Bittersweet Reading

I've just finished listening to Maeve Binchy's A Week in Winter. I'm feeling sad, because Ms Binchy died last year, and there will be no new groups of people to get to know and love, no new wonderful places created by her fertile mind. At least I can go back and renew my acquaintance with her previous creations.

I very much enjoyed A Week in Winter, as I have every  one of Maeve Binchy's books. She weaves a tale of Stone House and the people connected to it into a beautiful, comforting blanket you can wrap around your shoulders while you sink into life in the west of Ireland. Sharing the lives of each of the characters, the situations and decisions that lead them to Stone House, helps me look at people with new eyes, and new appreciation.

Maeve Binchy will be sorely missed. I'm grateful she has left behind a legacy of tales.

May you live in interesting times.

Today has been an interesting and exciting day, in all senses of the words.

My keyboard has been dying one key at at time for a while, and recently I lost use of the bottom two rows. Obviously a new keyboard was in order. The Mac Store carries a very interesting one - The Virtually Indestructible Keyboard. They had to ship one from Redmond to Olympia (the closest place for Apple supplies - about 1 hour away). Today I drove up to get it.

This keyboard is very cool, but will take some getting used to. It's silicone based, flexible, and according to the tech at the store even acid spills won't harm it (he used one in a chemistry lab). No more dog hair and dust working their way under the keys.

The second exciting thing is that people in Olympia had East Indies ducklings for sale. These ducks are tiny, black,  and when they get feathers, iridescent. They are hard to get, as hatcheries won't ship ducklings due to their small size. I now have five ducklings! Adorable.

When I got home I was greeted by my Border Collie, loose. The good news was there she was waiting for me, the bad news - well, besides the need for better containment, I wasn't sure what the bad news was.

As I unloaded the groceries I bought at Costco (no trip to Olympia is complete without a Costco run), I noticed that some horses were in the wrong pasture. Exploring further, I found a gate had been opened by the hinge side. 

And then I saw the Arab stallion sitting down. Now that's just wrong, horses don't normally sit. Slipping and sliding down to him (it has rained continuously the past 3 days) I realized he was seriously stuck in the fence. I got the wire cutters and managed to cut him out. He's such a sweet guy, he just stays calm and trusts me to help him. He's a bit scratched up, but otherwise seems fine.

So now I have a gate that needs rehanging and a fence section that needs replacing. But my horses are OK, if unintentionally relocated.

I'm now back inside getting used to this new keyboard and resting up.

Gratitude

I've been feeling very grateful today for light winds, fluffy clouds, and gentle sunshine.

Native Berries

I love the native berries. They aren't as sweet and flavorful as imports, but they have reasonable growing habits and come into fruit throughout the spring.

Thimbleberry blooms. 

Salmonberry, ready to pick. The earliest berry, and oh so pretty.

Blooms of the native ground blackberry, which will be a small burst of intense flavor.

Native Iris

Old Stump

Out of the sad remains of a majestic tree new life thrives.

Scotch Broom

This year the scotch broom is everywhere under the power lines. It's a noxious weed, but a beautiful one.

The Dabbling Duck

The day started out overcast and not too cool, so I'm out in a t-shirt, vest, and jeans. It starts to rain. I'm a Pacific Northwesterner, what's a little rain. Then it starts to pour. Hail was mixing in with the rain crashing down on me, and I was losing my happy frame of mind when I turned a corner and saw the duck. He was in his element, happy as a duck, dabbling at all the new puddles and enjoying the free shower. It is impossible to be grouchy around ducks.

Excuse me while I go change into something dry.

Mushrooms

These lovely little mushrooms are growing next to my hay shed.

The red petals are from nearby Douglas maples. 

Wildflowers

Spring is such a beautiful time of year.

Winter Woes

I realized as the days lengthened and lightened that I had become depressed and lethargic over the long, wet winter. I even stopped blogging. I need to figure out how to handle winter better, how to keep engaged with the things I care about. My project for spring and summer: how to make a better winter. Joy abounds as days lengthen, soil dries, and the sun shines.

I have taken pictures and thought of stories to share, and I will backfill here as much as possible. Anyone still reading, thank you for your perseverance.  I intend to get back to sharing the joy and wonders of life at Ravenwood.

Spring Pleasures

New leaves glow

Lit from within

Showing the world

The tree's joy

In the return of 

Long days

and Warm sun

MY Sheep

My gander/sheep affiliation continues to amuse and amaze me. Three of the ewes and the gander were munching on a hay bale when I came by. The gander immediately came to attention.

He then pointedly strutted out from behind the bale, crossed in front of me to the other side of the yard...

to protect the ewe hanging out with the chickens. I might be willing to attack a lone ewe, but everyone knows I'm not going to mess with a Toulouse gander.

Hello?

I love seeing these guys when I turn my head.

Interlude

The day started sunny and bright, and stayed that way. The sun warmed things enough that it felt, and looked, like Spring. It was a glorious break from our usual wet winter weather.

When I went up to the power lines to retrieve my Alpaca, I stopped to enjoy the view. It was apparent that the good weather would be short lived - clouds were advancing from every direction, determined to set the weather right.

Watching the Watcher

This raven

 is avidly watching these guinea fowl.

However, once he dropped to a lower branch the guineas set up an alarm call and raced to the fence to watch him.

One of the weird behaviors of guineas.

Strange Companions

My lone gander has adopted my sheep. Instead of hanging with the other Toulous trio, he hangs with the ewes. The five of them browse the woods for berry leaves, nibble on the remaining grass, and steal hay from the horses (often ignoring the hay I put out for them). 

I've been trying to get photos of them for awhile, and finally found an opportunity. These turned out more interesting than I realized, as they show why the sheep hang with the goose - what these very different creatures offer each other. 

Notice in the first shot the ewe seems unaware of my presence - but the goose is already watching. In the following shots, the ewes are looking just where the goose is. He's their early warning system. The sheep, I assume, offer the gander the safety of being in a group.

 

It's a Dog's Life

It's hard to hold up that big head while sitting on guard duty. Why aren't chair backs higher?

This is taken through the window, because when I opened the door I got this: 

It only looks like he's snoozing.

No-Fly Zone

Millie was once again trying to leap out of her field. It took me some time to find the offending flyer - a Great Blue Heron was perched at the top of a fir by the pond near the edge of the property. Good girl, Millie.

Millie has taught Zander well. When the Heron finally left the pond and flew overhead, Zander was the first to threaten sudden death. He did it with his usual youthful enthusiasm - I'm surprised the Heron completely ignored him. Not all livestock guardian dogs look up, or consider aerial predators a threat - it's a specialization.

Art and Science

A show of feather art by Chris Maynard is currently at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts in Olympia, and today the artist and a biologist gave a talk followed by a reception. I couldn't find the fee, but decided I'd treat myself to this event no matter what the cost. It was free! And so worth the drive to Olympia.

Thor Hanson, author of Feathers, the Evolution of a Natural Miracle, spoke first, and I kept thinking, "Why weren't my college professors this interesting?" This is a man living his dream, loving his subject matter, and eager to share both. I can't wait to read his book - my friend bought me a copy for my birthday. I have had birds and studied feathers most of my life, but I learned so

Chris Maynard is an amazing artist, and like so many of us who work with birds and/or feathers, is enthralled with everything about them, and the creatures who create them. His art is unique, beautiful, loving, and whimsical. It is an homage to birds, and the lovely feathers that cover them.

Some day I will own at least a print of some of his works, although as the woman handling sales commented, now is the time to buy the originals - the price will go up soon.

What a wonderful day.  I went with a dear friend, and we had dinner after (with cheesecake). If you get a chance to see Chris Maynard's work or listen to either Chris or Thor talk, DO IT!

Singing Bird 9 - Pigeon feather and various parrot feathers . 11 by 14 inches