem to be doing a pretty good job on the clean up. The quail come in now and again and the occasional robin.
These kids are so small that even with my telephoto they're a bit hard to get a good photo of.
Speaking of hard to get a photo of, the darn Mourning Doves are skitish as all get out. The slightest noise or movement and they're gone. I saw one come in for a drink, so went out and just stood as still as I could and finally another one came in for a drink. The sun behind didn't help, but not a bad photo.
I do love this Sony camera with Carl Zeiss lens, it makes me look like a pretty good photographer. It's a bit bulky, but it does take good photos.
Down below the feeder though, the larger birds are coming in to do clean up work, mostly the Oregon Junco such as the young fellow below. They seem to be doing a pretty good job on the clean up. The quail come in now and again and the occasional robin.
These kids are so small that even with my telephoto they're a bit hard to get a good photo of.
I do love this Sony camera with Carl Zeiss lens, it makes me look like a pretty good photographer. It's a bit bulky, but it does take good photos.
06 August 2010
Bull Bats
When I first moved here to this house, I'd often hear and see Nighthawks as I'd sit out in the yard just before dark. Loved having them around as they eat mosquitos. I was recently lamenting on the fact that I hadn't seen any near the house in several years. Our little subdivision went through an explosion about that time and I figured that the Nighthawks moved on.
Last night I heard one, didn't see it, but heard it. They make a very distinctive sound as they hunt. There's a road here in town called Bull Bat Lane. I didn't have a clue what a Bull Bat was. I was told it was a Nighthawk. Locals called it a Bull Bat because of the sound it made combined with it's hunting at dusk, like bats. Well, I guess it sorta sounds like a bull, kinda, sorta. At any rate, it is distinctive, can't mistake it for any thing else.
Their return make my heart smile.
Last night I heard one, didn't see it, but heard it. They make a very distinctive sound as they hunt. There's a road here in town called Bull Bat Lane. I didn't have a clue what a Bull Bat was. I was told it was a Nighthawk. Locals called it a Bull Bat because of the sound it made combined with it's hunting at dusk, like bats. Well, I guess it sorta sounds like a bull, kinda, sorta. At any rate, it is distinctive, can't mistake it for any thing else.
Their return make my heart smile.
29 July 2010
Ah, Ha, Got Ya!
Managed to sneak up and get this photo today. Down below in the flowers were a couple more adults and about 10 babies. They look rather well fed don't they?
22 July 2010
Mullein
Ah, I just went out and killed a Mullein plant. Mullein is a mixed bag of good and bad. Native to Europe and Asia, it was brought to the US in the early 18th century and had spread accross the US by the late 19th century.
It has several medicinal uses and while it doesn't pose much of a threat to crops or native plants in most places, it does attract nasty little bugs that do pose a threat to both.
I think the only reason I let this one get so big was a knee jerk reaction to a gal that I used to ride horses with. Every time she would get a glimps of a Mullein plant she would go on and on and on about what an ugly plant it was. Now, I don't happen to think it's an ugly plant and it is a survivor. That should be honored.
It's the first to pop up after man or fire has disturbed an area. Mankind relied on it for centuries for it's medicinal properties and thought enough of it to make sure it was one of the plants they took when colonizing new worlds. I'm not saying that man hauling non native plants all over the place is a good thing, but that's not the plants fault. I know, I'm being wierd.
Any way, it was attracting some weird bugs, so it and it's bugs are in a closed plastic bag now. Sigh.
It has several medicinal uses and while it doesn't pose much of a threat to crops or native plants in most places, it does attract nasty little bugs that do pose a threat to both.
It's the first to pop up after man or fire has disturbed an area. Mankind relied on it for centuries for it's medicinal properties and thought enough of it to make sure it was one of the plants they took when colonizing new worlds. I'm not saying that man hauling non native plants all over the place is a good thing, but that's not the plants fault. I know, I'm being wierd.
Any way, it was attracting some weird bugs, so it and it's bugs are in a closed plastic bag now. Sigh.
18 July 2010
Interupted Dinner
A while back the dogs and I got sight of an Osprey sitting on her nest. We saw her again today sitting on a tree watching us. I stopped and took several pictures as she glared back at me. I didn't realize until I got home and looked at the pictures that I had intereupted her dinner. Full size, the pictures show the fish very clearly. Uploading though, they tend to take pixels out, so not sure if it will be so obvious in the blog. You can see the tail of the fish pretty clearly though.
Isn't she beautiful? Further down the road we saw one of the youngsters near the nest. It never did give me an opportunity at a picture. Ospreys are quite the fisherbirds. She waited for me to leave and when I just kept taking pictures, she left after giving me a bit of a glare. She's looking right into my camera lense here.
Isn't she beautiful? Further down the road we saw one of the youngsters near the nest. It never did give me an opportunity at a picture. Ospreys are quite the fisherbirds. She waited for me to leave and when I just kept taking pictures, she left after giving me a bit of a glare. She's looking right into my camera lense here.
16 July 2010
Rough Roads
Nancy and I drove up to the Moore Creek Trailhead to ride to Bobby Lake, the PCT and back last Tuesday. Well, as I said before, the actual trailhead is a nasty turn around, so we parked down the road.
The 5 miles up the gravel road with the trailer were rough and poor Jo was soaking wet with nervous sweat when we got there. I rode her down to the creek which had been full of water 2 weeks ago, only to discover that it was dry as a bone. How's that song go, "drove my chevy to the levy but the levy was dry"? Yeah, well, Moore Creek used to run all year, guess not this year.
According to the signs and maps, it should have been an 18 mile round trip, came in at 13 according to the gps. Ah, well, we stood in the marsh next to the lake and chatted for close to an hour. About 45 minutes in, I realized that I hadn't seen a single mosquito. Not sure where they were, suspect that I wouldn't want to be there near night fall though.
There was about a one mile section that had a lot of downed trees. We got over or around them all, but that section does need to be cleared. There apeared to be trail activity coming in off of the PCT, but not much from the Moore Creek side.
I'd never ridden all the way around Bobby Lake, turned out to be a pretty good sized lake. Got a couple nice views of Maiden Peak.
The ride home down that wash board road was nasty, at least for poor Jo, alone in the trailer. She always buries her head in the corner but on that ride she jammed her head into the corner so hard, she drew blood. Poor thing. That trailer is sooooo noisy, she must have thought she was in . . . well, you know.
Well, the ride was beautiful, nice day, beautiful scenary, good horses and a good friend.
The 5 miles up the gravel road with the trailer were rough and poor Jo was soaking wet with nervous sweat when we got there. I rode her down to the creek which had been full of water 2 weeks ago, only to discover that it was dry as a bone. How's that song go, "drove my chevy to the levy but the levy was dry"? Yeah, well, Moore Creek used to run all year, guess not this year.
According to the signs and maps, it should have been an 18 mile round trip, came in at 13 according to the gps. Ah, well, we stood in the marsh next to the lake and chatted for close to an hour. About 45 minutes in, I realized that I hadn't seen a single mosquito. Not sure where they were, suspect that I wouldn't want to be there near night fall though.
There was about a one mile section that had a lot of downed trees. We got over or around them all, but that section does need to be cleared. There apeared to be trail activity coming in off of the PCT, but not much from the Moore Creek side.
I'd never ridden all the way around Bobby Lake, turned out to be a pretty good sized lake. Got a couple nice views of Maiden Peak.
Well, the ride was beautiful, nice day, beautiful scenary, good horses and a good friend.
12 July 2010
Summer Flowers
After a winter of nothing but white, spring and summer flowers are a real boost to the soul.
This Iris appears to be the only one in my yard. I think it's the only one that I've seen in this rust color.
They say that roses won't grow in this area, but I have two that struggle along.
09 July 2010
Hot Days, Cool Nights, NOT
Woke up at 1am all hot and sweaty. Looked at the thermometer, 60 degrees. WHAT??? This is the mountains, not the valley. It can't be 60 degrees. That's one of the nice things about this area, it ALWAYS cools off at night.
Finally got back to sleep, got up at 5:30, it was 56 degrees. Geez! Well, if I need to get any thing done outside today, better do it early. Hadn't planned on riding but had planned on doing some clean up.
Better get busy!
Finally got back to sleep, got up at 5:30, it was 56 degrees. Geez! Well, if I need to get any thing done outside today, better do it early. Hadn't planned on riding but had planned on doing some clean up.
Better get busy!
08 July 2010
Bird Listening
Okay, I think the Dark Eyed or Oregon Junco is a handsome little bird. I love to see them in the yard, stopping by for a cool drink of water and a bath. BUT, their call to each other is a dead ringer for squeaky car brakes.
I have a yard full of Junco's. I am getting very tired of their constant calling to one another. High pitched squeaky brakes. Okay, okay, I may be a little bit at fault for teasing that one little fellow with the recording, but that was a month ago. Time to come up with a new song.
The Mountain Chickadee and Nuthatch songs are a little less irritating, but really kids, try some thing new.
Saw the American Pipit again yesterday. I'd never seen one before, so nice to get a new sighting on my list. The female Western Tanager still comes in to the bird bath, but her mate just won't come near the house. I see him from time to time out back and spotted him once on the empty lot next door, but he won't come any where near human or dog activity. He is so pretty, one of the most colorful birds in the NW and while she is very pretty, colorful she's not.
Ah, a couple Chickadee's getting a morning drink.
I have a yard full of Junco's. I am getting very tired of their constant calling to one another. High pitched squeaky brakes. Okay, okay, I may be a little bit at fault for teasing that one little fellow with the recording, but that was a month ago. Time to come up with a new song.
The Mountain Chickadee and Nuthatch songs are a little less irritating, but really kids, try some thing new.
Saw the American Pipit again yesterday. I'd never seen one before, so nice to get a new sighting on my list. The female Western Tanager still comes in to the bird bath, but her mate just won't come near the house. I see him from time to time out back and spotted him once on the empty lot next door, but he won't come any where near human or dog activity. He is so pretty, one of the most colorful birds in the NW and while she is very pretty, colorful she's not.
Ah, a couple Chickadee's getting a morning drink.
07 July 2010
Summer Riding
Rode Taro yesterday, tried his new boots. Easyboot Gloves in front and Easyboot Edge in back. He did well, walked out, didn't trip. Taro is a nice ride, I enjoy him. Rode Angel today. Angel is Taro's half sister, both are 18 years old. Different as day and night.
Angel has the attention span of a nat. Although, if I put her in a big trot, she can do it all day long. If I want a walk, with out a jig and faster than a nat, it's a fight. We've been working on it. We have made some progress. I've finally stopped listening to all the trainers who say, hold until she stops jigging then release, she'll figure it out. Yeah, right. Finally figured out that I had to change her frame.
She is an Arab, which means high head. Nice flexion, but high head. High head, I get a short stride then jig. Rather than get in her mouth and hold until she walks and then release, which has never worked, I decided to concentrate on her head and getting it down, down, down. Discovered that she can't jig for long with the head down. I mean down. So, head down. That gets me a walk. But, lengthening the stride is fun. Kick shortens stride, spanking lengthens stride. Spank her, she bucks. No biggie. So, head down, spank, ignore buck and let her settle and finally, I was getting a walk with a decent stride.
Managed an 11 mile ride today, walking at a blistering 3.9 mph. That's fast for her. It will get better, we are making strides (chuckle, get it, strides). She may have to walk with her head on the ground for a bit, but, once she figures it out, the head can come up a bit.
There were moments that were actually fairly pleasant. Saw a Red Tail Hawk . . . pretty.
Angel has the attention span of a nat. Although, if I put her in a big trot, she can do it all day long. If I want a walk, with out a jig and faster than a nat, it's a fight. We've been working on it. We have made some progress. I've finally stopped listening to all the trainers who say, hold until she stops jigging then release, she'll figure it out. Yeah, right. Finally figured out that I had to change her frame.
She is an Arab, which means high head. Nice flexion, but high head. High head, I get a short stride then jig. Rather than get in her mouth and hold until she walks and then release, which has never worked, I decided to concentrate on her head and getting it down, down, down. Discovered that she can't jig for long with the head down. I mean down. So, head down. That gets me a walk. But, lengthening the stride is fun. Kick shortens stride, spanking lengthens stride. Spank her, she bucks. No biggie. So, head down, spank, ignore buck and let her settle and finally, I was getting a walk with a decent stride.
Managed an 11 mile ride today, walking at a blistering 3.9 mph. That's fast for her. It will get better, we are making strides (chuckle, get it, strides)
There were moments that were actually fairly pleasant. Saw a Red Tail Hawk . . . pretty.
06 July 2010
Walking
Once the snow melts, there are several people, mostly women, that walk by my house every day. We live in a subdivision, and they tend to walk the same route, every day, year after year. It amazes me. The same two or three miles, every day.
I walk often, almost NEVER in the subdivision. With in a five minute drive there are several old forest roads closed to all motor vehicles and one state park with about 20 miles of trails.
One 3 mile section of closed road follows a river and I never fail to see all sorts of wildlife and birds, from Bald Eagles to finches. It's one of the most beautiful walks any where. The state park has trails that run along two different rivers and there's a water fall. If one is really into a good strenuous walk, there are several small buttes.
With all this beauty a mere five minutes away, why would some one choose to walk daily in a subdivision with cars, trucks, dogs and dust? I don't get it!
I walk often, almost NEVER in the subdivision. With in a five minute drive there are several old forest roads closed to all motor vehicles and one state park with about 20 miles of trails.
One 3 mile section of closed road follows a river and I never fail to see all sorts of wildlife and birds, from Bald Eagles to finches. It's one of the most beautiful walks any where. The state park has trails that run along two different rivers and there's a water fall. If one is really into a good strenuous walk, there are several small buttes.
With all this beauty a mere five minutes away, why would some one choose to walk daily in a subdivision with cars, trucks, dogs and dust? I don't get it!
25 June 2010
Conspiracy of Raven
Just finished watering the plants in the yard and filling the water troughs for the horses. The last couple days a Raven has been coming in to sit on the fence above the water trough. Don't know if it wants a drink or what. I grabbed my camera to see if I could get a photo.
No go, it took off the second it heard me. He wasn't alone, about 6 more Ravens were out at the far end of the horse paddock. I tried to sneak up to get a photo, but no way, every time I'd get close, they'd move. Ah, well.
A group of Ravens is either a conspiracy of Raven or an unkindness of raven. I like conspiracy. I think they are a beautiful bird. I know, they eat carrion, but some one has to do it. They're considered good luck in some cultures. In Great Britain the legend is that the country will not fall to a foreign invader as long as there are Raven's in the Tower of London. But what do the Brits know? They think a black cat walking in front of you is good luck. All us Yanks know it's bad luck to have a black cat cross in front of you. LOL.
Well, my camera in hand wasn't wasted, got a photo of the old man, Taro, my 18 y/o Arabian gelding. Isn't he handsome?
No go, it took off the second it heard me. He wasn't alone, about 6 more Ravens were out at the far end of the horse paddock. I tried to sneak up to get a photo, but no way, every time I'd get close, they'd move. Ah, well.
A group of Ravens is either a conspiracy of Raven or an unkindness of raven. I like conspiracy. I think they are a beautiful bird. I know, they eat carrion, but some one has to do it. They're considered good luck in some cultures. In Great Britain the legend is that the country will not fall to a foreign invader as long as there are Raven's in the Tower of London. But what do the Brits know? They think a black cat walking in front of you is good luck. All us Yanks know it's bad luck to have a black cat cross in front of you. LOL.
23 June 2010
Creeping Buttercup
I moved to central Oregon and the high Desert so I wouldn't have to take care of a yard. No lawn and only two small gardens that I insist be able to thrive on neglect. Having lived in the Rogue Valley for 40 years, where vegetation will take over your yard and your house if you leave town for so much as a weekend, I decided in no uncertain terms, no yard to take care of.
I've succeeded. I like my two little areas, the plants pretty much take care of themselves. Every couple of years I add a plant or two and they require a bit of work the first year but pretty much take care of themselves thereafter.
One of the plants left behind by the previous owners was some Creeping Buttercup. It's very pretty in the spring when it blooms. I have culled it back to one nice little bunch. Turns out that Creeping Buttercup is on the wanted list as a noxious weed. East of the Cascades in Klamath and Deschutes counties, we're suppose to pull it up and destroy it.
Now I've done a good job of keeping it contained. Well, I thought so until today. I've discovered some about 50 feet away from the main bunch. Ah, come on, I can't just pull it all up. I spent the first 5 years pulling noxious weeds and this is the only one left.
After it's done blooming it's not anything special, but those yellow flowers are so refreshing after a winter of nothing but white.
I'll leave it for now.
I've succeeded. I like my two little areas, the plants pretty much take care of themselves. Every couple of years I add a plant or two and they require a bit of work the first year but pretty much take care of themselves thereafter.
One of the plants left behind by the previous owners was some Creeping Buttercup. It's very pretty in the spring when it blooms. I have culled it back to one nice little bunch. Turns out that Creeping Buttercup is on the wanted list as a noxious weed. East of the Cascades in Klamath and Deschutes counties, we're suppose to pull it up and destroy it.
After it's done blooming it's not anything special, but those yellow flowers are so refreshing after a winter of nothing but white.
I'll leave it for now.
Bird Watching
I spent the day trimming his hooves, saddling him up and doing ground work with him. It was a long day.
Afterward I sat down in front of the bird bath to try to get some photo's of the birds coming in for a drink and bath at the end of the day.
I have the greatest bird program on my Ipod touch. I Bird Explorer PRO. OMG, it is the best program ever, I LOVE the thing.
You can play recordings of the bird you are looking at. I heard several Dark Eyed or Oregon Junco's in the area, so, I played the recordings in the hopes of getting some to come to the bird bath. Well, the little fellow above was quite intrigued. He kept coming in and nearly landed on my shoulder trying to figure out where the other Junco might be. He wasn't interested in the bird bath, so had to get him in the tree. He and my Ipod exchanged calls for about 5 minutes when I stopped. Kinda felt sorry for him. He knew I wasn't a Junco, but, by golly I sure sounded like one.
Ah, well, I'll try again tomorrow.
21 June 2010
Trail Recon
Decided to go do some trail recon for future horseback rides into the wilderness near by. I like to make sure that I can get my truck and trailer not only in to, but out of a trailhead. Nothing quite as much fun as going up a one lane dirt road several miles only to discover that you're going to have to back that trailer down to the main road. NOT.
Took the dogs and checked on one trail that I've not done and one that I have done in the past. New one looks promising if not well marked. Walked the dogs down the trail about a mile. Good parking at any rate and the trail merges with the one I'm interested in.
Saw a bright splash of purple as I walked along. Most of the spring flowers were done blooming, but this one patch was in full bloom. The sun on the picture washes the flowers out a bit, but I liked the rocks and logs in the photo, so, what the heck. Still getting used to the digital camera. Full size, it's a pretty cool picture.
I have got to get a good book on wildflower identification. Not just wildflowers though, other plants as well. I have one for trees, the best. It's a book I got for a class at Oregon State years ago. 'Manual of Oregon Trees and Shrubs' by Warren R. Randall. They've updated since I got mine in 1970. Best book out there.
After checking out the new trail we drove around and checked on one I've used in the past but haven't been up there in 3 or 4 years. It was always a tight fit with the trailer but doable. Not so sure I want to attempt it any more. The manzanita has moved in on the road and was scratching the truck and when I finally got to the trailhead, it was a whole lot tighter to turn around than a couple years ago. Doable, but a real pain for sure.
Dogs and I walked a mile or so down that trail as well. Hey, we were there, it was a beautiful day and a walk in the wilderness is always rejuvenating. The two terriers love to get up and walk on every log or rock. That is of course the precursor to digging under and around for what ever wildlife might be found.
Well, the dogs got to do what dogs do and I got to take a deep breath, good day all in all.
Took the dogs and checked on one trail that I've not done and one that I have done in the past. New one looks promising if not well marked. Walked the dogs down the trail about a mile. Good parking at any rate and the trail merges with the one I'm interested in.
I have got to get a good book on wildflower identification. Not just wildflowers though, other plants as well. I have one for trees, the best. It's a book I got for a class at Oregon State years ago. 'Manual of Oregon Trees and Shrubs' by Warren R. Randall. They've updated since I got mine in 1970. Best book out there.
After checking out the new trail we drove around and checked on one I've used in the past but haven't been up there in 3 or 4 years. It was always a tight fit with the trailer but doable. Not so sure I want to attempt it any more. The manzanita has moved in on the road and was scratching the truck and when I finally got to the trailhead, it was a whole lot tighter to turn around than a couple years ago. Doable, but a real pain for sure.
Well, the dogs got to do what dogs do and I got to take a deep breath, good day all in all.
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