FALL IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER

We were to get rain today according to the weather folks.  But, we did not and it was a beautiful fall day.  Actually it was really warm.  Got up into the70's and was very pleasant to be outside.  We are trying to catch up on some work around the place and get a few fall things done.  Also locked all the horses up in the corral today.  Will give the grass a break down in the meadow so we will be sure and have enough feed down there when we are at roundup.

The Clark's nutcrackers are really out in force right now as the pine cones are opening and the nuts are falling out.  Those birds are masters at getting into the cone and getting the nut out before it falls to the ground.  We also have about 20 turkeys that are hanging around in this area.  They show up every morning to eat what oats the horses have left or slobbered out on the ground.  And when not eating the oats, they are eating the pine nuts that have fallen from the cones.  The squirrels are gathering up pine cones and storing them also.  It is a busy time of year for the creatures around here.

Connie and I went for a nice ride this morning.  Did not see the mountain lion or any elk.  But we did see a couple of really nice bucks.  We rode right up on them and when they jumped up, so did Bill Cody!  Connie was grabbing reins let me tell you.  It always happens when you least expect it. 

I also quit irrigating today.  Shut the water off and gathered up my dams.  Don't have to chase water until next spring.  I enjoy irrigating, but it gets old by this time of year.

Connie and I have a new grand niece that will be known as Quinn Maureen Turner.  Mom, Dad, and baby all doing well we are told.

A Clark's nutcracker with a pine nut.

The "other" birds around here!

MARK'S PICTURES

We put our Swiss friend on the airplane today headed back to Switzerland.  So I thought I would put a few of Mark's pictures up.  He is a much better photographer than I am. 

We had a great time while he was here.  And we had a lot of catching up to do since we had not really seen each other in over 20 years.  It was hard for Connie and I to say good bye to him at the airport.

The smaller size of pixels does not do justice to his pictures, but you can click on them and they will enlarge somewhat.  And of course most of the pictures are of birds which is his passion as well as one of his fields of study at an Ornithology Institute in Switzerland.