Sights from around Crooked Acres.
Hibiscus in the back yard. I look forward to seeing these every year.
Woodpecker on the tractor shed.
Autumn Clematis on the fence. It’s blooming (obviously) and smells so good right now.
The water station. I love that that young Robin is just sitting in the water dish, taking a soak.
In the pot where our Meyer Lemon tree is planted, a volunteer tomato popped up. We left it, to see what would happen, and it’s very happy. I wonder what kind of tomatoes it’s going to give us.
The catnip is blooming, and the bees are loving it.
This year, for the first year ever, we’re getting tons of cantaloupe. Right now, Fred’s bringing in 5 – 10 of them per day. The refrigerator is full of them – what he doesn’t eat, he’s freezing to eat this winter. There are two people who live here, and only one of them likes cantaloupe (I ate a slice of it the other day, and I’m all set ’til next year).
The cantaloupe/watermelon patch.
Lemon squash (which looks huge here, but is actually only a little larger than a lemon). Usually by mid-August, we’ve pulled up all the squash plants. This year – maybe due to the cooler-than-usual summer – we’ve still got lemon and pattypan squash coming in.
Bell peppers. The habaneros are still not really bearing fruit, probably due to the aforementioned cooler-than-usual summer.
The compost heap is putting out tomatoes like crazy and they are so, so good. I have zero clue what kind of tomatoes these are – they’re smallish (larger than Sungolds, smaller than Campari) and a deep pink when ripe.
Volunteer lettuce plant has popped up in one of the raised beds.
One day a few weeks ago, I stopped by Target. As I was walking toward the store, the sound of an agitated bird caught my attention. I looked, and saw this Kestrel (I think it’s a Kestrel) sitting there.
I just happened to have my camera with me, so took pictures as I walked toward it. A mockingbird was sitting in a nearby tree, shrieking. I thought maybe the Kestrel was too close to a nest.
Then I realized that the Kestrel had a dead baby mockingbird in his talons, and I gasped and called it names (I know, I know, circle of life), and it flew away. I’ve blurred out the baby mockingbird, but you can see the uncensored version over at Flickr by clicking on the picture (it’s not gross or bloody, but some people might not like to see that.)
WARNING: This next section contains pictures of spiders and other bugs. Click here to skip this section, ya big baby.
Making space
so no one who doesn’t want to see them
doesn’t have to see
the pictures
of the spiders
and the other
very cool bugs
because I’m nice like that.
Is that enough space?
Maybe a little more.
Little more.
Liiiiiiiittle more.
Okay.
I think that’s good.
I’m sorry, I can’t help it. I think these jumping spiders are utterly adorable. This one showed up on my desk and stared at me ’til I scooped him up and took him outside.
He looks like a bearded old man, doesn’t he?
This, I think, is an adult assassin bug. I almost never see the adults, just the little ones.
She did not appreciate me getting all up in her face trying to take her picture.
Every year, we get a Golden Orb Weaver, who we name Dolores. You can see 2013 Dolores here, and 2012 Dolores here. This year she set up camp in the area between the garage and tractor shed (previously, she preferred the front flower bed). This is the first time I’ve seen a male in the web with her.
Mister Dolores on the left, Dolores on the right.
The next day, they switched sides and Dolores was having a snack. Obviously he was attempting to woo her with chocolate-covered flies.
Okay, that’s it for the spider pictures
and the bug pictures
at least for this time.
I need to get some dog pictures
and chicken pictures
for next time
don’t I?
Is that enough space?
Maybe not.
A little more.
More.
More.
Okay, no one tell the people who hate the spider and bug pics that we were totally talking about them.
Shhhhhhhh.
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Angelo still has that really pretty “stripe” down his back.
Orlando, up close and personal.
Orlando and his expressive ears.
Angelo, chillin’.
Sweet boy.
I love the whiskers.
(Play-) fightin’ bros.
“You just stay over there, dude.”
Orlando will be headed back to Petsmart on Thursday; once another cage is freed up, Angelo will be going back as well. Hopefully they won’t be there for too long!
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Sheriff Mama is scolding me for having the utter reckless nerve to be outside the back yard. “I can’t protect you out there!”
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Previously
2013: Norbie gives me the Eyes of Skepticism.
2012: Before you start reading this, please know: it does not have a sad ending.
2011: No entry.
2010: Julie is NOT sitting on the table.
2009: I have fallen head over heels for these monkeys. I always do.
2008: It’s good to be king.
2007: Maryanne continues to make herself at home.
2006: No entry.
2005: No entry.