Sunday

Traveling around the home territory, the Amish were out and about. This first, a family at the local plaza doing a bit of shopping. The nearest Amish residence I know from this plaza is at least 9-10 miles away. That will be quite a ride for these folks.

Later that day, this buggy on a back road passed by us.

This Chippy so far has avoided Azrael. I can't believe she hasn't caught it, and each day it raids my birdfeeders. No matter they are so cute.

Checking on the bay on Presque Isle, Lake Erie finds a couple fisherfolks enjoying some nice weather. Lots of times huge freighters will tie up  on the left area dock.

We were treated to a beautiful sunset a few days ago after a short rain shower. However I can never get very good sunset photos from our home because there is a ski resort due West of our property and the mountains block the low setting sun.

Finally this is Maggie my elderly barn cat. She will be 25 years old this year. Quite a lady she is. Now deaf, she takes her position every evening in the front yard right on the "path" I will take to the barn where I will put all the chickens to bed. I usually will carry her over to the barn, and that's where she will spend the night up in our small hay loft.. She no longer hunts, and spends most days sleeping on the barn floor or maybe laying out in the sun. When she was around 5 years old, I suspect she suffered a stroke. She was missing for 4 days, and when she came home she was covered with pine pitch making me think she had been up in a tree. Anyway she walked leaning to one side and her back leg on one side just wasn't right for a long time, but over time she recovered, and is still hanging in there.
It's been a beautiful day, and more to come tomorrow, but really it's going to be hot.
Take care everyone..

Weekend Reflections

While waiting at the McDonald's drive-in window I noticed this reflection in the window, but didn't see the one in my side mirror till I uploaded this picture.
I hope everyone is having a wonderful week-end.
Click on http://weekendreflection.blogspot.com to see lots more fabulous reflections.

Skywatch Friday

I am forever looking at the clouds trying to find unusual shapes. I call this one the Submarine.
Click on over to http://skyley.blogspot.com to see lots more sky shots.
Have a wonderful weekend.

World Bird Wednesday

Yesterday we took all of our plastic and glass to the recycling center, and on the way home driving through a wooded area I spied this Turkey vulture resting in this pine tree. He was interested in something on the ground, and stayed in the tree long enough for me to get a few pictures, but then an Amish buggy came along and he flew away.

You do have to admit, they have an ugly face, but are such graceful fliers.

Back at home I've had a flock of Blue-jays that has been eating me out of all the suet I put out. They will go through a block in several hours. I have one of the feeders less than 2 ft. from my computer window, and lets me get more close-ups.

That's it for the birds this week. We've had several days of cold, wet, windy weather, and I haven't seen any birds of interest.
Have a great rest of the week, and please click on over to http://pineriverreview.blogspot.com to see what awesome shots Springman has and all the other gorgeous birds blogs.

Barn Charm

Around our area you will find some very nice barns, but sadly there are all too many in this condition too. The older farms are disappearing and nobody wants to restore them. While driving past this barn a few years ago, I noticed a lone domestic goose wandering out in the fields near the barn. I stopped to take a picture, and he wattled right over to our van. I wondered if the owners moved out and left him behind, but as I approached he wouldn't let me get close.
Have a happy Tuesday and click on http://bluffareadaily.blogspot.com  

Sunday

I still have a few Pine Siskins that haven't left for the North country yet. Must be they like the eats here.

We've had a couple unfavorable days with wind, rain, and much cooler temperatures, so we haven't been out and about much.
At home the Goldfinches are here every day, and I keep an old used Christmas tree for the birds to land on next to my main feeder.. In the background you can see I still don't have my garden all planted yet. :~(

One minute sun, then clouds, and then lots of heavy rain. Quite windy too. Our youngest granddaughter Jalyn, managed to get a Pee-Wee baseball game in Saturday before the rain settled in too. They WON 10-1. High fives "J" She got 4 hits!! Her Dad told her to swing that bat like she was mad at her sister. LOL

With the cool temps, the Bumble-bee wasn't moving very fast. This one stayed on this Zinnia for a long time.

Last but NOT least I have been waging war lately on all the critters that raid my feeders at night! My latest victim was this highly ticked cat! My goodness was he/she mad! I went out early at dawn to release it, and he hissed, snarled, and growled at me. Jumped at me from inside the trap too. I was concerned he might come after me when I let him out, but thankfully as soon as I opened the door, out he flew and at warp speed too. I've checked with the neighbors and can't find an owner, but at least he didn't come back last night. So far in the past 2 weeks I've caught 5 raccoons and 1 skunk. I still have yet to catch a possum I saw out there and another skunk. These animals carry diseases, to say nothing about the devastating results they will cause if they get at my chickens. A nursery ( and that is what a group of raccoons is called) will wipe out the entire flock in a very short time if they should get in the chicken coop. We love our chickens and want them to be safe! ♥ 
Have a good rest of the weekend everyone...

Weekend Reflections

On a partly overcast day, my youngest granddaughter Jalyn, tried her hand at fishing. This is the creek behind our home, and this on day the water level is probably too low for any good fishing because she didn't have any luck, but at least it gave me some reflections.
To see lots more reflections, click on over to http://weekendreflection.blogspot.com
Have a wonderful weekend.