dalthauser

I came home from work tonight - went out back to collect eggs - and was delighted to see the lid I use to catch water from the sweating window A/C unit was housing some native wildlife.

I feel like I've created my own little suburban ecosystem sometimes between the frogs, the wasps, and the families of ants that march to and fro.

* I'm still sick, but I've entered into the stage where I hack up crud from deep inside my chest.  Gross, but a good sign.  By Monday I should be right as rain.

*  I went into the garden this morning to uncover all the stuff I quickly covered last night in case it froze (it didn't), and I said "hello" to the sheep who stay in the front of my neighbors property this time of year.  They like me.  I throw over green things to them whenever I'm in the area.


* I can't remember what this tree is called but I caught a pic of it blooming.  The bees love it.  When I first moved here they looked like two overgrown bushes, and my mom did a great job taming and shaping them.  I try and keep it up every year. 


* Still no new food.  I've found many items in the freezer I'd forgotten I put there.  I can probably go another week before I have to break down and shop. 

 I was almost to work this morning and I looked up to see a huge flock of birds flying in the sky.  Usually I'd notice it and move on with my day, but these guys were different.  They were flying in artistic formation just like those huge schools of fish in the ocean.  They'd split up almost in exactly equal numbers (sets of 3 or sets of 2) and do their own thing - then come back together.  It was absolutely amazing.  I had to pull over to watch.  Either I'm just not paying attention or I have bad timing - but I'd never seen anything like this in my life.  This all took place close to my work, and I keyed myself into the gate and drove to the parking lot - the birds seemed to follow me (no, of course they didn't - but there they were in the parking lot at the same time I was).  I grabbed my camera and tried to capture them.  At one point they flew right over my head.  Then they did a show over the building I work in.  It made my day.  I took pictures which I put behind a cut because to see anything I have to leave them a little large.  They don't to the experience justice (a video would have been better), but it's all I have to document it - so I wanted to put it in my journal.

Babies almost ready to fly the coop.  This will be the last picture I take of them because I'm afraid if I get close any longer they will fly away prematurely.