Baby Barn Swallows

My baby Barn Swallows hatched today. The picture is a little blurry, but I didn't get to take more because the mom was very upset when she saw us too close to the nest.

It's been a long time baby!

I apologize for not keeping more connected with everyone. I like everyone, I suppose, was extremely busy throughout June. As some of you might know I have been busy spending my weekends at summer festivals, here in North Carolina and some surrounding states, with my friends making, vending and performing with hula hoops. Three of us have started The Asheville Hoops Troupe and we are now booking performances at various venues in the Asheville area. I guess you could say I'm hooked. Between working and hooping practice ect... I stay jam packed. I am also in negotiations to buy a house here in West Asheville at the end of the month. Although I never thought I would hang around anywhere for very long, I guess I have found my groove here, for now at least. I enjoy the Blue Ridge Mountain Range here in Asheville, that butts up against the Great Smoky Mountains. There are ample national forests, parks, rivers and plenty of whiter water rafting. Asheville is an interesting mix of artists, performers and musicians mixed in with mountain men, moonshine and a real southern flare. To say the least it is really interesting. Jyoti is driving out here next week and I am taking him rafting with my boater friends and to the local roller derby. Should be fun. I hope to make it back to Colorado sometime in the fall, maybe September, to see ya'll. Hope everyone is doing well.

Shona

P.S. I have put a link on the blog to my friend Melanie's website Asheville Hoops.

One More Nest

This is a House Sparrow nest on top of my bat box! They apparently didn't like the nesting shelf - and the bats apparently don't like my bat box. :-(

The Nesting Shelf

This Barn Swallow couple, sitting on the swing in my backyard, is nesting on my front porch shelf! :-) This shelf is very versatile - Say's Phoebes (see pictures below) nested in 2007, and House Finches nested in 2008. The House Finch nest was disgusting - the poop just piled up to make the nest walls higher. My Barn Swallow nest is made of mud.

1 Fish, 2 Fish...

How in the world does a female guppy have fry when there is no daddy? Our guppy Daisy gave birth to 6 fry just days after we adopted her. This morning - 5 weeks later - we discovered 4 new fry. Now we need a bigger tank!

My Blog - email change?

Hi...

I still have the same home email which I use to sign into Blogger, but I noticed that my Gmail address shows up above my blog when I view it.  If you see it too, don't worry about it... none of you have to change your email address books.  You can send me email as usual.

Good-Bye Greenwood

I am very sad today, as it was my last day at Greenwood. With the current parenting schedule of Craig having the kids every other Thursday evening through Monday morning, I couldn't justify me having to get a sitter on my Sundays with the kiddos to go volunteer all afternoon. When I told Lindsey, I started crying. I cried all the way home. I am crying right now writing this.

My farewell gift was getting to feed a baby raccoon for the first time. I think my favorites over the past year, however, were the birds. Today we had a room full of babies who needed feeding every hour. The majority were your everyday birds (house finches, house sparrows, starlings), but we did have three nestlings who were unusual Greenwood visitors - baby meadowlarks. They were adorable!

I guess not all is lost. I will stay on the volunteer newsletter that lists shifts needing help, so if a time fits my schedule, I can go in then. Hopefully, once this crappy divorce is over, I can fit Greenwood back into my life because: 1. I had no idea I'd be this upset over leaving, so I obviously love working there; and 2. it's important for Cody and Tara to see the value of being a volunteer. So, to compensate for my loss, I think I'll start hiking again. Anyone know of some good trails near Loveland?