No exciting horse news today. I am resting for the weekend. There is a heat advisory, so I am using that as an excuse to take it easy.
Harry and Weedy were taking it easy this morning before the day got going.
The horses were very happy in the field this morning, and stayed out for an extra hour.
There were plenty of birds, as usual. We often have three crows stop by, but they never get close to the house. They like to perch on the fence that divides the pastures. I like crows, but I was once mowing, and there was a baby bunny that came out of the long grass and went hopping across the mowed area. I was very relieved I hadn’t hit it with the mower. Then, just as I was watching the rabbit, a crow swooped down off the fence and grabbed it, eating it right before my eyes. No wonder they are called collectively, a “murder of crows”! That horrifying incident has sort of clouded my delight in crows, but they are cool, smart creatures. We all need to eat, and I guess that bunny’s time was up.
A goldfinch sat decorously in the potted lemon tree on the back porch. It was quite pretty, and I think the lemon felt like a real tree with a bird sitting in it. Alas, I don’t think it’s making any lemons this year. There were blossoms, but they came to naught.
A crow 
The catbird drinks
Before it got too hot, I spent some time relaxing on the screened porch, reading. As usual, I had company.
Nettie wants Weedy’s trophy. 
Nettie got that carcass! 
Weedy and Mistletoe
Tom Morris was wild this morning, and climbed the ash tree, pretending to be a jaguar.
In the garden, the hibiscus continues to delight, but when I bought the pink one, I was intrigued by a perennial I was unfamiliar with, so I bought it. It had finished blooming, from the looks of it, but was a very healthy looking plant. Well, today, it bloomed! Only one flower, and it will be amazing next Spring, but here is spigelia marilandica, Indian Pink.
Indian Pink (spigelia marilandica)
I actually had time to visit with Marianne this evening. We caught up on local gossip and I took a picture, but the lighting wasn’t very good. She does wield a broom well. I am always telling her she doesn’t have to sweep, but she insists on doing an impeccable job.
Harry took the dogs out for evening air and “training”…
Loose the hounds! 
Harry and his pack of 2 couple 
Sculptor, Master of Foxhounds, emeritus, and dog trainer
Little Mistletoe was tired at the end of the day. It’s hard work, keeping guard and yapping intermittently.
Stay safe, stay well, you should know the rest by now, but don’t get complacent.
I had no idea crows were predators. Well, omnivores, of course, and that means a baby bunny. Oh nature, sometimes you can be so harsh. Crows are smart as heck, this I know. I wonder where this puts the Catbird? See how you make me wonder, Anne? A good thing, wondering.
Wondering is, indeed, a good thing, Jane!