Wednesday, July 15, 2009

NEWS SEEN AND HEARD, THERE AND HERE


First I had a long talk with Keta, my dear friend in High Country, who told me all about her wonderful newly-renovated greenhouse, complete with louvered windows on a timer! She was describing all the wonderful plants growing to their hearts content, away from the unpredictable mountain Rocky Mountain weather (couple inches of snow in June this year). From nicotiana to nasturtiums, her little shed is filled with fragrance. And it’s attracting the local resident hummingbirds – lots of the Rufous species (they replace the Ruby-throat in the West) and the less frequent Calliope (the males sport a beautiful garnet-spangled gorget). One little female Rufous (whom she recognizes by the buff spot under one wing) regularly slips in through the louvers, tops up on nectar, but then can’t seem to find her way out again. Keta devised a system of gently easing her into a in a soft fine net, then releasing her outside. She’s done that so often that now, when the little bird is finished, she goes and perches on the same spot on the beam near the ceiling and waits for Keta to come collect her up and take her out. Remarkable…but Keta is kind of a ‘nature whisperer’ – everything is drawn to her.

Next I had a conversation with and an email from some other dear friends and former neighbors in the foothills, introducing me to their two new horses, Duke and Sunny. That’s Duke (R) in his new home, being shown around by Smiles (L). And here's Sunny, the little paint.

And now for the news from here. Yesterday afternoon, I stopped at the grocery store. Walking from my van, I heard the loud cries of seagulls overhead. It was one of the largest flocks I’ve ever seen, easily 150 birds or more. As they passed over the front of the store, a young mother pushing a cart, with two little girls in tow, was exiting the sliding door. Suddenly they all bunched together, the little girls shrieking with nervous laughter. I was still far enough away not to understand what happened, but as we passed each other in the parking lot, the mother looked at me and said breathlessly, “You could hear the poop landing!!” When I came to where they had been only moments before, I could see it was covered with seagull “paintballs.” How the mother and girls weren’t hit multiple times is a complete and total mystery. I don't have a photo of that scenario, but I'm sure you'll understand why I didn't point to the skies and shoot!

Gallery (all enlarge) 1) composite of the pre-renovated greenhouse. 2) Duke, on the right 3) Sunny's head shot

9 comments:

Sylvia K said...

Love the horses! Great memories from the days when I had two. The seagull poop story is hilarious and I'm soooo glad you didn't look up to shoot! Fun post, love to giggle about this time of day -- well, actually all day, but this is a great one to start with!

bobbie said...

Lovely stories. It's a miracle the girls and mom weren't drowned. The story of the hummer is priceless. they do know who cares for them.

Great Grandma Lin said...

funny story about nature's gifts as birds fly over us...lol!

Betsy Banks Adams said...

HI Deb, Isn't it fun to talk to friends all over the country/world???? I love hearing what others are doing during certain seasons.

The greenhouse sounds marvelous --and so do the horses. About the seagulls leaving their 'presents' ---well, I guess I'm glad that you didn't get that photo. ha ha

Hugs,
Betsy

SandyCarlson said...

The seagull story made me laugh! The gulls and the geese can do a number on a good day!

Fun day!

Quiet Paths said...

Poop definitely lands! Nice looking animals there; hope your friends have great joy with them.

Kat Mortensen said...

Kevin would have been in his element with the gulls. He loves them and thinks they are so under-rated.

That is amazing about the hummingbird. I can't even get one to come into my yard, much less get close to one.

Kat

Rose said...

Deb! I miss it when I don't get here every day. I sure enjoyed this visit.

sgreerpitt said...

it is amazing how animals (like the little hummingbird) get aclimatized to routines!