Wednesday, March 29, 2023

Spring?

 One day it is 40, the next is snowing. Then it's 40 again. That is the cycle we have been on this week.

 Looking at it glass 1/2 full, we need the moisture. Our pond is getting fuller and fuller. We have had years it is totally dry and years it has been over 8' deep. Right now, it is probably 2' deep. 

But according to the calender, spring is here. The turkeys are strutting, the bluebirds have returned, and the cows are dropping their calves. So yes, although it may not look like it every day, spring is here! Barb and I went for a walk so we could enjoy the springness (yes, another word I made up) in the air. 

These turkeys sure are strange looking birds. I've never really noticed but each of them have unique faces and characteristics all to their own as can be seen by these different birds. 

A couple of mature toms

A younger tom and a hen

We have about 7 toms and 40 hens that hang out on an almost daily basis. 
Turkey season opens here on April 4th. I have not gone out the last few years but I am thinking about it this year. No, I am not going to hunt these birds and to make it more challenging, I am going to use my bow. 

Barb and I have gotten out on a few walks around the property. We walked over to the neighbors to see the baby calves just in time to see this one taking its first steps! Sorry about the shot of the backend of the mother, but, that's nature at its finest!

Speaking of nature at its finest, check out this tree.  See those four individual trees in the center? Each are about 20' tall but are not individual trees at all, if you look closely they are actually upright branches coming off a tree that is bent over. Pretty amazing!
Our property is at 4900' but is also considered arid, well, maybe not arid by its strictest definition but it is drier than most of the other areas around. As such, we have cactus and yucca's throughout the property. Here is a shot of one of the many yuccas we have scattered around. 
We also have 4 bluebird houses scattered around. This past week, each of them have new residents. I cannot help but wonder if they are the same pairs year after year, or if they are random birds that just happen by. 
One day after working on the porch ceiling, we got out on a ATV ride into the National Forest. Not a long one, just long enough to enjoy what was left of the afternoon. 
We are always on the lookout for elk and deer antlers when we are out and about. Almost all the bulls and bucks have lost theirs but there are still a couple of stragglers out there like this guy who stopped by for a brief visit. 
We did manage to find one tiny little antler, about 4" long. Of all the antlers out there in the forest, we managed to find one of the smallest ones out there!

Work on the porch ceiling has been slow. We are getting there but I will save photos of that for when we are further along. 

What have the girls been up to lately? Well, Dakota loves to get out and explore with us. Well, except on the ATV which she is not a fan of. But she loves running around the woods. 
Zoey, although she loves getting out and running around, seems happiest on the couch snuggled up to a patch of sun. 
Meanwhile, out in Oregon, our granddaughter Lily got a backpack for Chloe who we affectionately just referred to as "The Doodle"
Have a great week!

47 comments:

  1. Loved the tour of your place! Our home in Montana is at 5200 feet and even though that calendar tells us it's spring--nope!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. From what how I picture your place, I don't think you could get there right now even if you wanted to!

      Delete
  2. Our weather here at the lake has been quite similar. This past week it has been cold but beautiful, warming up in the afternoon. We are back to rain and flurries starting Friday for the next week. Yuck. Deb and Ray

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You two are like the bluebirds of BC. I think you headed north before everyone else!

      Delete
  3. We envy you guys with your piece of paradise and all that nature. Spring seems to be taking its time arriving everywhere.
    Cheers!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. By now I would think you two are headed north or getting ready to. Safe travels, hope the wind, rain and snow stay away from you while you head north.

      Delete
  4. Springness should arrive in the DSW next week, after this last storm moves east.
    Thanks for the tour of you estate! very nice.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You guys have your share or storms down there this year. Hopefully the reservoirs and getting filled up!

      Delete
  5. I like the word springness! The bluebirds are the one bird I really do miss from when we lived in GA. We had boxes as well and always looked forward to the nesting and babies. Thanks for sharing. What a beautiful piece of land you have there. That’s a lot of turkeys! And I love Zoeys sleepy face! What a sweetheart! Hope you have a great week as well!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Seeing the bluebirds is a sure sign of spring. As is seeing robins, I have not seen any of those yet so maybe it is still a week or two away.

      Delete
  6. Love the pictures of all the nature around you. Looks so peaceful. Your dogs are so sweet. Shirley Marken

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Shirley! I imagine you two are getting to head north yourself.

      Delete
  7. Signs of spring--now that is hopeful! We still have a few feet of snow here and more predicted for tomorrow. So pretty when the earth is freshly white an sparkly, though. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You guys got a lot of snow this year! I am going to go up and help plant again this spring but they'll be lucky to get anything in the ground before the first of May!

      Delete
  8. That Zoey is my kind of girl...let's take a nap. Beautiful pictures of everything!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We got really lucky with Ms. Zoey. For only being 2 years old, she is very mellow and just likes to hang out.

      Delete
  9. Great shots of the turkeys. They are not in the wild here and I love close-ups you took.

    Your weather sounds like ours now. We have snow regularly still. April will be snow free…we hope!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They certainly are unique birds aren't they? It is also interesting how similar our climates are given we are so far apart.

      Delete
  10. Looks divine up there, Jim. Springiness here in Florida means our temps are bordering on volcanic hot. The birds down here are getting loud. Looking forward to rolling north.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You have a lot of work waiting for you up there. Thankfully you are well rested from your winter hibernation and ready to hit it hard!

      Delete
  11. Can you send some of that springness down here please? I don't think spring will spring until the end of May this year. I thought for sure you would have more snow. As to the turkeys, we used to raise them on the ranch. Mean buggers ... and yes, they all look different. We were easily able to tell which ones would chase you if you got too close.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. After 6 years we are finally getting used to this March weather. We are snow free in the fields right now but are supposed to get 3" in the next couple days. Then 40's again so it will be short lived!

      Delete
  12. Cricky Mate! If I didn't know better I would think that Steve Irwin is now doing your blog posts. I haven't seen that much wildlife in one spot since Dr. Doolittle. Maybe that should be your new nickname. "Doolittle" because you "do little". Love the blog.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No Dingos here Mate! Your new nickname should be "Pot". As in Pot calling the kettle black when you say I am the one doing little!

      Delete
  13. Looking good up there - boy that's a bunch of turkeys. I hope your pond gets filled, our lake is a little low, we could use some rain too. Use that little shed as a knife handle?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good idea on the shed. We have about a dozen from over the years.

      Delete
  14. Nice post! I have a granddaughter Lilly (two middle Ls) too. Looks to be about the same age and hair color. Chloe looks very cool!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lil's and Chloe are best buds and inseparable. So fun to watch them grow up together.

      Delete
  15. Those are some impressive turkeys!! So many critters to enjoy, outside and inside too :-) Our kids are still getting snow in SoCal but we're feeling like spring here in the desert. Hoping summer holds off!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We are sooo ready for spring. We got a taste of it today but winter is supposed to return for the next couple of days.

      Delete
  16. That is so neat that you have a pond and hopefully it won't dry up. Love those turkey faces ;-) What a hoot that photo of Chloe in the backpack with sunglasses on.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Last year we had water in the pond until August or so before it went dry.

      Delete
  17. Spring is a fickle season everywhere it seems! Love the sweet picture of little Zoey snoozing in the sun!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was funny watching her move from sunny spot to sunny spot throughout the day.

      Delete
  18. You and Barb truly are in a beautiful place. All your pictures keep saying that even the ones of the Turkeys. Zoey certainly knows how to relax.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The turkeys can be very annoying so sometimes we curse them. But then again, if they were not here, we would miss them.

      Delete
  19. How delightful! You have a beautiful place in a very glad I wandered by. Shall not be my last visit. Best wishes to you and Aloha from Honolulu

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for stopping by, it is great to see readers from other parts of the world. I am headed over to your blog to check it out!

      Delete
  20. what's up with the weather, very fickle these days!! we never got any snow this past winter, that is unusual for us!! yesterday it was 74 degrees during the day...then we had a tornado last night, it's wild!!

    that's a pretty picture of the bluebird. i often wonder the same thing about their nesting habits. you live in a really beautiful place, i love seeing wild animals, if restores my faith in the land and mankind!!! the buck is gorgeous!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I would rather put up with snow than tornados any day! When we lived in MN and Wisconsin, we dealt with tornados every summer. We have some out here but they are very infrequent.

      Delete
  21. Look at Chloe and her glasses!
    Do the turkey get aggressive? We had a few turkey gang up on a mail man once.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have run across a few that have been aggressive but so far these guys have been pretty skittish of people.

      Delete
  22. You certainly do have a beautiful piece of property for exploring and watching nature. Makes for lots of fun outside time. It seems the up and down temps are the trend everywhere. There's been no consistency here at all. The Lee Canyon ski area in the Spring Mountains just set a new all time record for snow fall with 255". It snow again yesterday. They keep extending the season. Sure makes for a beautiful view from all over our area. We are running most days any where from 15 -20 degrees below normal. Now if this will only be trend through the summer!!! I can only imagine how excited Dakota is to be out exploring and smelling. Love the "Princess" and her sunny throne. Enjoy all your turkey friends. You have quite a crew there.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You would love taking Dakota for a walk in the woods. She is running, her tail is wagging, and she has a smile on her face as she runs from brush pile to brush pile looking for that wascally wabbit!

      Delete
  23. The weather hadn’t been any better here either. Might see our first 70s soon. Love the wildlife pics!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Great photos. Contessa

    ReplyDelete