OF RATTLERS AND HUMMINGBIRDS

Rapeseed in foreground -- Wheeler Gulch in background.

The shirts hanging in the bathroom tell the story: a fleece jacket, a sweatshirt, a long-sleeved t-shirt, and a short-sleeved t-shirt. On any day, I might change from one to the next. Today I wore a light fleece jacket over my little t-shirt most of the day. The sun is warm, but the breeze wafting through the window was cool. “Always carry a sweater,” my mother said of Idaho summers. And while in recent years June has been a hot month, I remember the June of my youth as quite cool.

Pumpkin

“As soon as you’re dressed and have had something to eat, I’ll help you put new fencing around that tire bed,” Mike announced. An early riser, I nevertheless hate to “get around.” “I’ll be waiting out here,” he said, which interpreted means, “Don’t be long.” So, I scurried the best I could. We took down the old fencing, which was in three pieces, and replaced with one piece of new chicken wire. The summation makes it sound so simple, but it had its challenges, including dogs in the midst of the activity.

Rattler in grass on right

Mike saw the first rattler last Friday – a “baby” in the grove where he was filling gopher holes. Then Tuesday (June 27), Bess found one in the thick grass at the north end of the yard. Using my ears, I located it near the cherry tree, where it buzzed away. We left it alone and now it’s gone – maybe.

Bunnies abound, and Mike figures that’s because they enjoy great cover in the rape and protection from many predators.

When we leave the homestead for a few days, we lose momentum with the hummingbirds. The day we arrived back, I had the feeders filled with fresh nectar at 1:00, but they didn’t show up until 5:00. We’re in business now, though, and I marvel at how quickly the “nectar” disappears. Then they’ll send “Buddy” up to the window to tell me the feeder is empty. 

[Hallie asked for hummingbird photos. My effort wasn't too impressive. I believe their are four hummers in the left photo and two in the right.]

 

PORTFORLIO ADDITIONS

Here are a few recently finished outfits for American Girl Hazel.

This is a machine embroidery design from Advanced Embroidery. Hazel can wear it on that trip to Switzerland – or perhaps more likely, to Leavenworth, WA. This is the first one I've made, and the first one is always the prototype. I tell myself the next one would be better. Anything is possible.

 

And this outfit is from a panel by Riley Blake Designs. I didn’t think it went together with ease. In fact, I chose the panel with the idea that I could stitch it up quickly, but that wasn’t true. I had to search the internet for a picture tutorial in order to get through it. KW


[Oh! And I should add that these outfits are modeled by American Girl Maryellen. They will be delivered to Hazel soon.]

COOL DAYS AND WILD ROSES

Morning at Gilbert, Idaho, looking south over rapeseed fields to Little Canyon

It’s been rather cool here at the homestead this past week. Oh, it’s pleasant enough in the afternoon sun, but the evenings are cool and the mornings are downright chilly! I guess we’re lucky, considering the record-breaking highs in Utah and Arizona, for instance.

From bramble behind house

When I was a child taking morning swim lessons, the first session in June was always chilly. Standing wet at the edge of the pool and waiting for instructions, our teeth would chatter. And in those days – the mid-‘50s – mornings and evenings were always cool here at the farm. Yes, over the last 20-30 years, it has become much warmer here -- and dry. I guess this year is a throwback. And it’s okay. The garden and transplants have had a better start, I think.

Wild rose bramble north of house

Same bramble, north

The spring blooms are mostly past, but I just can’t let the season go without mentioning the wild roses. Wherever they pop up – and every year there are more bushes – they tend to take over. It doesn’t matter much here if wild roses want to grow in those grassy areas between the fields, but road departments everywhere fight them. I concede that the wild rose bramble is certainly a problem in some places, but the roses are lovely. I only know of one spot here where the proclivity to take over troubles me, and that’s at Plank’s driveway where a wild rose has overcome a lilac bush. I’d rather have the lilac, but it’s not our property – and not my problem.

Rose bramble at Plank's

Rose bramble east near June's

The wild roses range in shade from pale pink (nearly white) to deep pink, and I know of an unusual red bush at Neighbor Pete’s. He gave me permission to take a slip, but I have yet to do it. Pete told me that a neighbor lady sent her husband to plant that rose in his mother’s yard because of its unusual color. It wasn’t easy to plant, he said. The wild roses are very “stickery.”

Whitetail buck

A few days ago, as I walked along the road, I heard a rustle in the field below and spied a buck looking at me. I stopped dead in my tracks, wondering what would happen next. Generally, I’m not afraid of the deer, but my impression was that I didn’t have the upper hand. He was not wary of me, and I could tell he thought I was the intruder. I managed to take a picture before he disappeared. I didn’t see where he went.

"King of the Hill"

And here’s a picture of our resident pheasant rooster, an escapee from someplace. He doesn’t have a mate, and Mike was afraid he would die of loneliness, but that didn’t happen. He looks nice and plump and enjoys sitting on the dirt hill in the grove. Mike dubbed him “King of the Hill.” KW

A DIFFICULT HIKE

Elderberry bush -- center of photo

“See that elderberry bush on the other side of the north field,” I asked Mike. “Do you think we could skirt the field and get to it? I want to see it.”

He said he thought we could do it, so in the late afternoon the four of us set out. Bess and Nellie both greeted the prospect of exploring with enthusiasm, and I was happy not to be tramping up Plank’s Pitch.

From the north field (rapeseed)

At first all went well. We had walking room along the edge of the field. But by the time we got to the western edge, the rape was growing densely and we were forced to walk in equally dense grass infused with Canada thistle. Invisible under the grass were uneven terrain, downed tree limbs, and holes of various origins. Had I been by myself, I would have been overwhelmed and turned back. In fact, I suggested we should do just that, but Mike said, “After we’ve come this far?” And so, we pressed on – and I do mean “pressed.” Mike was my pathfinder, pressing down the tall grass and thistles so that I could push through. Bess and Nell remained happily oblivious of the difficulties we humans were enduring.

Mike at elderberry bush

And yes, we came to the elderberry bush, now in bloom. It looks healthy and perhaps could be picked this fall. Hopefully at that time it will be easily accessible and laden with plump little elderberries.

Elderberry bush in bloom

It was not comfortable standing there in tall vegetation, so we didn’t linger. We continued on through the grass and thistles, now passing the plum trees. I saw no fruit on those, and it’s possible they were hit by frost. But – maybe it’s just too soon to see it.

We clambered last that bank.

Finally, Mike headed away from the field and down into the north draw following a deer trail. I would love to have taken more pictures, but frankly I was concentrating on staying upright. Finally we came out in familiar territory near the lane.

Yarrow blossom by Mike

“Well, that gave my tendon a workout,” said Mike. And I felt badly because I had forgotten all about his injured tendon. I don’t think he’s any the worse for wear, but I wouldn’t have taken the chance had I thought about it.

The lane -- a welcome sight

Notes -- It's a lovely sunny day but not warm -- only 70. Last night we watched a doe and her tiny fawn down by the pond. The hummingbirds drain two feeders daily. A quail calls for hours on end, and that becomes tedious. And our resident pheasant continues to tramp the farm looking for a companion. We see the bunny frequently, and the lawn is riddled with rodent holes. KW