Smart Bird

My husband is famous for not returning tools to where they belong. Just a couple days after he didn't put the ladder away, we have a friend there....and now the ladder has to stay where it is for weeks to come....

Road Runner Conversation

Yep. They're sitting on a nest - we've seen both Mama and Papa. Yesterday evening, one of them had a very large lizard dangling from his mouth. I chased the black cat away. I have a feeling I'm going to do a lot of cat chasing. Anybody have any good ideas to keep him away, without scaring the road runners? Should I spray around the tree with amonia/vinegar? Put out moth balls?

This morning I went outside and had a quiet discussion with whichever parent-bird was sitting on the nest. He listened to me, cocking his head to the side, trying to understand this strange language.

They are fast, and difficult to get a good picture! I snapped this one from inside my little office - Mrs RoadRunner had come to visit in the little courtyard. Picture is taken from the other side of the screen - sorry!

I'm excited for baby road runners!

It's a wild country with lots of predators, so I'm going to keep fingers and toes crossed.

Something ELSE in the Tree!

(photo courtesy wikipedia)

I remember the first time I ever saw a roadrunner, and not the one that tortures Wily E Coyote. (did I spell that right??)

Although they can fly, they spend most of their time on the ground. We've seen them catch lizards. Sometimes they are very curious, and don't run away.

I've heard that they can get very used to humans.

This morning, I saw one hop in the big mesquite tree in our front 'yard' (not really a yard, no grass...).

I wandered outside to see what he was doing.

He/She has built a nest.

See his/her head? Right in the middle of the picture, through all the leafy foliage.
So, I guess I'm going to have to try to keep the maurading cat away, and hope for the best.
Right after I snapped this picture, she ran out of the tree, and then I could see her nest.

We had a birds nest on our side porch for the past couple of weeks, I was enjoying watching Mama feed her babies. The other day, I realized that I had not heard them all day. I climbed up to see - gone. There are fresh claw marks on the post nearby. Owl? Bobcat? :(

I'll keep my fingers crossed for the possible road runner babies.

Growing

Spring comes early to the desert. We planted a small veggie garden - in pots - in our little courtyard. The courtyard gets lots of shade, which is really important when the heat climbs to 110 degrees. This weekend, it is supposed to be in the 90's.

Then, as I do every year, I buried a pumpkin in the ground. Last year, it was growing beautifully in a very sunny spot. Then - one sad day - it was burning hot out and that was the end. The vine just died. So, trying again, in a different, shady, spot.

But, hopefully! the best treat yet - LEMON TREE! We've left it in the pot for now. Want it to grow nice and strong before we stick it in this dirt. The flowers smell delicious! Here's hoping!

What are you growing this year?

Spring in Arizona

Spring is here. It is a subtle difference, as we don't have harsh winters. But we had our first 80 degree day last week.

An amazing thing has happened this spring, that I've never seen before since we've lived here (6 years now). It was a very wet winter - I loved the gray and rainy days, as they are rare here.

Grass has grown. Where it is always brown, it is green. I can't say that it is 'lawn', as that would mean that you might actually have to mow it - which is unlikely. Because as soon as the heat starts - the grass will die. But before it does, I'm going to let my horses graze on it's sweet goodness.

The mountains that you see in the distance are the Tortolitas - not a very tall mountain range. But there was snow on that range a few times this winter!

Question - what is this red grass growing? Anybody know??

NATURAL KIDS!

Easter/Spring NaturalKids Team Blog-A-Thon

The NaturalKids Team is a group of like-minded shops on Etsy.com. The team was started by woodmouse in 2007. Early members included faerierebecca, fairiesnest, cozycottage. It was a small group, with a small presence on etsy. Since that time members have come and gone but our mission has stayed the same. To be a group of sellers dedicated to creating natural products for children. We are a diverse group of artisans who make natural toys, utensils, clothing and accessories for kids. Our sellers work with materials from the Earth, such as wool, cotton, silk and wood. Our goal is to support, promote and have fun together while building our businesses.

One of our 1st Team Blog Post read as below and it is still true today....

We are a diverse bunch from all over the globe who have at least one thing in common: we all work with natural materials in our products for children. Oh yeah, and we're all pretty darn crafty & talented too! Wool, wood, cotton...just simple materials direct from the Earth.
So who are we?
Some of us are mothers of small children.
Some of us are mothers of grown children.
Some of us make dolls, some of us make hats, some of us make toys.
Some of us have been selling our wares for many years.
Some of us are just starting to discover our talents and start selling.
Some of us work with natural materials for environmental reasons.
Some of us work with natural materials as part of the Waldorf educational philosophy.
Some of us work with natural materials because we believe they are healthier and safer.
Some of us just like working with natural materials.
Some of us sell our wares for a living.
Some of us sell our wares as a hobby.
Since that time, some of us are fathers.









Thank you for reading and now join in the fun to take a trip to see what you may find at these NaturalKids Team Members Blogs! Happy Spring!!!

Visit these blogs from our team! Some giveaways going on!

http://thereluctantcitydweller.blogspot.com/

http://thefairiesnest.blogspot.com/

http://sewnnaturalstudio.blogspot.com/
http://www.tribaltimes.blogspot.com/
http://www.katsinthebelfry.blogspot.com/
http://www.polarbearcreations.blogspot.com/
http://fairtradefamily.blogspot.com/
http://germandolls.blogspot.com/
http://www.curlymonkeyandco2.blogspot.com/
http://www.bananabottoms.blogspot.com/

ALL of these wonderful items featured here and MANY more can be found here:

THE NATURAL KIDS STORE!

Sunshine, a bunny

It's been a while since I made any cotton bunnies.





I made one today that is SO bright and cheerful, just had to share.

She's in my Woolies shop. Drop on by!

Spring in the Desert

This is why people move to Tucson (yes, besides the mild winters). SPRING! is incredible here. Mild soft breezes, constant blue sky, FLOWERS everywhere (wild flowers) and everything is blooming.
This is a picture of a barrel cactus, with fruit. I'm sure in bygone era, the native americans ate this fruit. But now, it is the javelina that eat it. I'll write about the crazy javelina in another post....

New for Spring

I found this fabulous suri alpaca, and just knew it would make an awesome lamb. Sometimes it is hard to part with my little animals, as I'm knitting them - I become so attached, and worry and ponder about their name.
I really should have a contest one day, to help me name them!
Anyway, here is Suri, a little baby lambie. Let me know if you think of a better name for her! (isn't tom cruise's (yuck) baby named Suri?? or am I crazy - very possible!)

Bunnies

LOOK at this picture I just found - these are little baby bunnies on my friend Kathy's ranch - which is another fabulous place to find handspun yarn - http://uniquedesignsbykathy.etsy.com



Spring is coming to the high desert! It's a magical time - as we do actually have winter here too - so the warm sun feels awesome, there is grass growing (which will be dead in a few months, baked by the hot sun), the birds are very busy, and there are bunnies everywhere! All I want to make are bunnies!
This one is Emilie, she just sold recently. She was made from awesome handspun alpaca yarn, purchased from one of my favorites, northstaralpacas. She recently went to a wonderful and loving home in Denver.