Baby owls have fledged!

I'm a proud momma of 3 newly fledged baby owls! Last night there was a flurry of owls swooping from tree to tree. I realized these babies learning to fly must be from my nest box! I saw the big daddy owl and momma owl swooping around them, keeping an eye on the three tree jumping babies. One would get ambitious and fly from the neighbor's Eucs to my Oak then back a few minutes later. The other two would fly to the ground then back up into the Euc. but mostly stayed in the Euc. They were so cool to watch! After an hour or so, one flew back into the nest, calling up a storm. I think it was either the Mom or Dad. Sweet!

Cliff Swallows

I'm sure you've heard of the Swallows of San Juan Capistrano returning every March 19 to the Mission. These are Cliff Swallows. They make a very pretty mud nest that are like cement when completed. How do I know...I have my own Swallows...nesting in the entry way of my front door. I didn't even notice them until a couple days ago! I get home late, usually after dark so that my explain why I didn't notice them before...now what to do about it?

Since they start laying eggs before the nest is finished I'm sure there are eggs so I can't destroy the nest at this point. From what I've read, the eggs incubate for a couple weeks then it's another 6-8 weeks before flying off. Once they migrate back to Mexico for the Winter, I'll be able to destroy the nest and hopefully get all the mud off the stucco. I'll just have to stay vigilent next year since they 'return' to the same nesting spot! Until then, they are pretty to watch as they fly around the front yard.
Here are some pics of the nest and the birdie inside...

and of course, last night's sunset...

Sue

After the rains...

Today I woke to a blustery rainy morning. It was quite nice. I put a fire in the fireplace then read for a couple hours. It was a nice Sunday morning. Around 4pm the sun broke and all the flowers, few that there are, looked quite pretty. My newly planted hillside is just starting to bloom. I don't expect much this year but next year should be quite pretty! The Pride of Madeira I started from a cutting last winter even has a few bright blue blooms on it! Can't see it in the pic but it's at the top of the hill.

My kitties

Tina, this is for you! Below are my two 'new' kitty's enjoying their new home...I think?

This is Pasha...formally known as Desire, Desi or Miss Kitty...finally settled on a name for her. She is a Seal-point Himalayan according to the shelter's docs but I don't think she's a himy. Maybe a Bermese or other Siamese-colored breed. She is a big, hefty cat. She's really put on the weight since I got her...it may be diet time. Shes a beauty though!



This is Smokey, aka Smoke, Mokie, or Squeeker. He's a Blue-point Himalayan so the shelter docs claim. He is a tiny-boned, delicate cat but quite the hunter...and quick! He loves to play, is shy about being petted but loves to be brushed. He too has put on the weight. They were both underweight when I got them but I took care of that!

Mokie sleeping in my sewing room next to me (while I'm on the computer...did I say sewing room?)



Well I'm off to go play in the garden...summer flowers are starting to bloom, day lilies and agapanthas, geraniums, et al. I leave you with last night's sunset...

I hate spiders!

I like to think of myself as a tough old broad...respectful of rattlesnakes, lizards and frogs but when this HUGE and I mean HUGE black widow spider pops out of nowhere in the dark garage dangling too close to my hand I squeel like a little girl! Ewww! Instant goose bumps. Yes, it's now part of my garage wall...and I'm back inside the house...shutter...

It was too near my longarm too! Now I'm going to have to quilt with one eye open above and below the table! I'm going to try to quilt this weekend since I have 4 days off! I have Gloria's quilt top to quilt, the one we worked on when she visited a couple months ago.

On Saturday, my b-day, I'm taking an art class with Lisa Bebi. She does some amazingly fun stuff and I can't wait! Not sure what I'm going to do, maybe a leaf or one of the kittys. After that is a shrimp BBQ at Mom and Dads.

I bought a new(er) car!

Well I traded in my poor tired 1998 Toyota with 206K miles for a 2001 Honda Odyssey with only 91K miles. It was a good price and even comes with a nav unit, electronic sliding side doors, a back seat that folds into the floor, and lots of other goodies. It's gold with a cream interior so the dust won't show as bad.
 ;-) So far it drives like a new car, has lots of power. It's only getting 19.5-19.8 MPG but then I do drive that nasty hill daily. I like it. It's a relief. My poor Toyota was ready to go tires up!

Here it is! His name is Hal...as in 2001 "Space" Odyssey...

Owls and Iris

Well look who's peeking out of my owl box! It's momma owl. I saw her moving around in the box last Friday and snapped a couple pictures. This one was the best!

Last night at dusk I was out watching the box. I saw the male owl swoop down the hill and make a kill. A minute or so later I hear him coming straight at me from behind the owl box carrying the rodent in his beak. As he approached the box, he swooped up, wings fully extended, extended his claws and grabbed onto the entrance, stepping inside. A minute later he exploded out of the box to hunt again. Momma owl was in the box chirping away when he left. I believe she is nesting! Hope to see owlettes in a couple weeks to a month.

My Anna Apple has set apples! This is the largest. The rest resemble the next picture...just starting to swell.

My iris have been blooming for the past month, mostly the solid deep purple, lavenders and whites. This weekend this bi-color and the pink bloomed. So pretty!

And then there's this red iris...

and a red violet

This deep purple is from my grandmother's ranch up north. They have been growing there for as Long as I can remember. I believe it is a historical iris named Amas.

And of course, last night's sunset...