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[sanrico AT highdesert.com]

Nice, Gene. Sets a peaceful tone for the weekend.
Thanks -
Sandy

On Sat, 01 Oct 2005 08:38:03 -0500, Gene GeRue wrote:

> 
> During the four years I was away, the Heartwood grasses grew to impressive 
> heights, in some places as high as my head. Neighbor-friend, Jeff Hubbard, 
> came down with his bushhog and whacked the stuff down a couple weeks before 
> I arrived but there was some rain and when I got here the grass in the 
> front was about two feet tall. My brother, who came along to help, was as 
> usual armed with binoculars and bird identification books and we were both 
> disappointed to find virtually no evidence of birds here save the calls and 
> occasional sighting of the pileated woodpecker.
> 
> I mused on the condition and observed that, at least in the case of 
> bluebirds, small birds hunt in short grass, and perhaps they simply 
> couldn't find enough groceries to survive in this unkempt place. So I 
> mounted the mower steed and galloped through the hayfield, whacking it down 
> to about four inches, the tallest setting on the mower, that high until I 
> had found the stones raised by the armadillo army in my absence.
> 
> I was correct. Having now mown three times in three weeks, the front yard 
> is again alive. This morning there are pairs of bluejay, bluebird, cardinal 
> and goldfinch. Even the pileated seems to be coming in closer to check out 
> the action. That's more like it.
> 
> Sitting at the computer last night a movement on the porch caught my eye 
> and I turned just in time to see a Carolina wren hop into the terrapin 
> shell hanging against the top beam under the porch roof. I watched for a 
> bit and the hanging tail didn't move. I suffered the pain of wondering if I 
> had poisoned it with the wasp and hornet spray used the day before. Then 
> the tail twitched and I relaxed. This morning it is gone, out looking for 
> breakfast.
> 
> 
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