“Animals produce signals coded in sounds, scents, songs, dances, rituals and language. Humans use language so much that it swamps our own ability to recognize subtle and not-subtle nonverbal signals that we ourselves continually display and respond to….The world is awash in layers and waves of communication.” Carl Safina Becoming Wild
Category: Animals
Snake Skin, Bone And Honeycomb
I found this shedded snake skin in the woodpile this morning. I feel like I’m so familiar with what these, I wanted to be able to see it differently. So I took some pictures of it with my macro lens.
The shredded skin is so delicate and papery, but in this photo it looks more like bone and honeycomb.
Merricat’s Smile. A Good Way To End The Day
I’m happy to end this blogging day with Merricat’s smile.
Good Monday Morning From Bedlam Farm 3/1/21
Fish Tank Make-Over
Every few months, Jon and I do a fish tank make-over.
This time we took out a lot of the gravel which was too thick on the bottom of the tank and removed one plant that was putting too much algae into the tank.
I’m continuing to remove the ramshorn snails. They reproduce quickly especially when there’s a lot of food for them to eat, and they were beginning to take over the tank.
I have a fishbowl next to the tank where they will live out their lives.
I read if they aren’t overfed they’ll be slower to reproduce. This way I can also easily keep an eye out for their eggs and remove them before they hatch.
We got a few new plants to replace the old one. And a few Tetras and a Pleco, which is a bottom feeder. He loves to hang out in the roots of the tree.
Above is one of the Bambo shrimp and my Mystery Snail, Socrates on the truck of the tree. The Shimmer Fish spend their time all together treading water under the tree too.
The small white dots on the tree are Nerite Snail eggs. They need saltwater to hatch, so we don’t have to worry about the tank being overrun by baby Nerite snails.
Merricat On The Move
There’s a well-worn path that leads from the barnyard under the apple tree and to the frozen marsh where the sheep have been grazing as best they can.
When I got back from my walk with Fate and Zinnia, the sheep started making their way back to the barn hoping, no doubt, that I would feed them again.
Asher And Issachar, The Twins
Even though the twins, Asher and Issachar, are older now, they still eat like teenage boys. Asher usually has his two front feet in the feeder when he’s eating. This morning their mouths were stuffed with so much hay, most of it fell out of their mouths before the could eat it all.
Jon, Fate and The Donkeys Out My Studio Window
I smile as much now looking at this picture of Jon as when I looked out my studio window and saw him. Fanny and Lulu enticed him to give them a treat as they often do.
“I need to borrow Fate,” Jon said to me this afternoon. “Sure, I told him,” just send her back when you’re done.”
Jon was testing out his new idea of training Fate to come in from the barnyard. Something she never really wants to do. He wrote about it on his blog today. I’m glad to say, his very basic and simple idea of saying the word “treat” to get her to come is working.
But just as much, I love to look out my window and see Jon with Fate, feeding the donkeys and filling up the water bucket while the sun is shining and the ice is melting.
Barn Owl Quilt
I began working on a quilt today. Of course, it’s the owl that inspired me. It was a linen towel, that Carolyn gave me. I just cut it down a bit and started adding to it. I’m going for a certain feeling, although I don’t quite have words for it.
I’m hoping it comes across as I continue working.
That’s as far as I got tonight. I didn’t get a chance to sew the strip of fabric to the left side. Bellydancing Zoom Class begins in just a few minutes, so off I go.
White Hen Eats Mozzarella
I did save some of the mozzarella and give it to both hens in the coop. I’m sure Brown Hen got some. There was one piece left this afternoon.
