Saturday encore ~ Hummingbird, don't fly away, fly away

This encore post is from September 2, 2016.

***
 
The feral beast and I had just finished a photo shoot of the vine

when who should cross our garden path but a female broad-tailed hummingbird...I think.

I'm pretty bad at the whole bird identification thing.

Whatever species...

...she sure was a beauty, and fearless, too –

I was standing about a foot away.

Hum along if you remember the Seals and Croft song from the seventies.

The sweetness of your nectar

Has drawn me like a fly

I just love you, love you, love you

I don't even know the reason why

Me: Don't even think about it.

Hummingbird: Is he fast enough to grab me out of the air?

Me: I hope not.

Hummingbird: Just one more sip and I'm out of here. No point taking chances.

Saturday encore ~ The 7MSN Ranch 2.0

This encore post is from August 16, 2016. 

I've been thinking about the subject ever since and am finally 

in a place to share my thoughts ... and even some decisions.

But before I do that in next week's posts,

I thought it might be useful to go back to the beginning.

***

Can we talk?

Something’s been on my mind for months, and I sure could use some advice.

I need help figuring out the rest of my life.

The ranch will be paid off in a little less than five years (1,795 days to be precise). 

I will be 66 when that happens and able to retire if that’s what I feel like doing at the time. 

As much as I want to live here forever, I’d have to be crazy to think I could pull it off. 

Taking care of this place requires a lot of physical work. The chores are easy for me to do now, 

but when I’m 70 or 80, maybe not so much. And hiring help isn’t a practical option, 

given the ranch’s remoteness and the 11 miles of dirt road to get here.

Which brings me to the realization that I need to develop the 7MSN Ranch version 2.0.

It should probably be a little closer to somewhere than nowhere (5MNS?),

or at least on a paved road. 

The question is, where? 

 That’s where you come in. I’m thinking if I crowdsource the answer 

among people who know and understand me, surely we’ll be able to identify options 

for my forever home. Five years seems like a long time to figure this out, 

but by the time I research, visit, and agonize over the decision, 

it will likely be time to put up the for sale sign on this place.

So ... here is what I’m looking for:

1. Utopia

Got any ideas?

I kid, but not really.

My wish list is lengthy:

1. A place with wide open spaces where my animals can live as naturally 

as possible and there won’t be a neighbor in sight – rural but not remote.

2. A place where I won’t live in fear of natural disasters, including but not limited to: 

floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, forest fires and severe drought.

3. A temperate climate – not too hot, not too cold, not too wet, not too dry.

4. Within a few hours’ drive to an airport – not that I plan on traveling,

 but I do love having houseguests.

5. Reasonably close to a thriving small town with charm and a grocery store 

(sort of the opposite of Mountainair, New Mexico).

Ok, so maybe the list isn’t that long, but items 2 and 3 sure do narrow down the options.

Might you or someone you know live in a place like this? 

Have you vacationed or visited somewhere and said, “this is heaven and I want to live here.” 

I realize that no place is perfect and I may have to compromise on one or more of my wishes, 

but with all of you helping me look, I’ve got to think almost-utopia is possible. 

And with any luck, one of you already lives there and I’ll know someone when I arrive!

Saturday encore ~ Porch Drama

There was a knock at my office door Tuesday morning. Johnny went over to answer it. 

Good thing Smooch wasn't on indoor patrol or our guest would have run off immediately from all the barking.

Johnny: Can I help you?

Squirrel: No. Just passing through.

Johnny: Wow. Two guests in one day. This might be a record.

I loved that Johnny stood perfectly still and didn't scare them off.

It gave us a chance to watch Squirrel #2 bitch-slap Squirrel #1. 

Johnny: That was kind of nutty.

I waited a few minutes to give the squirrels a head start, then let Johnny outside to investigate.

He wisely decided to not get in the middle of the drama.

Saturday encore ~ No time like the present

It's been a year since Smooch and Johnny's first house encounter...

and they don't get along any better now than they did then. Oh well.

***

It was around 10:30 Wednesday morning. I was working at my desk, Smooch was napping on the back porch, and 

JohnnyCashCat was napping in the reading chair behind me. It started to rain and I heard Smooch whining to come in the house. 

What to do...what to do... A face-to-face encounter between the two would have to happen eventually. Why not now?

Erring on the side of caution, I put Smooch's leash on her and walked her into the office. 

She was immediately suspicious...

...yet she neither saw nor smelled the feral beast in the chair...

...until the feral beast twitched a whisker. Rather than let Smooch's hackles raise any higher, 

I lured her to the other side of the house with the promise of a cookie.

I left Smooch's leash behind us with a stern warning to both of them that it was not to be crossed.

Smooch got her cookie and decided to hang out in the bedroom for awhile. I went back to the office.

But never one to leave well enough alone and wanting to get this whole dog-meets-cat thing over with...

...I beckoned Smooch to come. She's usually not this enthusiastic. 

Perhaps she thought I was going to reward her with a cat instead of a cookie.

She took her spot on her side of the leash and stared at Johnny for the longest time...

...until she got bored and went back to the bedroom...

...only to return a few minutes later.

Smooch: It's lunchtime. Can we have cat?

Me: No.

Johnny: How about dog for dessert?

Me: Be nice, both of you.

Smooch: I've got better things to do.

Me: You're being such a good girl! 

Smooch couldn't stay away for long and soon joined Johnny and I back in the office.

Smooch poked her head over the arm of the chair once and Johnny let out a ferocious hiss.

Smooch got his message loud and clear and backed off.

At this point, I'm not at all concerned about Smooch hurting Johnny...

...it's Johnny hurting Smooch that I'm worried about. The feral beast has a wicked set of claws.

Saturday encore ~ Minnie gets her feathers ruffled

Poor, pitiful Minnie. She's been so busy laying eggs that she postponed her annual molt until the last minute. 

I'm hoping all her new feathers will grow in before it gets much colder.

She's actually quite beautful when she's in fine feather...and not standing on her head eating a tomato.

Clara: You could have molted with the rest of us, but noooo...

you had to wait and grab all the attention for yourself.

Minnie: Go pluck yourself.

Minnie: If you want any more eggs from me, you'll put away that camera now.

Saturday encore ~ Hank and George's new bro-mance

This post is from October 2013, when Hank and George first discovered they were good friends. 

A year later, I'm happy to report that they are great friends. When Hank needs a buddy to lean on,

George is the chosen one – never Alan, never Lucy, just George. I'm not sure why.

***

Hank and George decided last week to be best friends, at least for an afternoon.

They spent an unusual amount of time hanging out and grooming each other...

...or trying to, as the case may be. George would need a step stool to do the job properly.

A little on the right...

....a little on the left.

George: I'm doing the best I can here.

Saturday encore ~ Smooch gets ready for Halloween

Smooch has never gone out on Halloween before, so when she asked me if we could 

throw together a costume for her this year and go beg for treats, how could I say no?

Smooch: So tell me again how this works?

Me: When we get up to the door, bark a few times, then say "trick or treat."

Me: Then give the person your most imploring look.

Me: If you're lucky, they won't try to trick you or make fun of your lame costume...

...and they'll just hand over the goods.

Smooch: I love Halloween!

Me: Then we go around the block and change costumes 

so they won't recognize you when you knock on their door again.