Archive for the ‘Outdoor life’ Category
31 Aug
Feathered friends
We have a pair of fledgling Mourning Doves that have taken up residence in the landscaping outside our front door. They can fly a short distance when necessary, but otherwise, they seem content to snuggle together under our dogwood tree.
25 Aug
Hello again
I have a number of photos to share from our weekend in Nebraska, but in the meantime, here’s a shot I took on the way home Sunday evening. More soon!
19 Aug
Home again
Mom and Dave had quite a unique experience yesterday, moving an American Bald Eagle from the Raptor Recovery Center near Elmwood back to her home at the lake.
The story began last April. Mom and Dave, along with their neighbor Rich, a conservation officer, kept close watch on a sick eagle near their house.
After several days, Rich was able to capture the bird, and she was sent to the Raptor Recovery Center for treatment for lead poisoning. Apparently, she had foraged on a bird that had been killed with lead shot.
Mom and Dave kept tabs on her the entire time she was there. You can read more about her stay in this article in the Lincoln Journal-Star.
Yesterday, they were able to transport her back to Harlan County. Before they left, the staff banded her before loading her into a crate.
She rode in the back of Dave’s pickup the entire way home.
When they arrived at the lake, they met Rich, three Park Rangers, a friend, and two newspaper reporters at the campground where the eagle was found.
As Mom wrote, Needless to say, the eagle was just a little bit shy about stepping out of the kennel when we opened the door just a few feet from where she was rescued in April.
This went on for quite some time as she looked us over and then hesitantly attempted to step out of the door.
It was the sound of a heron squawking that lured her off the tailgate and to the ground. Her attention and reaction was priceless — almost as if she had just figured out where she was.
Rich said, “Yes, you are home again!”
She flew up to a nearby tree just out of camera range (the longest flight she had managed since mid-April); and was still resting there when the last of us left.
Dave thought he heard her call shortly after we got home. No doubt, we’ll be seeing her again soon.
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Photos by Deb Whitehead
9 Aug
A weekend at the lake
Mom and Dave welcomed us for a short visit this weekend. As always, we made the most of the peaceful locale: we played golf, slept in, took long naps and let Mom handle Olivia’s 2 am wake up calls. Mom and Dave spoiled us–not only with round-the-clock childcare–but with fabulous food and a gorgeous view.
We’ll be back soon!
1 Aug
July Wrap Up
I heard a news report last night that said Kansas City had its third coldest July on record—in 115 years. We’ve spent a majority of the month outside, which isn’t something you can normally—or at least comfortably—do in Kansas this time of year. I hope the same holds true for August.
Our little garden is doing well as a result. The bugs made short work of our brussel sprouts, and the broccoli doesn’t look much like broccoli at all, but the cucumbers are going crazy. And, we had our first real harvest of tomatoes last week.
I’m planning to spend tomorrow taming the basil and making a few batches of pesto.
19 Jul
Smith family fun
We stopped in Nebraska for Leo’s third birthday party, and spend the night at Doug and Karyl’s with Aunt Laura. Their gardens are in top form–and the slide is too, thanks to a bit of wax paper and help from Grandma and Grandpa Smith!
15 Jun
Old fashioned tweets
We have two nests of baby birds—a robin has at least two fledglings in our front yard, and a wren has a couple in her house in our backyard.
We can see the robin’s nest from the landing on our stairway, but they were hiding when I took the camera outside tonight.
As for the wrens, we’d never know they were there if it weren’t for the cacophony that rises upon their mom’s arrival. I didn’t want to get too close to the house, but here’s a shot from a few feet back.
The birdhouse in on the side of our house—right between our kitchen window and patio door, which may very well be the noisiest spot in the neighborhood. I saw a wren checking out this new house that Ava made, probably thinking the locale might be a tad more spacious and quiet.
Maybe they’ll move in next spring.
3 Jun
Backyard farmer
This weekend, Ava asked if we could “please, PLEASE” built a compost bin. I’m not entirely sure where she got this idea, but I think the blame might be placed squarely on PBS Kids (and certainly not the parents who let her watch it so much…)
Anyway, it sounded like a good project, so we found some directions for a small compost bin online. Fortunately, I hadn’t cleaned out the refrigerator since early March, so we had plenty of decomposing produce to give us a healthy head start. I think we need far more dry matter now–leaves or grass clippings as Liana suggested. We’re using shredded newspaper in the meantime.
Ava’s pretty excited about it—she’s saving scraps to add to it and reminding me that we need to shake it every day. Does anyone have any idea how long we’ll have to wait to have usable compost? Neither one of us are particularly patient.
Up next, also at Ava’s urging, a better recyling plan for the Smith household. Can’t wait.
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