Maggie the (Not So) Great Coyote Hunter

There we were on the edge of the field and Maggie suddenly began growling, and the ridge of hair on her backbone stood straight up. She was looking toward the field. I'd never seen her act this way before near home.

Next, she turned and ran to get behind me! I had no idea what she had seen but was searching the landscape in the direction she had been looking. Then I saw it!

A medium-sized coyote ran into the woods and plunged down the bank of the gully to the creek. I had no chance to catch a picture. It was almost luck that I saw it at all. Seeing a coyote in this area isn't so unusual, but I have never seen one so close to our house before.

We walked down to the creek by the usual side gully which is a more gentle descent. I looked for the tracks in the mud, but everything was too soft to take a good impression. I've put arrows to the depressions that I think might be where the coyote crossed the creek. They aren't Maggie's tracks.



However, it's clear that Maggie got herself into the soft mud too! I'm always tickled at this look, because it makes me think of a bay horse. You'll notice, too, that now she's confident and self-assured. After all, she chased that alien coyote right out of her territory!

See It's For You for another funny story about Maggie
See Is There a Puppy In There? for the real Maggie
See Getting To Know Maggie for a montage of Maggie pictures

I Heard the Meadowlark

 

I haven't seen one yet, but this morning I began to hear the meadowlarks calling in our field.

Meanwhile, as you can see, I was not patient enough with the Easter Cactus. It needed just one more day for the blossom to fully open.



And here are some "Blue Ice" crocus from the rock garden. I'm afraid the moles have finished off most of the bulbs, but for this week, we get some happy little flowers!

	See Springtime In and Near My Kitchen for earlier buds of the Easter Cactus.
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Springtime In and Near My Kitchen

I awoke this morning to a half-inch of snow on the ground. It's March! I'll spare you a picture- there's been enough snow here.

I've been waiting to be able to show you this series, but it's taken a long time (and it's only 1/3 of the kitchen surprises, hint, hint). Here is a picture from March 6, with the focus wrong, but you can still see the important item.



Here is the same bud on March 16.



And here we are, today! This is a "Holiday Cactus." There are both Christmas and Easter Cactus. One site says "Easter cactus has pointed margins. This contrasts with Christmas cactus, which has either scalloped or rounded leaf margins." Based on that information, this is an Easter Cactus, Rhipsalis gaertneri. However, pictures and labels on the web are all over the place, so I wouldn't want to make a definitive statement. This poor cactus has quite a history. It was a gift from a friend in the months right after Om had a heart attack (Sept 2007). It bloomed around Christmas that year.

Last summer when I was off hiking, Om decided to do better than usual with watering the plants. The problem is that I've switched to mostly succulents! The poor cactus was particularly drowned; I wasn't sure it would even live! But it pulled through, and look what it is up to now!



And by noon the snow was all gone, and look who showed up just outside the kitchen window. Not that a robin is anything special, but it's the first one I've seen this year.

Yesterday I heard a cardinal whistling his "sweet, sweet, sweet." And the day before that it was the "Ank, ank, ank" of a nuthatch!

I think this is enough pictures for today, but the crocuses are starting to pop in the rock garden. Prepare for flowers!

See Cacti and Succulents Site where I found the information I quoted
See My Bluebird of Happiness for another bird this spring
See Philadelphia Flower Show 2009 - III for more pictures of succulents

Blog Notes- Rewarding Top Commenters

I've decided that I would like to reward my top commenters with links. Since not everyone who joins in the dialogue here is on Entrecard, I think this is more fair than rewarding top "droppers", and I like it! I've added your avatars, or something from your blog or profile if you are not on Ecard, with links to your blogs in the left column. I really appreciate the new friends I've made here!

I'll add a couple more as some new participants come on board.

If any of you would be willing to add this site to your blogrolls, it would be just great! But of course, I'm happy to have you stop by rather you do that or not.

There will be a fun post later tonight.

A Visit to Italy

There I was, standing in the Mediterranean Sea, gazing at the coastline of Italy! I've always wanted to travel. Perhaps the magic of the Bella Italia flower show transported me across the waves to within sight of that famous boot. I have to admit that Italy wouldn't be my first choice of destinations, but that's where I seem to have found myself!



See Philadelphia Flower Show - I for the formal Italian entrance to the displays
See Philadelphia Flower Show - IV for the Italian opera singer