Son's project

My son, Leonardo, is building a workshop for his sign business next to our house in town. It's a lot of work. My husband sold him the land it's on. It'll be great having him nearby as we continue aging.

Time gets away

Since my son had filled the seed feeder at the oasis a couple of days ago, I didn't feel a big need to go down there today. However, with cold weather due tomorrow, I decided to go enjoy the afternoon there, and take bird photos even if it was just the regular common birds I always have. Couldn't stand another day of napping and TV, waiting, almost in a state of torpor, for spring.

When I got there I spent a couple of hours doing odds and ends at my cabin before heading to the oasis. Hadn't really planned on watering. But upon checking my journal,  I realized I hadn't been there in nearly two weeks, so needed to water. By then it was mid-afternoon, so I rushed around watering what I could before dark. Now that I'm not pumping from the stucco tank (trying to dry it up for cleaning and patching), I have to water with only one hose at a time with a smaller pump. Takes forever.  I gave most things a small drink. Hopefully, that'll last until I get back there in a week or so.

As for the birds, same old ones. I know there are at least 20 species there, but I only actually saw or heard 14 species. Back in town now, bracing for the nasty weather tomorrow.

Scaled Quail

Black-throated Sparrow

Pyrrhuloxia

Bleak blogging

 Haven't been inspired to blog lately, but only five weeks until my spring begins. For me it begins when the Lucifer Hummingbirds return. I'm sort of hibernating in the meantime. Just want to say we're all well and it won't be long now.  In two days I'm going to the oasis. I'll take pictures and blog more then.

Time to blog

Can't believe I haven't blogged yet this year. 

Here's a new sign my son made and installed at the oasis. Just extra insurance against any liability. Can't hurt, and makes me feel better.

For countless years, when stuck in town, I'm chomping at the bit to get back to the oasis. But these past months I've dreaded it. No birds and more work than I can do. Today I dragged myself down here to water, knowing it would be especially onerous with the stucco tank almost empty. 

My intention was to put a smaller pump into the tank to get all the water out so it would dry up to where I can clean and patch it. In and out of the tank with hoses, pump, extension cord, etc., only to discover two hours later, there wasn't enough water in the tank to cover the pump. So I had to haul everything back out, by then exhausted, and set up the pump in the other tank. I managed to water for a couple of hours before I couldn't go anymore. Tomorrow I'll finish. 

While watering, I do other tasks in between moving the hose. The drip to the water feature was plugged up.  Had to take the line apart and clean it, and of course, service feeders.

I noticed myself getting really discouraged, so I tried focusing on gratitude. Enumerating all that I'm grateful for, starting with even being alive and able to come here. I generally don't take anything for pain, but today I took an Ibuprofen before I started work. It really helps, maybe because I take something so seldom.

But so grateful that all my loved ones are past covid; my camera, phone, and internet worked. Winter is nearly half over. Lucifers will return in six weeks. So I'm back at my happy place.

A Great Blue Heron has been hanging around gorging on the gambusias in the stucco tank. With very little water left in the tank, pickin's are easy. He waits patiently for me to leave the tank.

I saw what I thought was a Black-tailed Gnatcatcher (they nest at the oasis). Looking into the late afternoon sun, and at quite a distance away, I snapped a few photos. Now I'm pretty certain it's a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. At least one (maybe two) has been overwintering here.