As the leaves start to change colors, the air cools, and we have had a frost or two, the end of another year approaches.
Is it me, or does time seem to fly by more quickly as we age!? It seems last I remembered, I was brushing out horses, planning and planting a garden, and looking forward to warm weather.
Now, I am pulling out sweaters, polishing up my boots, and looking through my sock drawer for those warm, Alpaca socks!
The horses have started filling out with their winter coats, the couple of cold nights had them munching down the round bale in seemingly record time! Yoshi, the donkey, had finally shed out his last year’s winter coat, it seemed, and is now starting on a new one!
The chickens are slowing their laying, and some are molting. It seems silly for the some of the hens to molt, when the weather turns colder. Some mornings, it looks like there was a wild night in the coop, with feathers strewn everywhere!
My two little pullets, Burl and Storm are almost 3 months old now, and still nestle under their mom, Opal. Burl was named by my grandson – since we were not sure if it would be a rooster or a hen, he named it Burl. Part Boy and part Gurl! Still not sure, but I am leaning toward hen. Sweetest bird ever, whatever he/she is!
Lately, I’ve become expert and catching young Mourning Doves who get into the chicken runs, but can’t get out. Coming out with the net, always sends the hens into a tizzy, but makes it easy to capture the trapped doves, with less stress on them. Since they don’t migrate, I’m guessing this will continue through the winter. Even though they have their own bird feeders, the temptation of chicken feed is just too much!
As the cold weather is approaching, the barn swallows have left, as have the hummingbirds. Time to put away the hummingbird feeders. Although, some of the little woodpeckers, like the downy and the red belly, have taken a liking to the hummingbird syrup. When the bees, wasps, and hornets disappear as it gets colder, the woodpeckers occasionally show up. The larger hornets and wasps were always fighting the hummingbirds for the feeders, the winter birds don’t have to worry.
The chickadees and blue jays are back, the deer have camouflaged into their winter coats, the fawns have lost their spots. The leaves are changing colors, our silver maples are a vibrant red. Soon the colorful leaves will come swirling down in their last dance of the season, signifying winter is very near.
I hope some of you got to enjoy the Northern Lights and the comet- an unexpected welcome to autumn.
As we slip into this 11th month of 2024, the countdown to Christmas will start, even before we get to Thanksgiving! As another year passes us by, all too quickly, I hope you think back on all you have to be thankful for, and are looking forward to the holidays with family, and the last few warm and sunny days that November has to offer!
All is well, here at Mountain Meadows, this crisp fall day……..
