Summer Visitors, Arriving Early

Photo copyright Aji, 2015; all rights reserved.

So the Chokecherry Birds have been back already this morning. This is the girl, who is more shy than her male peers. Her mate was up in the aspen behind me.

The hummingbirds are early this year, too: They've been buzzing around for more than a week, but I didn't see one until four nights ago. I was taking something out to the trash when he rolled up on me, looked at the red handle of a pruning contraption, looked at me as if to say, "Why you paint it red when it ain't got pollen?", did an exasperated one-eighty, and flew off. Wings put out the hummingbird feeder yesterday, and a male broadtail showed up in a matter of minutes. 

The meadowlark has been singing since dawn, and the magpies are hovering, waiting for their treats.

I guess it's time to feed the troops.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2015; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Marking Rites of Passage

Photo copyright Aji, 2015; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's the final entry in this week's Wednesday/Weekend series featuring Wings's work. The week's material theme has been the blues of lapis lazuli; the metaphorical theme has been one of thresholds and passages. Today, it's something for the younger generation (much younger, and priced accordingly)

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. Shares much needed and appreciated.





All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2015; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Follow the Leader

Photo copyright Aji, 2015; all rights reserved.

Also, fearless.

Too much so.

Sure, they're skittish, and they run around like . . . ummm . . . chickens, but they have almost no fear of anything. Shovels, tillers, the ATV, horses' hooves . . . . To them, it's all potentially related to eating, so it's all good. 

Photo copyright Aji, 2015; all rights reserved.

Those are only some of them. Silver and Sky are absent in the top photo, as are some of the others in the second; they've all been sidetracked by the lovely things they were finding in the dirt. Saffron is the only one not present; she was back in the coop, all broody over eggs.

The tiller was a [then non-working] gift from a friend of his a year or two ago. He fixed it, and now he's been using it to till the soil all over the place. The garden plots got done this week, so today, the chicken run got it.

And the girls are happy.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2015; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Hovering at Thresholds

Photo copyright Aji, 2015; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's one of Wings's slightly older pieces, but one that continues some of the week's themes, albeit in a new way. It's also my effort, in a way, to summon the warmth and spirits of Summer.

The post is here. Wings's main page is here. As always, shares are much needed and welcomed. 

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2015; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Tonight's Sky

Photo copyright Aji, 2015; all rights reserved.

To the West.

Photo copyright Aji, 2015; all rights reserved.

To the East.

Photo copyright Aji, 2015; all rights reserved.

West again.

Photo copyright Aji, 2015; all rights reserved.

Connecting clouds (West overhead).







All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2015; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Ready for Take-Off

Photo copyright Aji, 2015; all rights reserved.

Actually, he was just turning around.

I get it; I'm too tired for that noise, too. Time for this week to be over.

We had a Say's phoebe here yesterday, but forget about any chance of getting a shot. I should've gotten one of the tree Wings planted for us two days ago, though; the other one. No sugar or syrup from this one, but once it blooms, it'll still feel like home. So will the coming rain, if the forecast is at all accurate.

Still . . . issues. Upon issues. 

At least there was some good news out of Baltimore today. After the strain of this week on multiple fronts, I'll take it. 

Rain tomorrow would be nice, too.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2015; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.

Friday Feature: Stardust, Moonlight, Pieces of the Night Sky

Photo copyright Aji, 2015; all rights reserved.

Now posted at The NDN Silver Blog, it's this week's edition of our Friday Feature series, highlighting the work of other artists. Today, it's a pair of absolutely fabulous strands of beads, and a continuation of some of the week's other themes. These stones are amazing to hold in your hand: They feel almost like worry beads, but they're beautiful gems.

The post itself is here. Wings's main page is here. Shares from the links at his site and needed and much appreciated.

All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2015; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.