The Merry Months of May and June

We got a pleasant surprise in early May.  After a year's vacancy, the owl house is again occupied.  We saw Owlivia, and eastern screech owl, sitting in the door dozing.  Presumably her owlets have hatched and it's a little crowded inside, not to mention hot. 

We have watched their shadows flying to and fro from the owl house just at dusk for several evenings.  After the house wasn't used last year, we moved it to a different location farther from the BBQ pit and outdoor fireplace.  I guess that is what the owls wanted.  This Owlivia is a different bird from the female that has been our backyard resident for several years.  Owlivia #1 was gray, and this one is what they call the brown morph.  She is beautiful and we hope she and Oliver will be regular residents.

Screech owls weren't the only ones to have new babies this spring.  Rue's and my herding instructor, Michele McGuire of Paws4Ewe stock dog training welcomed a new litter of pups. Here they are at two weeks with their mom, Bugsy.

And here are a couple of them at six weeks.  It's a treat to get a "puppy fix" when Rue and I visit each week.

Michele's mare, Marley, was also having a good time the last time we visited.

We recently had a very special visit with good friends Jimmy Joe and Danine Jacks.  JJ, you may recall, has been my friend since we were in grade school.  He and Nine were our companions and tour guides in 2012 and 2013 when we visited them in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. 

We only had a couple of days together this trip, as they were in the States for a grand-daughter's wedding.  We did have time for a good visit and to share some excellent Texas steaks, though.  

We look forward to spending more time with Jimmy Joe and Nine soon.  If they don't come back "home" soon for another visit, we may pack up and go to see them!

It has been a lovely spring at the farm, with good rains early in the year.  Spiderwebs covered with dew often adorn last year's dry vegetation when we go for our morning walks.

For once, winter wasn't followed immediately by summer.  It was really spring for several glorious months...and that was much appreciated.  We have had rain, and ants have been protecting their burrows by building little walls around them...to keep out the water I assume. 

Rue and Colt discovered the remains of a mouse nest in this birdhouse.  They tried very hard to get inside, but when they could not they settled for keeping watch in hopes the resident would return.

Kota discovered some fresh cow poop to roll in, then when we got back to Austin she polished off her new perfume with the essence of something very dead.  John had to wash her down with dish soap before he even dared to take her to the dog spa for a thorough scrubbing.  It was her first visit, and she was very proud of the ribbons and bows she came home with.  

The wildflowers at the farm have been lovely as well.  Some are recognizable, like these wine cups and prickly pear cactus blooms.  

Others, while just as beautiful, may be called weeds.  We love them all.

Summer did come, though.  Late May and early June have been unseasonably warm...no, HOT.  But the heat didn't keep a number of dedicated handlers and their dogs from showing up on June 2 at Destiny Farm near Bertram for a chance to compete.  Most of the dogs competing were border collies, like Jamie Swanson's Kimber,

and Mary Carter's Will.

But other herding breeds were represented as well.  Michele McGuire ran Trips, a Berger picard.

And Connie Nelin competed with Marty, the briard.

In spite of the heat, there was a lot of cool stuff going on.