"Splendid Morning"

Howdy Folks,

Whippoorwills' calls drifted through our bedroom window rousing us even before the roosters began their morning crowing and cackling ritual. I chuckled when I surmised they'd decided to sleep in today but were awakened by competing Whippoorwills. From the bedroom window I can see the skyline begin to brighten behind tall trees, it hadn't yet.

Fumbling about I made coffee and got myself ready for Coffee Clutch with Kessy, the Whippoorwills encouraged me to get a move on, for a few more moments, then on cue, as the sky grew alive with color, they stopped. But the roosters were by then in full cadence. All 7 of them!

As I did my morning barn chores the Wrens who have nests in the chicken house accompanied me with a combination of scolding chatter and alternating flute like song.

Settled in my chair next to Kessy, Saturday at my feet, Tigger on my lap and Miss Kitty next to Saturday, I poured my first cup of steaming Folgers, gazed skyward and thanked God for a splendid morning. Something I do each morning, sun, rain, snow or wind. For isn't every morning splendid?

The Coffee Clutch Gang

 As Kessy munched the Wrens continued to sing, a hummingbird visited the feeder, and the Phoebes "chipped" as they darted here and there snaring insects to feed their nest bursting brood. Their nest is on a ledge in the rafters in Kessy's stall and those youngins are only days away from taking flight.

Doves and a Towhee joined the chickens at the scratch. A Yellow Warbler added his airy tune to the morning's glow. The woods around Kessy's barn are thick now with shining green leaves, giving a feeling of almost being swaddled in nature's beauty. Far distant in those thick woods a Wood Thrush's melody floated on crisp air, weaving between the thick leaves to surround the barn with the clearest notes of a most perfect background singer.

I hope you are having a splendid morning too!

Gitty Up ~ Dutch Henry

"Happy Monday! It's a Bluebird Day!"

Howdy Folks,

HAPPY MONDAY everybody! The Spring symphony of bird song floated on crisp air this morning as I sat with Kessy, Saturday and Miss Kitty enjoying our Coffee Clutch. Kessy's eyes sparkled as she gazed out into the bright morning sun, hay dangling from her mouth. We had enjoyed a lovely, and lively, ride yesterday and I wondered if she was remembering it. I was. Our good friend Chris and her mule Molly had gone with us, and the two girls seemed pretty full of themselves. Ah Spring.

This morning's operatic performance was surely the best so far this Spring. Phoebes called and flitted about, dashing to the dirt to retrieve nest building material for there new nest in Kessy's barn. Mr. Cardinal sat high in a tree and sang loud. Mr. Bluebird too, sang and sang. Mourning Doves joined in, their cooing wafting lightly as backup singers. Several Chipping Sparrows chattered as they scratched the chicken feed, and Mr. Chickadee added his high notes just in time for the chorus. A lone Robin trilled.

The Bluebirds have a complete nest in the front yard and we are keeping watch for the first egg. Ravishin' Robbie is cooking our first batch of Hummingbird nectar of the Spring. We'll be hanging the first feeder today ... They will be here any day now. We've missed our glistening flying jewels. To check when they will be in your area go to http://www.hummingbirds.net/ . And you can report your first sighting there too, just for fun.

On our rides Kessy and I have already seen plenty of Bluetts, Spring Beauties, Myrtle and even Bloodroot flowers … Can our road trip to Blue Ridge Parkway to look for wildflowers be far away? I'm ready!

Ravishin' Robbie, Kessy, the critters  and I send you wishes for a Happy Monday and God Bless!

Gitty Up ~ Dutch Henry

"Brilliant Morning"

Howdy Folks,

Last night's moon and sky had been simply stunning. The full moon so bright I needed no lights as I set out to the barn to give Kessy her bedtime apple slice snack. She met me at the back porch with a nicker and head nod. We lingered a bit together there. I strained my ears hoping for the first Whippoorwill call of the Spring, but heard none. Even the Spring Peepers were silent, the chilly air I suppose had the tiny frogs snugly tucked in. The silence seemed to make that grand moon hanging in a sky of black velvet even more spectacular.

I looked in the Western sky this morning, on my way to Coffee with Kessy, for that big moon. Often in the morning's sparkling blue of the Western horizon I'll see a faded pattern of the previous night's moon. I was certain this morning I'd find that big  moon looking like a round dusty ornament just above the big oak's highest branches. But no, only a brilliant blue sky greeted us. No clouds, no stars, no faded moon. I admit I have no idea why some mornings the retiring moon, and occasionally stars too can still be found in the Western morning sky and other days not, but today I was hoping the big globe would be there.

I settled into my chair as Kessy tugged and munched her hay. We were greeted immediately with a distant train whistle. As if on cue a Cardinal landed on the oak just outside Kessy's barn on the branch I call, the stage. I've named it that because it's a long solitary branch that Spring songbirds often choose as their platform. Mr. Cardinal made full use of that stage and entertained Kessy, Saturday, Miss. Kitty, Tigger, the chickens and me with song after song. Behind him, out of sight,  Mr. Phoebe joined in for a few verses, when he wasn't helping Mrs. Phoebe build their nest on the rafter in the far end of the barn. Then the special treat of the morning came when Mr. Bluebird landed high above Mr. Cardinal and added his lovely trill to the brisk morning air. Another train whistle sounded in the distance.

What a delightfully brilliant morning! We hope yours is too.

God Bless and Gitty Up ~ Dutch Henry

"It's A Beautiful Morning"

Howdy Folks,

Thermos in hand I stepped from the back porch headed for Kessy's barn eager to settle in for our morning Coffee Clutch. The Phoebes, Cardinals and Wrens were already singing. It was a beautiful morning, bright skies, and crisp chilly air. Kessy had a bounce in her step and happy note in her nicker. Saturday did his, "Hurry up feed me dance" all around my feet.

Kessy all bright eyed and cheery followed my every step as I did our morning routine of feeding chickens filling her haybag and just getting ready for Coffee Clutch. Saturday, well by golly he's always just about the happiest beagle in the world followed along too. The birds watching from the treetops have their own reasons for singing so jubilantly, it nearly spring after all, and we have even seen Bluebirds scouting the nest boxes. The Crocuses have been blooming for over a week and the Daffodils are up, too. Won't be long now until we hang the Hummingbird feeders. Hummingbirds are Ravishin' Robbie's favorites.

Maple trees are pushing tiny red buds and the grass sports a shiny green hue. We took a moment and walked a lap around Kessy's woods taking in this sparkling new day, then back to Kessy's barn we headed. She tugged at her hay and munched contentedly. I settled into my chair and poured my first cup. As always, I looked through the trees toward the grand blue sky and thanked God for another beautiful day. Saturday sat beside me, Miss Kitty rubbed my leg, Tigger hopped on my lap.

Kessy, Saturday and the Coffee Clutch Gang hope you have a beautiful day, too!

God Bless & Gitty Up ~ Dutch Henry

Roosters crowed in the dark.

Roosters crowed in the dark. Tigger blinked a protest at the sudden brightness of the light being turned on. A distant a train whistle floated in the air. Saturday could hardly keep his eyes open. The first of the Guinea chickens to wake flew from the chicken house. Ravishin, Robbie said when we turn the clocks back to Eastern Standard Time it'll be light again at 6:30, but for now, most mornings Kessy and the Coffee Clutch gang isn't meeting until after 7:00. And it's still dark then!

Guinea chickens in the chicken house could be a sign of bad, or cold, weather coming. They like to roost in trees most of the time, but will gather with the Banties when it's cold, snowy and sometimes in bad rain storms. I noticed last evening they were going in and thought about the past few cold mornings, but the weather forecast is for the 70s to return for the next week. I chuckled when I thought they must have not heard that. Sure enough all 5 Guineas slept in last night.

We haven't seen a Hummingbird in a few days either. We do keep a few feeders up until well into November as we will often get a stray, late traveler stop in to refuel on its trip south. The latest Hummingbird since we've moved here to Appomattox was November 15. So if you're feeding hummers don't be in too big a hurry to take down your feeders. It is about a week early, though, for them to be gone. Another sign?

I wonder how soon the Juncos will arrive. The little slate gray birds who nest much farther north but winter in the northern US. You might know them as snowbirds. I heard on the news yesterday that at least one Almanac was predicting a lot of snow and bad weather for the Mid-Atlantic States.  So if they heard that too, well, they could show up any day.

The Phoebies flitted about in twos and threes, snapping their beaks and calling, "Phoebeee … Phoebeeee."  Are they gathering to head south?

Kessy, Saturday and the chickens fed, I settled into to my chair, poured a cup of coffee from the thermos and thanked God for a beautiful morning. I do that every morning, no matter the weather. With a sweet wife, great daughter and son-in-law, darling grandbabies, friends like you who join us here, distant train whistles, roosters crowing, birds singing , great pets and horse who loves our coffee clutch, every morning IS indeed a beautiful morning.

As Kessy tugged and munched her hay, I noticed she had a respectable start on a thick winter coat. Are we in for a lot of "snowy" beautiful mornings this winter? Oh my.

Have a beautiful day! ~ Dutch