Robin not a joke!

Far Guy saw a Robin in the yard yesterday afternoon while I was taking a nap.  He took a photo and showed me at supper ever so proud!

I went outside after supper and got a photo of my own.

First Robin in our yard  March 31 2020

First Robins In Our Yard:

April 19 2008, April 11 2009, April 5 2010, April 4 2011, March 23 2012, April 27 2013, April 9 2014,  April 24  2015, April 21 2016, April 5 2017, April 29 2018,
some time in late May 2019, and March 31 2020.

Not sure what happened in 2019...seems like I waited to see a Robin in our yard all spring.  Other birds were showing up but no Robins.

There is still plenty of snow and ice at the snowstick.

We had another quiet day, Far Guy woodcarved outside, we walked to the mailbox and wandered around in the woodshop/greenhouse.   I cleaned the bathroom and did some laundry and cleaned one more kitchen cupboard.

Life as we know it goes on.  Stay safe!
Far Side

Cooler Weather

We are 60 degrees cooler than we were last week at this time.  Last Sunday it was 90F+ Saturday morning it almost froze..it was 36F.   Minnesota weather is always unpredictable.  At least it isn’t snowing.

Today I am packing up the remnants of my garage sale…it went well. I sold a number of items online.  Chance was the main greeter when he was allowed outside. 

Sometimes it is enough to be near the ball.

Poor fella is struggling again…but he perked up nicely when Odda visited and when a garage sale visitor brought their dog along.  Eldercare for dogs continues.

In between visitors I mulched leaves for the third time. 

The flowers are still thriving.

Bird Report: The Hummingbirds are gone and the feeders have been taken down.  Plump Robins were noted in the yard…they were feeding on grubs or worms…and then poof they were gone. Common Flickers visited our yard one afternoon.  Canada Geese can be heard honking when they fly between the fields and the lake.  We have Woodpeckers, Chickadees, Nuthatches…and a few obnoxious Crows/Ravens that visit our feeders.

First Robin 2018

Finally the first Robin visited our yard and I got a photo!

Far Guy was out feeding the birds and came in to tell me to come quick…so I grabbed the camera and the Robin was still in our yard.

First Robins In Our Yard:

April 19 2008, April 11 2009, April 5 2010, April 4 2011, March 23 2012, April 27 2013, April 9 2014,  April 24  2015, April 21 2016, April 5 2017 and April 29 2018.

We miss the pair that used to build nests on the ladder and then on the ledges on the east side of Far Guys garage.  We hope that some other pair will take up residence some year.

Soon the migrating birds will be coming through…grape jelly and oranges are on the grocery list.  (Oriole and Scarlet Tanager food)

Saw a Butterbutt  (Yellow Rumped Warbler) this week, no photo yet, a Mourning Dove visited and a Bald Eagle has been soaring through the yard…looking for rabbits no doubt…that have gone missing. So much for my bird report!

 

First Robin

Spring is officially here now.  On April 4 a Robin came to our window as if to announce her arrival.  I did not get a photo.

April 5th we had many Robins in our yard.

First Robins:

April 19 2008, April 11 2009, April 5 2010, April 4 2011, March 23 2012, April 27 2013, April 9 2014,  April 24  2015, April 21 2016 and April 5 2017.

Now there may be other sightings in our neighboorhood but I always count the first Robin I get a photograph of.

I love the spring season of “birds” we get so many different birds stopping through our yard.   Far Guy filled a bird bath yesterday and I will get the one in the front yard out today.

“She who sees Robins first” saw her first Robin on a trip a few weeks ago, and I am certain they have been in her yard for days. 

Finally a Robin and other birds

Spring might be here!

We finally had one lousy Robin high in one of the Oak trees singing it’s heart out last evening.

This not so great photo is the proof!

Earlier in the evening we were at the neighbors where Robins have been hanging around for days.

We also watched a Bluebird.

Along our nightly route we saw a Hawk and then Turkey Vultures devouring a Raccoon carcass.  No deer but our ride may have been a tad early for them.

We had a beautiful day, it was about 58F or 14C eh!  Far Guy was busy all day long with outside projects.  I Spring Cleaned the Dining Room, it would have been done before but my Cook Book Collection required some extra cleaning reading.

A Robin Finally

It took me most of the month but finally, the morning I woke up and said “Our old Robins have croaked so they won’t be back to use the nest platform this year.”

Guess what??   They showed up.  One was searching for worms guarding the area of the nest and the other was in a tree watching. Robins do not maintain their pair bonds over the winter, raising the young must wear them out.  However if the same pair meets up at the same place in the spring they will usually pair up again.  Robins usually only live about two years but many banded birds have lived as long as six to fourteen years.

I have to search for my phenology list.  I have it someplace…I think.  I am sure “She who sees Robins first” saw hers a month ago. I am dead last this year.

First Robins:

April 19 2008, April 11 2009, April 5 2010, April 4 2011, March 23 2012, April 27 2013, April 9 2014 and  April 24, 2015

I tell ya it pays to have a blog when you have lost your phenology list.  I probably put it away so well it is lost forever.  It also includes First Loons, First Ticks and First Bluebirds.

We have another first to report.

Our first Mourning Dove in our yard.  Usually we see them out on the road, but this is the first time they have visited our yard.

Not sure why they are suddenly in our yard.  I wonder if he/she will stay?

I am excited to see the Robins return it feels like it is really Spring now!

“From the beginnings of history, people have searched for order and meaning in these events [phenological events], but only a few have discovered that keeping records enhances the pleasure of the search, and also the chance of finding order and meaning. These few are called phenologists.” – Aldo Leopold (1947)

The Robins

The Robins have finally decided to make a nest.  One day there was no activity and a few days later..viola a nest!

For those of you that have followed my blog a long time, the nest is not on the ladder this year!  The Robins took the hint and built on the platform that Far Guy made for them.  He was lamenting it one day…saying maybe it should have had sides or maybe it could have been bigger.  Well the ladder doesn’t have sides and the ladder isn’t very big either.

A piece of wood and an old shelf bracket seems to have worked just fine.

Far Guys garage has a huge overhang…so that makes it a nice dry warm spot to have a nest.  In this photo you can see the ladder that was once a nesting spot and the spot where the shovels and rakes are hung along this wall which was sometimes the chosen spot.  That is an old greenhouse in the background which is now a woodshop/workshop warm place to work in spring and fall or chilly summer days.

It rained almost all day yesterday.  Chance and I were out in the rain several times.

Chance was my co-pilot for grocery shopping and errands in town…he put his window down and hung his head out in the rain.  We bought a new birdbath that we hastily put together in the rain, it ain’t perfect..we will fix it proper when it stops raining.  The rain is cold..but at least it isn’t snow!

Robin, Paige,TaDa and Hockey

One little Robin is frequenting the yard.  

Usually they make a nest on the east side of Far Guy’s garage invariably on top of a wooden ladder that leans against the garage or behind the rakes and shovels.

Far Guy made them a nesting platform.  It will be interesting to see if they use it.  It’s not much to look at…an old shelf bracket and a piece of wood, but it is sturdy.  He described it to me as a “Nesting platform with it’s own perch.”

We had an ice cream date with Paige this week, it was too windy to sit outside and enjoy frozen Lake Bemidji while we ate ice cream so we just sat in the car…Chance thought that was great, he sat in between Paige and Maddie.  You know it’s spring when all the Dairy Queens open.  Other people may take DQ’s for granted…not us people in Minnesota!

Paige’s 15 year old photo.

Paige is attending a Hockey Skills School, she was a little nervous. Right now she is a level one going for a level two…I told her to stop being nervous and just skate her best. Paige really enjoys Ice Hockey.

We have a new little addition to our family.  My baby brother called, he has a new Granddaughter in Oregon.  Mother and baby are doing just fine! As of yet the baby remains unnamed so my brother is calling her “TaDa”  this is grandchild number three for him.  Number four is due next month.

The Sioux/North Dakota lost Thursday night to Minnesota…it was a tense game…especially the last period.  We are Sioux fans but we now will root for Minnesota to win the Frozen Four!  Hockey Season is just about over.  As for the riots in the cities…you riot because you won how stupid is that?

 

Signs of Spring Finally

It was 53 degrees yesterday..two inches of snow melted at the snow stick!  We might have a winner in the next couple of days!

A Robin flitted in and out of our yard.

Finally he/she stopped long enough for me to catch a photo.  Some of you who live where Robins are year round may not be impressed..but the first Robin of spring is a big deal here in Minnesnowda!

I am not certain when “She who sees Robin’s first” saw her first one..no doubt it was days ago!  Even though she lives more North than me..she always sees them first. 

Daughter Jen and I went out on a photo adventure last evening.  Just to see what was happening in the area.

Sandhill Cranes out on the prairie.

Pussy Willows popping…a sure sign that spring might be on her way!

The weather people are forecasting 70 degrees for today..I am so looking forward to some warmth:)

Baby Birds

Remember these beautiful eggs?

They all hatched.  Yes there are four beaks..one is toward the back.

Right now they are so ugly only their mother and father could love them.

Their mouths are open most all the time waiting for the food deliveries.

I had the day off yesterday.  Chance and I lollygagged in the yard..watching the birds.  A grey colored kitty cat sauntered into the yard..Chance quickly escorted it from the yard.  When I told Far Guy..he said “OH No..I hope the baby birds are okay.”  We checked and they were just fine.

Chance and I did laundry, cleaned the bathroom, dusted and put all kinds of “stuff” away…and wished our day was longer but we were tired so it is probably good it wasn’t.  Chance gets in a real funk when Far Guy is gone all day…then he waits and watches for him to come home. We warmed up leftovers..so we didn’t even pretend to cook:)

The Nest

Every year the Robins show up to claim Far Guys step ladder that is under the eave of his garage.  The nest is high and dry and most likely warm from the steel siding.  The Mama Robin has a view to the east and trees nearby.
She and he make a pretty big mess building their perfect nest. ( She does most of the nest building work)  This is their second nest full this summer.  The Mama Robin does most of the incubating of the eggs while the Papa Robin watches from a nearby tree.  They both work to feed the young once they have hatched.

The first babies fledged and in a few days ..these were found in the nest.

Four more eggs! Pretty little things!  Last year they raised three broods of young. You would think since we provide a great space for a nest the least they could do is show up in my yard first before going over to “she who sees robins first.”

Did you know that Robins can eat 14 FEET of worms in a day?  I am sure this little bit of information will come in handy someday. ( My Grand’s sometimes read my blog..I would like for them to learn something new everyday..so whoever reads this first and calls me and hollers “Grandma! Robins can eat fourteen feet of worms in a day” that Grand will win five bucks.) Update ***Adam called me at work and won the $5. 


I finally found a pattern for nesting boxes for Robins and Phoebes.  Far Guy is going to give it a whirl and try a couple on the east side of his garage.  Maybe they will use them and he will be able to use his step ladder during the summer again:)

Robin!

Finally a Robin!  A big hungry one plucking worms out of the lawn near the daylilies.

Just one..and he didn’t stick around very long.

“She Who Sees Robins First” is my sister in law, she is married to my other baby brother and they live next door.  She always sees Robins before me…always.

I am kind of a nut about dates..Phenology..keeping track of the the date each year something occurs. 

The Robins:

2008   She April 05….Me April 19 ( I thought about taking remedial Robin sighting classes that year.)

2009 She April 11…Me April 11 ( It was really close ..about an hour apart..she defeated me again..but I held out hope that I was gaining on her.)

2010 She April 02…Me April 05 ( I fell three days behind.)

2011 She ( Oh sometime last week I saw four of them)..Me April 04  at 7 PM.

2012 She Sunday March 18 this year..I am behind again by five days.  I caught this photo yesterday morning March 23 at 9:30 AM.

See me making the “L” sign with my thumb and pointy finger and putting it on my forehead. Loser.. loser..

The lawn is starting to green up a bit.  We got some rain and that helped.  It thundered and the big brave dog hid back in the furnace room.  He doesn’t like thunder or firecrackers or chainsaws:)

First Day of Spring

One more day..one more day…I am wishing my life away.  The last winter program for the Historical Museum happens Tuesday (today yea!!!!)  I will be glad to get it over with.  This program has involved lots of work.  I made a slide show presentation. (Then and Now) I have a passel of things to drag out of the museum and get organized as a display. 

Far Guy got a new lumberjack shirt.  His volunteer uniform consists of jeans, a red and black checked flannel shirt, a hat to match, suspenders and red socks peeking above his boots.   Others participating in the program will be dressed in costumes.  They asked me who I was coming as..I replied..plain old me.  I wanted to sew a Prairie Dress over the winter..but it was just one of those things that never got done.  Me and sewing with a machine is a real stretch of my imagination.

I tried to sew some quilt squares yesterday..after six hours I have nothing to show for my efforts..I do not have the tools to keep the squares square.  The stupid sewing machine sits on my desk, for now it has won the battle..but I plan to win the war and will begin all over again one day soon. I might have to go buy some more material if I keep messing up. But it ain’t over til it’s over.

I have stacks of old photos all over..I am in the midst of scanning the last couple of batches for Forgotten Old Photos.  I will not have time to scan and research them over the summer, so all of that ground work is being laid now.

I have not worked on the Cousins Recipe Book at all lately..it is on my radar.  I had been working on it late at night.  I just want to get it over with!

After the dreaded program I will re evaluate everything…. I have bathroom tile to strip and reseal..and bathroom drawers to clean out…and a garage to straighten up.  If it ain’t one thing it is forty million others.

Chance had his first deer tick today, it was not stuck, it was just crawling in his fur.  We saw Robins in town but none out here yet.  Although “she who sees robins first” probably saw them last week.

Happy First Day of Spring! :)

Shell River at Shell Lake

Chance: Birds and Squirrels

It is I,  Chance the handsome blogging Border Collie.  I had to chase Far Side away from the keyboard again..

This is part of my yard.  It is my area to patrol.  I keep one very chunky squirrel on the move.  He likes to eat the birds seed.

Far Sides stupid Day Lilies are up.  Now she hollers stay out of the “garden” ..huh.. I forget all about gardens when I am hot on the trail of a squirrel.

 

I am the perfect backdrop for snowflakes. There has been snow in the air everyday this week.  There is an old wives tale that says “It must snow three times on the tail of the robins before spring truly arrives.”  That old wife is in big trouble with Far Side.

Far Side ran onto another legend about the Robin:

Legend has it that it got its distinctive red breast when it tried to pull the bloody thorns from Christ's head as he hung on the cross.

I don’t chase birds..especially legendary birds..Border Collies are not bird dogs.  Right now I am sharing my yard with Juncos, Purple Finches, Chickadees, Nuthatches, an occasional Robin and a Downey Woodpecker.  Far Side calls the Juncos snowbirds..soon they will be out of here.  I watch the birds come and go..and keep one eye out for that bird seed stealing squirrel:)

Robins and etc…

She Who Sees Robins First is my sister in law, she is married to my other baby brother and they live next door.  She always sees Robins before me…always.

I am kind of a nut about dates..Phenology..keeping track of the the date each year something occurs. 

The Robins:

2008   She April 05….Me April 19 ( I thought about taking remedial Robin sighting classes that year.)

2009 She April 11…Me April 11 ( It was really close ..about an hour apart..she defeated me again..but I held out hope that I was gaining on her.)

2010 She April 02…Me April 05 ( I fell three days behind.)

2011 She ( Oh sometime last week I saw four of them)..Me April 04  at 7 PM.

I took a photo out the window.  This one was eating something..the line that carries the hot water from the outdoor wood furnace to the house runs through here..the Daylilies are peeking their noses up and perhaps there are a few worms stirring.  This Robin spent a long time poking around in the yard.

So I am foiled again..maybe next year I will see them first…I don’t have such a good track record..in fact I have no win record. Before I started keeping track of the exact dates..she would stop by and report a sighting well before I ever saw one.

Yesterday this cloud was full of snow..it was snowing and the sun was shining at the same time. Great big huge flakes. 

We came along this accident right after it happened yesterday..the truck driver was out and moving around just fine.  It was very windy and his semi left the road went into the ditch and drove over an approach..it must have been a wild ride.  On our way back home the traffic was stopped while a wrecker was maneuvering the semi out of the ditch..you can see it over the Troopers shoulder.  We turned around and took an alternate route.  We were a little closer..but Far Guy didn’t take any photos. 

Now to answer your question..Does Far Guy read my blog?  Most days he does, then I will write something that pisses him off and he will boycott me for awhile.  I have explained to him about “Free Speech” and he agrees..he also agrees that just because I write something ..he does not have to read it. I do not hold him hostage and force him to read it.   The opinions expressed on this blog are mine and only mine..and Far Guy does not always agree with me.  Sometimes he will say “Stop writing about me.”  So I do for awhile till he gets cooled off and I get out of the dog house.  I do use restraint most days..now if it was “the pooping “ comment that made you wonder..well everyone poops.. some people just take their pooping more serious than others:)