There are two very large vacant lots behind and to the side of our local VA Clinic. (The one to the side has a high-rise La Quinta Inn on the other side of it.) They are not only inside city limits and surrounded by houses, but 
along the frontage road for the SH-27/I-82 (four lane divided) highway where it grazes the eastern edge of the city. I mention them because both lots have been colonized by prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) . Because the parking lot at the VA Clinic tends to be jam-crammed on certain days, there is a sign which reads:
DO NOT PARK
ON THE GRASS
One of these days I am going to yield to the temptation to print out and tape up an amendment to the sign, to wit:
DO NOT PARK
ON THE GRASS
It pisses off
the prairie dogs.
Prairie dogs are fun to watch. I will often park and watch them after I’m done with my clinic visit. If I’m 
lucky a burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia) will be hanging out with them. In its original state, the Great Plains (we’re on the southern end of it here) was notably treeless. The owls adapted to nesting in holes in the ground, appropriating abandoned prairie dog burrows for same. (They are perfectly capable of digging their own holes, but why bother if they can get prairie dogs to do it for them?) They are the only owls without feathers on their legs, and they will chase smaller prey , such as beetles, grasshoppers, and cicadas, on foot. They are also active in the daytime.
Here’s the finished Christmas stockings or should I say, ‘stockinettes’ (that’s a knitting joke. . . .) with pieces of white ribbon to hang them by.
I’ve been knitting Julekuler at the computer (and watching YouTube videos) instead of in my knitting nook, which presents problems. I have trouble tracking across lines of a colorwork (or needlepoint) pattern. I tend to get off onto the wrong line, which is why I have a copy holder for typists in my knitting nook with a little guide ruler on. (If you do needlepoint, counted cross stitching, or lace knitting
from charts, you might investigate getting one of these handy little stands.)
But I don’t have a line marker or anything like that on the computer. I went analog and stuck a sticky note on the screen.
The Owl Underground 
I would love to see your prairie dogs and owls some day. Right now, I just wish I could move into an already prepared burrow, and be done with it. Apart from the fact that I can barely move after two days of toting boxes from point A (with stairs) to point B (without), there’s the fact that in little more than a day The Movers will show up, and there’s no option to not quite be ready. Since I woke up with a gazillion things left to do on my mind and can’t do any of them until morning — well, a little midnight visit around the blogs isn’t bad.
I’ve discovered my new freezer is smaller than my current one. If I were closer, I’d give you the frozen fresh peaches that are “left over” and have to find a new home.
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The prairie dogs look so awesome, I’d love to see them, owls too, of course!
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