Just Hanging Out Together

Heidi, Jack and Striker are enjoying laying about together in the moderate weather today.

Fox Squirrel

I knew that wildlife must have been using our water tubs, but this is my first actual sighting: a fox squirrel getting a drink. 

And as I was sitting here in the buggy posting this, another fox squirrel came by and let me get its picture. 

Green Snake

I was fishing out a couple of blocks from under some brush and I saw a branch move.  On a second look, I perceived this little green snake hunting for bugs in amongst the branches. 

Big Culvert

We put in a  3-ft culvert in a branch at the end of the mulched path that opens up into a large field.  Without rain for weeks it is dry enough to work here. 

A quiet place to read....

Fall Flowers and the Gulf Fritillary

We often see the Gulf Fritillary on flowers blooming in Joy's garden.

Also blooming along pasture edges and meadow areas is the purple false foxglove [Agalinis purpurea (L.) Pennell].

We believe this is a host plant for the Fritillary, we have seen caterpillars on the plant that resemble Fritillary caterpillars. 

The chrysalis case above was empty. 

Schommer Crossing

During wet weather the Schommer crossing is often a mess with mud and standing water, if not flushing water after a big rain.  But since it has been so dry lately, it's a good time to setup some drainage control and bring in fill dirt for the roadway. 

Last couple of days were spent with the backhoe to clear brush and small trees at the western entrance to the crossing, as  well as to dig out a drainage channel to help direct water away from the roadway.