miscellaneous

my post is being written on the porch.  waif doggie and the many cats are enjoying the pleasant weather. it's a lovely porch sitting day and has been all week.  every day we have been on the porch for at least a while. they lounge, snooze, the dog barks at whatever, the kitties come and go.  i read and observe what is going on in the world known as bairn tangle farm, home.  there is currently a turkey pecking at corn in the lawn just a few feet from the porch. it's so neat to see turkeys up close.

last night before dark i added food to the hummingbird feeders. encountered mama raccoon in the front. when she discovered me she scurried up the nearest tree and peeked around the trunk at me. since i paid her no mind and left her alone, she continued to watch me. this is the mama that has her kits close by each season because there's a food source. one year i began to feed her because she was destroying the bird feeders to get to food. she wasn't going away, i wasn't going to remove her so i just started feeding her. and the kits as soon as they are weened. every year i anticipate seeing the kits in the yard. none thus far this year. it won't be long.

one of the kitties just walked across the lawn toward the lake, passing by ms turkey. the turkey looked somewhat startled. however the kitty went about her business so the turkey continued her lunch.

there were three expecting kitties this spring. after they were all "empty" the kittens of two of the mamas were discovered readily. where was the third mama housing her kittens? a few days ago, by chance, they were revealed! she had them in the herb garden, full now with vegetation, as well as a sculpture base to rest behind without being seen from the sidewalk or lawn.  this area is just outside my bathroom window; that i peeked out of at just the right time to see three very wee kittens: one gray, one burlap, one yellow. now i look out of the window several times a day and say hi to them.  they just stare at this big thing in wonderment.

the other four kittens are older and venturing around the playhouse lawn. i've been sitting on the bench in that area to allow them to get used to me. they are curious but only one has come as close as a foot within reach. just looking and occasionally talking to them. they are seeing their mamas come to be on me, by me so they must know i'm not too scary!

the hummingbird population count has been established at three.  that's one more than usual. perhaps a few more will join the others.  when i sit on the bench to be near the kittens i am directly under one of the hummingbird feeders. since i remain still they come to the feeder. they hum loudly and are so neat to watch up close. i've gotten good at tracking them as they zoom about from tree to tree and around the house and each other.

ms turkey has finished her lunch and has moved on so i will end for this miscellaneous day at the whimsey project.  pay attention to the nature around you. it fulfills like nothing else.