Eggs in the Woods, Et. Al.

 

Two days ago, we had some blustery winds which turned a warm spring day into a wild, woolly and winter-like day. 

While mowing a patch of lawn, which I had started without a coat, I thought I was going to freeze while making the rounds and looking up at the threatening squall around Schweitzer.  

I didn't freeze, but I spent the next couple of hours in the house with the dogs.  While walking to the house, I saw a spear-like limb fly from a tree and jab itself into the front lawn. 

When Bill came home, we talked about the ferocious wind which had subsided.  He decided to take a walk through the woods to see if any trees had blown down. 

He did not have to go far before seeing a tree down just south of our dog run.  He walked the woods but happily didn't find too much damage.

Yesterday, when I took Bridie on our morning walk, I discovered that a portion of a tree with several top had fallen near our north fence in the Lodgepole pasture. 

So, I told Bill, noting that I had never noticed it before.  So, later, he and Bridie went to the spot, where sure enough, it was a new blowdown. 

"I discovered something else," Bill told me.  Near the top of the tree, he saw something that looked like a bird.  Walking closer, he saw that it was a big bird like a turkey but with slightly different coloring. 

When he told me, I remembered twice seeing a single bird leave that area, walk into the corner of our hay field and then go through the fence into Meserve's. 

I thought it was strange to see a lone turkey didn't give it much more thought until yesterday. 

We both surmised that maybe it could be the results of a turkey crossed with one of the exotic birds that live to our west.  We also wondered if it was sitting on eggs. 

Yesterday afternoon I went to the spot where Bill had seen the bird, and there she lay as still as possible.  Within a few seconds, though, she got up and sauntered away going north through the fence into Meserve's.  

As I stepped closer, I could see that she was, indeed, protecting eggs----at least nine of them.

So, we'll keep watch from a distance in hopes of soon seeing tiny turkeys scurrying around the woods. 

It was a neat discovery, all made possible because of a wind storm and a downed tree.  

This is exactly why we love living on a farm where similar discoveries of nature often abound. 

I'm very proud to post this news today.  

The announcement came yesterday, and it would be an understatement to say that we family members were thrilled to see Willie given the chance to take his basketball coaching skills in a new direction.

He's come a long way with a round ball since his days of playing on Saturday morning county league games with his elementary school teammates.  

The team played under coach Jim Nieman, whose daughter Ali (next to Jim) did okay with her bb skills as a standout college player. 

Wishing Coach Love the very best as he takes on this new challenge with the sport he loves.   

Another beautiful day lies ahead.  Bill and I have both enjoyed our putzing around with small projects around the place.  

Yesterday a new board went up on the pasture fence, and I fixed a flower box.  Support boards inside had given way and the contents had gone on a trajectory downward. 

Happily, with a little rearranging and nailing, the box is once again usable. 

We'll probably keep up with our putzing today and enjoy some more glorious spring sunshine. 

Happy Friday.