I’m still feeling worn out so I’ll just share some pretty and cute photos for the day and share weighty matters tomorrow. The cutest thing I saw today was this gorgeous new calf. It’s seal brown or gray.
Look at its little nose.
Its mama loves it a lot. It has a tiny Snow White buddy. I hope they stay in the pasture behind us for a while.
Bovine Beauty
I enjoyed the birds a lot, even the Loggerhead Shrikes, who are the current loud birds in the group. There was also a persistent Blue Grosbeak, so I’ve got that sound down now.
That’s the blurry grosbeak. Since my shrike photo didn’t come out, here’s an attractive grasshopper, the pine tree spur-throat.
The late summer flowers are ramping up. I’m just waiting for the asters. And my traveling trick worked: it’s not so hot now and it’s raining!
I have been enjoying the weather here in Breckenridge, and the views never get old. The only thing that is getting to me is how LOUD it is. I think I’m too accustomed to the relative quiet of the ranch (relative: we do have Alfred, Goldie, the House Sparrows, occasional farm machinery, and numerous pickup trucks with altered mufflers).
Even at dawn it was loud
It’s probably the fact that summer is the only time that construction, road repairs, and other outdoor activities can be done. I get that. I lived in Illinois before, where the seasons were snow and construction. I just happen to be in a vortex of construction where I am staying. The sidewalks on the road I’m on are being systematically jackhammered and replaced (the new ones look great; it’s just loud). On the next block, a large hotel is under renovation. The workers need to shout, often. And on the OTHER side of the next block, a large condominium complex is being completely rebuilt. That requires many nail guns. Whew. It’s going to look great here when ski season starts, but you sure can’t hear a dang bird over that.
Luckily, I could SEE this hummingbird on the main road.
What else do large construction projects require? Why, dump trucks, heavy equipment haulers, semi trucks hauling supplies, etc. It seems to me that in Colorado there aren’t any regulations on the noise levels these vehicles produce. They are WAY louder than the ones I used to hear all day when my neighborhood in Texas was under construction.
Right behind this woods were the growling vehicles
And now I’ll make you laugh at me a little. I also find all those babbling brooks, flowing streams, crystal clear creeks, and rushing rivers really overwhelming after a while. They are beautiful and I love them. But wow, they are loud. All this messes up my birding agenda. Heck, I’m even laughing at myself here.
All this water is lovely.
Anyway, I traipsed all over this cacophonous city today in search of my bird buddies and discovered that no matter how far I tried to hike, there were giant trucks and blatting motorcycles. Oh well, the hike I went on near the troll statue and ice rink was pretty!
I got this dog posing in front of the troll His name is IsaakYet another squirrel Part of my walk was through this meadowIt’s so prettyBut trucks were behind the plantsMushrooms Big shroom – shaggy maneNot sure what this isToadflax is beautiful Beautiful lichenThe train museum!
And I did eventually find some relative quiet, in the residential area just outside the downtown area. I could actually hear birds! That will have to do! I did enjoy my walk, honestly.
There was some rain but it was pretty.
Other than that, I did a bunch of work and sat in the hot tub a bit to help my sore back from all that exercise. And I did watch television. It was good.
I’ve come to love so much about the Hermits’ Rest ranch, nearby Cameron, and all of Milam County Texas.
I love the new rock we got on our driveway today (photo by Lee).
To name a few additional things:
We are nowhere near a subdivision or HOA.
I have water nearby, at least most of the time—the ponds/tanks, Walker’s Creek, and the secret springs.
There is woodlands, to shelter wildlife.
There is land managed as prairie, for flowers and pollinators.
I can go swimming after working outside in a nice pool.
Three of the seasons are great for being outdoors.
We could afford enough land to have horses (it used to be pretty inexpensive).
My family members are here. It’s a compound!
Nobody bothers us.
There are lovely sunsets, too.
Now, I am not home, land of all those positive things. I’m back for a second visit to Breckenridge, Colorado, finally, after I had to cancel last year. Oh my gosh the weather is nice. Clouds, scattered rain, and really pleasant temperatures. In the 60s!
View from my balcony.
It was a long day, as plane travel days are these days. Both my flights were late, which I guess worked out, but there was still plenty of time to catch the shuttle to the condos. I got lots of exercise, thanks to changed gates, too.
Airport
The trip was just fine, though. I met a woman who is studying Cherokee, which led to a fun conversation. And I got to sit next to a beautiful and sweet baby on the long leg of the trip. Her mom did a great job dealing with two young children all by herself. I guess it helped that they were good natured!
She looked kind of like this, only more Asian features.
I’m happy to be back at the same condos as last time. I got a much nicer unit, on the top floor with two bedrooms. There’s a desk to work at and a fireplace. No air conditioning. They don’t need it!
Ah. The top. No one walking on my head. I love the clerestory windows. My room. Guest room. Tub has jets. They will get used.
I only went in a short walk after I ate. You have to build up to deal with the altitude, you know. But there were lots of birds and a few wildflowers left blooming. I’ll do more tomorrow, but until then I’ll love wherever I am.
The last couple of days have been surprising in both good and weird ways. I’m feeling pretty darned good at the end of it all. So, what’s been going on?
The gods and goddesses must be smiling at me.
The only sad weird thing didn’t happen to me, but I saw the evidence after my horse lesson. I feel bad for the woman it happened to, though. Apparently, one of Tarrin’s other students arrived for her lesson and went to her trailer to let her horse out. There she was very surprised to find a bird impaled on the door. What a shock? How does a bird fly that hard into the back of a trailer that’s moving forward? That was a weird surprise! Everyone thought the bird was a mockingbird, but detective Suna figured out it was a cuckoo.
Brown wing feathers and a striped tail. Very unfortunate cuckoo.
Better surprise was that I had so much trouble getting Apache to go into his pen after we got home last night that Mabel snuck out. I tried to entice her with sweet feed, but she wouldn’t go in, so then Dusty went out. I was so tired and being attacked by mosquitoes that I just let them all out to enjoy the much nicer grass in the exercise area. Lee and I managed to get our gate to shut, so in the end, it was surprisingly fun.
Whee, this is fun.
This morning when I went out to check on them, every single one of them, even Apache, came up to say hi and hang out with me. Drew even tried to go on my walk with me, but I did shut the gate. They all seem to like me.
Good morning. Thanks for the grass. Ok, you don’t have a halter, so I don’t have to play catch me. I wish Jim hadn’t started mowing. But we found long grass anyway. Ha!I’ll trim the driveway. No one mows the center strip. Freedom fun.
Next happy surprises came midday, when I had lunch with my friends and we had so much fun that I had a hard time leaving. My segment of American society suddenly feels a little hope. It’s been so long that we are a bit giddy. I did have to leave to pick up my asthma inhaler (I only need it at times like this, when there are fires and Saharan dust in the air). There was a friendly pharmacy tech there, and she asked if I wanted my shingles vaccine first dose. I sure did! And there was no wait for the pharmacist to administer it, for free because I’m old! Surprise!
The pharmacist did it better than I do with Drew.
But wait, there’s more! I went back to work after the vaccination and got onto my regular monthly call with my contact at my actual employer, through which I’m contracted to Dell. I was surprised to see a second person was there, and they were all on camera. So I said hi and noticed they were really chipper. Finally they said they had good news. That surprised me. Apparently, they nominated me for some great contractor award and I won. That was very nice of them! You don’t get much recognition as a contractor, so that pleasant surprise was a great way to end my work day. I guess I’ll find out eventually what award I got.
It’s only been 31 years since my last award for technical writing (as evidenced by the dust on it—it was hiding in a box but Lee put it up).
Plus! At feeding time each horse and Fiona went right into their pens. I didn’t have to chase anyone. Whew.
So, see? Sometimes circumstances are really good! That’s life (and my arm feels fine, because I took ibuprofen.).
Milestone: it hit 100° here for the first time this year today. By this time last year we’d gone over 105° F.
Oh yes. I’m traveling in the future. It’s what I promised myself to do while I still can.
Here I am, traveling down the county road in the rain. Does that count?
But first I need to enjoy the present. Indeed, I enjoyed today very much. Who doesn’t enjoy a July day in Texas when it rains and doesn’t get above 90°? I admit to sitting on the porch and watching the rain after work. That felt great.
Porch view. Wet.
Other than muddy horses I have no complaints at all. They are pretty happy with the grass not being so straw-like, too.
So green!
And the dogs had fun outside. Carlton decided grass runners I’d pulled up were toys and tossed them around gleefully. Unfortunately Alfred decided the extra-dead armadillo was a toy and rolled in it. Oh that smells bad. The armadillo carcass is now unavailable to dogs.
Enjoy a happy live armadillo who lives nowhere near me. Source: free WordPress photo library
As for travel, we have camping trips, two condo stays, and a cabin rental coming up, in addition to the Master Naturalist conference. I’ll share more information as the trips take place.
And I’ll have to cancel some if we don’t have caretakers for the ranch. That (and security) is why I don’t share travel plans here. Things tend to change with no warning around here with so many folks in fragile health and such!
Harvey would prefer I stayed put.
All is well. I’m just going to enjoy each day as much as I can without counting on any future plans coming to fruition until it’s time to go! That’s being flexible and embracing change, all right. Right?
Only two things fell down today. Both mattered to me, though!
If the overflow is overflowing, that means the pond is full again!
Yes, rain was the second thing that fell down. Lots of it. It’s like Mother Nature is trying to make up for last year’s endless string of dry 100°+ days. The forecast is for more rain, which should cheer up the frogs. Just this morning the frog pond was completely dry.
Not quite full, but improved.
That pond doesn’t have multiple sources draining into it like the front one does, so it’s harder to fill. I’m glad the hard rain waited until the bulldozer was finished in the creek bottom. I checked both lower ponds (tanks) today and they look so good. The rain will start new growth on the bare ground.
The pond by the road. That smooth area was a rough hill before. It looks very pretty now.
When it started raining, it really rained. I ignored the fact that four dogs were in my office breathing hard and shaking as long as I could, but they sure looked pitiful.
They are under my desk. These two wished they were under my desk. All were passing gas, a lot.
When the satellite connection went down I told them we could go upstairs and they all ran by me to get up. It was so noisy startled Lilia, who cleans the house, as she was cleaning the bathroom. I said I had to protect them. So, I read a magazine while Goldie shook next to me, Penney tried to crawl inside me, and everyone else hid under the bed. Thunder is hard on dogs.
Glued to my thigh. She’s not happy.Carlton under the bed.Other places got lots more rain.
Goldie is back in bed now, but just to sleep.
So, I said rain was the second thing to fall. The first was me. I did what I knew I’d eventually do, and I stepped in a dog hole. You see, they did little holes then the super-spreading coastal Bermuda grass leftover from when the yard was a pasture grows over them. Once the grass is mowed, it looks all smooth. But no, there are hidden holes.
Looks like smooth lawn. Is full of jokes, poop, and dead things (just one currently)
And I was in a hurry to empty the rain gauge of yesterday’s rainfall before today’s rain began. I walked fast. Big mistake. Down I went. Luckily I only slightly twisted my ankle and wrenched my back. I’d have fallen better, but I had my phone in one hand and my computer glasses in the other and didn’t want to break them. So my wrists are paying the price.
My wrist looks good, though, with my upgraded watch on it (the other one was getting wonky after many years of faithful service).
I didn’t even tell my friends today, because another one of them had a much scarier fall, making me feel grateful I wasn’t slipping in the bathroom. I’m also grateful my friend recovered miraculously and no worse for wear. I’m barely hurt.
See, no swelling. Just sandal tan.
Back to the rain, the creek has been rising since this afternoon. It’s supposed to keep raining the rest of the week, so who knows how high it will get or if I’ll get to ride horses again anytime soon. They’re probably all right with that, as well as with the cooler weather.
Rain annoys fire ants and they make these weird lines.
Who’d have guessed we’d have a rainy week in July when there isn’t even a hurricane!
Today was just fine. Not too hot, had some rain, horses were well behaved, and I saw lots of plants.
Spreading sidaOut of season Indian paintbrush!RuelliaSomething yellowRio Grande Copper rain lilyBrazos rain LilyTiny wood sorrelMy volunteers, going strongMostly yellow flowers
Heck, even Mr and Mrs Bluebird of Happiness visited.
Mrs BElusive Mr B
Lee and I watched golf on television, because it relaxes me but does have exhibitions of skill. Then we watched the news a while. Then I was outside enjoying the cool-ish weather until time to make a meal with a lot of mushrooms in it. I guess yesterday’s food post made me crave umami.
Rain on its way. In July!
Note: I’m thankful for my husband and a couple of friends who were there for me today! Good folks.
Mirror heron
That’s all I have for public consumption. Sleep well, everyone.
If so, I recommend The Sibley Guide to Birds, Second Edition. It’s by David Allen Sibley. Not a surprise. I mentioned earlier this week that I read it from cover to cover (literally, since the covers and end pages are also interesting).
Repeat image. It’s allowed.
Sibley is an incredibly talented illustrator and I have found his detailed photos of similar birds like sparrows and warblers very helpful. His descriptions of birds and their calls are quite accurate but also funny at times. I love how he tries to write out what a bird song sounds like, then calls them dull or wheezing or whatever.
Orioles
The maps are also helpful in trying to see if a bird is likely to be seen or heard where you are. I found a few to look out for here!
It’s a bigger book than many bird guides, so it would be hard to carry around in the field, but I like to really be able to see the images. I carry Merlin Bird ID with me when I’m out. This book is for more detail.
Look! Flickers! They are woodpeckers, you know.
I loved this book while reading it and will refer to it often. It’s a great addition to any nature library.
By the way, we got some reasonable rain. I love how this Eastern Pondhawk glistens against the wet leaves.
Next up? Animal tracks! I do already know dig, horse, chicken, and deer.
We didn’t get any rain today, but we got nice clouds, and the high temperature barely got into the 90s.
We got darker ones than this.
That enabled me to accomplish many mundane outdoor tasks like weeding and setting up the pool furniture, work with Drew (sadly, Apache has a sore foot AGAIN*), and relax.
Relaxing Gulf fritillary
After a good day’s work and all those chores, I went for a nice swim for more exercise. The water feels great now that we figured out that the pool heater was somehow turned on and it’s back to normal! I got in my beloved pool float and just drifted around in the cool breeze. I felt like a happy wet noodle.
No photos of me floating, so here’s this morning’s Great Egret in the pond.
To demonstrate how relaxed I was: after I got out I sat in my chair by the woods to listen to birds. It was just perfect, so chill that when I heard a rustling noise I just looked down and enjoyed watching a shiny coach whip snake go on its way along the fence.
Just snaking along
It stopped at the gate and paused, looking at me with its bright eyes, then headed on its way. It just said, “Hey, snake.”
Hey, Suna.
Amazing what a little break in the weather can do for you.
*his foot is sore from getting some stuff trimmed that exposed bruising from his previous episode. Tarrin told me how to treat it, and he’s better today.
Gosh, I’m not excited about much in the future. Watching the fall of a civilization and seeing the rights of myself and my friends and family threatened isn’t what I’d call exciting; it’s more terrifying. And I feel so small and powerless (if one more person tells me I can make everything better by voting I will over-react in a ridiculous fashion. I DO vote but that’s not how things truly get done).
I’m feeling old, tattered, and fragile, like this wind-beaten Viceroy
Wait, I do look forward to driving around in Seneca and finding new bits of nature to explore. I hope to have that freedom. After all, I’m a harmless old woman and I have a heterosexual spouse, so I’m not too threatening on the surface. I just want to look at birds, bugs, and plants. Finding new ones is excitement enough for me.
This katydid was new for me: Black-margined Shieldback (Pediodectes nigromarginatus), pretty much only found in Texas.
And maybe Drew and I can become good partners! At least he is listening to my instructions like a champ this week. He walks until he is asked to trot. Hoorah!
We are good equines. We will be here for future excitement.
As for present excitement, we didn’t get any with Hurricane Beryl in our part of Texas, so I concentrated on seeing how my friends near Houston and on the coast fared. I was happy that our family members made it fine.
There was wind and .11” of rain here. I enjoyed the wind and the smell you get from hurricane clouds. You smell a little salt are, like the “cool Gulf breeze” Lee’s dad used to talk about when it was sweltering in Yorktown, Texas. To me it feels like Florida, when I’d take long walks at night in my breezy neighborhood just west of Ft. Lauderdale. I just stood and felt the wind for a good while this afternoon. Living in the moment!
Here’s a moment: the blanket through yesterday. If it hadn’t cooled off yesterday, there would have been a whole row of 95-99° highs.
I think the livestock were the happiest with today’s weather. The wind or “something gray” blew open the gate to the back pasture, so I found the horses far away at horse time. They liked that. Plus, Bianca, the lone chicken, was practically her old self today, since it didn’t get over 90°. She was out catching insects and sitting in the water trough like a happy hen.
Even her comb has some color in it again.
So yeah, even though I’m going through one of my pessimistic spates, I see what’s good out there! We all need each other’s support, so if you notice someone faltering, please reach out!
Maybe my exciting future bird will look like this!
