and then there were none.

Well it has been determined that the ground nesting sparrows that visit me each year are Song Sparrows. I was able to take one last picture after the chicks began to fledge (note there are only three left in the nest at his point). The parents and siblings were excitedly chirping all around me as I snapped this.

By the next day, the nest was completely empty.

It is completely amazing to me how quickly they can raise their young from hatch to fledgling, how they keep them protected from weather with their own bodies and the amount of energy that goes into feeding 5 hungry babies.
Hope to see them again next year!

The larvae have arrived!

Boogies Painted Lady butterfly larvae arrived yesterday. We came home from play group to`find them on the
front porch. Inside were two containers with five caterpillars each. There was also a small amount of what looks like web, which the instructions call normal and healthy.

The peanut butter looking substance in the bottom is the food source and we are supposed to leave the containers closed (there are air holes in the lid) and out of direct sun and wait for the chrysalis to form. At that point we move them to a pop-up mesh cage that is include with the kit and wait for the butterflies which live for 2 - 4 weeks, though we intend to release them.

So if all goes well, and I can keep the little guy from shaking or opening the containers, I'll let you know how our science experiment turns out. See, we are home schooling already.

Name that bird?

Every year a pair of ground nesting birds sets up house keeping in one of the bee frames I use as raised beds. Their nest is perfectly camouflaged in the grass, I didn't see it until I was right on top of it and had nearly destroyed it with the hoe. The eggs are very tiny, not even the size of a dime. Even newly hatched they grow fast! These two photos were taken just 2 days apart. Again just two days later! Mom and Dad must work very hard to feed and care for their little brood. No room left in that nest, it's packed. I'd love to identify them so I can get them some seed. They look to be seed eaters from their beaks, but I'm no expert, not by a long shot.
They look somewhat like common house sparrows, just more elegant.
They have similar, but deeper color and lack the dark patch on their chest. I set the bucket next to their nest to remind myself and Rob they are there so we can avoid the nest whenever possible, and to keep me from accidentally weeding their nest away. It looks like they are also making use of it as a perch. I was very lucky to get this picture of both of them feeding their young from my bedroom window. So any ornithologists out there have any idea what breed of bird they might be?

Mommies' Little Helper

There is always plenty to get done around here and generally it's nice to have an extra set of hands to help out. That is, unless they belong to a toddler!
First we have to mow the lawn.

Then there are trees to plant and the garden to till and equipment to put away.
















In between we need to take a break for some frozen yogurt!






'
Yum, strawberry banana!

Don't forget to feed the chickens and pet the goats.
















Then, at the end of the day, a nice, long bath.

Off to dream land, 'nite 'nite!

Me and Boogie Magee

Yesterday was the Boogie-mans quarterly eye exam in LaCrosse. While it is a scenic drive along the Mississippi for the most part, aside from trains Boog finds it pretty boring so we spent most of the nearly two hours singing the ABC song and Twinkle, Twinkle, interspersed with the Clash, Janis Joplin and Cheryl Crow. Wish I could have filmed him banging his head and singing 'you always tease, tease,tease'. It was hysterical!

The little guy has been pretty much non-compliant in terms of wearing his glasses or eye patch, so we are now going to try eye drops to temporarily weaken his stronger eye and force the weaker eye to work harder. I hate to have to do it, but reasoning with a 2 1/2 year old to wear his glasses and eye patch is, well just impossible. Funny, but he doesn't mind wearing my readers when he can get his mitts on them. We are going to try this route for the next three months and see what happens. He will probably still need to have surgery to correct the turned eye at some point in time as well. The doctor also recommended a type of frame for his glasses called Como Baby that a:)our insurance does not cover and b:)our optometrist does not carry.
Since the weather was bad, we stopped at a McDonald's with a huge play place so he could run off the frustration of 2 hours stuck in his car seat. I've found the key to a successful experience with the Boogie-monster is to let him play first. While the thought of cold french fries makes me gag, it makes no difference to him and it is just not worth the fight to get him to sit and eat first. There was a large climbing area and spiral slide and he headed right up the ramps without looking back. I eventually had to ask an older girl go get him and send him down the slide or we would still be there. I was worried that the big slide might scare him, but he appeared at the bottom with the biggest grin, though I'm not sure if that was the thrill of the slide or the cute little girl that came to his rescue (he is such a flirt!). The rest of the day consisted of errands (must hit the craft stores!), filling his prescription and then Boogie napping most of the way home.

Today is turning out to be a gorgeous day, moderate temps, sunshine and a light breeze. Time to get outside.