Peaches ain't the pits

After Mama disappeared, I brought Daisy and Peaches to the ranch. They are 2 sisters who could not have been any different! Daisy was a pudgy, long-haired sweetheart with the softest fur. She was constantly underfoot when I was outside, waiting for a door, any door, to open so she could scoot in--she loved the garage--so many things to get into, or waiting for me to take a sit-down so she could hop into my lap.

Peaches, on the other hand, is skinny as a rail with the rattiest long hair you ever saw, full of weed seeds and goodness knows what all else. She is timid, you think, until I come through the gate and I see her racing towards me at top speed, paying no mind to the wheels of the truck! Then she plops into the gravel of the driveway and wiggles until I scratch her scrawny little belly.
Daisy and Peaches had a mild first winter with me, living in their kitty barn in cushy beds with heating pads (don't feel sorry for my barn cats!) and went about the business of killing mice, just as they were "hired" to do. However, this spring, Daisy started exhibiting extraordinary birding skills, and not the kind of birding that I do with binoculars and a digital camera! I am particularly fond of my bluebirds and so when Daisy started high jumping to reach the nest box, I knew it was just a matter of time before the inevitable happened. So, after careful consideration, I decided to find her a new home.

So, it's just been Peaches, Karen, and the girls--Daisy is happy in her new home.

M/M Bluebird fledged their first brood and 2 weeks later started building the nest for family #2. Then something odd happened-- Mrs. Bluebird lays eggs over a span of time, sometimes it takes 10 days for her to get them all laid. So I wasn't surprised to peek in the nest box 2 weeks ago to find only 2 eggs. About 4 days later, I peeked in and there was only 1. Hm-m-m. Not only was one egg missing, but so were M/M Bluebird. I never saw them again. Until last week. You see, Peaches (and Daisy and Mama before her) have what I call the mourge, the place where they take the critters they capture to do their "thing" with them. There you'll find mouse parts and, yes, bird parts. And last week, a bluebird. I couldn't tell if it was Mr. or Mrs. So now I know why they disappeared. The mate moved on when s/he lost a partner. These birds have returned to the nest box every year for the last 5 years that I've lived here. What will happen next Spring? I'll have to wait and see.

The WHAT days of summer?

Dog days of summer: Dog Days is the name for the most sultry period of summer, from about July 3 to Aug. 11

Here we are, sliding into August and we haven't really seen puppy days, let alone any dogs and I, for one, have been fine and dandy with that! Early summer was damp and green and cool, but perfect-cool, not cold-cool. Out here in the country, the wildflowers/weeds were in constant bloom until about just the last 10 days or so...it's been a gorgeous summer so far, unusual for eastern Washington. Usually, July is hotter than heck--brown and dry in rural areas.

Ninety degree temps for a few days this week and last, and then an overcast, beautifully cool, low 70's day sneaks in (today). Perfect!