Hodge-Podge, Mish-Mash, This-n-That....

Not much going on here.....

It finally cooled down...  was only 56 degrees at 6:00 this morning....  it's warmed up considerably since then, but nothing like it's been lately....

This was in full sun, but still....  that's pretty darned hot.  Today is the first day we haven't had the AC turned on...  but it's only about 2pm...  the day's not over yet!

Bill looked out the other morning and saw the turkey getting a drink from the water trough (that's "trawf" to me ;-)   She wandered off a way as I was trying to get her picture.  Darned if there wasn't a jackrabbit hanging out in the background.  I love my "two-fer" photos...  sometimes they are a real surprise.

Jackrabbit and hen Turkey

Looks like the cardinal clan has multiplied this summer...

Not all of these are first year birds, but unless they are standing around quivering and wanting fed, sometimes it's hard for me to tell just what's what.

In Ohio we have the Tufted Titmouse....

 In this part of Texas we have the Black-crested Titmouse.  This guy's black crest doesn't show up very good here and I think he's a juvenile.

Another bird we have here is the Eastern Phoebe

We're pretty much on the edge of Western Birds and Eastern Birds.  So... not only do we get a fairly large variety of birds, we also get strays from both sides of the US.  One of my favorite times to be here is when the sandhill cranes migrate.... we hear them far overhead as they pass by.

Now...  here we have one of my very favorite birds...  having dinner with one of my least favorite....

While the Brownheaded Cowbird is colorful in his own way, and actually has an interesting song, they are quite prolific... and will lay up to several dozen eggs in a season...  all in other bird's nests.  

Speaking of having dinner....

 The H.E.B. (grocery) had fresh okra yesterday....  and also wild-caught Alaska salmon (no coloring added).    I haven't owned a salt shaker in years...  use a lot of Mrs. Dash.  The Goya seasoning has some sodium, but we use it in moderation.  I guess that middle bottom photo is a bit unappetizing, but hey, I forgot to take the picture until dinner was almost over.

Bill's ankle seems a little better each day....  our ant bites have gone back to normal size and it takes only a couple smears of anti-itch stuff a day to control the itch....  Bill's chigger bites... well, Bill gets chigger bites whenever he steps outside....  let's see....  that' pretty much covers the whole picture of our life these days.

We have no plans for the July 4th weekend except to hang out here and stay out of traffic.  Hope you and yours have a safe holiday.

That's All For Today!