It’s always busy at Wild Ozark, but this time of year seems to have more tasks that need to be done, as opposed to tasks I *want* to get done. But during breaks, one of my most enjoyable things to do is watch the activities of the barn swallows on the porch.
Barn Swallows on the porch
A pair of swallows started visiting the old phoebe’s nest this past spring. Phoebe had two nests over the light structure, and she used them both. When her chicks got too big for the single nest, the chicks would migrate between both of the nests.
The barn swallows worked on both nests to make them more to their liking, adding mud and building up the sides to make a more bowl-shaped nest. They opted to focus on only the one nest more toward the end, though, and so far they’re only using that one.
The chicks are feathered out now and ready to fledge. Mom and dad have been enticing them to get out of the nest to get their bugs that they put on the floor of the board instead of into their mouths. But the chicks aren’t having it and so they wait until the parent is tired of trying to get them out and decides to put it into open chirping mouth instead.
But it won’t be long now, any day, before the little ones leave the nest. I hope I get to see their first flights.
Harbingers of Fall
While summer hasn’t even really set in yet, I am already seeing signs of our impending change of seasons. The light angles shift and even a bright red leaf here and there. It hasn’t been brutally hot yet here this summer and I’d be happy to keep it mild all year. The first ‘official’ summer day isn’t even here yet, though, so I’m sure I’ll feel the heat soon enough.
Still, I’m always looking forward to fall. It’s my favorite season. The little barn swallows will surely be gone by then, but maybe a new batch will be demanding food from exhausted parents.
In the garden
While we were in Texas a few weeks ago, we passed a shop every day that had metal yard art. The shop was closed every time we passed. I wanted the vulture I saw in there. Perhaps this isn’t the typical kind of thing a person likes to put on a stump in the garden, but hey, my taste isn’t quite typical 🙂
Happily, on our last pass before the day we’d leave, someone was at the shop and I was able to buy it. Now I have what I think is closer to a condor than a turkey vulture on a tree stump overlooking the garden, along with some rusty metal horny toads (not shown) and a red metal agave plant. I hope the condor makes the squirrels think twice before they raid my garden, lol, but I like the artwork anyway even if it doesn’t.
Today I started seeds indoors for broccoli and brussel sprouts. Hopefully I can get them growing before it starts freezing too hard. Every year I get a little better at the garden upkeep. One problem is to keep the beds moist enough during dry periods. I have some ideas to use with future bed construction involving coir liners. There’s not a lot I can do without tearing it down to start again.
I’ve learned a lot about stacking the rocks better, and the importance of deep enough loose soils. Turns out the plants don’t like shallow rocky soil and clay under layers. Unfortunately that’s everything naturally present unless I build up enough to offset that truth. And now I have to remember to put a liner or something against the rock retaining walls to help hold moisture in. That will also insulate from the heat that builds on hot, sunny days.
Mowing Grass
The frequent rains brought jungle growth. I have not been able to keep up and I’ve almost reached the point of surrender.
Today I’ll try to get a little mowing in before it rains. Again.
Studio News – I’ll update on this in a separate post so it shows up in the Studio news category on my blog. The building for my new studio will arrive in a couple of weeks.
I have not had a chance to do any more work on my painting, though. The next move is percolating and I haven’t yet finished with that part. One day maybe my process will get faster again. But this is not that time.
I’m also percolating some ideas for quick painting projects. But right now the grass is growing as we speak and I have to get on to that task instead.
What’s been on your task list?
And are you taking time to find things that make you smile? Barn swallows and garden progress works for me.