LESS SONGBIRDS IN MY YARD THIS SUMMER

      LESS SONGBIRDS THIS SUMMER ~ WHY?

This Cooper's Hawk had a nest built in the tree behind our place when we returned in the Spring.  
I heard it calling and scanned the trees until I spotted the nest.  Nesting, hmmm...there will be offspring!
The hawks spent time sitting in nearby trees, waiting. 
Waiting for the songbirds to gather at my feeders! 
I could tell when the hawks were "looking" for lunch, the songbirds became quiet and disappeared from the yard.  Well, that's nature.  The hawks have to eat too.
Now the squawking has begun!  The fledglings are out testing their wings and hunting skills!  This has really lessened the songbirds at my feeders.  It has been interesting watching the hawks progression throughout the summer.
A plus to the hawks arrival in our vicinity? I've saved money on birdseed!  I'm considering not putting seed out next summer. Possibly just sugar water for the hummingbirds and a birdbath. The songbirds love the birdbath. Fresh water daily is a must.  We have plenty of food in the woods around us, bugs are plentiful, worms are crawling in my flowerbeds...more reasons to refrain from buying birdseed!   AND~the hawks will probably come back to their nest in the spring! 
Another plus: I won't have to try "outsmarting" the squirrels!  They love birdseed!

LEAVING AN ECOLOGICALLY "SMALL FOOTPRINT"

I could be called a "Tree Hugger" ~ a term used  metaphorically, to refer to people who "embrace" nature.  Using less of the earth's resources is always a goal. 
I so enjoy being outdoors (without a lot of cold weather) most of the time.  Years back I loved cross country skiing, walking in the snow; watching a good old blizzard. Now, not so much.  Watching snow fall, walking in the snow - for a day or two would be fine! 
Being a person that loves nature I now strive to love it where it is warm most of the time!  Or, at least, not temps that are near freezing!  
Living the way we do/in a campground in Wisconsin and a 55+community in the winter/we do not have a washer and dryer available, in-house.  Usually it's off to the laundromat-a very small one on the grounds in WI, a large laundry at the park in FL. 
I researched alternatives ways to do wash. Many people that live "off-the grid" use non-electric washers. 

The one I purchased is called The WONDER WASH.
It arrived while I was in Missouri.  Joe and son-in-law, Brian, put it together. 
I have been using my WONDER WASH and really do like it!  I wash and rinse in it.  Wring the water out and hang to dry. Takes me back to the days when I used the old wringer washer!  This is so much smaller!  
The biggest load it can do is five pounds. I weighed my biggest load, with my fish scale, and have never yet had a five pound load.  For two people it will be great.  Plus, I can wash in fifteen minutes!  More than once a week, if I want.



How Does it Work? 
When you put warm or hot water into the drum, fit the lid in place it pressure seals the machine, the air inside the drum will absorb the heat of the water and expand. When the air expands it creates pressure inside the drum. The pressure forces the detergent (which is diluted into the water) into & through the fabric (which is porous) about 100 times faster than you could by hand or machine.
It uses no electricity, it's a hand cranked washing machine!  It's also portable, fits into a wash basket!
It uses so much less water and detergent!
 All leading to leaving a smaller footprint.

A FEW AUGUST SIGHTS

My niece, Brenda, with Malibu at the Dodge County Fair.  Malibu placed in the Futurity division.

     JOSH TURNER concert at the Dodge County Fair

         IRISH FEST
Jigs, potatoes, clovers,

leprechauns, parades, green clothes and more jigs. 

It was Irish Fest, at the lakefront in Milwaukee, WI.

The crowd, on Sunday, was over-whelming!  

People were everywhere.

Sitting by the lake was great.  A breeze, no mosquitoes, people watching -made for a great day.

Oh, and I forgot ----KILTS!

Did I mention the jigs?  The music was everywhere, we were dancing in the streets!

Before Irish Fest we went to the Domes.  Scroll down to see a few pieces of metal work.  

A juried ART FAIR - at the Domes, Milwaukee, WI

The Domes are a beautiful sight in Milwaukee, WI. 

Filled with a variety of flowers, bushes - known and unknown.  Then to have a wonderful art fair on the grounds was a double winner.  

My favorite were the super-sized metal sculptures of a hobbit and the frog working on a Mac Book Pro!  They were both just great to gaze upon. 

Metal art by:  Jim Sauer


www.sculptureillusions.com












Different metals used in yard art.
This sculpture is made from meat grinders and rakes! 


Art by: Michael P. Nolte






An insect with golf club parts/legs.
 What you can do if you can weld!

A GLIMPSE AT A PIECE OF OUR YARD

Homemade yard art graces the garden.
An inviting bench to watch the multitude of feathered friends that come to the feeders. The wrens have rented the birdhouse, in the sky, for this season. 

We get a flurry of Goldfinches coming to the feeders. This yard bird reminded me of them. Always looking around - always welcoming more of the same company.

Sweet Potato Vine overflows, with red flowers peeking out above the vines. 

If  you have never seen the movie:
HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY
watch it sometime. It is a very interesting movie.

"So long and thanks for all the fish."

WISCONSIN STATE FAIR

WISCONSIN STATE FAIR (AKA) FOOD FEST!

Food - "Wisconsin Style" - Deep fried cheese, Bison jerky, Chocolate Covered Bacon, Corn on the cob, Brats with Kraut, Loaded Baked Potatoes, Milk, Ice Cream Sundaes and, of course, Cream Puffs! 


We went the first day of the fair. The crowd was "hyped", the weather was perfect and the food was waiting...
The pig races were 'exciting'?  The Kids from Wisconsin were exceptional, as always. The Dinosaur tent was kind of "hokey".  The animal barns were filled with the best Wisconsin specimens. The demonstration buildings were great and the Journal/Sentinel resting area was comfy and cool, on a warm day. 

T-REX

Spiral Potato Chips-YUM

The Fiddling Kids were exceptional!
Five brothers and sisters, lead by their
Mom - very entertaining.
They sang, played several insturments;
and the youngest, nine years old, was a
yodeller as well.

MOVIE NIGHT AT MICHELLE'S

9th ST VIDEO - In Columbia, MO - where Michelle and I rented movies to watch late in the evening. 

Ragtime Cinema - where else can a person relax, eat and have a drink in Columbia -at the same time.