Monday, June 11, 2007

Bambi Alert ...

The wonder of motherhood has hit the timber. It has been a time filled with expectation. There was a pregnant doe staying close to my yard; feeding and bedding down. Continuing to watch for signs of life on the outside my observation was met with a confirmation last week when I was mowing an extended section of my front yard. The doe had been sticking close - watching where I went. I became suspicious so I "watched where I went". The little darling came bounding out of the tall grass when it felt panicked. Distress was seen on its expression. I couldn't hear it because of the noise of the brush mower but could read its reactions. Watching the doe at the same time it was clear she was calling to her baby as well. A short time passed before the baby decided to go in the direction of safety. ; ) Since then I have seen them traipsing through the growing corn more than once. Mother by herself and occasionally baby in tow - trying to nurse on the run. Other births of note - the ground hog has produced two new babies again this year. The bunny families have young almost a month old with more on the way...Mother squirrels with large paunches will be in labor soon, they haven't made nests yet. They still have hair on their tails. Heard some turkeys last night . Have been wondering how many new babies have hatched this year. A neighbor had a nest by his pond but the mother didn't return when the farmer came to cultivate the field a month or so ago - lost 13 eggs in that clutch. The coyotes have been actively calling to the kids to round them up in the evenings. What a clamourous event! Have you seen "New Life"? What an awesome time of year! So, is the perpetuation of the generations that continue to populate the Timber I call home...

Monday, May 14, 2007

Lovin' IT !

How do you do?!? Sure enjoying this weather we have been getting lately, at least I have. The wind is shaking things up today and sounds like maybe tomorrow as well. Let me list all the nature that has made it's appearance in the last 4 weeks. Migratory birds - Turkey Vultures, Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds, Orioles,Wood Ducks , Killdeer, Mourning Dove, Red-Headed Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Eastern Kingbird, Eastern Bluebird, Wood Thrush and more. The timber has come to life again the trees are filling out with the leaf covering of the season. Last Wednesday,May 9th, I saw my first Monarch Butterfly of the year. All these things confirm Spring has sprung here. Some other events we have had are the awakening of the mosquito population, spiders, rabbits are busy chewing off my tender plants that haven't found a place in the ground yet. The plants were placed inside my fenced garden; still not a deterrent to those lithe little creatures. My 1996, Belarus model 572 tractor has been keeping busy moving some logs, dirt and rocks. So much more to do but with the price of diesel currently it might be awhile before anything else will be attempted. The DR Brushmower that has been apart of our family since the latter 1990's, almost ten years if memory serves me correctly, has been getting a workout after it's refreshing oil change. The pasture calls...actually mowing off the rosebrush before the summer baling season about the middle of June is what needs to be accomplished. Then down at my husband's grass airplane runway so we can keep it under control... Clouds are coming in from the developing severe thunderstorms due later tonight. The cold front is going to bring us some cooler temperatures for a few days; more conducive to being outside for longer intervals. Going to stop here. Wishin' you some good weather fishing , picnicing and enjoying life.