The Guru Ducks

It is important to have guides to show us the value of every part of life.

Ducks teach me to delight in water and mud. They are thrilled with the storms that make the roads and pastures a sea of mud.

Dog Duties

I have new hay hooks. Somehow I keep losing hay hooks. These new ones aren't curved enough, but I figured they'd work anyway. I hooked one around the string of the top bail of hay in my hayport (a canvas carport) and jerked on it. The hook, somehow, unhooked.

The force of my jerk was meant to dislodge the bale of hay, move it against the other bales so I could wrest it out and drop it down. Instead that force propelled me backwards, causing the bales I was standing on to move, and me to fall. I fell slowly enough to choose a landing, ending up on a pallet instead of against the van door or something pointy. I wasn't hurt, but decided I'd just stay there and contemplate the sky, the hay, and gravity for a while.

Lucy, the Border Collie, immediately came running up, wringing her paws, trying to comfort me. She kept squirming against me, licking me, trying to give me some of her energy. Trying to get me to get up and act normal again.

Millie, the Pyr, sauntered over, stuck her head into my face, and asked if I was OK. She decided I was, so she went out about 10 feet and set up a "do not pass" boundary so no one could come bother me while I was down. After a few passes she came back to make sure I really was OK, and see if I needed any further help.

I figured the animals weren't going to get fed if I continued my personal experiments with gravity, so I got up and - much more carefully - moved that bale and loaded up the van. The rest of the time feeding, every time I turned around I'd see Millie, keeping an eye on me.

People worry about me working out on the farm by myself. I'm never alone, and my companions  are quick to come to my aid. And I have this great phone to take pictures with.

Life from Death

This lovely mushroom is growing on branches from a tree blown down last Autumn.

Serve and Protect

The warrior dogs.

Sunset

Snow Day!

We rarely get much snow. Even this light fall turns all the brown to lovely white.

Lucy wondering why I'm taking so long.

Heavy traffic. I'm not the first to take this road.

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.