I love spring: new growth, birds returning from winter vacations, blooming cacti, baby bunnies, longer days ... But why does it have to blow? It is a spring time phenomenon in the desert and one I really dislike. Just about everybody agrees with me, and I even wonder if the wind rearranges everyone's molecules so we are all edgy, including the dogs.
There are whitecaps on the birdbath, and the birds are having a hard time getting a drink without sliding in or being blown off. The raptors sit on their perches like cyclists leaning over the handlebars, and I have no idea how the hummingbird drinks any nectar from the feeder. It is painful to watch his approach against the wind and trying to gain enough speed to catch a beakful. I don't know why he doesn't throw out an anchor and latch on with his feet, but he remains suspended. The gold finches are hanging onto their sock feeder for dear life as it is being blown straight out from the tree.
We put new flymasks on the horses to keep some of the dust from getting into their eyes, and I think they appreciate it as even Buggsy nuzzles up to get his put on. (It is Bueno in the picture). There is not an insect in sight of course. All our flies were on their way to New Mexico or Texas this morning, but we will probably get a whole slew of California ones.
Our day was put to good use however, without having to venture outside much. We got a truckfull of hay and other animal feed this morning, and half the pavers for the shop/shed porch at lunch time. This meant driving for 3 hours, but at least there was no chance of us getting blown away.
I put a bale of alfalfa in the chicken yard. The garden is empty now, and there are no fresh greens that can be fed to the hens until I plant new stuff. They do need some greenery here in the desert, not being able to scratch in grass, and I hope this keeps them happy for a couple of weeks. It drew their immediate attention.
There are whitecaps on the birdbath, and the birds are having a hard time getting a drink without sliding in or being blown off. The raptors sit on their perches like cyclists leaning over the handlebars, and I have no idea how the hummingbird drinks any nectar from the feeder. It is painful to watch his approach against the wind and trying to gain enough speed to catch a beakful. I don't know why he doesn't throw out an anchor and latch on with his feet, but he remains suspended. The gold finches are hanging onto their sock feeder for dear life as it is being blown straight out from the tree.
We put new flymasks on the horses to keep some of the dust from getting into their eyes, and I think they appreciate it as even Buggsy nuzzles up to get his put on. (It is Bueno in the picture). There is not an insect in sight of course. All our flies were on their way to New Mexico or Texas this morning, but we will probably get a whole slew of California ones.
Our day was put to good use however, without having to venture outside much. We got a truckfull of hay and other animal feed this morning, and half the pavers for the shop/shed porch at lunch time. This meant driving for 3 hours, but at least there was no chance of us getting blown away.
I put a bale of alfalfa in the chicken yard. The garden is empty now, and there are no fresh greens that can be fed to the hens until I plant new stuff. They do need some greenery here in the desert, not being able to scratch in grass, and I hope this keeps them happy for a couple of weeks. It drew their immediate attention.
The porch makes this great building even better. I can't remember that we have ever done a project that has come out as well. We still have to finish the "floor" by putting sand and pavers down. Then it just needs a great big pot with colorful plants and a hummingbird feeder.
I have decided to name the intrepid baby bunny 007. I don't know how many lives he thinks he has, but I had to rescue him again this morning. Emma was trying to play with him and got him good and wet. He appeared otherwise unharmed, so back to the tack room he went.
But it is so worth it! Muleshoe has spectacular scenery as well as a varied terrain. It is almost like riding in a park as there are so many varieties of plants on display. I try to time this ride to see the wildflowers, and although we saw some, our timing may have been off. Then again, perhaps this was not the year for the flowers. So much of their abundance in the desert depends on rain at the right time of year. 
We ride the Vista Trail that takes you through wooded areas (where currently luscious green grass is growing), through washes, across hill sides, over ridges, across cinder fields, and along a stream that actually had water in it today. Bueno has no problem crossing water, after he drinks and splashes in it, but Buggsy, the desert native, looks at it very askance before deciding ... to jump, or not to jump? Today he did not.
On our way home we saw 6 antelope cross the road ahead of us. What a thrill!
As a side note, we think we saw the tiny bunny in the last post again today. As we were getting the horses ready for the trailer, he hopped from the tack room to Buggsy's stall to eat some chaff while the big guy was away. What an intrepid little bun!
