A Whopping Surprise!

I decided to take a drive late this afternoon, while Keith slept. 

He had a hard day. 

Bees, flies and butterflies were still working sunflowers along the road. 

The goldenrod is so pretty, but Keith is so allergic to it! 

The creeks are high and flowing fast... we had 8 - 9 inches of rain in the last two days, and 

expect more tomorrow. 

Fall colors are everywhere. 

I saw these three girls as I drove up a gravel road. 

They did not like me stopping. 

I wish I had had the longer lens on, but I had put the medium on for a purpose. 

Don't look now, but THIS is where the Big Ditch WAS. 

The rock wall.... is right up to the discharge pipe at the edge of the road.  The ditch was behind it. 

Look what they have created. 

Saturday when I went to church, there were hundreds of kildeer there.  There were still many tonight. 

It is not deep, but wide. 

And to the east side is this.... it's like a place for water to come off Stranger Creek and fill the basin. 

There is a rock channel in the middle... and birds were perched all over it, they 

were not kildeer, but I could not see with that lens.  I'm going back tomorrow with the long lens. 

There were kildeer everywhere. 

On my way back, I saw four deer in the meadow again, but the second I stopped, all hit the woods. 

I did not see a turkey anywhere. 

I like these changes in the Big Ditch! 

The Elusive Bird

As you can see from the header, I finally got the elusive Kildeer! 

And of all places, in our neighbor's yard, right next door as we were 

leaving for the park this morning! 

He was peeping the whole way. 

I just didn't get him with his mouth open.

Two days in a row I have tried to get this blue heron at the little pond. 

No luck. 

I'm going to try sneaking slowly up on the pond tomorrow to see if I can get him. 

My favorite birds are back. 

This guy was a long way away from me the other day. 

Off he went on his way! 

When I went down to put bird seed out, I saw this in the planter by the door 

where I had a tomato last year... I know cotton rats have moved in, because Lil goes straight to this barrel. 

So... I have an announcement... when the suet I put out yesterday 

is all gone, I am taking down the bird feeders for a while. 

They have created a nuisance with the starlings, cowbirds, 

red wings and grackles, and I know they are bothering our neighbors. 

Once the big mobs of birds have gone away, I'll put one back out for the smaller birds. 

My hummingbird feeders will be out soon, too.  

The cotton rats are going to have to look for food! 

We were forecast storms for this evening, and we do need the rain... but they have 

not materialized and the sun is coming back out. 

Tomorrow, I'm going to work on the patio, and go through my gardening things. It's time to do some paring down. 

Caucusing

First, thanks for all your prayers and good wishes about 

Lilly Ann.  She will be 10 this July, and we have had her since a 

small puppy.  She was feral, she, her mom and her sister 

were all captured and brought to the Leavenworth Animal Shelter, 

from where we adopted her. 

We can tell her eye hurts, she has been rubbing it.  We are 

putting drops in twice a day.  I did not take pictures, but 

we walked today, and enjoyed it, though she rested as soon 

as we got home. 

No limping, just slow walking. 

So, Thursday, Friend Jill and I had lunch, and 

took our cameras to take pictures.  (She was off work). 

We tried one big park, but could not really find anything to 

focus on, so decided to hop on the highway and go 

back to the park where I have been going. 

I played around a lot, and we saw the 

eagle in the distance, but he stayed in the distance. 

I have been trying to get pictures of kildeer, this is as close as I could get! 

I'll try again next week. 

Since it's mating season, there is still a lot of shrieking going on. 

Out of about 100 pictures taken, I kept about ten. 

I am learning, though... I am learning what lighting to use and what not to use, so this is helpful. 

I got a few good ones. 

Yesterday morning, I went as I dropped Lilly off, to see how the light was. 

Yes, the gulls were present.  I went on home after 20 minutes or so. 

Since we moved here two years ago, I have had no curtains.  I do not like just 

blinds on the windows, especially when they are the old white wide blinds.  (Saving for shades). 

I am a dufus, too, when it comes to hanging rods. 

So, my sister in law came over yesterday and I would say helped me, but 

she did most of the work, and was very painstaking. 

I don't know if the tropical curtains will always be there BUT... 

I am so glad to see them. 

Thank you, Mary Beth. 

This morning in the sun: 

Oh, yes. 

So happy. 

Guess where I went today? 

I do not talk politics on this blog, ever.  I don't think it has a place. 

However...I think it's important that we are aware of our responsibilities as 

citizens. 

Yes, I voted in the Republican Caucus, and not for the Donald, I will go so far as to say that. 

It was thrilling to see the process at work, and I am thankful to all the volunteers who handled the crowds today.  From seeing the news, Leavenworth was not the only place that had good crowds. 

Way to go, fellow Americans! 

Dust, everywhere. 

We need rain. 

The little pond on the way to church this afternoon... mass starts at 4. 

The Archbishop surprised us with a visit. 

So glad I was in jeans. 

(smile)

Everyone have a safe Saturday night, and wonderful Sunday.