The days are still filled with intense heat, but there is a welcoming coolness in the early morning hours.
After I have tended to my small batch of chickens and have fed the pets, I go back out to a favorite outside chair and listen to the songs of the wild birds, always so busy at such and early time.
During the hottest part of the day, many of the wild birds have started staying in the shade of the large front porch. I leave water trays sitting in many areas to offer a little relief to these winged visitors.
We , as well as Taboo, enjoy watching them.
The morning glories hold true to their name and bloom in colors of soft blue, white, and dark purple.
As sooon as the sun starts to spread it's warmth, they quickly close up their petals for the day
It is the same for the moss rose ( portulaca), a flower I have really enjoyed for it's delicate flowers and lovely colors.
My other favorite is the lantana. It is always a favorite place for butterflies and it always reminds me of my grandparents home of long ago and the large lantana bushes they had in the front of their porch.
There is a favorite spot I like to sit , underneath the canopy of the mesquite trees, where the shade stays longer and a gentle breeze blows through. As I sit in the stillness, movement catches my eye
I go and take a look to discover a fairly large bull snake, making it's way across the warming ground . It stops long enough for me to take photos, but soon gets weary and frustrated when my husband joins in the observation
It coils up and breathes a long menacing hiss to warn us to leave it be
The past few days a humming bird has flown right up in front of me.... stopping, hoovering. Once when I was walking up the back walk way, and then again while I was watering my back corner garden.
I am sure the feeder by the walk way or perhaps the water from the hose is why it flew so close, I however, like to think it is as curious about me as I am of it and it stopped by to say hello.
Soon it will be time to put the feeders away to encourage these little winged creatures to leave before winter comes
Amongst the constant news flow of uncertainty and turmoil...........happy news has come to our family circle.
Our new great niece, a small tiny bundle , has arrived. Her name is Tobie Faith.
She has made our Taylee a big sister and I hope they will alway be close as most sisters are.
A new baby born is always the happiest of news I think.
Once again, a family of owls have hatched out in the old weathered well house out back. A constant reminder that we have got to get the hole in the roof fixed to start keeping out the constant flow of wild critters.
It never fails that a young owl always falls from the rafters and can't quite get back up to the nest. With gloves
I gently pick up the scared fluff of down and pen feathers and up the ladder we go. I gently scoot the baby up toward the
nest.....and I hear the warning hiss of it's mother..........sounding much like a 10 foot dragon instead of a bird of only feathers and bone.
I have been asked whether the mother takes the baby back........yes, .......they always have in my experiences. I always use gloves and try to not handle the baby much.
In just a few weeks, we were outside, star gazing, and we heard screeching noises out past the old well house.
Our flash lights shone on 4 owls , all sitting in a row on the corral fence. I suppose they were taking their flying and food catching lesson for the night.
Now the well house is once again vacant. And we need to move fast and make repairs to keep another brood from moving in.
No matter how wonderful it is to see wildlife, they are better to find a more natural home than one's well house.
With the days being as hot and long as they have been , I have found myself content to sit in my sewing space and stitch the hours away on my latest project. I finally finished this piece......you can see more and read more about it on my embroidery blog at this link
Also, I keep everyone happy with the usual home cooked meals and baked treats.
If you would like a great crispy cookie to go along with your iced tea on the porch.....stop by my cooking blog for this
easy and wonderful cookie recipe at this link
Another sunset is about to end this month......and soon September will come along with my favorite season of all......
fall.
I hope this finds you with pleasant days and relaxing summer afternoons.
10 comments:
A true delight to walk in your garden and see the owl, lantana, that takes me back to my childhood when my Mum had a plant by the front hedge. I can smell that distinctive aroma when you crush the leaves. Enjoy your mornings at this time of the year before your winter arrives.,
That a wonderful treat, Kathleen, to visit your blog and read this post filled with lovely images of the flowers and birds, shadows, and Taboo, not so fond of the bull snake I will admit, and hope it was not too close by you or the wildlife. Congrats on the newest family member and she and her big sister looked very sweet in the photos posted. The baby owl was also a cutie and glad you were able to rescue one and that it safely rejoined the family. Last, but not least, that embroidery piece was just so stunningly beautiful and I can well image all the time and effort that went into its completion.
Fall is definitely my favourite season too. After the hot days we've had now it's much more reasonable. This morning we were surprised to see it was only 11C ( about 50F) but by noon it was in the high 70's.
Taylee look so pleased to be holding her new sister. A baby to love.
How kind of you to return the baby Owl to its nest. I'm assuming that it's a baby Barn Owl?
Take care. Enjoy these lovely last days of Summer.
Your great niece is beautiful. I love the flowers and the pretty sunset. Fall is a welcome relief from the heat of summer.
The days are becoming shorter and soon all the pretty flowers will be gone, so it's lovely to see what you have to enjoy before winter temperatures take them away. I agree with a former comment, the bull snake isn't a favorite of mine! I would probably assume it was a rattle snake if I came across it.
Love your flowers and birds, but me do not like snakes of any kind. Janice
What a post! I like the idea of living with the heat, but still enjoying the peace of your home. Such an important appreciation of the outdoor heat, but the life we make indoors. When we live with these extremes, whatever they may be, I think we can cope better with the extremes of life. Thanks.
What a beautiful post. Lovely photos.
What a lot of interesting creatures you have to see and enjoy! It has been so hot here I usually only go outside early and late. I, too, will glad to see Autumn!
Those beautiful children have the sweetest names. Loved your pictures, even the snake since I know he is at your place and not mine. Love from Michigan.
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