It's been quite a week on the ranch. The time just seems to fly. Calving season is almost over - there are only 3 cows that haven't calved, so the end is in sight.
We have a lot of dead-fall trees in the pasture this spring that have blown down in the strong winds we've experienced lately. So the Cowboy has taken to cutting them up for firewood. Which means that the Bag Lady has been doing a lot of wood packing and stacking! Great exercise. They say wood warms you more than once - it warms you when you are cutting and stacking it, it warms you when you are splitting it, and it warms you when you burn it. Good stuff. But the Bag Lady is playing out. She and the Cowboy have moved quite a lot of wood. She hasn't finished stacking it neatly in the woodshed because, as you may recall, there is a robin's nest in there. The robin wasn't on the nest when the first load of wood was brought in, but while it was being unloaded, the Bag Lady noticed a robin on the lawn, bouncing around and chirping at her. She mentioned it to the Cowboy, so he crawled up on a stump and had a look. Sure enough, this is what he found:
So they hurried to unload the wood, then moved the other pile of wood they had there in order for the robin to get back to her nest.
There is also an American Kestrel nesting in the backyard, but the Bag Lady hasn't discovered exactly where yet, so has no pictures to share. Many years ago, the Bag Lady and the Cowboy rescued an American Kestrel that had been stunned by a car on the highway, and they have had them nesting in the backyard ever since. This year, though, the nest has been moved to a different tree.
(Sounds like bird week on the ranch, doesn't it?)
She has been working on those little projects she told you about, but she's such a slacker she hasn't quite finished them. She did get the railing on the deck sanded and varnished, so she has made some progress!
Here's the before picture: (that pile of firewood in the background is not there anymore)
Sadly, the Bag Lady can't find the "after" picture....Sigh.
But do you remember this?
The Bag Lady has been working on it, and now it looks like this (the railing in the background has been refinished)
She just can't decide what else to do with it. She keeps hoping inspiration will strike!
Hope all of you have a great weekend!
31 comments:
Another interesting round-up, df Bag Lady. Cool robin's eggs pic.
Wow...looks like you've been busy.
I envy you - working outside sounds so wonderful.
I've never seen blue eggs before...
I complain about being busy and tired and then I read about all the things you've been doing and I feel like a slacker.
dfLeah - thanks! I have been checking the nest off and on, but am not sure when she laid these. Will have to try to find out how long it takes for them to hatch...
Geo - working outside is wonderful...in the summer! Unless it's really hot, or raining (like today). Aracana (sp?) chickens lay blue (or greenish) eggs. (similar in colour to Robin's eggs)
The first time someone gave me some, they actually went bad in my fridge because I wanted to save them to show everyone I knew....
Javachick - you are no slacker!! I read your blog, remember?
YAY Friday! woohoo!
You have definitely been busy. I think that piece of wood would (see what I did there?) make a nice stool...for a condo in Alexandria, VA! hehe
Missicat - that wood would make a good stool...cool!
df BagLady,
Ah ha! (Light-bulb moment) That's what they mean by Robin's Egg Blue!
I watched the hummingbird video that the Cowboy's cousin found and all I can say is that guy must have spent an entire season doing nothing but pretend he is a bird feeder, standing in the same spot, holding bright red flowers. If you decide to attempt this, find a seat. Perhaps on the stool you just made. And don't think we missed your cool use of the word wood in your answer to Missicat.
Terrie
I agree... stool or table legs. It is just too cute not to use.
dfTerrie - it did make me wonder how long that guy had to stand there to gain the hummingbirds' trust - I don't think our season here is long enough! (and the Bag Lady has lots and lots of other stuff to do... but it is a very cool video!)
SB - it is too cute, isn't it? The Bag Lady was thinking stool, or plant stand, or sumfin...
When she figures it out, she'll post another photo.
birds and cows and dogs and cats...you and the cow boy are outdoing Ol' McDonald and his farm!
I'm ready for 1 specific cow to be born...I've never had anything named after me before. (Funny the first thing should be a cow.) Can we name it Mojo after my big doggy???
It looks kinda like a pair of legs. I like the stool idea.
Chopping wood is so much fun- I'm terrible at it. But it's very satisfying!
Emily - Mojo it will be! It's taking it's own sweet time, though! As soon as it's born, I'll post a photo!
Sagan - the Bag Lady's secret to chopping wood, which she learned from an old hand? Wait until it's -40, it splits really easily then!! ;)
When you Google "hummingbirds eating from your hand" scroll down about 8 sites and you will find "how to" which details how these people did it...did take some time and patience...
ll
I've seen that clip before, here is the snopes link where she explains how she did it.
http://www.snopes.com/photos/animals
/hummingbirds.asp
Hope your Robin comes back, you were pretty close. The eggs are so pretty.
Drill some holes in the bottom and put some re-bar in so the "legs" will be stable, then put in on your lawn by your fire pit as a stool, you could paint a g-string or some shorts on it.
Thanks, cuzzie! (You're just trying to get me in trouble by slackin' off, aren't you!? :))
Reb - Now there's an idea - the g-string, I mean :)
Oh, and yes, the robin did come back - she's on the nest right now.
Good to hear.
the last picture is very cool!
Thanks, Sydney! Glad you like it.
Good post Baggie.
I immediately pictured it painted denim blue.. with a stitched pocket detailed on one side, and a fly and snap around the other side. But the G-string is better. ;)
I was wondering what kind of bird nested the tiny blue eggs I have. I would have never guessed a robin. You are one busy woman!
It's so funny how some of us pay a bunch of money to go to gym and lift heavy things, when you manage to get tons of great exercise around the ranch and at the same time actually accomplish things!
I'll have to ask my gym if they can order a woodpile...
Hil - that's how I saw it originally, too, but the G-string would be funnier!
Maggie - is your nest shaped the same? There is another, smaller bird with blue eggs, but I think they are speckled.
Crabby - if you install a woodstove in your house, you too can have the enjoyment and exercise of a woodpile! :)
I vote for the denim jeans, after all it is a ranch!!
Abby cuzz
What? No G-string?! :)
I'm thinking jeans, too. And will probably try to make it into a stool, if I can make it stable enough!
I just showed Ambrose your stump pictures..he votes for the G-string.
28 degrees here today - summer finally arrived? (fingers crossed)
Damn, now I'm going to have to decide...
Raining and 10 degrees here, send some sun, 'kay?
I just love the calf pics. I'm going to show them to my grandsons.
therapydoc - thanks so much for stopping by - glad you enjoy the calves!
I know EXACTLY what you should do with the tree legs......
I'd like to introduce you to my longtime seat companion Big Tex.
It's funny how some people try to find their sea legs but you got tree legs instead. :)
EWBL - Tex is hilarious!! I can see something similar living at my house soon!
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