Yesterday through the slates of my wooden picket fence from my open screen door I saw an animal pass by across the street at least twice. Finally I went out: I thought someone’s dog got loose. I saw a big rabbit near my neighbor driveway chewing on some grass and then approaching me in my direction and finally disappeared into the distant yard. Almost at the same time I saw another cottontail come from my yard, cross the road and also disappear.
A few days ago in town I saw a baby cottontail go through someone’s picket fence and I also noticed an adult rabbit nearby it in the yard. This is the first time I ever saw an baby rabbit and an adult rabbit at the same time. Often the rabbits I see are in town in on some else lawn. I always love watching the antics of cottontails often seen at dusk or dawn. Once in awhile I can see them in my backyard. They probably like hiding in the nearby raspberry bushes.
Posted in animals, nature |
I stood two feed away from the ruby throat hummingbird. I was watering my Fuscia plant and Guinea inpatiens both hanging from my white pine tree. The hummingbird feeder was to the right of the two baskets. While I was doing that a hummingbird came to its feeder. I did not want to scare it so I stood perfectly still for at least sixty seconds. I usually are not able to get that close to a hummingbird. I could clearly see its red under its throat. And watched its wings rapidly twirling as it went from spot to spot on the feeder. All I could think of is how creative God was in all the creatures He made. There is not one like a hummingbird. I never forgot the one I saw in Union Square in San Francisco. The park was an oasis in the middle of a city and somehow the hummingbird found the nectar in the plant. I always wondered where it went surrounded by pavement.
Posted in animals, birds |
Yesterday my wife from the kitchen window saw a pair of blue birds check out the bluebird box on the fringe of the woods in the backyard. She thought one might have checked out the interior of the box. I wonder whether they will come back. Two years ago she saw another pair check out the bird box and the same day the box tumbled from the tree. This time I made sure that would not happen. All I could do now is wait to see if the bluebirds come back.
Posted in animals, birds, nature |
Coco, my black female dog, loves “crunchies.” Today I was eating a bowl of “Captain Crunch” appropriately named. And before you can blink, she was sitting in front of my Lazy Boy, asking for an handout. It does not matter what it is but if the food you are eating makes a crunchy sound she is there right in front of you wanting some. She is the only dog of three we have who does that. She is this cute looking long haired mid-sized black dog with adorable fluffy ears. Crackers, whatever makes a crunching sound, she is there looking for an handout. And of course, sometimes she gets it. She loves “crunchies” as we put it.
Posted in animals, pets |
This is two animal tales. One of Tilla, my favorite dog (I have three). This morning he twice jumped on my bed near me. He was saying, “Pet me. Hug me. Immediately!”, which I did. He is one affectionate dog. I swear he likes to make me laugh. He will occasional flip on his back, tail wagging furiously. “Rub my belly. You must rub my belly!” He makes me laugh. I never had a dog do that.
Then there is Cheyenne. He is one handsome long haired cat who, for a long time gave me the “Eye” (How can you dare approach me?!) and then ran in the opposite direction. He wanted no part of me. It was that way for years. At some point something changed and now occasionally he will let me pet him. In fact, yesterday he immediately purred loudly when I petted him on the bed. Even pets can change their relationship with you.
Posted in animals, pets |
Cool Hand Luke followed me into my bedroom immediately. She is the closest I have to being my cat, not that you can ever own a cat: you can’t. I have had her fourteen years. I got her when she was less than a year old and have never had a cat that long. She likes sitting on the corner flannel pillow in our bedroom. She is a black affectionate cat who I often find near me. At night, she sometimes travels back and forth at our heads. She does not get along too well with some of the other cats (we have seven). She is one sweet cat.
Posted in animals, pets |
Tilla’s favorite spot is under the computer table. In fact my dog is there right now. And I did not even realize he was there. He was so quiet. I am typing at the computer presently. There is a pillow he sits on. He likes tight spaces. Sometimes my wife kicks him out of that spot. All creatures are animals of habit but he is one dog who is somewhat unpredictable. He is quirky. I sometimes do not know what he is going to do next.
Posted in animals, pets |
Yesterday we saw A small toad not much bigger than a thumbnail disappear into our garage. I guess there are plenty of bugs there for him to feed on. We saw the same toad twice yesterday. And twice he disappeared into the garage. Every year we see toads in our front yard. All sizes. From humungous to tiny. And everything in between. Sometimes we leave the front lights on which attracts the bugs which in turn attracts the toads. I always wonder where the toads go in the winter time.
Once I even saw a black toad disappear in a crack between the ground and the wall of our house. I had never seen a black one before. Some toads must live a few years because I have seen some really big ones. And to reach that size they must be several years old. Once in awhile a possum comes into our yard and the dogs lose interest in it when it “plays dead.” It is always gone the next day. We live on the edge of country so I am never sure what creature will show up next. Even bears have shown up on our property.
Posted in animals, nature |
I like parts of my yard wild. I do not want to cultivate every section. I like discovering what comes up unattended. There is a section of our yard, which is partially fenced, which we leave alone. Part of the enclosed yard has grass, which we keep trimmed. I like looking out the kitchen window in back and most of that area grows wild. I like peering out that window and wondering what I will see next. Sometimes cottontails play in back. We used to have a yearly visit of a large box turtle although it has been a few years since I last saw him. Twice we found a bright orange salamander under some moist area. I lived on my property for a number of years before I realized the far left corner had a large raspberry patch. One can look and not really see what is in front of you. You always have to slow down to see more.
Posted in animals, nature |
We had a new visitor in our yard last night–an adult cottontail, which we viewed from our living room window. Sometimes we see rabbits from our kitchen window but we have not seen one from there in months. There are raspberry thickets in back, I believe, they hide under. The new visitor was there a few minutes and disappeared into the bush. I have lived here for over ten years and this is the first time I remember seeing a cottontail from my living room window. Once my wife actually saw a turkey in our front yard. I have never seen a turkey in our yard. A few days ago she saw a three foot black snake on our lawn from the bathroom window. You never know exactly what you are going to see from our living window or in our yard.
Tags: black snake, cottontail rabbit, my wife, nature, our yard, rabbits, raspberry plants, visitor in our yard, wild turkey, wildlife
Posted in animals, God, knowledge&learning, local, nature, time |
The snowy egret was perched on top of a nesting box. There was, maybe, half a dozen such boxes on the perimeter of the marsh. Every time I pass this marsh by car I quickly glance up and down the waters top(???) see what I could spot. Sometimes there are deer drinking water on its edge. I have seen an occasional great egret or snowy egret on its perimeter. That was an odd place to see an egret perched on a nesting box.
Tags: bird-watching, birds, deer, great egret, marsh, nesting box, snowy egret
Posted in animals, beauty, birds, knowledge&learning, local, nature, time |
My one dog (I have three) Tilla gave me a great greeting. I was away a whole week. He must have jumped at least a dozen times on me slobbering me with kisses. The other two dogs I have gave me a more restrained greeting although I have to say they were happy to see me, too. Tilla is my favorite dog. I guess the feeling is mutual. There is nothing like a dog to make you feel welcome.
Tags: a dog makes you feel welcome, dog greeting, dogs, dogs happy to see me, my favorite dog, pets, three dogs, Tilla, vacation
Posted in animals, local, love, pets, relationships, time |
