Spring has certainly sprung . . .

I love this time of year.  Everything is greening up, and all of the birds are busy.  We have about 10 hummingbirds at the feeders a good part of the day.  They're going through about  1/2 gallon of nectar every 2 days or so.  The geese are back.  Last year the female made her nest on the roof of the shed closest to the house.  (That shed houses the chickens, a storage/work area, garden tools, and wood.)  I could watch the goose tend to her nest from the house.  She had six babies.  Mom & dad took very good care of them until they were grown.  They all flew away at the end of the season.  This year the mom built her nest on the roof of the shed out in the pasture.  I can barely see her from the house.  This year she only had two babies.  Again, mom & dad are taking great care of them.  The babies are usually between mom & dad, and dad gets uppity if anyone (or anything) gets too close.  Great parents.  The orioles are back.  Gorgeous colors!  Bright orange & yellow-orange.  In the past we've had two pairs.  At least I think it was two pairs.  There were two brightly colored birds and two that were less so.  Anyway, we've had a woven, hanging nest in the willow tree the last 2 or 3 years.  Mother Nature is amazing.  I could watch birds all day.  I think of birds as my guardian angels.  I can never be sad while watching them. 

Spring has Sprung! No wait . . . & There's a New Roo in Town!

A week or so ago it was very spring-like. There are green buds on some of our trees, and some of our fruit trees have blossoms. Love it! Then, the rains came. Cold & windy. Had to build a fire again. I made some fire-starters the other day. They smell good and they seem to work just fine.

I've been having fun this past year doing some canning, making our own garam masala, liqueurs, and more. It's so much easier now that I'm retired. It's amazing how the time fills up though.

Got a new roo a couple of weeks ago. (roo = rooster) He's beautiful! We lost our only 2 roosters in November of 2009 when three bears attacked our chicken coup one night. According to Fish & Game, it was a mom & her two 18-month old cubs. Apparently they had been in the area for a while. Too bad we hadn't known. Anyway, when Frank brought the roo home, I walked down to the chicken coup with Frank, the roo, and our two dogs. Woody, our Border Collie, ran away to hide when he heard the roo crow. Tootsie, our Chihuahua, wanted to get the roo. Even the next morning Woody ran & hid from the roo while Tootsie barked at the roo.

I have lots to do. A quilt for one. Off to work!