Mystery Solved...maybe

Remember this guy? At first we thought it was a tree swallow, then a pinion jay.

Last night I took better pictures... and watched him fly away.

After seeing the white coloring on his underside, both sitting here and while flying, we've decided that HE is a mountain bluebird, the very ones we have been hoping would come nest on our property. Ted even build bluebird houses a few years ago. We didn't plan on him liking our porch ceiling best of all!

So, I guess we'll let him be...though I wish I could discourage him from spreading the word among his friends. Last night there were three birds in our ceiling, getting out of the wind, and not all bluebirds either! (What's the problem? They POOP all night long!)

Stay tuned!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Odds and Ends

I've been taking pictures on and off all winter, but didn't seem to have enough of anything to do a blog entry. So, here are some of my favorites.
My Christmas Cactus has bloomed continuously all winter. Right now, in April, it has one bloom and one bud. Such a joy to see flowers all winter.

When winter was its coldest, around Christmas, Barney needed to wear his "jammies" and both dogs found patches of sunlight on the living room floor.

How many ladders does one man need?

The answer? As many as will fit around the job!

What is going on out there?

The doors to all our rooms have about a 3 inch gap underneath them, for air circulation I suppose. However, they make great vantage spots for the dogs. When we have the house doors open to bring things inside, it is the safest place for Barney to be. And, when the dogs won't stop barking, it is great to exclude them from the family. HOWEVER, they can see everything that is happening outside the room!

Or inside the room! When Rebel makes me mad, usually by taking some food treat of Barney's, I exclude him from my den. You can see how he feels about that. They excel at looking pitiful.

Lastly, there is this guy. He has adopted us, or the beams over the porch. At first we thought he was a lost house bird of some sort and we wanted to catch him. When we realized he was indeed wild, we went out to buy the parakeets. We have tried to discourage his roosting with lights and chore boys, but he is determined to stay. His coloring has us baffled, but last night I saw him in the best light and think he may be a pinion jay. He is always all puffed up and we just don't know for sure. Any bird experts out there?

Stay tuned!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good Grief!!

Today is Earth Day, April 22, and by 6:15 this morning we had SNOW!!!!!!!

This is the view off the back porch...and yes...the hummingbird feeders are frozen. Even before my breakfast, I took the feeders inside and put fresh, warm sugar mix in the feeders. I'm sure the Black Chinned hummers are going to be hungry this morning.
This is the view out the front door, and even though it is pretty, it is APRIL! The snow will all be melted by noon but I had to show our RV friends/neighbors what is happening up here. Think twice before you leave the sunny, warm lower altitudes!

Stay tuned!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

New Arrivals!

Yes, Spring is here, though we did have an inch and a half of snow yesterday. No foolin', we had snow on April Fools' Day. But, I digress. We have noticed a "wild" bird hanging around the house. However, it cannot be wild as it is a blue/green on its back feathers. I haven't been able to see the beak. Anyway, it has been sleeping in the eaves over the porch, then moved to a secluded area near our front door. At first, we were going to catch it, so we went to the Humane Society thrift store, the Doghouse, to look for a used cage. We found a really great cage, so we started talking about keeping birds in the house.

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My parents kept parakeets all during my childhood, and I am drawn to any birds I see at flea markets, in pet stores, etc. Ted probably figured it was only a matter of time! He, also, has kept birds, though he is used to bigger birds.

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Anyway, we decided to buy a parakeet for the house. Then, we decided to get two. We went to town to make our purchase, had two picked out and paid for...when Ted wanted just one more!! I knew he was hooked!!!!

So, here they are! The one on the left is probably a female so her name is FANCY. The one on the right reminds me of my favorite childhood bird, so he is named JOEY in his honor. (My sister may tell me Joey was green, but in the last 50 years, I remember him being BLUE!) The male in the middle is the one Ted picked out last and so far, he is nameless. They are all under a year old.

Here they are again, Joey, NO NAME and Fancy. (Anybody have any favorite male names to suggest?)

And, here's Rebel, showing his awareness of the newcomers! The dogs can't seem to stay away from them, and I'm afraid the birds' first "words" will be imitation dog barks!! (Or else, "Rebel, STOP IT!)

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I'll keep you up to date on their progress, and "words" as they learn them.

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Stay tuned.......................