Turkey Two-Step Thursday

Two wild tom turkeys practice their moves without a turkey lady in sight.

The dropped wings and the fanned tail feathers are gorgeous but for me . . .

I'd have to say that the blue faces are the perfect finishing touch.

( Click pics to biggify and get the full effect of these guys' courting finery.)

Still Thankful for Little Things

A sturdy little steer . . .

A tiny spider web. . .

Raindrops on a pansy . . .

And a gentle mist on the world outside.

At Autumn's End

Miss Susie Hutchins soaks up the sun...

The little maple clings to its last leaf...

Justin picks the last peppers before a potential frost...

Kate's sleek summer coat is growing shaggy...

 And I can't resist another pear leaf -- 
with its Mondrian style ...

 

But It's Really All About Ali Ali...

This was Marigold when we brought her home almost two years ago.

And here she is today, a mother and a milk cow.

 Ali Ali has watched the goings on of the past few days with unabashed disapproval. Why, he asks, is this silly cow getting all the attention? Why are my people spending all their time with her? After all, it's all about ME, isn't it?

Once they got a whiff of the fresh warm milk, Ali Ali and Otis both decided that perhaps there was something to all of this cow foolishness. Now if Claui would just set that pail down so a dog could get his face in it . . .

The Critters Awww Scale

Critters -- or creatures -- are marvelous things, enriching our lives in so many ways just by being around and being themselves.  Cute fluffy kittens, gangling turkey poults, a bandit raccoon, a lumbering box turtle -- they can all be a source of delight.

But there's something about those moments of communication between different species that tends to make us go 'Awww...' and smile and maybe feel a little better about life in general. 

 

I know I feel that way when I see Eddie the cat snuggling with one of our dogs ... and this picture from an unknown source of a young deer that comes every morning to visit his friend the cat sure elicited a big Awww . . .

 But as far as I'm concerned, this video below -- another of those internet wanderers -- went right off the Awww scale.  Awesome!

Anticipation . . .

What will the day bring?

How many yellow roses will bloom ?

When will the foxgloves open and . . .

Where will the cat go, now that she has the car keys?

  A very brief post as I really am in the final throes of UNDER THE SKIN, having promised to get  it to my editor by Monday.

Dogs That Would Drive

It's here!!

 The giant collection of photos (over 14,000) all taken at more or less the same moment is available for viewing. Click on the globe over there>>> at the top of the sidebar and be prepared to linger...

Only the lack of opposable thumbs . . .

...and advance planning can stop them ...

Can't resist a quick dog story.

On Monday, Justin and Claui and Claui's folks were up for pizza night. We were crowded into the kitchen, lending the cook moral support. The corner bench was full: Nancy (Claui's mom), Maggie (canine queen of the universe) with her head in my lap, and Justin next to me. William, the little small dog in the picture just above was at my feet, whining urgently.

"Justin," I said, "Would you let William out? -- I would but I have a dog in my lap."

"Come on, William," said Justin, getting up and going to the front door.

William took a look at Justin . . . and a look at the seat he'd just vacated, then jumped up on the bench and curled up, having gotten what he'd wanted in the first place.

Sunday Gathering

I  find myself once again at the end of the week, looking for something to do with pictures I liked but didn't post earlier. 

Hence, more collages --like a thrifty housewife pulling leftover odds and ends from the fridge to make a soup or an omelette.

Miss Susie Hutchins and Marigold think that you should be sure to biggify in order to see them better.