With Molly and Jethro, Off on a Jaunt

There's nothing really exciting to see around here, but since I'm easy to please, I still enjoy it when Molly and Jethro take me for a walk.  There is plenty of flora and fauna in our little neck of the woods, and I tried to capture a little of it with my cell phone camera to share with you.

There were more pictures of various wildflowers and such, but my cell phone is being ornery and not letting me have them.  Some of the photos aren't the best, but here's what I was able to get.

I hope you enjoyed our little jaunt!

New Windows = Stunned Oriole (Not a Goldfinch After All)

I finally have all the windows in my house replaced, much to the chagrin of my feathered friends.  I don't think there's a window in this house now that hasn't been christened by a bird, usually with a loud whack.

Just now as I was reading email, a bird hit the window beside me.  I knew it was a hard hit, so I opened the window and looked down and sure enough, the pretty little Baltimore Oriole (originally was thinking it was a goldfinch) that had been playing in the quince bush was on the ground.




I went out to look and at first she appeared ok, was sitting upright and looking around, but not moving.  I bent to pick her up and she didn't even flinch.

(Click photos to enlarge)

Pretty little Baltimore Oriole let me pick her right up

When I turned to get a better look, I could see that she had blood on her beak on both sides, so she must have whacked her head good.

Oriole after flying into my window

I had a friend hold her so I could get a better photo.

After a couple of minutes she still showed no signs of wanting to fly away on her own, but I couldn't leave her in the back yard for my dogs to get her.  I still had shavings from when I had my chickens, so I tossed a few into a plastic tub and set the oriole in that, then put the tub inside my large chicken coop with the pop door open.  She'll be safe from the dogs, and if she can fly up out of the tub and out of the coop, she should be able to make it to safety.

Sure hope the little gal makes it ok.  I'd hate for word to get out that it's dangerous to visit my bird feeders.




Update:  About ten minutes later I saw movement in the quince bush and a flash of yellow.  I checked the tub and my little friend was gone, so apparently she was ok after a bit of a rest.  As I walked over to the quince bush, she flew off.


After looking at the photos again, I don't think this is a goldfinch at all.  The beak is too long, and the bird is larger and I think the tail is longer than a goldfinch.  A friend suggested she might be a Baltimore Oriole and after looking at other photos, I agree.

Saving Mom From the Killer Turtle

I went out to do some weeding and play a game of 'bring it' with the dogs, and it was only a few seconds before they alerted me that we had a visitor.

What is this?

Molly getting up close and personal

I don't recognize the smell

Then Jethro got in on the act and his barking sent 

the poor turtle scurrying to get under my car

Dang!  Who knew they could move so fast?

Let's tag team him

You hold him there, and I'll go this way

We've got him pinned now

Where'd he go?

And that is how my fearless pups saved me from the killer turtle that dared to infiltrate our space.

 

Created by MyFitnessPal - Free Calorie Counter

Can You Trust Your Dogs With Your Chickens?

Do your dogs get along with your chickens?

I wasn't sure mine would, but I worked with them from the day I brought my first pullets home and before long, they were all getting along just fine.  Molly, my large Golden Retriever mix, and Jethro, my Jack Russell Terrier, could be trusted in the yard with the chickens at anytime.  With a little patience and plenty of supervision, your dogs and chickens can get along well too.

Read more:  Will My Dog Eat My Chickens?

Christopher Robin - SOOC Sunday

I found another cool blog meme to link up to this week called Straight Out of the Camera (SOOC) Sunday.  When browsing through pictures trying to decide what to post, I landed on the folder containing my photos of Christopher Robin.

Christopher was a young bird that I rescued after he fell from the nest (I have no idea what kind of bird, but the name seemed to fit).  I actually started a blog about our adventures over a period of a week or so, but unfortunately I deleted it some time ago.  Luckily I still had the photos, and here's my favorite.

Christopher Robin wasn't with me for very long, but he made for an interesting adventure.

What's in a Name?

I need a name. Well of course I have a name, but I need a name for my little acreage (can almost an acre be considered acreage?).

I've got dogs. I've got cats. A year and a half ago I added chickens so now have the nine laying hens and the six new chicks I picked up last month. I want to put a sign on the chicken coop and call my little piece of this earth something, but what to put on that shingle?

Since I have quite a conglomeration here, I was thinking Marie Anne's Menagerie, or perhaps shortened to MA's Menagerie. Menagerie is derived from the French ménagerie, management of household or farm. Sounds like a good fit to me.

The more modern menagerie means a place where animals are kept and trained especially for exhibition.  Well my critters aren't very well trained, but everyone's welcome to come look at them if they want and I won't even charge admission.

So what do you think?  What sort of name do you think fits me and my mess?

I'm taking the A-Z Blogging Challenge, where I will post something from each letter of the alphabet on the corresponding day in April, except for Sunday, on (hopefully) all four of my blogs. You can see my other blogs in the sidebar - More of Marie Anne.