Barefoot boy view of The Hideout today.

[JB]

I have to walk an hour or two every day. The Hideout's 120 acres of native range and woodland is a wonderful place to do that walking. I have to go pretty slow and use a staff, so I am seeing things that I used to see when I was a wee tad exploring the woods around my childhood home in North Carolina. They are always there, but usually only the Tom Sawyers among us notice.

Hummer feeders. Many of you know that I feed a huge flock of humming birds. The birds are almost all here, now, and there will be a dozen or so of the little jewels zooming and twittering about the feeders any time during the day. Today it is different. A hive of honeybees have discovered the hummer feeders and covered all four of them. This is big news. Honeybees are disappearing from the wild at an alarming rate. Many fruit and veggie crops are in danger of not being pollinated. Finding out that there is a hive nearby is really good news.

Whitetail skulls. Found three in the South field. One Buck had the antlers and part of the skull sawed off. This is bad, bad news. Clearly poached on our posted land. Spotted a tall stand about 200' into neighboring land. Serious conversation with the owner of that land coming up.

Buzzard with a broken wing. How that happened I have no idea but it seems to be okay except for that. Feeble attempt to capture it to take it to a vet was just that: feeble. I don't think I even frightened it.

Well, that is today. Every day offers some new adventure for those who are attentive enough.

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: Barefoot boy view of The Hideout today.

Don't know if this is a dumb question, but is there any chance those are Africanised bees?
Of course our perspective on that from way up here is the media hype that goes with the killer bee reports.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Barefoot boy view of The Hideout today.

That's what we did this weekend. I took my family camping/fishing, but after 5-6 hours of no fish (don't know what the heck happened to that lake as everyone I saw was skunked and virtually nothing on the fish finder) we went hiking along the shore. Kids had a blast being the leader, finding crawdad shells, trying to identify animal tracks in the mud/sand, spooking up Canadian geese, ducks and jack rabbits. We watched a flock of seagulls circling high up as the kids tried to figure out what the flock looked like; a squid, a fish, an elephant,,, etc.

Reminded me of when I was their age and discovering things for the first time.

 

[JB]

Re: Barefoot boy view of The Hideout today.

I suppose they could be "Africanized", but they were very non-aggressive. I picked a few off one feeder to get a closer look (cataracts) and did not get stung.

I should have mentioned tracks, spoor, wildflowers, etc. but I didn't want to make too long a post.

 

[lowkee]

Re: Barefoot boy view of The Hideout today.

Sounds like a great place to live. I grew up on an angus farm, only 10 acres, but I sure miss walking with the cattle. Always brings you back to nature's pace of living.

 

[Woodnaut]

Re: Barefoot boy view of The Hideout today.

It's wildflower season in Texas right now, and it's quite a show. There are Mamas dropping babies in the bluebonnets and snapping their pictures port and starboard.

 

[ezbtr]

Re: Barefoot boy view of The Hideout today.

I have to walk an hour or two every day. The Hideout's 120 acres of native range and woodland is a wonderful place to do that walking. I have to go pretty slow and use a staff, so I am seeing things that I used to see when I was a wee tad exploring the woods around my childhood home in North Carolina. They are always there, but usually only the Tom Sawyers among us notice.

Hummer feeders. Many of you know that I feed a huge flock of humming birds. The birds are almost all here, now, and there will be a dozen or so of the little jewels zooming and twittering about the feeders any time during the day. Today it is different. A hive of honeybees have discovered the hummer feeders and covered all four of them. This is big news. Honeybees are disappearing from the wild at an alarming rate. Many fruit and veggie crops are in danger of not being pollinated. Finding out that there is a hive nearby is really good news.

Whitetail skulls. Found three in the South field. One Buck had the antlers and part of the skull sawed off. This is bad, bad news. Clearly poached on our posted land. Spotted a tall stand about 200' into neighboring land. Serious conversation with the owner of that land coming up.

Buzzard with a broken wing. How that happened I have no idea but it seems to be okay except for that. Feeble attempt to capture it to take it to a vet was just that: feeble. I don't think I even frightened it.

Well, that is today. Every day offers some new adventure for those who are attentive enough.

sent you an IM

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Barefoot boy view of The Hideout today.

I have a 17.5 foot trihull that is fairly heavy and is rated for 130hp, yet I only have a 65hp engine on it. According to my GPS, top speed on flat water is 28.7 mph.

In a world of 40 - 50 mph boats, I often get kidded about my old barge. I don't care though, because I'm just not a go fast guy. I also don't care because there are things that I want to see that I wouldn't see, if I were to be out "bombing around in the bayous."

The photo below is an example of what I do with my boat and what I get to see by doing exactly what JB is referring to - taking the time to really enjoy the "complex simplicity" of nature.

 

[ezbtr]

Re: Barefoot boy view of The Hideout today.

get a flat tire and walk to somewher you can repair it - I dont care if you've driven it 1oo times, you'll see lots of new things....

 

[bucky7680]

Re: Barefoot boy view of The Hideout today.

If those were Africanized Bees JB would not be able to post. From his discription it sounds like they were swarming. In the spring a hive will produce a new queen. The old queen will leave the hive with a portion of the workers to seek out a new home. They were most likely atracted by the sugar and resting while scouts were loking for a place for the hive to set up shop. Most people freak when they see a swarm but the bees are actually at their most dosile state during a swarming because they have no hive to protect. If you know of any local beekeeper give them a call most will gladly come out to capture the swarm. I just captured one this weekend. I only recieved one sting and that was because I used my hands instead of a stick to knock the swarm in to a waiting bee box. In my area a swarm is worth around $100+.




Please don't freak and kill a swarm. They will be off on their way in a day or two. If we did not have bees, you may not starve but your variety of food would be limited.

 

[JB]

Re: Barefoot boy view of The Hideout today.

Not swarming. Taking advantage of the free sugar, they were coming and going to feeders several feet apart.

 

[Mike Robinson]

Re: Barefoot boy view of The Hideout today.

Thanks for sharing JB! Your post brought a smile to my face. Is there any chance those skulls where brought to your property by a dog or other scavenger(question mark)

By the way, does anyone know why I sometimes get a `?` instead of a question mark ?

 

[JB]

Re: Barefoot boy view of The Hideout today.

I doubt it, Mike. There are signs about of field dressing. . .dried blood, bits of hide and hair, etc., but no bones other than the skulls and a few vertebra. Also, the cluster in a small area suggests that all were killed nearby and brought to this spot for dressing.

New stuff today. First scissortail flycatcher of the season. Lordy, what a gorgeous fellow. Purple martins (4) appear to be moving in to the PM house. Been there three years; this is the first sign of occupancy by non-sparrows.

 

[IVAZ]

Re: Barefoot boy view of The Hideout today.

Don't know if this is a dumb question, but is there any chance those are Africanised bees?
Of course our perspective on that from way up here is the media hype that goes with the killer bee reports.

Most bees in Texas are Africanized "killer" bees. They don?t attack as much as the media makes it seem either. They do attack if you?re running loud equipment by them or accidently shake the tree they are on (I know from experience). If you are quite you can get pretty close to their hives.

JB,
Whitt TX is beautiful you are lucky to live out there. When hurricanes hit the Gulf Coast I evacuate to Possum Kingdom. I know that?s not the same as Whitt but that area in general is gorgeous.

 

[Shizzy]

Re: Barefoot boy view of The Hideout today.

In a world of 40 - 50 mph boats, I often get kidded about my old barge. I don't care though, because I'm just not a go fast guy. I also don't care because there are things that I want to see that I won't see, if I were to be out "bombing around in the bayous."

Im the same way. my little 6 horse doesnt take me very far or fast but thats fine by me.

last summer I took my Little sister fishing. she is 11 years younger then me so I was already moved out of the house when she was still a little squirt. I dont see her much. it is now one of my favorite days. I just dropped the trolling motor in and handed her one of my fishing rods. Without realizing it we had been out for 3 hours talking about many things. She caught a fish (first time) and I got to know my little sis a little better.

slowing down and checking things out is always a good thing.