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| The happy hens in their new run. |
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| More yellow balsam root blooming in the canyon. |
Monday 4/27. The dogs wanted out at 6:00 am. I stayed up after they came back in, for the first time in many moons.
We have now cleared the north side of the porch of the little bit of wood that was stacked there with the three water barrels. Nice to have a clear view while sitting there.
It was an electric morning with all the power pouring in: vacuum sealed some meat for the freezer; ground some coffee beans; vacuumed the house. Then I went out to saw off the 2"X4" uprights on the girls' run. After lunch JB sawed off the 4"X4" uprights and then we finished putting up the chicken wire around the sides and on the top of the run, leaving one panel by the original run open. We will peal back the old panel to close the new panel tomorrow. Putting up the wire is a long process, the worst part being cutting it, especially as we got towards the end of the tightly wound roll. Our high for the day was 65. Too warm for a long sleeved shirt, so my arms got scratched up a bit.
After dinner we put all the tools back in JB's Jeep, then the dogs and I walked to the north ridge. I just sat on my bench for a while listening to the bees and the birds, watching the butterflies, and enjoying the view.
Definitely an ibuprofen night for both of us.
Tuesday 4/28. This morning was 50 and clear with possible rain in the forecast for tonight.
Some critter was nearby or actually in our yard about 7:00 am. JB opened the door and the dogs tore out barking and sniffing the ground, hackles up. They were out for quite a bit, barking all the while.
I sat out on the porch in the absolutely glorious spring morning and was serenaded by the wren and a few other song birds. It simply does not get any better than that.
I saw a couple more humming birds, so I took their hint and fixed a big batch of syrup for them. In less than 10 minutes after hanging the feeders, a large rufus humming bird was at one of them, and she was soon joined by two more. Soon a couple of Anna's humming birds joined them. All this about a month early.
Got an early start on the girls' run wiring together the "roof" panels of chicken wire. I chased the girls into their house, then JB and I cut out the original panel that was dividing the two. It was too small to fill in the last of the new panels, so we used the last of the big roll. There was just enough.
The girls were in their new run by noon and seemed very happy. I was in there with them to do some final touches, but they were too busy to notice. Then I attended to final touches on the outside, and again they were too busy to notice. Their run is about 2-1/2 times as big as it was originally.
JB worked on unhooking the propane generator that he will be taking with him on Monday. He got most of it done but has to call the repair shop to ask about one item. He had me take a photo of the wiring so he will be sure to get it put back together correctly
It felt so good to have the girls' run finished. I just sat in the shade and watched them for a while. Very relaxing in a zen sort of way.
Got all the tools put back in the shop, and went for our afternoon walk. Our high for the day was 68, with a light cool breeze. The sky began clouding up during the afternoon, and by dinner time the breeze had become a cool wind.
The balsam root always blooms on the south facing slopes first, and now it is beginning to bloom just about everywhere else. We are seeing it in places I don't remember it ever being before. Just phenomenal!
Wednesday 4/29. A cold front blew in last night. It is 40 and mostly overcast this morning with blue sky to the west. Going to drive Miss Kitty down to Larry and Elsie's today to get water. Will also pick up the mail and let their dogs out for a romp and a treat.
Thought for the day: If spring came but once a century instead of once a year, or burst forth with the sound of an earthquake and not in silence, what wonder and expectation there would be in all the hearts to behold the miraculous change. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
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