I'm scheduling 2 posts for while I'm on the road...

I'm scheduling 2 posts for while I'm on the road so y'all won't miss me too much. As if I've been on here being sociable at all in the last month. 🫠

On the way to Colorado, Google had my back and took Shaun a different route than he'd planned to go, which took us right by the Colorado Gator Farm.  OF COURSE we had to stop.  Shaun said "This looks like a trap." because it was in the middle of nowhere, but I was like "They'd have gotten me!  Let's go!" 😂

Literally, feed me to alligators. I don't care. That would be an awesome way to go.

Anyway, they operate as a rescue / education center for reptiles.  They had all sorts of lizards and tortoises and snakes and we got to interact with quite a few of them.  They had a BUNCH of Sulcata tortoises that they had taken in because they're not easy pets. Everyone always thinks that turtles and/or tortoises will be easy, but then they find out the hard way that's not true. Even our hamburger-sized little Tort Baby is a bossy/sassy little butt.

We also got to hold a baby alligator and they gave us a certificate that they notarized with the baby gator's teeth.  It seemed a little rude to use his snout like a stapler, but I know it didn't hurt him.  I laughed when they did that because it caught me off guard. Who even thought to do that? 😂

Overall, they seemed really knowledgeable and like they took great care of the animals there. I would love to visit again when we have more time.

Shaun "rescued" a lizard from the pool.

Shaun "rescued" a lizard from the pool. If you ask me, they look a little salty about the "rescue." 😂😂😂

Greenhouse update:

Greenhouse update:

The baby birds left the greenhouse last night. They've officially flown away today. The parents were still watchful earlier. I don't know if any of them will be back.

Also, there have been some pretty flowers the last few days.

Watching the younglings.

Out of the greenhouse.

I can't believe this cactus is blooming AGAIN already.

I can't believe this cactus is blooming AGAIN already. She's wild!

The babies aren't going back into the nest; they're staying on my table and chair during the day. It was humid today and the greenhouse was stinky because of their poops. We are supposed to have a stormy weekend, but if we don't, I'm gonna do some cleaning.

I'm also going to finally repot the cactus they were nesting in. I might just remove the cactus and put the pot and nest back since the adults have more than 1 clutch per season. I don't want to wreck their plans, but I do need to tend to that plant. It's one of my 300 favorites. 😂😂😂

They're big birds now, up in the rafters!

They're big birds now, up in the rafters!

The babies have left the nest.

The babies have left the nest. They are now on my table in the greenhouse, poopin' it up.  Is this their messy teenager phase? 😂

They spent the whole night on my stand fan in the greenhouse. It hasn't been turned on yet. They got down onto the table once daylight came.

I think their parents are trying to lure them to the window opening above the door. I think it won't be much longer before they leave for good, or at least for most of the day.

I had a bunch of flowers today. Lots of pink and a few yellow. It's very nice. 😊

It's been a big day for the baby doves.

It's been a big day for the baby doves. They're moving around now. Most of these clips are less than a minute long.

They got into my baby Teddy Bear Cholla and got a piece back into the nest. We went and removed it and then moved my cart of nursery plants out so they don't do that again.

Also, there is no water in my bucket. We're trying to minimize danger for them as they get out and explore.

Shaun has been camera-spying all day. 😂

First Flaps:

Big streeetch!

Test flight:

Feeding time!

That was a baby on the table!

They're mobile!

Good parent

Exploring

The greenhouse is my happy place. 😊

The greenhouse is my happy place. 😊

I can't believe how fast the baby doves are growing. Shaun checked the camera and said that the parents left the babies alone for about 6 hours last night. It was down to 40°F, but it looks like their feathers are coming in, so I guess it was ok. They're doing fine today. They're starting to move around more. I'm going to have to be extra careful when going in the greenhouse to make sure of where they are in case they're on the ground.

I got a quick video of baby Bear enjoying the flowers. He's so freaking precious. I love my good helper.

Some flowers and baby birds...

Some flowers and baby birds, and a lizard, and my Quasimodo Agave's progress since being removed from growing upside down in the bottom of the pot.

The stars of the greenhouse...

The stars of the greenhouse, some bug eggs of some sort, and a few flowers.

And yes, that yellow flower is from a different cactus. I guess I have several who make yellow flowers. 💛

Bear helped me water the plants today. And by "helped", I mean "forced me to hold heavy trays of freshly watered plants that are usually on the shelves out of reach while he carefully AND THOROUGHLY smelled all of the flowers." 😂😂😂

It would've been a beautiful photo if my hands hadn't been full. 😂 He is exceedingly gentle sometimes. 😊❤️

Shaun went to the greenhouse yesterday...

Shaun went to the greenhouse yesterday and moved the camera. We wanted a better view, and to also be able to plug it in so we could save the video to see how the doves are doing.

He moved slowly and carefully and the parent didn't even fly away. 💗

Now we get to enjoy watching these babies grow up. There are definitely 2 now, and we believe this is papa bird doing the feeding in this clip. Mourning Dove males and females look really similar, so it's hard to tell, but this one does look a bit larger than the other.

Egg-citing news!

Egg-citing news! At least one little dove hatched today! I saw the parent on the nest interacting with a gray blob they were sitting on. I took a photo through the camera, which is not a good picture, but I'm sharing it anyway. You can see the cracked egg. I'm too happy! 😊

I also had some little pink flowers today. And these seed pods from this cactus... I've decided to harvest them and try to hatch them. Wish me luck! I've germinated Lithops before, but they didn't make it into adulthood. I don't know if cactus will be easier, but I guess I'll find out!

From the greenhouse the last few days. 😊

From the greenhouse the last few days. 😊

My Huernia Zebrina seed pod opened up.

Bear loves coming in and checking on things. He's always so happy to smell the plants. Why is he so cute!? 😊😊😊

I keep missing this one fully open, but it's such a pretty color!

Shaun put up one of our spare cameras in the greenhouse. Now we can be on Baby Bird watch! 💗