Swallow tales

Our rough counts have numbered 300 swallows at any one time. We've always encouraged them nesting around the house and out buildings and we welcome their arrival like Capistrano. Cleaning up after the birds is just part of the deal. Before they arrive, David builds ledges so they have secure footholds for their nests. Barn and cliff swallows live side by side. Not always the most relaxed of neighbours ~ the barn swallows are generally on guard as the cliff swallows are ruthless in their take overs. The 'cliffs' will move in on a nearly finished barn swallow nest and carry on building it up to the conical shaped nest that is a cliff swallows trademark.

It is a happy co-existence though; this one between the swallows and the humans. We try to look out for them without interfering and we delight in their day to day lives.

They eat huge volumes of mosquitoes. For this we are most grateful. Living as we do surrounded by boreal forest, bordered by hay fields and a sizable creek ~ mosquitoes thrive. And we grow them big up here. Our hundreds of swallows are always working ~ feasting on every new hatch that appears on the meadow and making the area around the house quite comfortable in the thick of mosquito season.

We have two little ones right now very nearly out of the nest who had a bit of an early shove when their entire nest came crashing down yesterday. We placed them back under where their nest had been and where their mom is feeding and tending to them.

It gets cold and wet here through the night and so last night we set up a wee bucket on it's side and stuffed it with straw. We gently tucked the baby swallows into the straw and there they survived the night.

Today they ventured just a few feet from their guest house but an hour ago we found them tucked up, side by each, back on their straw. And mama is still keeping a close eye on them.

Our whole community of swallows often gather together along the fence line and gather in the nearby trees. David planted a spruce tree just outside the kitchen a few years ago that we call our Christmas tree. In winter we hang a little string of solar powered lights and enjoy the tree on snow white nights. Throughout the summer it is used by the humming birds and blackbirds but rarely by swallows. This morning, quite suddenly, the little spruce tree was thick with swallows. A beautiful sight. The young ones appear to be attending flight school on the tree. .

Summer on the meadow and July skies

This is the back road towards Quesnel overlooking the Fraser River ~ David and I recently took a day trip with my sister, brother-in-law and their two delightful girls to the Historic town of Barkerville. Their stagecoach ride through the old town was a definite highlight of the day. It's a wonderful place ~ a living museum. Founded in 1862, Barkerville was “The Gold Capital of British Columbia”. The town is now the largest historic site in the province.

The girls did some artwork for us while they were here :) Below is one of the pics that now adorns our fridge ~ of our sheep and the ram who currently resides on the other side of the pasture. The girls helped to feed the ram (who we call Mister) the ends of our asparagus from dinner one night. He loves asparagus and enjoys the attention.

It was a lovely visit with family ~ and over too soon, but we're so glad they came!

And it's back to quiet meadow time now. The swallows are raising their young, the robins too. The hummingbirds continue to enjoy the easy energy boost of always full feeders.

After the hot weather of early July come the thunder and lightening storms we've been seeing the last few days. Spectacular skies. Never a dull moment on the meadow.

A little alone time

A few pangs of guilt as I log in to my blog after a day of work and before going to make dinner. Guilt, because if I am on the computer I really should be answering emails. My backlog of emails is a bit daunting. I am ever thankful to all the folks who write to us for their patience and kindness.

But, it is the end of the work day and I do want to share this photograph that David took yesterday afternoon. It could be titled ' Do you ever feel like everybody is talking about you?' or ' I would just like a little alone time, thank you!'

The lads are off to assist our neighbour with a hay rake and I am about to go and put some chicken on the bbq. And make some of those oh so tasty pan fried spuds. Way too warm to use the wood stove tonight!!

However, 'way too warm' is all relative. We worry about our neighbours in the states who are in the midst of a dreadful fire season. Our high mountain meadow is considerably cooler too than Southern BC where folks are sweltering under the full hot sun.

It always cools down beautifully here through the nights. That's when the windows get flung wide open (screened of course from the hungry mosquitos) and we feel blessed, as always, to live where we do.

Okee dokee. Time to shut down the computer and get some dinner happening.

a lichen bouquet and a couple of blogs

This beautiful 'rock with lichen' was placed on it's cradle of fence wire by my beloved David a couple of years ago when the lichen was tiny. When he was out mending fences a few days ago, he brought me home this photograph ~ like a lichen bouquet.

Blogs ~ oh! So many blogs, so little time. Being uber busy is the only thing holding me back from spending hours and hours visiting and getting to know fascinating people all over the world. A couple of blogs I happened on this afternoon while looking up some totally unrelated item... breedemandweep a blog written by Jenn Mattern, a mom among other things :) and her Canadian husband David Lane who has a blog called Porchlight Paintings. One of my favourites; moon pie a blog by a gal named Kate ~ I love her writing and photography and she shares a whole pie (or is it pile) of recipes too. This is just a wee thank you to all the online folks who inspire and delight me from time to time. Till next time. Nicola

Early July days on the meadow

July; the bones, the beauty.

home again, home again

Oh what a wonderful world! Here we are back from our June break feeling rejuvenated and so looking forward to our summer on the meadow.

It is a spectacular time of year! The hay on the meadow is getting tall (not quite as high as an elephant's eye yet, but soon) and the wildflowers are coming into full bloom now.

We had a great time visiting our family and some of our friends back home in the Okanagan and Similkameen Valleys. David's Mum and Dad, our sisters and brothers and nieces and nephews, cousins and children and friends. Great meals, good laughs and the worlds best cherries (from Ray Lou's orchard)!

We came away feeling all loved up and reconnected.

We had a friend look after our place while we were gone. She did a lovely job and it was nice to be away without any worries about home. (Thank you Aki !)

A wonderful break and good to be home!

sheep in a heap and some good good music

We had a magnificent downpour today. The ground loves the rain and we don't mind a bit. This little scene of the sheep in a heap was taken yesterday.

It's a quiet Saturday ~ well, everyday is quiet out here in the middle of nowhere. While we work, we've been listening to Yael Wand's newest CD called 'At Your Door'. Her previous album 'Antimony' is one of our all time favourites and this one is wonderful too. You can listen to a few songs from At Your Door by going to her myspace page which we have included in our links list here. Yael deserves to be more well known.

Early May days. Letting the sheep into their next pasture.

A delightful late season snow fall.

May rain storms, contented sheep, happy hummers. Life is good.

Colours on the wings of spring!

Early May on the meadow

Early May. A couple of photos from our most enjoyable wander around the property the other day. An opportunity to check fences and access damage to trees after our recent wind storms.

More lambantics

Just for fun ~

And at the end of it ~ a rest and snuggle with Mom :)