A Bit Of This & That

 Well I am in disbelief that we are at the end of August already , where the heck did summer go ?! We are still in need of rain here and because of the lack of rain some of  our plants and flowers in the gardens have already finished or are on their way out .

                   
                                                 Whilst others are hanging on .

 Last night was the first quarter moon and it was soo pretty in the sky . I was able to get a shot or two before some  clouds came rolling in .

All our Oriels have left now and pretty much most of our summer birds to, all  the Swallows , Eastern King birds , Chipping Sparrows , Warblers  but our hummers will remain here till the end of September and maybe in to October if it doesn't get to cold by then , they can survive in temps as low as freezing but for now they play and indulge at the feeders and delight me every day with their acrobats .

 I have been able to capture them and stop the speed of their wings in some photos in the past I took  but that is just by luck  , GEESH !  these little birds are fast !

 Miggs has been laying about more other then our walks every day , she has been kept from chasing critters as she is recovering from Bone Spurs in her left front outer toe what we would call her baby toe . Bone spurs, or osteophytes, form when extra bone forms on top of normal bone to repair an injury or with age. In dogs they occur most often in the joints of the legs, including the feet. Bone spurs can symptomatic of generalized osteoarthritis  and older dogs are likely to develop bone spurs because the cartilage that lines their joints is thinning with age and if your dog is  athletic like Miggs was always running , jumping and  playing hard  .   . So she is on meds for pain and antibiotics  so she is well like you see here a bit couch or patio swing bound  for the most part , we take her for walks regularly  and walk about the yard to keep her muscles healthy as the rest of her to but the running and hard playing is over , we are hoping the meds work for if they don't  worst case scenario she will have to have her toe amputated and that is the last thing we and our vet want for her  .

So more walks , less treats as she cant be as active to keep our best friend and fur baby healthy  and not to put any more weight on  as that will to be stressful for her joints , she is happy and that she is still, a very happy girl  despite her  change in her routine with lots more cuddles and kisses and rubdowns for her aching limbs . She is doing very well in not chasing ,  all we have to say to her is no leave it , never mind  , so far so good for a week now on that just hoping the meds do their job and help her as well .

     This weekend is our Labor day long weekend  and Papa took Friday off of work  to make it an extra long weekend for us and then come Tuesday  the school bus's  will be passing the house again as school starts for the kids here .

                      So on that note have a good weekend to you all . Until next time .


                                                     
                   Country Gal


                                  

Change Of Season Is Tapping On Our Door Already

Things are beginning to quiet down around here now that all the birds have had their babies for the season  and some are starting to leave on their long migration journey through our valley and over lake Erie  . Most of our Oriels have left , just the odd straggler here and there  and the Swallows have all taken off to , the hummers wont be leaving till later roughly  about mid to end of September which is just around the corner , my gosh where do the months go and how fast . The Starlings and other black birds are flocking in droves now to as the Turkey Vultures take the sky's in a kettle soaring over the valley searching for their last meals before they take off  . The term kettle refers to Vultures  in flight  and the Canadian  Geese are taking flight more and more now testing their young to be good navigators or followers lol ! 

The orange and yellow colours of fall are already in bloom and some of the leaves on the trees are starting to change  , Goldenrod is gleaming in the fields and ditches and my Marigolds are vibrant and full , Mums are now being sold every where  . Critters are gathering and storing for the coming seasons and the mornings , evenings and nights have been cooling off already.

 This is Alvin and he has been busy stuffing his cheeks and running back and forth to his hidy hole storing it all . 

 I still see the odd Dragonfly about but as the temps are getting cooler they seem to be disappearing . The crickets have been chirping like mad all night . Love listening to them in the late evenings and through the night .

 For the past week we have been serenaded but our first Carolina Wren singing her head off and we have been having great conversations . 

She was foraging for bugs and now has moved farther south of us on the migration path which goes over our lake Erie as I hear her in the distance now . I do so love having new birds drop by . 

 So as the air begins to change already so does the nature as summer birds leave , some bugs begin to disappear and the summer colours begin to fade and  the cooler weather bugs birds and colours take over  , the smell of  campfires and wood stoves are already filling the air in the chillness of the nights and mornings .

    Even though summer is still technically here mother natures Fall is beginning to tap on our door  already  .

                                                          Until next time . 
                                            
                                                          
                                     Country Gal