Spring Community Concert

Last Sunday was the annual spring recital for the bell ringer, chorus and orchestra. Among other things the chorus sang a medley of songs from The Music Man.  There was a fabulous cookie reception after.

Soft Spring Snow

It snowed today. We awoke to maybe two inches on the ground. It is much needed moisture. It snowed lightly till after lunch. Then melted real fast and the road turned to goo. I came home from a meeting in town and was sideways on Palomino Lane there for a spell.  Makes for exciting trips home. Last week I took a photo of the same pasture in front of the house where the flock was grazing. It is dry and brown. But more birds are coming. I saw the tundra swans last Friday down near the refuge when my friend, Kate, came by for a jaunt to the Round Barn Visitor center in her jeep. We didn't get far. We went back and got her dually and struck out again. This time we made it and back.

Sandhill Cranes

This morning while I was feeding the chickens, a large flock of sand hill cranes flew over in V formation. They are noisy flyers and make a turkey squabbling kind of sound.  The tundra swans are here at the refuge. These are the signs of spring arriving in Harney County.

Spring Lambs

Last Saturday Jane, Diana and I went to visit Marion whose ewes are lambing. Diana got some cute shots. Marion has mostly hair sheep that look a lot like goats.

Mrs. Speckles Chick

Winter is still lingers in the high desert. Some snow this week and the high winds of spring. But overall, winter was dry and warm, meaning high in the forties and sunny during the day. Mrs. Speckles, a ten month old banty, hatched one chick three weeks ago. It better be a hen. She sat on three -- one was a blank and another one which was hers, one of the hens ate. We butchered two excess roosters in the last month. They are so pretty and I hate to eliminate that beauty, but then again they are food and for that they are useful. We now are down to three roosters for 21 hens --- George, his son Jack, and Mercury, a feather footed banty and a cocky little guy who chases Jack around. We still have the three ducks. Harriet still may or may not be pregnant. We'll know this month. Snow geese have been sited at the Refuge. Spring migration has begun.

The Palomino Lane Band Debut

We worked up our courage and went Sunday afternoon to the Old Time Fiddlers potluck and jam session at the Harney County Senior Center. Mostly there were guitars and us - Jane on flute and guitar, Diana lead vocal on guitar and me on accordion. I even sang. We had a real fun time, learned a lot and will be back. The jam is once a month with practices on Friday evenings.  We sang three songs, nervous as can be, but we did it. Everyone takes a turn. The guitar players are superb. The one fiddler fell and broke her leg so she wasn't there. One gentleman players the harmonica. A group of ladies play pinocle on Sunday afternoon so they are in the one photo with the group enjoying the potluck. The first photo is Janet and Joan better known as the Sage Rats on hammered dulcimer and guitar. Joan has a fabulous voice.

Jane's Autoharp

Jane showed off her new auto harp when last the band practiced. It's pretty cool, but she has trouble keeping it in tune. We are going to the Old Time Fiddlers jam session at the senior center on Sunday. We're getting very brave.  I had some voice coaching from Joan Sutter, member of the Sage Rates, guitarist and singer extraordinaire. I doubt it helped much but I can pretend. I realize I haven't posted in a while but we're in the winter doldrums here. Not much snow after that last tiny storm. A little rain. Lots of sunshine.  It's been a very very mild winter. Thoughts are turning to spring. I ordered another lemon tree from Guerney's plus a lime tree.  I'm battling aphids on the lemon tree right now which is in bloom again. I use a weak solution of dish liquid and spray it on.  Environment friendly solution. Ms. Speckles, the banty hen, hatched a chick yesterday and she is sitting one more. It is a white leghorn mix. Tiny yellow piece of fluff. She's very determined. John's sister visited last week overnight to check out the Lazy J. We had a very nice visit and I believe she like it here.