Friday, July 22, 2011

Our Food Bank

It's HOT!!!!


Ok, so it wasn't all that long ago when I was complaining that it was too cold.

Or too rainy. But now it's hot and dry and I'm complaining again.

At least  we and the dogs have an air conditioned house to relax in. The wildlife doesn't have that luxury. So we decided to help them out. This is the bowl we used when we taught the puppies to eat solid food. The bump in the center is supposed to prevent them from walking thru their food or falling asleep in it. It didn't work. They found a way to get themselves covered with food.

Now it's being used as a water bowl for birds and squirrels. The bump now is an island for birds to stand on.

We bought a new Hummingbird feeder because the squirrels destroyed the old one. They somehow managed to unfasten the wire hanger and throw the feeder onto the ground, breaking it.

Each morning we replenish the water and spread seeds on the deck railing for the birds.

We also fill the feeders, but in this heat, we try to make feeding as easy as possible for the little guys. Of course the squirrels help themselves, too. But they have to eat, too and they really seem to appreciate the cool drink.

In the back yard, one of the few remaining plants is the butterfly bush and it has lots of hungry visitors.

Hummingbird Moths.

Don't you love his dotted body?

Tiny little, big eyed visitors.

Battle weary Swallowtails missing one tail.

If you biggify this, you'll see a wasp feeding.

 My favorites are the blue butterflies.



Tsar says the sun is too bright and it's too hot for a black dog to be outside.

Stay cool everyone and don't forget the thirsty birds, squirrels and butterflies.

15 comments:

Two French Bulldogs said...

GReat pictures. We will try to send you some ocean breeze
Benny & Lily

rottrover said...

That blue butterfly is beautiful. We don't have those here. Stay cool; and stay inside, Tsar!

-Gizmo, Bart and Ruby

♥♥ The OP Pack ♥♥ said...

We love the blue butterflies too - so pretty.

Katie Horner, our local weather forecaster, just said "I have nothing good to tell you" - not what we want to hear at all. No relief here yet, none at all, if anything it is worse.

Thank dogness for a/c and cold water.

Woos ~ Phantom, Thunder, and Ciara

The Life of Riley said...

Thanks for all the pictures - I love that blue butterfly. It is winter here and very cold, so I've been feeding the hungry birds too.

Road Dog Tales said...

Oh, you have beautiful flutterbyes! We hope you get some perfect weather real soon!

The Road Dogs

SissySees said...

It's so hot even Gretchen has decided it's too hot. First time ever.

Maggie Mae and Max said...

Mom keeps my outside water dish clean and filled fur all da critters in my yard. :) Stay cool my furiends!

Woofs and Licks,
Maggie Mae

Rocky Creek Scotties and Rocky Creek Ramblings said...

I always feel so sorry for our black cattle when it's so hot - I'd like to hose them down. I know they love it when it rains.

Stella said...

Two different weather sources have two different numbers! One says 90 and the other says 80 with humidity of 20%. It doesn't feel so bad as it did last week, so I am hoping its going to be a little milder right into a perfect Autumn.

We are gonna have some rain tonight and tomorrow, so that should make our little wild friends happy!

Kisses,
Stella who hopes Tsar is staying in and cool!

Marjie said...

Thor and Tsar are of the same mindset regarding the heat. Hope your heat breaks soon. It's 80 here at 10PM, and I don't ever remember it being this hot this late. We're up on a mountain top, so it's always cool here....almost always, anyway.

Rubie and Poots (her Mum) said...

That is a beautiful blue butterfly. My ma feeds and waters birds too - even if they then eat all the stone fruit off the tree before we can have any!!

Tail Wuggles, Rubie.

Molly the Airedale said...

Our butterfly bushes are getting lots of visitors too. Your pictures are just beautiful!
Stay cool, guys!

Love ya lots,
Maggie and Mitch

Dexter said...

It is too bloody hot here too. The little birds and stuff come and enjoy our water. I am not bothered. I like to share.

Slobbers,
Mango

Lapdog Creations said...

Pretty shots!

Sue Bridges said...

Fab pictures and I am sure what you are doing is well appreciated by all. The butterflies are amazing. I will wish some of our rain over to you. Sue x