Pecos National Park

Pecos National Historical Park

What do you do when it snows?
If you are Colt in the City, you go camping!!


Park Sign Reads:  Limited Use Road.  Not suited for wet weather travel or low clearance vehicles.

Wet Weather?  Check
Low Clearance?  Check

I wonder if this is what they mean by "Not Suited For"?

Travel was sometimes difficult.  One stretch of five miles took over three hours to drive through.  It would have been quicker to hike the five miles than to drive it.

Mule Deer Everywhere!!!

Pecos National Historical Park is such a beautiful place with rivers, wildlife, and incredible views.  I understand completely why he wanted to be in this magnificent setting!  Especially when it snows!

Migrating Bird Invasion!!

There are thousands of them!!!

As part of our morning ranch routine we set out fresh water and scatter lots of bird food for the quail and dove that call Saltbush Flats home.  

Autumn Brings Caterpillars

During the summer we had a plague of some variety of Swallowtail Caterpillars.

Remember These?  Click here.

They are no longer crawling all over the ground.  They have long since disappeared.

Now we have discovered several Black Swallowtail Caterpillars gathering on our dill plant.

Dill

A few Black Swallowtail Caterpillars have decided to make this dill their home, living there for a few weeks now.  There are about seven of them about 2 1/2" long.  They are a lot bigger than the ones during the summer.

They are interesting to watch.  Will they pupate on this dill plant?  Will we see beautiful Black Swallowtails emerge?  Only time will tell.



But wait there is more....

What is big and green and Big and Green?

This!

Big and Green!

Luna Caterpillar

This little fellow is about 4" long and about 3/4" in diameter.  Wow!  That is one BIG little fellow!!

He found his way to our back patio.  Maybe will we see a beautiful Luna Moth one day.

Saltbush Flats Invasion!

Saltbush Flats as been invaded.  Where is the Head of Ranch Security when we need him?

Inside Sleeping on the Job as Usual

We have been fortunate to receive a lot a rain these last few weeks.  Everything is greening up.

Not only did the rain bring a nice green color to our land, it brought these!!  And lots of them.

Swallowtail Caterpillars!

Thousands of them all over the ranchlet!

They are everywhere!

And this one is eating Rancher Roy's tender young purslane!

We know nothing about swallowtails.  It will interesting to see how many survive and become butterflies.



See this post and others like it at:
Tuesday Garden Party
The HomeAcre Hop #32
From the Farm Blog Hop #16

Ranchlet Wildlife - Baby Lizards

Saltbush Flats is full of baby lizards!  They are so tiny and so cute, no more than two inches long, tail and all.  Just adorable!

Baby Lizard on Garden Hose

We so enjoy all the little critters that call Saltbush Flats home.

This post is shared at:
Motivation Monday
Tuesday Garden Party
From the Farm Blog Hop #16

Clothesline Part 4 - The Merry-Go-Round

With the base now securely in the ground.  The umbrella top can finally be set in place.

YEAH!!!

Looks a little odd.

Thanks Rancher Roy

Did you notice what is growing next to the clothesline?  Yes, you are correct.  Lavender!
There is a large plant on each side of the clothesline.  Fresh, clear mountain air and lavender too.  Laundry never smelled so clean and fresh.

Even this moth enjoys the smell of lavender

Merry-Go-Round

Within minutes of erecting the clothesline this little hummingbird was enjoying the first of many rides on his new merry-go-round.  Silly me, I thought this contraption was for laundry.  Who knew.

See Clothesline Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.

This umbrella clothesline fits perfectly with Saltbush Flats' attitude of self-sufficiency. 
What New Mexico has an abundance of is sunshine and wind.  Why pay for propane to dry clothes when this glorious New Mexico weather will do it for free... and better.
No static cling.  No wrinkles.  No artificial smells.
Just soft fresh laundry.  sigh :)

This post is shared at:

Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways #84     Think Tank Thursday

The Homesteaders Hop #4

Farmgirl Friday Bloghop #120
Homestead Barn Hop #123
Tuesday Garden Party
The Backyard Farming Connection #43

These Plants Welcomed Us to Saltbush Flats

Field Bindweed

Field Bindweed

Cactus

Dill

Russian Olive

Elm

Rose

Rose

Fourwing Saltbush

Unknown

Lavender

Mystery Plant?

What is this mystery plant?

Being new to New Mexico, I am not familiar with plants of the arid southwest.  I am at a complete loss to the identity of this plant.

There are several of these deliberately planted along the back wall and also in the front garden area.

The previous owner must have really thought these were great to have so many of them.
Hmmm... What makes them so great?

Please help.



Hoping to find an answer, this post is part of the following blog hops
The Prairie Homestead Homestead Barn Hop #121
The Oregon Cottage Tuesday Garden Party

Typically Tubby - Look What the Cat Drug In...

I heard a meow.  

He sounded a little distressed.

So, of course, Saltbush Flats came to a complete stop because the head of ranchlet security is in need of something.

But where is he?  I thought I heard the meow from outside.  Rancher Roy thought it came from the bedroom.  hmmm....

We soon found Tubby under the bed, intently focused on something.  "Oh great, what does he have now?" we thought.

Up the bed came, frame and all, tipped to one side.  There trapped against the wall with no way out was a little lizard scared to death, Tubby within inches of him.

We were able to rescue this little fellow and return him outside, but not without a few well voiced complaints from the cat.

In a Jar To Be Transported Outside

Safely Outside, Still Clinging to the Paper Towel,
 Too Traumatized to Move

How do you teach the head of ranchlet security that daily lizard patrol and especially bringing prisoners into captivity is not really necessary?

To learn more of Tubby, see Dreams of an Extraordinary Guard Cat

This post is part of the following blog hops
The Prairie Homestead Homestead Barn Hop
The Oregon Cottage Garden Party Highlights

Just What Is a Saltbush Anyway?

We are blessed with fourwing saltbush on our ranchlet.

This plant has many names.  Rancher Roy calls it chamisa.  

It is also called white greasewood, saltsage, fourwing shadscale, and bushy atriplex.

Saltbush is an excellent forage food for cattle, antelope, elk, and other wildlife.  It is a highly nutritious source of food all year long, comparable to alfalfa.

Saltbush is a native drought tolerant plant, just perfect for this high and dry area we call home.  Elevation 6209 feet.

This post is part of the following blog hops

An Oregon Cottage Garden Party Highlights

He Brought All His Friends + Hummingbird Video

Hummers at Play

It Came with the Ranchlet - Hummingbird Feeder and Nectar Recipe

          This hummingbird feeder is just outside my door.  A few days ago I saw a little hummingbird hovering over the feeder looking for nectar.  With everything to do getting settled in a new home, the feeder went neglected.  This afternoon I was determined to get the hummingbirds back.

Clean feeder and fresh nectar

          That dark mark on the base had me stumped.  I tried and tried to scrub it off. I lost that battle and the mark is still there.  

          While hanging the filled feeder I soon realized the purpose of the mark.  It is let me know which hole the hook goes into to hold the feeder still in these harsh New Mexico winds.  Can you imagine the little hummers being whipped around in this wind, holding on for dear life.

Thanks to that little fellow's visit this feeder is now clean and full all ready for him to return... and bring his friends.

Nectar Recipe

1 cup sugar

4 cups water

Stir together sugar and water in saucepan.  Bring to boil.  Boil just long enough for sugar to dissolve and mixture to become clear.  Cool.  Makes 4 1/2 cups nectar.