Taking a Little Break

There are more wee birdies in the garden, as the weather gets cooler in the hills and up north. The fox sparrows have been back for a couple of weeks, and this time I have three visiting instead of just one. Because there are more, I get to hear their squeaky chatter, that kind of sounds like the "chirp" I can make. Last week, one of them was startled, and flew into the breakfast room window. I dashed out to pick it up before the cats did. It just had the air knocked out of it, and I set it in a rhody while it reinflated. They look so big when I look at them among the white-crowns, but it was so tiny in my hand. I love their dark brown plumage and streaky breasts. Of course I didn't think to get a photo until it had flown off.



But this morning, an Anna's hummingbird hit the same window. I had the camera at hand, and charged to the rescue. Although there was no blood or obvious injuries, Mr. Anna didn't look so good, and I worried he wouldn't make it. I took a few pictures, and then set him in the dish of the thistle feeder. He wasn't grasping with his claws, so I figured this was a safe enough spot for him. When I checked back in a few minutes, he was gone, hopefully to defend his flowers from the honeybees. Yes, I've seen them chase off a bee.

I've been working on my third and last indexing exam, and I've been mostly a mole person for about a week and a half. This afternoon, before having some lunch, I went out to blink at the weak sunlight, water the veggie garden and pick some produce. The beans are still producing, and I'm sure the lettuce will continue until the rains really come on.



There are still some beets and carrots left. Sadly my August plantings didn't do anything, so I'll have no winter and spring roots. The broccoli and kale are coming into their own, and I am pleased to finally have success with the broc. Marathon is great, because it keeps putting out flowerets after the main bunch is cut.



I'm not sure where the seed came from, but I have a volunteer tomatillo. I doubt it'll give me any fruit - it's way too late in the season. But it's blooming prettily.



And now it's back to the exam.

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