Scumbags, heroes, and peas

Wow, it has been awhile since I posted.  So here are some snapshots in words and pictures of what has been happening in the last few weeks.


Four bluebirds fledged.  I don't have any pictures. Parents have hid them well.


The rest of the hay has been cut, raked, baled, sold and hauled away.  For the first time someone came in and stole a big pick-up full of hay, a couple of tons.  SCUMBAG!!  A good hay year, but for that.


We took the dogs overnight camping to Mary's Peak, the highest peak in the coast range, to see wild flowers.  Coming back, the clutch went out on the pick-up. Libby and I were attacked by savage dogs.  Jackson came between them and us. He fended off their attacks until  their owner could get them under control.  It was really frightening.  I hate to think what might have happened had Jack not come back to protect us.  He was definitely hero-dog of the day.

Jackson Hero-Dog

Our peas were doing great.  We really enjoyed walking out and munching on them.  But not thinking, I gave Jackson a pea pod, and then the next day, Sid gave Jackson a pea pod.  And then the next day when no one was watching, Jack went out and gave himself all of the peas.  He ravaged the plants.  I was so pissed. Hero-dog has lost his glow.


Two years ago we were given a variety of native seeds and plants.  The Oregon Sunshine is in full bloom right now.

Oregon Sunshine

I went up the hill on the 4-wheeler looking for native wild blackberries (not to be confused with Himalayan or Evergreen blackberries) yesterday.   I found only a hand full, certainly not enough for blackberry pie.  However, I did find a little white flower that I had never seen before.....a Scouler's Harebell.  Native to the west coast, it is very small, looks like a tiny white lily.  Of course, it was surrounded by poison oak, so the picture isn't as close as I had hoped for.

Scouler's Harebell

We have had a pair of neurotic swallows nesting by the garage.  We tried to dissuade them from nesting there, but their persistence finally wore us down.  So for the last few weeks every time we walk out the back door the adult swallows attack us.  This morning the three babies finally fledged.  Their first venture in the outside-of-the-nest-world was to the truck-the one without the clutch. They stuck to it for about 45 minutes, afraid to venture further into the world.  Finally, with a lot of pleading and parental fly-bys, they took off.  Their flights were pretty good, their landings not so much.  I will be happy to get rid of the nest and the poop.  The lesson: Being more persistent than the swallows is best for everyone. No more swallows nesting close to the house!

Baby swallows traded in their nest for the pick-up truck.

And lastly, here is a picture of this year's snapdragons.  They are all volunteers.  I love their vampy brightness.

I will be better about posting regularly.  I will be better about posting regularly.  I will be better......