April 26, 2017 The Tractor Whisperer

Larry & Elsie's wild tom turkeys
strutting their stuff.

The balsam root is blooming1

As is the dwarf waterleaf.

Monday 4/24. We drove Miss Kitty down to Larry and Elsie's in order to bring JB's Jeep up to where our road meets the main canyon road.  Had a nice visit with them and were able to see their turkeys.  Those toms are beautiful when they are strutting their stuff!   Benjamin Franklin wanted the wild turkey to be our national bird, but I am really glad they decided on the eagle.  Also beautiful is the hillside of blooming balsam root that Elsie said began on Saturday.

JB had to add some transmission fluid to his Jeep, but he drove it up where we wanted it and it will stay there until May 3 when he takes it down to be fixed.

Around noon Larry drove up on his four wheeler to check out our tractor, and brought their youngest grandson who is three.  Larry got on the tractor and started just pushing buttons.  When he pushed one that has absolutely nothing to do with starting the motor, it rumbled to life!  His new nickname is The Tractor Whisperer.

I walked up to the south ridge with Larry's grandson and as soon as we got there, he pointed to the peak and wanted to go up there.  So up we went.  When talking to Elsie later in the evening, she said he almost fell asleep riding back down to their place.  Then he did fall asleep as soon as she put him in the car seat to go home.

There are so many birds around now.  At least one wren is back and singing his song.  Haven't seen any more hummingbirds though.

There was a light overcast most of the day, but the sun broke through a bit in the afternoon and our high for the day was 48.  Since the snow is all gone, there is no more water leaking into the cistern, so I pumped in well water after doing the wash.

Tuesday 4/25. It was 34 and clear this morning, but clouds soon moved in and our high for the day was 50.

On our morning walk we saw five or six balsam root plants that had burst into bloom, finally.  There are also many of the dwarf waterleaf plants with their new purple blooms.

Since JB has his toy back (the tractor), he drove it up to the south ridge and we loaded the bucket several times with the rest of the large, old logs laying up there.  He dumped them all near the wood cradle.  That kept us busy for a while and then we sat on the porch.  We love sitting on the porch. . .

Wednesday 4/26. It is 38 and mostly cloudy with a wind gusting to 15 mph this morning.

Thought for the day: Historically, much of the motivation for public schooling has been to stifle variety and institute social control.  Jack Hugh