Sunset
He thought he was off to school to be tutored
But off to the vet, he went, to get neutered
Now he’s sad, half the dog he used to be
They put on a cone, adding insult to injury
When Buddy recovers from this trauma
They will fix his third eyelid and end that drama
He will be a new dog, like a new day
Oh Buddy you have come a long way
Morning moons
Surprise! Daddy Owl dropped in for a visit.
Daddy Owl eyeing the hummer perched on the branch below him.
Dawn
Last night’s clouds. Do you see a face?
The moon finally made it through the clouds last night.
Last night’s moon at 92.4% full.
Paul is on the left and Peter is on the center-right.
We got out to the owls later than normal last night. At first, we could only find Peter and Paul. Mary finally showed up when it was too dark to focus. She’s in the last two photos with Peter.
The fading colors of dusk from last night.
Tonight’s moon finally rose above the clouds.
Tonight’s moon at 97.6% full.
Sunset tonight with rain that evaporates before it hits the ground.
My friendly computer screens
For my just-in-time delivery of today’s photos, I have a new office dog, flowers, roses, and the half-moon.
Baby
Spunk behind Petunias, Pillow Fight, and Iceberg
Rio Samba, Mermaid, and Altissimo
Iceberg
Mary and Paul. Mama Owl after she delivered a mouse to Peter.
Mama Owl flew back and forth with food for the owlets three times while we were out with them last night. It was dusk, and she was giving the owlets their meals behind a mess of leaves, so I couldn’t get the exchanges of food, but Peter was proud of his mouse and acted like he had a mouse cigar in his beak for quite a while before he finally ate it.
Sunset last night
Halfmoon at 54.8%
Daddy Owl in silhouette at dusk.
Peter, Paul, and Mary were really testing their wings tonight. Peter and Mary were in the Tangle Heart Tree when I walked up to it tonight. Paul was on the ground hopping around about 100 yards south of the Tangle Heart Tree. Mary flew into the bosque and ended up with Paul after he flew back u into the trees. Peter flew into the bosque, back to the Tangle Heart Tree, and then into the bosque again. All three were very active while waiting for Mama and Daddy to bring them food.
Peter
Paul on the Ground
Paul after he flew back into the bosque.
Mary barfed a pellet from the Tangle Heart Tree, and then she flew over to where Paul was.
Peter and Mary in the Tangle Heart Tree.
I finished the roof over the deck this morning. The deck is several degrees cooler than the outside temperature with the new roof. The cats are happy to have the deck back.
Sunset
Dusk
Clouds descending on the moon.
Moon through the cloud cover.
Wide-view of the moon in the clouds.
How many owls can you find in the above photo?
Mama Owl in the Tangle Heart Tree.
Peter, Paul, and Mary together again in the bosque eleven days after Peter flew the coop.
Peter, Paul, and Mary
There was a 50% chance of rain, but any rain evaporated long before it reached the ground. The wind blew a lot of dust, however.
A Snowy Egret flew by at high speed this morning.
Violet-green Swallows were swarming over the river catching insects. They were also flying close to the water splashing in it as they skimmed the surface. I was not able to get still shots of them splashing.
Mary flew over to the tree with Paul last night. She was really proud of herself this morning perched in the shade with her chest up and out like “See what I did?”
Paul and Mary. Daddy Owl was sitting in a cottonwood in the bosque where he could see both of them in their new tree between the ditches. It will be interesting to see how long it is before they fly into the bosque.
We had our 9th Annual Corrales Rose Society Dr. Huey Tour this afternoon after I went to a “hanging” to help Susan Graham hang her photos at the NM Cancer Center for a Gallery with A Cause show titled “On the Rise – Artists in Early and Mid-Career.” I also helped another artist hang her paintings. She was by herself. Susan and I discovered it’s hard to hang the art and get it right as per the curator who didn’t give particularly clear instructions. When I came out of the restroom after washing my hands, I noticed the artist was starting to rearrange her paintings after the curator had set them where she wanted the paintings. I told the artist not to change the order of her paintings or she would have to rehang them. After Susan and I were done hanging Susan’s photographs, and Susan was waiting for final approval, I noticed the artist having a little trouble hanging her paintings. I went down and helped her. It’s a two-person job to hang artwork and get everything aligned and spaced properly.
I had been to the Cancer Center a week ago for my annual checkup, but it turned out to be my last checkup. My doctor said the scan was clear and my immune system was almost up to normal numbers, so he fired me as a patient. No more scans or checkups unless I get symptoms.
For new followers, Dr. Huey is the rootstock used to graft roses in the western United States. Corrales is a cold spot. A lot of roses freeze at the bud unions in the winter killing the rose grafted to the rootstock. Dr. Huey is cold hardy and drought tolerant. Once the bud union is dead Dr. Huey grows. Therefore, there are many Dr. Hueys growing in Corrales. Starting in 2014, we had done an annual tour of Dr. Hueys in Corrales or simply on our property since we have more Dr. Hueys every year.
We have a lot more Dr. Hueys this year because we had a cold and very dry winter. I was not able to water much during the winter because it never warmed up enough for the hoses to thaw. So we lost more roses over the winter.
Most rosarians don’t like Dr. Huey, but Laurie, Susan, and I love Dr. Huey. It only blooms once, but when Dr. Huey blooms it produces a lot of beautiful red roses with yellow centers. While many of our other roses are struggling due to the drought, Dr. Huey is thriving. Rosarians who live in other parts of the country that don’t have harsh climates like New Mexico can be snobs and hate rootstock roses, but Laurie, Susan, and I appreciate any rose that can thrive in New Mexico, and Dr. Huey is thriving.
A large Dr. Huey along Corrales Road.
Well Hung
Thirteen of sixteen photos Susan has in the show.
Paul flew over to the trees between the ditches leaving Mary behind. Daddy owl was keeping an eye on Mary. We didn’t see Peter in the trees between the ditches, so we presume he flew over to the Bosque. We’ll have to go over and see if we can find him in the Bosque. Given the rate of growth and flying, the owlets might have each hatched a week apart.
The wind blew clouds through for a decent sunset.
“Ah! Mama! There’s a weird Paparazzo pointing a bazooka at us.”
Yesterday, David, a neighbor to the north, said he saw two owlets down by where he lives. We went to check it out and only saw an adult owl. I went back to see if they were out tonight. Not only were they out, but the owlet’s mama was also feeding one of them a squirrel.
This owlet looks like the older of the two.
The mama was not too sure about the pesky Paparrazo.
Cows at sunset
Mary and Paul were still plotting their flight across the ditch tonight. Peter is still waiting for them.
“Hey, Mary do you think you can make the flight?” “I’m not sure. I need more practice!”
“I’ll give it a try!” “High beak!”
“Hahahaha! I think we can do it!”
Paul and Mary were very active tonight flying from one spot to another on the tree. I will not be surprised if they fly to the trees between the ditches tonight.
Venus, Jupiter, Mars, and Saturn at 5:17 am. Jupiter is catching up to Mars.
Mama Owl in the top of the tree above Paul and Mary. Peter in the tree across the ditch.
Mary was napping, but then she popped right up when Mama brought her a mouse.
Feeding Mary and little more of whatever Mama had in her beak.
Paul was feeling left out.
“I want another mouse, Mama!” “Enough already!”
Paul finally got up onto the same branch with Mary.
Mary testing her wings.
Mama looking for another meal. She flies off the catch something.
Off Center & Not Even 