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The girls and I took a little break from Mud Season last week. We drove about 100 miles south of here for a change of scenery and also a chance to walk on dry ground – no snow or mud, well, maybe a little mud. We walked through the sagebrush and coulees, the girls jumped in various lakes and I saw some tiny wildflowers and birds too. Ken joined us for an afternoon to celebrate my birthday. We ended the trip with a good six mile hike with a friend and her dog. I am pleased that Sky was able to do the whole hike despite her arthritis and spondylosis. She is moving around thanks to modern meds.

Last night’s lunar eclipse.

The Winthrop Balloon Round Up happened this weekend. We stayed home and watched the balloons go by from here. I did sort of miss the action of the balloon inflation and take off but didn’t have the energy to get up early and go to town to watch that part. The weather was perfect and people had long rides, drifting up and down and then most came down valley to land at or near the airport.

Here it is, March 3 and spring birds are already arriving. Here I am catching up on last month’s birds! Pileated Woodpecker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Steller’s Jay, three kinds of finches (Red Crossbill, American Goldfinch and Pine Siskin) and Red-winged Blackbirds (who have been here all winter), note that they are all males. I don’t know where the females spend the winter. And a Red-tailed Hawk. Backyard birds.

Winter means finding a meal is hard so this Sharp-shinned Hawk spent time scoping out the bird feeders last week. They didn’t find food that time.