The Purple Martins Are Back

Tulips at Bestor Plaza, Chautauqua Institution

I woke this morning to the sound of purple martins, as they circled their house out on the lake.  I put it up yesterday, and within the hour, their were martins circling, trying to decide if it would make a good nest for the summer.  The martins migrate to Brazil during the winter and supposedly return to the same house each spring, though it's hard to tell.  Last year, they disappeared for some reason, whether predators (hawks and owls) got them, or the hot weather.  It worried us because the same thing happened the previous year.  So it's good to see they are back, even if they are new birds.  We do seem to get at least one sparrow each year and they seem to live comfortably with the martins.

More Tulips

It's 45 degrees outside, though it will get into the 60's later in the day.  We talked to Tommy yesterday and he said the temperatures were in the 90's yesterday in Kansas City and I saw today there was another weather advisory for heat, with a high of 92.  I am happy to be at the lake, with our cooler temperatures.  Jean even mentioned that she turned on her AC yesterday in Kansas City; I don't blame here.

Today Evie attempts to wade through our wet, soggy lawn and cut the lawn for the first time.  The lake level is going down a bit, puddles in our yard are disappearing, and no rain is expected till Saturday, so things are drying out a bit.  It's been a record setting spring for rainfall.

A good day, as Evie did lots of weeding, cut the lawn, and is now getting ready for a rowdy evening with the Ladies of the Lake.  I worked on our road, went to the excavating yard, and shoveled around 10 buckets of stones, in two trips, to fill up some of the potholes in our road.  It will help until later in the summer, after we get our new septic system, perhaps a parking pad as well.  Then, I will have a truck come in to fill the road, making it better for all of us.

It got into the high 60's today though it was bit overcast most of the day, though we had no rain and we were supposed to have a sunny day.