Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Between Lives

 Seeds - Japanese Maple

 Unknown berries

 Japanese Maple leaves

 Fall colors in Birney


10-18-15 
tanka

my ash tree
afire with gold one day
leaves fallen the next
our hopes and dreams are like that
like the ash we start over

It's a beautiful fall day today and having caught up with housework I felt like writing again. The photos above were taken this month; some on a trip to Helena MT, and a few today. We've had a marvelous autumn season.  After an early frost in august, we had no more until last week. The weather in general has been warm and pleasant after the hot summer months.
 
It's hard to believe that I last posted in May!  Five months have passed swiftly and full of activity. In July I bought a condominium apartment in Sheridan, WY. It was too good an opportunity to pass. My house here is still on the market.  I had a contract with a buyer in June, but unfortunately it fell through and we had to start over. I do have a few interested buyers at present, so maybe something will happen soon.

Here are a few pictures of my new abode: 





I have yet to move furniture so I am making do with elementary stuff for now.  The previous owner was kind enough to leave me a bed and table/chairs. Interestingly enough the complex is called Indian Hills Condominiums,  so when I do move, my blog will become "A View from Indian Hills". 

As usual I am fighting with the bugs of fall; box elders, wasps and flies, but last night was different.I heard a huge crash while I was eating supper and the house even shook a little. I suspected that a bird had flown into the window on the north side of the house.  I was correct, but I could never have guessed what it was. A huge owl was lying on the deck - probably a Great-Horned Owl. It was breathing.  My instinct was to go out and help it, but then I thought better. Sometimes animals are best left to themselves. I checked a couple of times and after about 15 minutes it was sitting upright in an obvious daze. Eventually when I checked later he'd gone away; hopefully after a few days he will be healed.  Here are 2 photos that I took through the window:




As I was writing this, there was a rumpus outside the porch and I looked out to see a red squirrel climbing along under the eaves and he went into the bluebirds' nest!  Red squirrels are rare around here and I should count myself lucky, however I really don't want him living in my ceiling for the winter!   Life here is never dull; I will miss the animal activity here, but my new neighbor Doris assures me that it gets exciting in town too.  Deer wander into the central quadrangle and eat the grass and berries, and there are various birds that come to her feeder, so I will have company, and I am definitely looking forward to it.

Friday, May 8, 2015

Flower Petal Moon


Robins have returned





Diana's tulip

Honeysuckle is in blossom
Lilac as well
and Chokecherries
daily tanka 5-8-15

flower petal moon
floats in an azure spring sky
while in the river beneath
white chokecherry blossoms
drift silent in slow water
  
Spring has sprung and accordingly snow is in the forecast for tonight and tomorrow!  Montana has crazy swings of temperature in April and May;  last week we had many days at 80' some with a wind, and the drought-stricken countryside looked beaten down. However Sunday brought a 1/4 inch of rain and everything popped. Overnight the lilac and honeysuckle blossomed, and I was so surprised since there had been no sign the day before.

With the first warmth the Canadian Chokecherry blossomed, and coming home from the post office I was greeted with a marvelous heavy perfume. I sat outside in the sun and read a magazine in the afternoon,  just letting the aroma drift around me; utter heaven.

In April I got tired of the chipmunks who were everywhere and started getting in or on the roof. I could see damage occurring if I took no action. So I bought a tiny Havahart trap and went to work. 

I managed to trap eleven chipmunks and relocated them across the creek. I now seem to have two left and I think I can live with them. However my popularity is in danger - the folks who live in Birney are now inundated with the critters and blame me! I guess they must have learned to walk over the bridge! 

The Bluebirds are happily flying back and forth with food for nestlings. I have yet to hear them chirping however.  On the hot days I could smell the nest:
daily haiku

life is not easy
when bluebirds nest in your house
they smell a little


Mr Bluebird has a feud with one of the remaining chipmunks and if it gets into nest territory a big squabble takes place with lots of flying and chirping.

Life is never dull on the hill even  though I am the only human.
 
daily haiku


birds everywhere
a living soap opera
going on out there

The last haiku is from "Birds - and other things" - haiku by Christine Valentine and Art Elser.  Published in April, we gave our first reading on April 17th at the WyoPoets Open Microphone in Casper WY.


Art and Chris reading from their new Haiku Chapbook - Photo by Susan Mark

Art and I trade haiku on a daily basis - it is great to have a friend who enjoys poetry as much as I do. I am thankful for our wonderful friendship.



Sunday, March 22, 2015

The Bluebirds on the Hill

Right on time - March 10th - here came Mr Bluebird to check the nest

He sunned himself on the fence after his long trip

2 days later he was gathering nesting materials
 Then Mrs Bluebird arrived
She has her head to the side as I was whistling to her

The chipmunks came out of hibernation and are dashing around making a lot of noise; the few rabbits that are around are staying out of sight from the eagles and a red-tail hawk that is making this his current territory.

But spring sprung on March 10th with the arrival of the Bluebirds. Two males checked out the nest, had a fight and flew away. Then one came back and sat on the fence. He stayed around flying back and forth, then in 2 days a female joined him. So I have Bluebird mates once more. The other male appears now and then but is driven away by either of the pair. He had the audacity to go up in the nest this morning and Mrs. got very aggravated and drove him away.  While I do want to sell the house - the thought of leaving while they are nesting practically brings me to tears. I do love them so. Maybe I can have a Bluebird clause in the contract?


Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Joy Cometh in the Manuring

Thawed at last
Black Eagle Mountain on a sunny Sunday
River still frozen - as of today it is flowing again
Blue sky - sunny day
Looking toward the Three Circle Ranch
Bald Eagle
Bald eagle -2
Bald Eagle -3
Pine Grosbeak - rare in our area
Pine Grosbeak
Bird droppings on the gate! Welcome to Hill House!
Deer manure on the deck
A nest the rabbits made at 20 below, and rabbit manure

daily haiku

dead mice and rabbits
have disappeared this week
eagles

This week the Thistle Sock runs out of seed and I will not replace it.  I will miss it as I sit near the window and am about 5 feet away from the birds as they feed.  However my smart husband identified a problem years ago; the Bluebirds will not nest under the eaves if there are too many other birds close by - they are threatened by danger or territory at a guess. The Bluebirds are due to return in about three weeks; the territory needs to be clear so they can delight me with their presence once more, this spring and summer.

I've also been visited by Pine Grosbeaks this past month. I did not know they were rare to this area until I read an article in the Billings Gazette. They are brightly colored but tend to hang out with the house finches and purple finches, and so they are not quite so noticeable. Hidden in plain sight!

A covey/flock (?) of bald eagles moved into the river last week and that was very exciting. I first spotted them in the cottonwood trees as the sun was going down and all I could see were their silhouettes.  I thought they were Turkey Vultures returning early, for some reason, but retuning to the site next day I could see they were eagles. I managed to take the photos above.  I also heard one "talking" a strange sound I couldn't identify at first, but then it developed into the typical screech and I knew exactly what it was.

For the most part we are thawed although the ground is still frozen from night frost.  In the next few days we return to cold and snowstorms. I have been enjoying an afternoon walk down the driveway in addition to my morning walk, on the treadmill or along Birney main street.  I am enjoying this winter so very much.

After the retreat of the snow I was left with a lot of animal manure. Deer left their marks under the cedar trees, the rock patio and even on the deck, and the gate to the house is stained with bird droppings.  There is so much rabbit poop that it is unbelievable. The droppings get into my cleats and track indoors if I am not careful. However that may not be a problem in future - I think the Eagles have feasted on my rabbit population since I have only seen one rabbit of late. Nature took care of it.

So the next warm day I must get out with my broom and dustpan, enjoy the sunshine. Indeed joy will come in removing the manuring! 



Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Deep Winter


Wintry Forecast



daily haiku

rabbits face south
turn towards the noonday sun
drink in rays of warmth




A Happy New Year to all of you who read my blog
May 2015 be a healthy and blessed year for you all.

Prolonged cold with plenty of snow and wind brings us deep into winter. A chilly greeting for 2015. Actually it is probably more like the usual Montana winters that I remember from the 60's and 70's and is somewhat reassuring considering evidence of global warming.

This week I took down the Xmas Tree and all the decorations; but as always, the hardest part is taking down the Christmas greeting cards that I tape to the living room bookshelves. When they are "up' it feels like I am surrounded by the good wishes and love that the cards bring to me. A wonderful feeling.  After I remove them I spend an afternoon re-reading them and the letters that often are enclosed. As the cost of buying and mailing increases, each one becomes more valuable in the good feelings they convey. 

The animals are interesting to watch as they adapt to winter survival.  A lovely sight - the chickadees hover and the tree creepers scamper upside down under the eaves to drink the drops of water from the end of the icicles on my porch roof. They are very close to me as I sit in my chair.  The rabbits eat the yucca growing in front and then chase each other at high speed through the snow.  I doubt they are mating, although you never know with their oversexed species; I think it is more the need for warmth.  And with that, I had better get dressed for the day and do some more shoveling to keep myself in the same condition!