Lookin' Out My Back Door Update: Raven Rascals, New Digs, New View, New Horse!

It's been quite awhile since I last wrote in this blog, but I have been very busy as you will see. Before I begin with all that is new, however, I just have to post about my clever ravens one more time.

 

 Last winter, I desperately tried to keep up with my hungry winter birds: woodpeckers, flickers, mountain chickadees, nuthatches, etc, but every morning I'd find the suet cage open and empty.  I tried tying it with string...no luck...then wiring it closed, but no matter what I did, I'd find it gaping wide open and empty.  I had an idea who the clever thieves were, so I kept a close eye on the deck.  Fortunately one morning, I caught them in the act!  

My two ravens working together with both beaks and four feet.  Pulling, poking, twisting, turning.  I managed to get my camera and gingerly step close enough for a shot:  While one is flying the coup, the other still has a greedy hold on the cage. What characters!

 

New House.  New View

Big changes for my back door view indeed.  Last spring we moved into a new house in the far northeast corner of Lake Arrowhead, still easy walking distance to the forest.  While I no longer have that dazzling lake view, I am surrounded by magnificent trees: birch, aspen, oak, sequoia, manzanita, even a number of fruit trees.  It is lovely.

First snow fall just last week.

Lookin" out my back door toward the forest--just this week.  That's how fast the snow sometimes melts.

Deck built around oak trees.

Lookin' out my back door toward fruit trees.

 

I have a whole new assortment of birds and squirrels and chipmunks eating out of my feeders on the deck. In addition, we've had deer passing through our back yard. And one night, driving home about 10 PM, we saw a large, beautiful black bear cruising slowly up the street.  So I'll have plenty to write about lookin' out my back door!  

Passing through our back yard this spring.

 

New Horse!

As if this isn't enough, I also have a new love in my life.  A miniature horse named Luke.

 We brought him up to the mountain in September to join Jack, Guinness, and Miss Booty.                       

 

Jack was pretty darn cool about the whole thing.

Guinness was particularly excited to meet his new friend.  If he only knew what he was in for!

 

 

What started out as sweet and peaceful... 

 

has become pretty rowdy at times! 

  

Luke's expertise is in driving a cart--a skill that he is patiently teaching me.

                                    

 

We actually ventured out on the road a bit. 

 

So finally I am settled and ready to, as John Fogerty said,  "Look at all the happy creatures dancing on the lawn."   And write about them of course!

 

Next on my list...The Fascinating Communal Life of Acorn Woodpeckers, followed by a bit of research on The Gradual Return of Tree Squirrels to the San Bernardino Mountains. 

 

As for my ravens, I still see them flying and soaring about as I walk in the woods or drive around the lake, so I'm sure you haven't heard the last of them yet.