July 2020

On the homestead blog: my (for now) daily post of (not really) ducklings. 🦆

2020-07-31 · ducks

I’m fortunate that I don’t need to leave the homestead very often: it’s been 57 days since the last time, when I picked up the ducklings (and I went 61 days earlier this year). But today I did, to get duck and chicken food, straw, and mower gas.

2020-07-31 · david · shopping · vehicles

On the homestead blog: some sad news this Flock Friday: a raccoon got into one of our chicken coops, and killed two of our chickens. (Don’t worry, there are no graphic pictures in this post.) #FlockFriday 🦆🐓

2020-07-31 · chickens · ducks · FlockFriday · wildlife

Flowers of the day: gladiolus. 🌱

2020-07-31 · flowers

On the homestead blog: the ducks all spent the night outside again, as I expect will be the norm going forward. They slept on the pond and on the bank by the pond deck, which is one of Bert’s favorite spots. 🦆

2020-07-30 · ducks · pond

Remember the Before Times, when people could travel? Back in 2004 Jenn and I visited Las Vegas. Check out that fancy video camera! #ThrowbackThursday

2020-07-30 · david · jenn · ThrowbackThursday · travel · vacation

Flowers of the day: allium. 🌱

2020-07-30 · flowers

Nobody guessed the answer to today’s What’s It Wednesday question. The answer: a ChickenGuard pop door opener on the chicken coop, that lifts and lowers the door the chickens use to go to their run. #WhatsItWednesday

2020-07-29 · chickens · WhatsItWednesday

On the homestead blog: last night the ducks all spent the night outside for the first time. 🦆

2020-07-29 · ducks

Today we had lunch on the pond deck (with homemade sourdough rolls). Forgive the dirty table; we haven’t used it for quite some time. We really should do that more often, but it’s less convenient than just using the house’s main deck.

2020-07-29 · bread · food · pond

Let’s play What’s It Wednesday again. What do you think this is? #WhatsItWednesday

2020-07-29 · WhatsItWednesday

A video on my YouTube channel: the ducks swimming in the pond, enjoying mealworm treats tossed from the pond deck. 📹🦆

2020-07-29 · ducks · video

Flowers of the day: a yucca by the pond cascades, with a bonus GIF of the stream flowing. 🌱

2020-07-29 · flowers · gif

On the homestead blog: more pictures of the ducks swimming in the pond, plus some bonus GIFs, and pictures of dragonflies near the ducks. 🦆

2020-07-28 · ducks · pond

Excellent advice from Heinlein’s Red Planet: 💬

2020-07-28 · quote

Never listen to newscasts. Saves wear and tear on the nervous system.

Flowers of the day: crocosmia. 🌱

2020-07-28 · flowers

On the homestead blog: yesterday I opened the duck house pop door for the first time, and while Bert joined them, the new ducks didn’t venture into the pond. But today was different; they had their first swims in the pond! 🦆

2020-07-27 · ducks · pond

Since the new ducks didn't avail themselves of the pond when I opened the pop door yesterday, today I "encouraged" them (I basically shoved them out the door). The three females went first, and Bert showed them around the pond, then the boys joined them.

2020-07-27 · ducks · video

This video contains five clips from their first swim, from different vantage points around the pond. 📹🦆

Hamilton movie 🍿 #MediaMonday

2020-07-27 · MediaMonday

My wife and I saw Hamilton in Portland in 2018, and we looked forward to seeing this movie recording of the original cast. It was really good, and so well known, I don’t think I need to say more.

Flowers of the day: I haven’t done daylilies for several days, so here you go. 🌱

2020-07-27 · flowers

On the homestead blog: today’s the day! Today I opened the pop door of the duck house. But it didn’t go quite as expected. 🦆

2020-07-26 · ducks