All God's Creatures

There's no arguing that is it very hot in the summers here.  So much so, that all God's creatures are looking for ways to stay alive. Be it by means of A/C, cold water, (any water for that matter) food, and shelter, we are all the same and looking for the simple comforts of home, so to speak.

I've got feeding this family nailed down pretty well.  We eat well, and I enjoy cooking and trying new recipes, so for us it's a win! I have the world (literally) at my hands with choices for cooking.

This week for instance on the menu so far:

Chicken curry casserole and green beans.  The youngest stinker ate the green beans, and left the rest.
Chocolate Chip cookies for dessert. :)

Shepherds pie with broccoli and homemade biscuits.   Again, stinker boy ate the brocolli, and only the broccoli, wanting more...broccoli.  My daughter finished off dinner by making a gooey butter cake. YUM

Slow cooked chicken with homemade fettuccine Alfredo and homemade rolls, and corn.

What I can't for the life of me remember is what I made Sunday night, but, as you see, we are eating quite well.

This is where the all God's creatures part comes into play.

There are birds everywhere.  It's very hot, and there is no large areas of grass, cool water, or places to find food or refuge. So, we started feeding the birds. Each day, there were more and more little birds and some bigger birds, gratefully eating from the bird feeder that the previous tenant left behind. One morning there were about 30 birds taking turns getting some seed from the feeder as many of them waited under the feeder for what was dropped as they ate.  No sooner do they all arrive, the feeder is just nearly empty, as a few little birds come to my window.  What are they doing, you may be thinking?

Those smarty birds were knocking on the window to let me know they needed more food!  I kid you not! They know where their bread is buttered!

Right before I got this picture there were 3 little birds all tapping their beaks on the window.  I think I scared them when I tried to take the picture, but this one stayed and let me get one to share with you.  When we water the plants/trees out back we've seen doves sitting with their wings spread just soaking up the water.  They look like they are in heaven when they relax that way.

We haven't seen as many of the lizards, (yizards as one of the little ones calls them) since the birds have been around.  No doubt, they are hiding for their lives, and afraid of becoming some of the bigger birds lunch.

It's also good to know, wherever I go, I can be sure that when it's hot, the sugar ants will find their way into my kitchen....

Of course that one drives me nuts! I keep a clean house, and they still come. What's a girl to do. I cook, I eat, I clean, and fight to keep the ants out.  There is not much that I feel is very safe to use to keep them out, but today, the spray of choice, Lysol...

Poor little ants.