**AHEM**  The big news of the month:  We have a nest of baby Robins right now!  They are just outside and above our back door.  Mrs. Robin built her nest over the last 2 weeks, and laid her eggs.  We have been watching her.  A few days ago, I came home to find Rich up on the ladder, taking photos of the babies.  I was worried that the mom wouldn’t come back, but as soon as Rich took the ladder down, Mrs. Robin came back, and fed her babies.  Here are some of the pictures Rich took:

In all their ugliness, they are very sweet, and endearing.  And helpless.  I think they are beautiful.  They are amazing.  I am so happy that Mrs. Robin chose our tree for her nest!

I am very proud right now.  Not only are there Robin babies, but I have vegetables!  I have only had a serious garden about 3 times in my life, and they have never done all that well.  This year is not an exception…my garden itself is not doing well.  However, I have a very happy tomato plant in a pot, and a very happy cucumber plant (also in a pot).

The tomato is producing lots of tomatoes.  The first should be ripe and ready for consumption tomorrow.  They are beautiful.

I have one cucumber.  This took many aborted cucumbers.  I am not sure what made the plant do this, but I had a bunch of little cukes, and they shriveled and died.  I have ONE cucumber right now that looks like it may actually survive.  The ones that aborted were beautiful.  I never realized how amazing cucumbers are before they are fully grown.  Here are some pictures of the cukes that have gone to the Great Garden in the Sky:

…and here is the ONE I have now that is going to make it (think positive thoughts, please):

I think what amazed me the most about these cucumbers is that they grew the actual fruit, and THEN put out a flower.  Most fruits and veggies, it seems to me, put out the flower first, and once it is pollinated, the fruit grows.  As you can see on the above cucumber, the fruit is already about 3 inches long, and the flower has just opened.

Today, there was a Lesser Goldfinch in my front yard.  I didn’t know they stayed in Moab over the summer, but I guess they do.  Here is one, denuding the dandelions in the lawn: