All on a Smoky Day

 

Bill caught his first fish ever from a kayak on Lake Pend Oreille last night. 

A small-mouth bass. 

Then he caught another and another and another and . . . .

We once owned a motor boat, and he did catch some fish on the lake during our boating adventures.

But fly fishing from a kayak last night turned out to angler's Heaven for Bill. 

It soon became redundant to hear "Fish on!"

While he fished, I took pictures, which was not the usual easy task on our beautiful lake, thanks to the ultra smoky air. 

So, paddling along the shoreline turned out to be the most fruitful, especially those great big apples on that tree just off shore. 

We were probably crazy to go out kayaking in last night's bad air, but it sure beat sitting in the house.

  Also, to dangle one's feet over the side of the boat into the water while paddling along---oh so refreshing!

Except for a couple of ghostlike motor boats far across the water, we pretty much had the lake to ourselves. 

We did meet Frank and Jasmyn after paddling back to the Trestle Creek recreation-area dock.

Frank said he had errands to do but couldn't resist bringing his beloved pup to the water for some refreshment and fetching.

Occasionally, Jasmyn would hesitate on the dock before hitting the water to retrieve her toy, so Frank would give her a little help. 

We enjoyed our few minutes when Frank, a retired firefighter, and his friend Jasmyn.  Then, we headed home where fortunately the heat of the day had subsided to an almost comfortable state. 

It also seemed fitting to walk into the house and see Olympic kayak races in Tokyo.  In our case, last night's lake adventure involved no racing kayaks.  

Instead, it served as a simple, laid-back, refreshing and fun evening getaway.  

Today, as we've done SO many times this summer, we're gearing up once again to make it through a two-day blast of extreme heat.

With luck, maybe this will be the last unbearable inferno for 2021, but we aren't holding our breath. 

At least yesterday, with its overnight rain and the evening boating adventure, served as a welcome break.   

I learned some factoids about cow birds yesterday. 

As is customary, the birds have been hanging with the horses during their pasture time all summer. 

They either walk alongside the horses as they graze or ride on their backs.  The horses don't seem to mind.

  Sometimes I see as many as three or four birds perched along a horse's topline. 

Yesterday, while watching CB's friend and, later, Lefty's, my curiosity was aroused about the story behind this species of birds.  

A little later, while I was mowing some lawn (actually chopping off tall weeds), a car pulled part way into our driveway. 

When the driver got out, I could see it was Rich, one of our local bird aficionados. 

After a quick hello, I pressed Rich for information.  

"Tell me about those birds that ride on our horses' backs," I said. 

"Cow birds," he responded, explaining that they reap the benefits of bigger animals grazing when the movement across a field brings up the bugs for them to eat. 

He added that they're also freeloaders cuz, rather than building their own nests, they take over nests of smaller birds to lay their eggs. 

Rich said it's not unusual to see bigger bird babies mixed in a nest of smaller species such as juncos.  And, he added that a junco mom will raise the squatter babies along with her own.

After bringing my horses up from pasture yesterday afternoon, I can add one more not-so-positive characteristic of these birds.  They apparently don't believe in BIF aka "bathroom in the forest."

Why not poop on a horse instead! 

Both CB and Lefty looked like Appaloosas with their backs and rumps dotted with dozens of white bird droppings. 

Yuck!

   

Speaking of taking over someone else's home, apparently ever since the old greenhouse was dismantled, the remaining bees have not wanted to leave the territory. 

They have set up residence in the bird houses situated near the old greenhouse, which explains why I got stung while walking through "their" territory with the hose the other day. 

Today more smoke, more stifling hot weather, more bird poop on horses, more bees buzzing and stinging  and who knows, maybe even more kayaking in smoky waters. 

Ahhh, summer! It's a wonderful and interesting life! 

Happy Tuesday.