On Guard

Would you let him out?

Farm Findings

With Livestock Guarding Dogs on duty, sightings of wildlife aren't always common. These creatures, however, aren't bothered by the dogs.

Once I saw this, I couldn't believe I hadn't spotted it earlier. I've obviously been visited by some ancient Chinese artisans.

The Pacific Northwest is a benign place. Most of our spiders and all of the snakes are harmless to humans. This orb spider has a huge web delicately inserted between berry brambles.

 This little garter snake is sunning in one of my favorite berry picking spots. I almost picked him.

And this guy is fleeing into the hay bale I was about to load.

The most unusual sighting is this praying mantis. I have never seen one "in the wild" here before.

The Frog Puddle

For the first time I can remember I was glad it rained because my puddle - in the middle of my road - needed filling. The tadpoles aren't growing fast enough! The recent rains have filled it enough to give them some more time. I have to admit to adding some water to it myself. The puddle. In the middle of my road. 

Pacific Corus Frogs (commonly known as Tree Frogs) are not endangered, not rare. They seem to be one of the few frog populations doing quite well. However, I love the little guys, and love their song. And it hurts my soul to watch hundreds of little creatures die for lack of water.

Mount St. Helens

Serve and Protect

 Millie, like most dogs, takes her job very seriously. She loves feeding time, as she gets to range out to be sure the area is safe from predators while I feed the horses.

When it looks like I'm almost done, she turns and makes her way back, ready to clear the rest of the route.

Herding Ducks

Lucy is a natural herder, which is a good thing because these three drakes chase her any time she isn't actively herding or holding them.

Douglas Maple (Acer Glabrum)

I love these trees, they are so beautiful and make a great visual barrier. It's a good thing, as they are very plentiful on my property. I think their flowers are exquisite. 

Let Me In!

These silly drakes are at the yard gate, wanting in. If they were in, they'd be at the gate wanting out.

Snoozing In The Sun

Ignoring the parade.

Babies and Bunnies

Just to prove I'm not totally fixated on birds, I'm including some rabbit photos.

A hen with her duckling. Because one can't have enough ducks, and hens make better parents. Even if it is frustrating when your chick won't perch.

A hen and her chick. Because the duck eggs didn't hatch, and she snuck a couple of her eggs in when I wasn't looking.

Bunny kits. Until today they've been completely covered (it was very warm today). 

Momma bunny.

Pappa bunny.

Soon to be momma bunny.

My does all have nest boxes, but none have used them. This girl loves her cardboard box. She's just stuffed it with pulled fur.

Save The Frogs

It's spring. It's been raining a lot lately, and it's been wet since November.  The lovely green area in the middle-left is a mud puddle that will last until early summer. The puddle in the middle of the road may disappear this weekend.

They are both loaded with tadpoles.

I don't know what the lovely green is, but it's covered all the water. The only reason the small puddle is clear (or rather, brown) is that Lucy the Border Collie has been playing in it.

This is the small puddle. All those black spots are tadpoles. The muddy areas around the puddle where the water has mostly dried up are filled with tadpoles. I could spend hours moving them to the relative safety of the bigger puddle. I may actually add water to the mud in the middle of my road so the tadpoles can survive. Just saying that sounds crazy.

The frogs love this area, and every warm day in late winter they lay eggs in the puddles. Early on the puddles freeze, now they will dry up. I love frogs, and these are the adorable tree frogs that serenade us on warm evenings in early spring. Frogs are dying across the globe, and I have a puddle full of tadpoles that are doomed. It is not always easy to let nature take it's course.

World Domination

Himalayan blackberries, attempting to take over the world, one tree at a time.

"I think blackberries are an immortal alien species sent to earth to take over the world..." ~Danie Kitchel

Duck, Duck, Duck, Hen

Peacock Love

I have one peacock; wherever I go I see him. Sometimes he is displaying proudly, sometimes hidden in the bushes, or sitting on a stump or a gate. I turn, and see a flash of deep blue. I think he follows me around.

The Beautiful Mountains

Today has been a lovely, sunny day.

Such a blessing.

Mount St. Helens

Mount Rainier

Friends

These three really like hanging out together.

The Large and the Small

We're all friends here.

April Showers

Today the skies can't decide what to do. It was sunny when I awoke, sprinkling by the time I got outside. Then it hailed, hard and fast. Sun, rain, wind...

By the time I got to the top of the hill, the sun was in a bright blue patch in the center of the sky, surrounded by clouds of various colors.

Breakfast

Sometimes it's good to have breakfast in the bedroom, if not in bed.

Good Morning Spring!

Signs of Spring

Today was a lovely, peaceful day, in spite of the big clouds. Just look at all the leaves  on the trees!

There seems to be a transition zone in the clouds, from the middle of the upper picture. To the left is all fluffy clouds, to the right the layers, continuing in the lower picture.

But it is only partly cloudy, with an interesting shape in the space between the clouds.

Red currents and red elderberries. Beautiful early bloomers.