Ah! The beginning of school. A time of change.
For us, a 12-day Camp NeeNee y Poppa for grandsons (10, 13, and 18) concluded just before school commenced. Highest recommendations: Garner State Park tent camping (reservations available online 11 months out), Schlitterbahn on weekdays (the past two seasons, the next year’s season was included with Season Pass purchased near end of August), and, Canyon Lake Resort cabin with kitchen (with online deal).
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Friday, Aug. 29, marked a distinct change to winter birds in our big boulder birdbath. American goldfinch joined lesser goldfinch, along with various warblers, vireos, and some year-round residents.
So, after a quick shopping trip, Nyger (thistle) seed went out. Immediately, goldfinch gathered and formed a waiting line. It’s probable they just flew in from several states away after their late season breeding.
Feeders, including tubes and socks, are available that only dispense the teensy black seeds. Don’t put Nyger seeds into a standard bird seed tube feeder; they’ll pour to the ground. And, don’t leave wet seeds in the feeder because they mold easily.
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The first week of school, RonTom received my greater roadrunner phone call alert as he pulled from the driveway. It turns out he and I were both watching a roadrunner, but not the same one. Kym Navarro recently watched a roadrunner midway on Live Oak Drive.
About 2 a.m. one night last week, KissMe alerted me to the most piercing shrill scream I’ve ever heard. It came intermittently for about 10 minutes. Today, I listened online to wildlife night sounds, and Ron’s guess, “fox”, is the closest sound I heard. And, once again, KissMe barked upon hearing the sound.
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Labor Day marks the point when old wives say, “Take hummer feeders down” and I send an almost annual alert, “In Mountain City, keep hummer feeders fresh year-round.” Certainly, hummers are with us now. Rufous hummers are known to winter here. You might only notice them on icy days.
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You might have seen an August date for National Night Out on a nation-wide calendar. Texas is a whole different country. Here, because of hot weather, we take the option of the first Tuesday night in October. Join neighbors on Judge Beth Smith’s lawn on Oct. 7.
Our annual Fire & Ice festival falls very late this fall, Oct. 25. Still, it stands for “hot salsa” and “homemade ice cream”. Plan to join the competition and the judging. Island Texas, filled with locals, will provide the music.
Unless you’re reading this before 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 3 and you showed up, you’ve missed the 2nd reading of the proposed “Animal Ordinance” at City Hall. The vote will occur during the regular Council Meeting on Monday night, Sept. 8, at 7 p.m.
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Please plan to send a tidbit this week. What a help that will be as I weave together words related-in-some-way-or-another to Mountain City. Email ptom5678@gmail.com or leave a message at (512) 268-5678.
Thanks! Love, Pauline
