Hairy MacLairy has been brought into the barn for a short visit because he keeps scraping his knees. Blood and flies in the field can be a nasty mix. I have been trying to treat his grazes in the field but he hates the wound spray and gallops away when he sees me coming. Then yesterday he turned up with blood running down his leg after opening up an abrasion I thought had healed. So I have had to bring him in until his wounds heal properly. I am still working in the barn, building and cleaning so he is not lonely, but boy that ram can sulk.
He has the pigs for company and Daisy visits but evidently that is not enough.
With the wind still not letting up TonTon has taken it upon himself to be my hatcatcher. So when the hat flies off, making a desperate bid for freedom, Ton will chase it down, catch it, give it a good shake as some kind of reprimand and then return it to me.
At either end of the verandah is a beautifully scented Mock Orange. These are quite big bushes. Yesterday I realised that I had been seeing a female Northern Cardinal in and out of this bush close to the house, quite often. 
She and her mate were also singing very loudly in the tree close to the window. Usually they are right up in the tops of the big trees. Look what I have found. And this nest is not on the far side of the shrub where it is darker and quieter, it is right next to the railing.
If she starts to lay eggs so close to the house I am going to have to stop using these front steps for a while. 
Talking of birds. You know what the guineas are waiting for don’t you.
Good morning. I did get my quiet ordinary day at home. Daisy was looked over by the expert and has a few days to go she thinks. Though of course there are no guarantees about anything this is farming after all.
I have to do some work with the Old Codger today that cannot wait, so I hope Daisy holds off for a few more days for me. I need to bring Dale from the retirement home back to his house to meet the rehabilitation people, for a house inspection with them, in anticipation of his release. I guess he has to prove to them that he can manage safely by himself in the house. This property has been his home for almost a hundred years, so I am crossing my fingers for him.
You all have a lovely day.
celi
PS I cannot remember if I mentioned this before but if The Kitchen’s Garden has dropped off your wordpress list do press unfollow and then follow again. There has been some hiccup in the process and I don’t want you to get lost. You will be unsubscribing then resubscribing and that way you will get your email notifications of The Kitchens Garden pages the moment they are posted. I would hate you to miss out on the arrival of the newest addition to the farmy. I will be posting on Facebook as usual. Just out of interest I do post my favourite shot from each post on my Pinterest board. Plus shots I like from your posts too. c
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79 responses to “Northern Cardinals come home to roost.”
hi celi! i don’t know if you follow this blog but if you don’t, you muct check out her post for today. her cow just calved!
I am thrilled that you sent me to that blog.. wonderful, that is an amazing set of pics, and very good learning for me.. Joyce you are a star!! thank you.. c
Aww poor Hairy! Hope he heals soon…I’m sure he’s getting lots of lovin’. 🙂 Crossing my fingers for Dale. xx
we will know tomorrow how things work out.. hi caro.. c
Knee boo boos are The Worst! 😦
I love that word.. boo boo!! c
He does look particularly sorry for himself doesnt he?
I love the fact the birds come in close to the house.
I have a yellow breasted robin that sits outside my office window most days watching me from the fence. When I am stressed and up to my neck in deadlines it’s kinda comforting to not feel so alone with it all. Reminds me of the robin in The Secret Garden
It is a profound comfort when a wild bird or animal notices us .. something deep smiles.. i am glad you have your robin Sue.. c
I do have my fingers crossed, leaving a home that you love under the best circumstances is no fun..imagine when we are elderly…seems to be a bit of a hiccup in our social structure ~ to me.
….waiting for babies of all kinds, from birdies to calves..how exciting. C, have you tried SWAT a salve that protects the wound and keeps flies at bay?
J
No i have not tried swat, I shall find it though, flies in a wound are awful!! c
I must say that Hairy does a rather handsome version of sulking – he could be a film star. How exciting to find the nest and to have the promise of baby cardinals hatching one day. I give you five stars for always finding a new angle in your posts. There is never a dull moment.
morning juliet, dull does not seem to work around here!! cool huh.. c
Lucky that TonTon is helpful. My cat, Jack, “helps” by sitting on my papers while I’m working on them. He “helps” by not helping at all!
Oh I know that kind of helper!! persistent they are.. c
Awww… I’ve missed everyone. As soon as I opened your blog, I immediately smiled because I haven’t seen all the farm animals in awhile. I just love coming here.
Poor Hairy. I can so identify with him. I fell on my back stairs — nothing serious but for a scraped knee on my “bum” leg. Because of it’s location on that leg, I never felt a thing but it looks pretty nasty. I hope Hairy’s wounds are as painless.
I do love your cardinals. I hope one day to see them in the flesh but in the meantime I await photos eagerly.
I didn’t get your notification of this post, but the next one came OK, so I found this by following the arrow at the top. I haven’t read today’s yet, but this one is just grand. I love sulky Hairy and
clever TonTon. Great news that the Codger may be home soon.
Great picture of Hairy and good luck for Dale 😉
Glad that TonTon has a job. Wonderful photos as always!
I LOVE birds and am jealous of your cardinals – we have a few around here but more up in the Twin Cities and Duluth than down this far south. I also love your blue glass insulator on the stair rail!
Will do the manipulations ;- I was going to forewarn that I would be unsubscribing so I could subscribe again. I haven’t been receiving your posts for weeks.
Can I just do a little summary. Your photo looked GREAT. All that chatter about hair, etc…Celi, you are gorgeous. Poor old Hairy with the bottom lip out. Yeay for the Old Codger coming home. That is such good news…it adds years to the lives of our elders. My fingers are crossed for Daisy. And last, funny, I too have a wee aversion to crock pots. Yah yah – I know the benefits. But I like food closer to raw than having received Last Rites.
I know, I also like my food fresh.. but I am trying to think sideways!! c