Early this morning when I let Bode out and looked at my little garden, I saw three turkeys walking in the mowed area between the little hollow and the pasture on this side of the road. One evening a couple weeks ago, I spotted a female turkey from my front windows. She was in the front yard between the tree with the birdfeeder and the porch.
After years of living in Milwaukee, my first reaction is that birds that size must be geese.
Although it is not quite astrological summer we should be beyond the last frost of the season. After the heavy rains, we seem settled into a pattern of days in the 70s or 80s clear or with cumulus clouds and cool nights. Some mornings a fog will roll in, then burn off as the sun climbs higher in the sky. The day runs from before 5 am until after 9 PM, so need to nap in the afternoon more than in winter.
In many places the roadsides are lined with clumps of daisy plants in flower. In my little garden the grape and Roma tomatoes have blossoms and the peas that still have white flowers also now have pods showing. The yellow and orange Dahlia plants have buds as do the pepper plants. In the place where I planted spinach which didn’t grow much beyond seedlings, I planted parsley seed and thyme. In the place where the turnip greens were, I planted carrots. Will see what comes up.
Ling Ling seems to have gained weight back, although he still looks sleek. He has enough energy to do silly things, like sneaking a drink out of Bode’s water bowl or digging out a plastic shopping bag and walking around in it like it is a cape. He has been going out in the mornings too, first sniffs around, then often will take a run.
I did another “shop ’til you drop” trip on Tuesday. Started at Horses and Hounds where I got a dematting comb to tackle the residue of Bode’s bad hair days. I have worked with fiber enough to know that dampness, warmth, and friction makes for felting. We had passed the store many times on the way to Indiana. It isn’t a big store, but had lots of good stuff.
Asked about clipping his toenails. The groomer had a slot open, so he got a manicure/pedicure rather than me trying a new tool that requires grip strength. I heard the groomer shout NO when he first went back, then all was quiet until she lead him out, looking quite pleased with himself. Remembered I needed some Petromalt for Ling Ling too. Bode sniffed all the dog treat boxes on the lower shelves, but decided to get him a Kong instead, could get exercise and dispense peanut butter with the same toy. So we did good there.
Next stop was the garden shop at Lowe’s. Bode couldn’t go in, but with the windows open, it was quite comfortable in the Windstar, and cool when clouds passed over. Got a Japanese eggplant, rosemary, lots of potting soil, and some more hand tools. Last stop was Shop’n Save for groceries. I guess I am turning into a suburbanite, drove the van from one parking space to another in the same lot instead of walking.
Earlier in the week I saw a young robin in the front yard. The spots on its breast showed it was just fledged as well as showing the relation to the thrushes. Later in the morning, I saw an adult robin from the back porch. It came down through the yard with a morsel in its mouth, then was rushed by four fledgelings begging to be fed.
Two days ago Bode and I were sitting on the porch as the sun went down. I could hear Tim calling the cows. They usually come right away, but two stayed behind. One didn’t seem to be paying attention, but finally filed in behind the others. The last one would start toward the barn, then go back. I could see something black in the grass. I got out the binoculars and saw a new calf stand up as she licked it. It wouldn’t follow her though, so Tim walked over and coaxed them both to the barn.
Guess a blog entry isn’t complete without a cute pet picture:
Just now a tractor pulling a wagon with fresh hay went by. Summer for sure!
