In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb

by Diana McCollu

We are hoping it's true, because our March here in Paradise, CA, came in like a lion. Snow-magadeon started on February 23, 2023, it has snowed everyday until today, March 9 th when it finally turned to rain.

My husband kept track of each days snow total.  The final count was 44"! This is an area that normally might get 6" for the year. 

While we got tired of the snow and being stranded in the house, the poor animals suffered. Deer came everyday looking for food and eating out of the bird feeders. Quail perched on the fence and flew from tree to tree instead of running along the ground. Turkeys came and scratched under the big trees where the snow hadn't accumulated.

We were lucky in that we have a warm house, plenty of food ( we stocked up before the storm hit), we didn't lose power or water or satellite dish service, neither of us had to leave the house for work. Although hubby did have to go out and sweep snow off satellite dish because when it was too thick we lost the service. 

We did lose six large branches off our large cedar tree,And our gazebo collapsed under the weight of the snow.

Also, road and driveway no mail delivery for over two weeks. No garbage pickup either. This week hubby sat in his truck at the end of the road for 2 1/2 hrs to meet the mail lady. He drove the garbage can to the end of the road and left it for pickup.

As I write this it has begun to snow again, so far it isn't sticking. If this is true about the lion coming roaring into  March, This year we should have a little lamb for the end of March. Next week is the middle of March, so we'll see!

What's the weather like where you live? 

Stay safe!

Diana

Thankful for All God's Creatures

 We've moved to a new home in northern CA.

Leaving Bend, OR, I was afraid I'd not have wild animals in my yard like we did in Bend. Silly me! We have been visited by lots of animals and birds.

Our little pond with the waterfall is a favorite spot for all kinds of birds. We eat dinner and watch the birds come in and take baths or for a drink. We've seen Tangers, blue birds, hummingbirds, wood peckers, black birds, crows, finches etc. It is very entertaining.

Each day a doe and her fawn spend the afternoon under our fig tree in the back yard. They eat all the apples that fall from the  apple tree.

In the evening a buck, and two more does wander through the yard.

We've also seen foxes, squirrels, and lizzards.

The fawn is fun to watch as it explores and jumps around. It noticed a butterfly on a rock the other day. When the butterfly moved it's wings the fawn jumped straight up and ran to it's mother.

I wanted to share this picture of some funny characters to watch. They've been through the yard 4 times so far. Usually in a group of twenty.

We've been enjoying and thankful for all the animals who've graced us with their presence.

Do you have any wild animals in your yard?

Blessings of Nature

By Diana McCollum

We live on the edge of town, actually at the beginning of the county. The cross street at the end of the block, one house down from ours, is the dividing line between city and county. We are in a small housing track of maybe 30 houses and each one is on an oversized lot. Ours is an acre.

My husband sets the trail camera out to see what all animals wander through our unfenced yard at night. 

We had a herd of deer in the winter and when it snows my husband puts out some hay and feed for them.

There have been racoons, foxes, bunnies, quail, ducks, geese, and all kinds of birds come in to feast on the birdseed. We’ve even seen one black squirrel hanging off the bird feeder, a rare sighting in Bend. Never saw him again. 

And then sometimes a neighborhood cat will pass by, and in 4 years we’ve only had one dog at night.

It is fun to watch the videos and the animal interactions with each other. All the videos are at night. The deer might be eating a carrot and the bunny hops into view. The deer is startled and runs off. The quail will chase after the bunny or the duck either one.

This summer, at the very beginning, June 24^th, 7:15 am a doe had her baby in our back yard by the old pickup truck. The baby was so sweet! It was the size of a small dog, and had big spots on its back. It was not afraid and came up to the chain link fence. It kept running back and forth trying to find a way into the small fenced backyard area. Eventually, the mama got up and the baby trotted after her. I was surprised how the little fawn could keep up when the doe ran across the street and into the field and then the forest.

My husband and I were feeling truly blessed to have been given the opportunity to witness this new born fawn.

But our blessings were not over. We were driving through another neighborhood close to ours, and two quail were trying to cross the street. My husband stopped the car, as nobody was behind us. We watched as the parents escorted their brood of newly hatched chicks. We counted 10! Their bodies were the size of marbles with little tooth pick legs. Amazing how fast they ran and could keep up with their parents.

I love watching animals, and reading about all kinds of animals. I love National Geographic shows.

In my new manuscript I’m working on my heroine, Opal, is a scientist in Nova Scotia. She is studying a new breed of animals. Coywolves. Yes, there really is such an animal. The Canadian wolf and coyotes have cross bred. There was a documentary on tv about this new creature an it garnered my interest. I researched the coywolf and began writing my story.

I will tell you more about it in a later post.

Do you have a favorite animal native to your town, city or countryside?