Fort Mountain, Georgia

Fort Mountain, Georgia

Morehead Reunion

 

Last week I needed to get away by myself for the first time in a few years.  I put Mollie in the car and drove up to Cave Run Lake in Kentucky to go camping with my best friend in college, Donna Lee. 

Mollie was an awesome camping companion and slept right outside my tent all 6 nights.  We both got to swim and relax and go for long walks in the woods, all things I love to do.  It was so good to spend time with my old friend.  We are connected for life.

Predation in Chicklandia

 

 R.I.P. Chloe, Louise and Louise and LeRoy's only surviving 1 (of 3) chicks.  It's been a hard week for the Chicklandia Girls this week.  LeRoy is the only survivor of the Chicken Coop.  Something tried to get ahold of Isabelle Hen-Again's tail a few nights ago and then she refused to return to the coop.  The following night a fox got into the top condo and killed my favorite, the Red chicken , Chloe.  She had been faithfully sitting atop about a dozen (unfertilized) eggs for the whole week that I was up in Ky (sez Grandpa Ray).  Then two nights ago, as if I hadn't had my share of chicken trauma, something got ahold of Louise and her chick.  Such is the risk you take being a keeper of chickens but I miss each and every one of those Chicklandia girls.  They gave us many eggs.

Now Isabelle Hen-Again refuses to come back from visiting the captive girls next door.

 

In the hills behind my Dads house there are some natural sand dunes.  I like to go there to be alone , especially after a rainy period.  I have never been here in La Florida this long, meaning past April, so alot of what has been coming into bloom is a surprise to me as a Naturalist to see.  Above seems to be a ground version of a mimosa. What a delight to find this morning .  I have been feeling sick so have been taking some days off to just take some pictures and spend some time with my blog.

 This is a speciman Oak-Leafed Hydrangea outside of the Dunnellon Library. They are native to Florida and I am in love . I had not seen an Oak leafed this large before.  I will have to add that to my yard plant collection at some point.

Meet Leroy and Louise

 

Meet Leroy and Louise. After our matriarch Chicken Hildegarde was taken one day in clear daylight, I decided to go to the local feedstore and find another egg laying hen.  I saw this Aracauna Bantum couple and just had to have them.  Louise is already laying eggs that about are about  three fourths the  size of a regular sized chicken's eggs.  They are the cutest couple and have been an amazing addition to Chicklandia.  For now I am keeping them penned up ( they are the downstairs residents of the chicken condo) but hope to allow them to free range at some point alongside Isabelle and Chloe.

I thought that a rooster would drive me absolutely nuts but I now love hearing him call in the early hours of the morning.  It's also a great reassurance that they have survived ( the coyotes, raccoons etc etc) another night.