Wanderlost
Texas Hill Country
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Spent the holiday on fire watch. Even though we have a drought, and a burn ban, they still did not ban fireworks. So all the folks who really wanted to shoot fireworks came up to the lake and tried to burn us out. None of the fire departments got any sleep last night. I counted eleven grass fire calls before we finally went to bed, two right near us, and one was upwind, where if it had gotten out of control, would have swept right at us.
We're pretty good at fire evacuation drills; glad we didn't have to execute for real last night.
The hummingbird feeder on the south porch is proving a much better photo site. Most of the hummers will perch on it. WLToo is pleased with the results, but hasn't shared them yet. Sigh.
Heard a loud bang, and WLToo thought it was another bird killing itself on our glass windows or doors. But I thought it came from inside the house. So while he went outside, I looked in the music room. Sure enough, Spot had fallen off the piano bench, which tilted, then banged against the wall. Spot was still sitting under the bench, with that "Wha happened?" look. He came back in the big room and crawled into his box, which promptly fell on its side. We refrained from laughing, and he's asleep in it.
Alex caught another small sparrow yesterday. We heard him calling and calling, and finally realized it was his "I caught it! Come praise me!" cry. So we went out and praised him. He dropped it in the grass and laid on the porch in the shade. While I was talking to him, Spot strolled up and decided to eat the bird. Alex seemed perfectly happy with that. He used to present his kill to us; now he can feed it to Spot.
It's hot. Time for a swim. Later, y'all.
"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." -- Mahatma Gandhi
Czarny, black cat
Rainbow Bridge: Spotacus, Alexander the Grrreat, and so very many more
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Dashonthedash
PA
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Wanderlost wrote:Spent the holiday on fire watch. Even though we have a drought, and a burn ban, they still did not ban fireworks. So all the folks who really wanted to shoot fireworks came up to the lake and tried to burn us out. None of the fire departments got any sleep last night. I counted eleven grass fire calls before we finally went to bed, two right near us, and one was upwind, where if it had gotten out of control, would have swept right at us.
Some people are just idiots. Here in Colorado we have a state-wide fireworks ban. There have been a few citations, but I haven't heard any go off in my neighborhood, and the number of fireworks-related incidents/fires is actually down in Colorado so far. I guess that 6 people dead and over 600 homes destroyed will drum sense into most people. Hope it doesn't take that kind of disaster to change some official minds in Texas, especially if it involves you guys. We have fingers and paws crossed for you.
Gary Shapiro
Shadow - 7-year-old Greyhound (aka Shadow Ninja)
Hannah - 4-year-old GSD rescue (aka the Canine Tornado)
Max, Dash (GSDs), Willow, Dot, Allan, Lily (Greyhounds), and Molly(GSD Mix), at the Bridge and in my heart forever
2011 G'town 280DS Class A
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Wanderlost
Texas Hill Country
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The county came through the fireworks with minimal damage, thank goodness. Since then, Mother Nature has blessed us with some actual rain. We got an inch and a half in the last couple days, not enough to dent the drought, but enough to fill the pool and water trough, water the vegetation, and get the dust out of the air.
Another doe and fawn have joined our herd. WLToo promptly named her Cookie.
Jane, Biscuit, Cookie -- I guess the next doe will either be Bread, Play or Sour...
The rain drove the scorpions out of their holes, so the flip flop o' doom has been busy. Luckily, none have been inside, just on the porches, and a few have considerately drowned in the pool.
As we removed the lily pads (solar pads we use to cut down on evaporation) from the pool the other day, I saw what looked like a large earthworm on one of them. I got closer and realized it was a four-inch long snake. I think it was a hog-nose, but it was way too small to be sure. Not poisonous (no triangle head), so I put it into the grass, where it slipped away. It's only the second snake we've seen since we got here (other was a garter), and being a baby means there's a nearby den -- unless it got picked up by a bird and then dropped into the pool. The more non-poisonous snakes, the less likely we'll ever have small varmints.
We had a flying ant swarm while we were in the pool. Suddenly, ants were dropping onto the pool surface right and left. The barn swallows went nuts, swooping almost down onto our heads to grab them. Within just a few minutes, the swarm was either eaten or was floating on the pool, where we swept them into the collection baskets. I do love those barn swallows.
Alex and Spot are asleep on our bed, after their morning meal and outdoor stroll. Alex gets fed three times a day, and he's feeling pretty spry now. He's starting to play with Spot, who's delighted. He's learned that Alex' idea of play is to run through the house, not to wrestle, so we get a lot of galloping through here. They also have safe spots, where Alex can jump to and Spot will stop chasing and wait until Alex goes again. It's pretty cute to watch.
Time for a swim, then back into the office to clear out more old paperwork. Gonna burn up another shredder soon.
Later, y'all.
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Wanderlost
Texas Hill Country
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Goodness. Things got so hectic around here that I plumb forgot to keep this updated. Sorry about that, folks.
At present, Spot is bathing in his rocking chair. He's been feeling a little punky the last few days. He came inside after morning patrol with tufts of hair coming out. I checked him over and couldn't find anything, but he chose to be the lazy kitty the rest of that day. Yesterday was Advantage Multi and it make both guys feel crappy for a while. Then this morning I found a few dings, so I guess Spot had a minor altercation with someone - perhaps the young black cat with the Siamese face. Spot's fine, though he was a bit upset with me getting out of bed this morning, since I definitely spoiled his relax...
Alex is doing so well on his three meals a day. I do worry that the vet won't be able to keep that schedule up when we're gone, and he'll lose weight again. So I'll type out very detailed feeding instructions and hope they follow them.
We started feeding Mama Doe about three hands full of deer corn in a dog dish every few days. She doesn't come up to the house much right now, since we got enough rain for everything to go green again. Last year's fawn, Solo, got into the meadow when the gate was open day before yesterday, and was afraid to jump the fence, so he was hanging around the house yesterday, trying to avoid the other does and fawns. He's almost the same size as the twins, who have beautiful racks already.
Killed a small black widow spider on the garage access door. Thank goodness for that flip flop o'doom.
The swimming pool filter was full of flying ant bits today. The barn swallows didn't get them all, although they sure tried.
Speaking of barn swallows, they are so funny. We have a couple of wind chimes on the north porch, and they like to perch on the top. We had a strong wind and rain come in, and six of the young ones all tried to land on one wind chime at the same time. There's only room for two, maybe three, but they were all determined to be there. Naturally, we didn't get the video out in time for the fun. Sigh.
Here's why they all wanted on the wind chime (WLToo playing with his new camera):
![[image]](http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l188/Expatriate9666/StormComing_zps3bc3d869.jpg)
![[image]](http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l188/Expatriate9666/StormHere_zps66bb519c.jpg)
Time for another swim. Later, y'all.
* This post was
edited 10/17/14 03:44pm by Wanderlost *
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garry1p
Oklahoma
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Joined: 08/12/2004
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Bout time you showed back-up I was beginning to worry.
Here in OK I saw on the news there is a outbreak of Black Widow spiders.
I don't know if I would call it an outbreak but have killed 2 both larger than any I have ever seen in the past. I would say over an 1 1/2 across, bigger around than my thumb.
Neat pictures, I very much enjoy your post.
Garry1p
1990 Holiday Rambler Aluma Lite XL
454 on P-30 Chassis
1999 Jeep Cherokee sport
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dturm
Lake County, IN
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Great photos.
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Wanderlost
Texas Hill Country
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I wouldn't say we have an outbreak of black widow spiders; so far, I've just seen the one.
Spot tried to catch a lizard yesterday, but I caught him and took him back inside. We want all our lizards to stay around. A small, pinkish gecko waits most nights outside on the window just above WLToo's table lamp, so it can dine on all the bugs attracted to the light. When Spot sees it, he goes a little nuts -- he's knocked over the lamp twice, trying to get to the gecko. So we put museum putty under the lamp and hope it will work. Here's Mr. Lizard:
![[image]](http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l188/Expatriate9666/P7200001_zps5e8a423e.jpg)
![[image]](http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l188/Expatriate9666/P7200002_zps20ff31e8.jpg)
One of our lawn hydrants sprang a huge leak, and there is no cut off valve, so we are basically without water until the plumber gets here Monday. We go down to the road and turn on the water at mealtimes, then go back down to shut it off the rest of the time. Except for the fact that it's seriously hot, we're only mildly inconvenienced and getting a lot of up and down exercise on the 800+ foot driveway (downhill to the road, uphill to the house). Meanwhile, we're going to have a huge water bill from before we found the leak. At least that part of our vegetation will stay nicely green for quite a while -- if it didn't drown.
My best friend (more like a brother) arrives for a visit next week, and he's allergic to yellow jackets. We don't have any this year. It appears that killing off a nest and then leaving the dead nest in place really works -- the new wasps see a nest and move on. We still have mud daubers and red wasps, neither of which are aggressive in the slightest, so they're welcome to stay and eat all the bugs they want.
My nephew has arrived to discuss changing from Infantry Branch to what I did in the Army for 28 years, so must go. Later, y'all.
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Wanderlost
Texas Hill Country
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Finally identified the lizard as a female Texas spiny lizard. Unfortunately, it landed in the swimming pool and drowned.
We're in day four of turning the water on twice a day, then off the rest of the time. The plumber is ready to shoot his supplier, as he's ordered the wrong parts twice. This evening, the plumber will install a cut off valve on that hydrant, so we can have water to the house with our company here, while waiting for the replacement hydrant that he ordered.
Still waiting on my friend to arrive; hope he didn't dehydrate himself riding his Goldwing all the way from Virginia in this heat.
Spot and Alex decided it was much too hot to be outside, even with all the birds and lizards to chase. So they're zonked in the air conditioning.
WLToo saw our neighbor hand feeding only one deer this morning. Normally, the herd is all around her, but not today. Jane is babysitting two fawns in addition to her twins, and Solo has been in and out of the meadow a lot the last few days. He's only a year old and wants to be with Mama Doe still, but the other does do not want him in the meadow, Mama Doe or not.
I'm hot, time for a swim. Later, y'all.
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Wanderlost
Texas Hill Country
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The boys went to the kitty hoosegau yesterday. We're taking a nephew to several Civil War battlefields. I expect sunburn and overheating to ensue. Sigh.
Time to fill my Camelback with ice. I'll start posting again in about a week.
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Wanderlost
Texas Hill Country
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Well, that was certainly another adventure.![[emoticon]](http://www.coastresorts.com/sharedcontent/cfb/images/rolleyes.gif "rolleyes") Headed out on a Saturday about midday (sister is not an early riser), and made it to Tyler, TX before my friend, who was following on his Goldwing, announced he was done being parbroiled for the day. It was seriously hot and he didn't have a way to rehydrate while riding.
Spent a quiet night cooling off and rehydrating, then the next morning stopped for fuel and prepared to head to Vicksburg. My friend did not look all the way through the turn from the station to the road, went over a curb, down an embankment, and into a concrete drainage ditch. The bike landed upright, but slammed him against the concrete, breaking his kneecap and two fingers. We spent the next couple of days helping him through surgery, insurance and motorcycle repair setup, and getting him back home to Virginia. Our 14-year-old nephew was remarkably calm through the process.
On to Vicksburg, finally. Oy! I've spent some time in really hot and humid parts of the world, but never have I encountered a wet bulb index like Vicksburg. We very much enjoyed the tours around town and the battlefield/siege lines, but the most precious thing of all was the car's air conditioning.
Next stop was Shiloh, partly via the Natchez Trace Parkway. Unlike Vicksburg, where the forest has grown up so much that it's almost impossible to see the siege lines as they looked in 1863, Shiloh still looks like it did during the battle. It was just as hot, but nowhere near as humid as Vicksburg, so I honestly enjoyed Shiloh a lot more.
Then we went to Corinth, MS, where we could see very little of the battlefield, thanks to development over the years. The Visitor Center gave us a great feel for the battles there, and we could see an occasional artillery emplacement, but far more interesting was the driving tour of the historic homes in town. Sister liked that best.
Trip home was not as enjoyable as the trip up (not counting my friend's accident), since nephew now wanted to be home and whined a lot. But we made it back in one piece, and he can say he's seen something few of his classmates have seen. She's talking about Gettysburg next, and looking at me to be the tour guide.![[emoticon]](http://www.coastresorts.com/sharedcontent/cfb/images/eek.gif "eek")
Spot and Alex were so happy to be home that they've hardly gone outside. Spot has taken up a new napping position, on the footrest of my recliner, where he can use my leg for a pillow. Seems each time we leave him at the vet, then bring him home, he gets more affectionate, as if he's really believing we're not going to abandon him.
Last night was interesting. Alex was being a bad boy and not coming in. I walked about with a flashlight, and as I passed the water trough, I saw a baby barn swallow floating in it. Oops, looked like a little one didn't make it. Then I saw it breathing, so I scooped it out and set it on the ground. It was definitely alive.
OooKay, how does one dry off a totally saturated and exhausted baby barn swallow? For a while, I held it in both hands, so it could warm up. It was 11:00 pm, 90 degrees, and just enough breeze that it was dangerous for the little critter. Couldn't take it inside -- two cats and too cold. So WLToo brought my Kindle and turned on the porch light, and I sat there holding the bird, who by now had a very firm grip on my hand, and read for a while. Every so often, I'd check to see if it was drying, and finally had WLToo bring a wash cloth to wrap around it and absorb some moisture. About midnight, it seemed to be dry enough to let it rest undisturbed, so we put it in a box and set it inside the garage, where it would be warm, quiet, and safe from predators.
At 0700, I woke to the feel of a 14.8 pound cat standing on my leg and kneading biscuits on my hip. Ouch. Oh, the bird! I bounced out of bed, disgruntling both cats, and went to check on the bird. It was dry, had moved out of the wash cloth and onto the shoebox paper, and looked up at me rather calmly. WLToo woke up and put the little thing back in the nest, where it is presently preening itself and getting fed. I do hope its next flight doesn't land it in the swimming pool...
Meanwhile, our deer herd has taken to strolling across the south porch several times a day in a line, looking in the windows. I guess that's a sign that we need to start watering the lawn again.
I see Spot is stalking a gecko again. Time to rescue it. Later, y'all.
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