Sadie Says - GONE NUTS!!!!

Crunch, Crunch, Crunch.... YUMMY, or at least I think yummy??? The last couple of weeks I have been getting a taste of some commodities that are hitting the ground. I will use the phrase used by Chicken Little in the children's story,"The Sky is Falling!" Every time I walk outside these days I hear something thudding onto the ground or plunking down onto the pick-up sitting in the drive. Mom keeps telling me what's happening ,but I'm just a puppy ...reminders are always welcome. We have a friendly competition to see who can find those hidden morsels on the ground every time we are outside. I thought since Mom was so interested in them I would give them a try. Great CRUNCH factor! I will put a name to the tree and it's nuts. It is Hickory a member of the Walnut family. You've seen our Oak trees which have had a real good crop of acorns this season. The animals dependent on them for a food source should have a good supply, at least until the snow covers them over. Then there are Black Walnut trees galore. Some of the walnuts have already dropped from the trees leaving the rind to mature and begin the cycle of the squirrels constant drive to tuck them beneath the dirt until they are all hidden.(EVERYWHERE!) ;)

When will it cool off?

Oh the summer heat! When will it end? Sounds like relief will be on the way in a few days. Had to drop by to let you know about the activity happening around here. I have had to laugh several times about the antics of our 4 legged friends that roam the timber . Lets see...the deer fawns, does (as in deer moms ; ) ), and raccoons. Our twins here have showed their playful side as they grow up. One can be grazing while the other acts as though they are possessed. Jumping,jostling and kicking up their heels to instigate the"Tag You're It" reflex. Funny creatures they are...They exhibit behavior much like our human children when they interact with one another. Sunday morning as I sat looking out into the back yard I observed a doe feeding in a spot where we often see them visiting as of late. From another direction came a mother raccoon and trailing up behind her were four clones all in a line. The deer looked up to see what was coming her way....the mother raccoon looked up to see what was standing in front of them. It ended up the raccoon didn't want to get any closer to the deer so she did a u-turn into the timber and all of them waddled off to find more suitable hunting conditions. Sure, it would have been more fun for you to see yourself but this is the best I can do for you at the moment. Are you beginning to see any changes that might indicate fall is fast approaching? I have started to see the Cottonwood and Burning Bush leaves changing color... The oaks and hickories are beginning to shed some of this year's nut crop,the walnut trees seem to be filled with huge amounts of squirrel food as well. Some of you might already be aware but the acorn is used by more than squirrels as a source of food. The deer and turkey find them a tastey treat too. Boy ! It looks like this edition of Timber Life has gotten a bit longer than usual. Been away awhile and I'm in the sharing mood ; ) Time to send you off to find your own "neck of the woods"...