On a Really Hot Day...

Everybody enjoys some nice, refreshingly cold watermelon! 

Grace and Awkwardness

As we walk through one particular area during our morning rambles, Baloo and I almost always encounter a couple of Eastern Kingbirds. I know I shared a few photos of them last year, but this year's crop seems to be more cooperative when it comes to mugging for the camera. 

They always seem to land at the tip of a flower or shrub after one of their beautiful flights, so that they can easily spot another tasty morsel to pursue. This stem can barely hold the bird's weight. 

It's almost as if they wait for us and enjoy swooping around showing us their acrobatic sky dives and loops as they catch their breakfast on the wing. Now that I think about it, that might actually be the case, since we're probably disturbing bugs and causing them to take to the air as we make our way through the tall grasses.

I just had to include this photo, silly as it is. Baloo kept photo bombing my attempts at capturing a nice image. Sometimes he would just run ahead, causing my subject to fly off before I could get focused. He likes to increase the challenge factor for me. 

I really liked this self-possessed pose atop last year's mullein flower stalk. That had to be a great vantage point for bug watching.

And for such an amazingly graceful flyer, the takeoff from its flimsy perch is surprisingly awkward looking. I love the splayed legs - as if it hasn't pulled in its landing gear yet. They're so fast that getting any kind of in-flight photo is a special treat for me. Even an awkward one. Perhaps I will catch a perfect swoop someday. I can always hope.

Feeling Chipper?

This has been a banner year for chipmunks -- they're absolutely everywhere. I expect you'll see more pictures of their furry faces in future posts, since Baloo calls my attention to every one of them he sees or hears along our walks. This is just one that I thought was particularly cute, especially given the circumstances. 

Baloo is entranced and also quite tempted to give chase to these bright-eyed rascals, since they chirp and tease him before sticking their tails straight into the air and running for cover. 

This one followed that very playbook running off to find a safe spot where he decided to stand up and taunt the poor dog with a torrent of scolding chatter, as if to say, "Nyah, nyah, nyah! You can't reach me here!", before ducking into his safe hidey-hole. 

Needless to say, Baloo thinks they are frustratingly fascinating little beasties! He falls for their teasing nearly every time.

Previews of Coming Attractions...

I was going to do a completely different kind of post tonight, but I decided it might be fun to share a little about how the website rebuild is coming along, since several people have asked for progress reports. 

I've been taking lots of pictures of carving blocks, kits and tools to put up in the shiny new Stampeaz store. So far, I have all the carving blocks and linoleum blocks entered in the new database and am ready to start on the various carving kits. 

After that, it's on to the tool section. Here's the picture I'm thinking about using as a category teaser for the Carving Tools part of the store. 

I've been trying to reorganize things so they'll be more streamlined and (I hope) easier to find than they were in the old site. So, good thoughts and crossed fingers are much appreciated as I learn a whole new way of doing things. 

Baloo has been surprisingly patient, as I slog through learning about creating menus and categories and as I try to pull descriptions and information about products out of the old database to enter all the information into the new one. Of course, he also makes me take regular breaks to go out for walks and get some fresh air.  He's thoughtful that way. :)

Plain and Showy

Walking along the edge of a vineyard while trying to sneak up on the eagles to see if we could get a peek at the youngsters or see if they had flown the proverbial coop, Baloo and I were charmed by a virtuoso songster and mimic. 

I have always loved the brown thrasher and I know to look for one when I start to hear every local bird song in rapid succession. This plain brown bird makes up for his unassuming appearance (though, I think he's quite handsome with his speckled waistcoat) by being one of the most talented musicians on the program. 

This fellow was doing a little preening between songs and it was fun to watch the feather ruffling. Or maybe he was just being the maestro straightening his coat and tails. 

Finally, he was all spiffed up and ready to launch into the air to find another stage for his next grand musical engagement. 

So, keep your ears open for a cardinal song followed by a robin song followed by a chickadee song and so forth (but not necessarily in any particular sequence) and you may just get to enjoy a well-sung and extremely varied concert - and it doesn't even require a ticket.  

More of the Pieces

No, I hadn't forgotten the puzzle I left hanging. I just had to step back for a while and decide some things. Things like whether or not I was going to try and resurrect the Stampeaz site or just let it go. 

This particular puzzle is of the type that is more difficult to do if you focus on the subject matter rather than the background. It's a fitting metaphor.

So, now that I have looked at the big picture and studied how the background might work, I'm starting to look more closely at how all the pieces are going to come together to form something that's worth looking at. 

Thanks to everyone for your patience and support while I worked through the decision of whether to start over again. Many thanks to those who offered suggestions and help of one kind or another. Now, since I have decided to try and put the pieces back together, I'll ask that you bear with the process just a little longer as I work through starting from the very beginning (again - my first try didn't work). It's a daunting task, but now that I've gotten over the angst of the crash, I'm ready to keep on sorting the bits and pieces and get this puzzle finished! 

Also, I want to apologize -- some of you have left comments for me on earlier posts and I honestly didn't know about them until just a couple minutes ago. I used to get notified when someone had made a comment, but now some of them seem to get hidden in a moderation limbo land until I release them. I didn't change any settings or intentionally ignore anyone - I just didn't know anyone had said anything. Thanks for commenting and checking in on the blog -- I appreciate it! And now I know where to go look for them! :)

Time Lapse Photography

Back in early May, Baloo and I decided against going out on one of our regular walking routes in order to avoid an uncharacteristically large number of visitors to our usually solitary (or nearly so) trail. 

Our adventurous (and crowd-avoiding) spirit was rewarded when we saw a nesting eagle. 

There used to be another nest not far from this one, so I'm guessing it's the same pair that built a new home in a slightly more attractive neighborhood - or more secure tree. 

 

I kept trying to sneak a little closer, and while she kept a close eye on us, she didn't seem too worried about us admiring her in her aerie. Of course, we kept a reasonable distance, since we didn't want to disturb her. 

Late in May, I took Baloo back for another look and saw these two youngsters (sorry for the blurry photo - it was the best I could manage from afar with a restive dog at the other end of the leash). They were peering out at the great, wide world with avid interest - and probably waiting for their parents to get back with some tasty tidbits.  

By the end of June they looked like fledglings about ready to leave the security of their home to try their luck at searching for their own snack materials. 

Since then, I've seen the adults flying in the vicinity,  but I haven't seen the youngsters on the wing yet.It's a favorite walking area, so I hope we have the opportunity to see them attempting their early hunts.