Hamliton's Back

 It's good be back--good to catch up with old friends and make some new ones. 

We are still waiting for the weather to turn warm here in Northern Colorado. Right now the wind has kicked up and I can hear the dull roar of distant thunder. Often we get the windy fury of the storm, but it rolls on by. We can see the storm clouds gather above the mountains to the west and watch them chase themselves east then just before they get here, they split and miss the Garden Spot. So I'm wondering what this storm will do.

The garden is mostly all planted. The usual: 15 tomatoes--some the Head Gardener started; others we purchased. Red and regular cabbages; potatoes; peppers--Anaheim and jalapeños, but no bell peppers. Onions. Carrots and lettuce. Cucumbers and squash. It's plenty to take care of.

Our hens are laying again. We have about 8 of the old ones, 5 are laying eggs so we get 3-5 eggs every other day. They didn't give one egg all winter then in early spring the girls got busy. So we debated about getting more chicks then we began hearing those murmurings of meat shortages and eggs and chicken and yadayadayada, so we bought 6 babies and brooded them here in the house. Last week they went out the hen pen. 

I had a couple of stipulations: pretty hens and green eggs--or a variety of colors. They won't begin laying until fall. Still separated for the old girl, the little  girls are just learning how to peck and roost and be free to make their own choices and do their chicken thing. Right now they share their corner of the coop with the pigeons while the other hens are on the other side of the chicken house.

And who doesn't love a good a mouse story--as long as it as someone else's house!Hamilton has returned. Do you remember the story about Hamilton? Here's my first encounter with mouse in the hen house who later became known as Hamilton due to some sort of texting auto correct. Check out A Flight Plan to meet the original Hamilton. 

This little guy has made his home unearth the fence beam. He'll be well fed and have plenty of water and as long as he stays in the coop, safe. There are plenty of cats on patrol, a hawk or two, and Brody, so he best stay behind the fence that keeps the hens safe from predators, including a chainlink top.

I should always take my camera to the garden with me--the good one-- because I always have a opportunity to  get great photos, like this bumble bee searching for food. I used my iPhone to chase him down and chronicle what might be his first quest for food. He was quite determined to find the nectar in that tightly closed iris bloom.

Coming in for a landing. These little guys are such awkward fliers.

And they are determined.

He squeezes in.

Nothing like a good butt shot.

And he's in!

The humming bird moth zoomed past me the other afternoon as I sat on the patio. He was a bit harder to photograph even the DSLR camera, but I managed on good shot while he zoomed around the azalea looking for a meal. They never sit still.

It's raining now. I can tell. The air is fresh and sweet with the fragrance of spring rain.

It must be nap time. 

 

Thanks so much for visiting. I'll be returning to Mosaic Monday. 

Take time to remember our fallen heroes: the men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice for American Freedom. 

If you served or currently serve, we greatly appreciate you and your family's sacrifice

and service.

God Bless America