The Backyard and Beyond

Al Fresco Dining

Another thing about summer that I really enjoy is eating outside. It doesn’t have to be fussy—just take your plate outside and sit on the steps and enjoy the sunshine. The other day we made simple pizzas with fresh mozzarella and arugula from the garden. Annette found the recipe in the New York Times. Sometimes simple is better than anything else. It was delicious if I do say so myself. So here are a few pictures from the yard.

A nice evening to dine outside.

A nice evening to dine outside.

You can't see it but there is fresh mozzarella under that pile of greens.

You can’t see it but there is fresh mozzarella under that pile of greens.

Pizza #2 with red sauce and fresh basil.

Pizza #2 with red sauce and fresh basil.

Can I have some?

Can I have some?

Washed the pizza down with an ice cold grape Fanta.

Washed the pizza down with an ice cold grape Fanta.

A couple updates on the yard birds: The wrens didn’t use the nest they built in the house. I still see the male around. He sits on the fence and sings but I don’t see the female around. I did some reading and found out that the male makes a number of “dummy nests” and then the female chooses which location she likes best. Guess she didn’t like ours. Too bad. However, we do have a nest in the yard. This past week I was outside in the morning with Maisy and heard some hissing. Looked over and she was face to face with a female Mallard. Well, it seems Momma Mallard decided to put her nest amongst the vincas at the base of one of the large maple trees in the backyard. She’s been laying an egg a day. She leaves them after she lays but will start sitting on them full time when she has 8-12 eggs. I counted around 10 this morning so I think that will happen soon. Pictures to come soon.

And now a couple bird pictures from our recent birding adventures.

Eastern Phoebe

Eastern Phoebe

Killdeer

Killdeer

Momma Mallard, Fort Atkinson

Momma Mallard, Fort Atkinson

Bobolink, Faville Grove Sanctuary, Lake Mills

Bobolink, Faville Grove Sanctuary, Lake Mills

Eastern Kingbird, Hook Lake Wildlife Area

Eastern Kingbird, Hook Lake Wildlife Area

A rare sighting of a King Rail at Lake Belleview in Belleville, WI

A rare sighting of a King Rail at Lake Belleview in Belleville, WI

Red-winged Blackbird, Belleville

Red-winged Blackbird, Belleville

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