A little bit of peace on earth

 The sun comes up on another day during the pandemic.

 It's peaceful and calm and the gang is all here, if only in spirit 

(that's Smooch's resting place under the rocks in the background).

 Look closely and you'll see Alex way back there at the gate.

We're getting a bit desperate for rain, but the yucca is in bloom...

...and the yard is looking pretty good.

This is the first visitor we've had in months. 

He was on his way to steal swallow eggs from a nest

but met the snake pole instead and was relocated far, far away.

Alex and I ran into this guy yesterday on our morning walk. 

Aren't you glad I started blogging again?

I'll end this on a better note. 

My bedroom has inadvertently turned into the Rug Room.

A girl can never have too many Navajo rugs, and I recently acquired my third.

The Navajo nation is being hit extraordinarily hard by the coronavirus.

In looking for ways to help, I came across a non-profit organization called 

Adopt A Native Elder.

There are many ways to donate to their efforts, but I went straight to the rug catalog.

100% of the proceeds from a rug purchase go directly to the weaver.

I could think of no better way to use my stimulus check.

Intruder

Same game, different dog

Where have all the swallows gone?

 I need to think of a new title for this annual post,
but it's the only one that seems fitting when my feathered friends disappear 

to South America every September without so much as a "see you next year."

 They began acting strangely on Saturday. I watched them gather in a great big

disorganized clump high above the corral, much higher than they usually hang out.

It's like they were having a meeting. Maybe they were deciding who would leave first.

 In any event, by yesterday, all the swallows were gone. 

Interestingly enough, the majority of the flies have now disappeared as well. 

We'll only miss the swallows.

Superdog

 Superdog creates a distraction, luring Alex away from the glass of wine.

 Superdog clenches the bigass toy a little tighter in her mouth

and prepares for the big leap.

 Up, up and away she goes.

 Can she make it before Alex does?

Of course she can because Alex

still hasn't figured out the jumping-on-the-bed thing,

though it doesn't stop her from trying.

 

 

 Alex: All the beds in this house are too effin' high.

What's this over here?

 

 Alex: Catcatcatcatcat!

As the distracted photographer lines up the shot,

Alex pees on the rug. 

Meet the nameless new girls

At long last, I have expanded my flock of chickens from one to five.

Ten has been by herself since Peach died a few months ago.

While she did not seem lonely, I didn't want her to lead a solitary life,

and besides, I love keeping chickens. So on Thursday,

I picked up four new girls who are about four months old

and should start laying soon.

I have yet to name them, but I do know they will not be called

13, 14, 15 and 16.

This Americauna will lay bluish/greenish eggs.

There are two Barred Rocks in the group, who will likely be impossible 

to distinguish from each other.

See what I mean?

And this is a Sapphire Gem, a new breed from the Czech Republic that allegedly does well 

in hot climates and will have blue and lavender colored plumage.

I introduced them to Ten en masse, and everyone seems to be getting along just fine.

They spent their first two days cooped up, then I gave them access to the front yard,

where they met the feral beast, who proved once again that he's just a big chicken.

Smooch and Alex shun the feral beast

The feral beast can't be bothered

46 seconds with Alex and the feral beast

Not much to see here – no barking, hissing, or arguing through the fence. 

Just a puppy and a cat, casually getting to know each other on their own terms.
I'm going to stay out of it.

Game on

Game over.

***

 I took this picture the first time JCC spotted Alex.

I'm quite certain he rolled his eyes a second thereafter.

For now, he disappears whenever she's outside.

Alex has seen him a few times and simply sits and stares.

I'm not sure where the relationship will go.

I took this picture soon after the first time George and Alan spotted Alex.

Alan brayed so loudly that Alex ran for the back door.

I wonder if she thinks they're loud dogs with big ears?
I wonder if Worried Dog could be a thing? Like Grumpy Cat.

Checking in with the feral beast