The Homestone

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Summertime on the Meadow

July. Warmer days and almost always cool nights. We awoke to a hard frost the other morning. Some years ago, we gave up trying too grow much in the way of outdoor crops for just this reason. For now we rely on our greenhouse to grow our fresh summer greens. And there is always Strawberry Spinach! Requiring no greenhouse or careful tending; it grows wild and in abundance around our place. Bonus. Strawberry Spinach is also known as Beet berry, Miniature dwarf bearded iris or Strawberry Sticks. It's an annual (considered an heirloom seed) that is rich in vitamin A, B2, C and D.
Our almost 2 miles of zigzag stacked log fence is complete!!
Oh, What a feat! So pretty, and practical too.
Welcome ... to our new front gate.
These are the days (and nights) of beautiful summer skies and photo 'ops' at every turn. Here are a few more of David's recent sky pics.
These little guys are always entertaining . . .
We have way too many photos of them ~ but their antics are hard to resist. Do you know the story about how Chipmunk Got his Stripes? In a nutshell; Black Bear brags that he can do anything. When Brown Squirrel challenges him to tell the sun not to come up, Bear gives the command. All night the animals wait anxiously. When the sun does come up, Brown Squirrel, forgetting his mother’s advice, ridicules Black Bear. Bear pulls his sharp claws down the squirrel’s back. Although the scratches heal, the stripes remain. And other things we talk about out here on the meadow :] We are constantly on the quest for better, greener ways to build and to live lightly on the planet. Michael Reynolds shares so many good and innovative ideas; if you're thinking about reducing your footprint, you'll want to visit Earthship. Even if it's not your dream home. Till next time. . .

Thursday, July 01, 2010

Wild Roses and a little dog departs

Late June ~ our roadsides and paths are lined with shimmering aspen and wild roses in bloom. We said farewell recently to our beloved four legged companion; Kali. Our dear and faithful friend of 14 years. Afraid of nothing she was, and as sweet and delightful as a little dog can be. The day we said goodbye, a mourning dove dropped by.
One of my favourite Kali pics; following along after David as the three of us went for a walk on a wet spring day. Always wanting to stand on her own four paws she routinely declined any offer of a lift over the rough patches.
In her golden years we called her 'Sugar Lips'. Thank You ~ for sharing your time with us Little One !

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Hummingbird Heaven on the Meadow

The forest around the meadow. The aspens leafing out.
Hummingbirds at the kitchen window.
We still have frost most mornings and had a bit of a snow flurry yesterday. We're enjoying lovely cool spring weather with equal parts of sunshine, wind, and rain. We have three hummingbird feeders at the kitchen windows. Each feeder is out of view of the other two. We've counted seventy to ninety hummingbirds gathered at feeding time. It's a spectacular sight and one we look forward to each year.
Our hummingbirds love this lilac bush. They use it for perching & resting, and waiting their turn at the feeders and use the branches for cleaning their beaks.
One little fellow settling in for a beak clean . . .
All done. and Lift Off.
Last year this lilac didn't bloom. Hard to say if it'll bloom this year but it doesn't really matter ~ these tiny, beautiful creatures are decoration enough.
Till later. From hummingbird heaven

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Bouquets of feathered friends

We had 6 inches of heavy wet snow just last week ~
The snow lasted just one day and gave the greening of the meadow a tremendous boost.
Although April showers don't really bring May flowers in our neck of the woods ~ they do bring bouquets of birds to our feeders and the branches of our trees. We are enjoying 'full on' birds these days . . . Purple Finches White Crowned Sparrows Yellow Headed and Red Winged Blackbirds Hummingbirds Barn Swallows, Cliff Swallows, hawks and owls and a Golden Eagle too. The first of our Grosbeaks arrived today .... and so it goes . . .