tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90715691981546218972024-03-13T10:45:35.076-05:00the flowerweaverflowerweaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14903201215823510915noreply@blogger.comBlogger281125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071569198154621897.post-65092197391830323382011-11-03T15:35:00.001-06:002011-11-03T15:36:01.766-06:00A Murmuration of StarlingsNature is just so fascinatingly beautiful. What an awesome experience this must have been!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="320" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/31158841?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="400"></iframe><br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/31158841">Murmuration</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user3069761">Sophie Windsor Clive</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.flowerweaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14903201215823510915noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071569198154621897.post-986844479464861812011-10-29T19:44:00.001-05:002011-10-29T20:11:48.351-05:00It's National Hug a Sheep Day! (and a heart-warming story)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIxwsV4Ra7QEjZ1b35ky9CYXfz8oRXaAItg-8A9LBwgqGzmd9wB0FTGdIvuK2SndVjicharCg4fK01qGCtjVcETGtCOoviX0552tMhzI-3EfEpg9-4H7b6b7W92ORgr16W1yvA5WepThep/s1600/Finley+on+HSD+102911+sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIxwsV4Ra7QEjZ1b35ky9CYXfz8oRXaAItg-8A9LBwgqGzmd9wB0FTGdIvuK2SndVjicharCg4fK01qGCtjVcETGtCOoviX0552tMhzI-3EfEpg9-4H7b6b7W92ORgr16W1yvA5WepThep/s400/Finley+on+HSD+102911+sm.jpg" width="335" /></a></div><br />
In case you were not aware, today is <a href="http://nationalhugasheepday.blogspot.com/">National Hug a Sheep Day</a>! Finley, however, prefers skritching since hugging is much too confining (as in uh-oh the wormer must be coming next). He suggested I tell his story.<br />
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Five years ago I rescued Finley's mother, Phoebe, off the highway where she stood motionless for four days. I had no idea what kind of animal she was, all black with beaten up horns and white for eyes. She was emaciated and blind from a case of pinkeye that had obviously gone long untreated. She was, at the very least, frightening looking.<br />
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There were no other similar animals around, nor could I locate an owner, so I convinced Farmer Rick to help me bring her home. She could only run in circles, so we were able to grab her, and after much struggling, got her into the back of the SUV. We put on a head harness and basically had to drag her to back to the pen.<br />
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My vet identified her as a Barbados Blackbelly (hair) sheep with possibly some Rambouillet (wool) sheep mixed in and said the animal had neurological damage. Perhaps she had been hit by a car. At first Phoebe was wary of us, but she really liked having a steady supply of water and nutritional sheep kibble. For a wild sheep, she was full of personality. We got rid of the pinkeye, but she was still blind. Her eyes looked like large blue Earths. She started putting on weight. <br />
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A lot of weight. In about three weeks she had become more friendly and almost doubled in size. Then one morning she swished her tail and I saw them. Milk bags! I called my knowledgeable shepherding friend over at Punkin's Patch and she said ewes usually lamb in February. So I ordered a book about ewe and lamb care.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjckApqL7vAfsjXey9D4QZDB2g2OXeke9n-pa6LhyphenhyphenEcMyq0XMOzgd1-4OTYMw5b9GyAd2lpmEs0UBJvLJDE7N56gvYIvkMAIZ1s8l5wgx5Pf1EnM5klrZP10pXlwe3X9tHNtgkU7p-t2XuH/s1600/Phoebe+and+Avo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjckApqL7vAfsjXey9D4QZDB2g2OXeke9n-pa6LhyphenhyphenEcMyq0XMOzgd1-4OTYMw5b9GyAd2lpmEs0UBJvLJDE7N56gvYIvkMAIZ1s8l5wgx5Pf1EnM5klrZP10pXlwe3X9tHNtgkU7p-t2XuH/s320/Phoebe+and+Avo.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><br />
Finley arrived before the book! We had a rooster named Avo living with Phoebe (he's featured in my masthead). He had been a little rough with the hens so we built him an apartment on the side of the sheep shed. Little did we know that he would fall in love with the blind sheep, who became his "fuzzy hen". He would mount her and ride her around, and would tidbit at her food dish so she could find her food. They grazed together. It was very sweet.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj71udtK6Cszfdi0A4QsLfv6OjXLzoo9kt9Kw9zrmVesJ8Bzb_OO3hYM_GcpuKxwxcV3tTlIjT1t4oXC2TwwiG_B5pkyAnoA0t0hvOqjouju_T6NAFISHJGR7YL5yYJ7lImQxopfg2WQtVZ/s1600/Avo+and+Finley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj71udtK6Cszfdi0A4QsLfv6OjXLzoo9kt9Kw9zrmVesJ8Bzb_OO3hYM_GcpuKxwxcV3tTlIjT1t4oXC2TwwiG_B5pkyAnoA0t0hvOqjouju_T6NAFISHJGR7YL5yYJ7lImQxopfg2WQtVZ/s320/Avo+and+Finley.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
The day Finley arrived I knew something was up, because Avo was pacing frantically back and forth at the gate and Phoebe was nowhere in sight. Just as I looked behind the shed, there was Finley popping out! The vet did not think either of them would live. Phoebe lived another three years, and considering her former abused life, lived to be an old lady. Finley is a strapping lad. I hope someday to get a few more sheep and learn to spin.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGngbql_Vnu99q786328iod93Cqhsu8BC9Nt98BUKksGMF4623PJnYR7mMVY1d-CbET-c0JbPiEvj6meXvvMGgI7-fIzv4Pq7JyGlLVS75amoh0-YYOyJtRAVkD5mYlw5kaRkO4-YvpG-z/s1600/Hug+A+Sheep+Button+103110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGngbql_Vnu99q786328iod93Cqhsu8BC9Nt98BUKksGMF4623PJnYR7mMVY1d-CbET-c0JbPiEvj6meXvvMGgI7-fIzv4Pq7JyGlLVS75amoh0-YYOyJtRAVkD5mYlw5kaRkO4-YvpG-z/s1600/Hug+A+Sheep+Button+103110.jpg" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Be sure to hug a sheep! </div>flowerweaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14903201215823510915noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071569198154621897.post-10459754370806528582011-08-21T22:16:00.001-05:002011-08-21T22:22:55.072-05:00Sunday Stills: The Letter BThanks to all of you who have expressed concern over my absence. First, I should say something about where I've been.<br />
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It's very difficult to find inspiration for photography when the natural world around me is dying. Most of the photos I've taken lately are documentary and pretty grim. If you've kept up with the news you'll know our area has been surrounded by wildfires, scorched by high temperatures, and dry as a bone. We've received something like 2 inches of rain in the last 12 months. The river is just a pile of rocks. Animals are dying and the vultures don't even bother them.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLzHD_ferUvLA6n-VSpBsBE73I6DHyKGGaB4kmRJMX8-9x1xsJ27oPm6qSovFPRahIRxUiSRkb0CkRhY8Gwc2uH_KM1_hBjsi8Hqt__BhG0IbWP3UL5B1jRQMZU835Y6P_L_wGdcYH0m4P/s1600/Broken.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLzHD_ferUvLA6n-VSpBsBE73I6DHyKGGaB4kmRJMX8-9x1xsJ27oPm6qSovFPRahIRxUiSRkb0CkRhY8Gwc2uH_KM1_hBjsi8Hqt__BhG0IbWP3UL5B1jRQMZU835Y6P_L_wGdcYH0m4P/s400/Broken.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Barren and Broken</span></div><br />
This was taken near our house. One little Parralena blooming by an unfortunate armadillo (not Patches, but he's not been seen in months). <br />
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Our well has been dry for five months and most of my time is taken up finding water and hauling it. The garden, our fruit trees, the lawn, and just about everything else we've planted in the last decade is dead. Fortunately, we've been able to keep most of our animals alive, although we lost some older chickens (Stefania, Kitty Hawk, and Sumo) to heat exhaustion. Since we live in a remote place and can no longer grow our own food we're having to make more frequent trips into the city. It's all very exhausting. <br />
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Trying to keep positive about the situation, I'm painting pictures of water. Here's a 24" x 48" canvas on which I've just started working in oils. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBmXuGjqVpCC2cPiP5s3lUkhtzHWvljmgvDxf5mfa_QKZpPTJsd1oCK_KIAERenLG0ANoLkFj57lBACng1VzpYl0bMy_qsbw0qaTytWNZ-yy-euDcvk6reHBJmhgiX6093R3ndhr4JYUzL/s1600/Tranquility+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBmXuGjqVpCC2cPiP5s3lUkhtzHWvljmgvDxf5mfa_QKZpPTJsd1oCK_KIAERenLG0ANoLkFj57lBACng1VzpYl0bMy_qsbw0qaTytWNZ-yy-euDcvk6reHBJmhgiX6093R3ndhr4JYUzL/s400/Tranquility+5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Brushwork</span></div><br />
I also took a three week trip and followed the rain around wherever I could find it. That made me happy.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK0sLZnLq_z4XvalBl3O8UlCtBwhpHES6dVkeo0-q1YSiZSG8jLlW-DddKCNI_2MCr0NSijdA4b3pW7NXpWV-TnfjgrDUqukvW0bY_jFvWWd5AUOobtPAWSApyFjNKUWq6FiHJgJPZ7hGY/s1600/New+Orleans+storm+072211.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK0sLZnLq_z4XvalBl3O8UlCtBwhpHES6dVkeo0-q1YSiZSG8jLlW-DddKCNI_2MCr0NSijdA4b3pW7NXpWV-TnfjgrDUqukvW0bY_jFvWWd5AUOobtPAWSApyFjNKUWq6FiHJgJPZ7hGY/s400/New+Orleans+storm+072211.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Beams of light in a rain storm over New Orleans</span></div><br />
It's also been a time to focus on the inside of the house. We usually spend so much time outside we sort of neglect the interior. For instance, we've lived without flooring for five years now and sort of just noticed. Everyone thinks the black mastic that once held down the 50's linoleum IS our choice of flooring...<br />
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So, I'm getting ready to repaint all the walls and put in flooring. To make room for this work I'm putting things into storage. Some of the first things to go have been my books and shelving. I don't know why this has been so nostalgic, but it's like packing little pieces of myself away. I took this today as the last light illuminated them.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDULF18TeYvgZ583JLjAr3Rvd-Xy0AsbR9yuB6EhQv8TtKe6T3Rh-b0Wf4UjOxFPhcap5gm_7iceoceLOf7QMLU-bZV-kGNvPWlR4NJDAaVAhyBA4UChqnSMgWJQZkzPrl7f7JBKLpD7nE/s1600/Books.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDULF18TeYvgZ583JLjAr3Rvd-Xy0AsbR9yuB6EhQv8TtKe6T3Rh-b0Wf4UjOxFPhcap5gm_7iceoceLOf7QMLU-bZV-kGNvPWlR4NJDAaVAhyBA4UChqnSMgWJQZkzPrl7f7JBKLpD7nE/s400/Books.jpg" width="316" /> </a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Books</span></div><br />
Know that I'm thinking of everyone even if time does not presently allow me to visit or post on your blogs. For more images of the Letter B, visit <a href="http://sundaystills.wordpress.com/2011/08/15/sunday-stills-the-next-challenge-the-letter-b-2/">Sunday Stills</a>.<br />
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flowerweaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14903201215823510915noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071569198154621897.post-47733619308079631462011-05-08T19:10:00.000-05:002011-05-08T19:10:10.857-05:00Sunday Stills: Doors and DoorknobsShort on time, I photographed these doorknobs and handle all from one of our old farm sheds this afternoon. I tried to look for the abstract in line and composition.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHK_MLRS_fl51OyyV4tetDb2NhIixxcC7KKCsw4GjDuCqLqSGk399PFrP9X1N0o8giuBKzXghPyirY60l9NfQaNbgMI0OIOHhrEorvO5K4e9Q2tw0b_9QvcgFs3JHwvlpquNuxSF6cHcta/s1600/shed+knob+sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHK_MLRS_fl51OyyV4tetDb2NhIixxcC7KKCsw4GjDuCqLqSGk399PFrP9X1N0o8giuBKzXghPyirY60l9NfQaNbgMI0OIOHhrEorvO5K4e9Q2tw0b_9QvcgFs3JHwvlpquNuxSF6cHcta/s400/shed+knob+sm.jpg" width="295" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI-ghPlnY3r3ckZWlw6ctwaV2prToJEMjRsOxauN3QTeb_onxzP3sRamPhVLbNwNCEfbpFNoV0eXtSUHot94jnP0dOKFJ8Y9RUJz1-tu7q-myQqUjwGUcIbFFGyVf978UBcfzNszDr2nki/s1600/shed+handle+sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI-ghPlnY3r3ckZWlw6ctwaV2prToJEMjRsOxauN3QTeb_onxzP3sRamPhVLbNwNCEfbpFNoV0eXtSUHot94jnP0dOKFJ8Y9RUJz1-tu7q-myQqUjwGUcIbFFGyVf978UBcfzNszDr2nki/s400/shed+handle+sm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjwiQKWGfzrDyeRT1Tfb3VcS4isbLK_HZiWhyzVSkgjcw943yFUw4Ov6ftvxht8ChyphenhyphenKjfyyBo-BwnFqim7jwoKCTH6LwfItKQoJIRW6pVGXCv7jsIMPKqHdEIzYHlYIjbBr2h0-_8T3gGZ/s1600/shed+knob+2+sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjwiQKWGfzrDyeRT1Tfb3VcS4isbLK_HZiWhyzVSkgjcw943yFUw4Ov6ftvxht8ChyphenhyphenKjfyyBo-BwnFqim7jwoKCTH6LwfItKQoJIRW6pVGXCv7jsIMPKqHdEIzYHlYIjbBr2h0-_8T3gGZ/s400/shed+knob+2+sm.jpg" width="325" /></a></div><br />
For more images of doors and doorknobs, visit <a href="http://sundaystills.wordpress.com/2011/05/01/sunday-stills-the-next-challenge-doors-and-doorknobs/">Sunday Stills</a>.flowerweaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14903201215823510915noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071569198154621897.post-17847412915010769712011-05-06T08:30:00.003-05:002011-05-06T08:46:47.003-05:00Farm Friend Friday: Hummingbirds<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLt3hw7u5bPKFZTeZ-DLB-ePZDEWx-t6jxUoIl9rEhh0AGQ2keUpKegR22nMKztBxYytgNQSdRk0Gudw6NdoTi5heKPnhAwQi2KQmbKyky-0vVJhOoWoXMfsoxzQvpAnrP6EwmyDCwlO3R/s1600/Hummingbird+bar+050211.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLt3hw7u5bPKFZTeZ-DLB-ePZDEWx-t6jxUoIl9rEhh0AGQ2keUpKegR22nMKztBxYytgNQSdRk0Gudw6NdoTi5heKPnhAwQi2KQmbKyky-0vVJhOoWoXMfsoxzQvpAnrP6EwmyDCwlO3R/s400/Hummingbird+bar+050211.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Dozens of hummingbirds at a time visit our feeders</span></div><br />
One of the animals we consider family on our farm is the humminbird. Black Chins and Ruby Throats begin showing up in early March. I put out a couple of quart sized syrup feeders for them. We use a 1 sugar : 4 water ratio and we don't heat it as it becomes too time consuming as the weeks advance.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisQmehju-qm5C0zWYTVQUOnLNnCVXcVBYxweVV3NcIg9MpCvj7yVMj-iaLxXsAANciXGFoUxj5uMG5Eln1gTeEtNg_bnEyhCugkiYe3yeibFU0whAp-19tIm0wX49fMbrPQwcewyXnf6Pl/s1600/Hummingbird+Feeder+sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisQmehju-qm5C0zWYTVQUOnLNnCVXcVBYxweVV3NcIg9MpCvj7yVMj-iaLxXsAANciXGFoUxj5uMG5Eln1gTeEtNg_bnEyhCugkiYe3yeibFU0whAp-19tIm0wX49fMbrPQwcewyXnf6Pl/s400/Hummingbird+Feeder+sm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> They don't seem to mind my presence</span></div><br />
In April the males are flying their daredevil J dances, taking nosedives zzzzzzz zzzzzzz zzzzz to impress the right girl. I have seen a perched female with her head going up and down, back and forth as if she were watching a tennis match.<br />
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As mating season begins, the females start coming to my office window to remove spiderwebs which they use to bind the lichen together to form their nests. They will lay only two small eggs in these tiny nests no bigger than a golf ball. Once the ladies begin sitting on nests activity at the feeders will suddenly decrease by half; after the babies are born in the summer it will greatly increase again.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRG7hZdZEJekylVkF7ZXr8ZnQV4lF8K6MzF73_-5cbvjuPawfzYw0HvCj-8P8z1S4OzrNWMwnPXspw0uaTEs9QWM3xCl-EouV-2HxsZvA6BCigHx9EGQFODoTdryM4DLvMWqxdb4Vl16CO/s1600/Hummingbird+nest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRG7hZdZEJekylVkF7ZXr8ZnQV4lF8K6MzF73_-5cbvjuPawfzYw0HvCj-8P8z1S4OzrNWMwnPXspw0uaTEs9QWM3xCl-EouV-2HxsZvA6BCigHx9EGQFODoTdryM4DLvMWqxdb4Vl16CO/s400/Hummingbird+nest.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> One of the nests I discovered a couple years ago, photographed without a zoom lens</span></div><br />
Over the years I've taken part in many area hummingbird banding projects. What we've learned is that these birds are very territorial, that the same birds will patronize the same feeder on the same day each year. Birds at one feeder are likely related. As the different families have grown, so has my need for lager feeders. Currently they are consuming two gallons a day! I've also had occasion to rescue a few.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjawEX9pR8HYJeUadpQLlJ-n-IxW2R369-8fyyO-LUzEk94yLLMFChZKkEw_IMIJkKAz57rK59idhl1i6AYttjddGXIyb3As7EXhRWNtyaUtBN1tOVnUlO_ywQ7TV7E5ILTiG0XSdLg1_9f/s1600/Hummingbird+rescue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjawEX9pR8HYJeUadpQLlJ-n-IxW2R369-8fyyO-LUzEk94yLLMFChZKkEw_IMIJkKAz57rK59idhl1i6AYttjddGXIyb3As7EXhRWNtyaUtBN1tOVnUlO_ywQ7TV7E5ILTiG0XSdLg1_9f/s400/Hummingbird+rescue.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">This bird got stuck in the grape jelly set out for the Oriole, was cleaned and released</span></div><br />
Tired of filling quart feeders 2-3 times a day, I recently decided to hang chicken waterers to make my life easier. These have been ideal. They are inexpensive, unbreakable, easily cleaned, and red. I just measure four cups of sugar and fill the rest with water. The generous lip allows for a couple dozen birds to feed simultaneously. <br />
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Throughout my life wild (and domestic) animals have trusted me, but I do seem to have a special relationship with these birds. Here are a couple videos I hope you'll watch and know you will enjoy. The first one Farmer Rick took of me hanging the feeder. Amazingly they even land on my hands. The second one I took holding the camera in front of my face, so you can experience what I do when I feed them. Be sure to have the sound turned up on that one to hear their chirps and the whirring of their wings!<br />
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I even enjoy painting them.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaqgrj51owwCsMCxi0lZl_vYKcJw-jkgk6bwl5onuY_DSvF2MsiLy9ZvDr7VoKlx_4eIwsSxWE8VutWUdkbd9BV_MsOGOn_oD-3m8WthP3Q8c2YpMVmU3dep1nKBnAJgycDm5suoy2H1UF/s1600/Hummingbird+Teapot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaqgrj51owwCsMCxi0lZl_vYKcJw-jkgk6bwl5onuY_DSvF2MsiLy9ZvDr7VoKlx_4eIwsSxWE8VutWUdkbd9BV_MsOGOn_oD-3m8WthP3Q8c2YpMVmU3dep1nKBnAJgycDm5suoy2H1UF/s400/Hummingbird+Teapot.jpg" width="322" /></a></div><br />
For more animals friends, be sure to visit <a href="http://www.verdefarm.com/">Farm Friend Friday</a>!flowerweaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14903201215823510915noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071569198154621897.post-89728409021343169642011-05-01T13:25:00.001-05:002011-05-01T14:03:42.301-05:00Sunday Stills: RustFirst, I should say something about the obvious lack of recent posts.<br />
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We've only received a half inch of rain in the past ten months and are under the highest level of drought. Our well went dry at the beginning of Spring and we are currently surrounded by smoke and wildfires burning up hundreds of thousands of acres in west Texas, some as close as an hour away. Hauling water for our farm and planning for the possible evacuation of ourselves and 67 animals has become more than a full time job.<br />
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Rust--we have plenty of it. On a farm it's always working, even while we sleep. I've learned to appreciate it's artistic efforts and use it to justify my tetanus shot. I've tried to pick some of the more interesting cases for this photography challenge. I can imagine myself making a series of abstract quilts based on these images. Which one do you like best?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeBrJ3cKR5qgZ3dJRLCPs1DjbkqfcFBkLrmhUd-lmdkuA-INRJ1_ajQr8brPOXlVgGKlT2N33QUzlaJ8JH7yhmDK9Ant38dAyGKYSGScprv6jtvHbTEcUz3-9r9o_vOyQUFGWK5mdXJrUs/s1600/Rusty+chair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeBrJ3cKR5qgZ3dJRLCPs1DjbkqfcFBkLrmhUd-lmdkuA-INRJ1_ajQr8brPOXlVgGKlT2N33QUzlaJ8JH7yhmDK9Ant38dAyGKYSGScprv6jtvHbTEcUz3-9r9o_vOyQUFGWK5mdXJrUs/s400/Rusty+chair.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5dP4sLysZMFaTt5t4VHIGAowpwHuoajJstx4Zc3klhERXJE-mFtfJWHRmmhUKgr4HmqOi0DiDMO4QKTV-s8RRztDqIBOUQHyF433bmW-Nz7-OkyWyRnnkcIW5weVPBLs4iO4Py1xKG-cL/s1600/Rusty+back+of+chair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5dP4sLysZMFaTt5t4VHIGAowpwHuoajJstx4Zc3klhERXJE-mFtfJWHRmmhUKgr4HmqOi0DiDMO4QKTV-s8RRztDqIBOUQHyF433bmW-Nz7-OkyWyRnnkcIW5weVPBLs4iO4Py1xKG-cL/s400/Rusty+back+of+chair.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdDCcvEDCsvUbo1F57-Wmj0FiQBkFJcaNpJMq18VsZ3n8giMIkaJIo7XPzNyJHQgvEavEe5qEHdaTwcmP52kSKXeslDIOUjuThmAjlNvntf17yg5DAeRxpJvJaUqtzQtG-7ePTJ7J9DmJY/s1600/Rust+on+front+patio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdDCcvEDCsvUbo1F57-Wmj0FiQBkFJcaNpJMq18VsZ3n8giMIkaJIo7XPzNyJHQgvEavEe5qEHdaTwcmP52kSKXeslDIOUjuThmAjlNvntf17yg5DAeRxpJvJaUqtzQtG-7ePTJ7J9DmJY/s400/Rust+on+front+patio.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSzc84dv1_Pq6fGyLUtGCamruKyWYRsGiufuTY-hubWRTgzgReL3WhsPBD2bee926IoHqB5vROlMRGbWioeET2zIAg1qvnqWBYLpkami60DBHf73VaQqZR7-9JLJZ8WDVUjW_C1uyx_tVM/s1600/Rusty+flood+find.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div>For more images of rust, visit <a href="http://sundaystills.wordpress.com/2011/04/24/sunday-stills-the-next-challenge-rust/">Sunday Stills</a>.flowerweaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14903201215823510915noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071569198154621897.post-52580404972846231812011-03-25T19:38:00.001-06:002011-03-25T19:40:29.126-06:00Farm Friend Friday--Peeps!Tuesday night we heard the unmistakable sound of a peep! Adelka, the Buff Lace Poland, has been dutifully sitting on a dozen eggs and Wednesday morning a little one appeared from under her.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOc6REKAyNfacHGVkEIAPLQiHen41TND4ioFPBYbjkrrq8aNgGsjW2jcFZGcvUhQWMFvJqrEnl_pMbEROD4RvEZMRp-CcLOrsJZuC54afQ4XGJb4iKMnKLvBa0-8uSY21zF-D8QR3UYEKP/s1600/Peekaboo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOc6REKAyNfacHGVkEIAPLQiHen41TND4ioFPBYbjkrrq8aNgGsjW2jcFZGcvUhQWMFvJqrEnl_pMbEROD4RvEZMRp-CcLOrsJZuC54afQ4XGJb4iKMnKLvBa0-8uSY21zF-D8QR3UYEKP/s400/Peekaboo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Peekaboo!</span></div><br />
It's extremely rare for this breed to hatch their own chicks, and these are the first to be born on our farm, so it's pretty exciting! I bought an incubator for the task, but there was no need for it.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgKnKmsj5Fr8RbTCJJk221MSxza84nKgeHAiKlU_C4z3LGAbFBZQoktia0zHTSD3y74CwfxPd_EdXAzRXjjkFyJk8W624UoHXG_D60I5Tc4rYgo1BioXx9MhyYgiznfeF6JP6sDcs5M0GQ/s1600/Look+at+me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgKnKmsj5Fr8RbTCJJk221MSxza84nKgeHAiKlU_C4z3LGAbFBZQoktia0zHTSD3y74CwfxPd_EdXAzRXjjkFyJk8W624UoHXG_D60I5Tc4rYgo1BioXx9MhyYgiznfeF6JP6sDcs5M0GQ/s400/Look+at+me.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> Look at me!</span></div><br />
By yesterday afternoon there were eight little balls of fluff!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzH4bY5CjrtLKrQrPDqQmvybUyOHG7Gef0PFy00ub0FRpnCMEtJo72Fea1nrx3Y-t8JHySDoYSurbertHFJYtlfpdOqhDw28EStN62B8vtF_gQDJxHELXdlBicPkbqSN4wEy5aJz7Gip6l/s1600/Eight+peeps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzH4bY5CjrtLKrQrPDqQmvybUyOHG7Gef0PFy00ub0FRpnCMEtJo72Fea1nrx3Y-t8JHySDoYSurbertHFJYtlfpdOqhDw28EStN62B8vtF_gQDJxHELXdlBicPkbqSN4wEy5aJz7Gip6l/s400/Eight+peeps.jpg" width="376" /> </a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Peeps!</span></div><br />
I was hoping some of the offspring might be Karina's, but her untimely passing was 25 days before first hatch and chicken eggs hatch in 21 days, so I'm suspecting they are all Adelka's.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxST23zzkTU4VKGoiomUUOQbqNdnu1fuXdFRm9A1hcOjelmc5rcBi5ZdJULg4wDGfpgKFst4d74Xq6f36B7fkPY00VFcm3Dpg92AnzBInKDBb1VIzf8u84YkPd2zl0JBpVGeWacafoZmET/s1600/Kryzsztof+and+Karina.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxST23zzkTU4VKGoiomUUOQbqNdnu1fuXdFRm9A1hcOjelmc5rcBi5ZdJULg4wDGfpgKFst4d74Xq6f36B7fkPY00VFcm3Dpg92AnzBInKDBb1VIzf8u84YkPd2zl0JBpVGeWacafoZmET/s400/Kryzsztof+and+Karina.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> Kryzsztof and gal</span></div><br />
Prior to hatching, the father Kryzsztof had been moved into his own apartment, and has been steadily pacing around in his loneliness since. Today I carried him over to view them through the hardware cloth. His head shot up like a muppet in astonishment at seeing all his peeps, and Adelka gave a soft purr of contentment.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJUX0z64DK3dfrSccxObLw8EPYqI07heLR581GWziXOXVCPdU7XYm-qPw3hcdPELRg9uLhWzQ6TbwdIZM22EM57WECcfvEdu4dE1AYmNWzzuZ-aEn_yJZyW1X7o-OrUNV1n5ffgqBpmpw/s1600/Adelka+and+crew+eating+out+of+my+hand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJUX0z64DK3dfrSccxObLw8EPYqI07heLR581GWziXOXVCPdU7XYm-qPw3hcdPELRg9uLhWzQ6TbwdIZM22EM57WECcfvEdu4dE1AYmNWzzuZ-aEn_yJZyW1X7o-OrUNV1n5ffgqBpmpw/s400/Adelka+and+crew+eating+out+of+my+hand.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> Everyone eating from my hand</span></div><br />
Today she let me handle the chicks, watching carefully to see that I was gentle with them and returned them to her. They were all eating out of my hand, so the co-parenting has begun! I like to be able to handle my adult chickens and for them to be gentle around people. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjma4-hf6PWMTgDagD3IILBtwJUfA46Hhp1cT80xPxR-_zMzoZq1WybmHk7xOmBY1Fo7HcjClSl2Fj52yPkrJxw3nKLG_PmtR3v-HwgaHqbOVIUxEnHeKcjdujbKWH9f_j-cZhVSnbBw6p8/s1600/Naptime.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjma4-hf6PWMTgDagD3IILBtwJUfA46Hhp1cT80xPxR-_zMzoZq1WybmHk7xOmBY1Fo7HcjClSl2Fj52yPkrJxw3nKLG_PmtR3v-HwgaHqbOVIUxEnHeKcjdujbKWH9f_j-cZhVSnbBw6p8/s400/Naptime.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">Nap time (click to biggify!)</span></div><br />
When she feels nap time is over she starts barking a repetitive sound and they all scurry out from underneath her fluffiness. She begins the tidbitting process until several are eating at the feeder. They all seemed happy to eat from my hand. When she feels they’ve had enough recess she emits a low growl and they all run back under her breast held up like a garage door. She uses her beak to tuck the last little cute tushie back underneath. Adelka is a great mom!<br />
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Visit more Farm Friends at <a href="http://www.verdefarm.com/">Farm Friend Friday</a>!flowerweaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14903201215823510915noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071569198154621897.post-50392511244359095812011-02-20T11:00:00.001-06:002011-02-20T12:06:13.537-06:00Sunday Stills: Old Churches and GraveyardsThis morning it was misty, which set an ethereal background for photographing our local cemetery, which dates back to the pioneers that settled this area of the Southwest Texas hill country in the mid-1800's.<br />
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Perhaps you can tell something about a town by its graveyard. Our ghost town, population 49, has more dead than living. As a rural ranching and farming community there isn't a lot of money for fancy edifices. Some graves are incomplete but not forgotten.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0OOZ9Q25IiSHowbO7C3roU8bnoPkLYgMyu18JVXC4MKvWuWBNeNQ7f3MsGOqKIem3deH8dF0m9ijDhDY1YU1Y0FKg5oZcmliWz016whiYADL-OJO1yoVkc2xhNkdVsNrD3ZXF0tnHNNwZ/s1600/Fallen+flowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0OOZ9Q25IiSHowbO7C3roU8bnoPkLYgMyu18JVXC4MKvWuWBNeNQ7f3MsGOqKIem3deH8dF0m9ijDhDY1YU1Y0FKg5oZcmliWz016whiYADL-OJO1yoVkc2xhNkdVsNrD3ZXF0tnHNNwZ/s400/Fallen+flowers.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK7BloCYs9ylgwmEIZoI4oe2Ub-V6SjabMOHgB9YaPSQ5v_0vcGTpbFQtwOysZvrD30JI7b32GDK9aK9d5JgLousSXrXNGaVI6xlqV05_IYoWVeNlAt5-5_p9j9fBtRsEqUJS8kK62Qhyphenhyphen4/s1600/Genos+grave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK7BloCYs9ylgwmEIZoI4oe2Ub-V6SjabMOHgB9YaPSQ5v_0vcGTpbFQtwOysZvrD30JI7b32GDK9aK9d5JgLousSXrXNGaVI6xlqV05_IYoWVeNlAt5-5_p9j9fBtRsEqUJS8kK62Qhyphenhyphen4/s400/Genos+grave.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is my good friend Geno's grave. He and I shared a pet coyote. He lived a healthy lifestyle and could ride a bicycle 50 miles a day, but liver cancer took him unexpectedly and too soon. We buried him on what would have been our (Farmer Rick and I) wedding day. Farmer Rick and I sang Ave Maria at the grave site. One day I will put a marker up with a bicycle or coyote. Or both.</div><br />
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The wind and animals scatter the fake flowers. Many wash down the creek and end up at our place. They seem to symbolize the impermanence of a human life.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_h-ju9IgTH5i4aFDxyB_-GfZGDKkzN6J3RMJIrYMwARWhTDbQE2SeI76oNCp_ESKRzonjlxg_oL3zo4o3yzPo3JY9Qje5wPjpOnV4UA09ew9Hm0_IqdJgQZSFa14OZeaakMmH-exAMmvI/s1600/Flowers+through+fence.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_h-ju9IgTH5i4aFDxyB_-GfZGDKkzN6J3RMJIrYMwARWhTDbQE2SeI76oNCp_ESKRzonjlxg_oL3zo4o3yzPo3JY9Qje5wPjpOnV4UA09ew9Hm0_IqdJgQZSFa14OZeaakMmH-exAMmvI/s400/Flowers+through+fence.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><br />
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Some people decorate more than others. Anything goes. It shows the diversity of this small populace.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI7_DTJbkyLcrGbOowT2CJMYEtY-IzJTEB6GSVjfXcf-JGlPsgryRSRHYmkCKxoHKFXL8YitotyyPapUS9px0-KyoL1801vKiUK0fbsuG4kkSdV_SIVzKCi-fuhsDoFhDnarPZ-1REtIsO/s1600/Angel+grave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI7_DTJbkyLcrGbOowT2CJMYEtY-IzJTEB6GSVjfXcf-JGlPsgryRSRHYmkCKxoHKFXL8YitotyyPapUS9px0-KyoL1801vKiUK0fbsuG4kkSdV_SIVzKCi-fuhsDoFhDnarPZ-1REtIsO/s400/Angel+grave.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcQvjdSyVbsdwZj81lg8f-kWjCIUBOOMIX5_g9Iu51mGDshe0PeZJG-G8GMDOzLiv_kyEqrbubcuumkELocnn7NrBXzwat3nuiaUfi0UHZNsDYL2JtHi1BOapdaxR33C06mxldDYhAxCV5/s1600/Bluebird+grave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcQvjdSyVbsdwZj81lg8f-kWjCIUBOOMIX5_g9Iu51mGDshe0PeZJG-G8GMDOzLiv_kyEqrbubcuumkELocnn7NrBXzwat3nuiaUfi0UHZNsDYL2JtHi1BOapdaxR33C06mxldDYhAxCV5/s400/Bluebird+grave.jpg" width="400" /> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsMtxGdml8A7TUsRRk9PxG90ezWN65ikQgzQVKsJ0V4WcgsSpdh0MH0FW6sozenogaSfYLLUSopiE-sZC9s3e7znp7RKgvQfRUidFCOg5e5j0jJZc9DzTKp_sx0sZDCAzBapiGl7hZzmFj/s1600/Everything+grave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsMtxGdml8A7TUsRRk9PxG90ezWN65ikQgzQVKsJ0V4WcgsSpdh0MH0FW6sozenogaSfYLLUSopiE-sZC9s3e7znp7RKgvQfRUidFCOg5e5j0jJZc9DzTKp_sx0sZDCAzBapiGl7hZzmFj/s400/Everything+grave.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I dedicate this post to my mother whom I buried 34 years ago today, and to Laurie, the former owner of my house here for 31 years. She was buried in this cemetery a couple weeks ago in an unmarked grave decorated only by a cross made of white and purple flowers.<br />
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For more images of old churches and graveyards, visit <a href="http://sundaystills.wordpress.com/2011/02/13/sunday-stills-the-next-challenge-old-churches-and-graveyards/">Sunday Stills</a>.flowerweaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14903201215823510915noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071569198154621897.post-78112990484030709942011-02-18T22:08:00.002-06:002011-02-19T22:13:11.665-06:00Farm Friend Friday: Creatures are stirring<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTKK7Syp826EhC7R32xYYiLbMrQNKRwRtvqs5zlUL71zBc9dtQ6Je6puGV-9CGKaZ951eIT7eiDPgFHrlVn1I8Org_4VMmFU3pEgbSk_l_XSS0tlgy_HIq9GP4evS_a3E92parKVRCn-aq/s1600/Bruno+brabanter+on+gate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTKK7Syp826EhC7R32xYYiLbMrQNKRwRtvqs5zlUL71zBc9dtQ6Je6puGV-9CGKaZ951eIT7eiDPgFHrlVn1I8Org_4VMmFU3pEgbSk_l_XSS0tlgy_HIq9GP4evS_a3E92parKVRCn-aq/s400/Bruno+brabanter+on+gate.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> Bruno Bratanter on the gate</span></div>With the daytime temperatures back up into the 70's all life was stirring again. I felt like I was coming out of hibernation this week, slowly resuming life as we know it. The chickens were glad to be back outside scratching in the creek.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7PKHmk5h6SwavrmT5b8674DVxI1YHfd3t2WITqI81VTMIgZ6G18OxAe0P88h_ErSZjGP636IPYYHLrfsgt2kRyO7Eqd3GY4kVKms8pmGdkqObBM6U3XhVnJcSbnEvOwA3QPtLWq1h2b-u/s1600/Bruno+brabanter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7PKHmk5h6SwavrmT5b8674DVxI1YHfd3t2WITqI81VTMIgZ6G18OxAe0P88h_ErSZjGP636IPYYHLrfsgt2kRyO7Eqd3GY4kVKms8pmGdkqObBM6U3XhVnJcSbnEvOwA3QPtLWq1h2b-u/s400/Bruno+brabanter.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Bruno is our only rooster that can fly to the tops of trees (and has on occasion required me standing on the top of a tall ladder to retrieve him at nightfall). His beak is in need of a trim. I love his black 'beard' and mullet like 'do. The Brabanters come from Belgium and are very personable. The hens fly to my shoulder when I enter the coop, and would happily ride around there like a pirate's parrot all day if I would let them!<br />
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This week I noticed one of the neighbor's Mallard ducks sitting in the hedgerow not far from our front door.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigct14uV3i2VFp1ykxu4gnK26uqtdk3GzKnn6VnxswM22pY5QthjiUsGHOHaGc9y7A_qbhSXS5PUZ9B1_xTvJiYAsCtzUBiP4hJkNbQNuLgtmQGv_YB8OReXTi-GuNOT8-uPmQD26Tni_0/s1600/Duck+and+front+porch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigct14uV3i2VFp1ykxu4gnK26uqtdk3GzKnn6VnxswM22pY5QthjiUsGHOHaGc9y7A_qbhSXS5PUZ9B1_xTvJiYAsCtzUBiP4hJkNbQNuLgtmQGv_YB8OReXTi-GuNOT8-uPmQD26Tni_0/s400/Duck+and+front+porch.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Farmer Rick was certain it was just a bag that had blown down there. On closer inspection, we were both correct: It was a tan plastic bag neatly camouflaging a female mallard presumably sitting on eggs.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK-mz4LhYP-8PbyW0oeSVA_fROHLnDqUQ3PPb6jk__XtZ1xL1jm4MNemRuCP4aD5PWHtmvO96RNt94j99dLJnvwJp5ICwGNRjfIAA4OlhiAT-oVsJoZoa_kRcV9KziLmvFYm7RI-1SZOoG/s1600/Duck+and+bag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK-mz4LhYP-8PbyW0oeSVA_fROHLnDqUQ3PPb6jk__XtZ1xL1jm4MNemRuCP4aD5PWHtmvO96RNt94j99dLJnvwJp5ICwGNRjfIAA4OlhiAT-oVsJoZoa_kRcV9KziLmvFYm7RI-1SZOoG/s400/Duck+and+bag.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">You can't see me! (Click to biggify!)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Last year one of the ducks hatched 19 ducklings in a flowerbed closer to our driveway. This nest is just a few feet from our door! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I also noticed the bluebird nest box in the Short Grass Prairie has a bluebird nest in it. They are unmistakable, made of soft green moss lined with feathers. I've seen her going in and out, so hopefully I will be able to photograph the babies soon. It's been a couple years since we had bluebirds; last year the box was home to Tufted Titmice.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUHq4OtoLSlH17axhVyEcUXd5rf9xA6TQL2JRBNToepfmD_aP_kAw74my5dhOGOtVSgfenBeXFQ4NEWnD0ci9VSEZosUIScd9oc1a934225Ghg3ZjhVxgeB3p81J9vw-T_cW8Q1O8-xdBx/s1600/Tiger+Girl+021611.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUHq4OtoLSlH17axhVyEcUXd5rf9xA6TQL2JRBNToepfmD_aP_kAw74my5dhOGOtVSgfenBeXFQ4NEWnD0ci9VSEZosUIScd9oc1a934225Ghg3ZjhVxgeB3p81J9vw-T_cW8Q1O8-xdBx/s400/Tiger+Girl+021611.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Tiger Girl</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The beautifully marked wild cat Tiger Girl showed up to accompany me on my walk. She's a good mouser and I hope she will make this her home. We see her once or twice a week, and have not found anyone who claims her.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguKOvrgg5tpYWgCP-6Fe35y67SMSCFZlHGw6l7J5qbQkYgkUEZY-iftccxSeQkNe_wY0wAHapxMFJ18LIZ_eF22aEWa2_CEFLbrAX4tObq6mzNDMiRtW7KXCNDoWG5lp44teiM-S12VAY8/s1600/Moon+over+mountain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguKOvrgg5tpYWgCP-6Fe35y67SMSCFZlHGw6l7J5qbQkYgkUEZY-iftccxSeQkNe_wY0wAHapxMFJ18LIZ_eF22aEWa2_CEFLbrAX4tObq6mzNDMiRtW7KXCNDoWG5lp44teiM-S12VAY8/s400/Moon+over+mountain.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Moon over the prairie</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Interestingly, the honeybees have been making a beeline to the 5 gallon buckets filled with coffee grounds I pick up at coffee shops in town. They must be getting some sustenance out of it. Or a buzz! Will our honey be caffeinated?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOuyI1fTb8TX_ullVu016nG8WgIZLzYGn11hy-bxXCQW2I-gcVLu7xhufgW6MlPahOeMUYprVmrmiC6d_Ll9V1LxrYuJ3ZW7eXWwr5dbUb7G6CXr1tkgJJfX3aDD0JB6GD7D6F28EKos3c/s1600/Patches+snooting+021511.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOuyI1fTb8TX_ullVu016nG8WgIZLzYGn11hy-bxXCQW2I-gcVLu7xhufgW6MlPahOeMUYprVmrmiC6d_Ll9V1LxrYuJ3ZW7eXWwr5dbUb7G6CXr1tkgJJfX3aDD0JB6GD7D6F28EKos3c/s400/Patches+snooting+021511.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Patches</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Patches, our resident armadillo has been out and about snooting through the grasses and digging for grubs. I was able to follow him at a close distance in this video taken a couple days ago. You'll see early on he detects me by smell, but continues about his business. It is only at the end I crunch something underfoot that he goes bounding away.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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I felt like an armadillo paparazza! This week I've also potted up hundreds of Salvias, Mulleins, Jewels of Opar, and Coneflowers and moved them from the propagation room into the greenhouse. There are so many more still to do! Here's a photo of the greenhouse at night, glowing like a beacon.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4uEXGmEcWNJBHtI5KwMcMcui5jnTRMmtwWCzga7pRzKU3w_F5qDfgbXtrBYWJK8ZEu_dpF9QzVMQXeSUhvrZzSrKUnHCNB8S_1egMTvCBVZvRSS8Q4ZNN-kw2xuTd5ijNiD2GUhXSwS7P/s1600/Greenhouse+at+night.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4uEXGmEcWNJBHtI5KwMcMcui5jnTRMmtwWCzga7pRzKU3w_F5qDfgbXtrBYWJK8ZEu_dpF9QzVMQXeSUhvrZzSrKUnHCNB8S_1egMTvCBVZvRSS8Q4ZNN-kw2xuTd5ijNiD2GUhXSwS7P/s400/Greenhouse+at+night.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
For more views of farm life, visit <a href="http://www.verdefarm.com/">Farm Friend Friday</a>!flowerweaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14903201215823510915noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071569198154621897.post-70236266426677548652011-02-15T22:02:00.003-06:002011-02-15T22:04:45.276-06:00Nature's stamp of approval<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm1ndR6Kt_yDbnxQI207ldRl-57NeiyKoY7CJTRbhCqttn67jinNbn9wMlCfMxIFUczhh84sgZykLfwWSHG7cWQjXRKzYU3dQAzkUzgsfwJwVrRPXEr3VTAr9Y4-diXTLBm-ia8FQwlKZE/s1600/ANB+stained+glass+window.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm1ndR6Kt_yDbnxQI207ldRl-57NeiyKoY7CJTRbhCqttn67jinNbn9wMlCfMxIFUczhh84sgZykLfwWSHG7cWQjXRKzYU3dQAzkUzgsfwJwVrRPXEr3VTAr9Y4-diXTLBm-ia8FQwlKZE/s400/ANB+stained+glass+window.jpg" width="400" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">Beautiful stained glass lobby window portraying the Alamo</span></div><br />
Last week Farmer Rick and I had the pleasure of attending the largest music educator conference in San Antonio, Texas and hearing the Swingle Singers perform. I remember hearing them on the radio when I was growing up in the 1960's, and was delighted to know the a capella vocal octet--now with much younger members--was still around.<br />
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Their performance was probably one of the top one’s we’ve ever heard (and we’ve been to a lot of concerts). If you want to hear what eight people can do with their voices (including making all the instrument and percussion sounds in addition to complex harmony) check out this music video.<br />
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As usual, we stayed at one of the participating conference hotels downtown, which are usually nice but generic. We had no idea the one we were booked at had formerly been the opulent Alamo National Bank.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYDYIsWwbCxwpE5ua-tY9mDDKpaHpBTLictu9Ir1ax5GMbAEI00ihDEC0L-E3C9_YuvLFx8zVs5ZI1XuCwkpqIQg9UM4b_1o5C8P2QsyLTwvtsEk0VAzZ6hIrh0PLEDA1-_z3ABL1v_Si5/s1600/Trust+that+binds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYDYIsWwbCxwpE5ua-tY9mDDKpaHpBTLictu9Ir1ax5GMbAEI00ihDEC0L-E3C9_YuvLFx8zVs5ZI1XuCwkpqIQg9UM4b_1o5C8P2QsyLTwvtsEk0VAzZ6hIrh0PLEDA1-_z3ABL1v_Si5/s400/Trust+that+binds.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> Every inch of the building had elegant detail seldom seen in architecture today</span></div><br />
It was 25 degrees which is very unusual for this city. Sadly, many of the mature tropical landscape plants along the Riverwalk had been killed by the extended Arctic temperatures.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQEp2ril7NPCRRy7xbyMwpoV6Sx_3LUMqAM9MeWRuu94Um1zgrzxB2m4XBd_nlhTymzjErZoYeTvoRGv8UbJ6h8h-yTwDq7PcToTXlymcfyEC6ZcNAPtJWevqrtzQOhiVlEnoZPOc_V22p/s1600/Self+portrait+at+TMEA+2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQEp2ril7NPCRRy7xbyMwpoV6Sx_3LUMqAM9MeWRuu94Um1zgrzxB2m4XBd_nlhTymzjErZoYeTvoRGv8UbJ6h8h-yTwDq7PcToTXlymcfyEC6ZcNAPtJWevqrtzQOhiVlEnoZPOc_V22p/s400/Self+portrait+at+TMEA+2011.jpg" width="251" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Flowerweaver bundled up!</span></div><br />
During one of the business meetings I decided to escape to photograph the Convention Center’s plaza—one of my favorite landscapes created by humans—to share with you. It connects up with the famous Riverwalk.<br />
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Not only is it a delight to the eye, and a pleasure to experience with all the gurgling and rushing sounds of water, but the attention to detail and craftsmanship is incredible.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgutjilqztiQdXij8sShjKb9_WSTtscSR8xvtc3xESzDqSlTMFiK8zduGtSV2z497Vx8-4Y0Ih2IRba6yMn-iZ_U5HUSyrW1S3GGexvrMa-tqHrijkplXKfa3haIXx_dso0_Hqz_fWQQSMT/s1600/Plaza+entrance+ramp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgutjilqztiQdXij8sShjKb9_WSTtscSR8xvtc3xESzDqSlTMFiK8zduGtSV2z497Vx8-4Y0Ih2IRba6yMn-iZ_U5HUSyrW1S3GGexvrMa-tqHrijkplXKfa3haIXx_dso0_Hqz_fWQQSMT/s400/Plaza+entrance+ramp.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Entrance to the plaza</span></div><br />
You see, all these ‘rocks’ are hollow concrete forms that perfectly mimic the limestone—both the solid bedrock and the permeable conglomerate—of the Texas Hill Country where we live. It’s like faux bois only faux stone.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsTcrHS5fSa5GFzx7KMJmQSYjFEca4ScI6lYQicaKDknRrGcAicwEMmMNFjTCxvCiU2bpTenGTbpA1Ti-Rgrdr3klTnYa8OKL4YM9Y66ggcYP7EorR0-3XZX1aQxwm3pvtoN25HgaI7kbq/s1600/Plaza+creek+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsTcrHS5fSa5GFzx7KMJmQSYjFEca4ScI6lYQicaKDknRrGcAicwEMmMNFjTCxvCiU2bpTenGTbpA1Ti-Rgrdr3klTnYa8OKL4YM9Y66ggcYP7EorR0-3XZX1aQxwm3pvtoN25HgaI7kbq/s400/Plaza+creek+2.jpg" width="298" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> Human-made creek of faux stone in the plaza</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBJjVJ0fp1h6w5ZSiWuPlmF8bdmW9IpDxg_SCHmXanoAsvc2GbucWQT8wIesDtfZrhc2Cubub1gExyaSq-sKzCwje8AVxDA9FfSDtZmjjJs-iWxHXRP1FuxA2q5YSjeCaLQKBc6OV5KJJO/s1600/Plaza+creek.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBJjVJ0fp1h6w5ZSiWuPlmF8bdmW9IpDxg_SCHmXanoAsvc2GbucWQT8wIesDtfZrhc2Cubub1gExyaSq-sKzCwje8AVxDA9FfSDtZmjjJs-iWxHXRP1FuxA2q5YSjeCaLQKBc6OV5KJJO/s400/Plaza+creek.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">Whoever designed and created this has spent a lot of time in the area where we live!</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEithiu084Ypz3hJ7ZkkQSzZfgD74AZoy9r2Hz5zTD5Pz8DKiZTPgsD9YBjhpmOIWeumwsVyaEILPD6fFb8S_BMkKUjQgF2Qlm5-BTkZWMVtHdvnKYAG61q6j_c8iVEyyb1N1nBL74yR_JUl/s1600/Plaza+waterfall+pano+sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEithiu084Ypz3hJ7ZkkQSzZfgD74AZoy9r2Hz5zTD5Pz8DKiZTPgsD9YBjhpmOIWeumwsVyaEILPD6fFb8S_BMkKUjQgF2Qlm5-BTkZWMVtHdvnKYAG61q6j_c8iVEyyb1N1nBL74yR_JUl/s400/Plaza+waterfall+pano+sm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> Plaza waterfall--click to biggify!</span></div><br />
This time I discovered two white egrets hanging out there! (If I hadn’t seen them land I might have thought they were faux birds). That says a lot when you can design something so natural as to attract this kind of wildlife to a Convention Center.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtxsurOc_zpbRddzArlmnvf-2IRAprppm3cqEszm_miNDvBOANXh0gdtk35aolGJkbPfvQ49EywXVXrDrZZMu-IG8vT_2Fv5y6Gr8DUOMU2WVmnW7BJVEpfTgP0pnzjGCTVMNH7e2P3zwU/s1600/Egrets+021111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtxsurOc_zpbRddzArlmnvf-2IRAprppm3cqEszm_miNDvBOANXh0gdtk35aolGJkbPfvQ49EywXVXrDrZZMu-IG8vT_2Fv5y6Gr8DUOMU2WVmnW7BJVEpfTgP0pnzjGCTVMNH7e2P3zwU/s400/Egrets+021111.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Egrets at home in this urban landscape...</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9NDk14oUzve41snqzggebjr0F5I8BQxurZkxtUGdxXFNcGteJ_9HOpuqrEQKRZC4mAr9Pix5-KHWme-JbUbiiiGm3m-i1xeiv2PRc9sj5iD1YpAlPvHHfd_u0YzNrT22NoEzPOwUmmsHj/s1600/Egrets+and+river+taxi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9NDk14oUzve41snqzggebjr0F5I8BQxurZkxtUGdxXFNcGteJ_9HOpuqrEQKRZC4mAr9Pix5-KHWme-JbUbiiiGm3m-i1xeiv2PRc9sj5iD1YpAlPvHHfd_u0YzNrT22NoEzPOwUmmsHj/s400/Egrets+and+river+taxi.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;">unfazed by the passing river taxis</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio2YEqBlAhsItBImiOT-stWMTejlYyW9jnd-0y2gO9Hcnhs8owRu6DId2WW5NTf909-yTgIH2lzSYUfkFyoufvlcIupkjgwAPIYLhc4URn-gq3yZn5pMa76cARZk7jL54EmmOytkzthspP/s1600/Plaza+convention+center+bridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio2YEqBlAhsItBImiOT-stWMTejlYyW9jnd-0y2gO9Hcnhs8owRu6DId2WW5NTf909-yTgIH2lzSYUfkFyoufvlcIupkjgwAPIYLhc4URn-gq3yZn5pMa76cARZk7jL54EmmOytkzthspP/s400/Plaza+convention+center+bridge.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;">Looking back at the Convention Center</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJUKQTi5i2J6JaWW-gkMl9AuH1XDcLyDtZnGawrzHU_m3jmh1X6niErQ5U3_AVXUg29gUquBKAHtm4gZ-PE0R60CIpElQ8CPIC94mLCmXC5hpQGCfTey8e-5k2uyvlWeTS2qI4fbVrsmuf/s1600/Plaza+convention+center+bridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
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Wouldn't it be wonderful if all cities had public spaces this close to Nature?flowerweaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14903201215823510915noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071569198154621897.post-87198151059558007172011-02-13T17:36:00.000-06:002011-02-13T17:36:48.272-06:00Sunday Stills: Spring Preview<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhzaBOtgLdXvuqhogGfa9H6zSbyiBUHS9wsAX7mGbOgOUSDad3DY0lfhMQgDIYheUr6mSrAJ33gThbJgNXYR_lOldeSFL2zKav9OjHAmn5vBBPRlQn3JrGbGLNNexr7sIG5mYVye2ipBnq/s1600/First+flower+of+spring+2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhzaBOtgLdXvuqhogGfa9H6zSbyiBUHS9wsAX7mGbOgOUSDad3DY0lfhMQgDIYheUr6mSrAJ33gThbJgNXYR_lOldeSFL2zKav9OjHAmn5vBBPRlQn3JrGbGLNNexr7sIG5mYVye2ipBnq/s400/First+flower+of+spring+2011.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Preview?! Nope--our first flower of Spring 2011 opened up today! No need for digging in the archives.<br />
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Last year the Wind Flowers (<i>Anemone heterophylla</i>) opened eight days earlier. Perhaps they have been waiting out the extreme cold temperatures we've been experiencing. Usually around eight inches tall, the lack of winter rains has cetainly stunted these, which barely have stems!<br />
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The Bluebonnets (<i>Lupinus texensis) </i>which usually begin blooming around the end of March are dwarfed as well. They should be at least three times this size by now. It doesn't seem to matter how much I water them, only a good rain will make them grow!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHXU9LQGqtUP6Oq7Om2ciNg6Tt2j5DiDXuVEKEtPOXC3sNeE1cjbsKa0CkPv1GhuG4myTt75WKIbIBpr10Ei_zv4RcQm3988yia_5KFy7LfmCHQ4CYZNWRA050x0SkTcp1KMhq_F3Xn2KS/s1600/Tiny+bluebonnet+2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHXU9LQGqtUP6Oq7Om2ciNg6Tt2j5DiDXuVEKEtPOXC3sNeE1cjbsKa0CkPv1GhuG4myTt75WKIbIBpr10Ei_zv4RcQm3988yia_5KFy7LfmCHQ4CYZNWRA050x0SkTcp1KMhq_F3Xn2KS/s400/Tiny+bluebonnet+2011.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
This week in an effort to create more positive drainage (not that we get much rain), the county road workers scraped about 2-3 inches of topsoil, wildflower sprouts, and the wildflower seed bank from in front of our house and all the surrounding areas.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfWfYeFnrQgCgiQL2Caj0f4vPEX46sR61yZk9zKKnW7qVqmBXxaYqLP1LSPAzxiCg0erBNrtu_tNCbk5bteerT_3QKCELFsb9vk2rhVNG8Xo4taoqnUlxnjLskVzftX47700e7MCtEKzoh/s1600/Road+scrape.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfWfYeFnrQgCgiQL2Caj0f4vPEX46sR61yZk9zKKnW7qVqmBXxaYqLP1LSPAzxiCg0erBNrtu_tNCbk5bteerT_3QKCELFsb9vk2rhVNG8Xo4taoqnUlxnjLskVzftX47700e7MCtEKzoh/s400/Road+scrape.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><br />
Of course all of this makes me worry about my honeybees, seeing their list of future provisions reduced. One of my goals this year is to propagate 10,000 flowers for them! I've already started 700 Salvias, Mints, Coneflowers, Mulleins, and Lavenders from seed.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI8EeXAGMBoZz-WEt3EepBUCeipH3plMGEtjbsKgir3ryxTqtU23XYwm0JLl96cvwUr0hF0W71iexjwoQk-BHK_5Q7pOiswV5l-e3l6U5GLk7pFaORunrw0x9ioSbdN6djM0q-fun-PJ4t/s1600/Fernleaf+lavender+011811.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI8EeXAGMBoZz-WEt3EepBUCeipH3plMGEtjbsKgir3ryxTqtU23XYwm0JLl96cvwUr0hF0W71iexjwoQk-BHK_5Q7pOiswV5l-e3l6U5GLk7pFaORunrw0x9ioSbdN6djM0q-fun-PJ4t/s400/Fernleaf+lavender+011811.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Aren't these Fearnleaf Lavenders cute? I hope your Spring is not long in coming, and I'm happy to say Spring officially began here in Southwest Texas today! For more previews of Spring, visit <a href="http://sundaystills.wordpress.com/2011/02/06/sunday-stills-the-next-challenge-spring-preview/">Sunday Stills</a>.flowerweaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14903201215823510915noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071569198154621897.post-81746952336434531852011-02-10T21:50:00.000-06:002011-02-10T21:50:46.700-06:00Farm Friend Friday: Some Serendipitous Finds and Farm Style<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPenuddng6w9KJ169bWuatXP3afNkSaaeh81MbaCvJAO63BtJh4sqPaVilnldQaENfk0tdHmUbMDof8uRh7EBHWNcFDDNRurVgt4xEGTC_BT-2uRkyD8gPA94ttIsdw2yrGGJvs8ryJNch/s1600/Rooster+curtains.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPenuddng6w9KJ169bWuatXP3afNkSaaeh81MbaCvJAO63BtJh4sqPaVilnldQaENfk0tdHmUbMDof8uRh7EBHWNcFDDNRurVgt4xEGTC_BT-2uRkyD8gPA94ttIsdw2yrGGJvs8ryJNch/s400/Rooster+curtains.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Isn't he lovely?</span></div><br />
A few years ago I saw a precious vintage rooster tablecloth on eBay, but the bidding got so high I had to let it go. It was The One That Got Away.<br />
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So, fast forward to Tuesday when I was in the Big City on errands with a few minutes to spare. I spied a thrift store I'd never been in, and --like any frugal farm girl would do--I went in. There I discovered four curtain panels and two valances in the exact pattern of The One That Got Away for the mere sum of $1.50!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJQi8XsK0EaSseeLoMuBDaC2AydXSdgDdbGc3lZqafud43_btsEE2cA471_GuKuLiWpWZXP2oFocMsHI-t5bfMPwJMflKmFlbn3nSisEzKdeGKwlB3RBPvn3vNfy1WzqoDEupfnafeojOz/s1600/Rooster+curtains+against+kitchen+wall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJQi8XsK0EaSseeLoMuBDaC2AydXSdgDdbGc3lZqafud43_btsEE2cA471_GuKuLiWpWZXP2oFocMsHI-t5bfMPwJMflKmFlbn3nSisEzKdeGKwlB3RBPvn3vNfy1WzqoDEupfnafeojOz/s400/Rooster+curtains+against+kitchen+wall.jpg" width="400" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Something to crow about!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Not only is our kitchen this color of split pea soup on a cold Winter's day (aka 'Avocado' in the 1970's), I've been looking for two window coverings for this room! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXayXKXkMQ0tcNeZUfx4X2TW9OuxNaDRQ2Mnn9Tx_XjodKvTE8RtJJ9LTrFpODU9SPExaPnS5XEMNtK3yIWGbRfOFIUmR-x8Gsh8HgXsXC3PyPLjzWRQzX_AvPirVM7-5iLu8_q5Zr1Cnc/s1600/bed+set+for+dogs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXayXKXkMQ0tcNeZUfx4X2TW9OuxNaDRQ2Mnn9Tx_XjodKvTE8RtJJ9LTrFpODU9SPExaPnS5XEMNtK3yIWGbRfOFIUmR-x8Gsh8HgXsXC3PyPLjzWRQzX_AvPirVM7-5iLu8_q5Zr1Cnc/s400/bed+set+for+dogs.jpg" width="335" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">My painting 'The Emerson' above the sofa with potential dog bed material </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I also found a bedspread and two pillow shams of a wonderful Jacobean print in all the oddball colors I'm using in several other rooms: coffee brown, mint green and persimmon for $7. Jacobean prints with their bold branches, fruits, flowers and birds remind me of the kind of in-your-face nature I experience on a daily basis. I've been looking for something from which I could make several dog beds. (Why is it all dog bed manufacturers assume hunter green and navy will work with everyone's decor?)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Although my style sensibility (if you could ever call it that) is best described as Atomic Ranch meets Martha Stewart Living at Pier One--and would likely give an interior designer nightmares--Farmer Rick and I are at home with this kind of eclecticism.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">How about you? What's your farm style?</div><br />
For more Farm Friendly features, visit <a href="http://www.verdefarm.com/">Farm Friend Friday</a>.flowerweaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14903201215823510915noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071569198154621897.post-82305718131746122872011-02-06T16:57:00.000-06:002011-02-06T16:57:24.653-06:00Sunday Stills: Emotions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjADq3jQenYdydSSpnyXyHHPGEAfqoO9vUvU4_CA7p193sgDiDsjdbUpHEcRq64mrVgA5W4b0sGClRqkBPEZG4La1lmp3-v2vCJ6xBVSOPerdsRZPz42lqrA9q1NkY4Hhvs7EvFXb-tG11G/s1600/Flag+in+wind.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjADq3jQenYdydSSpnyXyHHPGEAfqoO9vUvU4_CA7p193sgDiDsjdbUpHEcRq64mrVgA5W4b0sGClRqkBPEZG4La1lmp3-v2vCJ6xBVSOPerdsRZPz42lqrA9q1NkY4Hhvs7EvFXb-tG11G/s400/Flag+in+wind.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
This Sunday's challenge is an image that's supposed to evoke an emotion in the viewer. It's very gusty here today and I liked the way our colorful flag was backlit by the sun and blowing in the wind, seemingly reaching up towards the trees and sky while dancing in and out of the shadows. It struck me as a metaphor.<br />
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It brings out a lot of different emotions in me. It reminds me of my father's life of service to this country, and a beautiful land that is being damaged by big ag, fossil fuel consumption, and rampant development. It reminds me of the many freedoms I am privileged to enjoy and yet my frustration with a political system of two sides always fighting each other. It reminds me of the foods, songs, and culture uniquely American and also our need to teach tolerance of others different than us and seeing ourselves as citizens of Earth.<br />
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For more emotional images, visit <a href="http://sundaystills.wordpress.com/2011/01/30/sunday-stills-the-next-challenge-emotions/">Sunday Stills</a>.flowerweaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14903201215823510915noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071569198154621897.post-86875485412137639842011-02-04T08:52:00.004-06:002011-02-05T12:57:47.500-06:00Farm Friend Friday: After the Freeze<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjweDbJbWb_A9OW1BTNsGYBCatu5NuqR2_JwQoPWAnA322W681_tHG4kbW8syJyMbDVdglYs50gVv2C2Cq5FzOfOD5-_TzZZxBRudNjzvz_-1C7z785IxJvTKbtxpL6Wl83IZVOtEUD2nGa/s1600/farm+girl+friday+button+for+amy+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjweDbJbWb_A9OW1BTNsGYBCatu5NuqR2_JwQoPWAnA322W681_tHG4kbW8syJyMbDVdglYs50gVv2C2Cq5FzOfOD5-_TzZZxBRudNjzvz_-1C7z785IxJvTKbtxpL6Wl83IZVOtEUD2nGa/s400/farm+girl+friday+button+for+amy+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Amy over at <a href="http://www.verdefarm.com/">Verde Farm</a> is starting <a href="http://www.verdefarm.com/2011/02/farm-friend-friday.html">Farm Friend Frida</a>y. I became acquainted with her when we both participated in <a href="http://flowerweaver.blogspot.com/2010/10/national-hug-sheep-day.html">National Hug a Sheep Day</a> hosted by my friend Sara over at <a href="http://myfavoritesheep.blogspot.com/">Punkin's Patch</a> at Equinox Farm. I've been looking for something like this to feature our small farm.<br />
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She says "Farm Friend Friday will be about: house, cooking, crafting, animals, gardening, photography and more. It will be a great way to meet new farm friends and see lots of different views and perspectives on farm life." How cool is that?<br />
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If you've been watching the strange weather (which I call Wonky World Weather) you'll know that Texas has been briefly plunged back into the Ice Age. Even down here in the semi-arid desert Southwest, an hour as the crow (or, in our case, the Cara Cara) flies from Mexico, we had three days solidly frozen at 12 degrees.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh14UWHzTHKnFPAlUvFIeZmX0OmbxIHJXEuqu3EAMSme2G7gsg6GrgCgJXS1YHRB3uAVlcNr9fWcRz2UlFSEwJUwuUD37cBW2Qp7lJcHMYqzt84m3ySHNVR-jM2CAv6_D3f1qkQaWjjnJNc/s1600/Frostweed+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh14UWHzTHKnFPAlUvFIeZmX0OmbxIHJXEuqu3EAMSme2G7gsg6GrgCgJXS1YHRB3uAVlcNr9fWcRz2UlFSEwJUwuUD37cBW2Qp7lJcHMYqzt84m3ySHNVR-jM2CAv6_D3f1qkQaWjjnJNc/s400/Frostweed+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">Ribbons of sap being extruded from our Frostweed (<i>Verbesina virginica</i>)</span></div><br />
I'm sure to many of you this doesn't sound so terrible as you deal with this every Winter. However, we live three months of the year over 100 degrees, even attaining 117 degrees one day last summer. Truth be told, in our diurnal climate Winter consists of freezing temperatures most nights, and 60 plus degrees each day. You could say Winter only comes at night--the rest of the time we are running around in t-shirts!<br />
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The things we call coats most people would probably consider windbreakers. We have been wearing three at a time just to stay warm in this old farmhouse. Built over 70 years ago--before air conditioning was the mode--our house has little insulation and is 50% single pane glass operable windows for catching those breezes.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh80hP2-wMhUAfsMoub8rOMfUI8p2kA2MtfedwekYL7jt5ht3lnWUpJcmCmPulbS7SND3vg4jqNMNJ66aswGOKM6vweP-akJjsEGD0axe3GulGTNNx19zzTnaokrKFt295eNTeYgUh5_ZlO/s1600/Backyard+in+the+Fall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh80hP2-wMhUAfsMoub8rOMfUI8p2kA2MtfedwekYL7jt5ht3lnWUpJcmCmPulbS7SND3vg4jqNMNJ66aswGOKM6vweP-akJjsEGD0axe3GulGTNNx19zzTnaokrKFt295eNTeYgUh5_ZlO/s400/Backyard+in+the+Fall.jpg" width="398" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">This Fall photo gives you an idea how much glass we are talking about.</span></div><br />
Fortunately we have a fireplace, because Wednesday our electricity (and thus our heat) went out for the arctic day! Living remotely as we do we are in an electric co-op. Mostly we experience outages from electrical storms that come in more temperate seasons and those don't generally last more than a couple hours, if that.<br />
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Farmer Rick took the tractor down to the creek to load kindling, but the icy hill proved too steep for traction and the wood had to be carried armload by armload. While he was laying in firewood, I made the decision to move all the seedlings from the rapidly cooling greenhouse into the living room.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrtYDU_2ZbNQiTuOcWgvt2dw2YoCoZ4uDlAvqIzSG8kMN-zVfwo4HZIgo8mGtznUtx4LOXGDMjjxoKJPBHG0DyaiYmH8adfkVEUYo92UlYuEYlvbW_pmgExKEc71bifUG_7mk_V3GfV7mQ/s1600/No+heat+020211.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrtYDU_2ZbNQiTuOcWgvt2dw2YoCoZ4uDlAvqIzSG8kMN-zVfwo4HZIgo8mGtznUtx4LOXGDMjjxoKJPBHG0DyaiYmH8adfkVEUYo92UlYuEYlvbW_pmgExKEc71bifUG_7mk_V3GfV7mQ/s400/No+heat+020211.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Living room scene on a 12 degree day with no heat.</span></div><br />
So, snuggled around the fire with us were four dogs, four cats, one rooster (Junior's been recuperating) and 439 plants! I feel bad that I was unable to bring in the remaining 49 chickens who usually stay warm with heat lamps, but that would have been total chaos. Unfortunately several of our roosters in Coop Two appear to have suffered some frostbite. (This morning it's looking a little better--fingers crossed).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJIcZopuWDZIuMhi8VuBd8cemavoWgjowJD9ddgYC5cHPYNvAU07j-h0N31CH04pVBaae-eEhhtqw21EVH-UrvbnEvGxSBSe-w_MGCpxSywlRx6kUh1Gvrdp8Ltk9ohMgZNtJLbcus1x5d/s1600/Frostbite+020311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJIcZopuWDZIuMhi8VuBd8cemavoWgjowJD9ddgYC5cHPYNvAU07j-h0N31CH04pVBaae-eEhhtqw21EVH-UrvbnEvGxSBSe-w_MGCpxSywlRx6kUh1Gvrdp8Ltk9ohMgZNtJLbcus1x5d/s400/Frostbite+020311.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Marco Marans showing some frostbite on the tips of his comb.</span></div><br />
Finley the sheep is lame in a foreleg. I suspect he's been watching me break his trough ice with the sledgehammer and has perhaps tried this himself.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-hJqkr1s9w3-IncGG8Aa4bpnoV64W7eDPE8Euez5stlayHLmYFueS8BNH4h14OeYQaz8HwB5FU7Zu2Rl3OikoRfHQV_cdi1oMeHz_R3UTKTMIqdJ2x04Wht81GCASJtEBmrBQi07TdSeB/s1600/Finley+and+frozen+trough.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-hJqkr1s9w3-IncGG8Aa4bpnoV64W7eDPE8Euez5stlayHLmYFueS8BNH4h14OeYQaz8HwB5FU7Zu2Rl3OikoRfHQV_cdi1oMeHz_R3UTKTMIqdJ2x04Wht81GCASJtEBmrBQi07TdSeB/s400/Finley+and+frozen+trough.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">But I don't like snow cones!</span></i></div><br />
Amazingly our lettuce which had been covered with clear plastic withstood the ordeal.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg17d1Xhl4XT1QFxRJW-ZW6DUSp_KuGAJqiiSXBULZtyeeClISGCxwvfda203Mix8j28l4lKfopb09q7mZwFLCud_KJa1oZd5TwxuUj1DxAAbIWu4rIr1xkSKsnX_mQYiD8mQlq1IhU0Ka8/s1600/Lettuce+makes+it+through+the+freeze.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg17d1Xhl4XT1QFxRJW-ZW6DUSp_KuGAJqiiSXBULZtyeeClISGCxwvfda203Mix8j28l4lKfopb09q7mZwFLCud_KJa1oZd5TwxuUj1DxAAbIWu4rIr1xkSKsnX_mQYiD8mQlq1IhU0Ka8/s400/Lettuce+makes+it+through+the+freeze.jpg" width="286" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Butterhead lettuce makes it through!</span></div><br />
I'm sure there were some losses among our honeybees, but the good news is today it's warmed above 50 degrees and the girls are coming and going from both hives and doing housekeeping.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1qySJO-d0tUKsOnunjxOb-Xmu2zXhsVEFHXDhCo4kDwz3OBrFD20k9bevwu_p3_a8OWRjzoWZw9-FGpxGv27lmVNQNVzNRhCswz7PXGjTeFYyLzH1u-myPl5ISK0Twbq0QVxyuqtIhNKp/s1600/Bees+carring+out+the+dead+020511.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1qySJO-d0tUKsOnunjxOb-Xmu2zXhsVEFHXDhCo4kDwz3OBrFD20k9bevwu_p3_a8OWRjzoWZw9-FGpxGv27lmVNQNVzNRhCswz7PXGjTeFYyLzH1u-myPl5ISK0Twbq0QVxyuqtIhNKp/s400/Bees+carring+out+the+dead+020511.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Workers carrying out the dead after three days of freezing temperatures.</span></div><br />
What is this object you say? Why it's a frozen cylinder of coffee grounds! No, no, we don't drink that much. We are fortunate enough to have connected with a local coffee shop and are able to compost all their grounds!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFsnpcYwuq8sSkSGLZSc0LnLSk47sJvuN4Gzg5OZLoV1G7WQu-86HlWqpy1uL1KiykHX6vEKLSIR_ZYhGHt7ocgj8IIFLaOgGBgSfNsTGeiAnFdJmmzarT-XZdsCL_4oNWjAf2K0bszwBv/s1600/Frozen+coffee+grounds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFsnpcYwuq8sSkSGLZSc0LnLSk47sJvuN4Gzg5OZLoV1G7WQu-86HlWqpy1uL1KiykHX6vEKLSIR_ZYhGHt7ocgj8IIFLaOgGBgSfNsTGeiAnFdJmmzarT-XZdsCL_4oNWjAf2K0bszwBv/s400/Frozen+coffee+grounds.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Cafe glace!</span></i></div><br />
It's time to take advantage of the sun and get outside to cut back the asparagus. The first spears were already peeking through this time last year. (I hope they held off). We'll be looking forward to eating it soon!<br />
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For more farm fun visit <a href="http://www.verdefarm.com/2011/02/farm-friend-friday.html">Farm Friend Friday</a>. (Say <i>that</i> ten times!)flowerweaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14903201215823510915noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071569198154621897.post-86449487386302855992011-01-30T10:20:00.002-06:002011-01-30T10:29:16.657-06:00Sunday Stills: Circles<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn-pv8QlKzrN_MfKyZwyeRthbAilaZdUUJ3gCK33TSSEStZL-ohyrQuJneroCPweF3Dwk7xof0SvJ0iLKwRwzZKS5t-16iZzSLDinsgvfUVH2nuozlKHvMNCnf_lojuBdtPIjW5E768EDg/s1600/Russian+fish+island+button.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn-pv8QlKzrN_MfKyZwyeRthbAilaZdUUJ3gCK33TSSEStZL-ohyrQuJneroCPweF3Dwk7xof0SvJ0iLKwRwzZKS5t-16iZzSLDinsgvfUVH2nuozlKHvMNCnf_lojuBdtPIjW5E768EDg/s400/Russian+fish+island+button.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">(Click to biggify!)</div><br />
Here are the most interesting circles I could come up with for the challenge this week. This is a large, hand painted wooden collector's button from Russia on top of the over-sprayed metal lid to our hay bin. I do wish I knew the story it tells.<br />
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The imagery depicts a crying fish--perhaps because he's been turned into an island?--a woman carrying water over her shoulders to her home, and a beautiful wooden church in the architectural style characteristic from where my ancestors came. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuFwA6Yq1EGmohYkOWzwbOhMkN-v0yp3TEdLYWLZD9Bk-ORd4f9fX_E6vJIitjw0AHohQB99maGSjCs-qol6moAw8y2U3Loa8ROu_JsZPw1U1jDAjxisEv6YWJRU3uTXDhMpUTTvAVVBMp/s1600/800px-Turzansk_greek_catholic_church01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuFwA6Yq1EGmohYkOWzwbOhMkN-v0yp3TEdLYWLZD9Bk-ORd4f9fX_E6vJIitjw0AHohQB99maGSjCs-qol6moAw8y2U3Loa8ROu_JsZPw1U1jDAjxisEv6YWJRU3uTXDhMpUTTvAVVBMp/s400/800px-Turzansk_greek_catholic_church01.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Church in Turza, Poland </div><div style="text-align: center;">(courtesy the wikicommons)</div><br />
I love all the circles in this architecture. Maybe this is why I designed our chicken coop with curving walls?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXMHrBGNp5DQnVgCO6J4Z_Xq1LV0gop_fICyyeC29Hgqi_aV3UG_Pdoexx24t1hdHCPWbS23v41BHIzuwbRgilZCEDLyR0NdHSGgtSzKDZykDaPTBqGyAD_zlm0mVsvaEpfAwmV6m7nKpO/s1600/Phoenician+mullein+in+beads+sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXMHrBGNp5DQnVgCO6J4Z_Xq1LV0gop_fICyyeC29Hgqi_aV3UG_Pdoexx24t1hdHCPWbS23v41BHIzuwbRgilZCEDLyR0NdHSGgtSzKDZykDaPTBqGyAD_zlm0mVsvaEpfAwmV6m7nKpO/s400/Phoenician+mullein+in+beads+sm.jpg" width="400" /> </a> </div>Also, yesterday I randomly discovered an <a href="http://bighugelabs.com/beads.php">online filter</a> that will turn photos into bead art. Using it I altered a photo of a Phoenician Mullein growing in my greenhouse.<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">For more images of circles, visit <a href="http://sundaystills.wordpress.com/2011/01/23/sunday-stills-the-next-challenge-circles/">Sunday Stills</a>.</div>flowerweaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14903201215823510915noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071569198154621897.post-42687940875926592672011-01-26T21:31:00.000-06:002011-01-26T21:31:31.753-06:00Fog on the DivideThe mornings have been cold and foggy creating an ethereal landscape. I took these up on the watershed divide last week. (click to biggify).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzAZe_NPvp8zYKcJAdGMidu7CqYNbLqgcOzeVlWI_ja_bxCNUjnxxpu5aIpcZJ5mlPsGx7BMrW6Q6fmdQVgKcFjpIEoZwJt92RSPmDHDvgZ0OsdVPPJv52YX-SnK3g1GmQGYkQ7tEdEuIw/s1600/Green+juniper+on+Divide+sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzAZe_NPvp8zYKcJAdGMidu7CqYNbLqgcOzeVlWI_ja_bxCNUjnxxpu5aIpcZJ5mlPsGx7BMrW6Q6fmdQVgKcFjpIEoZwJt92RSPmDHDvgZ0OsdVPPJv52YX-SnK3g1GmQGYkQ7tEdEuIw/s400/Green+juniper+on+Divide+sm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8MERSDYV_idOJfjUfmwYVadG8xtsOXG4bRdIs3U4KFeZadXGrCSlDbDFSAXQVYITvJxGMjM9ijrkDR5ULL_GNrTyomfM5i6vtU8ZXh93Qzr2RTOb_5QnqC_p3NoqnV0oJ2oEeIK2e_TFj/s1600/Divide+fenceline+pano+sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="81" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8MERSDYV_idOJfjUfmwYVadG8xtsOXG4bRdIs3U4KFeZadXGrCSlDbDFSAXQVYITvJxGMjM9ijrkDR5ULL_GNrTyomfM5i6vtU8ZXh93Qzr2RTOb_5QnqC_p3NoqnV0oJ2oEeIK2e_TFj/s400/Divide+fenceline+pano+sm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikL6SOpvs93M02eFVipHylOUJxkWuEHEu3lv-grOWNUiXR3xiVhaHqNB6zSxNp-13XOsEvatXm5HS_wRonLSP8iQk7mcfzQ9FhURZW46QCfDTZSChVKqh6BIwc953w-pIg9EAKXZTf65jV/s1600/Divide+fenceline.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikL6SOpvs93M02eFVipHylOUJxkWuEHEu3lv-grOWNUiXR3xiVhaHqNB6zSxNp-13XOsEvatXm5HS_wRonLSP8iQk7mcfzQ9FhURZW46QCfDTZSChVKqh6BIwc953w-pIg9EAKXZTf65jV/s400/Divide+fenceline.jpg" width="316" /></a></div>flowerweaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14903201215823510915noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071569198154621897.post-61302066406958327292011-01-23T11:33:00.001-06:002011-01-23T11:34:08.319-06:00Sunday Stills: The Color GreenEd challenged us with green because many participating photographers are currently snowed in! But here in southwest Texas the Live Oaks and Junipers keep us surrounded in green during the Winter. So I decided to challenge myself in other ways of photographing green.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUCt7lKW9bv7xcIjXdQ09lbWJoE6m70DBh7WQQ8RPisbihYpkr0DQYy7lIq3_5rXzyYNDKjL2hPYdXEk3FYf8qWGwQ-sPvCLEwl164Z5RTiy7bAmMRLMzMs4-QrSNvwvzwMIcBfbrd0W8k/s1600/Sage+in+sculpture+sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUCt7lKW9bv7xcIjXdQ09lbWJoE6m70DBh7WQQ8RPisbihYpkr0DQYy7lIq3_5rXzyYNDKjL2hPYdXEk3FYf8qWGwQ-sPvCLEwl164Z5RTiy7bAmMRLMzMs4-QrSNvwvzwMIcBfbrd0W8k/s400/Sage+in+sculpture+sm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Those of you that follow my blog know it's a rare day you'll see a photo of me on it. So I thought I would try some self-portraits: a green-eyed lady in green glasses and green coat in front of a green mirrored sculpture on the side of our house. I've used some digital manipulation to cut the glare on the mirror and create a dream-like effect.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkdvDIUq1vfgSvu7u9vHw3uyatQa5GMIzloeeDoAmc8eO3rorY1xjD2Y6rFsWb4Qq2xk_3O0A3kZxXe4NB8T0NuV1zPelHs5Pr1Ld3aOHxR30W22sXtajBdjXfccmCFBfOPbosdAc8ykBW/s1600/Sage+in+sculpture+2+sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkdvDIUq1vfgSvu7u9vHw3uyatQa5GMIzloeeDoAmc8eO3rorY1xjD2Y6rFsWb4Qq2xk_3O0A3kZxXe4NB8T0NuV1zPelHs5Pr1Ld3aOHxR30W22sXtajBdjXfccmCFBfOPbosdAc8ykBW/s400/Sage+in+sculpture+2+sm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
Perhaps I should have cleaned the mirrors first! On this last one I decided to collage in an old cotton doily. Do you like it?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3_hvXQwVdErZTkhXk8ItD6u5lpGC8TZ3sw7ziZ_YRDkcHmRcBhNkfixebjdk43HWBd6zx89l4YGpPTgTGC35UHNXmRVJCqaCAD83XgDxhHUyo-etVVIYM77bHRBHOWpnhTsZafHLQPqMD/s1600/Sage+in+sculpture+3+sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3_hvXQwVdErZTkhXk8ItD6u5lpGC8TZ3sw7ziZ_YRDkcHmRcBhNkfixebjdk43HWBd6zx89l4YGpPTgTGC35UHNXmRVJCqaCAD83XgDxhHUyo-etVVIYM77bHRBHOWpnhTsZafHLQPqMD/s400/Sage+in+sculpture+3+sm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
For more images of green, visit <a href="http://sundaystills.wordpress.com/2011/01/16/sunday-stills-the-next-challenge-the-color-green/">Sunday Stills</a>!flowerweaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14903201215823510915noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071569198154621897.post-61967630700821123532011-01-16T17:12:00.000-06:002011-01-16T17:12:11.733-06:00Sunday Stills: MacroEd suggested we shoot inside, but the sun finally came out and the landscape begged to be explored after several days of rain and cold. And with great luck, I came across a family of Earth Stars. I just love these little things.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihv83EQ7PhHFrBQYGPZrInAScKlH5kevDcQbsVO78b9oW8uLMx17-fr4x2nGH-N7Ml-NF0oLhyECU3KO04PcgSyScCP_ar30Xfb1FW5zqUF7DWw_bU0LpXY_HfgqRWuCSmM75NXRP5UFby/s1600/Earth+star+2b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihv83EQ7PhHFrBQYGPZrInAScKlH5kevDcQbsVO78b9oW8uLMx17-fr4x2nGH-N7Ml-NF0oLhyECU3KO04PcgSyScCP_ar30Xfb1FW5zqUF7DWw_bU0LpXY_HfgqRWuCSmM75NXRP5UFby/s400/Earth+star+2b.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Earth Stars are a relative of the Puffball, and belong to a group of fungi known as Gasteromycetes which means 'stomach fungi'. They have a little 'stomach' filled with spores.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3qaIaTNGsC7LzMowBYVDTrGvOWZRRwJ6tSSnch5UE-ktGAJ30vUn2L9TudtYY5I-xfTPWWhNGOtZ3XUi7tX4xb3WdYHnvms9zYoJA3FEJzrFvKgO7WLkOMzaO74eA5dWyB26TxxP8frlm/s1600/Earth+star+1b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3qaIaTNGsC7LzMowBYVDTrGvOWZRRwJ6tSSnch5UE-ktGAJ30vUn2L9TudtYY5I-xfTPWWhNGOtZ3XUi7tX4xb3WdYHnvms9zYoJA3FEJzrFvKgO7WLkOMzaO74eA5dWyB26TxxP8frlm/s400/Earth+star+1b.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Unlike any other fungus, an Earth Star can move!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNdScPUwwy9Jz1ySbRLMLPdr8vY_e54FxOfr5s495cfcGngtud9Id7ddo_VaBAXv5jkyflcvekELFmYkZy-fsIulWNjehNd0uAtJnKzObj3M5XbBtWhVQ3Cg2xZFxu9s90YQWNHh8Ch6bH/s1600/Earth+star+3b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNdScPUwwy9Jz1ySbRLMLPdr8vY_e54FxOfr5s495cfcGngtud9Id7ddo_VaBAXv5jkyflcvekELFmYkZy-fsIulWNjehNd0uAtJnKzObj3M5XbBtWhVQ3Cg2xZFxu9s90YQWNHh8Ch6bH/s400/Earth+star+3b.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
When it rains the outer layer splits into many rays, looking like a star. The rays of the star act like legs to raise the stomach above and release the spores.<br />
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For more up close photos visit <a href="http://sundaystills.wordpress.com/2011/01/09/sunday-stille-the-next-challenge-macro-pics/">Sunday Stills</a>!flowerweaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14903201215823510915noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071569198154621897.post-89014068371693072012011-01-09T12:30:00.000-06:002011-01-09T12:30:53.329-06:00Sunday Stills: The letter W<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR9K4NtghRL74YlcU-GLntlbVkm-wOHwBUi2UBTfipf3RdDLBPNf-1uRiEqDM2ywtFtwQGdGk7hVoGZik0V2KtMF1iJVimW_RKcPAwvPCLm7I2Ty7SKC7JDBrV3xxbuNWnpj1oStykwI-y/s1600/Francisco+011011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR9K4NtghRL74YlcU-GLntlbVkm-wOHwBUi2UBTfipf3RdDLBPNf-1uRiEqDM2ywtFtwQGdGk7hVoGZik0V2KtMF1iJVimW_RKcPAwvPCLm7I2Ty7SKC7JDBrV3xxbuNWnpj1oStykwI-y/s400/Francisco+011011.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I am the white wolf, Fransciso, and I'm working on a new performance art piece I'd like to share with you.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoqzyv5Eq-Uw_4KlelNjQ0bE0t_Z5bJRvwuERp91KM3PBenu0ixurOZTxPYzzpjtrj8J0spOY2TPt1nKTPlLAvyofMhkLreGbNID7NQJkWalTjrtyNvNFZaxf_b6_lZ3ZiMH_LdMlJc_RK/s1600/White+wolf+new+project.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoqzyv5Eq-Uw_4KlelNjQ0bE0t_Z5bJRvwuERp91KM3PBenu0ixurOZTxPYzzpjtrj8J0spOY2TPt1nKTPlLAvyofMhkLreGbNID7NQJkWalTjrtyNvNFZaxf_b6_lZ3ZiMH_LdMlJc_RK/s320/White+wolf+new+project.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Most of my conceptualizations involve the breaking down of barriers, namely white doors. This is my sixth installation showing my mature style. Once I realized this was a steel door, I began concentrating on the wooden frame. I'm still hopeful I can add making it through metal to my artist statement.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisuNLub-D6Gnyc0sEG3z7XxzGDDZ40zZWaiNWcYZEGS_xc1t7t-C91g94XWeUn5wpyFW_S7DI1wCrP633EqYCYveiusVie2qETVkX0Q-jN0qNKIeSAt7bc9bKhMjKARYvoc4YxGJWzY5Tx/s1600/white+coop+2+door.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisuNLub-D6Gnyc0sEG3z7XxzGDDZ40zZWaiNWcYZEGS_xc1t7t-C91g94XWeUn5wpyFW_S7DI1wCrP633EqYCYveiusVie2qETVkX0Q-jN0qNKIeSAt7bc9bKhMjKARYvoc4YxGJWzY5Tx/s400/white+coop+2+door.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><br />
This white door has a lot of character. It used to belong on the back door of my former house. It was my first project when I was still a pup. Momma still remembers being on vacation and getting a call from the pet sitter who told her I was half in the house and half outside! He he. You can still see the old boards he used to cover the hole. She's saved it all these years she likes it so much. (I was kind of hoping she might hang it over the sofa).<br />
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The white lavatory used to belong in the bathroom of our current house. It's from about the same period as the door. Mom is so style conscious! Both are being repurposed for use in Chicken Coop Two at the moment. It is almost entirely built out of recycled materials.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxQYFLUC5tKdsm4XCNlaGkmmeUfcDKeWk6Jj6MvZz0Sg5EQbfQKFzMM27ALNmNhoSd5h_RYFqv-_-uyIDvc2VB_wkqDR2L7AiuX1nt0c5EJ9lXdcivoJ-LFrjBpkQacjm1sLOEsAFXJRCs/s1600/white+door+installation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxQYFLUC5tKdsm4XCNlaGkmmeUfcDKeWk6Jj6MvZz0Sg5EQbfQKFzMM27ALNmNhoSd5h_RYFqv-_-uyIDvc2VB_wkqDR2L7AiuX1nt0c5EJ9lXdcivoJ-LFrjBpkQacjm1sLOEsAFXJRCs/s400/white+door+installation.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
Those lucky chickens!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyYl_QfsPRG2JsLUdZ9qastRZhHHIWSWzMIHgfwcJeuyvpL8_nUT4Y_pENFfPIqWlL9KFEKUx_k8q0cF4PUcQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
Here's Kryzsztof, the white Buff Lace Poland rooster getting groomed by one of his gals. And neat photos of water on plastic in the garden from last night's rain, and water droplets.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh90I-J8edy1YdSMiz5cAM4BQDXAx_hyphenhyphentdGc5_B_J5BQhaX8ye6jNd0NjOHgPqPn9y77R4xaIM2WOg1LYhnx9eGD_GoLhH9lxC6XM_VS3o3BUMvG0q91uL8k4PmQZPJjljsgYxIgDxMYOZ/s1600/Water+on+plastic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh90I-J8edy1YdSMiz5cAM4BQDXAx_hyphenhyphentdGc5_B_J5BQhaX8ye6jNd0NjOHgPqPn9y77R4xaIM2WOg1LYhnx9eGD_GoLhH9lxC6XM_VS3o3BUMvG0q91uL8k4PmQZPJjljsgYxIgDxMYOZ/s400/Water+on+plastic.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPt6Je3JD3yKwKBCCjx11ApNNsh5DkKgdnu1VfYG3uIj6kbZ4jqwooKBZDTQSPvmBnBd9c3XdNCZ9XOdSPgsfNoszl3Akz-TP42X0duS1HxCQeqHzVtlI6w4skbWeveE31jAGi0rAsQElJ/s1600/Water+droplets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPt6Je3JD3yKwKBCCjx11ApNNsh5DkKgdnu1VfYG3uIj6kbZ4jqwooKBZDTQSPvmBnBd9c3XdNCZ9XOdSPgsfNoszl3Akz-TP42X0duS1HxCQeqHzVtlI6w4skbWeveE31jAGi0rAsQElJ/s400/Water+droplets.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
For more images of the letter W, visit <a href="http://sundaystills.wordpress.com/2011/01/02/sunday-stills-the-next-challenge-the-letter-w/">Sunday Stills</a>!flowerweaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14903201215823510915noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071569198154621897.post-74096685314831880282011-01-02T18:17:00.000-06:002011-01-02T18:17:11.670-06:00Sunday Stills: Best Shot of 2010Happy New Year friends! One of the best shots of the year was recently taken by my husband of me holding our first grandchild, Lily. I love how angelic she looks!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHb0iW2H7AuriGH9TQvbLZ622iaVKiwbt_cW7e0b8GGgFfxaAXPXDWeNr5oFalGbkdXPqbduDkViGdML8-faMWK_ctgkrdCAlxF9Z6xfG9gP7z-rJcWOVxVBdus4ux0l83LSTund2IRDaB/s1600/Lily+held+by+Sage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHb0iW2H7AuriGH9TQvbLZ622iaVKiwbt_cW7e0b8GGgFfxaAXPXDWeNr5oFalGbkdXPqbduDkViGdML8-faMWK_ctgkrdCAlxF9Z6xfG9gP7z-rJcWOVxVBdus4ux0l83LSTund2IRDaB/s400/Lily+held+by+Sage.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Here are some of the best shots I took in 2010. I'll leave it up to you to choose the best one!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAACetAZO_pkDxfFnX5Ai9BwnEeodJyJ7HsaWVRntrrjSQyr3s6Ui_W5xAWoaFa3GK6vbW3PHD_NwZtaaAhVrZZtBPHE3g0dZzeB48AO0J6tOT8IebTRAkKHGqgg8o1BI0sulfmyIBNkni/s1600/Coneflowers+from+beneath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAACetAZO_pkDxfFnX5Ai9BwnEeodJyJ7HsaWVRntrrjSQyr3s6Ui_W5xAWoaFa3GK6vbW3PHD_NwZtaaAhVrZZtBPHE3g0dZzeB48AO0J6tOT8IebTRAkKHGqgg8o1BI0sulfmyIBNkni/s400/Coneflowers+from+beneath.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0xelbvU-0-pdQpwMr2xRl06x1li9cIwWlZBrfL3HPuqccQjeT8kB34lo2Bp8fBvkhNULeAQr2TkHfSDqjjYp2S3a0Sx1nbftBxkkT4OwuAYku1W8MhxXBZCmCHA3Gqf5Eo1ExneLvGyLd/s1600/Borage+lavender+bicolor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0xelbvU-0-pdQpwMr2xRl06x1li9cIwWlZBrfL3HPuqccQjeT8kB34lo2Bp8fBvkhNULeAQr2TkHfSDqjjYp2S3a0Sx1nbftBxkkT4OwuAYku1W8MhxXBZCmCHA3Gqf5Eo1ExneLvGyLd/s400/Borage+lavender+bicolor.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD99t7Eba9u56NU9kgcGubw2N0jSvfdjQMY_QjLfyapv7YLe1jOyDbxqQt6aHCr61SX8nVk5y2r3x77LA6lJ4H_uIp_vNb4qWqIU36m6zHRNKN2WX-E_oDxTOnT3MCwX5y2VWZf5ZGegUu/s1600/Warbler+rescue+090410.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD99t7Eba9u56NU9kgcGubw2N0jSvfdjQMY_QjLfyapv7YLe1jOyDbxqQt6aHCr61SX8nVk5y2r3x77LA6lJ4H_uIp_vNb4qWqIU36m6zHRNKN2WX-E_oDxTOnT3MCwX5y2VWZf5ZGegUu/s400/Warbler+rescue+090410.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKLndfQ-DZ0uT_RnwFtpHdYHBOa62p1VmrWj7LTjQillxpNQmv_-1nz2w8KdYmDZ6okVlBDMxC9Bs8MCzXg4BY82aht3HUob49cb3ajv-ofNrM-C2nFQUAHkMTVHB8FLHXqC_NVVRT833n/s1600/New+Ameraucana+roo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKLndfQ-DZ0uT_RnwFtpHdYHBOa62p1VmrWj7LTjQillxpNQmv_-1nz2w8KdYmDZ6okVlBDMxC9Bs8MCzXg4BY82aht3HUob49cb3ajv-ofNrM-C2nFQUAHkMTVHB8FLHXqC_NVVRT833n/s400/New+Ameraucana+roo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihoGiArQu95PTU_wKp1dWTJK9PRBcXMYNWT0eHwv4rOv0Ni1IxlKWnYYkuqkAdM7jKchDPNDTchtw7n3lPHyCWG4VpfDuehzLclHTYIGVnN2hpA6thkDjjQsG2NrsV4lLVyxLUY_IEqnA2/s1600/First+tomato+2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihoGiArQu95PTU_wKp1dWTJK9PRBcXMYNWT0eHwv4rOv0Ni1IxlKWnYYkuqkAdM7jKchDPNDTchtw7n3lPHyCWG4VpfDuehzLclHTYIGVnN2hpA6thkDjjQsG2NrsV4lLVyxLUY_IEqnA2/s400/First+tomato+2010.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
Thanks Ed for hosting this fun challenge, I'll try to participate more this year. For more Best Shots of 2010 visit <a href="http://sundaystills.wordpress.com/2010/12/26/sunday-stills-the-next-challenge-your-best-shot-of-2010/">Sunday Stills</a>. Wishing everyone a fabulous 2011!flowerweaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14903201215823510915noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071569198154621897.post-28446338018704509682010-12-07T17:49:00.000-06:002010-12-07T17:49:05.828-06:00Cookie Monster<object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0saGNkPa4vg?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0saGNkPa4vg?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br />
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Finley has started asking for cookies with his foot, a signal he's always used to show that he likes something. Cookies (alfalfa cubes) definitely have his stamp of approval!flowerweaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14903201215823510915noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071569198154621897.post-34166666581863425622010-11-04T07:54:00.003-06:002010-11-04T19:28:48.001-06:00I'll take that as a compliment<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfyqpqEN6-8OwNfUU01yP2LuHiCrwhTA9jbob0OSc9alhSOeg5bDue1WdzUgCKxg3Num7WXHWEhbjrGiPizydUro8kptl0VtQqs5TX3DJvCq5g_u2thWRrwwzaK4vZpZxumFIt8yHfQofN/s1600/Windshield.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfyqpqEN6-8OwNfUU01yP2LuHiCrwhTA9jbob0OSc9alhSOeg5bDue1WdzUgCKxg3Num7WXHWEhbjrGiPizydUro8kptl0VtQqs5TX3DJvCq5g_u2thWRrwwzaK4vZpZxumFIt8yHfQofN/s400/Windshield.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Yesterday I was called in at the last minute to substitute at the school. There were no more spaces where the faculty usually park, so I parked over among the high school students.<br />
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It wasn't until I was halfway home later in the day that I looked into the rear view mirror and realized my car had been decorated! (Click to biggify).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfFgaPJSKyAzFnWMZvPu73_a3ZNaQ53BK2pKSZTfSyYTWpxWkUokcR1fDYlFFyK8FPHVMFmKthoafXSu4NbHMa3ZacKtLLqVBHxSzKd57OmER2rh8vN7MCBwujLDI1OoIk3U4TcnPVXZ2h/s1600/Your+Hot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfFgaPJSKyAzFnWMZvPu73_a3ZNaQ53BK2pKSZTfSyYTWpxWkUokcR1fDYlFFyK8FPHVMFmKthoafXSu4NbHMa3ZacKtLLqVBHxSzKd57OmER2rh8vN7MCBwujLDI1OoIk3U4TcnPVXZ2h/s400/Your+Hot.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Your Hot</span></div><br />
Bad grammar aside, I think I'll take it as a compliment. (Especially since the weather was cool!)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgekvdmt0-qmn6kF05v46r5p37Leg1io6ixDBGDrA7zMWSzQXmYs-mHsB5yXGu2JIvQiw3WG79ZSJhnaugUEoI7EFNFFsymssaoL7EU9QQ8H-gHGgPVbHVW1ypJk02ynNctVJR8z7NpOAkd/s1600/November+sky+sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgekvdmt0-qmn6kF05v46r5p37Leg1io6ixDBGDrA7zMWSzQXmYs-mHsB5yXGu2JIvQiw3WG79ZSJhnaugUEoI7EFNFFsymssaoL7EU9QQ8H-gHGgPVbHVW1ypJk02ynNctVJR8z7NpOAkd/s400/November+sky+sm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
It's been incredibly windy, with gusts strong enough to blow large sheets of roofing tin off a stack and around the yard. After a slight frost last week, the weather has continued to be unseasonably warm but a real freeze is predicted for tonight. We tend to forget Winter does eventually arrive here in the land of Summer.<br />
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There will be plants to water in and cover, other plants needing to go from the house into the greenhouse, and chicken coops to close in with plastic. Some dry wood will need to be cut and moved into the house for the fireplace. But it's only an afternoon of work. We don't have to drain or store hoses, as it will be back up into the 70's-80's again soon.flowerweaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14903201215823510915noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071569198154621897.post-28392974768671270862010-10-30T10:07:00.004-05:002010-10-31T15:32:38.722-06:00National Hug a Sheep Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVfW_4-sY0LMTDcKR3eTWKLKCSVkSsHQN0wmtRaPcIjcJxX002HW7Jne136iUNDBkqn4dBdJCdkXdvF4oc25P8vL2Ri9Eqwy4-Egc1rkgkEPKY97YWixc3FdKJ4wok1zJD7AQlbjbtFB0X/s400/Hug+A+Sheep+Button+103110.jpg" width="400" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Finley, did you know it is National Hug a Sheep Day? I thought we'd do some hugging!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBbe6yV1RBl1ArsEdeez1pttVp4TNjLxdSbiNMIhA0yhI9FrApCsalQbiOInPVq2lK-E-NbFcxPNywwWVWSUYgxpocieliNb-hFNFnofA1MJM-6gjeZzDj8_VhL6SRDlQKpYx5_I-ZJ73I/s1600/But+why.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBbe6yV1RBl1ArsEdeez1pttVp4TNjLxdSbiNMIhA0yhI9FrApCsalQbiOInPVq2lK-E-NbFcxPNywwWVWSUYgxpocieliNb-hFNFnofA1MJM-6gjeZzDj8_VhL6SRDlQKpYx5_I-ZJ73I/s400/But+why.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>But I don't like hugs! Not even for cookies!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">It would make your Aunt Sara very happy if we could participate. She's launched <a href="http://nationalhugasheepday.blogspot.com/">National Hug a Sheep Day</a> in honor of Punkin, who was my godsheep. If I had never known Punkin I might not have you today. What do you say?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiueoJ9MydfD6m_EuMcRal7o5uw5wfBRpXcSdoNDeqSGoWwZebr1MH00WaIvvJ-dbbF38B2j5vjYL6r7BBAPcV1XEE5Yf_p1_shgFcXXBD8WMiurIdhkzO3t1AlFkBBdPD6Tlm41kyGEk9W/s1600/Isn't+being+cute+enough.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiueoJ9MydfD6m_EuMcRal7o5uw5wfBRpXcSdoNDeqSGoWwZebr1MH00WaIvvJ-dbbF38B2j5vjYL6r7BBAPcV1XEE5Yf_p1_shgFcXXBD8WMiurIdhkzO3t1AlFkBBdPD6Tlm41kyGEk9W/s400/Isn't+being+cute+enough.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i> Isn't being cute...enough?</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i> How about we pretend it's National Skritch a Sheep Day instead!</i> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I have quite a few itches needing skritches.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx0iJ1h5b8ckULXKE1NBl-X6NqhO1cV4b1uPRQOHme2Anl_ZkBdzPuNEpinzAVLXwvybHrfFuHrhJKQqjOljtSy972s3SU6bGiLOJianqpuM8bnVa71bbkRuI3Huybki7Gg7AZRhZHV0Iz/s1600/How+about+national+skritch+a+sheep+day+ha+ha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx0iJ1h5b8ckULXKE1NBl-X6NqhO1cV4b1uPRQOHme2Anl_ZkBdzPuNEpinzAVLXwvybHrfFuHrhJKQqjOljtSy972s3SU6bGiLOJianqpuM8bnVa71bbkRuI3Huybki7Gg7AZRhZHV0Iz/s400/How+about+national+skritch+a+sheep+day+ha+ha.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">{skritch, skritch, skritch}</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ahhhh.....that's more like it!</i></div>flowerweaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14903201215823510915noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071569198154621897.post-15844463564246068402010-10-29T15:30:00.000-05:002010-10-29T15:30:44.276-05:00We are grandparents!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUEpFT1FX3kOl_DGAhhqfa46VpdJH9usyw-1KhIr4RKPkvKC2syO9fYC2UacNg4Jvl0NroF8NOQYBIRd1_4vWX4sfC7YvH36n-InDzHRkrx6TUOxvzDvhy6MEicxsOp81YHnw49k0qdgZs/s1600/Lily+smiling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUEpFT1FX3kOl_DGAhhqfa46VpdJH9usyw-1KhIr4RKPkvKC2syO9fYC2UacNg4Jvl0NroF8NOQYBIRd1_4vWX4sfC7YvH36n-InDzHRkrx6TUOxvzDvhy6MEicxsOp81YHnw49k0qdgZs/s400/Lily+smiling.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Lillian (Lily) Elizabeth arrived on Wednesday, October 27, at 4:59 a.m. She is the first girl born into Farmer Rick's side of the family in 150 years! She such a little cutie pie! It will be so fun sewing for her!flowerweaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14903201215823510915noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071569198154621897.post-47620789459438912152010-09-19T09:01:00.003-05:002010-09-25T11:06:59.807-05:00Hill Country anniversary tripWe took a little day trip to Enchanted Rock--where we got married--on our anniversary this year. It's too bad I forgot to charge the battery of my loaner camera overnight, but it actually ran out of space before it ran out of juice.<br />
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On the way we stopped to take some photos of things we've passed by a zillion times and always meant to photograph if we weren't rushing from here to there. It was nice actually making time for them.<br />
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This little hobbit house in Hunt, Texas, is tucked into the woods and sits right on the river's edge. It has a sign that says 'Toad Hall' but an quick online check says that's for two cabins they rent out, so I'm thinking this must be their residence, as photos of it do not appear anywhere on their website.<br />
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Just down the road there is a unique fence that keeps some horses off the road. (Click to biggify).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjw1qmV24e4m-tEQVycw0l4JdRLDEZ2wDlzaj3ldULuBa-dKBWE8kL-jkmhassJKUQ138JDLvoJAnK-mWtq1fXqu6oosPKsE-hM7oBJk1U793yT9uMGHYUuTz-wBeVcyVuZwV8snzLS2PS/s1600/Boot+fence.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjw1qmV24e4m-tEQVycw0l4JdRLDEZ2wDlzaj3ldULuBa-dKBWE8kL-jkmhassJKUQ138JDLvoJAnK-mWtq1fXqu6oosPKsE-hM7oBJk1U793yT9uMGHYUuTz-wBeVcyVuZwV8snzLS2PS/s400/Boot+fence.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The cedar posts are covered with used boots, some of them quite colorful. I've heard this started in the old days as a way of recycling old boots and protecting the ends of posts from absorbing rain and rotting. But cedar posts are very long-lived even without boots. I have the feeling the owner started it, and then people passing by have just added to it over the years. I've certainly watched the collection grow over the past decade.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6lLTzE7qlGiYbwYQOFDGtRi6VStaUUFc87C02IEL8CFDmiaNGYxMiMZMUYywD0iUDHPHYghkFeS2bwJ1khxAhPKpx94tAS1QIOrIiapxbnnBscRKcOSe4DuCe3D8Kepq_D3f9Plt9BBMx/s1600/Evening+primrose+sp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6lLTzE7qlGiYbwYQOFDGtRi6VStaUUFc87C02IEL8CFDmiaNGYxMiMZMUYywD0iUDHPHYghkFeS2bwJ1khxAhPKpx94tAS1QIOrIiapxbnnBscRKcOSe4DuCe3D8Kepq_D3f9Plt9BBMx/s400/Evening+primrose+sp.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
On the banks of the river we saw this very large, rubbery Evening Primrose species. The flowers were at chest height and I'm fairly tall. I didn't get enough details to key it out, but it's definitely water-loving and day-blooming so that should narrow things down a bit. Unlike others in its genus, it doesn't seem prolific as this is the only one we saw.<br />
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We took a back road through the ghost town of Crabapple, and stopped to photograph the ruins. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX7NNsL8EoSkEciAqxc7KvbCRanVKmdYo1Jyts6NdZbl09MFR_lZtCW8jHO8DWqt2fX6CjC-bkvVWOCfZUTmBbIqNXJiBKn-6CjmJJ08eFY7X_tsdiXHIJ5uZChNY2FlYgOIBOZTfH4CE0/s1600/Crabapple+community+center.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX7NNsL8EoSkEciAqxc7KvbCRanVKmdYo1Jyts6NdZbl09MFR_lZtCW8jHO8DWqt2fX6CjC-bkvVWOCfZUTmBbIqNXJiBKn-6CjmJJ08eFY7X_tsdiXHIJ5uZChNY2FlYgOIBOZTfH4CE0/s400/Crabapple+community+center.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
This building was the old school until the late 50's and is now considered the Community Center, although the Census does not show anyone presently residing in Crabapple. The next two images I processed to give them a vintage feel.<br />
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This building was the teacherage, where the teacher lived.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZGub2cEIl7Gnnmyb19i0iRVEcVgwz4UN_5-YsDQ9Fvce39nIzZft7bxbHFSD6AN04AImHIzbisgbHr2RtOV4BlarykHIBj5Fmr6238zCD4r0zNOuE-1jd7S4RBoy4jCO7omS-CW2Xpn4w/s1600/Crabapple+church.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZGub2cEIl7Gnnmyb19i0iRVEcVgwz4UN_5-YsDQ9Fvce39nIzZft7bxbHFSD6AN04AImHIzbisgbHr2RtOV4BlarykHIBj5Fmr6238zCD4r0zNOuE-1jd7S4RBoy4jCO7omS-CW2Xpn4w/s400/Crabapple+church.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><br />
And this was the church, built in 1897. These are all great examples of the stonework that is so predominant throughout the Texas Hill Country done by the early German settlers.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvosDqm0JYKrY-9_L4VtwjzuLEM90KAQzAp4oRPdQRkKrTPIjTbdhVsYZQboT-kxbUOmwRj8XzMkqVMdjmRsS1BCxn8eC2OulNKbKWg5G2JXVCMbZu7ZUFf5a8aebyB1NUyYvX9ixYMUHE/s1600/Enchanted+Rock+view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvosDqm0JYKrY-9_L4VtwjzuLEM90KAQzAp4oRPdQRkKrTPIjTbdhVsYZQboT-kxbUOmwRj8XzMkqVMdjmRsS1BCxn8eC2OulNKbKWg5G2JXVCMbZu7ZUFf5a8aebyB1NUyYvX9ixYMUHE/s400/Enchanted+Rock+view.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Enchanted Rock State Natural Area can be seen in the distance from the highway approach to the south. The main dome where we were married is the tallest one on the right. Although sedimentary limestone is the predominant rock of the Hill Country, here there is a giant pink granite batholith pushed up from the depths of the Earth.<br />
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Along the trails there you will find many interesting rock formations, many of them sculpted by the wind. It is a mecca for rock climbers.<br />
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Here is Moss Lake and a view of the back side of the main dome on the right. In my younger days I took up rock climbing for a year and I climbed the steep, back side of Enchanted Rock twice. It is the equivalent of a 20 story building and takes about 7 hours. They say if you can learn to climb granite you can climb anything. I learned a lot about strength and courage but I could never, ever, say it was fun. Eventually I took up whitewater kayaking which I found more to my liking.<br />
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We continued around the loop trail, cut through Echo Canyon and made our own trail to the top of Enchanted Rock from a side with a more gentle approach. It was a blustery day similar to our wedding day, sans double rainbow. It was unfortunate the camera conked out at this point, as the view, as always, was spectacular. We caught a bite of Mexican Food back in Fredericksburg before heading home after a very nice day.flowerweaverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14903201215823510915noreply@blogger.com5