tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-100761872024-03-06T20:33:02.923-08:00ScordatosJulie & Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12291682548017240598noreply@blogger.comBlogger265125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10076187.post-41034324491390036802021-03-01T09:02:00.001-08:002021-03-01T09:02:22.118-08:00February Round-Up<p> </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>February 1-4</p><p>This big snow of winter is here, the following pictures were taken after the first round of the two week snow storm. You can see how high the snow is and the trail made for Tutu to run to the only place on the property where she will poop, come Hell or high snow. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSSE610AZx0Z6KvLUg6YS3Aik4JdHKd5oclA7iDU2nH5W-j-QVwE7paowiuyXXbB-VxsATq_kqvPlUhNmxFnfTZJAQEae7DLt12P2yTmbvempixjVSMr3MI5GVZ22Xx4peOLYgUw/s1008/littletree.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1008" data-original-width="756" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSSE610AZx0Z6KvLUg6YS3Aik4JdHKd5oclA7iDU2nH5W-j-QVwE7paowiuyXXbB-VxsATq_kqvPlUhNmxFnfTZJAQEae7DLt12P2yTmbvempixjVSMr3MI5GVZ22Xx4peOLYgUw/s320/littletree.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSfd8U7EOvGQvoZcorQW1NMMQnSQ0oQD0kQsxoaqWnS_lbfISG9b-Ai44nwfQ6QRDKZEFEiln9XsyA0u73875LnHjseUFtn3oeD0AwG8SQDAJHuwJKUgl-VmZFwhQJAsgn2K3eRQ/s1008/tututrack.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1008" data-original-width="756" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSfd8U7EOvGQvoZcorQW1NMMQnSQ0oQD0kQsxoaqWnS_lbfISG9b-Ai44nwfQ6QRDKZEFEiln9XsyA0u73875LnHjseUFtn3oeD0AwG8SQDAJHuwJKUgl-VmZFwhQJAsgn2K3eRQ/s320/tututrack.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><p>Below are some mouse tracks made overnight. spanning 100 feet or more as traffic passed from pine tree to pine tree. <br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCIpmu70hYgVaIqXQM5YOk3aoAdyQHpk76qp-WFCG7xvDfkddxg82HpQvMVJMfZZNbf7jZ1yDSB8SjdF3YSOq2kduJjL_pOZE8FhYX-yMML87kFtLcShiET9lAEKer3o5KhxbYfw/s1008/mouse+highway.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1008" data-original-width="756" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCIpmu70hYgVaIqXQM5YOk3aoAdyQHpk76qp-WFCG7xvDfkddxg82HpQvMVJMfZZNbf7jZ1yDSB8SjdF3YSOq2kduJjL_pOZE8FhYX-yMML87kFtLcShiET9lAEKer3o5KhxbYfw/s320/mouse+highway.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlTkJ6KZcL15SUVYzc5KsIaEY6r_BLH4cQdobYELIwkwgPi3Pe5yckc7HO3finTozM2s7ySdSVValxdc2BR0ghOa6BEI_eYSeAQX_Qu5ITS46LU1Ke_WaL31yfObxxcDOAR1g1Gw/s1008/mouse+roads.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1008" data-original-width="756" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlTkJ6KZcL15SUVYzc5KsIaEY6r_BLH4cQdobYELIwkwgPi3Pe5yckc7HO3finTozM2s7ySdSVValxdc2BR0ghOa6BEI_eYSeAQX_Qu5ITS46LU1Ke_WaL31yfObxxcDOAR1g1Gw/s320/mouse+roads.jpeg" /></a></div><p></p><p><br /></p><p>All I could think of was, what could possibly motivate a mouse to trek across the snow in freezing temperatures in the middle of the night?</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixmdGMThra6jqS1SCMeLm1iCN63wTJVk-k3wGaIvxS2zIG0_sZqHOgm1dWdpCwQw-fIRqu5VJ4U7QvWU0leYTr4QL8FW5QX5gwxeDKMHCpZBVy5lWEu4dcxb9vZFclaC1d1np2ZA/s1008/mouse+traffic.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1008" data-original-width="756" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixmdGMThra6jqS1SCMeLm1iCN63wTJVk-k3wGaIvxS2zIG0_sZqHOgm1dWdpCwQw-fIRqu5VJ4U7QvWU0leYTr4QL8FW5QX5gwxeDKMHCpZBVy5lWEu4dcxb9vZFclaC1d1np2ZA/s320/mouse+traffic.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUCvNJ-vDRhdNhFUtolETfmToCOk6qwz33s_BE1_uGVYSCt3NOglTj7ATKZkDPRKyVHAFGwnYXF4utzL_IYEC7IOByH_Cfkg9vqClvIdIDMwbEwHf_qVrnFBR078_O6XILrqDOpQ/s1008/pileup.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="756" data-original-width="1008" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUCvNJ-vDRhdNhFUtolETfmToCOk6qwz33s_BE1_uGVYSCt3NOglTj7ATKZkDPRKyVHAFGwnYXF4utzL_IYEC7IOByH_Cfkg9vqClvIdIDMwbEwHf_qVrnFBR078_O6XILrqDOpQ/s320/pileup.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>I found this trail interesting because something made it stop and do a short double back...or maybe it just fell through the crisp surface of the snow?<br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSx7MR4mhwuMrG9qyFQzfxNKCPjtHx4I7lGeFirOkssVNQruMJaUcwHVy0Kjl2GoROb7pvFBcqfXx419Fv6XnN6c6K0rWh1mTbMMSvf6DxfSLoxjIwVKe9GcO7gyTQo5NMQOB-Bg/s1008/pinefrosrt.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1008" data-original-width="756" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSx7MR4mhwuMrG9qyFQzfxNKCPjtHx4I7lGeFirOkssVNQruMJaUcwHVy0Kjl2GoROb7pvFBcqfXx419Fv6XnN6c6K0rWh1mTbMMSvf6DxfSLoxjIwVKe9GcO7gyTQo5NMQOB-Bg/s320/pinefrosrt.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><p>There was a morning where all the trees were coated in a beautiful snow/frost and the drive into Columbus was gorgeous. Trees in some yards look like they had been dipped in sugar. This picture does not do the morning justice. The sun was shining and the sky was a clear blue, and it was a beauty that can only be found in February I think. Little did I know the novelty of this winter wonderland was going to wear off. I thought to myself, "well, here is out big snow of the winter." HA! Little did I know. <br /></p><p></p><p><br /></p><p>February 5-7</p><p>Meyer Lemon's were in season and for some reason, I could not find any of the meyer lemon recipes I seem to run across all year, now that I had a bag of them. I tried this upside down cake recipe from a book just called "Baking" and it comes in 4 volumes. I do not regret forgetting to take a picture of the cover because the cake did not turn out. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7P0Efqh_NQPdsapEl7GnBsqA8eq2gQLFjYEYTlK60RmUL39tI0o7dsGv2ya7LeBNOQ8lhgRYZvRlmjTx23uFu8txhZzKiY8Qg9qWOkn5sgx9kP_iFVgWCDZH9QbCuzzEx_b0HIA/s1008/lemonplate.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="756" data-original-width="1008" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7P0Efqh_NQPdsapEl7GnBsqA8eq2gQLFjYEYTlK60RmUL39tI0o7dsGv2ya7LeBNOQ8lhgRYZvRlmjTx23uFu8txhZzKiY8Qg9qWOkn5sgx9kP_iFVgWCDZH9QbCuzzEx_b0HIA/s320/lemonplate.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>I will not go into the details of the epic fail of this cake, the least of which were the sweet mild lemons tasted completely sour by the end of it. <br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwNgkukAIiJEFW2HI4EDADQr-T7u4lC3ALEPLhoz-mFbBG_LXaT4RGz9vp03v7TnqhtFSK34n8btmEN7w8alEiGC5sdnUwZy7JZ7A6tERY7LRT_3AOQD-eqojL6tLb_1-0-iY4fg/s1008/outofoven.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1008" data-original-width="756" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwNgkukAIiJEFW2HI4EDADQr-T7u4lC3ALEPLhoz-mFbBG_LXaT4RGz9vp03v7TnqhtFSK34n8btmEN7w8alEiGC5sdnUwZy7JZ7A6tERY7LRT_3AOQD-eqojL6tLb_1-0-iY4fg/s320/outofoven.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><p>The only redeeming thing about the night was this lovely romance, the first in a series with the third one coming out this October and it was a lovely <a href="http://audiobook.">audiobook.</a> </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLLN7xsTx1-HS58BVkekHM3P7pvH40TxHQpnE2dgsmVRbWf7V7XG7Y5hr13kc3ARaVV1kskSpmiK3He64VeD2E6nKWE8OvDu6plgzKQEZqklgJbQc46IJDJYDR0hfjnMramnQxKw/s275/met.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLLN7xsTx1-HS58BVkekHM3P7pvH40TxHQpnE2dgsmVRbWf7V7XG7Y5hr13kc3ARaVV1kskSpmiK3He64VeD2E6nKWE8OvDu6plgzKQEZqklgJbQc46IJDJYDR0hfjnMramnQxKw/s0/met.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>I suspect there may be 4 in the series total, and I love these series where each character gets their own book. </p><p><br /></p><p>This was another audiobook I enjoyed in February. Read by Juliet Stevenson (who played a fantastic Mrs. Elton in the 1996 version of Emma with Jeremy Northam and Allen Cumming.) It was very good overall but the last third of the book was heart aching and sparkling. The fictional speculation based on what we know of Jane and Cassandra Austen's life is very plausible and the ending was beautiful and there is more than a little humor. Also, my favorite quote of Jane Austen's was worked through in the end. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAlSTi7fp0auzL51B60t98ioISmaSUTUVFRtQnZaTS7g4m6tUy_OzyU6tT5V46TpD7ZlQGh2Nrs5YtLj5zgVb6yuFqwyRP_GaGFyuhIDJDmK4ZpnV8TqA_BRtNpH1u-P3BB08xXQ/s215/miss.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="215" data-original-width="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAlSTi7fp0auzL51B60t98ioISmaSUTUVFRtQnZaTS7g4m6tUy_OzyU6tT5V46TpD7ZlQGh2Nrs5YtLj5zgVb6yuFqwyRP_GaGFyuhIDJDmK4ZpnV8TqA_BRtNpH1u-P3BB08xXQ/s0/miss.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>And of course, another John McCormack book is really something to look forward to for nightstand reading on these cold nights and short but still feelingly long days. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXCW6llnPbdXu5p-oImVy3ftUp-pR0R1LJNZmE-HFzGMvN6HNrshwjVrQhC7Up3DaEgcpIOGzEnh1tvvo1lCOfHn94qK2PjLzCSFIMhgzuQzfuHHkCeVyVSoWYcO1m2VimmjnIcg/s734/flockmc.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="734" data-original-width="550" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXCW6llnPbdXu5p-oImVy3ftUp-pR0R1LJNZmE-HFzGMvN6HNrshwjVrQhC7Up3DaEgcpIOGzEnh1tvvo1lCOfHn94qK2PjLzCSFIMhgzuQzfuHHkCeVyVSoWYcO1m2VimmjnIcg/s320/flockmc.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><p>Speaking of country vets, have you been watching the new PBS James Herriot series? It is fantastic and it is nice that they are only an hour since they have been airing on Sunday nights. I've never read the James Herriot books which seems ridiculous now. <br /></p><p>I've been enjoying making some more simply gemstone jewelry, usually I can make one necklace or two bracelets during an episode. Stringing beads together on elastic is a real no-brainer craft. I generally stick with one stone at a time. It's kind of plain, but I'm not a pattern and print wearing person anyway and tend to go for "solids" so this style of jewelry seems to mirror that preference. </p><p>Green Aventurine:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMF4E7NllphSTmK1gKPfPb2RdLEOjXjb-y2z86-jfuaGAfJisLsuTQoY3wGduoRzApvOuMVfOdiUSZBpHCNAYdOEIfj3uh3Q2-1m4Y1qga-7vbZkAFa5hJeng3sORuqicDeGFKFw/s2048/chunky+aventurine.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMF4E7NllphSTmK1gKPfPb2RdLEOjXjb-y2z86-jfuaGAfJisLsuTQoY3wGduoRzApvOuMVfOdiUSZBpHCNAYdOEIfj3uh3Q2-1m4Y1qga-7vbZkAFa5hJeng3sORuqicDeGFKFw/s320/chunky+aventurine.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Green Agate</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJdSEGov73amj61hUpuifp2tBi9ihgH5XPdATAMUV9qemiFHjiQuCN-vo32owr25PFr26liJXITUNuc1wb-09Lx1F9vqGokVs2wNOBaPuIl2buCv_aemtQDOduH1W3o0hHtndyAA/s2048/green+agate.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJdSEGov73amj61hUpuifp2tBi9ihgH5XPdATAMUV9qemiFHjiQuCN-vo32owr25PFr26liJXITUNuc1wb-09Lx1F9vqGokVs2wNOBaPuIl2buCv_aemtQDOduH1W3o0hHtndyAA/s320/green+agate.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>Cultured green potato pearls. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSmCBh0MEx3Rj9OWHbBnAKvG44i2trU4yOU9B4XVm2c7u5u-wb6Ty6hL1dvsJRoee3Q4l9QCxU4yXADBbUbraSK9CNU1X4LxRnpae9MsMv_Lr1Qx2O2fvMfMEBNJGY77jMS43vmQ/s2048/green+potato+peral.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSmCBh0MEx3Rj9OWHbBnAKvG44i2trU4yOU9B4XVm2c7u5u-wb6Ty6hL1dvsJRoee3Q4l9QCxU4yXADBbUbraSK9CNU1X4LxRnpae9MsMv_Lr1Qx2O2fvMfMEBNJGY77jMS43vmQ/s320/green+potato+peral.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>Amazonite</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAxBrbHhEPrYCSeFcPcpjVyYlPU0m8wW9TyXTABi0edl_HvEQBIVOeBnmaLPjq8BsWyLpqQ9RNjvDqZ3ZrBsFkn0b__mhsjlRQU1g8Jv9Xg6UrcB5anBkf6S55ORx34W6Is0q67A/s2048/amazonite.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAxBrbHhEPrYCSeFcPcpjVyYlPU0m8wW9TyXTABi0edl_HvEQBIVOeBnmaLPjq8BsWyLpqQ9RNjvDqZ3ZrBsFkn0b__mhsjlRQU1g8Jv9Xg6UrcB5anBkf6S55ORx34W6Is0q67A/s320/amazonite.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>And Azurite</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr2b5-jLZm3U7ix45gYNz1aNKfi37nEGSq1zptpPtDuMA2swntuY0dTzH0olVKtcCq8f4wsKRDCfeoD5lTyFqWP7ncbOLu7Z0fUrxDi-VtNttMJ13LrH2IxSs6Ofdl7b-QKVka4w/s2048/azurite.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr2b5-jLZm3U7ix45gYNz1aNKfi37nEGSq1zptpPtDuMA2swntuY0dTzH0olVKtcCq8f4wsKRDCfeoD5lTyFqWP7ncbOLu7Z0fUrxDi-VtNttMJ13LrH2IxSs6Ofdl7b-QKVka4w/s320/azurite.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>I just select some from my stash just as the show is starting. Clearly all this green is an inspiration from the green landscape of Herriot's world and pinning for the days when I can see grass, even winter grass again. <br /></p><p> </p><p>Tutu keeps me company as we watch the Jame Herriot episode "Tricky-Woo is Missing!" Which side is her best side do you think? This one or...<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-C5Y5Lr0tWcKHx3fObz4RRXfSBOvekie4zvPhnQVm-stW1LwLfShIQbwg3n3m0KZP_IDDXzqJ8alwfqM5rHYyx_QEybk7E6pPR9QN0PQIEzmYPFOMGMZQuIAzapVFmk_yv-QkpQ/s2048/or+this+side.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-C5Y5Lr0tWcKHx3fObz4RRXfSBOvekie4zvPhnQVm-stW1LwLfShIQbwg3n3m0KZP_IDDXzqJ8alwfqM5rHYyx_QEybk7E6pPR9QN0PQIEzmYPFOMGMZQuIAzapVFmk_yv-QkpQ/s320/or+this+side.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>This one?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPrB5cFdHQ-LUxte3SvnwjdWgadrYcE_yP8WN86zmHfUrn3h9Jo-fHwoBsyl0qqk3PlcVhRAgmL7yZl8xNIMsH2kGY1_0THt93w6AJbuyjBQMog-mSRCiwKaofIGISSYXXEGtsow/s2048/this+side.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPrB5cFdHQ-LUxte3SvnwjdWgadrYcE_yP8WN86zmHfUrn3h9Jo-fHwoBsyl0qqk3PlcVhRAgmL7yZl8xNIMsH2kGY1_0THt93w6AJbuyjBQMog-mSRCiwKaofIGISSYXXEGtsow/s320/this+side.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>February 16-20th</p><p>Well, as you can imagine the snow isn't funny anymore. Look to the left of Andrew's car in the driveway...there is an herb garden there somewhere beneath all the snow. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhFwjEQXMpKnxYY9lgLuA4O76mw0DJMxI0VuPqbwdMYLcqm6omCxn5fEGiUggX1OYtPBgM2a7mLBgOjXhA089HyC2WeWdgXb9rELy8bLWdhFNSf3C0AOeCT69ETSVzP6-WZofAyg/s2048/herb+garden.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhFwjEQXMpKnxYY9lgLuA4O76mw0DJMxI0VuPqbwdMYLcqm6omCxn5fEGiUggX1OYtPBgM2a7mLBgOjXhA089HyC2WeWdgXb9rELy8bLWdhFNSf3C0AOeCT69ETSVzP6-WZofAyg/s320/herb+garden.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Taking Tutu out is a real expedition, especially since she insists on only pooping at the willow tree (middle, below.) There is a lot of wildlife traffic down there, and she has important messages to leave. Andrew had to re-shovel the path, and I followed along behind removing loose snow. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieKDadO8JWPqAPPfwTyavZEDFCh-HS8ybF7TB-qnhFGA3ogPPIwxwqzvvWJOUcjCkoTmL4eeyfwrx5sZoZrmXNuJCgIOLL2HvlpqD0SU8Zt_MEPN1YHJtxwlFvb18Iv918N3jf2A/s2048/trailtowillowtree216.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieKDadO8JWPqAPPfwTyavZEDFCh-HS8ybF7TB-qnhFGA3ogPPIwxwqzvvWJOUcjCkoTmL4eeyfwrx5sZoZrmXNuJCgIOLL2HvlpqD0SU8Zt_MEPN1YHJtxwlFvb18Iv918N3jf2A/s320/trailtowillowtree216.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>I am so grateful that Dad has the skid loader to coat a road to the chicken pen. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXKFbRJ84K35rI3moek_0PetrWi506gliNo0oyssgDg2mrddOxo3xAeuYR69nK4A2t0lDQ38MJP2i8i-iKP4bfo4XPFarrwbWP7oyYuiILvKDlLlj1J420BLV4sox2Q_4zBgphqA/s2048/road+to+chicken+pen.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXKFbRJ84K35rI3moek_0PetrWi506gliNo0oyssgDg2mrddOxo3xAeuYR69nK4A2t0lDQ38MJP2i8i-iKP4bfo4XPFarrwbWP7oyYuiILvKDlLlj1J420BLV4sox2Q_4zBgphqA/s320/road+to+chicken+pen.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>The pen itself is its own adventure. The snow is so high, that my head brushes against the beams. </p><p>Collecting the eggs is even more important in this cold weather, many of them were frozen even during daylight hours, it was cold enough to freeze them in the matter of hours. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKQoujv3_R7ud23woVpo3MdzBNHBrszKHB3YI_qdP71rzAUYsUXXaPRiHt89G0cMcZntT70fYsaUFPuOOf6yN9KvSBpQnmqxYGyjMsxFKXCPWoQa46tz-vymWcZMvPYsYIg1o9YA/s2048/headbeam2_16.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKQoujv3_R7ud23woVpo3MdzBNHBrszKHB3YI_qdP71rzAUYsUXXaPRiHt89G0cMcZntT70fYsaUFPuOOf6yN9KvSBpQnmqxYGyjMsxFKXCPWoQa46tz-vymWcZMvPYsYIg1o9YA/s320/headbeam2_16.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>The hens themselves have very limited space to roam in. Their coop is stacked full of grass hay and chicken poop, almost right under their perches. I imagine if all the snow can melt by this weekend, I will have a big job ahead of me removing it all and replacing the hay. Once it gets warmer, the poop will thaw and can cause poor air quality. </p><p>Since most of their pen is under 8 to 10 inches of snow, they spend there time in this are of the pen (think of it like a Florida room, or the pop out on an RV) Covered on all sides but the one facing the pen, it is free of snow. I filled it with this compressed straw that I didn't like in its other uses, but was perfect to make their space warm, cozy, and interesting. Also, the shorter cuts of straw makes is nearly impossible for them to trample down, maintaining it's "fluffiness" for days on end. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg0O7jO_JVa-dSyLg7ynkUJ7dyOrXMX2lqhHmbUBnDc-fCNioSxVI_Kxt7BgCYn0Z8h_-eVCCytWemR92sC1s8ZypINsx-jw90hvkwu1FHyQhUed7VA4rtiGgB15rwqtFpvlhzpw/s2048/chickens2_16.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg0O7jO_JVa-dSyLg7ynkUJ7dyOrXMX2lqhHmbUBnDc-fCNioSxVI_Kxt7BgCYn0Z8h_-eVCCytWemR92sC1s8ZypINsx-jw90hvkwu1FHyQhUed7VA4rtiGgB15rwqtFpvlhzpw/s320/chickens2_16.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>At this point in time the temps are too cold for the electric waterer. The round black rubber tub holds their drinkable water for now, and they certainly know to fill up before it freezes.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgacdZV2fhaXb275NUFaFizPrGkZoBAqT55hVoZm8-TymOgRJm814D1SyTdXtRCLAcpb_3EBdYIu_qrXy7f1kVS55D0zABo5Lqnns0JkRVPhTzpfwnrhwKOdeM_87Xv7Ze4tupYA/s2048/chickenwater216.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgacdZV2fhaXb275NUFaFizPrGkZoBAqT55hVoZm8-TymOgRJm814D1SyTdXtRCLAcpb_3EBdYIu_qrXy7f1kVS55D0zABo5Lqnns0JkRVPhTzpfwnrhwKOdeM_87Xv7Ze4tupYA/s320/chickenwater216.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>I got another John McCormack book through blessed Inter-Library-Loan. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbnqKBFDmC93WKxRUoKiN9wlu7Bjq-yg4hGUDE3nZr33DAFPZwrFz0XbaoegC2X0JftRV4XHEeKRV21a73z7MhVI3OuVw2KQj4gMQRFKZnuMAd4-35uTe4GFWozyt59uoEqpFKLg/s2048/santahousecalls.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbnqKBFDmC93WKxRUoKiN9wlu7Bjq-yg4hGUDE3nZr33DAFPZwrFz0XbaoegC2X0JftRV4XHEeKRV21a73z7MhVI3OuVw2KQj4gMQRFKZnuMAd4-35uTe4GFWozyt59uoEqpFKLg/s320/santahousecalls.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>The chickens aren't the only ones who get cabin fever. Often after spending a couple days at home, This greets me when I get home at night and Andrew has been at the station. Tutu decides to remake the bed in out absence. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizPEPQ0slL7objt2tLpTuRG2_eCUP-7fxuM5S0d6LZwvHl0jhSZfG2J6Fv8NHEZcFdoFuWDER5o96mdDKWM7cRjUndfyhGo_hTzZYQe8qx2xfRIeS71fB86KWa-vdLCFbAWp_z6A/s2048/tutucovers.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizPEPQ0slL7objt2tLpTuRG2_eCUP-7fxuM5S0d6LZwvHl0jhSZfG2J6Fv8NHEZcFdoFuWDER5o96mdDKWM7cRjUndfyhGo_hTzZYQe8qx2xfRIeS71fB86KWa-vdLCFbAWp_z6A/s320/tutucovers.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>February 20th<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I've mentioned before audiobooks are a key part of my reading life and if I can get it in audio I will listen to it, saving reading time for books that, well, actually have to be read. I have several of David Attenborough's audiobooks at home that I own and this latest I downloaded from the library. It is not as bleak as I thought it would be and makes compelling and inspiring statements on not only what we will have to do to survive, but points out that it can actually be done. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQVQV27lmO4FB4amenJSqGT5UTPkH2X5Do8gjx566DsuxmWSiTPrEGACMCuxxzXQ7z3951lYhqKG9XQH9Qkr_f_yDdEV3avSl9eYz8dKjeoY-f_EMg5u5uS_QMYGcdqQom0nf78Q/s214/attenborough.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="214" data-original-width="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQVQV27lmO4FB4amenJSqGT5UTPkH2X5Do8gjx566DsuxmWSiTPrEGACMCuxxzXQ7z3951lYhqKG9XQH9Qkr_f_yDdEV3avSl9eYz8dKjeoY-f_EMg5u5uS_QMYGcdqQom0nf78Q/s0/attenborough.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><a href="https://attenboroughfilm.com/">David Attenborough</a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>When I went down to take care of the chickens on the 20th, I realized I hadn't seen many fox tracks in the yard. I walked to the board fence behind the pen and could see the traffic was all in the open field. </div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb9omDEExuzpqYGF4B8uu7gjTYsSPQl78FVtVxhXf4n6kcCfzM48rhVK83EX7wWpoxuJ0dFSmfltpYIQ64q_zLaVR_t0buAwzH9mBlzScYn14lRx36-4E-tC_zBtpeYZlqbdrluA/s2048/fox+curlique.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb9omDEExuzpqYGF4B8uu7gjTYsSPQl78FVtVxhXf4n6kcCfzM48rhVK83EX7wWpoxuJ0dFSmfltpYIQ64q_zLaVR_t0buAwzH9mBlzScYn14lRx36-4E-tC_zBtpeYZlqbdrluA/s320/fox+curlique.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsoFCFOtLph0xkJdKf3fedT711nphRiJ9B1IusGTTOaprf_8F313F9nrBZv1cHRQYdMrQNlEr74Fv0pYPmmQ_ul1nwfWVoCzRxKNaThHKn3adbsqUo60irtxCviSoHslCsluiyLA/s2048/foxdoubleback.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsoFCFOtLph0xkJdKf3fedT711nphRiJ9B1IusGTTOaprf_8F313F9nrBZv1cHRQYdMrQNlEr74Fv0pYPmmQ_ul1nwfWVoCzRxKNaThHKn3adbsqUo60irtxCviSoHslCsluiyLA/s320/foxdoubleback.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhagbci9cO49q_nOXMs1eY588qfDycYOdhEec6Q4jtWhKu4f5mly713VVlLmKlHbqNt19ad7P4MRqFiqvoxfPjvHOr9JHE6kUmH_GE6W8IdHsAq4PN7i-9Hc4w8jFx_C6d_uYqfA/s2048/foxshadowfence.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhagbci9cO49q_nOXMs1eY588qfDycYOdhEec6Q4jtWhKu4f5mly713VVlLmKlHbqNt19ad7P4MRqFiqvoxfPjvHOr9JHE6kUmH_GE6W8IdHsAq4PN7i-9Hc4w8jFx_C6d_uYqfA/s320/foxshadowfence.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaFjwxul-yIPGn3SRVg10NK2ES1Km4AfTUfp4nqVoIt2Xe7IdWP5ykWKEHRq0W_S13EAi_ft0mtV1-fCaNq5X7Lcg5SGly8jyRKNNXfJSzNiqgUpYvglEDaq3bemFfbNDtmZ5F0A/s2048/trailtothesouth.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaFjwxul-yIPGn3SRVg10NK2ES1Km4AfTUfp4nqVoIt2Xe7IdWP5ykWKEHRq0W_S13EAi_ft0mtV1-fCaNq5X7Lcg5SGly8jyRKNNXfJSzNiqgUpYvglEDaq3bemFfbNDtmZ5F0A/s320/trailtothesouth.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWkbKe-lPHpalYUlVe21SGdDtcr4X1S0zl2SznPrDFuWweKdm8gUkw4pgMWgxjdN4YfCIo4jHpMjxbGt5-brRH9AsskeOqpHlV9okySe77wc8A3drG_Lt3tRcME2j-gKo5ND0zEw/s2048/maxwellherbgarden.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWkbKe-lPHpalYUlVe21SGdDtcr4X1S0zl2SznPrDFuWweKdm8gUkw4pgMWgxjdN4YfCIo4jHpMjxbGt5-brRH9AsskeOqpHlV9okySe77wc8A3drG_Lt3tRcME2j-gKo5ND0zEw/s320/maxwellherbgarden.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAOKg0yF84Xr61drdTrMtJG4uJlAK5CUJ0k6fzH0riPRkbyoQHSCQUi5z5p2MM_nslIra6W30ly4DIybpCnYP3X6TJ_R27G5Es5F9bogSeiVt-LgqneZ3MwsECUYvK6usVdJSM1Q/s2048/tab+mountain.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAOKg0yF84Xr61drdTrMtJG4uJlAK5CUJ0k6fzH0riPRkbyoQHSCQUi5z5p2MM_nslIra6W30ly4DIybpCnYP3X6TJ_R27G5Es5F9bogSeiVt-LgqneZ3MwsECUYvK6usVdJSM1Q/s320/tab+mountain.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>February 28th</p><p>Everything is mud. It took an hour and a half to clean out the chicken coop. </p><p>See you in March. </p><p><br /></p>Julie & Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12291682548017240598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10076187.post-39357459133055395512021-02-20T16:36:00.000-08:002021-02-20T16:36:05.118-08:00Trail Cam Follies: Winter Edition!<p>There has been a lot of action on the winter trail cams that I just had to share with you. Nothing beats these candid shots of animals of all kinds taking advantage of the human hand-out in these hard, high snow times. I love the details of this Cardinal's feet pressed against her body.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyjBRY0Qp8lLKdpnBTDFLuIO0PkWxdYfsRecC2icwljyH0abBOO__nYE4HiGf6_2eFxaZI41056FIEwKnccA65bJRWUGBScUDkULdjd4_aq8yEq-fDPeQHAwyXTLPUAqnGBZUbPg/s2688/upcloseupbeatcardinal.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2688" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyjBRY0Qp8lLKdpnBTDFLuIO0PkWxdYfsRecC2icwljyH0abBOO__nYE4HiGf6_2eFxaZI41056FIEwKnccA65bJRWUGBScUDkULdjd4_aq8yEq-fDPeQHAwyXTLPUAqnGBZUbPg/s320/upcloseupbeatcardinal.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>Surely there is room for both the Cardinal and the Jay?<br /></p><p><br /></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjMBBbPF7S63Ssm2mLg6h8pgAAPDnfJVfRXhNtoy5nqiZ6LzAVYrBYl-oirVKLtCvpx8adUZmmUUflvYKQTvIw141k0Ito0POg-2RG7soFKTEx6v01y4K2JbG4OiHWjAr9jZYj2g/s2688/jayorcardinatfan.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2688" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjMBBbPF7S63Ssm2mLg6h8pgAAPDnfJVfRXhNtoy5nqiZ6LzAVYrBYl-oirVKLtCvpx8adUZmmUUflvYKQTvIw141k0Ito0POg-2RG7soFKTEx6v01y4K2JbG4OiHWjAr9jZYj2g/s320/jayorcardinatfan.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>The Jay may not think so. They are so intelligent...and greedy. <br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLGWE55qi05NnRSLh4BuYPKroJqJxutaPe9jH2vGdYVaImi91kUcuN-rE0HwLWgEH1tclodpVM0xQ_q0aq6N74pIlAkfCjbMqYEGVn-D78YMtt0qTeSzcTdnCnLclJFDBmhtdtwA/s2688/cardinaltranslucentwings.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2688" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLGWE55qi05NnRSLh4BuYPKroJqJxutaPe9jH2vGdYVaImi91kUcuN-rE0HwLWgEH1tclodpVM0xQ_q0aq6N74pIlAkfCjbMqYEGVn-D78YMtt0qTeSzcTdnCnLclJFDBmhtdtwA/s320/cardinaltranslucentwings.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLx0VqgimL3egZ48BQ1gAWpWYpzy-hrZjOG01MSQWeMudEF5jGuD8Wsuu-1s5pBM86wU2OdrDNFke8FIbO4jucdGnZlExxXsS31Xc4dskYiRlOjrGfLzIyHdzV6bgAS7etYitgaQ/s2688/cardinal+downbeat.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2688" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLx0VqgimL3egZ48BQ1gAWpWYpzy-hrZjOG01MSQWeMudEF5jGuD8Wsuu-1s5pBM86wU2OdrDNFke8FIbO4jucdGnZlExxXsS31Xc4dskYiRlOjrGfLzIyHdzV6bgAS7etYitgaQ/s320/cardinal+downbeat.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>If this is not enough Cardinals for you, check out this lovely conference...and how deep the snow is.</p><p> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWqG4QQx3NsfJ1VQcVUlbCxxJ8EpV3jcOAmpC6JGOkWnI6Xn8enuz_VSg2ocwj0FN9YekG-97-puaCq75m8eHabVXRvCxLyrWaatFKCxd8lpVocuPYLuAJ067l-OZd8Xmq4YvDFg/s3840/cardinal+conference.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWqG4QQx3NsfJ1VQcVUlbCxxJ8EpV3jcOAmpC6JGOkWnI6Xn8enuz_VSg2ocwj0FN9YekG-97-puaCq75m8eHabVXRvCxLyrWaatFKCxd8lpVocuPYLuAJ067l-OZd8Xmq4YvDFg/s320/cardinal+conference.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p>And the Mourning Doves are no slouches either when it comes to aerial acrobatics. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwDPFWucjbhKFKGguhiJOfC1o1MBXgDEIKQzBQ1fQy2ZjDC1hDJ0fM779QoBMO3_JJYVDtVYPxQbyJYl5_9tpz_2NQetplxAXjSWwqp5rwguHGU5y9YA1cwEQfhnEK7miNST2LAA/s2688/dove+troop.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2688" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwDPFWucjbhKFKGguhiJOfC1o1MBXgDEIKQzBQ1fQy2ZjDC1hDJ0fM779QoBMO3_JJYVDtVYPxQbyJYl5_9tpz_2NQetplxAXjSWwqp5rwguHGU5y9YA1cwEQfhnEK7miNST2LAA/s320/dove+troop.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <br /><p></p><p>Not to be outdone, here are some lovely shots of a Northern Flicker, also known as a <a href="https://wildsouth.org/yellowhammer/">Yellowhammer Woodpecker.</a> There is also an Alabama Yellowhammer, but it is in the bunting family. But thanks for naming too different birds Yellowhammer (sigh.) At least I'm fairly sure it's a Northern Flickr. <br /></p><p><br /></p><div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis-4Xl5e9H5kZ0SXW4W9sdh3WAnkZ-oHXCN1GPGH8m8U8Ib6WoLW1zRgnCck0-eLb_r8Gli-riSLJyIPcT_Yt7hhCxJbJM3pJO4dblC3cqqFa-qleWe4P6mabUw8oI3PPXnzEVnw/s2688/isthisaneasternmeadowlark.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2688" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis-4Xl5e9H5kZ0SXW4W9sdh3WAnkZ-oHXCN1GPGH8m8U8Ib6WoLW1zRgnCck0-eLb_r8Gli-riSLJyIPcT_Yt7hhCxJbJM3pJO4dblC3cqqFa-qleWe4P6mabUw8oI3PPXnzEVnw/s320/isthisaneasternmeadowlark.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOn3qQDrtAb-rfmPUFMlBrAswWQ0Xjec-2ginaqCOPnFGzKgCq_r9jmvlpco_mjNMLOUlIM5T0puqALcPJKyuN14GhME8mH5tsMUnowQ4pPBNMYewJckjF9VNfdDa9UrqED-Jrew/s2688/yellowsweep.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2688" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOn3qQDrtAb-rfmPUFMlBrAswWQ0Xjec-2ginaqCOPnFGzKgCq_r9jmvlpco_mjNMLOUlIM5T0puqALcPJKyuN14GhME8mH5tsMUnowQ4pPBNMYewJckjF9VNfdDa9UrqED-Jrew/s320/yellowsweep.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>Here a hawk and squirrel share some space.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8GKozPn2i38wvDIf6aszwuvubD8l3py3oGcjotEmF-kKjV0kR9oxvSLZle2bWZvnS_wXvpyTA9bc4-bp3hMUAr9WaDKjcDFkeD8863Hh-HoxtX0utOtMYTOz5_HOIIu6iPRhYsw/s3840/hawkandsquirrel.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8GKozPn2i38wvDIf6aszwuvubD8l3py3oGcjotEmF-kKjV0kR9oxvSLZle2bWZvnS_wXvpyTA9bc4-bp3hMUAr9WaDKjcDFkeD8863Hh-HoxtX0utOtMYTOz5_HOIIu6iPRhYsw/s320/hawkandsquirrel.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZguuHOfiPndER7aIjPkOh826o3Sijf4o83zbjRbdpLg5NyuhUz23sgHL39fgBlWYYKKHFC7XDnx6URxck6261s7oWaR62k4EOCdfDOfIQOU9hDqjTY9vGmXDVuDK6F353imSwIw/s3840/hawksweep.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZguuHOfiPndER7aIjPkOh826o3Sijf4o83zbjRbdpLg5NyuhUz23sgHL39fgBlWYYKKHFC7XDnx6URxck6261s7oWaR62k4EOCdfDOfIQOU9hDqjTY9vGmXDVuDK6F353imSwIw/s320/hawksweep.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><br /><br /><br /><br />Oh and look, I saved the most amazing picture for almost last. <br /><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipVC8cW_uP2PNKM-jxq11Rv39na13OCGieAiSHXMcmvxiMB5f2Otv19EwWAntCo4wHhGYUauggDP9xjBAIqu6BHcOKKnLjrPRgd-Uc6ulfgdtoFZM1gl8Hf5mvgFApODfvV2eMTg/s2048/pheasant+deer.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipVC8cW_uP2PNKM-jxq11Rv39na13OCGieAiSHXMcmvxiMB5f2Otv19EwWAntCo4wHhGYUauggDP9xjBAIqu6BHcOKKnLjrPRgd-Uc6ulfgdtoFZM1gl8Hf5mvgFApODfvV2eMTg/s320/pheasant+deer.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><p><br /></p><p>Don't be a turkey, subscribe in the upper left hand corner. Never miss a post!<br /></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpNdrkRrUD8CktOJbUBmczEpLowBw-VioruG3MtS1TbktN4pjGnovEC5yKwG5eEQaZAnFiyDN_HZI42R3arvckVlvxWaBTqtrGCQwvhog0OTDg78ittpnS7phBAlb-U20C-TauvQ/s3840/dont+be+a+turkey+or+squirrelly.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpNdrkRrUD8CktOJbUBmczEpLowBw-VioruG3MtS1TbktN4pjGnovEC5yKwG5eEQaZAnFiyDN_HZI42R3arvckVlvxWaBTqtrGCQwvhog0OTDg78ittpnS7phBAlb-U20C-TauvQ/s320/dont+be+a+turkey+or+squirrelly.JPG" width="320" /></a></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Julie & Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12291682548017240598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10076187.post-24685921157566523592021-01-31T17:15:00.002-08:002021-01-31T17:15:44.149-08:00January Round Up<p>Check out the new blog I've launched that is more essay style, more words, less pictures. As with this blog, there is a subscribe option if you want updates later. </p><p><a href="https://parkviewpenciling.blogspot.com/">https://parkviewpenciling.blogspot.com</a></p><p>As winter hobbies and reading/writing projects begin to take root after holiday activity, I'm going to try to record this as I go, rather than trying to pull it all together at once. </p><p>So let's start with New Year's Eve, we had steak, bread machine onion rolls and this wonderful from scratch, lactose free real cheese macaroni and cheese. I did the least labor intensive onion rolls, and I'm lucky Andrew will put in the research and time to bring some true dairy favorites back into my life.</p><p>This was a ton of mac and cheese, and I'm just finishing up the leftovers a week later. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCkWPBhPMKsBT08lIjtbRPVlDxjkw_6KjAo1XKtCcTthk4LpvwIQKAvV3uZzSgoCimdB2ECjfAuUwvCwhlkwDwVxWh4wjrLd5UwpaFJFlUzeO2IPcoTwrqyYVR7qGu1_upJr0v3A/s2048/mac.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCkWPBhPMKsBT08lIjtbRPVlDxjkw_6KjAo1XKtCcTthk4LpvwIQKAvV3uZzSgoCimdB2ECjfAuUwvCwhlkwDwVxWh4wjrLd5UwpaFJFlUzeO2IPcoTwrqyYVR7qGu1_upJr0v3A/s320/mac.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>I also cleaned the chicken coop on New Year's Eve and boy did it need it. The weather was the best of the week, dry, windless and not terribly cold so I could really just focus on the job at hand at a nice pace and let the ladies out so they wouldn't be underfoot.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDiwBPEMizWer7DV__qNRVcq0qGc4WWgL3_dY1c4nm0ZKR3Q8IwsOAerNcblaVHkkUrMWvmM9C9gSuqd3Px7mxJ4t6sOfgjAAOfqOTUJnv8ZuL2W1unK6mJ2Xr23_pW1l-iK0GzQ/s2048/snoweye.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDiwBPEMizWer7DV__qNRVcq0qGc4WWgL3_dY1c4nm0ZKR3Q8IwsOAerNcblaVHkkUrMWvmM9C9gSuqd3Px7mxJ4t6sOfgjAAOfqOTUJnv8ZuL2W1unK6mJ2Xr23_pW1l-iK0GzQ/s320/snoweye.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>It really wasn't that cold despite the last snow on the ground. Much better than the day before when I had planned to clean it and it rained all day. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3G6mdeJv3_DIRlnVssCm4pNXrvyr8y7RMoJND_n4iPWFIg-RxegLWInnlcFU23Vhr_vDdAp3CU-qlD3KWIzawTR7Wfxo40vjjbAGJDozgJbDagZ6kSm8ebtV0TSzTCIVLJUZRWg/s2048/hen+gather.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3G6mdeJv3_DIRlnVssCm4pNXrvyr8y7RMoJND_n4iPWFIg-RxegLWInnlcFU23Vhr_vDdAp3CU-qlD3KWIzawTR7Wfxo40vjjbAGJDozgJbDagZ6kSm8ebtV0TSzTCIVLJUZRWg/s320/hen+gather.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p>You would think I would be tired of posting pictures of chickens in wheelbarrows, rummaging around their own used litter like it's the Target dollar section...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG_F0eFocksR9MtHFYuMlwzOwiXgJ0X7sSaPTH5qvF4WhbPy1sYUREly7d-UHBIG-S6rfxmoHwMoK8uruEaS28NYNFmUrdbziMKrst0R8XqmA5ZYwXhCln_Lh25vPkjlBTpOHN8g/s2048/barrow+2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG_F0eFocksR9MtHFYuMlwzOwiXgJ0X7sSaPTH5qvF4WhbPy1sYUREly7d-UHBIG-S6rfxmoHwMoK8uruEaS28NYNFmUrdbziMKrst0R8XqmA5ZYwXhCln_Lh25vPkjlBTpOHN8g/s320/barrow+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>and yet I am not. <div><br /></div><div>I made a new necklace out of these lovely apatite and farm cultured pearl beads.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1RQwFWOyfbJjqIXULrNMH-R_awrm1P95p3mHvXzx3I7vEPKltrkZcd4J9uXZeu2cOgfDvx8Hc_qsL9HxB-RP7VMKHBz0WMZpTh1bi6Qwufjj3O0Y1EgQoV9AL78y3JFWq0b9V3Q/s2048/beads.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1RQwFWOyfbJjqIXULrNMH-R_awrm1P95p3mHvXzx3I7vEPKltrkZcd4J9uXZeu2cOgfDvx8Hc_qsL9HxB-RP7VMKHBz0WMZpTh1bi6Qwufjj3O0Y1EgQoV9AL78y3JFWq0b9V3Q/s320/beads.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6_fztv9AdmKVeX3KH05K12MII3C3AaFmCWpUkVkeYedtOMd1hJL5XLf1aMC3UBbBIc0xW0LpNH8rbtHnWhz3XdssG__0RdQ8bF2GZtihyBjYFCtpK4BQOOgkBIYZVzEfNV0hvNw/s2048/necklace.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6_fztv9AdmKVeX3KH05K12MII3C3AaFmCWpUkVkeYedtOMd1hJL5XLf1aMC3UBbBIc0xW0LpNH8rbtHnWhz3XdssG__0RdQ8bF2GZtihyBjYFCtpK4BQOOgkBIYZVzEfNV0hvNw/s320/necklace.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><p>And I made some moisturizing salve with some things around the house; coconut oil, some essential oils and a chunk of beeswax. It's not the most chic product, but inexpensive. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaCR9IwIRMEamJUPdnvuB9YeTXx4NDurE5l3qlmbwzYLUdNGAoqbdp6MFjndNXRb05dqxsgBcBmQglmb94x2rWcoxkvZm7G7IjOLMi-j6d5MvIhSpttvgkfCIqQv_-rdM_zw5IlA/s2048/supplies.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaCR9IwIRMEamJUPdnvuB9YeTXx4NDurE5l3qlmbwzYLUdNGAoqbdp6MFjndNXRb05dqxsgBcBmQglmb94x2rWcoxkvZm7G7IjOLMi-j6d5MvIhSpttvgkfCIqQv_-rdM_zw5IlA/s320/supplies.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>I have a vintage enamel double boiler, which is especially important to use with beeswax rather than a single pot/direct heat. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2p1QjMsgexmvf2zFE0EsyRFzbPyI_lK-WyIycypJsb2AoVVuo9z89g6krODUKsvKO0yrKZ1HHbnMnBcc6RUsZvi6MjAkogG3I2xnkm1V_mZ3bneq5TDlCS0iT4tsWUj7wgEF7BQ/s2048/one.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2p1QjMsgexmvf2zFE0EsyRFzbPyI_lK-WyIycypJsb2AoVVuo9z89g6krODUKsvKO0yrKZ1HHbnMnBcc6RUsZvi6MjAkogG3I2xnkm1V_mZ3bneq5TDlCS0iT4tsWUj7wgEF7BQ/s320/one.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>The coconut oil melts fairly quickly.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7dIUehe6zVy9Fi7QEONbze3sWbrNjpxGhmad5gxywzSJc1aQv4RoR0josHuE-K5auVxHQrkXHuhazt-JjBq6lSgJ3ZtMZG_6rD_l2c1Z9_odaojRRAPbY2Rff-Pr5-WGK80-SYw/s2048/two.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7dIUehe6zVy9Fi7QEONbze3sWbrNjpxGhmad5gxywzSJc1aQv4RoR0josHuE-K5auVxHQrkXHuhazt-JjBq6lSgJ3ZtMZG_6rD_l2c1Z9_odaojRRAPbY2Rff-Pr5-WGK80-SYw/s320/two.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>After a few minutes of sporadic stirring though the beeswax begins to melt. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKXyIvh4vJFwBlTpaXMXJC_h-PctEfb_0UNSDkIHmqrYlEF8vugGpNiC70lJZhfRO3KTNO332SKlsX6sWVaSutyxAq0aWSgSn5YHkc-3oubI_9Lx5QLyHfZHUu0sMzmP5GEWlq-A/s2048/three.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKXyIvh4vJFwBlTpaXMXJC_h-PctEfb_0UNSDkIHmqrYlEF8vugGpNiC70lJZhfRO3KTNO332SKlsX6sWVaSutyxAq0aWSgSn5YHkc-3oubI_9Lx5QLyHfZHUu0sMzmP5GEWlq-A/s320/three.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>And once it is mostly melted I add the essential oil and stir but I don't keep it on heat very long after than because I don't want to deteriorate the essential oils. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn4t_wiZrufIFj-iI8TqhUWCiXfwI3Tkbehrc-3hOHyp7Nlr-549TvFFFXCj4KM3xNRGmIvu31YjmjXwMaF_BqGY9vCOMoypS0R9lCmqQv_-DljsXeyYbvLz27_UnoMP64UzbMwg/s2048/pour.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn4t_wiZrufIFj-iI8TqhUWCiXfwI3Tkbehrc-3hOHyp7Nlr-549TvFFFXCj4KM3xNRGmIvu31YjmjXwMaF_BqGY9vCOMoypS0R9lCmqQv_-DljsXeyYbvLz27_UnoMP64UzbMwg/s320/pour.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>It's a nice golden yellow thanks to the beeswax. The first night after it had cooled to room temperature it was very much a salve consistency, but later it firmed up a bit, but still melts very quickly when used as coconut oil usually does. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguH0vI39_2vqFg7bM4UmB67l2wJkB4A2OcIZrBBkjYVsMd_UU7iAjOHA6KZs-oGquWDDjeZYBrkHGyqZBW_NsKud3ZuTzK6WKNXHy7QrsSXwzffwbgUN0zwWpqL3EfoWNpskQuTA/s2048/cooling.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguH0vI39_2vqFg7bM4UmB67l2wJkB4A2OcIZrBBkjYVsMd_UU7iAjOHA6KZs-oGquWDDjeZYBrkHGyqZBW_NsKud3ZuTzK6WKNXHy7QrsSXwzffwbgUN0zwWpqL3EfoWNpskQuTA/s320/cooling.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>I have a chicken update since when I posted the previous pictures, this is a running draft blog during the month of January and as I write on the 9th, I made a sad discovery in the pen When I went down to collect eggs and care for them I immediately noticed the shape of the flock was wrong I did a quick count, and then a slower one. It was late enough in the day to know the tenth and missing hen probably wasn't laying and I noticed that for the past couple days I wasn't getting quite as many eggs as usual. </p><p>I opened the coop and looked at the empty nest boxes and then with a a heavy heart looked around the rest of the coop and laying n between the roost and the wall, was a dark lump One of the new Blue Rock hens, just a chick in April had died Her head was tucked against her wing Maybe an egg broke inside her. None of the other chickens showed anything amiss </p><p>I got a trash bag to collect her. Dead chickens always feel so heavy and I disposed of her far away to not bring the fox's attention closer to the pen. After chicken care I took Tutu for a long walk in the sunshine in her winter coat and it was quite nice. Tomorrow we will go for another walk this weather can't be beat for January, first 20 degree day is more than 10 days a way so they say.</p><p>January 10, 2021</p><p>Andrew and I went on a nice 90 minute winter hike at <a href="https://ohiodnr.gov/wps/portal/gov/odnr/go-and-do/plan-a-visit/find-a-property/davey-woods-state-nature-preserve">Davey Woods</a> state nature preserve. It was nice enough weather and we were surprised that the small parking lot was full and we had to park along the side of the road. I took my Canon camera with me with the zoom lens attached thinking I might capture blue jays and squirrels but the trail was very quiet and I didn't see hardly any squirrel nests. The most notable feature was the dozens of huge grapevines growing 70, 80 feet and in the strangest shapes. I have my fist pictured for scale. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilkdUX00db-WaCz010zkIxh2_1hw9obybfTkU6PqYOh6iJdHwOSeu2i_vZs9cnoVq4R6xLzgz2VjSO6soTA09Gp8cT53DIYNKzC0oR1dA4KRuI_2hQVsxvzSq3pqO-yItbH5yjaQ/s2048/grape+fist.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilkdUX00db-WaCz010zkIxh2_1hw9obybfTkU6PqYOh6iJdHwOSeu2i_vZs9cnoVq4R6xLzgz2VjSO6soTA09Gp8cT53DIYNKzC0oR1dA4KRuI_2hQVsxvzSq3pqO-yItbH5yjaQ/s320/grape+fist.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The grape vine to the right actually grew out of the ground and back in again just a foot apart making the loop you see above. It was as tall as me. As you can see, I have not escaped the "pandemic 15."</div><div><br /></div><div>Check out this grapevine growing through the fork of this tree. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3_iAaGYVjYzIK-qVDGtGrNenkFVbVt5hkFZWPYbB3pRyJSR4L1aOIQB5huovTP6nPTb2gsPissQiPTu7xeNGFAIhyphenhyphenp5M0O9e0PDp67nEf3ib1EuLiKWDrWmMbTKKYYHQLfzTiUA/s2048/grapefork.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3_iAaGYVjYzIK-qVDGtGrNenkFVbVt5hkFZWPYbB3pRyJSR4L1aOIQB5huovTP6nPTb2gsPissQiPTu7xeNGFAIhyphenhyphenp5M0O9e0PDp67nEf3ib1EuLiKWDrWmMbTKKYYHQLfzTiUA/s320/grapefork.JPG" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And this curlicue of three distinct loops of grapevine. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_30d5CsvpkWXc3iyAEOjmleRE3tRdWBS6QgKzlEPCETnBz-mbXaSJK9qdCy4L8kZNxJhUrNb9QG_0y4a1N9CpzNwDrJNB55q31M76CpBkOL2FRlu9gj0nVsQnBkvNRx7qB-8-GA/s2048/loop+grape.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_30d5CsvpkWXc3iyAEOjmleRE3tRdWBS6QgKzlEPCETnBz-mbXaSJK9qdCy4L8kZNxJhUrNb9QG_0y4a1N9CpzNwDrJNB55q31M76CpBkOL2FRlu9gj0nVsQnBkvNRx7qB-8-GA/s320/loop+grape.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>The zoom lens was not the best choice for this walk as there was lots of interesting macro shots of fungi and tree features but most of the pictures didn't turn out. The raccoon tracks along the bank were the only sign of life aside from a deer trail. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNo0_rwGCf8gR-oYlEre4S2gB1XSX2UGCah97x65wYYLHfVuCk2kTwhsYZpn2ov92LB37Gb9K7Bgi176PwLzrnahj7wvC1WBlBAaFBeMIgO3uTL-gQYFdNPZ5tojbJNbA9abeSuw/s2048/coon+bank.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNo0_rwGCf8gR-oYlEre4S2gB1XSX2UGCah97x65wYYLHfVuCk2kTwhsYZpn2ov92LB37Gb9K7Bgi176PwLzrnahj7wvC1WBlBAaFBeMIgO3uTL-gQYFdNPZ5tojbJNbA9abeSuw/s320/coon+bank.JPG" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The stream was pretty, with lots of frost and free slowing water around every bend.</div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTgvn6LsrG67SbJYMordmk9VIEKIQ8rDgnJyA8zJVj6I6j5lVMJ-MguHWgEb_-1jRiFmNhdiXyjnLqDdnC_jUR_ZDutHv9i6rkTxSBhxXQHB_3NAuy3fneAJCON8tT_BQ_7knRuA/s2048/frost+stream.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTgvn6LsrG67SbJYMordmk9VIEKIQ8rDgnJyA8zJVj6I6j5lVMJ-MguHWgEb_-1jRiFmNhdiXyjnLqDdnC_jUR_ZDutHv9i6rkTxSBhxXQHB_3NAuy3fneAJCON8tT_BQ_7knRuA/s320/frost+stream.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Reading books from the private library continues. This was a quick read about a lady in the 60s and 70s who tended wounded birds from her home in Queens. This was largely before wildlife rehabilitation centers and the gentle tone of the book does not dilute the facts about the different bird species or how to treat them including which birds get what kind of food and shelter. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEHgFp8Ycs73VP02lfCcCcfxi7eIl_Y7abLlChUQlNMm9bubgR9N6XBAdKjRfs-zqHEKLhwmCk3YBh6gZnYNrihL1JpPfli0r1_xEv_YB_Ahw3cOK_ORSJRLDK8wl1hgi8zA-RZA/s2048/ambulance+cover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEHgFp8Ycs73VP02lfCcCcfxi7eIl_Y7abLlChUQlNMm9bubgR9N6XBAdKjRfs-zqHEKLhwmCk3YBh6gZnYNrihL1JpPfli0r1_xEv_YB_Ahw3cOK_ORSJRLDK8wl1hgi8zA-RZA/s320/ambulance+cover.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Also, the illustrations while photographs, are translated into this interesting almost dot matrix/pixelated style. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbQ8Sc6Upsv_lZmYX7YjkRkvtGgiV_XabWCbzl_mVjM974PTG1bTthCUcyuff-B-wi1rMOtmXaI_bett-RDizcFPAlUuFz1P-zYMIPRQYlDw4GEbb1YNNPdD4MjfFj96LZbYc4FA/s2048/kestrel.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbQ8Sc6Upsv_lZmYX7YjkRkvtGgiV_XabWCbzl_mVjM974PTG1bTthCUcyuff-B-wi1rMOtmXaI_bett-RDizcFPAlUuFz1P-zYMIPRQYlDw4GEbb1YNNPdD4MjfFj96LZbYc4FA/s320/kestrel.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>January 15th</p><p>I took Tutu for a walk in the late afternoon. It wasn't super warm, just at 40 but there was no wind and we did about 30 minutes of walking. It would switch between bright and overcast and then I realized winter really was coming!</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9KTPDnCnhHRoQ1gVZC6uI5u_7PBFWIcmOwjm0PQIVx2hZFgUu-ex60ypew7EsUYU8Bmxo-Vn_g1RKEI6LzHx63viJynclevzhSQtpfvsU5I7XPPCFHMq_40sLW4EsBeF_zWGCrQ/s2048/sun.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9KTPDnCnhHRoQ1gVZC6uI5u_7PBFWIcmOwjm0PQIVx2hZFgUu-ex60ypew7EsUYU8Bmxo-Vn_g1RKEI6LzHx63viJynclevzhSQtpfvsU5I7XPPCFHMq_40sLW4EsBeF_zWGCrQ/s320/sun.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAbhfYD6sNYgivgRsJdddC5xc8_nflU9w_YBvj4fPdRIinDwbGh7Z2WZLRR_uAs4bficHxKE6GYjeFeNCqr4X4YbvfKQYdqoHcZv0_OzMJDyW_2XTc4ehO_ZtfBHaQujwOlc9TyQ/s2048/snow.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAbhfYD6sNYgivgRsJdddC5xc8_nflU9w_YBvj4fPdRIinDwbGh7Z2WZLRR_uAs4bficHxKE6GYjeFeNCqr4X4YbvfKQYdqoHcZv0_OzMJDyW_2XTc4ehO_ZtfBHaQujwOlc9TyQ/s320/snow.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>By the time I got Tutu in and changed into chicken care gear, in the span of 10 minutes it went from the scene above to completely gray, and soft nickel sized snow flakes were falling and the temperature had dropped considerably, just like that. I got the chickens done and we were in for a while until we took a short, masked visit to Maw Maw and Paw Paw's where the walk clearly tuckered Tutu out, using her stuffed snowman toy as a neck pillow.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD7K7Q3Y0d1WIuu6MkfDxj-x99Y_KjiXbEJY8DLsz85Gj83acz3eItn8bHXHHGAkXnbknpZ6JdAwoI9ip1Jm8NiKm_bE-h-f-KSD_MrHjvcJDI3AmGO0oiAxG3DXMx_a-FRosHkQ/s2048/sleepysnow.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD7K7Q3Y0d1WIuu6MkfDxj-x99Y_KjiXbEJY8DLsz85Gj83acz3eItn8bHXHHGAkXnbknpZ6JdAwoI9ip1Jm8NiKm_bE-h-f-KSD_MrHjvcJDI3AmGO0oiAxG3DXMx_a-FRosHkQ/s320/sleepysnow.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>January 24</p><p>A nice day of staying inside, reading, writing, and cooking. </p><p>Andrew made apple cider pork roast with apple butter and chives from a recent Cooks' Country.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4Ee1Cg1RvkX-Rf4DNhAqbBXWxPVf78vAKgdb0NPTRL8JSYxNdqHMfAzG8Dln46066HcJJ5NMOfi51A7cxCTzx9eV4vgEovT5Otgb-0YjImkYgc3t-LnP5KDamfftCsdv8brNsQ/s2048/appleciderpork.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4Ee1Cg1RvkX-Rf4DNhAqbBXWxPVf78vAKgdb0NPTRL8JSYxNdqHMfAzG8Dln46066HcJJ5NMOfi51A7cxCTzx9eV4vgEovT5Otgb-0YjImkYgc3t-LnP5KDamfftCsdv8brNsQ/s320/appleciderpork.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>I flipped through some cookies in the Dorie's Cookies book, but they all sounded like too much work so I made Andrew's favorite, the chocolate chip cookie recipe from the butter flavored Crisco sticks. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSqHat7bc2l7LGFMuFrP5ju74HG0XnunErvApxkKIjz5LBt7YOS4xiVUWaKatChwbYuTG89xwbsgU3y9vazpY2UQRyBhN1cpXhwklLQqOa1pCdYiLxPdd0Zu8qolGvg11Cz908BQ/s2048/brown+sugar.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSqHat7bc2l7LGFMuFrP5ju74HG0XnunErvApxkKIjz5LBt7YOS4xiVUWaKatChwbYuTG89xwbsgU3y9vazpY2UQRyBhN1cpXhwklLQqOa1pCdYiLxPdd0Zu8qolGvg11Cz908BQ/s320/brown+sugar.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><p>These moist and chewy cookies can last for days if packed air tightly. The secret I think is there is only brown sugar...keeping them from getting brittle.</p><p><br /></p><p>Sunday, January 31st</p><p>It sounds like my friends in Columbus have more rain than snow. Here, while we watch 60 minutes we have 6 inches going on 7 with at least one or two more inches to go. We had a mostly cozy day in, although Andrew worked on clearing the driveway and I took care of the chickens. The wet soft snow was easy to hoe rather than shovel. The hens were confined to one dry area of the pen and had cabin fever so I gave them some extra treats. I had to dig my high top Vasque boots for the snow, that reach mid-calf. I had to carry Tutu to some of her potty zones as the snow is so deep. </p><p>Yesterday Andrew and I went to Mad River Mountain for our first lesson of the season but second of our lives. I love skiing and am thrilled to learn I can use the student slope to practice whether I am taking a lesson or not. I hope to go again soon, all those years roller skating and roller blading have carried over quite nicely for the skis. </p><p>I have finished my second John McCormack book of collected stories from his first year as a veterinarian in rural Choctaw county Alabama. I adored it as much as the first one, I read, Friend of the Flock. I was actually getting depressed about getting to the end of this book. The only copy in the Central Library Consortium was this large print copy and I have the other two collections on inter-library loan. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMbubtNBKXbKp9mdgG-tE7Bxj_X7w-JRIwowAG5VkUtxBKvcXdtX41h1W3GWuG2hC7gg8aqQEezeQZ4AQ6eclKYIZB6f1D3G71F4CZqnINCkpjKPwkodabRa-x3CKNXPXL6W9qUg/s2048/fields.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMbubtNBKXbKp9mdgG-tE7Bxj_X7w-JRIwowAG5VkUtxBKvcXdtX41h1W3GWuG2hC7gg8aqQEezeQZ4AQ6eclKYIZB6f1D3G71F4CZqnINCkpjKPwkodabRa-x3CKNXPXL6W9qUg/s320/fields.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>See you in February.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>Julie & Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12291682548017240598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10076187.post-11937656409539234092021-01-15T10:03:00.000-08:002021-01-15T10:03:00.175-08:00Do Nothing<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3FoT4zNz3qR__4BWE48UR4uX8XfufgakWZ-cGO_1jIUfcUkLQzudUMYlR4gZV8vUqJX_be3SizHiKPGWvmq6Hwe0OW6D2W7RXc4jbKXSf3hR8BAfHnxlqyMrW4FHeacQ37fyiNg/s1024/Do-Nothing-3d-cover-1-1024x864.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3FoT4zNz3qR__4BWE48UR4uX8XfufgakWZ-cGO_1jIUfcUkLQzudUMYlR4gZV8vUqJX_be3SizHiKPGWvmq6Hwe0OW6D2W7RXc4jbKXSf3hR8BAfHnxlqyMrW4FHeacQ37fyiNg/s320/Do-Nothing-3d-cover-1-1024x864.png" width="320"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><span style="text-align: center;">Check out this book, recently published. It's really changing how I look at my daily life and my relationship with my smart phone and how much time I spend on it. This is not a soft self-help kind of book and there are few references to mindfulness which has been almost completely corporatized/capitalized into something almost unrecognizable from traditional Buddhist philosophy. </span><p></p><p><span style="text-align: center;">Instead, this book is a wholistic view of work both at home and in the world that combines psychology, history (ancient and modern) culture, health, and society. Our daily lives have changed more in the last two hundred years than it has in the last 20,000 years and we have not caught up to the technology we have and the demands it places on our brains.</span></p><p><span style="text-align: center;">Celeste Headlee makes a real case through statistics and research as to why we feel busier than ever but get less done, feel more stressed and having less fun. </span></p><p><span style="text-align: center;">Rather than extolling on the virtues of life hacking and habit building, she takes a comprehensive view of how we have evolved to live, work and socialize. Social Media and "always being on" is only the latest in a long history of layering longer working hours, less productive outcomes, and less leisure time. </span></p><p><span style="text-align: center;">As I listened to this audiobook, all I could think of was "this isn't just me, this is happening to all of us, and here's why and...it's not my fault." </span></p><p><span style="text-align: center;">Frequently I asked myself...is this how I want to live? </span></p><p><span style="text-align: center;">There is more journalism than aphorisms that is very supportive in thinking about the world differently and what I want out of it. I think more and more literature is going to come out like this, and I have already gotten a taste of some of the same sets of facts from another book I have on reserve that I listened to the podcast on NPR...but for now, check out this 7 minute listen with the author herself.</span></p><p><span style="text-align: center;"><br></span></p><p><span style="text-align: center;"><a href="Check out this book, recently published. It's really changing how I look at my daily life and my relationship with my smart phone and how much time I spend on it. ">Do Nothing Interview</a><br></span></p><p>I can't recommend this book highly enough. If you do end up reading it or listening to it, reach out to me and we can talk about how we are trying to make some changes. I've already implemented a couple. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdOC9ZALmMr92PkDsUndxAX3TVG-h2sQf6PCb64HY0_lsZm2abcguBUBAMzuYd1znvGSD9GR6Sx8XamTwCZxm1eLIQFXwbaY0B7VRPudVZnu1ergJ3hl3Fotq-W2bs0V5JgMhWyw/s400/Infographics_1080x1080_DoNothing_v1_2-400x400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdOC9ZALmMr92PkDsUndxAX3TVG-h2sQf6PCb64HY0_lsZm2abcguBUBAMzuYd1znvGSD9GR6Sx8XamTwCZxm1eLIQFXwbaY0B7VRPudVZnu1ergJ3hl3Fotq-W2bs0V5JgMhWyw/s320/Infographics_1080x1080_DoNothing_v1_2-400x400.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Also as I drafted this I remembered a similar podcast interview I came across about new year's resolutions. I posted it on Facebook but I'll <a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/01/01/952716696/listener-questions-about-new-years-resolutions">repost it here</a>. I listened to a book by Gretchen Rubin, but it was exhausting. I'm a big fan of<a href="https://rericthomas.com/book/"> R. Eric Thomas</a>, and loved his book Here For It. I think he makes some good counterpoints in this interview. </div><p><span style="text-align: center;"><br></span></p>Julie & Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12291682548017240598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10076187.post-72252108015884874022021-01-02T06:35:00.000-08:002021-01-02T06:35:37.120-08:00December Round-Up<p> Okay so here s the last post of the year, and it's mostly baking, books, and pets. </p><p>I've made a ton of cookies this past month, with mixed results. In early December, I made a sprawling, epic baking video to play on the library's social media channels and I bit off more than I could chew making three recipes at once. I need to remember to look at the recipe before I start...the demands of chilling two of the three doughs turned what I thought would be a 2 hour activity into an unexpected marathon. I am pretty confident I do not have the right cookies in the right chronological order...I can't remember which cookies I did for the video and which I just did in the course of the month. I do not think an accurate cookie baking timeline is crucial to read this post so let's just roll with it. </p><p>First, I decided to try a new gingerbread cookie recipe featured in the holiday issue of Cook's Illustrated. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQF4ThDOKEKlT6ioxJu2YJC7COx90jDvO2y6lGQiFLB5Kcnw5mSxgi6hJMewVHx4Ipw9jpV6J4qgjz7DHX6FLNJ_Y2UzQgAP-N6kKySQQbHpbrhDVm4fUx-_AvCJq9xslEZhkFVw/s2048/cigar+cookies.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQF4ThDOKEKlT6ioxJu2YJC7COx90jDvO2y6lGQiFLB5Kcnw5mSxgi6hJMewVHx4Ipw9jpV6J4qgjz7DHX6FLNJ_Y2UzQgAP-N6kKySQQbHpbrhDVm4fUx-_AvCJq9xslEZhkFVw/s320/cigar+cookies.jpg"></a></div><br><p><br></p><p>Looks good right? Well, looks can be deceiving. As I did the recipe I idly thought it asked for an awful lot of cloves...I double checked our traditional recipe for ginger bread boys and saw cloves wasn't even listed. I shrugged and went on my merry kitchen way...and let me tell you if you didn't already guess, that a little bit of cloves goes a long way. </p><p>Andrew and I ended up calling them the "cigar cookie" because Andrew says "I'd rather smoke cloves than eat them." I would say one would have to strongly be on team savory to enjoy these cookies. I could make them again without the cloves, but honestly there are soooooo many cookie recipes out there, I'm kicking this one to the curb. I did take the cookies to work, warned everyone and there were two co-workers who liked them. When a cookie languishes on the staff treat table, you know it's a dud.</p><p>I also tried a recipe from a magazine that I'm really enjoying that we carry at the library called Le Chatelaine...it's Canadian and looks like a Good Housekeeping kind of magazine but it's really quite edgy and modern. This classic peanut butter cookies with added chocolate chips were a hit all around.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZRykVzKdOzC4iACQCIZB3_fr29rTKrqcV8UR409atZStpyTYK0jeD46sckIFQMwJqXRjyfrbZ0QyFvwD_tRzRORWvPlz-QwfT268eMrkg3xww7NoMI2Lqd6-TfLkojkxnMi-BQw/s2048/le+chatelaine.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZRykVzKdOzC4iACQCIZB3_fr29rTKrqcV8UR409atZStpyTYK0jeD46sckIFQMwJqXRjyfrbZ0QyFvwD_tRzRORWvPlz-QwfT268eMrkg3xww7NoMI2Lqd6-TfLkojkxnMi-BQw/s320/le+chatelaine.jpg"></a></div><br> <p></p><p><br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhltzREkkw-yNpwmbVLhc_unbZpomk4AwFsm69kKviMVWjzgIFdjt5_RToP5iGo0TaDGE32BnKHmXu68BeugP9xZu8OVurMhAyePkTD8Tg4ZhutWyQ-c1mizzO5Eoq4HfGDuIGm0Q/s2048/baked+chocolate+peanut+butter.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhltzREkkw-yNpwmbVLhc_unbZpomk4AwFsm69kKviMVWjzgIFdjt5_RToP5iGo0TaDGE32BnKHmXu68BeugP9xZu8OVurMhAyePkTD8Tg4ZhutWyQ-c1mizzO5Eoq4HfGDuIGm0Q/s320/baked+chocolate+peanut+butter.jpg"></a></div><br><p><br></p><p>Then for the third recipe I made was an oatmeal cookie recipe out of this book:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2c2h31PfhGly7NG0UBGztYKmGA0gMoc2I-9ObMn8A7yvsZbmoVQbzsyBtGXjko8wmvqHptiI1CVxrBT_73fxfY_reurILw1LJ-HWXY0AcYuFCh5wpy-QQba9El63yNAxY8yoQRw/s2048/oatmeal+and+food+52.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2c2h31PfhGly7NG0UBGztYKmGA0gMoc2I-9ObMn8A7yvsZbmoVQbzsyBtGXjko8wmvqHptiI1CVxrBT_73fxfY_reurILw1LJ-HWXY0AcYuFCh5wpy-QQba9El63yNAxY8yoQRw/s320/oatmeal+and+food+52.jpg"></a></div><br><p>I may be making more stuff out of this book in the future. My Dad loves a good oatmeal cookie and so do I. This may be a recipe I redo. It is VERY oat centric...but demanded being chilled which took more time since I didn't look ahead for that. I really need to remember to pay attention to a little thing called "prep time." Also, I think the eggs I used were maybe too small to add enough moisture. Dad liked them though. Sadly, I don't have a picture of the oatmeal cookie.</p><p>The week before Christmas I made the sesame cookies from PBS cook Lydia Bastianich in an effort to replicate Andrew's Grandma Scordato's recipe. This is a basic shortbread recipe where you roll out the dough and cut into logs, then roll in sesame seeds.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjR_zRXBM9JS8CMmM3muXveqlo0YwQcuuNT3xNLeFZ5muyd-UtemRntm_G24G9HDszin5x3LI9gCFCamlKD3L-gRg9-bvQgPClViOz-GacPiwcY0nY4Ls03zUczljOv6SPG-0yzw/s2048/sesame+into+the+oven.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjR_zRXBM9JS8CMmM3muXveqlo0YwQcuuNT3xNLeFZ5muyd-UtemRntm_G24G9HDszin5x3LI9gCFCamlKD3L-gRg9-bvQgPClViOz-GacPiwcY0nY4Ls03zUczljOv6SPG-0yzw/s320/sesame+into+the+oven.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxEplmr_5Gyl29YGG-S7akbG6c65EtBv3tebbXPOKG_KHvhdiH7mMsAIs4YqREwDJXJgVZluSi6sROdXvR3rB_b9qEUvOch3CEf2GgYlySUEoqyfELEFbD8KLNkbuQeh6dLzpzFg/s2048/lydias+sesame.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxEplmr_5Gyl29YGG-S7akbG6c65EtBv3tebbXPOKG_KHvhdiH7mMsAIs4YqREwDJXJgVZluSi6sROdXvR3rB_b9qEUvOch3CEf2GgYlySUEoqyfELEFbD8KLNkbuQeh6dLzpzFg/s320/lydias+sesame.jpg"></a></div><br><p>The definitely spread out quite a bit in the baking. Mom liked them and some friends liked them, especially dipped in melted chocolate but Andrew says they are close but no cigar. This is the second time I've referenced cigar/cigarettes in a baking centric blog post. Shrugs.</p><p>Food 52 had two recipes I want to try and as I eyed this one, I suspected that I had made it before and was mildly disappointed in it...but the memory didn't stick so I moved ahead and made it anyway. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiTbqP_QSNC9tB6q9PJj3Oc_PRFDZbcy1Sb_mwiebuYVSKn7gzzmHoNQK2iTMjXOHD_U1ykY4km5Js4e_Vue06hXYiK2V4SRp9I8j5153wtOz5qb2YPAJgvaV5-KnItkdmt8K9gg/s2048/salted+chocolate+peanut.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiTbqP_QSNC9tB6q9PJj3Oc_PRFDZbcy1Sb_mwiebuYVSKn7gzzmHoNQK2iTMjXOHD_U1ykY4km5Js4e_Vue06hXYiK2V4SRp9I8j5153wtOz5qb2YPAJgvaV5-KnItkdmt8K9gg/s320/salted+chocolate+peanut.jpg"></a></div><br><p>By the time I had put them on the cookie sheet I was convinced I had made them before. They seem much better to me cooled than hot out of the oven and taste more like a brownie. There is another recipe I still want to try that is a more chewy version of this without the peanuts...but if this one didn't blow my oven mitts off, should I try making the other one? These are the questions of my winter baking time.</p><p>I also made the traditional gingerbread cookies and butter roll out cookies with lactose free butters, but they have been featured in last year's posts so just get a mention for sheer quantity here.</p><p>Moving backwards into November, Andrew did a lot of baking for Thanksgiving, like this lactose free pumpkin pie, and pecan pie, one of his favorites.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyzkCof6fJEKAXfxXhL4B3qHy6dtGNj7Gz2V1Dms7VmSiiatxnQL8xvlG2k6eHap8aYjI-ShAJjygN1zV-i7enXQj5827JyN-X1ff3bnZU6RKMlWSPu2-bZyBDRKTUhyNEiihT3w/s2048/pecan+and+pumpkin+pie.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyzkCof6fJEKAXfxXhL4B3qHy6dtGNj7Gz2V1Dms7VmSiiatxnQL8xvlG2k6eHap8aYjI-ShAJjygN1zV-i7enXQj5827JyN-X1ff3bnZU6RKMlWSPu2-bZyBDRKTUhyNEiihT3w/s320/pecan+and+pumpkin+pie.jpg"></a></div><br><p>And he made two types of monkey bread to go with our eggs and sausage breakfast. One with an orange icing glaze and another with chopped pecans.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSeBVPxMWLOFKqxc17tKq5oeHBKacnG240y_JZhsXRqDQQTaPUEtQZ5I4pWjVXD7Xd-vzWXVWCbLV_fUTriOHVRPUjPy5N47U4pO0jAq2AZfVSRYUTv55FpdmO_w8GSwdkRO41Wg/s2048/monkey+bread+with+pecans.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSeBVPxMWLOFKqxc17tKq5oeHBKacnG240y_JZhsXRqDQQTaPUEtQZ5I4pWjVXD7Xd-vzWXVWCbLV_fUTriOHVRPUjPy5N47U4pO0jAq2AZfVSRYUTv55FpdmO_w8GSwdkRO41Wg/s320/monkey+bread+with+pecans.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz5Jc0vhH3xojDcRq9yPqJzPT7Hs0eY5cn5dgGYw5P2RX9ssQubdX-QOy9TTgFnIdmsQbiAHKrB-zCZRmsm2W8fevfLCQ7GOTjRPkby9S5qUzoq9iZdIuVnBrH-VGqXjI9ja6izQ/s2048/monkey+bred+orange+glaze.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz5Jc0vhH3xojDcRq9yPqJzPT7Hs0eY5cn5dgGYw5P2RX9ssQubdX-QOy9TTgFnIdmsQbiAHKrB-zCZRmsm2W8fevfLCQ7GOTjRPkby9S5qUzoq9iZdIuVnBrH-VGqXjI9ja6izQ/s320/monkey+bred+orange+glaze.jpg" width="320"></a></div><br><p>Before we move outside, let's check in with the pets...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijZUjcD6uFxX4cYSJYo5-y1pQe3T685Eg-vsFigIsxzTH_j2UrcylRFAUiJnr_FyUecVYBvEd6PnF7R_p11TK-3gVLfe716IddZMZEoWAhw_sbn_tBHOC88uE6moEEdWluhgvIQw/s2048/im+sure+you+didn%2527t+make+the+bed.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijZUjcD6uFxX4cYSJYo5-y1pQe3T685Eg-vsFigIsxzTH_j2UrcylRFAUiJnr_FyUecVYBvEd6PnF7R_p11TK-3gVLfe716IddZMZEoWAhw_sbn_tBHOC88uE6moEEdWluhgvIQw/s320/im+sure+you+didn%2527t+make+the+bed.jpg"></a></div><br><p>This is a regular occurrence at our house, especially on a day Andrew is at the station, and I go into work. I leave in the morning with the bed made and come home to find this I definitely think Tutu can tell the difference between a morning where everyone is at work all day, a day here someone is going to be home part of the day, and a day when her "pack" is all home. I also think she can tell that when one nightstand lamp is off, Daddy is not coming home until the next day. </p><p><br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGk4i-xmZpKSP0NXzgWqVL1o4Dfj2k4elhyphenhyphen2vfgIU3JJZ2Jvm6wxLUu008JFX08jr7jWAdRsX9PqH2_m-YVq0ujpfCBXPCHoWButv1eVrj3encFuAQEEt6WWZQgcgWvUW41lkH5Q/s2048/maxwell+peeks.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGk4i-xmZpKSP0NXzgWqVL1o4Dfj2k4elhyphenhyphen2vfgIU3JJZ2Jvm6wxLUu008JFX08jr7jWAdRsX9PqH2_m-YVq0ujpfCBXPCHoWButv1eVrj3encFuAQEEt6WWZQgcgWvUW41lkH5Q/s320/maxwell+peeks.jpg"></a></div><br><p>I may have actually posted a similar picture recently of Maxwel peeking through the stair spokes It's a fairly common occurrence and probably happened while Tutu and Andrew were napping in the chair and I was puttering around the kitchen It's a bit of a "is the coast clear?" kind of move </p><p><br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqjxl1Rtj99k4MR-_Q-SM_wYd5eu3lBuFsPqv42V0L-H4n9IQKQw_kWdAYNk6XWsH1ud3w9rq5xBqNg677ZQJxrxWLykCDmtHMXAX-FLNKk9ETTTN6NCTv5sz9o1VLEsfQ8GCW0A/s2048/halfway+through.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqjxl1Rtj99k4MR-_Q-SM_wYd5eu3lBuFsPqv42V0L-H4n9IQKQw_kWdAYNk6XWsH1ud3w9rq5xBqNg677ZQJxrxWLykCDmtHMXAX-FLNKk9ETTTN6NCTv5sz9o1VLEsfQ8GCW0A/s320/halfway+through.jpg" width="320"></a></div><br><p>The journal I started n August..I'm halfway through already. I got two nice, last-a-lifetime mechanical pencils for Christmas. I am trying to use all the wooden pencils in the house so eventually, the two mechanicals will be all that's left. It will take a while, and I'm already using the mechanicals for the journal. </p><p>BOOKS:</p><p>Usually I just focus on books from my private library for a few reasons, but here is a library title I am working through:</p><p><br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxsdMBn_QlknDxIGNC-pbN9kOylKk3m7yGBudANIQKnN7GSP0nX_aUFyLw5fG6XZc389iLC7ETKZ8ryz2C-4cyDEF6cpItJZNe0MNDRCsRrvofeE9ZUmEPnLy9NonSOqmZKOwLUQ/s2048/library+book+birder+berry+lane.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxsdMBn_QlknDxIGNC-pbN9kOylKk3m7yGBudANIQKnN7GSP0nX_aUFyLw5fG6XZc389iLC7ETKZ8ryz2C-4cyDEF6cpItJZNe0MNDRCsRrvofeE9ZUmEPnLy9NonSOqmZKOwLUQ/s320/library+book+birder+berry+lane.jpg"></a></div><br><p>It's a sweet book, each chapter is a different month of the year. If you want a gentle nature read, try it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhERv5gm6uC-U-ueaLSiB1fS0lJNlJFiw9MLQv-IkGQS4s6Jx1SOBGrlfgzOhEHb1VKc1JTV8zXDZsffzRXTD86cMy17QouuVre-KzmHnrQVlM4coh2lBt-Ee-x71PLo61Lss1_Fw/s406/lefroy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="406" data-original-width="263" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhERv5gm6uC-U-ueaLSiB1fS0lJNlJFiw9MLQv-IkGQS4s6Jx1SOBGrlfgzOhEHb1VKc1JTV8zXDZsffzRXTD86cMy17QouuVre-KzmHnrQVlM4coh2lBt-Ee-x71PLo61Lss1_Fw/s320/lefroy.jpg"></a></div><br><p>I continue to grind through the private library and still decide to toss books in the donation box as I go. I have recently finished this biography of Jane Austen by a direct descendant of one of her friends. I don't think I learned much new in this book and it was a quick read. As I suspected, the author could not resist talking more about the Lefroys then necessary, and even the Austen-Leighs...of course. Into the donation box it goes! </p><p><br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWXPf0_OANyvI77WFo9W7egDjp7KuGzYFQJ_m0lM16nxME6YeYHDIOhJ5A8lvqIv25nqwYDGPrHdFRaRpwKkWLE97u65yL1fzkg5zKQZBwRFuy6cCplDTy3beb-Q19NT3c8entOw/s2048/flock.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWXPf0_OANyvI77WFo9W7egDjp7KuGzYFQJ_m0lM16nxME6YeYHDIOhJ5A8lvqIv25nqwYDGPrHdFRaRpwKkWLE97u65yL1fzkg5zKQZBwRFuy6cCplDTy3beb-Q19NT3c8entOw/s320/flock.jpg"></a></div><br><p>Published in 1997, and accounting for episodes more than 30 years before, this book is mostly timeless, witty and incredibly funny. Recommended by James Herriot himself, this is a gentle read with a little bite, lots of humor, and wonderful sketches of a by gone era or rural life that still reflects characters you could more or less meet today. There is a real sense of landscape in the book as well I enjoyed it so much, I wondered if Dr. McCormack was still alive and found out he died just last year in December, in his 80s and his obituary was very sweet. I'm very tempted to send a message to the funeral home to see if they can pass it on to his wife and children about how much I enjoyed it. I even reserved one of the two other books he wrote through the library...another title to add to the pile. This one might stay in the study. </p><p>Are you ready to check on the garden and the chickens?</p><p><br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit0-re5Gs10hzSQd7BUiiR5RZmkLnl95Q4t5SyqnNIJc1yuT0rfS03ntUaUiRAuY_ZSyGOPD93lJ9wlimkh-UNwmEnGGTUY3nbATU5Jek68B8yFXECC49rl3eYLM-e2QWic3pjDQ/s2048/comeback+kale.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit0-re5Gs10hzSQd7BUiiR5RZmkLnl95Q4t5SyqnNIJc1yuT0rfS03ntUaUiRAuY_ZSyGOPD93lJ9wlimkh-UNwmEnGGTUY3nbATU5Jek68B8yFXECC49rl3eYLM-e2QWic3pjDQ/s320/comeback+kale.jpg"></a></div><br><p>This Kale plant, given to me by a friend two years ago, is such a trooper and garden companion I found that sautéing fresh kale in a skillet creates too much splatter so I use frozen kale. This plant has gone to seed three times, has been eaten up by some kind of bug/worm down to it's main stem and just keeps coming back I love it, despite my neglect. </p><p><br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0-QwjHWtqGmwA6wOfeXXg7yX7hgBVyKZQruw_fkGJvcBg1rY1u1SUSRzXluzyFxKYVeppRcgRgEHYtlzWTA-pQN6cJajSQ1ey-nxhqqhbQ67gft_IvYZljmllGtwLZC3mCwKSlA/s2048/late+november+calendula.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0-QwjHWtqGmwA6wOfeXXg7yX7hgBVyKZQruw_fkGJvcBg1rY1u1SUSRzXluzyFxKYVeppRcgRgEHYtlzWTA-pQN6cJajSQ1ey-nxhqqhbQ67gft_IvYZljmllGtwLZC3mCwKSlA/s320/late+november+calendula.jpg"></a></div><br><p>Calendula, still blooming in the garden, the weekend after Thanksgiving. </p><p><br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt-hPaL99SnLIKp6kAwcQ-6mNpYzyDdBZ7QMlYy1FqhhAsxfsxQmy1a4_o1JwMJmWDQkCwWrCeMVjs3phrSuALUoTqhJa4S_eeSD2td4Kw6jHmXFEURdShG9DJqYYTunDLnL7Qww/s2048/hunting+for+mousies+in+the+green+lavender+field.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt-hPaL99SnLIKp6kAwcQ-6mNpYzyDdBZ7QMlYy1FqhhAsxfsxQmy1a4_o1JwMJmWDQkCwWrCeMVjs3phrSuALUoTqhJa4S_eeSD2td4Kw6jHmXFEURdShG9DJqYYTunDLnL7Qww/s320/hunting+for+mousies+in+the+green+lavender+field.jpg"></a></div><br><p>Also, I think this shot of Tutu hunting mice and voles in the lavender is also around Thanksgiving You can see the green plants after their prune. </p><p><br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaSzp0LFdHneBgJCrFXD_adVO2PG_N5zv1LjnvZYbJzmRqD3MT6mhny09EmAF0d0pcp0bhXsdKjT5-qoc4yJIA7LVLl_2XSjs1JmUqF9hlLqhLZTDuF641cTjXj4CcApDvtGxKOg/s2048/winter+is+here+electric+waterer.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaSzp0LFdHneBgJCrFXD_adVO2PG_N5zv1LjnvZYbJzmRqD3MT6mhny09EmAF0d0pcp0bhXsdKjT5-qoc4yJIA7LVLl_2XSjs1JmUqF9hlLqhLZTDuF641cTjXj4CcApDvtGxKOg/s320/winter+is+here+electric+waterer.jpg"></a></div><br><p>Winter starts for me, when the electric waterer (holds three gallons) goes into the chicken pen </p><p><br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZM4XPaSuSI5R0ZwduGJyVzzobY6uE-D01o9XsX6QuNwGMp4sAdD2mGS_KYYWcgNMbHF6uTcBfiTdefokmMhL9USK7-luNW6CTW74PbM0-3rA4_kKHhIlwWXlR7UKVP9Sd2kLW7A/s2048/moving+to+wood+shavings.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZM4XPaSuSI5R0ZwduGJyVzzobY6uE-D01o9XsX6QuNwGMp4sAdD2mGS_KYYWcgNMbHF6uTcBfiTdefokmMhL9USK7-luNW6CTW74PbM0-3rA4_kKHhIlwWXlR7UKVP9Sd2kLW7A/s320/moving+to+wood+shavings.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSTBpBel7l6_e2enzx7VWHygjimWla0MQsYxG1ruRCggf8E6XPPOkc_SXelYk65UCxfd2ZbfK9FdGPfhpwDwsURbqGbV3GTqc5jPLj7w78OAKN-ldVLlnUXrVWnKyf7pek9jn3Lg/s2048/the+most+perfect+thing.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSTBpBel7l6_e2enzx7VWHygjimWla0MQsYxG1ruRCggf8E6XPPOkc_SXelYk65UCxfd2ZbfK9FdGPfhpwDwsURbqGbV3GTqc5jPLj7w78OAKN-ldVLlnUXrVWnKyf7pek9jn3Lg/s320/the+most+perfect+thing.jpg"></a></div><br><p>One book, that I want to read is "The Most Perfect Thing: Inside (and Outside) a Bird's Egg by Tim Birkhead. Such and amazing physical object in shape and scope. On Dad's suggested I've evolved from grass hay to the wood shavings for the nest boxes with great results</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg82D5125iII-1ufxvsVAoxq3hnP75mqCJ4s6oppcBC3LMhoxPddr9CJWxc31VQlSrcCocgIp3iHyFZRMq5wProS-vLwr5pRoMK_Nfyr1G6Gw7SMgt9rsAVnRrEM0qfTj6Rwlkwig/s2048/contemplating+the+leap.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg82D5125iII-1ufxvsVAoxq3hnP75mqCJ4s6oppcBC3LMhoxPddr9CJWxc31VQlSrcCocgIp3iHyFZRMq5wProS-vLwr5pRoMK_Nfyr1G6Gw7SMgt9rsAVnRrEM0qfTj6Rwlkwig/s320/contemplating+the+leap.jpg"></a></div><br><p>As I write this, on January 31st, I cleaned the chicken coop this afternoon before lunch and finishing this blog up. I have to smile that these pictures were taken the last time I cleaned the coop...which may well have been in November It was quite the chore today because I had added fresh grass hay at some point when I couldn't get to it as quickly as I would have liked but this ultimately made it more work to clean today. I captured this and thought t was cute. Looks like she made a perfect 10 landing. </p><p><br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_n23ZmTUa3IwH68g6TWBHQ5BHfEyzuSxRt07dg51XhWjddXsBuRB1vRIQVqcIl6P5m1ymAnaylO62ATr16w4_vmwGQoPwo4iBL2Lp17RsIve7xMAFsmIquEUESqKmkCrNmLKiBw/s2048/perfect+10.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_n23ZmTUa3IwH68g6TWBHQ5BHfEyzuSxRt07dg51XhWjddXsBuRB1vRIQVqcIl6P5m1ymAnaylO62ATr16w4_vmwGQoPwo4iBL2Lp17RsIve7xMAFsmIquEUESqKmkCrNmLKiBw/s320/perfect+10.jpg"></a></div><br><p>I never grow tired of being baffled by some basically chicken views of life The contents of their coop, become new again when rediscovered on the compost pile </p><p><br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJEijIRvmA-dORBKf25ntgw_aVlrDFb61RmzmMr4Einw5hVwSX67cSCB59gc-UEjlmzM-mh-yknmeGhK1icW8uIdbJSD9Z9AG6Cgh8I6qWcRr1vvMq_LuVPjRa53yr899Zg3rMqQ/s2048/what+is+old+is+new+again.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJEijIRvmA-dORBKf25ntgw_aVlrDFb61RmzmMr4Einw5hVwSX67cSCB59gc-UEjlmzM-mh-yknmeGhK1icW8uIdbJSD9Z9AG6Cgh8I6qWcRr1vvMq_LuVPjRa53yr899Zg3rMqQ/s320/what+is+old+is+new+again.jpg" width="320"></a></div><br><p>And let's end with the almost full moon in Gemini. I think this was taken on November 29th </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy1mr-prcOY6TWplHmKHO9ReobIvjOCLjr2BS-RgnjStE655PTNjOHnRDTeYloLBR-qWyK8ga05qGe_5gwOuBddmwtcb7hFU-lu8qW47r6Kxq-BViwSp40aJJYezo0tydukYOuRw/s2048/gemini+moon.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy1mr-prcOY6TWplHmKHO9ReobIvjOCLjr2BS-RgnjStE655PTNjOHnRDTeYloLBR-qWyK8ga05qGe_5gwOuBddmwtcb7hFU-lu8qW47r6Kxq-BViwSp40aJJYezo0tydukYOuRw/s320/gemini+moon.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><br><p>If you have made it to the end of this post, consider subscribing in the upper right hand corner. I'll be launching something new in 2021 and it will be announced here</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p> </p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p> </p>Julie & Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12291682548017240598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10076187.post-26175973881707273182020-12-27T14:10:00.000-08:002020-12-27T14:10:10.180-08:00From Shelter to Snuggles: My Name is Tutu<p> After our tortoiseshell cat, Molly died, Andrew grew more and more insistent about getting a dog. Tortoiseshell cats tend to be one owner types and she was as affectionate to me as a dog. After having a series of cats, Andrew wanted a dog in the house for years, and I had put him off. </p><p> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHDEE4WFk1Up6V8O2TVOTXYwBvNiQaGrrCTglSNM54R9tCEmuVP78YOEF9q1cJLFS5uuac7wBg0i1LhmNgJB_lYhCT70OoEdquzjub_ZKWz7dxci8M4wlq1ZFPthimGpYwmZMoig/s2048/20170910_093143.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHDEE4WFk1Up6V8O2TVOTXYwBvNiQaGrrCTglSNM54R9tCEmuVP78YOEF9q1cJLFS5uuac7wBg0i1LhmNgJB_lYhCT70OoEdquzjub_ZKWz7dxci8M4wlq1ZFPthimGpYwmZMoig/s320/20170910_093143.jpeg"></a></div><br> <p></p><p>It was hard for me to imagine a dog of any kind or size fitting into our busy life. How would a dog get along with the cats? Would it need more exercise and play time than we could give it? My commute makes for a lengthy day away and Andrew has an entirely different schedule and I worried a dog at our house would not have a good life. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDs_TeyretCHSBJ2ftcxEHbuTO2YxwSN2tzrIIHBEoDX_kCYwuQZAwlsP23NjisGZoGdTBO54zsUuHMWWzIm381C6wzGv1eB8aE3B6z02mbRuZLmHy5fWzWDgo1PNzBG0Ptz6KyA/s2048/20171212_223447.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDs_TeyretCHSBJ2ftcxEHbuTO2YxwSN2tzrIIHBEoDX_kCYwuQZAwlsP23NjisGZoGdTBO54zsUuHMWWzIm381C6wzGv1eB8aE3B6z02mbRuZLmHy5fWzWDgo1PNzBG0Ptz6KyA/s320/20171212_223447.jpeg" width="320"></a></div><br> <p></p><p>With Molly gone, it was undeniable that life was a little lonely. Moxie and Maxwell have affectionate moments but neither are champions of snuggling. In late April of 2017 we went to the Madison County Humane Society for the first time on the mutual agreement that we were just looking. We needed a cuddly dog. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRckiFPwNUQFb1UhLDM-JZuDJm6UR-3skGt1Wc4qw4E8Ps3n4B9dXvGmFIT08EIBwaGRN_IEOqbWtJktHhP3ktC7r7aaOd6kJALOJFkjQ3XqWVX1cSW5Vy6WWQtIUJu8FwLw6UsA/s2048/20181111_180104.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRckiFPwNUQFb1UhLDM-JZuDJm6UR-3skGt1Wc4qw4E8Ps3n4B9dXvGmFIT08EIBwaGRN_IEOqbWtJktHhP3ktC7r7aaOd6kJALOJFkjQ3XqWVX1cSW5Vy6WWQtIUJu8FwLw6UsA/s320/20181111_180104.jpg"></a></div><p></p><p>I think "just looking" was more of a reassurance from Andrew, who would love any dog and that the choice of which dog would largely be up to me. As I passed more and more dogs my heart sank lower and lower, knowing they were all good dogs in need of a home. I felt worse and worse as each new furry face inspired no interest. Too big, too loud, too scary looking, too fluffy. They all looked too big for me to handle on a leash at 7:30 in the morning, half awake on a sleety winter day. I wanted to give a dog a chance but couldn't get excited about any of them. We went down the last aisle of mostly empty kennels but we could hear a little more barking and I thought to myself, "don't they have any little dogs?"</p><p>We drew near a small brown Benji type terrier that was barking non stop and I thought "well, we will have to go somewhere else or what until there is some turn over here." Then at the very last kennel, right beside the yappy brown Benji dog, was a small black and white dog with a short coat and large eyes. The dog sprang from their bed on PVC pipe stilts and sat primly in front of their door. Not a sound, with ears pinned back, dancing their front feet, and their whole bottom wagging along with their tail in excitement at the prospect of being let out.</p><p> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxNEk_-EEeKQvtZK20PKbLO85NUUNSb6GanqusDK78YgVyLdMqUPIHpFg6GHIocWSDmKTjkB_CjmyDzSt9k0M18QTd-H0WT0n6wBXFk86lHUcelEHHPY9fNvcyQ2hwPlyFlYdXYA/s2048/20191220_193628.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxNEk_-EEeKQvtZK20PKbLO85NUUNSb6GanqusDK78YgVyLdMqUPIHpFg6GHIocWSDmKTjkB_CjmyDzSt9k0M18QTd-H0WT0n6wBXFk86lHUcelEHHPY9fNvcyQ2hwPlyFlYdXYA/s320/20191220_193628.jpg"></a></div><br> <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh22zR-qZ30MTsh2OeZEXYkldGpY2kcn2j7HfPE7CnGhZrHYfBZNGmJgmS99-OOu7RywJH5iiOZb8ReyArBFyx-jPCIOtJkoTDASX9fv_N9jTsGlG8dO-i93fyr5IVghLwiBxEBJw/s1920/20180123_205943.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh22zR-qZ30MTsh2OeZEXYkldGpY2kcn2j7HfPE7CnGhZrHYfBZNGmJgmS99-OOu7RywJH5iiOZb8ReyArBFyx-jPCIOtJkoTDASX9fv_N9jTsGlG8dO-i93fyr5IVghLwiBxEBJw/s320/20180123_205943.jpg"></a></div><p></p><p>She didn't yap or bark...which was a slight misrepresentation of her vocalization habits. We did another lap around the shelter aisles but I had made up my mind this was the only dog I wanted to meet. I told Andrew the dog seemed nice and we asked a volunteer to get out "the little black and white dog at the end of the row." We waited in the little play room and when they brought "Tutu" in she was everywhere all at once, sniffing, jumping, running around and completely ignoring us. Of course she was, being let out of a kennel was probably an overwhelming joy. It was not love at first sight for any of us, I think and I was really more into the logistics of care that she represented rather then her self.</p><p>She could easily jump 5 feet into the air from a sitting position and almost jumped over the half door of the play room. The volunteer joked that she was a real "land shark" which we later interpreted as a big, big kisser/licker. The only thing that could pull her from running around like a maniac was a fistful of treats the volunteer gave each of us. This seemed to add another layer of stimulation to her almost short circuited energy. We were encouraged to give her as much treat as she wanted and she would stop for a nanosecond to gobble what was offered and would be off again. We were told her name was Tutu and at a year old she was unlikely to get much bigger. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQOU6YdgQEkUO38Y3eZQHkg61D4H813XlZLrP6__HVTpO-09xkmO4tpHlLJsVwn1lv7MLi8s92qnEEn5-tdNWWrtpc3N7FV6qyE3hXYKXU9LuVmLgs5Fj-OTWn9Iw01NGfEpTwWA/s4032/20200707_203758.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQOU6YdgQEkUO38Y3eZQHkg61D4H813XlZLrP6__HVTpO-09xkmO4tpHlLJsVwn1lv7MLi8s92qnEEn5-tdNWWrtpc3N7FV6qyE3hXYKXU9LuVmLgs5Fj-OTWn9Iw01NGfEpTwWA/s320/20200707_203758.jpg"></a></div><p>The volunteer hooked her up to a leash where we took her for a walk around the large lawn behind the shelter where she walked us more than we walked her and continued to ignore us while she checked the many, many messages left by the other shelter dogs on the perimeter of the lawn. She barked and lunged at any other dog she saw, even if it was at a distance and we thought that could be worked out later. (HA!) Do you know how we work it out? By not taking her around other dogs...</p><p>I will admit that on that afternoon I did not immediately think Tutu would become the love of our lives. I knew she was little, I could handle her more or less, Andrew wanted a dog, and she would fit the bill fine...probably. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixdjwlV1KlfE8sB4HlNJdpW8z3FBczp2rprv-Mh2VLxfVvKDhsHwvb_bw5jGXS6YcgoRvnNjZYvMJHEtsAVCpkE4Cmp7Cjq2kCcQZR4quwFAksRqOPSm95kfv3_dLrGJ0MPE0EZQ/s1613/20181225_103651.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1012" data-original-width="1613" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixdjwlV1KlfE8sB4HlNJdpW8z3FBczp2rprv-Mh2VLxfVvKDhsHwvb_bw5jGXS6YcgoRvnNjZYvMJHEtsAVCpkE4Cmp7Cjq2kCcQZR4quwFAksRqOPSm95kfv3_dLrGJ0MPE0EZQ/s320/20181225_103651.jpg" width="320"></a></div><p>We had an extra lot going on at this time. Andrew was finishing up his second of three semesters of an accelerated RN program and I was about to change library employment for the first time in 14 years. </p><p>We brought her back to the building after a couple laps where she continued to lunge and bark at other dogs and the volunteers joked with us about "little dog syndrome." We filled out an application and left, already listing the dog stuff we would need to buy. I remember she was wearing a green and yellow John Deere collar. Because of already planned weekend trips, work schedules, and time needed to get a crate and other accoutrements, it took us two weeks to get her, including application review. </p><p> I stopped on a Friday afternoon halfway between the two weeks and to take her for a walk. I was surprised by how excited I was as I waited for a volunteer to get her out. She was more or less happy to see me. It was quieter at the shelter than the Saturday before and I felt like this was really the first time we could see each other but she still had a healthy dose of "I'm too busy to pay attention to you" attitude. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiogHDUIi7dmDV4xS1VSv4HROHRSv1j5mQDxBj_5jKuVu46MdQmnkyHMQegCvwDHAOtBhQdhl5aJNXUeF8JLUlUHT4Gmmjr-2fE29k5ataLoa6Fp294uHNXB2OPKgMA8AGYRqUcQ/s2048/20170505_151338.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiogHDUIi7dmDV4xS1VSv4HROHRSv1j5mQDxBj_5jKuVu46MdQmnkyHMQegCvwDHAOtBhQdhl5aJNXUeF8JLUlUHT4Gmmjr-2fE29k5ataLoa6Fp294uHNXB2OPKgMA8AGYRqUcQ/s320/20170505_151338.jpeg"></a></div> <p></p><p>It was at this visit that we tested her around other cats, because how she treated them would be a deal breaker or maker for our household. The test consisted of walking her into the cat room that held the cat cages, then opening the door of the cattery room for lounge and play and letting "Drop Dead Fred" approach her. Apparently, this large white and cream colored cat would play dead around any dog that should not be placed in a home with cats. While Tutu seemed more interested in trying to eat cat food behind the bars of the cat cages, Fred scratched at a post, ambled about, and sat down in the middle of the room to wash a paw. I was assured these were all good signs of potential feline and canine harmony, more or less. </p><p>In the meantime, there was a crate to get, leashes, collars, tags, dishes, a cushion for the crate, and a pet carrier for the car. It added up. </p><p><br> <br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJYtYhzpfafbiw6nKvcEct02oVWJ3zonkTFTFL7LSoI9j6wNQLqb4-4DPc0L3SpTYovHkJLXoE0DUwY6hc08J3y03ldejLGDNLPKs9EMXf0bg98yRaCaQ6SH9UQoyALYEcqbCufw/s2048/20170510_142359.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJYtYhzpfafbiw6nKvcEct02oVWJ3zonkTFTFL7LSoI9j6wNQLqb4-4DPc0L3SpTYovHkJLXoE0DUwY6hc08J3y03ldejLGDNLPKs9EMXf0bg98yRaCaQ6SH9UQoyALYEcqbCufw/s320/20170510_142359.jpeg" width="320"></a></div><br><p></p><p>Before I go further, we do have a backstory for Tutu that the Humane Society gave us. It is at once dramatic and vague. I'll not go into it here. Suffice to say, she's very happy now and we try not to think about what her first year of life was like. She is lucky to have found her way to the Humane Society and that she got solid training in basic commands and house training through a prison canine training program to make her more adoptable. The house training was essential for a pair of new dog owners sworking full time. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO0rU_C-4LM9MrNF6Twa8IJkqb32G3szfVYVBXkvR1iTyGHftVfuu5GomEWIFWi6ucEjjj8-cH1JIcSmcvXV0skMBnmBqs8JuyVmZMj7znJSYWsZ8npXA_02JbbAkfikbMEfkFfA/s2048/20181220_231340.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO0rU_C-4LM9MrNF6Twa8IJkqb32G3szfVYVBXkvR1iTyGHftVfuu5GomEWIFWi6ucEjjj8-cH1JIcSmcvXV0skMBnmBqs8JuyVmZMj7znJSYWsZ8npXA_02JbbAkfikbMEfkFfA/s320/20181220_231340.jpeg" width="320"></a></div><br><p>We picked her up the morning of Mother's Day, a warm sunny Sunday in 2017 and it was a big day for all of us. After we picked her up we stopped by Petsmart to get her a tag with our names, phone number, and promise of a reward if found. She is also micro chipped. She was not a big fan of the travel carrier and we ended up returning it for a harness that hooked onto the seat belt. Now she has a luxurious travel box.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijluZ6tCe-Ux_MasoL6C3tN-HHL4B6Dj1GHdXcze5K7k7HA9Uz-tB_RXKyGiCEp-NGbv4pzSTldNGzH4daQdJ7z2YJSmNRnglyY_ZkFSqBEUHEhbdFB_0sfRmHqIT6NYCr2SR8EA/s2048/20200724_155629.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijluZ6tCe-Ux_MasoL6C3tN-HHL4B6Dj1GHdXcze5K7k7HA9Uz-tB_RXKyGiCEp-NGbv4pzSTldNGzH4daQdJ7z2YJSmNRnglyY_ZkFSqBEUHEhbdFB_0sfRmHqIT6NYCr2SR8EA/s320/20200724_155629.jpg"></a></div><br><p>From Petsmart we went to Yellow Springs to walk in Glen Helen.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlG_-0G5RJpyhuTvGF6uRGo4PFQjfvp640JIYiUZyEfh9hj7S6J07o67Z_s3DS_nI57I7T82dRBpzPTz0mNOZP1JfrCry0MNlL1xg4ysNi5BgKdUADsAtszHgRLf3jC4EVZEIKnQ/s2048/20170514_104544.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlG_-0G5RJpyhuTvGF6uRGo4PFQjfvp640JIYiUZyEfh9hj7S6J07o67Z_s3DS_nI57I7T82dRBpzPTz0mNOZP1JfrCry0MNlL1xg4ysNi5BgKdUADsAtszHgRLf3jC4EVZEIKnQ/s320/20170514_104544.jpeg"></a></div><br><p>She seemed to really enjoy this except for when she crossed other dogs on the path, which was almost constantly. The little dog syndrome we had seen at the shelter and Petsmart did not mellow out in the Great Outdoors. We got carry out from Winds Café and returned home for her first bath in her new home. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0gF6fSwSWuKsmX8li0qTfQ7MAzjZL-Y-IGV-8kJ2cSA0bUUrz-DRmz8ZaH2zymytzd0EkQCoRXcFIU9609aZX6U_NN-92ylO-u7mP6SyY2yP65wzRFJHfV8ZM44pudl4GNjdqBw/s1280/first+bath.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0gF6fSwSWuKsmX8li0qTfQ7MAzjZL-Y-IGV-8kJ2cSA0bUUrz-DRmz8ZaH2zymytzd0EkQCoRXcFIU9609aZX6U_NN-92ylO-u7mP6SyY2yP65wzRFJHfV8ZM44pudl4GNjdqBw/s320/first+bath.jpg"></a></div><br><p><br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgszCd30Sa_GY4uLykM8vHJqje_0AiENzZxp_7mtk0CyCZo2jAX8dU0qIjeswBWQUcz6EMQjoF-6fPckMAeSzdX36RED7prl3QrfjR9KpsFlkBn20xSHBswwOOEFQmsexTMfAmRDw/s2048/20170704_210332.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgszCd30Sa_GY4uLykM8vHJqje_0AiENzZxp_7mtk0CyCZo2jAX8dU0qIjeswBWQUcz6EMQjoF-6fPckMAeSzdX36RED7prl3QrfjR9KpsFlkBn20xSHBswwOOEFQmsexTMfAmRDw/s320/20170704_210332.jpeg"></a></div><br><p>We added an OSU licensed pennant collar (code for expensive) to her new red and black Kong collar for her charming first introduction to her Maw Maw and Paw Paw. Tutu loves both of my parents which is a story for another day. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivEyvTePGPkZjRNUqz1W7bid6q650o5RvAikHF-9XUfTwCCC2MPR9aD3aNmhPNnvLaQL6M0Zm7AFsnkeUr3pNA5qpL3YDYfcfoLZZKpZgsxZ9UKogiIl17Yvbbnv1Imjum4sB0Eg/s2048/20180706_184150.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivEyvTePGPkZjRNUqz1W7bid6q650o5RvAikHF-9XUfTwCCC2MPR9aD3aNmhPNnvLaQL6M0Zm7AFsnkeUr3pNA5qpL3YDYfcfoLZZKpZgsxZ9UKogiIl17Yvbbnv1Imjum4sB0Eg/s320/20180706_184150.jpeg" width="320"></a></div><br><p>Our first night together, we insisted she sleep in her kennel crate as she had been trained to do.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoOfwWw2vWhvJby867CvQYEv2-iYypSBbIXBPPf-s1k_DBDjT5vQV3SJbkcE-D_jtCLiTUHyfM8M23wnP1ykALgLzjhIUXYzDBZoI-W1Ib1gWhzOgEYUZXC6mhe1Mvfk_kVTQywg/s2048/20191215_224036.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoOfwWw2vWhvJby867CvQYEv2-iYypSBbIXBPPf-s1k_DBDjT5vQV3SJbkcE-D_jtCLiTUHyfM8M23wnP1ykALgLzjhIUXYzDBZoI-W1Ib1gWhzOgEYUZXC6mhe1Mvfk_kVTQywg/s320/20191215_224036.jpg"></a></div><br><p>In response, Tutu insisted that none of us would get any sleep that night. Her repertoire of wails, whines, cries and barks is impressive, heart breaking, and easily remedied. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6MAwYy6P7WbPtP-7YygliCOeSs8JaFaxgc9HQmhk0ljO-8Wbkwe06R9lHIFYRhO4hQ1CwI8MKydBbB_E55eln2luhtLsWiJnndY5sz7wPihuwdKtBtZqYpwHMfffn7LQOXH-Y2Q/s2048/20180102_074205.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6MAwYy6P7WbPtP-7YygliCOeSs8JaFaxgc9HQmhk0ljO-8Wbkwe06R9lHIFYRhO4hQ1CwI8MKydBbB_E55eln2luhtLsWiJnndY5sz7wPihuwdKtBtZqYpwHMfffn7LQOXH-Y2Q/s320/20180102_074205.jpeg"></a></div><br><br><p><br></p>Julie & Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12291682548017240598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10076187.post-87765416520434747482020-11-21T14:49:00.000-08:002020-12-27T14:08:45.606-08:00Bird Stories<p>One of the blog posts that I didn't get to this summer was a round-up of all the bird stories on the property. I have all these pictures in a folder, of all these different lives, successful and some not that I observed, before, during or after the fact of their work. Like rainbows and beautiful skies, I saw more bird activity than ever before on the farm. It makes sense as I was home so much, but more than that I wonder how many more nests did I not see? Even into August, it seemed like I would find a new one. I think I finally found the mockingbird nest that I suspected was around as I saw two separate pairs of mockingbirds squabbling with as many robin pairs. I never got a good picture of the nest, that I didn't see it until mowing but it is the largest nest I've seen on our property, at the very top of my favorite pine tree. </p><p>Seeing this little nest remnant while walking Tutu by the willow tree... a favorite bathroom spot, I was galvanized into revisiting this post. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIOH-N9qD1Qk5-B3J8bBUeBRVilMMgF1LK7XgEfv8Mr-16haGPOGBz9KywOEJuUBeoIWFL_LcPYj2mj3ZMIo7bfl2JgE1oWyxd2ppztOdoSOQKgz2NcXn_Snl2PpM52ga87I_6jw/s2048/novembernest.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIOH-N9qD1Qk5-B3J8bBUeBRVilMMgF1LK7XgEfv8Mr-16haGPOGBz9KywOEJuUBeoIWFL_LcPYj2mj3ZMIo7bfl2JgE1oWyxd2ppztOdoSOQKgz2NcXn_Snl2PpM52ga87I_6jw/s320/novembernest.jpg" width="320"></a></div><br><p>Was this the red-winged blackbird's nest? He's always hanging around this tree, enough of a mini-wetland I suppose, with the sump pump water emptying out into the field. Another nest discovery as the days grow dark by 5:30. In another month, the sun will set around 4:15, then we've hit bottom and the days grow longer again. </p><p>I included the comings and goings of birds in my journal but as I review these pictures, I'm wistful that I didn't have a separate nature journal this summer. Well, one can't do it all. The usual suspects were Eastern Meadowlarks (no good pictures this year) robins, sparrows, red-winged blackbirds, mockingbirds, hummingbirds, and my beloved killdeer. I think our trees are really just getting big enough for the mockingbirds to set up house but not enough for the bluejays to move in which is fine with me. As beautiful as they are, they are also disruptive. </p><p>I want to end with the killdeer. So let's start with some other nest discoveries. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCf29Y_32ZT3iSRb0D_kxyq_Klw_dGEp5CKYs6g-1WW1LioqX31QkQFJYqn2ZwZUdlzLgxwM00k_J0tUXFp_1faBkpM2UF_q-Wp0u5vyU30ifPbHpNi2sGIZla1neTxUPSxxqDew/s2048/pinenest.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCf29Y_32ZT3iSRb0D_kxyq_Klw_dGEp5CKYs6g-1WW1LioqX31QkQFJYqn2ZwZUdlzLgxwM00k_J0tUXFp_1faBkpM2UF_q-Wp0u5vyU30ifPbHpNi2sGIZla1neTxUPSxxqDew/s320/pinenest.jpg"></a></div><br><p>If this nest looks like it's not quite right, it's not. It's on it's side perpendicular to the branches. This is one of two robin nests I suspect were raided...probably by the same creature that I suspect raided a sparrow nest in the early spring. There were a few nests that had eggs...and then one day had none. </p><p>But one robin's nest that had eggs, also failed. Before we went on our trip to Michigan, Andrew told me there was a robin's nest in the front storage section of the TAB where the marine battery is. It had to be moved and it had eggs in it. This of course broke my heart. I began plotting where I might place it...but he also said he suspected it wasn't worth relocating and he was right. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzD-nQahBABswRhSQtNzch_gNQCXGgLzw_86EiEgtlDGko3LrNGE8OLBvBquGxVMzXVmMGr03T_sqo6n0ylYZT3JuJfiDNA5k-ypHx9LFGSj9-y4eRQRxa2MD3LIM-SxhZ7NAynA/s2048/robintab.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzD-nQahBABswRhSQtNzch_gNQCXGgLzw_86EiEgtlDGko3LrNGE8OLBvBquGxVMzXVmMGr03T_sqo6n0ylYZT3JuJfiDNA5k-ypHx9LFGSj9-y4eRQRxa2MD3LIM-SxhZ7NAynA/s320/robintab.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwSzrpQS3Rukri7N_drdXl-4MtyK4HQuy3qJ-9azVol_AYM1EaRVSIAwYItLfTW924W5UODUtC1ipPSvXEDsCefeFoB5D6-EjIOmz3bMikQhYWM2qIjuejicYcpJOqauVp9CAg5w/s2048/robintabcloseup.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwSzrpQS3Rukri7N_drdXl-4MtyK4HQuy3qJ-9azVol_AYM1EaRVSIAwYItLfTW924W5UODUtC1ipPSvXEDsCefeFoB5D6-EjIOmz3bMikQhYWM2qIjuejicYcpJOqauVp9CAg5w/s320/robintabcloseup.jpg"></a></div><br><p>I know that in some decorating books, people make wreaths or otherwise incorporate birds nests in their home. I'm not willing to go that far, but I did save the eggs for some of the nature jars I make as gifts. It was a different kind of sad to discover that they couldn't be saved. </p><p>Another sad story was the sparrows, only two, in the teeny, tiny nest in the grape that grows around a post on our back deck area. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxmDxpdn44lsvrUgH4e1P5JVf4asd7Xa34q5aXDqcgKJYjcWJfNn8xTxkdPNrhDgUlYZsturCVu1-nBMQz2nC2N8fsnO1DHMfD3SXIr1rpJ2ts7njkmq6Wp9pIQX-rtck5cz3wLw/s2048/sparrowgrages.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxmDxpdn44lsvrUgH4e1P5JVf4asd7Xa34q5aXDqcgKJYjcWJfNn8xTxkdPNrhDgUlYZsturCVu1-nBMQz2nC2N8fsnO1DHMfD3SXIr1rpJ2ts7njkmq6Wp9pIQX-rtck5cz3wLw/s320/sparrowgrages.jpg" width="320"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia0ADjNPFOcHwfAiTUNR1SV3ZfHm0291JC1r3Cv2jRA9QyZmNHXiL3Wm660zzITdVUeBrf5p91zCs2IxKPWnOD-98RigujMhU_IP9neG4f58p7BYrQBwFsdvvw9GqhLEcs-u35xw/s2048/sparrowshatched.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia0ADjNPFOcHwfAiTUNR1SV3ZfHm0291JC1r3Cv2jRA9QyZmNHXiL3Wm660zzITdVUeBrf5p91zCs2IxKPWnOD-98RigujMhU_IP9neG4f58p7BYrQBwFsdvvw9GqhLEcs-u35xw/s320/sparrowshatched.jpg"></a></div><br><p>The afternoon after I took the above picture, I checked the nest as I was going to water the garden and it was empty. Both chicks were gone and they weren't quite ready to fly. The obvious story was something had raided it or some other mishap had happened but I couldn't figure out for the life of me what. Later in the evening, something drew my attention to the base of the post and to the right about two feet. There in the pea gravel, like a little fossil, was the tiny skull and beak of what could only be one of the chicks, with a few ants still crawling around it. What could have befell this chick in 24 hours? If it was a raid, all the evidence would be gone...somehow both chicks disappeared and at least one was already nearly gone. I sighed, toyed with the idea of looking for the other one, but this would yield no more answers. </p><p>I'm sorry if this is a bummer of a blog post. So many nests fail. I'm sure I had more successful nests on the property, but one can't track them all unless biology study is a full time pursuit. </p><p>Another robin's nest in another grape.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ-MwCOzHOs55T-8t1MdhyGRKUuryyd_LBlq1niplhWRhPn-9iOe49QPaZpHZQXHjuWXBcjyunew1W8NQ14doamQxOwESnlQt5JZ5ZwoF1pC0bZa3Mbdkhv19w2JDeliuC1FomPA/s2048/nestgrapes.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ-MwCOzHOs55T-8t1MdhyGRKUuryyd_LBlq1niplhWRhPn-9iOe49QPaZpHZQXHjuWXBcjyunew1W8NQ14doamQxOwESnlQt5JZ5ZwoF1pC0bZa3Mbdkhv19w2JDeliuC1FomPA/s320/nestgrapes.jpg"></a></div>Years ago, when we first put up bluebird boxes, we put one up in the grapes and tree swallows moved in. They dive bombed Andrew furiously whenever he would try to work in the grapes. The box got relocated as soon as the young family moved out. We didn't have any tree swallows this year, just the barn swallows show showed up as a buffet escort for all the bugs the riding mower kicked up. <br> <p></p><p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV8KRKWe3eS85PEh-wPmL3XT1HLOdW5ECg88LPup9mpdBI8inNEE2Q5rFnKLu9N7gBREsgcfTvO4CCCW4Oi4ptTmZHghDXXYPbop1MfwD5AAD5iaeu1FFY91-D-e9saZvoJWyjgg/s2048/20200614_120602.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV8KRKWe3eS85PEh-wPmL3XT1HLOdW5ECg88LPup9mpdBI8inNEE2Q5rFnKLu9N7gBREsgcfTvO4CCCW4Oi4ptTmZHghDXXYPbop1MfwD5AAD5iaeu1FFY91-D-e9saZvoJWyjgg/s320/20200614_120602.jpg"></a></p><p>This nest was interesting, Andrew found it at the outdoor center at Lowe's. I wanted to some research to figure out what these light blue eggs are...they are the size of the small chicken eggs my new hens are still laying or a little bigger. </p><p> I hope you get a kick out of this next picture of a dove's nest on my Dad's hunting cabin.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfls4GDtdz814Dr9tTOFCyA9CW2cbnM3tNiR9YEPHGbXUTXcw1PdiGOm2Jnm9Ysce3MxIYX38yUoyGCUAn4zcM3wD2ljlVeAJuz-qGSsmpTXMwqZFWNyQujm3yAc1mBfLn6J3yaw/s2048/doveantler.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfls4GDtdz814Dr9tTOFCyA9CW2cbnM3tNiR9YEPHGbXUTXcw1PdiGOm2Jnm9Ysce3MxIYX38yUoyGCUAn4zcM3wD2ljlVeAJuz-qGSsmpTXMwqZFWNyQujm3yAc1mBfLn6J3yaw/s320/doveantler.JPG" width="320"></a></div><br>If you look closely, I think you will see that there is two, maybe three nests total from previous years. Dove's are notoriously lazy nest builders. <p></p><p>So the killdeer. Here is a picture of her sitting on her nest, early in the incubation period. You can tell I've begun to get a handle on spring weeding. <br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9V1THhFzuPKxQ-GUYd5Pk701vbybjU3wvki2dzKPyiSh2zbb8Ba3xDdI_cP4FYVRuCobSp66DnBGwrrtsFUokkyTVWZgKyUZZwIFmyYCou0ylCedDE3Z__eMUoXncoHPk1R8uIQ/s2048/kildeergravel.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9V1THhFzuPKxQ-GUYd5Pk701vbybjU3wvki2dzKPyiSh2zbb8Ba3xDdI_cP4FYVRuCobSp66DnBGwrrtsFUokkyTVWZgKyUZZwIFmyYCou0ylCedDE3Z__eMUoXncoHPk1R8uIQ/s320/kildeergravel.JPG" width="320"></a></div><br><p>But rather than disturb her, I let her sit alone and I let the purple nettle grow. Can you find her in this picture?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6IL0ew6PDqPxjrrRYO0oi6cYqC3D58nDmwOajmQmSikSu-rXIgQAj4fiCied4k9YuTpLVYV2YW2e7mKFwhWNL7CY6jY2lkb0ZTWkQ78YSIgvj_3ROH40MRFn3TOxYEjtyVLmgfA/s2048/kildeerpurplenettle.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6IL0ew6PDqPxjrrRYO0oi6cYqC3D58nDmwOajmQmSikSu-rXIgQAj4fiCied4k9YuTpLVYV2YW2e7mKFwhWNL7CY6jY2lkb0ZTWkQ78YSIgvj_3ROH40MRFn3TOxYEjtyVLmgfA/s320/kildeerpurplenettle.JPG" width="320"></a></div><br><p>Then of course, was the exciting day the 4 babies hatched and they ran around the back, side and front yard with their parents corralling them at every turn. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPF_vEnG3XyK0j1W7dF9bGsJ71EZY_smBgPJZjCKZy_VVRH64hOIi3tTjVFkbP_N8RdO_vgq3LwsxSeJpgffIhdOk_v7vQwjq4DGU6tx3AC4oCCDApXQ9VzV6WlxSb7swgqBetSg/s2048/babiesdriveway.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPF_vEnG3XyK0j1W7dF9bGsJ71EZY_smBgPJZjCKZy_VVRH64hOIi3tTjVFkbP_N8RdO_vgq3LwsxSeJpgffIhdOk_v7vQwjq4DGU6tx3AC4oCCDApXQ9VzV6WlxSb7swgqBetSg/s320/babiesdriveway.JPG" width="320"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxhn8xfKSssan_fg6X2WXIW_LW-aSK33mRJWYuCHnOpcJVsRl5SCOgzI1UWiTv0kpbNZM484vvufwEZUVl8QQhRORIFXQ5mqLM3woVvPne5RmomQsqP-tflW-hdGAFMkJD3XfPBg/s2048/mommydriveway.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxhn8xfKSssan_fg6X2WXIW_LW-aSK33mRJWYuCHnOpcJVsRl5SCOgzI1UWiTv0kpbNZM484vvufwEZUVl8QQhRORIFXQ5mqLM3woVvPne5RmomQsqP-tflW-hdGAFMkJD3XfPBg/s320/mommydriveway.JPG" width="320"></a></div><p>It takes about 21 days for the babies to be able to fly after 21 days of incubating. For days and days in a row I heard or saw them. Then there was a day I didn't, then another. I was going into work more as we ramped up curbside service. I think I noticed their absence around day 10...far too soon for a disappearance. </p><p>Then one day, I noticed a full sized killdeer and an almost full sized killdeer running around the front yard. Where were the other three babies and parent? For several days more I saw this duo. Dad says something like a fox could have easily crept up on one of the parents and once a parent was taken, could pick off the babies as one bird would not be enough to lead them all to safety. </p><p>I think it's a good guess, but once again, it's a bird story we can only guess at. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZcmAEXqmPQf8_RbLgW0LQaZibj7HjrqMz2xsIeFO0Ze9b0V9CvtvkP6lH0G9c_02B_E05uvRLBVJWP0FiESMfahyWnOJx6MY_YKDujKZcIx7LhJ2be0JzVI53wp7-OwAzKns-Xw/s2048/mommaandlastbaby.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZcmAEXqmPQf8_RbLgW0LQaZibj7HjrqMz2xsIeFO0Ze9b0V9CvtvkP6lH0G9c_02B_E05uvRLBVJWP0FiESMfahyWnOJx6MY_YKDujKZcIx7LhJ2be0JzVI53wp7-OwAzKns-Xw/s320/mommaandlastbaby.JPG" width="320"></a></div><br><p><br></p><p>I took a series of pictures of them on the septic tank caps just a couple days before they disappeared...but I'm thinking it's because the baby was large enough to fly. That's what I chose to believe anyway. The baby is on the bottom cap in the foreground. I think the mother liked this spot because it has a clear 360 view of the yard...nothing can sneak up on them here. I have a short video capturing some behavior. It's through the screen door so not super high quality. <br></p><p><br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MuVBoPNFYlI" width="320" youtube-src-id="MuVBoPNFYlI"></iframe></div><p>I will never know what happened to the birds who made it and those who didn't. What raided this nest, or why this other nest failed. I won't ever know what happened to the three other baby killdeer or the other parent, and in the end it doesn't matter. Their lives ran their course, just like a tree that falls in the forest. It still happens even if no human eyes bear witness. </p><p>I do know that in February, on a day when I drive home and the western sky is lit up by a gradient of pink sunset that so often happens in February, I'll hear a cry as I drive on Route 29 and I'll see these little brown plover like birds racing across the frozen fields. And more so then seeing a robin, my heart fills with joy at the sight of them...but also concern and bafflement...it's February! Surely it is too cold for them. What are they doing up here so early? And yet, here they are. </p><p>What's a post about birds without cats? Here is a picture of Moxie from healthier days. She's on some new food and looking a little better. We will hope for the best. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX6-NFo0hd4TYfHVcCNp4qP6rCCqeP55I9g3oFpgY10ni3pVFP7seNlzrhSR6RrL8ZBx4bcZYn42uj5m2rwdyGGkpJU0EVwU7pac19Fwx0EAn6T3BDdAFqGP7MZfJeTCAu8AUlnA/s2048/moxietable.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX6-NFo0hd4TYfHVcCNp4qP6rCCqeP55I9g3oFpgY10ni3pVFP7seNlzrhSR6RrL8ZBx4bcZYn42uj5m2rwdyGGkpJU0EVwU7pac19Fwx0EAn6T3BDdAFqGP7MZfJeTCAu8AUlnA/s320/moxietable.JPG" width="320"></a></div><br><p>Life is all around us, if we only look for it. The sun has set while I've drafted this but the pets still need fed and the houseplants watered. I'll take a hot bath tonight with salt, baking soda, and lavender bubble bath. I'll start another book from the personal library and be remind myself that this season too, shall pass.<br></p><p><br></p><p> </p><p> </p><p><br> <br></p>Julie & Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12291682548017240598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10076187.post-81916882116522800532020-11-11T12:16:00.002-08:002020-11-11T12:16:42.806-08:00Fall Gardening Round-Up<p> As I write, we have windows up around the house. It's November 10 and it was 80 degrees today. When I'm not playing a podcast or audio book, I can still hear harvesting equipment in the distance and smell the crops being taken off the fields or moved from truck to silo. I'm still harvesting Calendula, and the chickens old and new are still laying eggs. I worked on designing our holiday card this year, Andrew and I are discussing what we are doing for Thanksgiving. On a day like this though, everything and nothing, the past and plans for the future seem to intersect at once. </p><p>I think blog posts are definitely going to go monthly for a while. I'm following some other creative threads that will eventually make their way to this blog, and another blog project I'm working on. All in good time. I see myself writing more this winter but for now I continue to straddle the demands of a transitioning season. </p><p>I'll try to put these pictures in some semblance of order. These span late August/Early September to the first week of November. </p><p>I did a lot of gardening some Friday afternoon that seems so far away now, more harvesting Calendula and adding thyme. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4R2jU1bCVRoZYnIyQlOFvV0nnhsBf-aQLdtMIgCEw1G9MwUQUJuEwkIorL9P3Ae07uEnIYRtIyL2DKJkqxbKx2k1zpYaQy-Mv5gRPm3X5Bku5oSGAJ6uepg38rf0rOrdM5rImaw/s2048/harvest_calendula_thyme.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4R2jU1bCVRoZYnIyQlOFvV0nnhsBf-aQLdtMIgCEw1G9MwUQUJuEwkIorL9P3Ae07uEnIYRtIyL2DKJkqxbKx2k1zpYaQy-Mv5gRPm3X5Bku5oSGAJ6uepg38rf0rOrdM5rImaw/s320/harvest_calendula_thyme.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>Andrew wanted some additional thyme in a pot so I replanted it in the garden. It had become so root bound, that roots had went beyond the drainage hole and about 5 inches through a gap in the paver stones. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqasioo8JHhPwjl5y9p2veC1ZzqReP7b6375uTWoEQZcKdQUn5goKmwYqaZaBBbYBsYOhXMXiMYGazLAYDD1iN3KddR-klO0r1HZ14hc_BmKtpn7G73XO_Fdezy85_YdqaiRmFKA/s2048/thyme+roots.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqasioo8JHhPwjl5y9p2veC1ZzqReP7b6375uTWoEQZcKdQUn5goKmwYqaZaBBbYBsYOhXMXiMYGazLAYDD1iN3KddR-klO0r1HZ14hc_BmKtpn7G73XO_Fdezy85_YdqaiRmFKA/s320/thyme+roots.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>Other goings on in the herb garden include an impressive bed of sage. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjiyUOgZ_bcAnTzqLQuiH-lorjnM6k2m-7FmOvbXwZhbjeCztOaAI2AF7LjAp-ZArMujhuy8DHwG0-CY0kU03Ck0dTg4x8wNqmXPHYCww0XtLLJJW9HJaqDdPD7R29uuBhE67UQA/s2048/sage+garden.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjiyUOgZ_bcAnTzqLQuiH-lorjnM6k2m-7FmOvbXwZhbjeCztOaAI2AF7LjAp-ZArMujhuy8DHwG0-CY0kU03Ck0dTg4x8wNqmXPHYCww0XtLLJJW9HJaqDdPD7R29uuBhE67UQA/s320/sage+garden.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p> I have so much sage I will try to do a creative project this winter, we'll see how it goes. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8bNrJ6wQnTCVQum5cTxYwpAQw7g7IABJodXSAu9Dy3G7h-94X9LG8Aqk75NUgPuz3p5FQPWh-FbpebFA-Sm1coPhxWc3x7_nj5Mjdcds07sWJ-669vo7-nxBJSoizi615Pff_zg/s2048/hanging+sage.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8bNrJ6wQnTCVQum5cTxYwpAQw7g7IABJodXSAu9Dy3G7h-94X9LG8Aqk75NUgPuz3p5FQPWh-FbpebFA-Sm1coPhxWc3x7_nj5Mjdcds07sWJ-669vo7-nxBJSoizi615Pff_zg/s320/hanging+sage.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>I also dried chives. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE2fCz1LxuP42vTuOdjGiskp5MZBTWqwT6gBo9QskWrpmAWl5TqWbM8EBr4Gr8UECjiH045sEFh5C0asmGKew0oSFY2iF4wZ7AW7SB6chaOM0vp8StCJNP1Cc-jZOrcd-jMDH6OA/s2048/drychives.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE2fCz1LxuP42vTuOdjGiskp5MZBTWqwT6gBo9QskWrpmAWl5TqWbM8EBr4Gr8UECjiH045sEFh5C0asmGKew0oSFY2iF4wZ7AW7SB6chaOM0vp8StCJNP1Cc-jZOrcd-jMDH6OA/s320/drychives.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm0MTBBwsT1TnByTViHpNAlGcWBoW1B1-gfVynTrhyphenhyphenbeRXAN1DHrdHepWb_c9JkA5fAuxhZYap8T6jlq-U8l1YQoEcoQxBzoc2tir0IND3gBBrbPy_rO-_yk7q8guPaP8WEtskfg/s2048/spychives.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm0MTBBwsT1TnByTViHpNAlGcWBoW1B1-gfVynTrhyphenhyphenbeRXAN1DHrdHepWb_c9JkA5fAuxhZYap8T6jlq-U8l1YQoEcoQxBzoc2tir0IND3gBBrbPy_rO-_yk7q8guPaP8WEtskfg/s320/spychives.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>We had just run out of chives in this bottle, and putting my own chives in it gave me a particular satisfaction. </p><p>Also, the beautiful Malabar spinach that my green thumb friend gives me every year. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPlLlFKQy7NIzAuoJnqZZkk124GBX3QVg_C3YjKRho6DWWwQhoCl9gpJYZYiQZvuGaBEgFrxL4Fb4Mh14t8xaGf9n95GMRWqnV71iODfaYcklDs6qK67VwJ-bfjhy5MqplZP6m0w/s2048/malabar0.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPlLlFKQy7NIzAuoJnqZZkk124GBX3QVg_C3YjKRho6DWWwQhoCl9gpJYZYiQZvuGaBEgFrxL4Fb4Mh14t8xaGf9n95GMRWqnV71iODfaYcklDs6qK67VwJ-bfjhy5MqplZP6m0w/s320/malabar0.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>I planted it the same time I did the tomatoes, the lavender, the marigolds and calendula, Memorial Day weekend. And the Malabar spinach hangs out at around 6 inches in length for three full months. Then around Labor Day, it grows like Henry David Thoreau would say, "like corn in the night."</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJm6jbAQI1T53cQ7_z-1AbR5wOLPqBXFnpKcYR3YB5DOeGHCUr8gUWcU6urDubztkv15eLdKabTH5J81NrelNbhAEV3d5Ii04Gl3r6JPjzHmehM8ID1BaFmWwAm8cjMwb0h1mG2g/s2048/malabar2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJm6jbAQI1T53cQ7_z-1AbR5wOLPqBXFnpKcYR3YB5DOeGHCUr8gUWcU6urDubztkv15eLdKabTH5J81NrelNbhAEV3d5Ii04Gl3r6JPjzHmehM8ID1BaFmWwAm8cjMwb0h1mG2g/s320/malabar2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ZHslamKMmzllYwU4XMTK151cLsDzpDhYxnJJzSWOWJxUwxG0lv0vopLObOetChhoOWVh8DhYGSCvYpMmTBPFlAB-D7CyvfkJOrhS4eNJlNrg2yqZnuQFjxQtpYV6HXzWkH_M0w/s2048/malaboar3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ZHslamKMmzllYwU4XMTK151cLsDzpDhYxnJJzSWOWJxUwxG0lv0vopLObOetChhoOWVh8DhYGSCvYpMmTBPFlAB-D7CyvfkJOrhS4eNJlNrg2yqZnuQFjxQtpYV6HXzWkH_M0w/s320/malaboar3.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Here is a nice shot of Tutu guarding the carrots and watermelons. The watermelons will appear later in the blog. Also, take note of all those carrot tops.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMAEmg42I4FSt3vI1hICnlVfFPytrN1VBkvNVYIkdi3THjhHMfsB_VrkxdrCVOvfvCDIk3nqSabWjVlcKCsikNL0KD0FwlH0iWlWymBinyZSjW0-_jZ76SbjKyZgM1pYh-yRp18w/s2048/tutu_watermelon_carrots.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMAEmg42I4FSt3vI1hICnlVfFPytrN1VBkvNVYIkdi3THjhHMfsB_VrkxdrCVOvfvCDIk3nqSabWjVlcKCsikNL0KD0FwlH0iWlWymBinyZSjW0-_jZ76SbjKyZgM1pYh-yRp18w/s320/tutu_watermelon_carrots.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>I also harvested the Rosemary for the year once the nightly freeze watches started stacking up.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNioJx2UWJ_vEdOuyirKaff9To5x2nB_dh29SUu2OccXpAhzYfUGR0cixihjc0WNxeEgjkerS-tySV-2TQBTPUQ74D7wM8XiC8A_uZpF01WH_wWASMSn8IwpHom1_TLn23eHFLIA/s2048/rosemary.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNioJx2UWJ_vEdOuyirKaff9To5x2nB_dh29SUu2OccXpAhzYfUGR0cixihjc0WNxeEgjkerS-tySV-2TQBTPUQ74D7wM8XiC8A_uZpF01WH_wWASMSn8IwpHom1_TLn23eHFLIA/s320/rosemary.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Let's go to the back porch now and check on the Dahlias.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5e5QmkedrECd7dQPYc5KxoxB-muITwwrMmR-O8uL7Decitjv-QHBKm01S3jzf888bigFkKKfmvPrb3ZQ0LV0mrPa4ERH3h089BJg81d6ymJM3WSXbLyLfW3lIaIS_0osbHTQ4gA/s2048/newdahlia.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5e5QmkedrECd7dQPYc5KxoxB-muITwwrMmR-O8uL7Decitjv-QHBKm01S3jzf888bigFkKKfmvPrb3ZQ0LV0mrPa4ERH3h089BJg81d6ymJM3WSXbLyLfW3lIaIS_0osbHTQ4gA/s320/newdahlia.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><p>This is the second variety I bought (in July for 50 cents) Andrew likes this variety better, but I like the solid pink.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwIZnPiJuWn_RDGt4K72QqYCzbSey-dQuN4B-REZSCcl7Rj9ENLouzcviHUKvBAqtKfh9KScjfcjifK9pXYZCqdxvLJjR7UeR1Hazl0tXq761Tl9wvU6gnQKQMcF_lXhAIaziMfA/s2048/rain+dahlia.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwIZnPiJuWn_RDGt4K72QqYCzbSey-dQuN4B-REZSCcl7Rj9ENLouzcviHUKvBAqtKfh9KScjfcjifK9pXYZCqdxvLJjR7UeR1Hazl0tXq761Tl9wvU6gnQKQMcF_lXhAIaziMfA/s320/rain+dahlia.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>So pretty after a light warm rain.</p><p>That also carries a rainbow with it. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhEjE9sNIbh9nSVwQP6LEyUq0qIs5i8NTkGFMywuhsktZKt9EAgVR65xVBFpwWYifvB7XYQ8a-X0iXpZ2gcJvUeI06PV7D5skdtvTahxgS8grLRAOw4lce11HoMbEiBanS1v6mxg/s2048/rainbow.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhEjE9sNIbh9nSVwQP6LEyUq0qIs5i8NTkGFMywuhsktZKt9EAgVR65xVBFpwWYifvB7XYQ8a-X0iXpZ2gcJvUeI06PV7D5skdtvTahxgS8grLRAOw4lce11HoMbEiBanS1v6mxg/s320/rainbow.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>The same night I replanted the potted thyme and cut the sage, I also made a cut flower bouquet for my Mom's birthday.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdySm_yipw74tRgQBTBZtaL_DIxOTb2Ger3yxUYNjratV43hyphenhyphen3bARBzOZAjfYvhntBJ3wROg9eFaqXM7L0a3gJCQOVzMxMGMknIUDGbE1kFHJpGZ2Y72naOn0uTnHd1AH7g-bhDg/s2048/floral+arrangement.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdySm_yipw74tRgQBTBZtaL_DIxOTb2Ger3yxUYNjratV43hyphenhyphen3bARBzOZAjfYvhntBJ3wROg9eFaqXM7L0a3gJCQOVzMxMGMknIUDGbE1kFHJpGZ2Y72naOn0uTnHd1AH7g-bhDg/s320/floral+arrangement.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>Clearly, flower arranging is not "just putting flowers together." However, since I focus on herbs so much, it was fun to have enough flowers to gather. </p><p>Here is a shot of the back trellis. The moonflowers have been frost nipped, the morning glories are on there way out, but the Dahlias are going strong and inspiring me for next year. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAJlHkEglp8E-eacT7U2oaDkiz71IVlP1iGngO4tmW5cPbckSYD_4dCt21r1yY0pKzCcSftto1dBBsC8Jf6xOwZL511HZXQzSWB0qYXSzJy9hQwFImzE6SYkeA1pJ-Qlb9T8K67g/s2048/verdant+deck.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAJlHkEglp8E-eacT7U2oaDkiz71IVlP1iGngO4tmW5cPbckSYD_4dCt21r1yY0pKzCcSftto1dBBsC8Jf6xOwZL511HZXQzSWB0qYXSzJy9hQwFImzE6SYkeA1pJ-Qlb9T8K67g/s320/verdant+deck.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>This Friday I will dig up the Dahlias that have browned and died back. My green thumb friend has offered to overwinter them for me which is lucky for me, since being back in the library full time has definitely made me prioritize the work outside. </p><p>The most recent gardening project was planting the little tree that first appeared on the blog <a href="https://scordatos.blogspot.com/2020/04/of-gardening-and-books.html">here.</a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4p0SgtzxSU99-pnDuQ1VNgPuYBY1tfaRn0kyq57Li57osaV6kMc336driM54PwzSy9DoibDFFWI0OhR1DKAcLAZ_pRCpxxgzsS0r0H8Ilg9PE1Vnb2TgHWFmRFBMgjBVHDpHTTg/s2048/treehole.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4p0SgtzxSU99-pnDuQ1VNgPuYBY1tfaRn0kyq57Li57osaV6kMc336driM54PwzSy9DoibDFFWI0OhR1DKAcLAZ_pRCpxxgzsS0r0H8Ilg9PE1Vnb2TgHWFmRFBMgjBVHDpHTTg/s320/treehole.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>This little hemlock started to brown as time passed. As the baby lavenders died, I paid less attention to this little guy. I planted the tree on Halloween and the dirt was still very moist from the rain. Sadly, even though I pass this tree twice a day, it's always with Tutu on a leash, and not with a watering can. I hope it takes root, and that rain helps him out. I just cannot get to him now. Good luck little tree!</p><p>And look how many roots it grew in 6 months!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQdB81wvhqUIz7SW91XmqNMOIHubKr8T7597Yg0Ps30cUZSQTSekPY24VTU4Untbn8ajkDzTsrRnYgCs2nniI8ibv1azWZF9SH-ssxiRhA5vhqGNYRQDwee_lCiTFM37R6-92hBA/s2048/rootbound.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQdB81wvhqUIz7SW91XmqNMOIHubKr8T7597Yg0Ps30cUZSQTSekPY24VTU4Untbn8ajkDzTsrRnYgCs2nniI8ibv1azWZF9SH-ssxiRhA5vhqGNYRQDwee_lCiTFM37R6-92hBA/s320/rootbound.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>And once the tree was planted, I looked up to see the neighbor bull had been supervising my work. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOxmlLeRbJ6oXsP73-zXgOfBodDybsyW-Uo_S3PWJFvsj478EcTv_TLKRm34_lk_5UbAQDQOoTrw4rcUfqFr5Vepvlnef8VuON6AemcErjuystc5A80Sg2OhT8f1gqes1pzIBzng/s2048/bull+supervises+work.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOxmlLeRbJ6oXsP73-zXgOfBodDybsyW-Uo_S3PWJFvsj478EcTv_TLKRm34_lk_5UbAQDQOoTrw4rcUfqFr5Vepvlnef8VuON6AemcErjuystc5A80Sg2OhT8f1gqes1pzIBzng/s320/bull+supervises+work.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnOagbDVmd4vi1xXXzENj2r-GAFWMSATCglY0HDYi7lMSEt4IJdOEExan1e4p76BbAHSMI56X4QeHflnLtCLDFHNaVsvBJbArhx4XFimqRE-1aa8LCbAhJ4_uPODo6uKCy5GNdNw/s2048/plantedtree.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnOagbDVmd4vi1xXXzENj2r-GAFWMSATCglY0HDYi7lMSEt4IJdOEExan1e4p76BbAHSMI56X4QeHflnLtCLDFHNaVsvBJbArhx4XFimqRE-1aa8LCbAhJ4_uPODo6uKCy5GNdNw/s320/plantedtree.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>And speaking of the bull, here he is growing his winter coat. They start at the head and it goes from there. They say that the thicker the coat, the colder the winter. But since I don't get close enough to the cows to collect samples of winter coat, and compare them from year to year while cross referencing average temperatures...(shrugs.)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMQ4XvwGEO9jbBWHj7Bs89DULFOO42aQVESmqt_XVIxzcK8iqqDSb9NWchsYOqGY6y8IHYSfiowqH3379Ox8Wy3G0hZHm3nw9JLh7IRfgkfR2nzdwHIMn4ju-XQT0mg3xKQ_yAMQ/s2048/wintercape.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMQ4XvwGEO9jbBWHj7Bs89DULFOO42aQVESmqt_XVIxzcK8iqqDSb9NWchsYOqGY6y8IHYSfiowqH3379Ox8Wy3G0hZHm3nw9JLh7IRfgkfR2nzdwHIMn4ju-XQT0mg3xKQ_yAMQ/s320/wintercape.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Hey look! It's my favorite cow in the background. What? You don't have a favorite cow?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0cArV3hqxtcxGO4nnz0XdfL1EAPlhX2-qkFPWmbz9jxw3pJhzdaX2lDfd8k-WguZ_QHpQoxICP6OBS9PkxPCivKlc1w69iQjMvNsb4njHAeAsT3vrKZ-MiSY0BXTh-eW0XZFnjQ/s2048/favorite+cow+closeup.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0cArV3hqxtcxGO4nnz0XdfL1EAPlhX2-qkFPWmbz9jxw3pJhzdaX2lDfd8k-WguZ_QHpQoxICP6OBS9PkxPCivKlc1w69iQjMvNsb4njHAeAsT3vrKZ-MiSY0BXTh-eW0XZFnjQ/s320/favorite+cow+closeup.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAzFD-wmnzFPmawXfYeciLzJZea432vCWg_vC7q-MOruVPXvjSBtarbemVTPUxEm4TOnqeZjbk2JOryK1-qkBk6pPkaOCVdRSWz_ryOscYZ0DrTsycBP9N1wjesghhE19OMeACGg/s2048/favorite+cow.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAzFD-wmnzFPmawXfYeciLzJZea432vCWg_vC7q-MOruVPXvjSBtarbemVTPUxEm4TOnqeZjbk2JOryK1-qkBk6pPkaOCVdRSWz_ryOscYZ0DrTsycBP9N1wjesghhE19OMeACGg/s320/favorite+cow.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Let's check on the lavender on the way to the chicken pen.</p><p>The baby dilly dilly plants planted Memorial Day weekend are mostly volley-ball sized, a good size headed into winter. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUnH3aFoUzFfwco3768kmjpMdh55qaFIvIjANuvzASzUH8OHHJ8z5P9FBGFDVY_dz2tjb5AwKdEiQbpVX8FtqtZwZ8TEBVG2STIJLgCdsUNwR2yEZz_ekkyHgM91RijWVzzWvb7Q/s2048/volleyball.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUnH3aFoUzFfwco3768kmjpMdh55qaFIvIjANuvzASzUH8OHHJ8z5P9FBGFDVY_dz2tjb5AwKdEiQbpVX8FtqtZwZ8TEBVG2STIJLgCdsUNwR2yEZz_ekkyHgM91RijWVzzWvb7Q/s320/volleyball.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>And the established plants pruned in August are greening up nicely. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8kRSQxvy35OgEjivo1bxU2u-jWK8BBTN9QDx800h6o-cQ1p3XiAoA12fEOiZ340iaSm_GD0uNt87Xu9GjFNhCmKyqfPKt1ElH3ZpDouoTbVjScoNyaoXctwIoQtuDXwvhWGJFOA/s2048/greeningupafterprune.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8kRSQxvy35OgEjivo1bxU2u-jWK8BBTN9QDx800h6o-cQ1p3XiAoA12fEOiZ340iaSm_GD0uNt87Xu9GjFNhCmKyqfPKt1ElH3ZpDouoTbVjScoNyaoXctwIoQtuDXwvhWGJFOA/s320/greeningupafterprune.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>So, let's take the chickens a treat shall we?</p><p>Look at all these watermelons. The biggest three are heavy, and they thump when I smartly tap them. Most have a yellow spot. It's mid-October, surely these Black Diamond/Cannonball watermelons are ripe and sweet with their signature deep red color and black seeds.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg32iTiWk8Iay9cFFxu9_w0x9izh2ZucaqIGMZMfDuukaQn6lbIcHXS94hyytv2MJ3Ld-Ld8DwcR0W9CdJCy2gfsmn73F1AvidU3aAevfyL_FHEBgCmuCX1kQs_Y4vKfP2jnOIBJQ/s2048/they+are+heavy+and+the+thump.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg32iTiWk8Iay9cFFxu9_w0x9izh2ZucaqIGMZMfDuukaQn6lbIcHXS94hyytv2MJ3Ld-Ld8DwcR0W9CdJCy2gfsmn73F1AvidU3aAevfyL_FHEBgCmuCX1kQs_Y4vKfP2jnOIBJQ/s320/they+are+heavy+and+the+thump.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Well, the seeds are right, but the melon is about 4 shades of red too light.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU6-eSTg_5sB9Ko7043iQJ7Uyww7bDi48YfWhHgVyPs61zXm7bpUCyfBZ9D6yc5uoB4KRLvM0BD8Ribnbdwkz-48amA5cjLmLhL1I8ly5-7fbsrKD5OdqmOgEKb4uywbLLBa4Lxw/s2048/20201015_112217.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU6-eSTg_5sB9Ko7043iQJ7Uyww7bDi48YfWhHgVyPs61zXm7bpUCyfBZ9D6yc5uoB4KRLvM0BD8Ribnbdwkz-48amA5cjLmLhL1I8ly5-7fbsrKD5OdqmOgEKb4uywbLLBa4Lxw/s320/20201015_112217.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>A taste test confirms my sadness, the watermelons are not ripe...for me to eat. So, to the chickens! I mean they will eat anything right?</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIB6ZYl2syh0JS4CNlCgXAwgZkPebeP5M-2ITQsKLxgpCPUs5aXaPRHNEK4sE5YIp6p945GutD6ny_tbuAHSACK4AJ6zv_6osO3II4mFbIRUw7JhwEdIXekBBH924u5RYCpe64PQ/s2048/chickens+check+out+melons_carrot+tops.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIB6ZYl2syh0JS4CNlCgXAwgZkPebeP5M-2ITQsKLxgpCPUs5aXaPRHNEK4sE5YIp6p945GutD6ny_tbuAHSACK4AJ6zv_6osO3II4mFbIRUw7JhwEdIXekBBH924u5RYCpe64PQ/s320/chickens+check+out+melons_carrot+tops.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>The chickens have gotten watermelon rinds all summer, and by morning all that's left is a creamy white shell. The green vegetation in the background is what is left of a wheelbarrow worth of carrot tops. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNuZuZSrdMJJAHAafg_tVhFZp4cVU_i2tqNvEinqR-OTVbeouFR4-17MVO9RTpBbcLB-b-ChthmCoWqPO0k3ZVKjaVFppKf7LeL-tkAdlFcqvFmM7RMyLAoXnrezE6LlT37hpBpg/s2048/hens+assure+you+the+melons+were+not+ripe.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNuZuZSrdMJJAHAafg_tVhFZp4cVU_i2tqNvEinqR-OTVbeouFR4-17MVO9RTpBbcLB-b-ChthmCoWqPO0k3ZVKjaVFppKf7LeL-tkAdlFcqvFmM7RMyLAoXnrezE6LlT37hpBpg/s320/hens+assure+you+the+melons+were+not+ripe.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>And after the first couple bites, the hens demure. They ate them anyway but I'm glad I got this picture of their displeasure!</p><p>I say hens...but maybe I should say chickens...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtedEBoaLTnt6TvvZPYvC7IXgffJ7fCfU8dcKoQJ3_FLy25xg0pq-d5IdzpOc7smu99LXblh0CjFmLNpRfPg1Ew4kckyvQpcNjEwCh4VtH8VpGUXex82aQi5xQ-ELkZvfxT3SsgQ/s2048/that+guy+looks+a+little+different.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtedEBoaLTnt6TvvZPYvC7IXgffJ7fCfU8dcKoQJ3_FLy25xg0pq-d5IdzpOc7smu99LXblh0CjFmLNpRfPg1Ew4kckyvQpcNjEwCh4VtH8VpGUXex82aQi5xQ-ELkZvfxT3SsgQ/s320/that+guy+looks+a+little+different.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>There is something a little bit different about this lady in the middle.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQjfQ3cgtHtLL_vszdZp_-az2kjZqxox6KvbbvekAKm86-iRtjh9Y6tSm6TXNy_jmbCAIDx7_vxyawppRHWVvzJPvuZwTS98HTorDMyaAC8aMDonC2kj0YtG_ARfjjQPnN3DoOng/s2048/Im+just+one+of+the+girls.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQjfQ3cgtHtLL_vszdZp_-az2kjZqxox6KvbbvekAKm86-iRtjh9Y6tSm6TXNy_jmbCAIDx7_vxyawppRHWVvzJPvuZwTS98HTorDMyaAC8aMDonC2kj0YtG_ARfjjQPnN3DoOng/s320/Im+just+one+of+the+girls.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Peeking at me coquettishly from beneath a much larger comb.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjblhO1vcIrxHAqtAlWWrj2la3vox3CEk0pVSV9rHeP1vefpxlgl52oqNT96ebJnqw_9zBTX3n3sMjLuVHNBNGKaqf8Hxcx9mxKtg4op44JjTV_1LpO_ZY2tsrpzFkkkNonoRKStg/s2048/best+side.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjblhO1vcIrxHAqtAlWWrj2la3vox3CEk0pVSV9rHeP1vefpxlgl52oqNT96ebJnqw_9zBTX3n3sMjLuVHNBNGKaqf8Hxcx9mxKtg4op44JjTV_1LpO_ZY2tsrpzFkkkNonoRKStg/s320/best+side.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Often, showing me the "better side" but I know I'm only getting three new white eggs a day, not four. </div><div><br /></div><div>Could we have a rooster in our mix? If so, Elvis as I've named it, is so far the lowest chicken in the pecking order. Seriously skittish, and always chased away from treats and other actions by everyone else in the pen...is this a mild mannered Clark Kent rooster just waiting for sexual maturity to show his Superman side...or is it just a mild mannered rooster hoping to fit in? These are the questions of my time on the farm. A friend of mine responded to this picture "I'm no bird expert, but it sure looks like a dude to me." They are probably right. </div><div><br /></div><div>But this is not the only mystery. The same day I took these pictures, I noticed something strange on on the side of the coop...look closely.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3NPUfikk1qicxXeoaBUV-W93u61z1yZUeMXicyB28ctuS5HM7AwUWf54k9PYqphanY_jiY_E1aB4z7CLndPUQU3cK4jmEm05kp7CJNttf8qaYZl2FqyP9EKgAQ9ZVn5StpHvwuQ/s2048/what+the+heck+happened+here.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3NPUfikk1qicxXeoaBUV-W93u61z1yZUeMXicyB28ctuS5HM7AwUWf54k9PYqphanY_jiY_E1aB4z7CLndPUQU3cK4jmEm05kp7CJNttf8qaYZl2FqyP9EKgAQ9ZVn5StpHvwuQ/s320/what+the+heck+happened+here.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>Yeah, I know. I've asked you to look at a picture of chicken poop. But look at where the chicken poop is! I mean the stain on the ladder runway and the one right above it, I get it, a chicken perched on there and poopped. But look at the one in the upper left hand corner. It's twelve inches away from the splat closest to the wooden board...and even farther from the board itself that the chicken was perched on. Also, I'm no animal dung splat expert but come on, it looks like a paint ball delivered perpendicular to the ground. How did this happen? Call Mulder and Scully! </div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway, maybe it's just best that I keep them in food, water, clean grass hay and semi-ripe watermelons and not ask too many questions.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP6ytcEgOSytE6Y2d9H8c_wAnfYqp3Qum1OsoGN2WkpP90GuxQbhlaVHOV_uuLMJQGiwegaD8a5aJlErtdtuMHIEwFPfzCS5mhjs4sLlw_2clxCbEhpdwtttuWuvQIUBIscT7KrQ/s2048/now+thats+an+egg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP6ytcEgOSytE6Y2d9H8c_wAnfYqp3Qum1OsoGN2WkpP90GuxQbhlaVHOV_uuLMJQGiwegaD8a5aJlErtdtuMHIEwFPfzCS5mhjs4sLlw_2clxCbEhpdwtttuWuvQIUBIscT7KrQ/s320/now+thats+an+egg.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Let's wrap up with a nice sky shot.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2JZUAPta7Up4WFl4QD04lCdfsoviWRMJTvCfIc7ioW_ByoM8of_UKFRtivjonM9uRTYethWQrwcVlCSlVbgVDdBsItGT1USn7SO66jStWY62PVg1vB1qJoHIq1_h-BMC7wNLbmw/s2048/stop+sky.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2JZUAPta7Up4WFl4QD04lCdfsoviWRMJTvCfIc7ioW_ByoM8of_UKFRtivjonM9uRTYethWQrwcVlCSlVbgVDdBsItGT1USn7SO66jStWY62PVg1vB1qJoHIq1_h-BMC7wNLbmw/s320/stop+sky.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><p>The trees we planted 14 years ago have grown so tall. I actually blogged about them when I first started this blog. One of the pine trees is easily over 15 feet. And beautiful blue skies remind me of another book I finished reading from the personal library. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikLRSK1haDiYiU31VLVIXeTO6r7Kds-ABYc4jpN-DnuVUNDvSXmbXR2aOfQrYLBHd4PZ_gzvD-MGwU_ecqiKFy3nze6xp1fyYih2O9fHFf3sY3ykjZ1Ut_hcg96yI1qiQYyis5RQ/s2048/on+the+edge.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikLRSK1haDiYiU31VLVIXeTO6r7Kds-ABYc4jpN-DnuVUNDvSXmbXR2aOfQrYLBHd4PZ_gzvD-MGwU_ecqiKFy3nze6xp1fyYih2O9fHFf3sY3ykjZ1Ut_hcg96yI1qiQYyis5RQ/s320/on+the+edge.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>This was a very well written book about falconry where the writer focused on one man's story, but zoomed in and out to talk about history, culture, the west, and even the tensions surrounding gas drilling in Wyoming in the early 2000s. It is a wonderful blend of voices; journalism, essayist, and biographer. Also fascinating is that Ms. Dickinson is the spouse of Tim Gallagher, major player at Cornell and author of a book about the search for the ivory billed woodpecker, which was thought to be extinct. </p><p>I have other books I've read, for other posts. </p><p>If you made it through this lengthy blog post and enjoyed it, consider subscribing to the newsletter option in the upper right hand corner. Don't depend on the facebook algorithm to tell you when it's been updated. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>Julie & Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12291682548017240598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10076187.post-76422227316549518942020-10-11T08:08:00.000-07:002020-10-11T08:08:18.753-07:00Traverse City Camping Trip<p> As I continue to stack up gardening content like so much cord wood, I thought I better slide in some older content in this shorter post. We took the TAB on it's second venture with us in late July to Traverse City. We actually stayed in Empire in the same campground we camped in last year on our first trip with the TAB.</p><p>It was a little different this year because:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikmRoaP-oaezelAZAKGJnUsZInbBbAEdMBNSpH3fCNw9QL5grtPrp-xAjea13bwNaiLShpdbrfeTw9JX0KX7igEJXc7VobdYjPEmDSVIA25nfnkMhTOKkkqEogaL8hf78OofLqGA/s2048/20200727_112514.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikmRoaP-oaezelAZAKGJnUsZInbBbAEdMBNSpH3fCNw9QL5grtPrp-xAjea13bwNaiLShpdbrfeTw9JX0KX7igEJXc7VobdYjPEmDSVIA25nfnkMhTOKkkqEogaL8hf78OofLqGA/s320/20200727_112514.jpg"></a></div><br><p><br></p><p>We took Tutu for her first extended camping trip. Bringing this cot was a great idea as she liked it and jumped up on immediately after I set it up. I did a lot of writing from this cot, but was frequently interrupted by her barking at every single dog that went by. She never really fully relaxed in the daytime and her zest to guard the campsite prompted some families to change their walking routes. </p><p>However, I was grateful for her protective instinct at one point in the trip. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuNuppi4IYV1Lb2BveJRPmeyjXVLU87rvlvHi5EG6bnJOog0rU0MwH1Hxm8FS9l9JrP-HWODWGz_sErd77CvGVM02UOok9yY34UVb-XVhWADKmvdbRatZ4jz8mOgND4Uo335lPOA/s2048/protecting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuNuppi4IYV1Lb2BveJRPmeyjXVLU87rvlvHi5EG6bnJOog0rU0MwH1Hxm8FS9l9JrP-HWODWGz_sErd77CvGVM02UOok9yY34UVb-XVhWADKmvdbRatZ4jz8mOgND4Uo335lPOA/s320/protecting.jpg" width="320"></a></div><br><p>Our TAB came with a lot of perks from the previous owners like an all weather cover, small accessories, and this Pahque tent, specifically made to run on a metal track attached to the tab. This tent provides not only lot of extra covered storage space, but also, allows us a foyer if you like, to stay out of the rain as we go in and out of the TAB. At the time we were the only TAB in the campground and there were easily a dozen Airstreams. I was on the cot with Tutu in the early evening while Andrew was changing in the TAB from a bike ride to the lake and a swim. Two couples walked by, and one of the husbands said that he had never seen that kind of tent before and could he look inside to see how it worked.</p><p>In a split second the following thoughts crossed my mind. First, while I'm sure this guy was probably nice, I don 't know what looking inside would do to educate him. I mean, you can clearly tell from the side that it simply attaches to the TAB in a groove system. Also, if you have to ask to look inside someone's tent, you probably shouldn't and third...what would Andrew think if he came out of the TAB to some stranger in our tent? And also, I'm going to tell Andrew and leaving Tutu with this crowd Being a librarian often means wanting to give people information and it's hard to not answer a question/request. I was also trying to think how I could nicely say no, and how worried I would be about sounding like a jerk to this group of strangers I was never going to see again.</p><p>Tutu though, she came through and allowed my to sidestep all of these deep philosophical social questions by growling like she weighs another 50 pounds. We all laughed off the "vicious little dog" and they walked on.</p><p>We ended up taking Tutu everywhere with us, as the air conditioner was sketchy and we weren't sure if it was our electrical box that had been serviced before we arrived as a result of a previous complaint, or if it was our AC. Since we had agreed to just do carry out and eat most of our meals at camp, this did not cut out a whole lot of our plans. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhIntm5cchrzy_KP0_UvGh4WXcfpchWpwZ0tmAchQzB8TUd4Wwxx5xpJZ7mShmP8InyXCCs-ix8JkcJbFtazHF4T5p2tsDFWUQpIAPsvrzfzY6L4TGOhVntCOO-6n3VDjrrew1tA/s2048/20200720_184255.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhIntm5cchrzy_KP0_UvGh4WXcfpchWpwZ0tmAchQzB8TUd4Wwxx5xpJZ7mShmP8InyXCCs-ix8JkcJbFtazHF4T5p2tsDFWUQpIAPsvrzfzY6L4TGOhVntCOO-6n3VDjrrew1tA/s320/20200720_184255.jpg"></a></div><br><p>She did a great job riding in her new Kurgo car seat, or as I call it, "her box." When I load her into the car and I say "get into your box" she knows exactly what I am talking about. </p><p>The only thing she didn't like on the ride up, is the two times I stopped for gas and two go to the restroom. If you leave her alone in the car she does freak out. </p><p>One more shot from the campsite and then we will do a little sight seeing. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_wUzYwIvsbx24pnx-0N244xhQIDUPc9yWiQm2U0XJtJLsgRORjhV-UXJlIgBlZapTxn9a7_URUjEmM5kLPpZgL_7USJmccdydskSOJrA2EqzmpWRpfKBFhu-j8YwC1proWf5JiA/s2048/view+from+the+yoga+mat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_wUzYwIvsbx24pnx-0N244xhQIDUPc9yWiQm2U0XJtJLsgRORjhV-UXJlIgBlZapTxn9a7_URUjEmM5kLPpZgL_7USJmccdydskSOJrA2EqzmpWRpfKBFhu-j8YwC1proWf5JiA/s320/view+from+the+yoga+mat.jpg" width="320"></a></div><br><p>Here is the view from the yoga mat. I stuck to yoga every morning but the one it rained, and the morning we left for home. I also did Tai Chi every night. This helped the stiffness in my back immensely and was nice to do outside. </p><p>We went to our favorite places to eat, Slabtown Burgers in Traverse City and the Cove and Leland. We missed out on a couple places since we had Tutu in tow, but these are my and Andrew's favorite We took turns going into places for short periods of time, like one of Andrew's favorite wineries, Two Lads.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidTEfIQtP3Pq27Ph4m9kwg5cw-02-sqP2glFr2yruspl84tUUpdio4_Q99rjaiTQdbJicGDSrwkN1wegCOijjdihf-fe2eG-aMU8US456lMloIjTnTwHzjLEslbtUXYFZij-B20g/s2048/two+lads.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidTEfIQtP3Pq27Ph4m9kwg5cw-02-sqP2glFr2yruspl84tUUpdio4_Q99rjaiTQdbJicGDSrwkN1wegCOijjdihf-fe2eG-aMU8US456lMloIjTnTwHzjLEslbtUXYFZij-B20g/s320/two+lads.jpg" width="320"></a></div><p>Two Lads is on Mission Peninsula, and there are many parts on the main route that you can seen the lake from both sides. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPaEN3jTnnXvlvkY8zGbXtYGTyq-jhyxaaLEJhmPuBWPG9H8PHNXnILgKKHA6DFPcQIXcRDZv8gw3AhIFK9qmGIJ4V6EbRlJC4Zomg4VHP-eZDMzAdMM-mS1iCgHJ6LhwdPwxr0w/s2048/view+from+two+lads.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPaEN3jTnnXvlvkY8zGbXtYGTyq-jhyxaaLEJhmPuBWPG9H8PHNXnILgKKHA6DFPcQIXcRDZv8gw3AhIFK9qmGIJ4V6EbRlJC4Zomg4VHP-eZDMzAdMM-mS1iCgHJ6LhwdPwxr0w/s320/view+from+two+lads.jpg" width="320"></a></div><p>I ran into one antique shop, the Red Barn and picked up a nice piece of enamel ware that is currently holding kitchen mop rags under the sink. Andrew went to Cherry Republic while I was with Tutu to get out usual goodies.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw9JsTsk5MOax4ZnELZUMoOp3_8C0-gRlV2YY4a76kzeSJvjWaBb89q96OaP08bqDdDNQ0nFhF5d6OX4fsTXjGNN5Ed_IbKvyHcNZj5BCYaELX4G_mIo2WUbtoURiE4j6bDa4etg/s1008/cherry+republic.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="756" data-original-width="1008" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw9JsTsk5MOax4ZnELZUMoOp3_8C0-gRlV2YY4a76kzeSJvjWaBb89q96OaP08bqDdDNQ0nFhF5d6OX4fsTXjGNN5Ed_IbKvyHcNZj5BCYaELX4G_mIo2WUbtoURiE4j6bDa4etg/s320/cherry+republic.jpeg" width="320"></a></div><br><p>And Grocer's Daughter actually let us order ahead and pick up.</p><p>After several days, we came home and Tutu was ready. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho-4fa1jIrR-fclP5soW98MuN_eQXLbc19f4YXJo4661jr4md0_TzHcx-BA9XTQC7Uhr8wH3jqkmi9UZ9wuAj4upSWAVNBtVmCzVKjfw1TiyYq_5T5fPaJmtMIUyIJHwpmZBx5UA/s2048/riding+home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho-4fa1jIrR-fclP5soW98MuN_eQXLbc19f4YXJo4661jr4md0_TzHcx-BA9XTQC7Uhr8wH3jqkmi9UZ9wuAj4upSWAVNBtVmCzVKjfw1TiyYq_5T5fPaJmtMIUyIJHwpmZBx5UA/s320/riding+home.jpg"></a></div><br><p><br></p>Julie & Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12291682548017240598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10076187.post-64055803938190674902020-10-04T15:55:00.005-07:002020-10-04T15:56:24.732-07:00Sprawling Gardening Post Number 3<p> I did not think a month would fly past until my next blog post, but here we are. The pictures below are mostly from August, there may still be some from July. There is still a lot going on in the garden so I may be blogging about it in January as I have joked before. </p><p>Everyone is okay here in this neck of the woods. Returning to work 4 full days a week, having a cat that needed new special food and training the cats to eat in separate rooms, and shorter days have all caught up with me. </p><p>The cats have more or less learned the new routine and grudgingly accepted it. The one cat has even gained a pound already. </p><p></p><p>Most of my writing this month has been journaling and writing long hand written letters to a couple friends, something I do once in a while. Here is a picture of Tutu keeping me company on the back deck as write one of those letters. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbMxvowzTDWRHlpAa4JJt0kFPEpxwn3W4amMnljaQkO-JQiArAvmYrTFeSbgx9DKcrZCBDjSIcsDsorzjsnLBMcKaA6U_Sn9UqKqfvd5Rf-kMHd5v0veTsWYruWXQaAhme_83gqA/s2048/whilewritingletters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbMxvowzTDWRHlpAa4JJt0kFPEpxwn3W4amMnljaQkO-JQiArAvmYrTFeSbgx9DKcrZCBDjSIcsDsorzjsnLBMcKaA6U_Sn9UqKqfvd5Rf-kMHd5v0veTsWYruWXQaAhme_83gqA/s320/whilewritingletters.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Where to start? There are so many pictures in my folder for this post. I will try to put them in some semblance of order. </p><p>Well, when in doubt, start with a cat.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE0GDYRu9FiejlDSt1WU2eQzgkqoFSyniP0SC7dCebmFU09nW962goBXKTGVCLD_Y9qkPCx3Ixen72Vl1hjyXqsPv6dHMyNxUuGlrmHHJ0q-F0AS7roYQz-x26pBIg5KTOgK26Fg/s2048/maxwellpet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE0GDYRu9FiejlDSt1WU2eQzgkqoFSyniP0SC7dCebmFU09nW962goBXKTGVCLD_Y9qkPCx3Ixen72Vl1hjyXqsPv6dHMyNxUuGlrmHHJ0q-F0AS7roYQz-x26pBIg5KTOgK26Fg/s320/maxwellpet.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>Maxwell was not the cat that needed new food. He has usually been underweight or just right most of his life with us. However with me being home so much this year, and him cleaning up after Moxie's food, when I haven't been home, he's grown quite lush and plush. I'm trying to get him on less food since he will need his teeth cleaned later as he always does. Trust me, it's cheaper to clean a pets teeth than have them pulled. He isn't a big exerciser though and is quite peeved at his new, smaller portions. This is him getting some attention on the stair landing. No doubt Tutu is already in our bedroom with Andrew and so Maxwell comes out of "hiding" for some attention. He wasn't a big lover before and isn't now, but we try to give him what we can when we see him. He does like his tummy rubbed and he appears in several of my elementary read aloud videos. He doesn't do much but he's very photogenic and I've heard from some parent that his cuteness goes a long way with viewers.</p><p>It's funny that he and Tutu share one of the most popular spots in the house, the beloved cushion from a cat pyramid that Molly used to go in. I got rid of the pyramid after she died as neither Maxwell nor Moxie would go in it but something told me to leave the cushion and it usually sits in the morning sun of the dining room. Surely the one pet knows the other has been using it?</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgssL4kWwfgSNrLZLM3i6-xdVlElcPz-6eEAaUW8bJ08AtHBXT30YUur5vBBQU9YxXpErod4leqQsDE170yWkVFeBEwx7jlD2P0w39FmUgGCLkOc8WCmEG1F0Djaie9uvCeZlie6w/s2048/popular+cushion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgssL4kWwfgSNrLZLM3i6-xdVlElcPz-6eEAaUW8bJ08AtHBXT30YUur5vBBQU9YxXpErod4leqQsDE170yWkVFeBEwx7jlD2P0w39FmUgGCLkOc8WCmEG1F0Djaie9uvCeZlie6w/s320/popular+cushion.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhgRxOrh7mRKeHn79VCxNx80_LXd2yvf3NGeuurKh35AAuS92OeYBVDXB7y4KlAo8bIGWUIDf5PDPcYkFDy39uryqXwz7i2R-vVybodCjjbt84yOmcl7FOHbCFhleuWDz19rhyzA/s2048/hellllloooo+Maxwell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhgRxOrh7mRKeHn79VCxNx80_LXd2yvf3NGeuurKh35AAuS92OeYBVDXB7y4KlAo8bIGWUIDf5PDPcYkFDy39uryqXwz7i2R-vVybodCjjbt84yOmcl7FOHbCFhleuWDz19rhyzA/s320/hellllloooo+Maxwell.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p>To pare this giant folder of pictures down, let's move onto books. I've not made much headway in my personal book collection this summer, partially from falling asleep before I can read two pages, but also because being at the library more has been too tempting to pursue other interests and getting books on those topics. As my time outside narrows, I have been able to read more in the evening, and am trying to balance. I'm optimistic I can read another 4-6 books before the New Year out of my private collection.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPqroT1ddX7YpwtVQFrjhWT44LyOsrs46pxZeEKmvm-6UNeljHvEet6CevXfjSbmAHOb7WjSD-IfsV6Lzj6J-01cq7eEwCc_g9dRd_FYyuE_tqOy3BET2ve3opvrNKiCXnX7HKTQ/s2048/going+wild+book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPqroT1ddX7YpwtVQFrjhWT44LyOsrs46pxZeEKmvm-6UNeljHvEet6CevXfjSbmAHOb7WjSD-IfsV6Lzj6J-01cq7eEwCc_g9dRd_FYyuE_tqOy3BET2ve3opvrNKiCXnX7HKTQ/s320/going+wild+book.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>I enjoyed this so much, I almost kept it, but gave it to a good friend instead thinking they would enjoy it and then pass it along. This collection of short essays was written almost 20 years ago but isn't dated at all. The writer really combines backyard birding drama or near misses and brutal deaths with tender moments and the reality of what one sees merely by looking out the window. He also talks about excursions further abroad and combines more scientific facts and history so it switches back and forth in a way that keeps it fresh. I ended up looking up several birds common in Connecticut that I had never heard of.</p><p>And speaking of books, here is another dessert made from the Simple Fruit book from the library. This chocolate torte was a lot of work and I was very disgruntled with the final result, when it was warm out of the oven. It was however, divine completely cooled. I used black raspberries instead of red and despite following the puree procedures exactly, black raspberries are just denser than red and the torte took a while to bake. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ3q-s3BBJTW9vuh2sgZEXiHMGT74wDLjm8oJeZ0nE3omc7uSSGTZpK0ARr_XpaxonReaY0tjtXEGzcem6gmzyF6lDd5ZSuBchyphenhyphenMvqLWukTdPYtyEcXYAr_5WZQeOnFIbjZo9dGA/s2048/torte+slice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ3q-s3BBJTW9vuh2sgZEXiHMGT74wDLjm8oJeZ0nE3omc7uSSGTZpK0ARr_XpaxonReaY0tjtXEGzcem6gmzyF6lDd5ZSuBchyphenhyphenMvqLWukTdPYtyEcXYAr_5WZQeOnFIbjZo9dGA/s320/torte+slice.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>The black raspberries settled in the middle and bottom and so each cooled slice ran somewhat "from brownie to fudge."</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Ap00ZfpofBI9bWwjf5VJVKWt19268YVmtlyqQMqVz-jxfLFrpBMNkNtQygwHKdBPu46kvAOThm_Q7ZRJlK4z1nEo2rwLYmclDneykm4cK0PYdYMXsVvudCknVJlQcZdz5CMbtQ/s2048/tortecool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Ap00ZfpofBI9bWwjf5VJVKWt19268YVmtlyqQMqVz-jxfLFrpBMNkNtQygwHKdBPu46kvAOThm_Q7ZRJlK4z1nEo2rwLYmclDneykm4cK0PYdYMXsVvudCknVJlQcZdz5CMbtQ/s320/tortecool.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p>I have some updated pictures from the Plant Kindness project, now wrapping up I think, as I write this. Really, I could take pictures of bees on flowers all day long.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ya70xMrat4kaqXWkzvvwrU68m5I0JbMRbSMcRoI8vecwISV-h35ploLn4qALfIt7J7KOduWymLbBYmo2-xte7Slr_oM8mxEevD9ZjlwoU464sjrASvKI_qGdpTrPSU-g-s_vwA/s2048/bee+pollen+zinnia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ya70xMrat4kaqXWkzvvwrU68m5I0JbMRbSMcRoI8vecwISV-h35ploLn4qALfIt7J7KOduWymLbBYmo2-xte7Slr_oM8mxEevD9ZjlwoU464sjrASvKI_qGdpTrPSU-g-s_vwA/s320/bee+pollen+zinnia.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg87w3OrXVaa3ATDiuRYvlvLQSEuX7GWLz4GSrJr4WLk5BwlMgT5aFkEMyxFwCMoCCb3Bw-Zmq2DX2XONXjJviT9JfqegFsnN9fg08EXb2CBG2APdIymOZbCbAzBoAiMVRiBmhFQQ/s2048/blue+plant+kindness+bee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg87w3OrXVaa3ATDiuRYvlvLQSEuX7GWLz4GSrJr4WLk5BwlMgT5aFkEMyxFwCMoCCb3Bw-Zmq2DX2XONXjJviT9JfqegFsnN9fg08EXb2CBG2APdIymOZbCbAzBoAiMVRiBmhFQQ/s320/blue+plant+kindness+bee.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBIOlC3pJeQBr6F5kLiPRpuwlV4yZiupB1CS-oLcjgjqPaarRqFa650rYNcQ2L-CHYrkTtkzD2NuAZKYkohOG2eXiGe1KryG-yRVcE7mrvwp5A55LlxBCWKX1WWRUY5hBv7Gt8KQ/s2048/plant+kindness+bee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBIOlC3pJeQBr6F5kLiPRpuwlV4yZiupB1CS-oLcjgjqPaarRqFa650rYNcQ2L-CHYrkTtkzD2NuAZKYkohOG2eXiGe1KryG-yRVcE7mrvwp5A55LlxBCWKX1WWRUY5hBv7Gt8KQ/s320/plant+kindness+bee.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF19S7XRH8l-Vhuhf7oLBxHYN0Qry3a4PW0nu1elZFa7cLHgAhZH-9_dU9HhFDQI0hYx-tsk1oJPQXB9z3iS9K8yrUFUCTDmPVdDq8NIFpzT18suN_iVcPjnSP3wMRAmiEv4uJsA/s2048/yellow+plant+kindness+bee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF19S7XRH8l-Vhuhf7oLBxHYN0Qry3a4PW0nu1elZFa7cLHgAhZH-9_dU9HhFDQI0hYx-tsk1oJPQXB9z3iS9K8yrUFUCTDmPVdDq8NIFpzT18suN_iVcPjnSP3wMRAmiEv4uJsA/s320/yellow+plant+kindness+bee.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>The gourds, all gone now and distributed throughout the community and further beyond, larger and with more color.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_vgoEg0occK0PEULRYnDqrrjeVbWx1bR4LjdiVnUR-4DRcxx71BHx6xmi_B6NQWtrtQMKHgDhTUvbehtNJyK4YKbuS7xzUEeq_acmxooFhzXzmKYGjdq1fyAhYcFrnjHwAb0T1Q/s2048/ripe+gourds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_vgoEg0occK0PEULRYnDqrrjeVbWx1bR4LjdiVnUR-4DRcxx71BHx6xmi_B6NQWtrtQMKHgDhTUvbehtNJyK4YKbuS7xzUEeq_acmxooFhzXzmKYGjdq1fyAhYcFrnjHwAb0T1Q/s320/ripe+gourds.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYnsbkqEsHyEQjdy1Od5Mt-Ks-mypnQHzI0fwm3FuQXygFefQzW2bf869urtKmI8mKRsppiLySVMrmtAoEBjlZys8Dp03egKowNLyW-1yT1i-9I9Q1aFpnEPi5Ill2BmWFI3DWIw/s2048/grown+gourds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYnsbkqEsHyEQjdy1Od5Mt-Ks-mypnQHzI0fwm3FuQXygFefQzW2bf869urtKmI8mKRsppiLySVMrmtAoEBjlZys8Dp03egKowNLyW-1yT1i-9I9Q1aFpnEPi5Ill2BmWFI3DWIw/s320/grown+gourds.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>And I was greeted by Cheese, the ambassador of Plant Kindness. I think I met him literally two days after he arrived. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrMMVzNrAA3wHXv1S9U8b-7VQ2wHWeDKmPnvhvtNnkdDJf2khfnyVLD69sAZ5nKkL9NrgZPu_r4xU7bUpZfIja6roQBEM3RsWAkTLJCcs-Cu8ObdeN8Eqhah6bHN_fRg8xx8jlgQ/s2048/meet+cheese.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrMMVzNrAA3wHXv1S9U8b-7VQ2wHWeDKmPnvhvtNnkdDJf2khfnyVLD69sAZ5nKkL9NrgZPu_r4xU7bUpZfIja6roQBEM3RsWAkTLJCcs-Cu8ObdeN8Eqhah6bHN_fRg8xx8jlgQ/s320/meet+cheese.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><p>I couldn't believe all the tomatoes available to the public. It looks like something out of a magazine.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1B2ABjlUUDzgD-DtAbN-Dk6k5YEXFVCC_4Bf9cRk3DIQLiRjk89R3mc_y9lsQ2lKSKSkauzX864GNA3xXKTSFPWaTO2aZBSko-n-S9Pphq_C18z7aY3i31Aj-9G7zdLDNh7tD0A/s2048/wagon+o+tomatoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1B2ABjlUUDzgD-DtAbN-Dk6k5YEXFVCC_4Bf9cRk3DIQLiRjk89R3mc_y9lsQ2lKSKSkauzX864GNA3xXKTSFPWaTO2aZBSko-n-S9Pphq_C18z7aY3i31Aj-9G7zdLDNh7tD0A/s320/wagon+o+tomatoes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Now to turn to gardening a little closer to home.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Q-d4__Pn55YpusvgkmYgKJWpO6wktEhUsdnmfh7FqDBWvx_IY5-AKsoiLLr0vwRvQQ1Xy19G2iad-DtzMokB_CmIadvJu8xK6ltwgJOw9IaW86T7U8_TLOS_YQxhYy6457J7Zg/s2048/full+moon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Q-d4__Pn55YpusvgkmYgKJWpO6wktEhUsdnmfh7FqDBWvx_IY5-AKsoiLLr0vwRvQQ1Xy19G2iad-DtzMokB_CmIadvJu8xK6ltwgJOw9IaW86T7U8_TLOS_YQxhYy6457J7Zg/s320/full+moon.jpg" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p>Fall moons means...<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0KRRTPsJoztUiFeA40s7aXJ88khNcs7JOCZHWn_V0Y_KFWCHdLOmgb2L2lwatbeC9ck7GzUUbD0LNXFjwegL5gUcR7rdVHmxSocLv6-n00Xb3ePGvrv3nrwgfINkxJ2Xp0M3P0g/s2048/moonflowerbuds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0KRRTPsJoztUiFeA40s7aXJ88khNcs7JOCZHWn_V0Y_KFWCHdLOmgb2L2lwatbeC9ck7GzUUbD0LNXFjwegL5gUcR7rdVHmxSocLv6-n00Xb3ePGvrv3nrwgfINkxJ2Xp0M3P0g/s320/moonflowerbuds.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0QxBf8vgblrGgB-OrPlBblVb79KtvxBZLdrVRoIu8TsrYasqoVe6s1iRRXvXxShN1ftpQ4hzp8poHOphpA5nvPRNyNylHitQXdXHxiVpdH3Q9GGvVxmQeEO0TqNi7xGwL7kve-w/s2048/moonflowerduo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0QxBf8vgblrGgB-OrPlBblVb79KtvxBZLdrVRoIu8TsrYasqoVe6s1iRRXvXxShN1ftpQ4hzp8poHOphpA5nvPRNyNylHitQXdXHxiVpdH3Q9GGvVxmQeEO0TqNi7xGwL7kve-w/s320/moonflowerduo.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>Moonflowers!!! About a dozen have bloomed, maybe 15 from the 7 seeds I've put in the pot on the back deck. Most of them bloom as you can see on the far side of the rail, and I've just missed a lot of them, as they really open close to dark. I caught these two the next morning while they were still open. The frost watch nights have nipped them and a lot of leaves have dried up and blown from the vine and yet every time I think I've seen the last moonflower of the year, another one appears. In another pot, I have the perfect complement to moonflowers...</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_H05W85osxb1zmuvW_ejXB6tv12039uCidZBC9pKK5WxacCRK6UUByKI5unWcjS227ePNFTonkrhH_5d7Ek6jFFRzIOL8EhrzJITB5fEpuUJzk0Ca2edts8I6c7WBJrUr4i_7VA/s2048/blue+trumpets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_H05W85osxb1zmuvW_ejXB6tv12039uCidZBC9pKK5WxacCRK6UUByKI5unWcjS227ePNFTonkrhH_5d7Ek6jFFRzIOL8EhrzJITB5fEpuUJzk0Ca2edts8I6c7WBJrUr4i_7VA/s320/blue+trumpets.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUC6LJyWSkNgBk529aRfzZOsawvVYyF1kHJSeT3qi_mMb7_PqavP7aDWBxxmZq1qaapno26jhawTfnhYZGVCN-kpod47gh8U3TkTTnPr21GHmib_g66VJw6NhGwdZ3P5NNH4ydrA/s2048/morning+glory.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUC6LJyWSkNgBk529aRfzZOsawvVYyF1kHJSeT3qi_mMb7_PqavP7aDWBxxmZq1qaapno26jhawTfnhYZGVCN-kpod47gh8U3TkTTnPr21GHmib_g66VJw6NhGwdZ3P5NNH4ydrA/s320/morning+glory.jpg" /></a></div><p>Morning Glories! My Grandma Perdue always had these growing on a white trellis at the end of her house. Again, I put these in the pot, and I think they would have been more robust in a bigger pot or in the ground. They were beautiful but are played out now. </p><p>Here is a pot of mint ready for a record third cutting! It's still going, but I'm not cutting it anymore or covering it on frost watch nights. I am harvesting so many herbs, I'm going to run out of jars! As I write, Sage is drying in the dehydrator and hanging from a drying rack, but that is for another blog.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoBtJwJbrd5pwQTC3E93oaUa2C4ILvsZ_3vf0ZiSiVv7QU19FnEMcygtvrfJqamkniTMZNJDACUUZM_aVCqheW3o2P5gXUkbG4-DZasbnWudhEQw84Y3UAq7vVo6kASd4q70aWzA/s2048/mint+harvest+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoBtJwJbrd5pwQTC3E93oaUa2C4ILvsZ_3vf0ZiSiVv7QU19FnEMcygtvrfJqamkniTMZNJDACUUZM_aVCqheW3o2P5gXUkbG4-DZasbnWudhEQw84Y3UAq7vVo6kASd4q70aWzA/s320/mint+harvest+3.jpg" /></a></div><p>The real show stopper on the back porch though is the Dahlias I bought on sale and planted in July. I'm in love. I'll let the pictures tell the story. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-5PqvmSvAG9Xmm_R1y3Pezbyrx6iQNIP70cvSeAaQPutJ1LxFUA4dKNQOV6DTmrfvuLWpL393CI_QioPxA2d2sRtSpAlWyAJ0UNo2bOg5VsD3WZfc29aLS2wimJJTZZtCM2Wb7g/s2048/dahlia+in+my+hand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-5PqvmSvAG9Xmm_R1y3Pezbyrx6iQNIP70cvSeAaQPutJ1LxFUA4dKNQOV6DTmrfvuLWpL393CI_QioPxA2d2sRtSpAlWyAJ0UNo2bOg5VsD3WZfc29aLS2wimJJTZZtCM2Wb7g/s320/dahlia+in+my+hand.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-zYCWQRBvW3Yyr_Ux8i8Iqaf0ikiooPeiLLuICgligZpo_peegpBdzgs6rle44KHuF967v1OJfhNt_CG05ZfNwP6vYtuy2VHrCvjPGnBso0VQ9OoSqVuOaQeGweVexeeL9OTGVg/s2048/dahlia+leaf+beauty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-zYCWQRBvW3Yyr_Ux8i8Iqaf0ikiooPeiLLuICgligZpo_peegpBdzgs6rle44KHuF967v1OJfhNt_CG05ZfNwP6vYtuy2VHrCvjPGnBso0VQ9OoSqVuOaQeGweVexeeL9OTGVg/s320/dahlia+leaf+beauty.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEHSR_eAj1M4LrKxdTYfqatjwBvvKvcfJlZleycY5GRTxc_RMYjS89ns1ASAxJokKg669bwFMpo_1wrzAyaH0icDPIwhSvMZ-UVdhLi9lUtSsOzh57flA0OmrKLAk3OyuJd48T3g/s2048/like+a+present+waiting+to+be+opened.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEHSR_eAj1M4LrKxdTYfqatjwBvvKvcfJlZleycY5GRTxc_RMYjS89ns1ASAxJokKg669bwFMpo_1wrzAyaH0icDPIwhSvMZ-UVdhLi9lUtSsOzh57flA0OmrKLAk3OyuJd48T3g/s320/like+a+present+waiting+to+be+opened.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6JR5t1vaR1DJpitO9FsY_dVnyTg98y_9-yreVtsLUzroKgt7ZwCfEmz3nlB3zOPwqOnSK3ERcGsLmFXcEcVaHu6kNaEWHNoqDDyZ6sXLBef-8E0HBG8jnsoHbt4QhR3XtmYvMDQ/s2048/open+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6JR5t1vaR1DJpitO9FsY_dVnyTg98y_9-yreVtsLUzroKgt7ZwCfEmz3nlB3zOPwqOnSK3ERcGsLmFXcEcVaHu6kNaEWHNoqDDyZ6sXLBef-8E0HBG8jnsoHbt4QhR3XtmYvMDQ/s320/open+1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIsS3cnEXKBhUn65VaVV4nBjjxNoymkbZr-wMJNjuzZUFXFRNCPJo-DQ32GtH39swYirwMCLG4oMR88jem4Um8xLnf9Wd0w8iw9oHrPsrXSsNYhQGfXpawc80BffJOSidcgBfm3g/s2048/open+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIsS3cnEXKBhUn65VaVV4nBjjxNoymkbZr-wMJNjuzZUFXFRNCPJo-DQ32GtH39swYirwMCLG4oMR88jem4Um8xLnf9Wd0w8iw9oHrPsrXSsNYhQGfXpawc80BffJOSidcgBfm3g/s320/open+2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFG3bg-VAdMTQY9GTWd5RQxcy7oo9PwaET6brevWA0cSNnJRjtTkHMCMc1Wd9-ueQdQJOxTSfH0qstAEybNh23r3YtHFwKNXQc6QluVxk4O44xs2A6biFvA1xKJlwmRjmI7uLTrg/s2048/what+a+gift.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFG3bg-VAdMTQY9GTWd5RQxcy7oo9PwaET6brevWA0cSNnJRjtTkHMCMc1Wd9-ueQdQJOxTSfH0qstAEybNh23r3YtHFwKNXQc6QluVxk4O44xs2A6biFvA1xKJlwmRjmI7uLTrg/s320/what+a+gift.jpg" /></a></div><p>I've had about 4 more dahlias bloom in this variety, and a new variety just bloomed this week. I am cutting some of them off and taking to Mom, as I can't have cut flowers in my house because, cats. </p><p>Let's walk around to the front garden and enjoy a different moonlit night. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWkt9vVXmVOMoEjs0Aqh1t9Czcd6DUlS0Af_frsOQ6WJB3uxbL_JpVEVfqOFKqQlFtABN61IyBnogiaEB8aZfjomlLTOTnTLpJMhGAFVWdH9kc_UAFLxumGEMrHRQj5CJ2FaUC4Q/s2048/new+moon+tab.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWkt9vVXmVOMoEjs0Aqh1t9Czcd6DUlS0Af_frsOQ6WJB3uxbL_JpVEVfqOFKqQlFtABN61IyBnogiaEB8aZfjomlLTOTnTLpJMhGAFVWdH9kc_UAFLxumGEMrHRQj5CJ2FaUC4Q/s320/new+moon+tab.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>The most important part of having an herb and veggie garden is to have a dedicated guard.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-y6uJlLBnPHZ3atDoxr0SOpWr2sdA2DFtrtDk6e96vhqGbOYZpQ3M3NNMpCjxzVA0Xag25pvDDM9dI8hotnRKO768Zcn8v_z4-QNIS7l8-8oQVuOJ2bmhWb6L4_qRLyHha4eFIg/s2048/20200820_123604.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-y6uJlLBnPHZ3atDoxr0SOpWr2sdA2DFtrtDk6e96vhqGbOYZpQ3M3NNMpCjxzVA0Xag25pvDDM9dI8hotnRKO768Zcn8v_z4-QNIS7l8-8oQVuOJ2bmhWb6L4_qRLyHha4eFIg/s320/20200820_123604.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>This would have been on one of the many gorgeous and mild September mornings that we had and I took this while journaling or writing letters. </p><p>As for the veggie garden, here is a bit of the harvest. We did not have as big of a tomato year as last year, but still plenty of bags to make pizza sauce. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJc3I1Y24cLOM72z6nQY_NPM34OgWGuLKGEJMIdZcwEap6t4XYFZV9yU3wGuqcBHsVD6pOeXEkueHTldiMGrRDnxoDjmm06BghUkYbZRg3rEVBpMVcVlmt4UTESASqJbbMYmA84w/s2048/matoes+and+peppers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJc3I1Y24cLOM72z6nQY_NPM34OgWGuLKGEJMIdZcwEap6t4XYFZV9yU3wGuqcBHsVD6pOeXEkueHTldiMGrRDnxoDjmm06BghUkYbZRg3rEVBpMVcVlmt4UTESASqJbbMYmA84w/s320/matoes+and+peppers.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>T</p><p>he Black Diamond (also known as cannonball) watermelons are still on the vine. A few have the browning stems, but no yellow spot. One has the yellow spot but no browning stem. In late August I picked one that I was for sure was ripe and it was barely pink. I need to work up the nerve to just pick them soon and accept however they might be,</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiijZwNwJzxWnD2DGraljdEd9aBzQrtiSNBtKOTz9J4KZVKXvlZFMS3HlAZR5y-q1F19O-E5FbdQFOGtaqliQAYAy6Wp72MTCA2yqsdWOw4NMpPpUfCbKJCUYrMcY7HClZwZmSxIQ/s2048/20200821_202953.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiijZwNwJzxWnD2DGraljdEd9aBzQrtiSNBtKOTz9J4KZVKXvlZFMS3HlAZR5y-q1F19O-E5FbdQFOGtaqliQAYAy6Wp72MTCA2yqsdWOw4NMpPpUfCbKJCUYrMcY7HClZwZmSxIQ/s320/20200821_202953.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>Our strawberry bed is almost completely filled in with plants and up until about a week ago I was getting a berry here and there.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Z4IBmk4tMChjzWNPx_vIDxQ3D_cnu-aKsajS63v46twEKbp42uHYoMwJ9US-g_z_6BOO2k7djPzo5RMqYKR7MoyKXJ5FgznQLePxACa2xW7OO8n9k00Hmx53bIEvwFTMavXc8g/s2048/strawberry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Z4IBmk4tMChjzWNPx_vIDxQ3D_cnu-aKsajS63v46twEKbp42uHYoMwJ9US-g_z_6BOO2k7djPzo5RMqYKR7MoyKXJ5FgznQLePxACa2xW7OO8n9k00Hmx53bIEvwFTMavXc8g/s320/strawberry.jpg" /></a></div><p> </p><p>The real boon harvest has been in the herb garden. I really have more herbs than I know what to do with. DM me is you would like some mint for tea or Sage. I didn't even get to the hops growing on the chicken pen wall because I had so much in the garden.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEW06KBfTUxuEItqj93nPMyBQ47q7TyIVAUcR402JD-wesgdDSLdgAeSArp78Ww5ZYFrrUTpBAl35SROyJiosWJ4fGzwg-uR6Pzj8MEkvrBAZEcK7ZrASVgSlhdhAHYAdu6md28Q/s2048/hops+harvest+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEW06KBfTUxuEItqj93nPMyBQ47q7TyIVAUcR402JD-wesgdDSLdgAeSArp78Ww5ZYFrrUTpBAl35SROyJiosWJ4fGzwg-uR6Pzj8MEkvrBAZEcK7ZrASVgSlhdhAHYAdu6md28Q/s320/hops+harvest+2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-j5mv-Smg-ZbGGaibKUeKZVYw3Fa9TkPnyLsb6SNbFXdNIWtQJLwZDTM-s07lbct7TxFusnxvkZevQxqY3XE3PILiq_ZqCnoHmFmH59x8NuIznVfMZjXNWryrrH22Jd-QfwWB6A/s2048/hops+harvest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-j5mv-Smg-ZbGGaibKUeKZVYw3Fa9TkPnyLsb6SNbFXdNIWtQJLwZDTM-s07lbct7TxFusnxvkZevQxqY3XE3PILiq_ZqCnoHmFmH59x8NuIznVfMZjXNWryrrH22Jd-QfwWB6A/s320/hops+harvest.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>It is my hope to grow my sewing skills one day to make eye pillows with hops, lavender, and chamomile from my own garden. </p><p>Take not of this Malabar spinach, a gorgeous if not tasty addition I get every year from my green thumb friend. I plant it at about 6 inches long around Memorial Day and it does absolutely nothing for the next three months. Then, if begins to inch up the tripod. Next blog will feature it's majestic finale.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS5HoW6ksBkO-2UIAw03n6NWIns7xpSuplPo5wbi9e9oolrn8jygI0UnbQUed9ysHcIZ1icW2WbI6s_hC-U5D-Ny06DZyVojOLh1SBbM3bBeChrBexmR0VOisWeBedodtKb6bo-Q/s2048/malabar+inching+upwards.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS5HoW6ksBkO-2UIAw03n6NWIns7xpSuplPo5wbi9e9oolrn8jygI0UnbQUed9ysHcIZ1icW2WbI6s_hC-U5D-Ny06DZyVojOLh1SBbM3bBeChrBexmR0VOisWeBedodtKb6bo-Q/s320/malabar+inching+upwards.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>And, I am pretty sure there are two different toads living in the front garden area. I have regular run-ins with the larger one while the smaller one surprises me in the garden. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh23lywLrF59ad7hQudCx5sXCOijjT34HX875VYp_y8bBalVWp8jA71KIfeV_IB5L06IRLcDMWlnoCpFSXuvB-60p-Zz-E1kUSTm9h3Jd4ZRhcF9DH0nXPyRBH9dLz_HBaqSU-aVg/s2048/toad+returns.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh23lywLrF59ad7hQudCx5sXCOijjT34HX875VYp_y8bBalVWp8jA71KIfeV_IB5L06IRLcDMWlnoCpFSXuvB-60p-Zz-E1kUSTm9h3Jd4ZRhcF9DH0nXPyRBH9dLz_HBaqSU-aVg/s320/toad+returns.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>I hope they survive the winter. I'm always wondering what makes them choose where the ultimately bury themselves, how deep in the ground, etc. I remember last January we had a thaw day, and I was taking Tutu walking and she insisted on investigating something in the garden, it was a much smaller toad, completely covered in the mud he was in. It reminded me of one of those 3d pictures we used to get at the mall. Luckily I realized what it was and pulled her away before she could "learn by putting in her mouth."</p><p>Let's end this post with how we started it, with animals. As we make our way to the chicken pen, let's stop by the lavender and grapes.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1rJH5_Lx3ZsqgG_qaBKRuNsdAcbkMAw7ZQbCQ6In783baj3tAwTfDXykBHL5LNsWGjSmNPGHipYdgjtwIKudT8KPRWrL9UDzThtSGXkDWiCIAUo6TwjfpNvKxMGU_tEatPXvx0w/s2048/last+lavender+standing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1rJH5_Lx3ZsqgG_qaBKRuNsdAcbkMAw7ZQbCQ6In783baj3tAwTfDXykBHL5LNsWGjSmNPGHipYdgjtwIKudT8KPRWrL9UDzThtSGXkDWiCIAUo6TwjfpNvKxMGU_tEatPXvx0w/s320/last+lavender+standing.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>My long suffering green thumb friend, who lovingly starts lavender from seed and cuttings for me. Of all those hopeful plants, they died one by one no matter how I adjusted their watering. This fellow has been in the ground for a good three weeks, maybe 4. The tree I found in the lavender in the spring that you see in the upper right hand corner, I still have to plant him. Maybe next weekend. I gotta get on it!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR-ZIayaEjysTlD506zf5tMdjQCNnEPxGncafmA6e-bIN2oqZtH6_EwwM9y6E8nZ8rKGvwf4yvcGpFQ5LKnBYnq5H8eKLLSSkSoY9nt0Idcf0JGSNMpJuovH7Ak_7bAMvfyKpGlA/s2048/finally+planted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR-ZIayaEjysTlD506zf5tMdjQCNnEPxGncafmA6e-bIN2oqZtH6_EwwM9y6E8nZ8rKGvwf4yvcGpFQ5LKnBYnq5H8eKLLSSkSoY9nt0Idcf0JGSNMpJuovH7Ak_7bAMvfyKpGlA/s320/finally+planted.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>I have some pictures for the next post to show the plants pruned in late August, how well they are greening up. </p><p>As for the grapes, I can't tell if we didn't get many Concord grapes this year, or if the birds and fox just got to them quickly. As much as I love Concords, there is no denying their tannin gives me a throbbing headache that won't answer to medication and just make it on this side of not worthwhile to eat. </p><p>But look at these white grapes we got this year, real beauties!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_41HfRwiGxRNMFqXpF3pRzZdcqzbzNejihETJnddqbAeb26qjSP8Uo6lSca4vOlg2bshen6XR1Jnf_hyphenhyphenMXXHgyxOzDzunHycwaTS_xyU87rXVWWb_k3_epSe1d70-kBska1cjtQ/s2048/white+grapes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_41HfRwiGxRNMFqXpF3pRzZdcqzbzNejihETJnddqbAeb26qjSP8Uo6lSca4vOlg2bshen6XR1Jnf_hyphenhyphenMXXHgyxOzDzunHycwaTS_xyU87rXVWWb_k3_epSe1d70-kBska1cjtQ/s320/white+grapes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>We have big news at the chicken pen, new arrivals!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPnYaYeP5DiwrHiLJ1SDjhbad4-4-6k6IMUFDgri81wna9qUAbiGGW9JKYSJ0d9iQ228LsuScbddySFf_4kJt2xEqnuxSiKHshmg1oO0nfZYWaDo9d7CK44KLCISoMT4wxst42iA/s2048/blue+rocks+arrive.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPnYaYeP5DiwrHiLJ1SDjhbad4-4-6k6IMUFDgri81wna9qUAbiGGW9JKYSJ0d9iQ228LsuScbddySFf_4kJt2xEqnuxSiKHshmg1oO0nfZYWaDo9d7CK44KLCISoMT4wxst42iA/s320/blue+rocks+arrive.jpg" /></a></div><p>The Blue Rock hens are here! I now have a flock of 10, with 6 being a year old, and 4 being 6 months old, a burgeoning succession plan if you will. They have acclimated into the overall flock pretty well, although two stubborn blues are still roosting on the red board you can see just above the chicken wire in this photo. When it gets cold they will come to their senses and move inside where the food is. All the volunteer invasive honeysuckle that you see along the bottom of this picture grew all summer and I just let it go, In about two weeks the new hens striped the leaves and trampled the trunks. So, enrichment. *We were told they were blue rocks, but now I'm not so sure, They lay white eggs not brown. Who knows. What a minute...? How do I know they are laying white eggs?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9si6SDlsb4SPyLD4z5A0ZiL6HX6EGs0lgoh4qesdk5H27wdk5FSaLtyvOKPIePxByyxobm9Po8WBjJHA_RLJjENmjkqrakpGBDFbaTc455VeQuSFtT_13hiFPKZOAdV9A14LzJg/s2048/egggggg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9si6SDlsb4SPyLD4z5A0ZiL6HX6EGs0lgoh4qesdk5H27wdk5FSaLtyvOKPIePxByyxobm9Po8WBjJHA_RLJjENmjkqrakpGBDFbaTc455VeQuSFtT_13hiFPKZOAdV9A14LzJg/s320/egggggg.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>I started getting these little beauties, one a day about two weeks ago! Now today I got one full sized white egg and one little egg...which means two of the four are laying now...which means I may be collecting eggs all winter again. No sign the golden comets are slowing up either. </p><p>Ah well. This egg was so fun to hold in my hand. Half the normal size, but so heavy, with very little egg white and a lot of yolk with a strong thick shell, it had a real smoothness and heft. There is nothing like the little thrill of opening the nest box that first day in mid winter or early spring and finding the first egg of the year, or the first egg from new chickens. </p><p>An egg, like a flower bud, like a new moon are all full of possibility. Enjoy the flower, stop and look at the sky once in a while, relish a well made breakfast on the weekend. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Julie & Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12291682548017240598noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10076187.post-30162311758842331192020-09-03T11:58:00.000-07:002020-09-03T11:58:25.070-07:00Lavender Days<p>Well, I have a robust gardening update planned, but first I need to get this lavender update off the burner. </p><p>I tried propagating lavender again this year even though I knew odds were low it would succeed. There are only about 6 steps, but a wide level of variance within those steps. Lavender is also notoriously tricky to propagate anyway. This was more of an exercise of saying that I tried rather than I succeeded and so I cut off several cuttings of Marge Clark lavender from my remaining plants. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiifm7C2WFVshQ-wWzxTGiVMBRV9XI-N59LcbF_RDpKuiP2aiSlFjjZXv0_880RpiqxV4jgkU5qGvPR086Y6NLoRQ9WXCMUFKwsd3GWXENbL_WLkK8iGAn-i345YrIhPKjDxRBUuw/s2048/allthetools.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiifm7C2WFVshQ-wWzxTGiVMBRV9XI-N59LcbF_RDpKuiP2aiSlFjjZXv0_880RpiqxV4jgkU5qGvPR086Y6NLoRQ9WXCMUFKwsd3GWXENbL_WLkK8iGAn-i345YrIhPKjDxRBUuw/s640/allthetools.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiautMdrkKQMFZM-XyK-GUb-aF-XOUomEjxA25hG_DyCQ7Y_zqxTq1EGymRrXZMSDWeKBltHA7AAWka_-et5Dd8_09EwqpN2sMMW_o-OH7pWQxziLiUFZNxOgfDedWT_sz6RDAmQg/s2048/giveitatry.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiautMdrkKQMFZM-XyK-GUb-aF-XOUomEjxA25hG_DyCQ7Y_zqxTq1EGymRrXZMSDWeKBltHA7AAWka_-et5Dd8_09EwqpN2sMMW_o-OH7pWQxziLiUFZNxOgfDedWT_sz6RDAmQg/s640/giveitatry.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>I had to mix vermiculite in the potting soil for drainage. And I also stripped leaves from these cuttings as outlined by the instructions. On BBC Gardener's World website. Then I found out later from another BBC Gardener video that I wasn't supposed to use root powder after all. Sigh.</p><p> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVVc_mIzq_9u2mldYGrmcsSVm6Ic-ovnr-VGWAXwD0BMC3CSEEgCrzOQVGWU9pI-DbwtLO1xIREborYiUMB460gumilWx0u46_9nqP4GbLGPDHnAfPxskEMYDG475X1qTPX18LiQ/s2048/grandmasdish.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVVc_mIzq_9u2mldYGrmcsSVm6Ic-ovnr-VGWAXwD0BMC3CSEEgCrzOQVGWU9pI-DbwtLO1xIREborYiUMB460gumilWx0u46_9nqP4GbLGPDHnAfPxskEMYDG475X1qTPX18LiQ/s640/grandmasdish.jpg" /></a></div><br />At least I did diligent step of putting the powder in a separate container rather than sticking the cutting directly in the bottle. <p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkHWYDd05-6EX4PqxYMhouunucIqE0AdCY-W7pJdb57qXfWhckwaCuCfw7GVzN_IYZ9z-oQZ5uSEnDrXVeIPiPwK3N5ulfE8luCzJ0byEpMZXQkYV46jTUnXSfHAihlVbSk0OC-Q/s2048/potted.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkHWYDd05-6EX4PqxYMhouunucIqE0AdCY-W7pJdb57qXfWhckwaCuCfw7GVzN_IYZ9z-oQZ5uSEnDrXVeIPiPwK3N5ulfE8luCzJ0byEpMZXQkYV46jTUnXSfHAihlVbSk0OC-Q/s640/potted.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Looks promising, but the really trick part is yet to come, creating a mini-greenhouse with sandwich bags or larger ones. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkWh6wsevzrgHJ_po6BC_tR-OX_x8YUMsIwkkYKBKmbeahVe7YRGpxX-gBcQN-2gU4WmeJN1_6_JFdTUq_bXovMiY7-T6ptw95UUFRPElRlzBs3knGlcS_gbdxzSU3cteP5Fhyphenhyphen_w/s2048/nogoingbacknow.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkWh6wsevzrgHJ_po6BC_tR-OX_x8YUMsIwkkYKBKmbeahVe7YRGpxX-gBcQN-2gU4WmeJN1_6_JFdTUq_bXovMiY7-T6ptw95UUFRPElRlzBs3knGlcS_gbdxzSU3cteP5Fhyphenhyphen_w/s640/nogoingbacknow.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>I was supposed to put them outside in a shady place, but those are hard to come by around the house and this was after July 4th when it was really, really hot. So I opted for my own greenhouse type space, the master bathroom.</p><p>The cuttings are supposed to make their own humidity, and even create water droplets inside the bag, with is supposed to be okay for a certain amount of time, then you are to cut a corner off the bag to release some of the humidity. They tell you how long, and they show you what it's supposed to look like.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrM-TaeeM6Z1eNVoC_1W9INRJj48KYsW_yQf20mF9LlEgT3WLOySIZRhefqQLlYRw1IsdpsiO9YOBHDX1zv_Y7r6PFZc254K-NMs37_nxzexmTlj2HPYbFiXBCir6XvIVEDDE1Eg/s2048/humidity.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrM-TaeeM6Z1eNVoC_1W9INRJj48KYsW_yQf20mF9LlEgT3WLOySIZRhefqQLlYRw1IsdpsiO9YOBHDX1zv_Y7r6PFZc254K-NMs37_nxzexmTlj2HPYbFiXBCir6XvIVEDDE1Eg/s640/humidity.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>It's supposed to look like this. </p><p>But, do I cut the corner off now when it looks like this, or wait until the time prescribed?</p><p>Others did not do this well right our of the gate.</p><br /><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPv7rhzGRg4QVYshcuL-yuoqTBKAN5ulWRICjphC07fFnLwCVImCNrYIRlsh6SdW2Q-FDVrbN16pfb8oTBT64hFcOdB7lfUb1cFXB48KaXYuyWzAodEjq0117fe5qwwYZIb2e0cg/s2048/largehumidityjpg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPv7rhzGRg4QVYshcuL-yuoqTBKAN5ulWRICjphC07fFnLwCVImCNrYIRlsh6SdW2Q-FDVrbN16pfb8oTBT64hFcOdB7lfUb1cFXB48KaXYuyWzAodEjq0117fe5qwwYZIb2e0cg/s640/largehumidityjpg.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><p>This larger bag never got out of the "fine mist" stage. </p><p>Then, well before the prescribed time to cut the corners off the bag, they all rotted and molded. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTcDKXzDt1ElgeD3k31g3SJgaI7FxV4_JCHFlTzfxRZqJ0wzXZZClQYxmUye0h9-pQvap6s1KK45QAHZfnfA7Y_bG-5ko_Sg97eYkbS2z-bcP3Y4_OJD1G2B8WhbfvTUQcdvsvVg/s2048/20200731_114712.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTcDKXzDt1ElgeD3k31g3SJgaI7FxV4_JCHFlTzfxRZqJ0wzXZZClQYxmUye0h9-pQvap6s1KK45QAHZfnfA7Y_bG-5ko_Sg97eYkbS2z-bcP3Y4_OJD1G2B8WhbfvTUQcdvsvVg/s640/20200731_114712.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh8e3mO-hAx_qEjlidKNrMore2jQcKuI95pVyQ_79wyqwYVh-5yK1TGxZh7tGYhMK1usjibUoBWV3vFgNcEslifRnp_WGL4VbMx59hWEhUajNV_N95xi-mZNknJvCxMmK3I2I19A/s2048/20200731_114721.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh8e3mO-hAx_qEjlidKNrMore2jQcKuI95pVyQ_79wyqwYVh-5yK1TGxZh7tGYhMK1usjibUoBWV3vFgNcEslifRnp_WGL4VbMx59hWEhUajNV_N95xi-mZNknJvCxMmK3I2I19A/s640/20200731_114721.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>And this is what compost is for friends.If the bucket can be a stylish vintage enamel pail, all the better.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY_Xf51jXBqJI3dC3PUcoVOcfakfCkyzp3g8BtXbdZ63mfdkg64lXUqa0KuJr_GmeuUiNerF7suetN23Y6vgitUj1sujYypumZwRY4-6TWHYf8oU-zzMI81PrEgLLeTw_UB22aTQ/s2048/20200731_115836.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY_Xf51jXBqJI3dC3PUcoVOcfakfCkyzp3g8BtXbdZ63mfdkg64lXUqa0KuJr_GmeuUiNerF7suetN23Y6vgitUj1sujYypumZwRY4-6TWHYf8oU-zzMI81PrEgLLeTw_UB22aTQ/s640/20200731_115836.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>I actually enjoyed puttering around with this, even though I knew it was mostly doomed. I listened to a lovely new audio book that I highly recommend called the Jane Austen Society read by the lovely Richard Armitage. It was too hot to do anything outside and even handling plants can be relaxing, as my latest forays into houseplant adventures (another post later) have taught me.</p><p>I wish I could say this is the only lavender related to report. But sadly, no. After the fox dug up 25% of my new plants, of which half survived replanting, and after the mostly doomed propagation experiment, it saddens me to report the lovely new baby plants my green thumb friend game me, all died but one.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8lekbx3hMwUm6EECc8lxGxSZZXpgBAAdhMUuaJGiCaRgsIl_TbIkEQhhZPJyL_e2tn7yWb0VuQib_CEqPZD5zrxGhdsU9g6-G_XUYoWBl_aUTOt8i6SYPabck9SypSQbDrWuatA/s2048/20200707_202111.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8lekbx3hMwUm6EECc8lxGxSZZXpgBAAdhMUuaJGiCaRgsIl_TbIkEQhhZPJyL_e2tn7yWb0VuQib_CEqPZD5zrxGhdsU9g6-G_XUYoWBl_aUTOt8i6SYPabck9SypSQbDrWuatA/s640/20200707_202111.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtE6oIawjikRxL-wUXC8PFcUYpPnKPoomPufWpPepB1Pr8CJZkX-1fM2uIBHA0xLwoN_Ts10xKspCmacrQIVaCW7BKo3P_NT_8n3pGLCI1iXas7fbhIjSj8Px9CwRhyphenhypheng0WZ8Vn8A/s2048/20200708_201429.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtE6oIawjikRxL-wUXC8PFcUYpPnKPoomPufWpPepB1Pr8CJZkX-1fM2uIBHA0xLwoN_Ts10xKspCmacrQIVaCW7BKo3P_NT_8n3pGLCI1iXas7fbhIjSj8Px9CwRhyphenhypheng0WZ8Vn8A/s640/20200708_201429.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>So full of promise, and yet one by one, they met the fate of their friend in the back.</p><p>Too much water? Not enough? I tried both and talked to my green thumb friend and to no avail. I planted the lone survivor on Sunday August 30th. I feel bad because of the painstaking efforts of my friend to get these fussy seeds to germinate and grow. I watched them everyday. The decline was unstoppable.</p><p>Well, are you ready for some cheery lavender news? To pruning!</p><p>Yeah, it's pretty bad when the good news is pruning.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRsEWy9Hk0hyzh8qqGTatwA4SM_ENGdMgitBYfbeaIxjsEMbxB2WVrN7BZf4V66LDCMTS2PEi_EtkAYV8S3wnGhSAST-IEXVxiPEe63LdqoaVmQnZJa8N8iMRjaigMF8VTVrpgnA/s2048/6weekslatertuckers.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRsEWy9Hk0hyzh8qqGTatwA4SM_ENGdMgitBYfbeaIxjsEMbxB2WVrN7BZf4V66LDCMTS2PEi_EtkAYV8S3wnGhSAST-IEXVxiPEe63LdqoaVmQnZJa8N8iMRjaigMF8VTVrpgnA/s640/6weekslatertuckers.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>This is a nine year old plant, variety Tucker's Early Purple. This is 6 weeks after the pruning I did around June 20th. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX7vpvPHgLUxHebAKQIz2PC1VPrPUzXqNZ0Ls5TmGpshw1IumVnCZFD6DXnOtGAbKQu5Go_qLx-0nRZKLPX5LJBcxYcAuGbPomaXL87E271-PoyarcNMmbBy7YbsEQsJfTagvfpA/s2048/tuckersrecover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX7vpvPHgLUxHebAKQIz2PC1VPrPUzXqNZ0Ls5TmGpshw1IumVnCZFD6DXnOtGAbKQu5Go_qLx-0nRZKLPX5LJBcxYcAuGbPomaXL87E271-PoyarcNMmbBy7YbsEQsJfTagvfpA/s640/tuckersrecover.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>I don't have a picture of the original pruning of these plants, but below is an example of the severity of pruning I did about two weeks ago with another variety, the Croxton's wild. I tend to be a conservative pruner to my own detriment. These are also 9 years old, and my hardiest (and sadly least favorite variety.)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixukjPHYCL-smiPttpSD8XxqYYqUg-XsUtFNoXwabzq4vAcEESEBtWXONpDHdtUcwOI-dKx2PF2tqpo1wOW66FsZUfA5xIJmaRxW7eLLrNAgV57iuKkOHYD6ZQi0UESBRKNuEk7g/s2048/croxtons+cut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixukjPHYCL-smiPttpSD8XxqYYqUg-XsUtFNoXwabzq4vAcEESEBtWXONpDHdtUcwOI-dKx2PF2tqpo1wOW66FsZUfA5xIJmaRxW7eLLrNAgV57iuKkOHYD6ZQi0UESBRKNuEk7g/s320/croxtons+cut.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>For another comparison, here are some regrown hidcotes, doing nicely after their haircut. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPsOXVNp4bhLKLQuA6g7-Z4mpIIvcY_TEfavYMXk9Bd6jKRo7HzZPHTiVbGN5AxQntNQMo2PSCHLKIB3VeZXi9puMQAHN_Sv7M_dWl6oT1rltYzp6-DNxlqkIPnwYi_7_T0902aQ/s2048/hidcoteregrowth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPsOXVNp4bhLKLQuA6g7-Z4mpIIvcY_TEfavYMXk9Bd6jKRo7HzZPHTiVbGN5AxQntNQMo2PSCHLKIB3VeZXi9puMQAHN_Sv7M_dWl6oT1rltYzp6-DNxlqkIPnwYi_7_T0902aQ/s320/hidcoteregrowth.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>I'll have a few more lavender update pictures later this fall.</p><p>Below is the total harvest, 56 bundles of lavender. There have been years I've had over 150 bundles. Maybe next year. I have plans. If you live in my neck of the woods, you can purchase some of this lavender at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Gift-Shop/Lilys-Garden-1438772856371296/">Lily's Garden in Urbana </a></p><p>or <a href="https://www.facebook.com/shoppingurbana/">Old Glory Antiques Mutual</a></p><p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpGhDBCoBHKgauIhCKvBGMnsBGgwVt7uHwNobMId3ofF5N9xEFNNxP24yd8AdCfqc5dd8gIy0b8t6yyEXwm6jr2mqFK3LEIZ4H_V3LB9y71Km-Rpv2gEFjc-Wx3-NVadwWwKK2Og/s2048/20200731_135303.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpGhDBCoBHKgauIhCKvBGMnsBGgwVt7uHwNobMId3ofF5N9xEFNNxP24yd8AdCfqc5dd8gIy0b8t6yyEXwm6jr2mqFK3LEIZ4H_V3LB9y71Km-Rpv2gEFjc-Wx3-NVadwWwKK2Og/s640/20200731_135303.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Julie & Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12291682548017240598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10076187.post-376976598882358032020-08-27T08:40:00.000-07:002020-08-27T08:40:37.876-07:00Trail Cam Follies<p><br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFyj7J0pp3-Ro86xy3GBRAYzfnzAmPBvmmR3ycUipZifuHVUJjfaReRUyvSW5_XbhRXPFfU4DAgH_H9Y4rJRG7Ppj1_NaWmfYplKRgE1TMDkyt2Dj2pYuwyp79T_DFJUNlflD9FQ/s2048/PICT0006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFyj7J0pp3-Ro86xy3GBRAYzfnzAmPBvmmR3ycUipZifuHVUJjfaReRUyvSW5_XbhRXPFfU4DAgH_H9Y4rJRG7Ppj1_NaWmfYplKRgE1TMDkyt2Dj2pYuwyp79T_DFJUNlflD9FQ/s640/PICT0006.JPG" width="640"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is one of my favorite trail cam shots even though it's nearly ten years old.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I also wanted to share these recent pics from my ahem, neighbors trail cam, stationed on a corn feeder. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Visiting the corn station is a family affair </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Agnap1kzCqZ8oplMnCE8ETCkOuzMWFEj9AtQbh-X8dFyjT95ccrzT6srM6cIftQ27yNgXkT-uUPo4xHQ_oYUg1qexWUMI8OOwrA-Ou8Q9m7-DNkfpFnlRmo8V4GOruMdxCvALw/s2048/EK000026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Agnap1kzCqZ8oplMnCE8ETCkOuzMWFEj9AtQbh-X8dFyjT95ccrzT6srM6cIftQ27yNgXkT-uUPo4xHQ_oYUg1qexWUMI8OOwrA-Ou8Q9m7-DNkfpFnlRmo8V4GOruMdxCvALw/s640/EK000026.JPG" width="640"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCK9NjuJjGCoyRaGGGgLoIqHjluTrrtJcE5aPiYPzt-w_wP_el0SBWhyphenhypheng_CXUeyx1sbwwOUqTbLco3RjCBbl5aK_Z0jVk_PAIw7Vnd8fMc-JABw5be_PUPLlM8InegMYjZOyPmMw/s2048/EK000400.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCK9NjuJjGCoyRaGGGgLoIqHjluTrrtJcE5aPiYPzt-w_wP_el0SBWhyphenhypheng_CXUeyx1sbwwOUqTbLco3RjCBbl5aK_Z0jVk_PAIw7Vnd8fMc-JABw5be_PUPLlM8InegMYjZOyPmMw/s640/EK000400.JPG" width="640"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Corn however, is on a lot of North American mammal's menu so there are a variety of dinner guests.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYTQmTaJZ_NZpW9JzNHyfOpeXxmcdIA0P7oy9ZsDjMghaaQdWYoYR3bUoT36QAQHyyy88IfF3PSogxj6FUjb-WWuluhJGrae33lCrs-OdT6BntwZW7jqsh3z8xVxDjIwvUXwZ1jg/s1287/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="966" data-original-width="1287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYTQmTaJZ_NZpW9JzNHyfOpeXxmcdIA0P7oy9ZsDjMghaaQdWYoYR3bUoT36QAQHyyy88IfF3PSogxj6FUjb-WWuluhJGrae33lCrs-OdT6BntwZW7jqsh3z8xVxDjIwvUXwZ1jg/s640/unnamed.jpg" width="640"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Apparently, this young buck in velvet did not read the etiquette book on surprise co-diners. If you have a fun caption for this or any of the pictures leave a comment. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAbI_X7yTnWp1oiedANMHrOCxyhN92CQvdjfltzypqB35JC5EiGK1HcqLh6pUFcf-E90-VZ-TKg_aWjofyyIsRr4nL8bg5HOWlp0hA04vdLHw_KoybpBt4COz2q9-AFi8rsm4ofQ/s2048/EK000142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAbI_X7yTnWp1oiedANMHrOCxyhN92CQvdjfltzypqB35JC5EiGK1HcqLh6pUFcf-E90-VZ-TKg_aWjofyyIsRr4nL8bg5HOWlp0hA04vdLHw_KoybpBt4COz2q9-AFi8rsm4ofQ/s640/EK000142.JPG" width="640"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And other critters just passing through leave their record too.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8bqOUaTvzPODMPlrXZMp01s3vEpFuOEMwsTfsChBgpOsDbVqlaYl2LWFwig3lKwOI8sy3vHSFR5mGoJVkgPqGPLoLDiJo9ceLr0ozoxfJoF2yycjZEnAW83oK1ADSCVTTSa5FNw/s2048/EK000153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8bqOUaTvzPODMPlrXZMp01s3vEpFuOEMwsTfsChBgpOsDbVqlaYl2LWFwig3lKwOI8sy3vHSFR5mGoJVkgPqGPLoLDiJo9ceLr0ozoxfJoF2yycjZEnAW83oK1ADSCVTTSa5FNw/s640/EK000153.JPG" width="640"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And others, are more into dessert.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivcUvgNS2S47NXA_ajJAhFzvvXtMwMSNlLHeajDa47FFjRn0o4hXiyDIbqAYlLqgmOBWqpmDE45Us-7rqb0F5HmCam5yF9waZZaN81bety2eYLlsIMb1Q9CkLNLWCGplXUxYWqoA/s2048/EK000354.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivcUvgNS2S47NXA_ajJAhFzvvXtMwMSNlLHeajDa47FFjRn0o4hXiyDIbqAYlLqgmOBWqpmDE45Us-7rqb0F5HmCam5yF9waZZaN81bety2eYLlsIMb1Q9CkLNLWCGplXUxYWqoA/s640/EK000354.JPG" width="640"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Apparently it was an all you can carry special under the apple tree.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This was a short post crammed with critters for you. If I still have your attention, consider messaging me any questions you might have about the things you have seen and read on the blog, or about our life in the country. I'll try to feature them in future posts and you can remain anonymous. Or I'll just answer over messaging, whatever. I really think that is what this squirrel is thinking. Whatever.</div><p></p>Julie & Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12291682548017240598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10076187.post-45227417688736898912020-08-20T14:21:00.002-07:002020-08-20T14:21:20.759-07:00Foxin' Around<p> Don't miss another adorable animal themed post! Sign up at the right for email delivery or follow.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBNG6FKu_K-K8prQjlycveVXOdS2eYTjQbcm6IzMKgmXDYLVBs6vSe_sw5a4FOJRwK-kDjmfB2EMAZO0jHswA9lCjKCiHEeGERZODkxHt5vuIC8borkW1px0wf_ntl7f-EEFNHHg/s2048/20200806_132225.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBNG6FKu_K-K8prQjlycveVXOdS2eYTjQbcm6IzMKgmXDYLVBs6vSe_sw5a4FOJRwK-kDjmfB2EMAZO0jHswA9lCjKCiHEeGERZODkxHt5vuIC8borkW1px0wf_ntl7f-EEFNHHg/s640/20200806_132225.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><br /></p><p>First, do not be alarmed. There are no foxes eating bunnies in this blog post. This is all about animals in the neighborhood, not birds (they get their own post) and not on the trail camera, also another post. Apparently as a librarian, I am super into sorting these animal posts. I did post this first so it would be the picture to go on Facebook, to lure you into the blog.</p><p>This is actually at my green thumb friend's yard. She gets lots of shade so still has chamomile going for this baby bunny to eat, but they didn't like my scrutiny so ambled into the undergrowth.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGBdLjbIWyCObeQPaAtkF7eLRiULo_fM66D8AgX4_Qm_UiOhxNM6nnJAz43VNtRMPXrVSQm0w-a4aS3bjmmIWnqmKcV2JtNYpNYA6sqzw1bO57KPEhHJWEpvh_YkHRBiN3_sSXgg/s2048/20200806_132316.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGBdLjbIWyCObeQPaAtkF7eLRiULo_fM66D8AgX4_Qm_UiOhxNM6nnJAz43VNtRMPXrVSQm0w-a4aS3bjmmIWnqmKcV2JtNYpNYA6sqzw1bO57KPEhHJWEpvh_YkHRBiN3_sSXgg/s640/20200806_132316.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>To watch warily, waiting for me to leave so they could continue to eat her chamomile. </p><p>And here is a picture of a more local bunny, that started it's life under Mom and Dad's porch, enjoying clover in their lush backyard. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUrqAZ1nqAFE37S0p5e7Qv7oQNuS-jSCfVDjver3bgGT58wqzhuu_MHGHikIWwrHUfSI05XUXcfyLkSfVDqxg4jauBanYOCh0cH3kA2pLI755lm5TVBp2SFRkugYdu150qcFPFDA/s2048/20200621_200048.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUrqAZ1nqAFE37S0p5e7Qv7oQNuS-jSCfVDjver3bgGT58wqzhuu_MHGHikIWwrHUfSI05XUXcfyLkSfVDqxg4jauBanYOCh0cH3kA2pLI755lm5TVBp2SFRkugYdu150qcFPFDA/s640/20200621_200048.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>Enjoy these fox picture below, taken with the cannon camera (but inside the house so still not great) of a fox hunting mice in the pasture. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD_5-DbWFFmdlYOlm5QF0BlMSYCp_2nvcoS1Mt-1eYhAxE1oIEQPV5qk0saRElE6fibdTnQ0Qa-S-XgaWRbdyfdx46g9CeLHMy2Xf3mnzbURVkm-R9Ey7ufxnQjRdT4Xm1jId0lg/s2048/one.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD_5-DbWFFmdlYOlm5QF0BlMSYCp_2nvcoS1Mt-1eYhAxE1oIEQPV5qk0saRElE6fibdTnQ0Qa-S-XgaWRbdyfdx46g9CeLHMy2Xf3mnzbURVkm-R9Ey7ufxnQjRdT4Xm1jId0lg/s640/one.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>The project you see on the right is drastically different and will get its own post later. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia84j7CdMmdb0v_40NqOJJDbt5haWp3QsqNmHwdXkN-EA9z-na_yMbkNq67oK0KGLhw-vC00zNVCYR-AVvwUSYpZCDjSgfWMS6HjYGIa39mavg8OXtswKgM5FATu4_gQvqOvD86Q/s2048/three.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia84j7CdMmdb0v_40NqOJJDbt5haWp3QsqNmHwdXkN-EA9z-na_yMbkNq67oK0KGLhw-vC00zNVCYR-AVvwUSYpZCDjSgfWMS6HjYGIa39mavg8OXtswKgM5FATu4_gQvqOvD86Q/s640/three.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was hoping to catch the fox with my sport mode on, in the classic 45 degree angle of pouncing but alas got this levitating shot. All four feet are actually off the ground.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvu58Ci3T1qMzSYS5TU5HuD8Wy38AKDO1NeFe5RONvJ8jCkKgO15Tq231MLQTncRYud1d_dUcQINY3XrEwFeaWAH5ifwPHmxfMSGV_L-idNCpDpep47J9KVi0_40fPHqMJW3OFCw/s2048/five.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvu58Ci3T1qMzSYS5TU5HuD8Wy38AKDO1NeFe5RONvJ8jCkKgO15Tq231MLQTncRYud1d_dUcQINY3XrEwFeaWAH5ifwPHmxfMSGV_L-idNCpDpep47J9KVi0_40fPHqMJW3OFCw/s640/five.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><p>Fox has the mouse!</p><p>Well, that's all the charisma and jazz I have for you. It's time to discuss an animal that's a little bit more down to earth.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNU-kPvyh0vDzHAPh44oiPuG9MGQeFCUP6kmZUE_ZmJE5rqKS4Wx_Wu5udAKMspQiRnrER1M7fIrhhh-gKSIeQ7hrKGxxoG-0kew6lnOKu-5ALAAi9Nx5l9-hqaOf49mwFqFG8gw/s2048/phantomtoad.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNU-kPvyh0vDzHAPh44oiPuG9MGQeFCUP6kmZUE_ZmJE5rqKS4Wx_Wu5udAKMspQiRnrER1M7fIrhhh-gKSIeQ7hrKGxxoG-0kew6lnOKu-5ALAAi9Nx5l9-hqaOf49mwFqFG8gw/s640/phantomtoad.jpg" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>This toad, I first met in June (I know I am writing about June still!) I haven't named it but for as much as I see it, I should. Feel free to suggest names in comments. Anyway, it was during a really hot streak and I had been out gardening until dark and watering and I was just getting ready to head in for the night through the garage and then I noticed something underneath the car and just inside the back right tire. It looked like a rock...but a rock that big? I got slightly closer already guessing what it was and once it hopped, further underneath the car I was irritate and mildly terrified. </p><p>Wait a minute...could that be the toad from the chicken pen <a href="https://scordatos.blogspot.com/2019/06/may-round-up.html">last year?</a></p><p>Is it the <a href="https://scordatos.blogspot.com/2020/08/in-kitchen-and-around-garden.html">same toad</a> from the garden, just not covered in mud? Just how many toads are on this property anyway? I mean, it's not like I'm numbering them with a yellow logging crayon...</p><p>Well we may never know. Toads this large in this day in age indicates a healthy garden and property so I'll swallow my phobia and be appreciative even if it leads to the occasional harrowing experience. I may delve into my toddler embedded toad phobia one of these days in a sketch but for now, or at least for this scene in the garage, I plucked up my courage and found something to nudge the toad back outside. It was so hot, I didn't think it would survive a hot day in the garage. As much as I don't like them in practice. I like them in theory and who wants a toad this big in their hot garage to take care of. I mean. Ick. </p><p>So at first the 48 inch yardstick waving around the floor under the car was enough to move the toad out. But rather than going out the garage door (right, it's never that easy) the toad hopped behind my large square galvanized tub of garden tools, in the little corner to the left of the left side of the garage door. I sighed. I considered leaving it there but I persevered. I'm not going to give you a blow by blow account of our sparring. I'm sure you can imagine me at ten o clock at night rattling this yardstick around the garage floor like a demented game of hockey, softly shrieking a little when sometimes the toad hops away from the yardstick and towards me rather than our of the garage. At one point, I managed to press the yardstick right against his butt and nudge him out the door. Even that gave me the heebie jeebies and watching its legs dangle out behind it with every hope just tripped the reptilian part of my brain...some part of me convinced despite all reason that this toad is going to jump 5 feet in the air and right into my face. I know. I know. It's a story for another time.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuTmIwAwHE1jm7RG3iGUNQqRL195sjQcE4WZAfiXLjqnrwsh8YpIi4VsOMVXJbeFpSr-pm4rRd6X3D8SKi5KYkWe_f_mwDwST-5aaKjBznF3ep9MX5Mn4SBN7kw1x1-8pTXId-ZQ/s2048/toadclose.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuTmIwAwHE1jm7RG3iGUNQqRL195sjQcE4WZAfiXLjqnrwsh8YpIi4VsOMVXJbeFpSr-pm4rRd6X3D8SKi5KYkWe_f_mwDwST-5aaKjBznF3ep9MX5Mn4SBN7kw1x1-8pTXId-ZQ/s640/toadclose.jpg" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>Do you see that space between it's plumb little legs? That's where I bravely pressed the yard stick all to save him. Once he was out I lectured him roundly and soundly on the garage being a hell oven for toads with a slow death wish. </p><p>I saw the toad on and off throughout most of July but not much since we got back from our camping trip to Michigan. This changed yesterday afternoon when I dumped the rain water out of one of our Gorilla carts. And right before I reached the cart in full, broad, hot, humid August daylight, a shadow darted, well as much as this little chub can dart out from under the shade. I pinwheeled back, shrieking (again) and chastised the toad for scaring me like that. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWDyqYOeb0nPoZeLmV5WfiCfsi7dQByc6PCD03dOWulH1p233986qLJoNYXYoyebSQYe71iy_pM9zA9pIdBrPij1r8GhoIusNVM2JmX-0OXxezuBxDP42v7Oo_zcc7B3D3M-2ugA/s2048/20200815_130053.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWDyqYOeb0nPoZeLmV5WfiCfsi7dQByc6PCD03dOWulH1p233986qLJoNYXYoyebSQYe71iy_pM9zA9pIdBrPij1r8GhoIusNVM2JmX-0OXxezuBxDP42v7Oo_zcc7B3D3M-2ugA/s640/20200815_130053.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Clearly this toad is not sorry. I gritted my teeth and bent down mere feet away and emptied the water. Then I admonished the toad to get back under the shade like any same amphibian. See. I'm terrified of it and yet I still worry for it. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You know what? I'm going to say it's the same toad from the garden based on the two humps right behind it's eyes. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Look</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuAQ_kP07D7xswYH57cBv8hTh3IqTV8nJC3c4Lim1QFZ2UJ2PobuVwOWjL4VkphymTyWRyMP5mM7PjambSI3rLh46SmAnejkKE977mwXZuC1A5nAsZyhsf-HU1qBsYctlk3ogUpA/s2048/20200712_110205.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuAQ_kP07D7xswYH57cBv8hTh3IqTV8nJC3c4Lim1QFZ2UJ2PobuVwOWjL4VkphymTyWRyMP5mM7PjambSI3rLh46SmAnejkKE977mwXZuC1A5nAsZyhsf-HU1qBsYctlk3ogUpA/s640/20200712_110205.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I mean, they are both rotund, have the humps, and look completely not sorry.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But I do think it's a different toad from the chicken pen last year. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have to go help get dinner ready. Here is a picture, apropos of absolutely nothing related to this post of peppers from the garden. Also thanks to my green thumb friend. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEVRXWZW61EmJ4y9tQ2DAqBKYrP39uDoaDnZswOjxbONRbE3Ic4PP9MuLtSivxeUndnpoeYgJpsXWV3U5uVvWuzQQN0Fn4mprJYRZSFfZX-gZOOjLmAxd_zCTz10yQYVgcDtfphw/s2048/20200811_192820.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEVRXWZW61EmJ4y9tQ2DAqBKYrP39uDoaDnZswOjxbONRbE3Ic4PP9MuLtSivxeUndnpoeYgJpsXWV3U5uVvWuzQQN0Fn4mprJYRZSFfZX-gZOOjLmAxd_zCTz10yQYVgcDtfphw/s640/20200811_192820.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> </div><p>Toad Update:</p><p>After I drafted the above, I had another run in with my nameless garden friend who terrifies me. Just Monday night I was wrapping up watering when the toad was a mere 6 inches from the garage. I still had one more piece of gardening to do so I wasn't ready to shut the garage door. I was going to stand up to this toad!</p><p>I got the trusty 48 inch yardstick out and waved it (boldly) right in front of its nose which made it run straight at me. I shrieked, backed away and raced to the garage door where I hit the button to shut the door, hoping it didn't dart under the door at the last minute. Then, and this is the sort of radical transparency you get on this blog. I went out the back door to water the pots on the deck. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Julie & Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12291682548017240598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10076187.post-79544216954521951762020-08-16T11:58:00.003-07:002020-08-16T11:58:56.569-07:00Magic In the Neighborhood<p> I am saddened to have to preface this blog post that I am super excited about with an apology to you, my readers, for the junk formatting. Blogger has updated something and I accidentally hit a button and this happened and I can't figure out how to reverse it. I've spent on and off the last two hours trying to figure it out and even my friend Scott F. who I meet way back in my Marysville Library days tried to help other chat. I'll post on the blogger message board and hope when Blogger forces everyone to update, this will go back to normal. For now, it's not my fault. Well, it's sorta my fault but for all their napping pods you'd think google would have a button to reverse this Anyway, we will press on:</p><p><br /></p><p>Hi, I'm interrupting my planned lineup of blog posts (I'm still very behind) to devote some time to something truly amazing and magical right in my own backyard. I included a couple pictures of it's debut last year in a post but really, it deserves its own featured post.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqOeUkdITlB4l2MxlrtmktHrD3Z1t13DHm2iv-6wxqyCJP9ogxGaxpTCSZe0c_1EI0jSOMUk8T7T3OHjEtYI72RzcO9eChdi4ggMEjTcOSoJ251ev3c_HT6ydtBNaIP3yd_vOdEw/s2048/spade.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqOeUkdITlB4l2MxlrtmktHrD3Z1t13DHm2iv-6wxqyCJP9ogxGaxpTCSZe0c_1EI0jSOMUk8T7T3OHjEtYI72RzcO9eChdi4ggMEjTcOSoJ251ev3c_HT6ydtBNaIP3yd_vOdEw/s640/spade.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/plantkindnessproject2020/">The Plant Kindness Project </a>is in my hometown and on Bullard-Rutan road. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ3jsMCxGcM4353yLiS3BcMwTsshwCEDmwXvjhzTM9Fi-xqQYZRVbfQugrjzLfsrFZ8FZA5u64MeCq3HNsvTMJaTvbHlQBBo8B8JdbLwrY5n0i5Y2itfrqgJxRdmxCQB093RuFAg/s2048/cut+flowers.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ3jsMCxGcM4353yLiS3BcMwTsshwCEDmwXvjhzTM9Fi-xqQYZRVbfQugrjzLfsrFZ8FZA5u64MeCq3HNsvTMJaTvbHlQBBo8B8JdbLwrY5n0i5Y2itfrqgJxRdmxCQB093RuFAg/s640/cut+flowers.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>If I wasn't fired up about raising dahlias before, I certainly am now. There is a reason why some varieties are called "dinner plate" dahlias. </p><p>It's not just flowers that are gifts for visitors but also, fresh veggies.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7evPlL9fx2TVapjlwufr3zUckjoq0avUp9hMWoXdDOmiQQEGBog3oCDKh2BqtEoUlbTB7iSZCdBAzceDmoB9wBwHVz2pt9I8aJpSrEugf6SxtwP5iAnlZ4bGg9ovkEe9pJZQW8A/s2048/veggies+to+share.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7evPlL9fx2TVapjlwufr3zUckjoq0avUp9hMWoXdDOmiQQEGBog3oCDKh2BqtEoUlbTB7iSZCdBAzceDmoB9wBwHVz2pt9I8aJpSrEugf6SxtwP5iAnlZ4bGg9ovkEe9pJZQW8A/s640/veggies+to+share.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>There is hand sanitizer, and a box for suggestions and donations. I dropped off a little lavender, a gardener's trade. </p><p>They've added a new activity this year. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdxx87Pi8eBNbKk7jBddfU3rWU_m03DpRa_CsS4f8XLUfw3O_3opx0ph5H4mpoKHRav_OXcq3917FSDbulocVXxU7F6mh0nuYqEuIZbufJNT-1Q0KVTcWkc5KsX8jTLWRvPz0HQA/s2048/mailumbrella+%25281%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdxx87Pi8eBNbKk7jBddfU3rWU_m03DpRa_CsS4f8XLUfw3O_3opx0ph5H4mpoKHRav_OXcq3917FSDbulocVXxU7F6mh0nuYqEuIZbufJNT-1Q0KVTcWkc5KsX8jTLWRvPz0HQA/s640/mailumbrella+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p><br /></p><p>And now, for the feature you've all been waiting for...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHcvkbtvlwv4KCxYfofx_ZPvZdswZVX5XGxueZbSXoFoWwCNxuOeydpKrPtK47T6M_TdDgGQVPI20Avix86c_2WT2eeOgOQ2lvDXw3FEcpGlkWiuSLhcWUXBHMZsacuxstG3Il3Q/s2048/65+feet+of+magic.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHcvkbtvlwv4KCxYfofx_ZPvZdswZVX5XGxueZbSXoFoWwCNxuOeydpKrPtK47T6M_TdDgGQVPI20Avix86c_2WT2eeOgOQ2lvDXw3FEcpGlkWiuSLhcWUXBHMZsacuxstG3Il3Q/s640/65+feet+of+magic.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>Well, it certainly looks interesting. Let's get up close and see...</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUPQi6iOvgSinxo-ymJZc65AM8CfYuss4DpRrNw1coCPT107Z02U29ubDiol8MawJz7IesV96M9SpnEenqdzRn8Mc2dtSPB62PaG2bS0e9Hq0ZMJZdd0dJlVaL8ZoKK5y7NtSuZQ/s2048/looksinviting.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUPQi6iOvgSinxo-ymJZc65AM8CfYuss4DpRrNw1coCPT107Z02U29ubDiol8MawJz7IesV96M9SpnEenqdzRn8Mc2dtSPB62PaG2bS0e9Hq0ZMJZdd0dJlVaL8ZoKK5y7NtSuZQ/s640/looksinviting.jpg" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>This is walking tunnel completely covered by plants: gourd vines and their gourds. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTK4rjwTzMkPvOYJEiLfo36gOSzQn_ZSFzo_7VuJTlvVL4I78IUAXi8rwngfBMQlXRlLFriJnxyPgMXB0814MWjly6rTTzW3-agtIB33MwyAGKgghzaYoYZu1s4DtNYJ9dg-c90A/s2048/differentgourds.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTK4rjwTzMkPvOYJEiLfo36gOSzQn_ZSFzo_7VuJTlvVL4I78IUAXi8rwngfBMQlXRlLFriJnxyPgMXB0814MWjly6rTTzW3-agtIB33MwyAGKgghzaYoYZu1s4DtNYJ9dg-c90A/s640/differentgourds.jpg" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>Pause a while in the quiet shade and enjoy the softness of being surrounded by so much life. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU_YoggMGJbDajxIf8C6Xj8diIU8DEnIfHElunrXzSG4_gufiQ9f7XOWmxBT7Sz1i0VEyxvoznB_HE_1uZXBkMpOAVlMyFe00-TRHV22AOoVr5NvLurFM_RAmtNyxkC84szPqCoA/s2048/anotheractivityforkids.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU_YoggMGJbDajxIf8C6Xj8diIU8DEnIfHElunrXzSG4_gufiQ9f7XOWmxBT7Sz1i0VEyxvoznB_HE_1uZXBkMpOAVlMyFe00-TRHV22AOoVr5NvLurFM_RAmtNyxkC84szPqCoA/s640/anotheractivityforkids.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>You might find an activity or two along the way. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX51cFaIcxKJhMTKqkCK3oyuGHNDlzgm8NXwBAB9uBwo_MXoetSGnF5ZZZ2CTs-oQBs723t8aoix5ip3p8oNuheIViugAKUKrdRRLzzdRRugq5VrxDVTPNi2TLDLlN6Lf2xqf29Q/s2048/asbigasthedahlias.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX51cFaIcxKJhMTKqkCK3oyuGHNDlzgm8NXwBAB9uBwo_MXoetSGnF5ZZZ2CTs-oQBs723t8aoix5ip3p8oNuheIViugAKUKrdRRLzzdRRugq5VrxDVTPNi2TLDLlN6Lf2xqf29Q/s640/asbigasthedahlias.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>And it's not just dahlia blooms that are the size of dinner plates!</p><p>This is one of my favorite pictures from my visit. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrntHeBAOowBi8HCmNiozsZzZSg230YWT-9K3UI2jr2eZLubBtsBtjrjjBwURJ88ZyzxZz2SHjoapmHXRXzKo1BXpEEXiY1OYyyX8Y-wOghhbBvUMp59vgbaRxZjOYELoP6I2dhQ/s2048/pumpkin+peek.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrntHeBAOowBi8HCmNiozsZzZSg230YWT-9K3UI2jr2eZLubBtsBtjrjjBwURJ88ZyzxZz2SHjoapmHXRXzKo1BXpEEXiY1OYyyX8Y-wOghhbBvUMp59vgbaRxZjOYELoP6I2dhQ/s640/pumpkin+peek.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>There is more to explore. </p><p>Even the exit is beautiful.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM0kDalKD4rhtGLqzWmaHBPjf4Y-bv4S1rPpKoxpLcB1pVOOtW8ZJx9oKV29YHVnTn08qBJ554MK0hR0fQX78dPNRklmYx578t3kBUHLhMGtPdvLPVZbt6BEVKvsa8bfsvSAaVCg/s2048/gourdcurve.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM0kDalKD4rhtGLqzWmaHBPjf4Y-bv4S1rPpKoxpLcB1pVOOtW8ZJx9oKV29YHVnTn08qBJ554MK0hR0fQX78dPNRklmYx578t3kBUHLhMGtPdvLPVZbt6BEVKvsa8bfsvSAaVCg/s640/gourdcurve.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>I think this is a pumpkin Linus VanPelt would be envious of.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4EiDS4ryga2yTSDMkBW1bV1KmyBhNdlayh3XH2IjtBXODIy-e9LGjLvo_OBPS_BoVUqwuUe0pC5NYBbC0oM8Dg9tnsQTcE48SarfesCOTYWyRJVZ14FAJiEjeZVowZ-ZZIc1LPQ/s2048/closerlookpumpkinpeek.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4EiDS4ryga2yTSDMkBW1bV1KmyBhNdlayh3XH2IjtBXODIy-e9LGjLvo_OBPS_BoVUqwuUe0pC5NYBbC0oM8Dg9tnsQTcE48SarfesCOTYWyRJVZ14FAJiEjeZVowZ-ZZIc1LPQ/s640/closerlookpumpkinpeek.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Let's check out the flower field next.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizs_U-J3dLoAMZOc88VDpnMp-V-pzRcz0Muz3-mTfaRNYBRBe5rqLx4zuTD8OfJxEPG2kIyxYYm5CyfJEH9yKY8fyHj-Ujt_kdBp_R3K9_H_n2pq1mDOhmM2eBSBz42x8Kw-H5aA/s2048/flower+path.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizs_U-J3dLoAMZOc88VDpnMp-V-pzRcz0Muz3-mTfaRNYBRBe5rqLx4zuTD8OfJxEPG2kIyxYYm5CyfJEH9yKY8fyHj-Ujt_kdBp_R3K9_H_n2pq1mDOhmM2eBSBz42x8Kw-H5aA/s640/flower+path.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>I hope you can hear the bees buzzing from this picture. It was like a busy airport with bees everywhere. This lovely addition to the bench was a real pleasant surprise for the children's librarian in me. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5l4Q_to2Hv_yVh1aIBE18j5FBYE4WArTsw4Oka_wT-cGGsR3BmrBAb1356JOxn3TKgyv2MQwRONuZdBPn2_Ztn7sNTgAh9M4rWmmM2NmNNAXQviWZXWNXvLZLGOvVfWXDzVLHCg/s2048/bookbench.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5l4Q_to2Hv_yVh1aIBE18j5FBYE4WArTsw4Oka_wT-cGGsR3BmrBAb1356JOxn3TKgyv2MQwRONuZdBPn2_Ztn7sNTgAh9M4rWmmM2NmNNAXQviWZXWNXvLZLGOvVfWXDzVLHCg/s640/bookbench.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>I hope you enjoyed this post. If you never want to miss one, don't rely on the Facebook algorithm. You can put your email in the box in the upper right hand corner, or follow the blog. </p><p><br /></p>Julie & Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12291682548017240598noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10076187.post-5147567835892762142020-08-13T15:08:00.000-07:002020-08-13T15:08:32.719-07:00In the kitchen and around the garden<p> Well this is a real flotsam and jetsam post. All the garden pictures are a couple weeks old at least. First, dessert. </p><p><br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhjRJeVKI1jjrOBdcAa3uoZ7pD_4BjmYTKpwkKm0tBD_j4eF9BW5LhPXzi9ffzHsStGJbnURSWGtvKxUPAd29Uu5OozkmIjJKBOH2Df2w7lw13NdKoGagGtYaj2xsG5GVdw8-06g/s2048/cheesecake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhjRJeVKI1jjrOBdcAa3uoZ7pD_4BjmYTKpwkKm0tBD_j4eF9BW5LhPXzi9ffzHsStGJbnURSWGtvKxUPAd29Uu5OozkmIjJKBOH2Df2w7lw13NdKoGagGtYaj2xsG5GVdw8-06g/s640/cheesecake.jpg"></a></div><p><br></p><p>This Cheesecake recipe from my lactose free dairy folks, has the sour cream making a top layer rather than mixed into the whole cake. It was tangy, and okay but Andrew and I prefer the other version that is more uniform and also a lot more firm to cut into. This was made the week we went on the Canal boat ride in June. I've been able to go to Fresh Thyme market once a month or so for all the lactose free real dairy items, or some combination of them as it is impossible to get all the things in one trip. Something is invariably sold out.</p><p>I regret that I was not the nutty lady at the grocery store and bought out all the lactose free butter. It was even on sale! It's sold out again. If I had known I wouldn't have blown my real butter wad on this new cake recipe I made as a birthday cake for me, Andrew and Dad, the three summer birthdays.</p><p>I tried my hand at my first two layer cake, and it was really simple to make. The extra effort to make parchment paper rounds in the cake pan is worth the time. </p><p> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXy85jOhrrDtR193cKskChY1fVy1vkK88SfHBp4yGdfF-j38s_aSod1cDr6o-dwmXGnonKKKcxCSHZ0GYz-dbzT6VWIqBnSEoYRm2e4d9u6Cpo07uX43NLP76ZnsWoYQcHlCxtlg/s2048/20200808_143526.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXy85jOhrrDtR193cKskChY1fVy1vkK88SfHBp4yGdfF-j38s_aSod1cDr6o-dwmXGnonKKKcxCSHZ0GYz-dbzT6VWIqBnSEoYRm2e4d9u6Cpo07uX43NLP76ZnsWoYQcHlCxtlg/s640/20200808_143526.jpg" width="640"></a></div> <p></p><p>And since I discovered a secret cache of black raspberries from last year, I cooked down a bag with honey and cornstarch for a fruit filling.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFE9y-sHumIIzT_zWV0KW33H7J6ffufTMAeDkzIO5wPtd1v4t1q9NWbMGb732nbHa5UbWypjZ14dBwTwGPUBKZj7NE4DAD1rdtLaEzDqQBGH6ieEzluHg2V9QoZagC5PMR2jUw1g/s2048/20200809_162005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFE9y-sHumIIzT_zWV0KW33H7J6ffufTMAeDkzIO5wPtd1v4t1q9NWbMGb732nbHa5UbWypjZ14dBwTwGPUBKZj7NE4DAD1rdtLaEzDqQBGH6ieEzluHg2V9QoZagC5PMR2jUw1g/s640/20200809_162005.jpg"></a></div> <p></p><p>The magic of blogging makes this look delicious and it was, but I screwed up the icing again and Mom had to remind me of several techniques I wasn't using. The icing is (sadly) from a can. It was almost impossible to spread on the pound cake surface, and was too sweet to match the cake! I should have taken the hint from the picture inside that just showed whole fruit in between the layers and on top of the cake. </p><p>The good news is, this is an excellent, excellent pound cake and they can stay in the freezer for up to a month if wrapped up. So I may make it in the future. </p><p>But I'm not going to lie, I was dissatisfied with the effort overall to cover for three birthdays. So, I dusted off a classic I can count on.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYvB_i1wMw1EY5iB-7SW5xub2fyWhBz16Rya7xXxzv44hShOa2rnYfYqAkS-EiaAisZOlQlcD9VzW6hAywkRcmtHLLRdu0XTMulTV76sJ55VkZondMJja1imQiJqICVeu2R0nZdg/s2048/cakesimple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYvB_i1wMw1EY5iB-7SW5xub2fyWhBz16Rya7xXxzv44hShOa2rnYfYqAkS-EiaAisZOlQlcD9VzW6hAywkRcmtHLLRdu0XTMulTV76sJ55VkZondMJja1imQiJqICVeu2R0nZdg/s640/cakesimple.jpg"></a></div> <p></p><p>I just noticed that both of the featured cookbooks use the word "simple" in the title. So, that tells you my priorities. I also love this relatively new format of book where there is no plastic jacket, and it's just a nice chunky, wipe-able cover. Some of my home decorating books I've brought home are going this way, and I like the trend. </p><p>I've only made one bundt cake out of this sucker with my vintage bundt pan but I remember how easy it was so I tried the yellow cake one as my Dad likes yellow cake with chocolate icing.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxEIgUoosSPa4tyDhaKj8wwib9i-KtqkNTcJ9c1nDmum0Xul_IRNlBsoHFO1EubaLbIi-Fjm4Jek6z-ec2ORIAhoMQmpmClhQQN2UcA0MJtYEPDU9MghW-9n30OwYXQ4sIQcFzSg/s2048/bundt+in+pan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxEIgUoosSPa4tyDhaKj8wwib9i-KtqkNTcJ9c1nDmum0Xul_IRNlBsoHFO1EubaLbIi-Fjm4Jek6z-ec2ORIAhoMQmpmClhQQN2UcA0MJtYEPDU9MghW-9n30OwYXQ4sIQcFzSg/s640/bundt+in+pan.jpg"></a></div><p><br></p><p>Nice. In my haste I don't have a picture of the actual bundt cake as I was also making a video for the library. The cake popped out easy enough though and I again, used canned icing. Strawberries were .99 cents a quart at Kroger and gorgeous. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmrJNdEhZr7-UnS_gpyWIUDQjAKG8uJ7CnW-Zq9zGvaPq__ODzKbHOYYjyMheGA6XIJfMIsI6TZ4gMPPg0MNd9tOrtlEySdo3UW-KZDr4iL6_gOe3gi_WDbDt2_moSo_M6L1p5cg/s2048/harkerplate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1599" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmrJNdEhZr7-UnS_gpyWIUDQjAKG8uJ7CnW-Zq9zGvaPq__ODzKbHOYYjyMheGA6XIJfMIsI6TZ4gMPPg0MNd9tOrtlEySdo3UW-KZDr4iL6_gOe3gi_WDbDt2_moSo_M6L1p5cg/s640/harkerplate.jpg" width="640"></a></div><p>The pretty blue plate is Ohio Harkerware. I love them and usually just use them for fancy desserts. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAUNluXmfHRarqvJFY_Rl4GinTONie_xi5qX93KzvLqDkdXVjdS9H48Hfbei2Z3iIV-kI9fhmHvGu6UgvlX03luMe18g0i_DODnLZ54U8pH4GaYBN0LoRA_WEK02cfzj499LgbbQ/s2048/bundtslice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAUNluXmfHRarqvJFY_Rl4GinTONie_xi5qX93KzvLqDkdXVjdS9H48Hfbei2Z3iIV-kI9fhmHvGu6UgvlX03luMe18g0i_DODnLZ54U8pH4GaYBN0LoRA_WEK02cfzj499LgbbQ/s640/bundtslice.jpg"></a></div><p>I had to use butter flavored crisco and I thought I could really taste it but Dad seemed to like it. As I write this, Andrew hasn't had a chance to try his slice as he's been working. </p><p>We are a Sunday breakfast family. Andrew fixes pancakes or waffles, but we hadn't had french toast in a while. This past Sunday he used his new hand made bowl, that will feature in another blog soon.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH5cFUy2v6sJE83ZLb-RHd3lHSwUcM7TDsTnxrsIW7YJ7aL3Xz2D5VtkbsqFdwdFddHRqarmX3XA51s76cVsI8FTloL8kyaqJ_Kr76pXL5uswLdsFKyeXMULXRZ0uFDeUUeEV8xw/s2048/20200809_122316.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH5cFUy2v6sJE83ZLb-RHd3lHSwUcM7TDsTnxrsIW7YJ7aL3Xz2D5VtkbsqFdwdFddHRqarmX3XA51s76cVsI8FTloL8kyaqJ_Kr76pXL5uswLdsFKyeXMULXRZ0uFDeUUeEV8xw/s640/20200809_122316.jpg" width="640"></a></div><p>All eggs in all dishes are courtesy of the hens who really want to run free and eat grapes but are forced to endure the strawberry and tomato tops, watermelon rinds and buckets of weeds room serviced to their pen. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUIoufOHVQ4upfAxmcv3dXk-BHynOIo6WB3URGY5RU3pW31oP49yGw6ccwUSn5nHYvvP8o0nGaN29CBE-8IrLnqL4t8YZF51BrffkAluQJqLnSDhyTAChFMbOuMUMw0peI8JHLFA/s2048/20200614_192701.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUIoufOHVQ4upfAxmcv3dXk-BHynOIo6WB3URGY5RU3pW31oP49yGw6ccwUSn5nHYvvP8o0nGaN29CBE-8IrLnqL4t8YZF51BrffkAluQJqLnSDhyTAChFMbOuMUMw0peI8JHLFA/s640/20200614_192701.jpg"></a></div><p>We've been roasting vegetables a lot to go with our cook out dinners of brats or burgers. It's usually potatoes and a green veg like brussel sprouts or asparagus. This colors looked so nice in the olive oil, I took a quick snap. </p><p>In our own backyard, we had a few cherries, less than what we had last year that we used in the Easter pie. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0TCimN63RduLsLqcVSOCz2zY_-Qz5h7vGA6BTcvhEh-9T3_NBGccc8XB-kLUdM-BQ7XSGHMQq4E_JGYuT5yLFW2S7kKbs21TFGCrLcy2461wHPmg2t8yaptAL7LB8ktsumSphNg/s2048/20200617_203217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0TCimN63RduLsLqcVSOCz2zY_-Qz5h7vGA6BTcvhEh-9T3_NBGccc8XB-kLUdM-BQ7XSGHMQq4E_JGYuT5yLFW2S7kKbs21TFGCrLcy2461wHPmg2t8yaptAL7LB8ktsumSphNg/s640/20200617_203217.jpg"></a></div><p>And two cucumbers </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5TYZcKQfrAmwYuotF5GYQ1unCuYFxxLTRfTJs57pRL4JWttfLtPr_MLyVEQS8NdS1v28N-3UDE1InS5IKgYyLI2vO1NGNhjIN_WAU-P3_83qBCAJcKGWnbDEC2vlh_jFmTMfQJQ/s2048/20200730_150237.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5TYZcKQfrAmwYuotF5GYQ1unCuYFxxLTRfTJs57pRL4JWttfLtPr_MLyVEQS8NdS1v28N-3UDE1InS5IKgYyLI2vO1NGNhjIN_WAU-P3_83qBCAJcKGWnbDEC2vlh_jFmTMfQJQ/s640/20200730_150237.jpg" width="640"></a></div> <p></p><p>become seven</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9G1z8i8dpGlrzbJaSTPLNFbt7RLkMDnsNieBX7R9aU9EZQxa40KzDQPFixUFGTFYUXw9tgerVR5zwx8u0qHaT3qJl2Qa4bWOS6JI0qcxa9nPeAw1EWWQuUDFqshHYroMDCLBRTQ/s2048/20200811_172513.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9G1z8i8dpGlrzbJaSTPLNFbt7RLkMDnsNieBX7R9aU9EZQxa40KzDQPFixUFGTFYUXw9tgerVR5zwx8u0qHaT3qJl2Qa4bWOS6JI0qcxa9nPeAw1EWWQuUDFqshHYroMDCLBRTQ/s640/20200811_172513.jpg"></a></div><br><p></p><p>It takes me until August to realize that it's not just weeds that multiply. Before we left on vacation in late July I really noticed the first tomatoes</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjslzCowP0AdrDI0fE_Dqs95btmaOQcYWXAs9x8jVM5IlAtTUrUpu6Lrmx-ecQtbQg63ZAHpTItbqs22i7WoDcIwmloyIZheYS1F2A6fjWWXGNEYtmxf3ZQyqEnnmM_1ZrnSc103g/s2048/20200707_202919+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjslzCowP0AdrDI0fE_Dqs95btmaOQcYWXAs9x8jVM5IlAtTUrUpu6Lrmx-ecQtbQg63ZAHpTItbqs22i7WoDcIwmloyIZheYS1F2A6fjWWXGNEYtmxf3ZQyqEnnmM_1ZrnSc103g/s640/20200707_202919+%25281%2529.jpg"></a></div><p>and the promise of watermelons.<br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG2tkhwJvwwTmzVOpb5Y5f60MhFBe6Wojr80kv6uYtItlk6fYaS1emUhPr6Z64kjffh0HA8a-Iwp6e0lDJ7npm0tlrtmavpCOjObOXPU6XXVTkJAQPWvhZwnxh4VaI_xHw0GdYSQ/s2048/20200707_202903.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG2tkhwJvwwTmzVOpb5Y5f60MhFBe6Wojr80kv6uYtItlk6fYaS1emUhPr6Z64kjffh0HA8a-Iwp6e0lDJ7npm0tlrtmavpCOjObOXPU6XXVTkJAQPWvhZwnxh4VaI_xHw0GdYSQ/s640/20200707_202903.jpg"></a></div><p><br></p><p>The kale a friend gave me last summer survived the winter, seeded, and is reborn.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir1yKXD_E4ErBkNHbvFxSrvzfGnYoWogtCNMeBg0RHw7lJxfYNpend3OS26XP106n9eykKFoEh6Bxa5C4ghAEg1iR5XaO2ZzTMTaFDMkyMdz5TyZuuxihJ-KJlH8zoqd92Yqrcug/s2048/20200707_202910+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir1yKXD_E4ErBkNHbvFxSrvzfGnYoWogtCNMeBg0RHw7lJxfYNpend3OS26XP106n9eykKFoEh6Bxa5C4ghAEg1iR5XaO2ZzTMTaFDMkyMdz5TyZuuxihJ-KJlH8zoqd92Yqrcug/s640/20200707_202910+%25281%2529.jpg"></a></div><p>Andrew's grapes go from this</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7kPczGGjM3gc63sC5gF9-oJdzax-47_3ow9r291g62j9HkcaSU84XoJIcplNHJf-ADvX0k6cjez4rPMMplO3oc1aTqztdF65yg_tE0uph5Ljet8bbmt6wTXz1F_njuccQ7yPFBQ/s2048/20200705_211102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7kPczGGjM3gc63sC5gF9-oJdzax-47_3ow9r291g62j9HkcaSU84XoJIcplNHJf-ADvX0k6cjez4rPMMplO3oc1aTqztdF65yg_tE0uph5Ljet8bbmt6wTXz1F_njuccQ7yPFBQ/s640/20200705_211102.jpg"></a></div><p>to this. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRAO3XLXCLmLufZzXzOemkxXqA5960DwIn1boLmwZRkRDnsquUMF-5HLLmCCvEVcO1sZjeDEJuUCk7w3YmodBD8vbFGBpM-zNc_jffUTGccCWOjadCXgFSxAYQnZHL7fG5oihPVg/s2048/20200720_152212.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRAO3XLXCLmLufZzXzOemkxXqA5960DwIn1boLmwZRkRDnsquUMF-5HLLmCCvEVcO1sZjeDEJuUCk7w3YmodBD8vbFGBpM-zNc_jffUTGccCWOjadCXgFSxAYQnZHL7fG5oihPVg/s640/20200720_152212.jpg"></a></div><p><br></p><p>We have some grapes turning purple already, but that will have to wait for another blog post. </p><p>Weeds never stop multiplying and here is my second weed of the herb garden since Memorial Day. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCjGUT1_xxZXs7kdHgXlt0OmuXsVy4Awjnjn6BxmH-Frv-DOuS7D42zd411nifviGbfXiMD-EGSg2y1KKKJMmo-XccJEwTxs2HiYzMBrMIZemeUltO4m-qLN7ZnneiQe8dan-org/s2048/herbweedbeofre.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCjGUT1_xxZXs7kdHgXlt0OmuXsVy4Awjnjn6BxmH-Frv-DOuS7D42zd411nifviGbfXiMD-EGSg2y1KKKJMmo-XccJEwTxs2HiYzMBrMIZemeUltO4m-qLN7ZnneiQe8dan-org/s640/herbweedbeofre.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-6SL4qN4AX0YbMP3g8KeIC9pn2HukFaHt7xCLlkAXRFPfc-M_v2hLv9cCkfScaPD8HS9yyZAm-tzfkPLqFiF9im4ETg8qEWna1q7yrKmhOmM5gyiGPUPXQCAzMvGrs8SgCsyOcQ/s2048/weedsbeforeherb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-6SL4qN4AX0YbMP3g8KeIC9pn2HukFaHt7xCLlkAXRFPfc-M_v2hLv9cCkfScaPD8HS9yyZAm-tzfkPLqFiF9im4ETg8qEWna1q7yrKmhOmM5gyiGPUPXQCAzMvGrs8SgCsyOcQ/s640/weedsbeforeherb.jpg"></a></div><p>I love my vintage galvanized tubs and smaller pails. A shovel and a weeding stick help me make short work of this. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9-elEb8z3vMr4p9JeamNav4hMawPwyQmEjgGr6iy7UQjuewdKNT6oj6ULUlZ0b8yDZLpdvCuBNpAdEUR5-WMI8Bf5BYIvjLNDeI9E3EJ8JbXJAEqVZZaxjMp-Bc0HdB9PPIP1RQ/s2048/20200703_083918.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9-elEb8z3vMr4p9JeamNav4hMawPwyQmEjgGr6iy7UQjuewdKNT6oj6ULUlZ0b8yDZLpdvCuBNpAdEUR5-WMI8Bf5BYIvjLNDeI9E3EJ8JbXJAEqVZZaxjMp-Bc0HdB9PPIP1RQ/s640/20200703_083918.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCa_CgkYco8ylLPEEm4IULtMMDMECNZ4qqxQR3qBunR9lPAaaR8iRY59OXEVVo8f4HvOUY_RC_HXm8cKGZ8lW1EmEQL2535NLygzcrW9H1GW2zfnAWdQAElng9k3vSRsml0Yp2Mw/s2048/20200703_093451.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCa_CgkYco8ylLPEEm4IULtMMDMECNZ4qqxQR3qBunR9lPAaaR8iRY59OXEVVo8f4HvOUY_RC_HXm8cKGZ8lW1EmEQL2535NLygzcrW9H1GW2zfnAWdQAElng9k3vSRsml0Yp2Mw/s640/20200703_093451.jpg" width="640"></a></div><p>And could this be the toad from the oregano? So much bigger. I can only hope I have two as they indicate a healthy garden...and I have more on the toad front for another blog.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuAQ_kP07D7xswYH57cBv8hTh3IqTV8nJC3c4Lim1QFZ2UJ2PobuVwOWjL4VkphymTyWRyMP5mM7PjambSI3rLh46SmAnejkKE977mwXZuC1A5nAsZyhsf-HU1qBsYctlk3ogUpA/s2048/20200712_110205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuAQ_kP07D7xswYH57cBv8hTh3IqTV8nJC3c4Lim1QFZ2UJ2PobuVwOWjL4VkphymTyWRyMP5mM7PjambSI3rLh46SmAnejkKE977mwXZuC1A5nAsZyhsf-HU1qBsYctlk3ogUpA/s640/20200712_110205.jpg" width="640"></a></div><p>My first sunflower from my green thumb friend appears. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXkjr7GV8jEooke8zEY-Dn96cl0N9GK2aOH2W9k2nyEYaIRP8l3bsiCkOBkAskAKDLMo3aNcDmCwpOIaoQ-Lp-Fy67KTbEEDd-jPJOLB8CgFbkzA8EjEyLp3WJ3oC85D-7Sr2Xxw/s2048/20200707_202845.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1841" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXkjr7GV8jEooke8zEY-Dn96cl0N9GK2aOH2W9k2nyEYaIRP8l3bsiCkOBkAskAKDLMo3aNcDmCwpOIaoQ-Lp-Fy67KTbEEDd-jPJOLB8CgFbkzA8EjEyLp3WJ3oC85D-7Sr2Xxw/s640/20200707_202845.jpg"></a></div><p><br></p><p>Moxie supervises my watering.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3V0_4nAKW64-GKGe4h000DPmL-ua53ypQlkIqzQED89s9r30T9EY9pJvUxLSm4OrdyDZKk7iRn7fQUKtvzYVHliCc6dvDtlT-4nJ9IiM0tIxA9yYklBFEVPqVohn9A8ZtjwW80g/s2048/20200705_215025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3V0_4nAKW64-GKGe4h000DPmL-ua53ypQlkIqzQED89s9r30T9EY9pJvUxLSm4OrdyDZKk7iRn7fQUKtvzYVHliCc6dvDtlT-4nJ9IiM0tIxA9yYklBFEVPqVohn9A8ZtjwW80g/s640/20200705_215025.jpg"></a></div><p><br></p><p>Tutu waits for me to return from a quick run to get something outside. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTnPAZTuj4pLO6Zq63EPNGdDjjwUxyylsVj7FxDUvKw5Xu7nvY7EreeIaF-vyFoVAIgCeY6BPgdocWloL6QTtzlnnuIenRloPR_o0YZj025MmekxYDbz8WmNpZUyaXRaJaFQQj5w/s2048/20200716_110302.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTnPAZTuj4pLO6Zq63EPNGdDjjwUxyylsVj7FxDUvKw5Xu7nvY7EreeIaF-vyFoVAIgCeY6BPgdocWloL6QTtzlnnuIenRloPR_o0YZj025MmekxYDbz8WmNpZUyaXRaJaFQQj5w/s640/20200716_110302.jpg"></a></div><p><br></p><p>Let's look at the back deck and see what's going on there.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3air6tw8mgNMymVhX41e6z2qCi0WjpVW1aF0_B1UCpAXORHRBo1IBukAAbld5gwKj_OojUNWqO7JnwICBEbooE8b_H0fxuLhjnCUuLjGQDivGi_nq2hdbbJNcTtEoDLZxlUUzsg/s2048/moonflower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3air6tw8mgNMymVhX41e6z2qCi0WjpVW1aF0_B1UCpAXORHRBo1IBukAAbld5gwKj_OojUNWqO7JnwICBEbooE8b_H0fxuLhjnCUuLjGQDivGi_nq2hdbbJNcTtEoDLZxlUUzsg/s640/moonflower.jpg"></a></div><p>The moon flower begins its climb.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4uYySI9wrCizdwIIqzPbTIk6opADqxPws0Vcik5Lq1bOuDI3DcWZFJU-aXgxvFygi_UdDvzR27mkmiIY0joWqulqw_xWW_MngvbWBzActacdZ5qY_tKBeLW_6rxvMwzSPdeiFDw/s2048/morningglory.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4uYySI9wrCizdwIIqzPbTIk6opADqxPws0Vcik5Lq1bOuDI3DcWZFJU-aXgxvFygi_UdDvzR27mkmiIY0joWqulqw_xWW_MngvbWBzActacdZ5qY_tKBeLW_6rxvMwzSPdeiFDw/s640/morningglory.jpg"></a></div><p>The morning glory is a cascade of hearts.</p><p> Other porches have exciting plant developments.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju8Syf30koYXyrM9YeFzunK_dvMYgAmj7R7BK2cRz3j33CFy8VzWif60fqghbRJyws6tamJMJTpHRlD3JtaHItMMaGeOI3U2n9m_st44pIlQ6Wm3fjKZSZ2B7Np_OK2zQvlidWhQ/s2048/cannaandcompany.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju8Syf30koYXyrM9YeFzunK_dvMYgAmj7R7BK2cRz3j33CFy8VzWif60fqghbRJyws6tamJMJTpHRlD3JtaHItMMaGeOI3U2n9m_st44pIlQ6Wm3fjKZSZ2B7Np_OK2zQvlidWhQ/s640/cannaandcompany.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQEehiVU6hFGy8tAlceGGganYtKalYpRbmYw4kD8x46cHFYT5-hxiw4YMnf2e-UlJpRLzGFge9lsVMtV2Cj6m6KO_xfC6cdIP6oD8rkIZPx1lmK_y5rsmucfHLYfkkmLsuciMzTw/s2048/cannabloom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQEehiVU6hFGy8tAlceGGganYtKalYpRbmYw4kD8x46cHFYT5-hxiw4YMnf2e-UlJpRLzGFge9lsVMtV2Cj6m6KO_xfC6cdIP6oD8rkIZPx1lmK_y5rsmucfHLYfkkmLsuciMzTw/s640/cannabloom.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2MKzG3N4xWr0Q-6MxVwjF67KwTEXB6X-54sZDStyFrl_o7ejQVvs_NZ3iKYGYRO-2zXlwG7VKRlEV0WFbPfc0G1Buoim02jO-tuo7E9JxpCZw3ovVVV6YvdxPUpXbkWArq3fhNg/s2048/newpalm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2MKzG3N4xWr0Q-6MxVwjF67KwTEXB6X-54sZDStyFrl_o7ejQVvs_NZ3iKYGYRO-2zXlwG7VKRlEV0WFbPfc0G1Buoim02jO-tuo7E9JxpCZw3ovVVV6YvdxPUpXbkWArq3fhNg/s640/newpalm.jpg"></a></div><p>And rainbows in July keep on coming by. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizrTWEGdgSq8Dy-LS7aN2Iy89272xKT2gYn-3gJCEpYZKutav-DJuoehhbg6TDvW3mVzrZjq3VXqbuGYMbWUjNABiDNFoEBCRsBHAmjySiMOPHPLOBK4c5j4X3uV12zbpJFr3syQ/s2048/20200710_193531.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1863" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizrTWEGdgSq8Dy-LS7aN2Iy89272xKT2gYn-3gJCEpYZKutav-DJuoehhbg6TDvW3mVzrZjq3VXqbuGYMbWUjNABiDNFoEBCRsBHAmjySiMOPHPLOBK4c5j4X3uV12zbpJFr3syQ/s640/20200710_193531.jpg" width="640"></a></div><br><p></p><p>Here are the last of my few lavandins cut for the season.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh18AdTL3WgL2tdw43jSkHNRVabzbOa3KCLWELW0bPRskghDL41-l-a92U1DHSYEcI2qbwDmZMkQy8q6zWCgjn03mWX8nsG6X9OT7BwuPw7-sDaYWBm3kLTSwqMRuYTtag37lYcYw/s2048/20200620_210420.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh18AdTL3WgL2tdw43jSkHNRVabzbOa3KCLWELW0bPRskghDL41-l-a92U1DHSYEcI2qbwDmZMkQy8q6zWCgjn03mWX8nsG6X9OT7BwuPw7-sDaYWBm3kLTSwqMRuYTtag37lYcYw/s640/20200620_210420.jpg"></a></div><p>And you can see I'm wearing all my UPF 50 gear. </p><p>In other news, I started a new journal after less than 4 months after starting the last one, a new all time record. I don't know what possessed me to buy this one, as I think the cover is kinda ugly the pages are a nice deep cream and thick. I'm using pencil with this one and it's about two inches thick so it should take me a while to get through despite writing nearly every day. It's a bit of a long haul journal. </p><p><br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibzwKnWHgWSZ6nm-IL_-gnwMGbaR_wqSZQvQhDAIZNch6hHxsJfRJE8-cwQ0D6OHpG1c2f050h2yiG8KNxos-u8RLXlyaKsgGpqR0FrQk5WExAcAgcolUIs6u4IH6YGXv3w36W-w/s2048/journal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibzwKnWHgWSZ6nm-IL_-gnwMGbaR_wqSZQvQhDAIZNch6hHxsJfRJE8-cwQ0D6OHpG1c2f050h2yiG8KNxos-u8RLXlyaKsgGpqR0FrQk5WExAcAgcolUIs6u4IH6YGXv3w36W-w/s640/journal.jpg"></a></div><p>And the pets are all still living their best life...well Tutu is at any rate. <br></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim7c4hVXTp3p0u8JLn1YGTbPXg7WUvBQ4qaRX2gVooGoXzaAluXwBarlhythn3Nx6emMXX4wKOYhZLbiETOGGL79JUa7zouaOO66oqcWRiH3FVkBGMy7vGP7Qa5iKkLOIsOly2vA/s2048/sunsisters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim7c4hVXTp3p0u8JLn1YGTbPXg7WUvBQ4qaRX2gVooGoXzaAluXwBarlhythn3Nx6emMXX4wKOYhZLbiETOGGL79JUa7zouaOO66oqcWRiH3FVkBGMy7vGP7Qa5iKkLOIsOly2vA/s640/sunsisters.jpg" width="640"></a></div><p><br></p><p>Next up, my birthday trip, update on the lavender, and maybe next, a real wild post!</p><p>(that's a hint that there will be more wild animals)<br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p>Julie & Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12291682548017240598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10076187.post-266933806268331862020-08-09T14:31:00.000-07:002020-08-09T14:31:12.906-07:00Chamomile, Calendula, Dahlias, and Mint<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><p></p><p><i>I would like to dedicate this post to Derrick Austin, a former colleague of mine from Columbus Metropolitan Library. Derrick's season on Earth has passed but his kindness, his example, and his memory will live on.</i><br /></p><div>I've been harvesting chamomile for many years now with mixed results. The first couple years I got loads of bug free blossoms. Then the aphids discovered the chamomile. For the past few years the aphids have been awful. I've tried adding ladybugs. I've tried a little dish soap and water. When I soak the chamomile in salt water it kills the aphids but the little guys are so light, they are impossible to separate from the blossoms.</div><div><br /></div><div>Now while I've never been a big tea drinker, I cannot bring myself to try a cup of homegrown chamomile tea, aphids and all. It's one thing to know that theoretically and statistically, a person ingests a certain amount of bug and other matter in their food. It's another for me to knowingly swallow the aphids even after their little exoskeletons have been boiled...it just means they are the cleanest exoskeleton's around. </div><div><br /></div><div>This year I had an added complication, ants. Seemed like when I picked the chamomile as I still use it for bath products, there were a dozen ants crawling in the jar. At first I hoped that maybe the ants were eating the aphids but <a href="https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/insects/controlling-aphids-and-ants.htm" target="_blank">alas, not.</a></div><div> </div><div></div><div>The first night I discovered this, I did not take a Zen approach. I squashed a handful of ants then saw more crawling in the jar and just tossed the whole contents back into the herb garden, disgusted. Then a few days passed, and the plants were ready to pick again and I repeated it to find just as many ants in the jar. This time, I gave myself time to think about it. I put the jar on the front porch out of the rain and waited. The next night, all the ants had climbed out of the jar by themselves. </div><div> </div><div>Sometimes we just have to let the ants leave the jar on their own.</div><div> </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4bS0XWiP8CZbECwrhqJCNw_7ExnOCidpxhp6i0rDqhEYc_Dy9pOp2uKxTJHeRTvqRkFXx0cG_Q47xNbBF1Xh8E2eeDOfyIkket1dDJTN0iPvFQoq3ITzzZOmvaHfC0X1Ds2rNA/s2048/20200809_165036.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4bS0XWiP8CZbECwrhqJCNw_7ExnOCidpxhp6i0rDqhEYc_Dy9pOp2uKxTJHeRTvqRkFXx0cG_Q47xNbBF1Xh8E2eeDOfyIkket1dDJTN0iPvFQoq3ITzzZOmvaHfC0X1Ds2rNA/s640/20200809_165036.jpg" /></a></div><br /></div><div>This year's harvest is at the top. This goes mostly towards my herbal oatmeal facial rub and maybe someday for soap. </div><div> </div><div>And chamomile season has passed. The plants have dried up and reseeded. chamomile gives way to calendula.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0MEW-dgB7qFOGwJnJBqIrAJGSrWjE5MK8asNYHgmRO8TNRNck49-d79luSj3uHHY2eVzgA56SjLJVY9g4BS1X92anMGGEnsG7dXjwXLeYxHZA0qDxuzZCWCPoq0aE3EYZNuWGqw/s2048/20200704_140342.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0MEW-dgB7qFOGwJnJBqIrAJGSrWjE5MK8asNYHgmRO8TNRNck49-d79luSj3uHHY2eVzgA56SjLJVY9g4BS1X92anMGGEnsG7dXjwXLeYxHZA0qDxuzZCWCPoq0aE3EYZNuWGqw/s640/20200704_140342.jpg" /></a></div> <br /></div><div> </div><div>I'm so lucky that my green thumb friend set me up with about a dozen plants that I planted around Memorial Day and they just keep producing. I'm very hopeful to make soap with them sometime .Andrew has already made a mold and has more of an interest in making soap then me actually and he is going to use lye. I'm not going to be anywhere near him when he does this, but I would like to incorporate calendula, known for it's skin soothing properties in some soap. </div><div><br /></div><div>I've been trying a fistful of blooms alongside mint and will soon need another jar. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXGEHp3TniGauFnj_ZupZTVllJX-K59YRKYx7HhnNqhw9ajPOSAZ4pkQeO_FiYeqUVcrneCvYV76gBJefqygtjKoEB5W5SPf6We5-1UmC09hNuYsf_lnt9O1cE1s4WQS5JQI3urA/s2048/20200809_165040.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXGEHp3TniGauFnj_ZupZTVllJX-K59YRKYx7HhnNqhw9ajPOSAZ4pkQeO_FiYeqUVcrneCvYV76gBJefqygtjKoEB5W5SPf6We5-1UmC09hNuYsf_lnt9O1cE1s4WQS5JQI3urA/s640/20200809_165040.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I've also used calendular in the eczema salve I make once in a while for friends. </div><div> </div><div>As I said the calendula has been going in the dehydrator along with the mint...</div><div> </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9dcBxbgaCSwRYVBlnKAEec0HH2lpiV9Kau-kbxzuDYMXGGxv-lhaKAomo9m6iXUEUj4YR9ug_llQYO9aeTn8syAwYfqZDHjsIhqDwhVJtACB6Gqdjm6fUxGNuSC6_Vc5ZRjUUrw/s2048/mint.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9dcBxbgaCSwRYVBlnKAEec0HH2lpiV9Kau-kbxzuDYMXGGxv-lhaKAomo9m6iXUEUj4YR9ug_llQYO9aeTn8syAwYfqZDHjsIhqDwhVJtACB6Gqdjm6fUxGNuSC6_Vc5ZRjUUrw/s640/mint.jpg" /></a></div> </div><div><br /></div><div>I've been home to water more this summer and had help from a neighbor to water too so that might be why for the first time ever, I've gotten two cuttings of mint. This picture is before the first cutting and just this weekend I took a second off of what had actually regrown to mimic this picture!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgnZe_t1bE-uxB7jlMvWhOMsxUscYJ-3CTh88aVYKz_ml0fbxJmdOj80V6gcNnuyXhGg3J_K2KkHhSEkHuA0-5lRnNd6Z8jWG93PvncNyYIkcaCV0F_WcV7fv5k8qf3ut0PRoSyw/s2048/20200707_201600.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgnZe_t1bE-uxB7jlMvWhOMsxUscYJ-3CTh88aVYKz_ml0fbxJmdOj80V6gcNnuyXhGg3J_K2KkHhSEkHuA0-5lRnNd6Z8jWG93PvncNyYIkcaCV0F_WcV7fv5k8qf3ut0PRoSyw/s640/20200707_201600.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I have more mint than I know what to do with. Message me if you want some mint mailed to you in tea bags. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigUskSXK8tNNnUTRT_Rll5BUO627QKQeAR_16AaDUIdpBrwp_wU1ks9hZWS-4j9Dzj5uHQCcyN4Sz0_VIF6rtpMVxKPoqKMMMU_fM6WM6PZiJN7h9HVYVZpevi2vnjGnJ-ZTtEyQ/s2048/20200809_165242.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigUskSXK8tNNnUTRT_Rll5BUO627QKQeAR_16AaDUIdpBrwp_wU1ks9hZWS-4j9Dzj5uHQCcyN4Sz0_VIF6rtpMVxKPoqKMMMU_fM6WM6PZiJN7h9HVYVZpevi2vnjGnJ-ZTtEyQ/s640/20200809_165242.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>And dahlias. They may become a new floral obsession if I can divide them later on fairly easy. I picked up four dahlias for .50 a piece on sale, and one green thumb friend told me I can overwinter them in the basement and regrow them from year to year. Another green thumb friend told me to plant them so they can gain energy. </div><div><br /></div><div>It took me a good two weeks to plant them in pots, and they used the time industriously to sprout.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLDHU-P-Mm3Bj2EZ7qzLMFmSxjBV_A0jkUoi0Knhatyf9gocDX9IN6Z8OEJnXsEdeRVmnck4mW_NEZEdVmfDnuyEyryM7nkCs1pXNLEYjUknp9nmWRGIIorxL1ZGfYPiaOvxSEIg/s2048/20200707_203023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLDHU-P-Mm3Bj2EZ7qzLMFmSxjBV_A0jkUoi0Knhatyf9gocDX9IN6Z8OEJnXsEdeRVmnck4mW_NEZEdVmfDnuyEyryM7nkCs1pXNLEYjUknp9nmWRGIIorxL1ZGfYPiaOvxSEIg/s640/20200707_203023.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>And it did take about a week for them to surface from the dirt.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE0joHX3mrZds7uzcHJ_6sFP31Z4uk86u64roxiVCno9eFBvxLD2dcCQOI-dN8oEcULnl-pBwfp8MPIlC3GHHUiy1dFoyaY7AJerB-WH_WcAwnKLpA19Iaq4mt8sTKDEkeOQEawg/s2048/20200717_203659.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE0joHX3mrZds7uzcHJ_6sFP31Z4uk86u64roxiVCno9eFBvxLD2dcCQOI-dN8oEcULnl-pBwfp8MPIlC3GHHUiy1dFoyaY7AJerB-WH_WcAwnKLpA19Iaq4mt8sTKDEkeOQEawg/s640/20200717_203659.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Then presto!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRxaXw-rcJlfRFFrQ1Fc9EzRgM-L8Ll4uaej5hmhdG5bT7mK5lv1OIZa0Kiz_zhsICiaZmf9Z6aQIyvIG8mZwxpX97GK8j3Mck1jN9DXIiJGPakekjNrOcZO8LnM5T62S8PqtU2g/s2048/20200721_180927.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRxaXw-rcJlfRFFrQ1Fc9EzRgM-L8Ll4uaej5hmhdG5bT7mK5lv1OIZa0Kiz_zhsICiaZmf9Z6aQIyvIG8mZwxpX97GK8j3Mck1jN9DXIiJGPakekjNrOcZO8LnM5T62S8PqtU2g/s640/20200721_180927.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzeHRw5cp7e_dxAMCm4-njrIyU0OuBxVzIpKiW61HUE4nf4U2LgFBFGO21zWuYyLbixD2GloztedhJB63a6t-Pja_z6kwMFgRZD3dGHSDbRZYQbnrGnc_4RM2Cbq9eSilkMd-BYA/s2048/20200721_180931+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzeHRw5cp7e_dxAMCm4-njrIyU0OuBxVzIpKiW61HUE4nf4U2LgFBFGO21zWuYyLbixD2GloztedhJB63a6t-Pja_z6kwMFgRZD3dGHSDbRZYQbnrGnc_4RM2Cbq9eSilkMd-BYA/s640/20200721_180931+%25281%2529.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil6p-DXlmW5BES2AcS8dqhRdsCFTQjfwKAr1M_irfTLgSDMmILZGv3Y7EkCSEpHabk87_4gK_TWVnZEGI_Ju5Da4fF4mkOqFdYeLvhxzN7Z9R0QvBz2buiCx1xIEZm_J_p_fFT1w/s2048/20200728_203622.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil6p-DXlmW5BES2AcS8dqhRdsCFTQjfwKAr1M_irfTLgSDMmILZGv3Y7EkCSEpHabk87_4gK_TWVnZEGI_Ju5Da4fF4mkOqFdYeLvhxzN7Z9R0QvBz2buiCx1xIEZm_J_p_fFT1w/s640/20200728_203622.jpg" /></a></div><div>I find the plant on it's own very pretty. They are so much larger now. All my gardening blog posts are going to be 3 or 4 weeks from the past at this point. Really messages in a bottle now.</div><div><br /></div><div>And speaking of time, I am going to get some little fingerling potatoes in the oven so they are crispy for dinner. I'll try to get another post out this week. We will just have to see...<br /></div><div> <br /></div>Julie & Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12291682548017240598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10076187.post-21595287272098357572020-08-02T11:58:00.001-07:002020-08-02T11:58:23.615-07:00Time Travel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqJp07sIkA5Qf7rUahNH2_vkecwt-ZSb6lXobFCuovlFkio7C0GKzSolTtZCHVuCfPIelSEgvP3vDkstlXpd41uCRi3CjLLb94HX_1Uljk1clA69QATnzuKqHDeuka_9YvEd3pdw/s1600/20200706_184139.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqJp07sIkA5Qf7rUahNH2_vkecwt-ZSb6lXobFCuovlFkio7C0GKzSolTtZCHVuCfPIelSEgvP3vDkstlXpd41uCRi3CjLLb94HX_1Uljk1clA69QATnzuKqHDeuka_9YvEd3pdw/s320/20200706_184139.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This year, I picked, by myself, 24 pounds of black raspberries. This is all time record blows past my dream of reaching 20 pounds.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnJVU_4F7b0AlQFzgN1Mqmc-iwIQwCVIDiprYvOyQiAJXppsMJGAVMwDjD_R9wl3s1qj9PTsdFNOM2LXKRckCzaeQGsYxFbPWIMq_pFq__BpQ5whl542dYDYDk18yQwNH2dC5OgA/s1600/20200706_112025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnJVU_4F7b0AlQFzgN1Mqmc-iwIQwCVIDiprYvOyQiAJXppsMJGAVMwDjD_R9wl3s1qj9PTsdFNOM2LXKRckCzaeQGsYxFbPWIMq_pFq__BpQ5whl542dYDYDk18yQwNH2dC5OgA/s320/20200706_112025.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three of these = 24 pounds</td></tr>
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Usually Dad or a friend, or Andrew goes picking with me once for the season and whatever we get, we get. Dad isn't venturing out much these days and picking season was especially hot for him anyway. My green thumb friend often comes along but has their own family health considerations in these times. Andrew offered to help but he's working so hard on his big summer project I didn't want to take time away from that.<br />
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Working from home has given me so much more time without the commute and coupled with it already being my weekend off on either side of the picking week, I was able to pick 8 pounds a day for three days.<br />
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So why is this entry called time travel? Well, let us travel back in time to some of my earliest food memories of a childhood full of black raspberry pies every Thanksgiving and Christmas made either by my Grandma Perdue or my Mom, and later always by Mom.<br />
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My Grandparents Perdue lived back from the road and they had a long gravel lane that ran alongside a barbed wire fence row shaded by large trees and choked with underbrush. Wooded fence rows are prime real estate for wild black raspberries.<br />
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Now all raspberries are members of the rose family and are susceptible to many of the same pests, fungi, and diseases. Wild black raspberries are found in wild places deep in the woods, shaded thickets and dense fence rows. Smaller, sweeter and seedier than their domesticated cousins, the wild berries live on thornier canes. The sweeter the berry, the sharper the thorn maybe? In these conditions long pants are a must, long sleeves are advisable, and bug spray, of the more commercial-better-not-ask-what's-in-it variety should be considered.<br />
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I remember my Grandma Perdue always had a jar of homemade black raspberry jelly open in the fridge, ready to spread on toast or put on ice cream. She canned it old school with a paraffin top under the can lid. She kept black raspberries frozen in various plastic containers to be made into pies and eaten on cereal or ice cream. I remember picking black raspberries with her along that fence row, instructed to get the ones on the bottom of the canes and to look under the leaves where, shaded, the berries grew plump.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDPhOpaQDHb9W5mSF6AHw3yUc0SLHaz8XqqbitGbjtTq8Um6ckpUKB_D2sjRDgw3tPD8T_SMtvPBD33JEjSILSYLdQ0_2c92PqaSICTJS8lQxGJHGYDJCyqxVv_0Z3CikAwh68RA/s1600/20200706_091745.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDPhOpaQDHb9W5mSF6AHw3yUc0SLHaz8XqqbitGbjtTq8Um6ckpUKB_D2sjRDgw3tPD8T_SMtvPBD33JEjSILSYLdQ0_2c92PqaSICTJS8lQxGJHGYDJCyqxVv_0Z3CikAwh68RA/s320/20200706_091745.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Grandma used a wooden walking cane to press down or push away raspberry canes covered in thorns to get better access to berries without getting scratched up. The mosquitoes where always awful as we filled plastic ice cream buckets with berries.<br />
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When I think of memories of spending time with my Grandparents Perdue, especially when I spent the night, black raspberries were a feature no matter the time of year. For breakfast I had Rice Krispies cereal, something that I loved on my visits but didn't eat regularly at home. I would add a spoonful of sugar to go along with the sliced banana. I can almost hear the hiss, crackle pop, and taste the sugar grainy milk as I write this. I would have black raspberries in one of the little blue bowls I love so much, and have now in my own kitchen. And I can smell the black raspberry jam as it was spread on warm toast and sitting at their tiny kitchen table. I felt like I was dining like a king.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLfG_5Pg8VUCcHBUvVtOeAUzQYy4Sv891gEBvXsTC_bqAhagR-RhxYgVrjkLJ5KLjuXdPvFxZrMkBppDQKKh1IZxcVjO_cvgB1aGquoBjwLfmOKVYmVfgOHIIt_q95H03mvH33Lg/s1600/20200706_194903.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLfG_5Pg8VUCcHBUvVtOeAUzQYy4Sv891gEBvXsTC_bqAhagR-RhxYgVrjkLJ5KLjuXdPvFxZrMkBppDQKKh1IZxcVjO_cvgB1aGquoBjwLfmOKVYmVfgOHIIt_q95H03mvH33Lg/s320/20200706_194903.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2020 Berries in dish I ate from in the 80's.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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My Dad remembers being a kid and Grandma would have Grandpa go into the deep woods to pick wild black raspberries. There were no farms with mowed paths, no weeds and maybe a golf cart ride to the rows farther away. As the mother of five boys, Selma Perdue was cooking/cleaning/sewing/gardening/canning through the day to keep the family of 7 clean, comfortable and fed on one income. Dad recalls that Grandpa was a fast berry picker but the trade off for speed was precision. He would return with berry buckets full of raspberry cane twigs and leaves as well as berries. If Grandma complained Grandpa would remind her in the, ah, risks of outsourcing work to subcontractors, shall we say?<br />
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It's been a couple of decades since I've had wild black raspberries. I'm sure they are still out there and still as sharply delicious as the thorns they sit by and the mosquitoes that bite in the shade of the trees. I'm not sure I would accept the inconvenience for the taste these days although I could be cajoled to pick along a fence row. Now I go to a black raspberry farm where the best berries are still to be found under the leaves and the thorns will still catch your clothes or your skin.<br />
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And now, back to the present.<br />
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I don't use a walking came but I do use a leather glove on my left hand to push, pull, press, and lift canes to get the best and most berries the quickest. My right hand...well let's say I don't really feel the pain as I reach for plump berries or collect a whole ripe cluster at once. Later someone inevitably asks me what happened to my hand, and a fight with a cat is almost always the guess to give you an idea what it looks like.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTLkrdhKaGK-Oa051bqMW7P04UyOnwuFOK0rkxiYuBt7zWsO8bHVB6uIn3zWk9Dsbai79Uv5wMWf1Ou4vTM1VIKNjFSdINFBFSbXzeXa7sd4-cJyOx727zT6znlHNxZlnRgLgTpQ/s1600/20200712_164151.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTLkrdhKaGK-Oa051bqMW7P04UyOnwuFOK0rkxiYuBt7zWsO8bHVB6uIn3zWk9Dsbai79Uv5wMWf1Ou4vTM1VIKNjFSdINFBFSbXzeXa7sd4-cJyOx727zT6znlHNxZlnRgLgTpQ/s320/20200712_164151.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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I'm sure I am a sight in the berry field. While many people are wearing shorts and tank tops because of the heat, and some are wearing jeans, I'm wearing long pants and a long sleeve shirt, both UPF 50 so I don't fry in the sun. I wear a wide brimmed hat also UPF 50 and zinc oxide based sunscreen...UPF 50.<br />
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But I'm not a quart or pint picker either. I'm an 8 pounds and two hours later picker. I keep a small bottle of Gatorade in a roomy pocket and when I run out, that's when I stop for the day. The berries still need washed and drained and frozen after all. The work has just begun with picking. And in this present moment under the hot sun because it's around the 4th of July, I hope I get a good row and always, always suspect the next row over is better, I just KNOW it. I set about filling my tray reminding myself like a pot set to boil, it's best not to watch my progress too closely or the sun just feels hotter and the picking longer. I listen to snatches of conversation from other pickers carried by the breeze and the birds and the occasional bee. I don't ask why there aren't any mosquitoes buzzing around but am grateful for the lack of them. As sweat runs down my skin, I remember the black raspberry breakfasts at my grandparents and other memories of staying with them, a recounting for another time, keeps me moving down the row. I think about work, and family and what this blog post I will write weeks later might look like. See, I told you, time travel.<br />
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And now, to the future. Because* really most of these berries are for my future self and family and friends. Sure, I'll clean and set aside a big bowl of fresh berries to eat plain or on ice cream for the next few days. And a bowl for my parents and a bowl for my friend who usually goes picking with me but can't this year. But* the vast majority of these berries I will freeze-not in random plastic containers like Grandma did but with a fancy vacuum sealer.<br />
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These 24 bags of black raspberries, roughly two cups in each bag will go towards pies for holidays and birthdays and maybe a couple just because days. They will go towards plain eating for a future me I haven't even met yet, and who knows what will happen between the future her and the present me? The black raspberry pie Andrew made for us at Easter? Picked in 2019 but bringing a quiet pleasure months later at a where and in a when I could have never dreamed at the time I put them in the freezer.<br />
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These berries are for plain eating too. Generally I try to be conservative in the fall, not wanting to run through too many bags too fast even after the ones for pies have been set aside. Berries for eating, thawed and with a little honey added are most treasured in the dead of winter, when blood oranges are in season at the grocery store but asparagus is not. I almost always dig out a bag after a trip, something to ground me back home and to counter the restaurant meals, no matter how delicious, I ate on the road. I actually just opened a bag the night we returned from Michigan last week. It never really sealed right after two attempts so why let them get freezer burnt?<br />
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And sometimes they do get a little freezer burnt anyway. They lose the texture of a fresh berry where my tongue can feel every bump and the sun warmed berry feels like pure wonderful life in my mouth. I imagine it feels to me like how a favorite glass of wine, or the first tomato of the season, or the favorite apple at a local orchard might taste to others. And* really isn't everything we grow and harvest a form of time travel? All the rain and sun and clouds and phases of the moon that preside over the seed, the blossom, the bud and the fruit? It reminds me of what <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Dn9kqVrKzE&vl=en">Thich Naht Han says about a cloud in a cup of tea.</a><br />
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I picked these 24 pounds of black raspberries for myself, my family and some dear friends marveling at this strange trade-off that the year I finally meet and surpass my longed for goal of 20 pounds is done without the help I always have...and that reason is also the same reason why I am able to pick so much by myself. I don't know what Thanksgiving or Christmas will look like this year. I can only hope those closest to me will be safe and well and of course, there will be pie.<br />
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*I know I started sentences with "because, but, and." It's my blog I do what I want. <br /><br />Julie & Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12291682548017240598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10076187.post-47843266813416441282020-07-11T09:57:00.001-07:002020-07-11T09:57:54.105-07:00The canal boat ride at CoshoctonHi, thanks for checking in with the blog. I have more great photos of the fox doing exciting things like hunting (and not chickens) plus updates on the lavender harvest, my experiment with taking cuttings, and general garden updates. However, first the day trip for Andrew's birthday:<br />
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If you are one of my high school classmates, you probably haven't thought of Ohio canals since Mr. Lincicome's Ohio History class and those weird filmstrips.<br />
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Filmstrips.<br />
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Anyway, nothing beats the real thing I suppose:<br />
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I'm sitting on a bench of the Monticello III canal boat watching the world go by wondering when I'm going to get eaten alive by mosquitoes. We are here for Andrew's birthday day trip. He loves history. <br />
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I'm not sure this scraggly lemongrass prevented mosquitoes throughout the whole boat but I didn't get bitten. The canal boat can only go up to 4 miles and hour so it's not like we were really outracing them.<br />
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Here are some other shots of the two mile round trip ride.<br />
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Here is Andrew listening to canal boat enthusiast Finney tell us all about canals and canal boats.<br />
I do not have much to report. Not because I was bored but because lots of bored children were running around and it was hard to focus. I can tell you however, that the man leading the horses is referred to as a hoggie/hoagie. President Garfield was a hoagie as a teenager.<br />
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I was much more interested in the horses.<br />
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In this video they are turning the canal boat around to head back to where we started. For those on email you can find the link to all of the videos in this blog to their own playlist on YouTube because I am getting <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXuDyt8Sdw7AXR6OuqY6bUs46gR5dFYRH">fancy.</a><br />
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These horses are Percheron, which I thought always stayed black or dark brown, but can lighten up to various grays as they get older.<br />
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I'll admit I was most interested in these because of the family tree. My Grandma Perdue who I have mentioned recently on the blog, was the youngest of five children. So much younger than her siblings that her father, Mathias Brehm was often tasked with looking after her. Great grandfather Brehm was a hostler...well that's the closest term I can find for what he did. Rather than looking after horses at an inn, he worked large farms with teams of Percheron horses. To hear my Grandma tell it, this man no taller than me acted as a horse trainer and farrier. Grandma says he built a box for her that fit on a Percheron's back, and she would ride and nap in the box lined with a horse blanket while Mathias worked the fields.<br />
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You can learn more about Percheron horses <a href="https://www.percheronhorse.org/percheron_origin/">here</a><br />
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and <a href="https://www.percheronhorse.org/percheron-disposition-and-characteristics/">here</a><br />
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Here are some other videos of the ride:<br />
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I have to admit I could have ridden on the boat longer than we did. A homemade lemonade to sip would have made it perfect. Here is Andrew listening to Finney tell us all about canals.<br />
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We depart and Andrew takes some pictures. Finney (I'm not sure if it is Mr. Finney or just Finney) is helping transition to the next group of ticket holders. He has ridden on every canal boat in the Eastern United States. Apparently there is a canal boat in Piqua and one in Toledo. </div>
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And me saying hello and good-bye to the Percherons.<br />
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<br />Julie & Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12291682548017240598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10076187.post-66443769740278491302020-07-07T09:37:00.000-07:002020-07-07T09:37:17.046-07:00Of Foxes and Lavender<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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July 5, 2020:</div>
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Writing about the fox has been on my list since the first weekend of June, and lo and behold here he or she obligingly appears in the humid haze of a 90 degree day. I have Andrew to thank for this picture. As we were just starting Sunday breakfast, he saw the fox. He was moving at a quick clip and this was the only shot I got with the Canon camera. Andrew's summer project is in the foreground.</div>
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With the hay cut, we can see the fox easily and from a distance. I think the cut grass also helps him hunt mice but he also hunts mice in the lavender. The fox is more hurt than help in the lavender though as I have plenty of mice tunnels beneath some of my plants (and will have to put poison out soon, loathe as I am to do it.)</div>
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His main offense is this:</div>
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What you see is a lavender planted 6 days earlier, replanted after the fox dug up this and 8 others!<br />
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On the Sunday I planted I idly wondered if the fox would be by to investigate the smell of fresh dug dirt. I checked every morning the entire week and thought I was as they say, out of the woods. Then Saturday afternoon while doing other things, I swung by the lavender and found one, then another, and another and so on, dug up, the good soil scattered among the gravel and the plants exposed to on of the very first hot day of the season.<br />
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I did not stop to take pictures for the blog, but replanted them and watered them as quickly as I could. Keep in mind they are supposed to look like this:<br />
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I lost 4 of the 8 casualties of a curious fox. That evening I checked on the ground sparrow nest to find the nest empty of shell and fledglings. Dad says a fox certainly would have picked up the sent of freshly hatched young or at least the mother, and followed his nose to eggs or babies, That really burned me up. Yes a fox has to eat and he has a million mice in the hay field. But eggs in a nest is an easy meal. To add further insult to injury I found a fresh fox scat in the lavender too.<br />
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To read about further adventures with the foxes in our neighborhood with even better photography, you can go <a href="https://scordatos.blogspot.com/2012/05/and-foxes.html">https://scordatos.blogspot.com/2012/05/and-foxes.html</a><br />
and <a href="https://scordatos.blogspot.com/2014/05/a-fox-eats-rabbit-and-then-tries-to.html">https://scordatos.blogspot.com/2014/05/a-fox-eats-rabbit-and-then-tries-to.html</a><br />
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and <a href="https://scordatos.blogspot.com/2012/08/at-home-with-mr-fox-and-other-wildlife.html">https://scordatos.blogspot.com/2012/08/at-home-with-mr-fox-and-other-wildlife.html</a><br />
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In other lavender news, the babies given to me by my green thumb friend moved from here...<br />
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...to here. So far I've lost two to probably over watering, but the rest are going on three inches tall.<br />
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Weeding is on going.<br />
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And the harvest began around Father's Day. Here is a shot of a baby planted last year.<br />
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And what it looks like cut and trimmed to encourage new growth.<br />
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An older plant ready for harvest<br />
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And some of the English lavender cut. Someday I hope to have people over to see it as an open house and cut some of their own, but this year was not the year. I reached 50 bundles, but there are years where I've had 170 bundles so...<br />
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In a future blog post, I will share with you my adventures in trying to propagate lavender from cuttings which is a tricky business for a beginner. Below are some pictures of my beloved 9 year old Marge Clarks, who came back after two awful winters, and can come back no longer I think. I actually took cuttings from some younger Marge Clarks, that are not faring so well either.<br />
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About a week after the replanting of the fox's damage, I was walking Tutu in the morning to her usual morning business place. It was cool and sunny, and the hay had not yet been cut. The tall grass waved in the wind and you could even hear it. Not like an ocean wave I'm sure, but an Ohio wave if you will. Anyway, the tops of the grass were golden and green, and if you look above the fence post you will see two leafless limbs close together. When I was with Tutu, I saw, in between those two limbs the tawny red head and ears of the fox. I could see the edge of his red fur floating in the breeze, I assumed he was watching us and I was torn between looking away as to not spook him, but also unable to look away. If I had had my Canon, it would have probably been one of the best pictures of my life. But it's impractical to tote a large Canon camera with a zoom lens out and about with an 18 lb terrier wanted to chase every winged creature in the yard. I was grateful Tutu didn't notice our destructive neighbor and I hustled her back into the house as quickly as I could.<br />
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When I came back out with the Canon, he was gone of course.<br />
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In the previous post I mentioned pruning lavender. The picture and video below is from a different night. I'm not letting the chickens out because one, the fox, and two the grapes are now starting to develop and the chickens are not above eating unripe grapes. So their bug filled vegetation is imported . I try to tell the girls they are getting room service, but they want OUT.<br />
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For those on email, here is the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NbOPQC-Gx0">link here</a><br />
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I have so much content lined up for you, readers. We have Andrew's day trip to Coshocton, I have an update on the Killdeer family. There is the lavender cutting project and some other houseplant changes. Also another sprawling garden post. New blooms and the start of fruits and veggies seem to be appearing everyday. This week my attention will be focused on picking, washing and freezing black raspberries. I always dream of getting 20 lbs but often have to be content with 11 to 14 pounds. Maybe this will be the year...<br />
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<br />Julie & Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12291682548017240598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10076187.post-14931324952495302822020-07-03T09:23:00.001-07:002020-07-03T09:23:58.686-07:00Big Lavender Plant 2020Even though I have a separate blog devoted to Black Lab Lavender, the name of my lavender hobby and venture, it's been mostly defunct after a string of bad years of cold wet springs and/or awful winters. While I'm not ready to give up on the lavender blog just yet, for purposes of making it easy for readers, I'll roll lavender content into this blog.<br />
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In the 4 days between the Killdeer hatching (May 27th) and buying the plants, (May 31st) I concentrated on weeding the central area of my large patch for lavender. I prioritized weeding first around the newest plants, babies planted last year, as weeds had grown up around them.<br />
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You can see on the left hand side, where I've cleared more space for the new plants. Further to the left you can see how the northernmost third I've yet to turn my attention too. A clearer visual below.<br />
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I tend to underestimate how much space I'm going to need for new plants. I ended up weeding the green you see in the lower left hand corner and found myself squishing a few plants in closer than I had planned. more like 18 inches apart rather than the full two feet.<br />
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So the last Sunday of May I trekked out to Oakland Nursery in Dublin
with the plan to get roughly 30 plants; a combination of the hardy
English varieties Munstead and Hidcote. They are hardy in zone 5 and
even further North and being an English variety, can tolerate a good
amount of moisture.<br />
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To Oakland!<br />
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Up until a few years ago places like Lowe's or Home Depot would carry a variety of specific lavender, but now they just carry the generic "lavender" label. My green thumb friend had told me that they were selling Dilly Dilly lavender this year, a lavandin (somewhat less hardy) that grows much larger and all the lavandins are showier plants with long stems.<br />
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All the plants on the stand were Dilly Dilly. They were out of Munstead and Hidcote. They did have another variety called Ellagance...but I don't like it. I don't think it's very fragrant and I don't like how stubby the blooms look. However it is hardy to zone 5...<br />
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Anyway, I checked several internet sites and they all said Dilly Dilly was hardy to zone 5. Recently I've learned that where I live is actually zone 6a...probably. Dilly Dilly, something I had planned on buying a few of had now turned into my only choice if I wanted a variety specific lavender this year. I bought 32 plants.<br />
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I have had beautiful lavandins in the past, but they can really only survive a mild winter and spring here, or a harsher one with a significant windbreak like straw bales, but using them is unsustainable in time, money and effort. Each one weighs about 100 pounds after soaking up water for months in the elements.<br />
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For more on beautiful lavandins, you can go <a href="http://blacklablavender.blogspot.com/2013/06/lavender-harvest-2013.html">here</a><br />
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and <a href="http://blacklablavender.blogspot.com/2013/06/lavender-harvest-begins.html">here</a><br />
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So after the trip to Oakland, it was a beautiful day to plant 32 lavender plants.<br />
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I use pea gravel for the bottoms of the holes, and some kelp fertilizer to get them started.<br />
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Because the entire area is graveled and covered in landscape fabric, when I plant, the first order of business is to clear the gravel away and cut the landscape fabric with an exacto knife or pair of garden scissors.<br />
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I did this 32 times. Well, about 27 times. I had some lavender that died, from the previous year's planting and popping those suckers out was easy. Below is a picture of a lavender that didn't make it, and I swapped out.<br />
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Then I called Dad, who comes over with a little auger that attaches to a drill. He even cut the bottom out of a plastic bucket so the clod heavy clay dirt doesn't fly everywhere.<br />
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By the time he left it was about 6:30 and I had been at this for 2.5 hours. And still had to plant 27 lavender plants. The humidity was low that day and I don't think it climbed out of the 70s, probably the nicest conditions I've ever planted in.<br />
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First I take a garden spade and enlarge the augured hole that you see above. then I add pea gravel and mix the kelp in with a little soil at the bottom.<br />
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Then...<i>then</i> I plant.<br />
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It was good I got these all in the ground because in about 10 to 14 days I would be cutting lavender.<br />
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By the time this was done, it was close to 8:30. I can't remember if I did a little weeding after this, I suspected I did, then I took care of the chickens and called it a night. I did my usual yoga routine in the morning before I went to bed to stretch out. Grateful for the cool weather, I wondered idly if the neighborhood fox would come by and wreck havoc as a fox did in 2015. Foxes make dens in loose soil, favoring field banks, quiet ditches, and often will have more than one den in an area. Our fox family in the neighborhood uses a local barn, and has at least one den at the edge of a small wood.<br />
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They like to dig, and the smell of fresh dirt catches their attention as a possible meal opportunity since the eat so many mice, voles and rabbits, etc...all diggers.<br />
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I checked on the lavender everyday for about a week, watering and seeing no sign of the fox. I thought I was out of the woods...<br />
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I'm going to wrap this post up as it is so long. If you enjoy the blog, I encourage you to sign up for it to be delivered right into your in box. I can't see your email if you sign up, or can't figure it out at least and if you are catching this blog through facebook updates, if you sign up, you won't be dependent on the FB algorithm reminding you there is a new post. In the upper right hand corner by the birds is a box where you can sign up for the newsletter.<br />
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Please enjoy these videos of barn swallows swooping and diving for an easy meal of bugs as I mow.<br />
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And for those on the email, you can find the link <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXuDyt8Sdw7CiPN9LgAYb_VSaS9WtolwW">here</a><br />
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Thanks for reading and stay safe! <br />
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<br />Julie & Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12291682548017240598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10076187.post-39582496389070357832020-06-28T17:30:00.000-07:002020-06-29T09:58:25.743-07:00Water in the Light, Weather on the Farm<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I had built up quite a few nice shots of sunsets on my phone, and thought I'd loop them into this post about a particular night's gardening, on June 18th. I'm not a morning person so you won't see me weeding at 6:30 in the morning. I know it's the coolest part of the day but there is just no way.<br>
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I have a helpful hint for viewing the photos on a larger scale. If you single click on any picture, it will load a slideshow of all the pictures and you can see more detail. <br>
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The following shots are from June 18th. I had to be in Columbus that day and when I got home I had high hopes for pruning some of the lavender plants I had already cut from.<br>
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When I took Tutu outside though it looked like the rain, coming down from the direct North was going to go around us and I could garden all evening.<br>
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And to the east it looked positively time for an ark.<br>
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I put Tutu on the line and began getting out gardening tools, but the wind picked up, and the pollen started floating in the air and it started to rain ever so slightly, then a little harder so I sighed, looked at the radar that indicated it was all going to go around us, and went inside.<br>
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I did a little housework, I tried to take a late nap. A friend called and we talked for about 45 minutes. Then at around 7 I went back outside and realized it hadn't rained that much. So I bundled the dog back out, put her on the line, and got the gardening implements in the lavender. I dug up some clumps of poison oak with a shovel and tossed them into the pasture. Then, it started to rain. Hard enough that I couldn't keep Tutu out.<br>
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So I bundled her back in the house. Irritated that I wasn't going to get any gardening done, I decided that I was. I put on my Duluth Trading Company Dry on the Fly pants that are water resistant, and my Frog Togs jacket, and a rain bucket hat and some gloves and I put on my black boots and decided I was going to clean out a section of the lavender that had really gone off the rails.<br>
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I wish I had a before picture for you, but it was raining just hard enough that I didn't want to get my phone out. It was not so hard that I couldn't work. I gotta say, it was nice. At first it was overcast, and I just worked with a grim determination. This including cutting away tons of crap weeds and volunteer tree sapling limbs from the miniature lilac that grows at the edge of the lavender. This is just a stop gap for aesthetic as I didn't dig anything up or coat the cut parts with an herbicide. It will all grow back but for now, the lilac doesn't look like it's being consumed by other plants.<br>
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I also clipped some volunteer trees in the lavender by the clothesline. Again, a stop gap. I pulled up large weeds that were loosed by the rain softened earth. I weeded around the lavender plants in that area and pruned the Tucker's Early Purple. At 9 years old, they may not grow back. Like my original 12 beloved Marge Clark's I planted these with Dad the day after we lost half of our roof to the tornado on route four.<br>
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For more about that time, you can go <a href="https://scordatos.blogspot.com/2012/05/it-was-year-ago-today.html">here</a><br>
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Most lavender farms replace their plants at 5 to7 years. These plants had long given me what they could. Then I turned my attention to the heartbreaking task of ripping up the dead-beyond-recovery Marge Clark plants. The rotted and dried wood came up easily from my tugs. I sighed. I looked at the little bits and bobs of Marge Clark surviving, miraculously on one limb of the plant. I am not sure if there is even enough to take cuttings from.<br>
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But I reminded myself that everything has a season, even favorite plants. And there cannot be a new beginning unless there is an accepted ending. So I worked. As I saw my progress, I was inspired to continue work. My body was warmed up and it was cool rather than steamy with the rain. I didn't even notice that my gloves were soaked. <br>
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At some point I noticed a change in the light. It wasn't subtle. I had completely missed the transformation around me in my labor and it was breathtaking.<br>
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This is the third or fourth time this summer that I have been able to see individual raindrops falling in the sunlight. I marveled at the sight and fished my phone out, trying to take pictures and keep the phone dry. A week later I would be driving through Irwin in a downpour that was lit up by the western sun. I didn't get a picture of that since I was driving, but it's a vision I'm not going to forget. And with sun and rain in the right portions at the right angle, we get rainbows.<br>
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Have I seen more rainbows in the last two months because of the weather, or because I am home to see them?<br>
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I didn't take an after picture of the area I cleaned but I will take a picture right now from the second story window of the guest room, where I do a lot of blogging. It's the same room Andrew and I moved into when we had the master bedroom re-done when the roof was getting replaced. I'll try to walk you through the picture.<br>
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Look to the left hand clothesline post. This is the lilac that was overrun with multiple little volunteer trees, mostly invasive honeysuckle. Underneath the clothesline is where I did the bulk of the cleaning out of the dead Marge Clarks and pruning. Look to the middle right and you will see two blue wash tubs. They are antique and are right in the middle of last year's plants and this years. You can see the weeds encroaching once again but these will be easy to pull up.If you look again to the left, you will find another blue bucket, more weeds and a patch cleared of weeds. This area has much harder vegetation to clear, clumps of grass that need to be garden spaded out. I've gained quite a bit of ground though and once the rest of it is cleared, I'll be planting the lavender seedlings my green thumb gave me. The weeds in the middle, nearer the two large tubs, will take abut 4 hours to pull up.<br>
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If you enlarge the picture you will see lavender blooming in the back. These are also older plants and the stems were so short, that I didn't cut them this year and I left them for the bees. After the 4th of July I'll be pruning those too, giving the bees time to get their share but also to coincide with the waning moon as I am studying biodynamic gardening. Andrew is talking me into experimenting with some organic weed control so we shall see. Speaking of Andrew, in the back of the picture is his central summer project.<br>
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The herb garden on the same night. It's gone feral as I've had my attention on the lavender these last three weeks. Soon I'll be bringing some semblance of order here. I planted a lot of seeds this spring and by now, they should be large enough for me to tell apart from the weeds.<br>
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Please enjoy this short clip of Maxwell grooming is plush little self. Like watching chickens scratch around, or fish in a tank, watching a cat lick it's fur can be quite meditative.<br>
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And for those on email, the link is <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vk8D4P1CRdg">here</a><br>
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Next post will be about lavender planting and then a day trip.<br>
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<br>Julie & Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12291682548017240598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10076187.post-33420034447503993592020-06-25T15:53:00.003-07:002020-06-25T15:53:46.292-07:00Sprawling Garden Post Part 2A Strawberry moon rise for you:<br />
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The pictures in this post are pushing two to three weeks old. It's a real moment in time and I'm very excited for the next post that will feature a lot of great weather/sky photography. For now, let's catch up as much as we can with projects indoor and out.<br />
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Here is a picture of the second round of plants I received from my generous green thumb friend.<br />
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More hostas to block out weeds, and more tomatoes. The lavender was in the first batch but I was still waiting to pot them. They are potted now and will appear in the epic blog post about lavender season.<br />
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The 7 year old moon flower seeds showed signs of life within 5 days of planting.<br />
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And the morning glories really need thinned. I know I should thin them. But which ones to choose? I'll let them all go and grow up the trellis anyway.<br />
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Also on the back deck and already blooming on the trellis is our little climbing rose. His companion died years ago and this is the first year that he has had so many blooms.</div>
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And also on the back deck, the little tree I transplanted weeks ago:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvZSUwKbhyphenhyphenm5KO_RG6u5ulAnOFgYGiHUaaZaWAoLwGvd5MT7zEhPlPPVV-3m8ccN_sNJ8okdAubDkLfO7q8GZm9kPTH5YIOqPcicptocSu-taVGqLC3JCeb4nQk8ifjBu4sJjK6w/s1600/littletree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvZSUwKbhyphenhyphenm5KO_RG6u5ulAnOFgYGiHUaaZaWAoLwGvd5MT7zEhPlPPVV-3m8ccN_sNJ8okdAubDkLfO7q8GZm9kPTH5YIOqPcicptocSu-taVGqLC3JCeb4nQk8ifjBu4sJjK6w/s320/littletree.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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He still leans a bit, but he's quite green. </div>
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Check out our beautiful false indigo. It only lasts a little while before going to the seed pod stage. </div>
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In the back forty we have some milkweed growing around the chicken pen for the monarch butterflies.</div>
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And here's a shot of Andrew's more established grapes, pruned up nicely. </div>
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And some of the younger grapes:</div>
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Andrew working on keeping the weeds at bay.<br />
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Tutu enjoys being outside if the weather is nice.<br />
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And if the company is good. She loves hanging out on her MawMaw's and PawPaw's front porch. Guarding the property and watching squirrels.<br />
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The chickens Dad got in the spring are really growing, enjoying their new roost and ladder:<br />
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Here is a fun video of them enjoying the great outdoors, and some bread..<br />
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And for those getting the email, you can find the video at this <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85pM-aWyizA">link here</a><br />
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I want to thank my good friend David for all his help with the laptop I use to blog. He helped me pick it out, get it set up and continues to help me keep it updated and manage these video uploads. They are tricky! Thank you David!<br />
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About a week has passed, shall we check on the moon flowers?<br />
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There are still some indoor projects going on too, like re-potting spider plants that were in these Terra cotta pots leftover from and old chia herb garden kit.<br />
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I actually think these pots are crap and that is one of the reasons they weren't doing very well. So the pots will serve as shards for drainage at the bottom for other pots.<br />
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They've settled in quite nicely in their new digs.<br />
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I'm enjoying putting little tchotckes<br />
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Other projects around the house include enjoying some quiet time to make some new summer jewelry with farmed cultured pearls and rose quartz.<br />
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I think these pastel dyed pearls look like butter mints...I can't eat them but I guess I can wear them!<br />
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And on an especially warm afternoon, a cool siesta with Maxwell is in order. Man, he does wonders for my complexion.<br />
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Until next time when we look at sun, clouds, rain, and color on the farm.<br />
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<br />Julie & Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12291682548017240598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10076187.post-44882537867697453432020-06-16T16:36:00.001-07:002020-06-25T07:09:10.603-07:005 Summers, a SketchAs I continue to do a little more writing beyond journaling and letters to friends, I thought I would try something a little more vignette on the blog. I will always attach the label "sketch" to signal to readers that these posts will be less pictures and more words.<br>
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I've been reveling in these clear breezy nights to garden. This includes cutting lavender, and soon pruning lavender. Planting lavender has passed and there will be a post about that later on.<br>
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Last night as I was watering the herb garden, well after sunset, my mind kept wandering to 5 summers ago, 2016. I was convinced as I watered that today June 16th was the 4 year anniversary of the re-opening of Main Library...but the magnet on the fridge told me this morning that it was June 25th. As I write this on June 16th, who knows when I will post this. Time is just a construct when it comes to blogging.<br>
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See, I told you. More words and less pictures.<br>
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This, I took at 9:49 p.m. last night as I watered the herb garden and vegetable beds.<br>
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Never an early riser by choice, I do my best gardening and thinking afternoon and evening. I have always enjoyed watering by twilight or under the moon. Four years ago, in mid-to late June the lavender had already been cut and I had spent weeks at Main Library wearing a hard hat, safety googles and yellow construction vest to help unpack books to be shelved. My back was hurting so badly at that time that shelving was largely beyond me and I withdrew books that had aged poorly in storage and would not be returning to the shelf for the shiny opening day but to be sold on the Friends of the Library book sale.<br>
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The only restroom was accessible by a twisting and ever changing route through the building to avoid back stairs that were being painted and other construction. A round trip to the restroom often took 20 minutes at a time. There wasn't access to a refrigerator so it was packed lunches. Also, most stressful to me was the sensory overload of the repeated testing of dozens and dozens of smoke/fire alarms. I put my sunglasses on to mute the constant strobe lights flashing since every time an alarm went off, they all went off that was the whole point. I probably wore ear plugs to to mute the sound of the wailing sirens throughout the building. I remember that most of these week nights I would come home and do five things; take care of the pets, take care of the chickens, have some sort of dinner, water the garden, and do some restorative yoga poses. And shower. That's six things I guess,<br>
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<a href="https://www.yogajournal.com/practice/supported-child-s-pose">supported child's pose</a><br>
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a variation of this basic legs up on a chair <a href="https://dorestorativeyoga.blogspot.com/2009/11/legs-on-chair.html">pose</a><br>
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The grand re-opening of Main is a blur to me now. I remember it being hot, and I was in a good amount of zinc sunscreen that made me look ghostly under a straw hat because I wasn't sure how long I would be outside.<br>
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I couldn't see anything because I'm so short. I got separated from my youth services colleagues in the hubbub of taking the marble Carnegie stars to the front lawn but managed to find a shady spot under the largest tree in the lawn and was beside a friend from another department. Important people spoke. A ribbon was cut. It was hot. Cest la vie. (Yes I know there is an accent in there somewhere.)<br>
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Andrew was in nursing school, and had one more semester to go. It's a blur now. On nights that he was at the station, watering in the cool of evening was one of my more contemplative chores around the house.<br>
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I remember sitting on front porch seat and watching the stars come out and also watching the hummingbird hawk moths float/fly around the evening primroses in the herb garden. They were quite a site and always reminded me of the floppy butterfly Muppets on Sesame Street. <br>
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I'm not going to lie, the intro to this <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eELkOWk4GVM">video </a>is bizarre, but you will get the idea of how big these moths are, and just imagine a half a dozen of them swirling around my garden in light just bright enough to see them. And this picture will give you an idea what evening primroses are.<br>
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Just a few weeks before in May, Andrew and I had traveled to Virginia for a vacation where we tent camped for multiple days at Chippokes State Park. We were only one of three campers on our wing of the campground and the only tent campers. I had the beautiful cedar paneled bathroom to myself and it had a skylight and didn't smell so I was pleased. There was a beautiful historic farm at the park including an elaborate rabbit hutch housing a buff colored mini-lop named Peter Rabbit.<br>
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Everyday we took the ferry across...I think the James river to go to Jamestown, Yorktown, or Williamsburg. We passed an osprey nest on one of the concrete platforms in the water. The only thing I liked about Jamestown was the wetland that a bridge carried is over where we saw dozens of turtles of many sizes and a few species. I liked the tour of the Rockefeller's summer house at Williamsburg.<br>
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One of our tour guides was comically flinty and harsh...as if the lack of social skills made her seem more colonial. I bought a straw hat option without the garish shiny ribbon one can find out Wal-Mart but added a 6 dollar mark up to the hat and was shocked those were the only two hat options On our last night of the trip we stayed in a hotel and spent the evening in Charlotte. We went to this lovely independently owned cinema and watched Avengers Civil War. The theater was so clean and I liked the color scheme of light purple, one could say it was lavender, and gray. As we waited for the previews I realized that I really liked the music the credit flashed quickly and all I could gather was "Heloise and Abelard" but the second song followed me. So much so that when we returned home I emailed the theater and tried to give them as much details as possible. The lyrics, the title, the movie we watched and when.<br>
<br> A short disclaimer This song link below is the not entirely appropriate for youngsters.<div><br></div><div> I mean it played in front of Avengers movie that I think is PG13 but young readers you have been forewarned.</div><div><br>
I didn't imagine anyone would get back to me and felt actually sad that this moment of music I had barely registered was so important to me to find out. But in a couple weeks I did get a reply. The artist is Kate Powell and she has done many songs but I still like these two the best, and <a href="https://lamusiquedekate.bandcamp.com/track/calla-lily">Calla Lily</a> is on my phone bookmarked, ready to play anytime. I find myself playing it though mostly in the summer, and who knows how many times I listened to it five summers ago. I don't relate to the character's lyrics, but I love her voice in this song and the quirky percussion. At the very end a neighborhood church's bells ring in the background. I listened to it for the first time this summer last night.<br>
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So much has happened these past 4 years. Molly my beloved tortoiseshell cat died just 6 months later in December just a couple weeks after Andrew's graduation from his RN program. The next summer (2017) I would have just started my new job as Youth Services Manager at Bexley Public Library. I didn't yet know it but this is where I would make a lot of friends, meet some amazing new families, and and connect with an incredible yoga teacher practically right next door.<br>
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As I write this now, a cool breeze tells me it's nice enough to go out and prune some of my lavender plants...the old ones that I couldn't get to in the spring and on a lavender farm they would have been replaced 5 years ago. I can hear the drill Andrew is running on the back forty on his latest building project for the property. He starts his Bachelor's in Nursing this fall. Rather than tent camp, we have a TAB trailer that provides more privacy, less ambient noise from partying campers and (angels sing) air conditioning. And we have Tutu, a dog I could not imagine having, who now seems like she has always been here, sunning herself as I type.<br>
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I haven't had evening primroses for two summers now. Something that just appeared in the herb garden every since we had an herb garden just slowly died out even when I planted seeds. I'm not sure why. Maybe something changed in the soil and they don't like it anymore. I hope to have them again someday but for now, I'm enjoying what I do have in my garden. The evening work calls, I will publish this now.<br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6cNxGddekNg8OHmpk1fclJ4IrDKF1mn54BmIbFgwDx6FbSojj11dxPfJNn5Vn4nFuMEoc33KUl_znrmV7nZh2gytZHBvuDapU6NWDwcuUuiYRBYGU34IXJ2wyH6cQKRpTvpjNkA/s1600/common_evening_primrose_flowers_7-22-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1245" data-original-width="1600" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6cNxGddekNg8OHmpk1fclJ4IrDKF1mn54BmIbFgwDx6FbSojj11dxPfJNn5Vn4nFuMEoc33KUl_znrmV7nZh2gytZHBvuDapU6NWDwcuUuiYRBYGU34IXJ2wyH6cQKRpTvpjNkA/s320/common_evening_primrose_flowers_7-22-14.jpg" width="320"></a></div>
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<br></div>Julie & Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12291682548017240598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10076187.post-72927709687745689062020-06-12T14:02:00.001-07:002020-06-12T14:02:46.921-07:00Of Birds and MagicWell, I have a lot of content lined up, but wanted to get this when out next because the garden post is going to be a real sprawl of activity.<br />
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Recently I received two magical pieces of mail. Getting real mail from a real friend is still really exciting. I was lucky to get two such marvelous pieces of mail in the same week.<br />
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First, I got mail from Kathryn Seyerle, artist, poet and creator.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ptoFe4IncFTEAGaZ3zVF-iKEiPUGeIYXIw3OMtkPwcgoBOrVi5Sd7nl6Gi_XkelSyYDQv6pKxWYiDLpZTT7jSWo2s3s1G9XhlM9RCBMryERscE2ayd0sbRi9q3jxC-pl8DnyLw/s1600/robotletter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ptoFe4IncFTEAGaZ3zVF-iKEiPUGeIYXIw3OMtkPwcgoBOrVi5Sd7nl6Gi_XkelSyYDQv6pKxWYiDLpZTT7jSWo2s3s1G9XhlM9RCBMryERscE2ayd0sbRi9q3jxC-pl8DnyLw/s320/robotletter.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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The robot sticker is especially appropriate as she made the beloved robot at Bexley Public Library that has been featured in several of my videos from home this spring. </div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWFYeWJo6_8">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWFYeWJo6_8</a></div>
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It was a pretty thick envelope, let's see what's inside shall we?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdp5VzLyEclXx9oEhoBqQXFuP0SZ64_9p8xDnRbV4T1vRbdrBml5cqXoluNUamQL4YIYrUype8dLuyRdM97EtCP2tdEZQNtJbvgWpwAmY8_2-Zvb33ie361vY5LO5wpfxy73LbZQ/s1600/unicorn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdp5VzLyEclXx9oEhoBqQXFuP0SZ64_9p8xDnRbV4T1vRbdrBml5cqXoluNUamQL4YIYrUype8dLuyRdM97EtCP2tdEZQNtJbvgWpwAmY8_2-Zvb33ie361vY5LO5wpfxy73LbZQ/s320/unicorn.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Now, who doesn't like a gold foil unicorn? And then...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT7qoTFXjFEvT2SeHj_LD-Yul28y5d9siZY-JHHq-ZN6vgmWKG2IQE0HLLnDgdGOKcYvZuOjCie9m32tapUjwESe8KCwstVw2Ykl_1GQ9gv7sNDyWwVmCzc3PZEcOnMnHvUKpAhw/s1600/lavender+protection.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT7qoTFXjFEvT2SeHj_LD-Yul28y5d9siZY-JHHq-ZN6vgmWKG2IQE0HLLnDgdGOKcYvZuOjCie9m32tapUjwESe8KCwstVw2Ykl_1GQ9gv7sNDyWwVmCzc3PZEcOnMnHvUKpAhw/s320/lavender+protection.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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OOOohhhh My own hand painted frame-able art card featuring one of the things I love most in the world!</div>
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But wait, there's more!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYMuxqHrWA8mBH8V_tjJCvcUCMR3UXClUkj3nxMeKuARt_t10jopBE1XAE3iVM4o0AHJY19_hwdenEq8zg4FFQeynT4qZu8-WKkcMqvquOuBsc-j2sGIK-GQowsPP5HLSfL8LKxw/s1600/flower+wall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYMuxqHrWA8mBH8V_tjJCvcUCMR3UXClUkj3nxMeKuARt_t10jopBE1XAE3iVM4o0AHJY19_hwdenEq8zg4FFQeynT4qZu8-WKkcMqvquOuBsc-j2sGIK-GQowsPP5HLSfL8LKxw/s320/flower+wall.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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An adorable Instax mini picture of a flower garden on brick? Neat!</div>
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Get your own <a href="https://kathrynseyerle.com/">magical mail here.</a></div>
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Also known as <a href="https://kathrynseyerle.com/">creative care packages sure to make you catch your breath with quiet joy.</a></div>
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I got another lovely letter from a friend living out West and I had no expectation of any thing else but they sent me the item on the right.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaMpRwWI6y3LWDX7mxcFHpbvaWy-W9xmdckcHFYlHqmSO2ncWFulWz330umVn-knm3m5gjDuy3wu0RVTayKkOu_GHG8hQAK0LoVxfDKvBaznXs0Gl49A195EG6LiiG5ucsWoA47g/s1600/egg+and+luck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaMpRwWI6y3LWDX7mxcFHpbvaWy-W9xmdckcHFYlHqmSO2ncWFulWz330umVn-knm3m5gjDuy3wu0RVTayKkOu_GHG8hQAK0LoVxfDKvBaznXs0Gl49A195EG6LiiG5ucsWoA47g/s320/egg+and+luck.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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A four leaf clover! Now that's friendship. I am pretty sure if I found a four leaf clover, I would keep it for myself, but this gem of a friend thought fit to put it in the mail over 1,000 miles for me. </div>
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And, I got it the same week of another lovely surprise, the Killdeer egg that you see on the left. I have blogged about Killdeer before, as almost every spring I have one nest in the lavender field because they love to nest in gravel. I did not get a good picture of the Killdeer on her nest this year, but I have dug around from a previous blog post to give you an idea of what the eggs, nest, and bird look like. This first picture is the Killdeer actually doing their broken wing act to draw my attention away from the nest. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAtC_84CKoDLSIx8aCtmrPZxGDPBovR0Ho90qBiMooOjgZJHiX5M85Ti-4Q7ix_UWLdXpymjg2mHB733no7HD_LW1WOhDcDSGjKIp8C4cG3yaHf2hRybwH6d_RffUCgEPJqxoymA/s1600/broken+wing+schtick.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="213" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAtC_84CKoDLSIx8aCtmrPZxGDPBovR0Ho90qBiMooOjgZJHiX5M85Ti-4Q7ix_UWLdXpymjg2mHB733no7HD_LW1WOhDcDSGjKIp8C4cG3yaHf2hRybwH6d_RffUCgEPJqxoymA/s1600/broken+wing+schtick.JPG" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEmCl3yFbHuZeuAFpIhVcQ8hWx3ISZ5UA-x5yTdQtFWLqMGG9gkYaFhj0SFz0ngEbrk9I21u-U12dXTKN7A-s2JojbpyDtEtqgs9Z5r9KpvHmHgiM7x-3SBCLsKKW5emZkX30zcQ/s1600/killdeer+19.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="213" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEmCl3yFbHuZeuAFpIhVcQ8hWx3ISZ5UA-x5yTdQtFWLqMGG9gkYaFhj0SFz0ngEbrk9I21u-U12dXTKN7A-s2JojbpyDtEtqgs9Z5r9KpvHmHgiM7x-3SBCLsKKW5emZkX30zcQ/s1600/killdeer+19.JPG" /></a></div>
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I noticed her on Monday May 4 when I was hanging sheets on the line. It takes 21 to 28 days to incubate and the hatched out on Tuesday May 26th. This means I did not weed in the lavender for three weeks. This will be covered in another blog post I assure you.</div>
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Anyway, they nest just about every year in the gravel of the lavender. The first spring we were in the house, we actually had a pair nest in the middle of the driveway and I put a traffic cone by it so nobody would run over it when the bird wasn't sitting on it.</div>
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Every year I try to collect one of the egg shells and I never manage to. I don't know why I haven't been able to as the eggs are fairly large and you would think heavier and travel less far, especially when I'm monitoring the nest every day or two. </div>
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I was lamenting to Andrew about it Tuesday night as we heard the Killdeer family calling to each other in the yard. Then he mentioned he saw an egg while weedwhacking, large, with brown red speckles by the wooden fence just past the willow tree. </div>
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And it was still there!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjanRPb49OnwHbqveW8AquL_DgY0XeUWf9QR5H_6qfH_wp1kWkfB-Blc8dNhZj_XxEfcGVCxfq6wmKw2RMsQRsRLZbrOG0Hr2x_NO24x7zUX_2S7lKUCjVgRc7uUoAlVgnRJJsDng/s1600/finally+an+egg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjanRPb49OnwHbqveW8AquL_DgY0XeUWf9QR5H_6qfH_wp1kWkfB-Blc8dNhZj_XxEfcGVCxfq6wmKw2RMsQRsRLZbrOG0Hr2x_NO24x7zUX_2S7lKUCjVgRc7uUoAlVgnRJJsDng/s320/finally+an+egg.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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The chick literally hatched out of the narrow end of this egg, it's almost completely whole! Then I found what I think is the broken end on the way to taking care of the chickens.This is a real treasure and while I didn't get good photos of the bird this year, I did manage to get on a lark this video of the four babies in the front yard! It's grainy, and my narrative isn't David Attenborough quality, but check it out. If you are getting the email follow the link for the video. </div>
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But this is not all the bird news. We have at least two robins nesting, I know we have at least one mockingbird nest but I'm not sure where, and we have another nest in the lavender, a ground sparrow! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA1KvqVaZpV-58Py9Tn_x1nAenEVs2ccRqmxj_YUY1x0Kj5acrzNGaYvnMuSNR81EWwthq6nRIYW6aQX99vHiYe3dCM_9cAJ_s844KS73Tc76MkITpOUPaO5fZOY6v_kK4egXaNA/s1600/wren%2527s+nest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA1KvqVaZpV-58Py9Tn_x1nAenEVs2ccRqmxj_YUY1x0Kj5acrzNGaYvnMuSNR81EWwthq6nRIYW6aQX99vHiYe3dCM_9cAJ_s844KS73Tc76MkITpOUPaO5fZOY6v_kK4egXaNA/s320/wren%2527s+nest.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Five tiny eggs, less than half the size of a Killdeer egg and a nest that could fit in the palm of my hand with room to spare. I kept spooking the little brown wren walking too close to comfort to her plant to weed. I finally broke down and looked around to see what I could find. This was last week. I'll check in on them when the warm front passes. Luckily since she is so well covered in the plant, I can work in the lavender (and boy have I since the Killdeer hatched) without disturbing her just as long as I walk in from another angle.</div>
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Spring wouldn't be complete with out a Robin's nest. </div>
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And another nest has hatched already.</div>
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Just this morning I found another eggshell while walking Tutu. It could have been a ground sparrow egg or maybe a mockingbird's, I need to do more research but I am going to go with ground sparrow because this little guy is smaller than a robin's egg and mockingbirds are bigger than robins, or at least very close to the same size </div>
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And here it is beside the killdeer egg and a Monarch butterfly (found dead) for scale.</div>
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And some less happy bird news.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtF-24iv8Jmi-vgWf6AH7S7fVs3NDKLvNpRRhXYCRrweUcUe1PNOKnYLDP8wvfSWPLHcW7pJQNSd1mlL0jox_ZsW4f7-QjEvP7cZ9mfKzGXd8Pljt_vYXrlkRTJ8R-3Gx6Ss3QKA/s1600/bluewing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtF-24iv8Jmi-vgWf6AH7S7fVs3NDKLvNpRRhXYCRrweUcUe1PNOKnYLDP8wvfSWPLHcW7pJQNSd1mlL0jox_ZsW4f7-QjEvP7cZ9mfKzGXd8Pljt_vYXrlkRTJ8R-3Gx6Ss3QKA/s320/bluewing.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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I think one of the bluebirds got nailed by a cooper's or sharp shinned hawk. I think it was the female. </div>
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I have plans for this blue feather, the Killdeer egg, and the four leave clover, I just have to find the right item to pull it all together. </div>
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To learn more about Killdeer, one of my favorite birds, go <a href="https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/killdeer">here.</a></div>
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There is still more bird news not directly on the property but in the neighborhood, like my parents' cottonwood tree by the yard has orioles yet again.</div>
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The orioles have been coming around on and off for over 15 years now and they always nest in this giant cottonwood by the pond. </div>
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Down the road there's a rooster pheasant that survived hunting season.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuS44hfWt3QUF7kSt0H5J2JBGhbIsgjxz7GtuQ_PjvyVk-vT3VDOCPIxPgXxMgJZ5QGKCZnxFIW6-p22FURlB2rdvzHboxlmccOr0rbp2rgWg66WmYp28ZIGJIWwupxtA4BssUsA/s1600/IMG951068.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="270" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuS44hfWt3QUF7kSt0H5J2JBGhbIsgjxz7GtuQ_PjvyVk-vT3VDOCPIxPgXxMgJZ5QGKCZnxFIW6-p22FURlB2rdvzHboxlmccOr0rbp2rgWg66WmYp28ZIGJIWwupxtA4BssUsA/s320/IMG951068.png" width="180" /></a></div>
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He paid for his life with his tail it would appear to have been shot clean off. Even though he can't regrow his feathers from the close call, it's not stopping him from living his best life and strutting his stuff for the ladies.</div>
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<br />Julie & Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12291682548017240598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10076187.post-73322198300436230682020-06-05T16:03:00.001-07:002020-06-05T16:03:03.450-07:00A Sprawling Garden Blog<div>
For you.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-__aE2Zz05IvNiYluv_Bq52suWdygTTrbetGQ8GLabucu6JHWcJD3kWtII5x8zAEVfZiYR2RqEBRtNEE-0ayt-vQDE2GsYXlEDlFsfVidFpQKh0MytDSF8D1YgyeyUNsusswcpQ/s1600/20200528_195602.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-__aE2Zz05IvNiYluv_Bq52suWdygTTrbetGQ8GLabucu6JHWcJD3kWtII5x8zAEVfZiYR2RqEBRtNEE-0ayt-vQDE2GsYXlEDlFsfVidFpQKh0MytDSF8D1YgyeyUNsusswcpQ/s320/20200528_195602.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Before we dig in (get it, dig in?) to this huge post about gardening, I want you to know that if you are looking to cut down on your wood borer/carpenter bee population, I know of just the thing. </div>
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It seems like the insects are thriving this year, and I don't mean the mosquitoes that have hatched out from all this rain to carry us away. Andrew and I have never seen so many wasps, yellow jackets, carpenter bees and bumblebees. Generally we try to use spray sparingly, roundup for the poison ivy that tries to spring up and for the stinging insects that get too bold and numerous for comfort. I had some kind of aggressive bee chasing me out of the chicken pen for a while but they have left or calmed down. However, it seems we have a dozen carpenter bees fighting, flying and drilling around the side garden shed Andrew made a few years ago. They are generally not aggressive...generally but they certainly can do a number on any beloved wooden structure you might have. </div>
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They are kind of hard to spray at as they don't really have a nest other than the ones they make by chewing holes the size of their body into your wooden boards. They can be killed with a badminton racket if you are swift, decisive, and have the time. Or, you could buy a non-chemical, highly effective reusable trap from my buddy Frank. </div>
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Just hang this sucker up and wait.</div>
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It might take a couple days but soon, you'll have one.</div>
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The bees are attracted to the pre-made holes drilled into the wood. When they go in to check it out, they see light (from the jar) and get confused. Rather than backing out of a hole like they normally do, they follow the light...forever.</div>
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But like a bag of chips, the trap can't stop with just one.</div>
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If you live in my neck of the woods, message me and I'll send you in Frank's direction. One trap is 15.00 but not having them fly into your face, or wood bore your structure to pieces is priceless.</div>
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Onto the garden!</div>
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These pictures are already out of date with what's going on in the garden but I think that's a standard experience for a garden in June. Seeds I planted on Sunday were two inches tall by Tuesday night. Here are some goings on, non-lavender related in terms of gardening.<br />
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First, I'm very grateful for my green thumb friend who always has plants for me, a mix of things she planned to give me, and some other things thrown in. This is the first car load she gave me and I am especially excited about the blue green large hosta to add to the other hostas behind the house. They share the space with a Japanese maple, a hydrangea that's looking very strange these days, and this weird shrub that smells like citrus that we planted years ago and can't remember the name of...</div>
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There are tomatoes, peppers, rosemary, basil, chamomile, sunflowers, two kinds of marigolds, and some very teeny tiny lavender plants that will get their own spotlight later. </div>
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The strawberry plants and the sage were store purchases and I planted it all on the Sunday night and Monday morning of Memorial Day weekend. Andrew has been focusing on the orchard, the grapes, some building projects and cutting down a volunteer tree that while very symmetrical and pretty, was growing too close to the neighbor's fence.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguRep3k-a0dmJz2EQoSaL-YE9vB10Ost4Xh66nshn1ZKVj5QXGecE7eVrn5Hblq8JnQ4ZPa2i7LCXTPk27d0lGs3GA1Jr9kFLcoVvuprJM1glYutqpIX_3DsPpXI_kHCxbgt-L-g/s1600/chainsaw+tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguRep3k-a0dmJz2EQoSaL-YE9vB10Ost4Xh66nshn1ZKVj5QXGecE7eVrn5Hblq8JnQ4ZPa2i7LCXTPk27d0lGs3GA1Jr9kFLcoVvuprJM1glYutqpIX_3DsPpXI_kHCxbgt-L-g/s320/chainsaw+tree.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here are some of the plants going in.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5gfZzevW-vpBbYx6mHCsGQYvWY45JSbzqwtXGzGFYLqPj2B9F86xH85lZPwZbwmcwE2CRm32ToAOi-aqywM3jebUXjplW65GdXCD_Nv9fcaF9Tmga3uOck150CfCa3mN-sWHH0w/s1600/calendula+rosemary+chammomile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5gfZzevW-vpBbYx6mHCsGQYvWY45JSbzqwtXGzGFYLqPj2B9F86xH85lZPwZbwmcwE2CRm32ToAOi-aqywM3jebUXjplW65GdXCD_Nv9fcaF9Tmga3uOck150CfCa3mN-sWHH0w/s320/calendula+rosemary+chammomile.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The calendula plants are the light green/yellow ones and one has already bloomed and been harvested with the established chamomile....that hasn't gotten completely overrun by aphids yet.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGq52iZ0ccdY68E35nUT9ZAk7ZAEym5HVyQRlNKrJKOtKz0Zh9jQgPtBcW9h13jx6ne9VK2Roeom6VqtZDJV32q4OtYBfyLimJV30lQmOh1hbtDt7LNEHkqDsrm1Yy8iz4u49egQ/s1600/ballblooms.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGq52iZ0ccdY68E35nUT9ZAk7ZAEym5HVyQRlNKrJKOtKz0Zh9jQgPtBcW9h13jx6ne9VK2Roeom6VqtZDJV32q4OtYBfyLimJV30lQmOh1hbtDt7LNEHkqDsrm1Yy8iz4u49egQ/s320/ballblooms.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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I've done more transplanting this year than I think I ever have. We decided to have a new strawberry bed with the vegetable beds where they would get more water. There was one plant in the original bed left, plus a plant growing out of the gravel out of the driveway and those were easy to transplant. Then we had one actually growing through the railroad tie that borders our turnaround in the driveway. I pulled him and his roots up as best as I could and planted him on a whim too.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8FUemOqFBhq8sMn-FVPKRFDLZG6rFgyLt4ueW5kKlIq_UYjVuy0cryS9EQhl_p-UUGFa41QI4z5JA5lcuzg5HzcLJZLPr1qRpq2YFYB4EdRqpTfCN8TuKJq2wjZ35UF7z5951Rw/s1600/strawberry+rough.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8FUemOqFBhq8sMn-FVPKRFDLZG6rFgyLt4ueW5kKlIq_UYjVuy0cryS9EQhl_p-UUGFa41QI4z5JA5lcuzg5HzcLJZLPr1qRpq2YFYB4EdRqpTfCN8TuKJq2wjZ35UF7z5951Rw/s320/strawberry+rough.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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I had a hunch the tightly closed leaves in the middle would be the first sign if he was going to make it and I was right!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPO7LEXFeWShaDZgBMugqsiBSmQpSU8JX2G_U1AUemvSZ9zZQm-GAoELOZ4fCcNlfMeGRSbNP_dRygknSCp4YNsVmoIZjwsh6tMBuwveupVOL5wvLyzjbMcG7mJewcIzLK0a497A/s1600/strawberry+recovered.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPO7LEXFeWShaDZgBMugqsiBSmQpSU8JX2G_U1AUemvSZ9zZQm-GAoELOZ4fCcNlfMeGRSbNP_dRygknSCp4YNsVmoIZjwsh6tMBuwveupVOL5wvLyzjbMcG7mJewcIzLK0a497A/s320/strawberry+recovered.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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There was also of all things, another strawberry plant growing in the lavender so I transplanted him too and between what we bought at the store we have a full bed and it looks like we might even get some strawberries too.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFIZ79BUoret150NoWdRYtNf0MOg0o3zTMWEcw-fdW8nmxb-OU0WY70YAUqxanRbWl8syJhmHAPNypcGAcrFp6M8NCusHVAFUgGkGgdxG9lvO8J8-Q3bg24xmnunRy4ghBRJDXsw/s1600/strawberry+in+the+lavender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFIZ79BUoret150NoWdRYtNf0MOg0o3zTMWEcw-fdW8nmxb-OU0WY70YAUqxanRbWl8syJhmHAPNypcGAcrFp6M8NCusHVAFUgGkGgdxG9lvO8J8-Q3bg24xmnunRy4ghBRJDXsw/s320/strawberry+in+the+lavender.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Also in the lavender this year but not transplanted is an asparagus.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-57AP9Hhlsy01Q1lr3CJU5aDeLxpO5_kilGnCjtLZFIGY0zzJOuazYFaRdq_xk7joaA-yhjZU461OT-Atd8dcF2rUyLP3pLzdKfpfixRRrjeRUxCUCzcX0HBImn8npBo7DN3H8g/s1600/asparagus+in+teh+lavender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-57AP9Hhlsy01Q1lr3CJU5aDeLxpO5_kilGnCjtLZFIGY0zzJOuazYFaRdq_xk7joaA-yhjZU461OT-Atd8dcF2rUyLP3pLzdKfpfixRRrjeRUxCUCzcX0HBImn8npBo7DN3H8g/s320/asparagus+in+teh+lavender.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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There was also a little poison ivy growing right on top of the asparagus that I dug up with a shovel so he can stay where he's at for now.<br />
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And a nice evening view of the herb garden.<br />
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You might notice the hummingbird feeder hanging on the left third of the picture, I just put it up last week but saw a hummer this morning so better late than never I guess.<br />
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Gardening is happening behind the house too. I found some ancient moon flower seeds in the junk drawer and even though they had a use by date of 2013 I gave them a try, soaking them in a damp paper towel for several days as my Mom advised.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUIgUOucOizsu7DY0Naio3fVIutQ8Z8iQWnICjZCdeZBmN4p2V26LzuE9rgPjYMX8RHBJIFcjztc7j-gplITTqQk9NwYedV9HNPjVgrdctPEyYw3cknvMLlkPqUMHD2ZYPCSCZ-Q/s1600/moon+sprouts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUIgUOucOizsu7DY0Naio3fVIutQ8Z8iQWnICjZCdeZBmN4p2V26LzuE9rgPjYMX8RHBJIFcjztc7j-gplITTqQk9NwYedV9HNPjVgrdctPEyYw3cknvMLlkPqUMHD2ZYPCSCZ-Q/s320/moon+sprouts.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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I planted them almost a week ago as I write this but they haven't come up yet, as opposed to the morning glory seeds that are close to three inches tall in less than a week.<br />
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Even the houseplants are getting into the act. My pepperomia is starting it's first new leaf since last summer.<br />
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And, here's a houseplant for you...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheZ2IUGCnhq8pUQo4e-GOrgsrX70T9lKjjV3nawG0micZ2vG5ug8KXupQRBXm1dqW-ppIjVd7BBBKDtrfAr9dRtyZLWwVxfp_Km_FIAF4bUMOezKk9MTXXeQkb7CB31EMB2eH2vg/s1600/IMG_1159+%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheZ2IUGCnhq8pUQo4e-GOrgsrX70T9lKjjV3nawG0micZ2vG5ug8KXupQRBXm1dqW-ppIjVd7BBBKDtrfAr9dRtyZLWwVxfp_Km_FIAF4bUMOezKk9MTXXeQkb7CB31EMB2eH2vg/s320/IMG_1159+%25283%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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This banana tree was picked up three years ago at Lowe's and enjoys spending it's summers on my Mom and Dad's back porch. It gets moved to a heated barn over the winter and lives the good life outside from May to October.<br />
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Unfortunately, no actual bananas are produced.<br />
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And let's wrap up with a report from the pets.<br />
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I thought Maxwell looked comedic in this posture spiffing up his fluffy tummy.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg47szuFKgnRLxSKJQr2IMJsG4feQh_bvNElQ260Vg4XuqZwcBrasZGS28p-Ifu2VHIPDeakh6X0Qc8aYB3aGcad_9z3VRzN4hA76UQHVaQ7uZrOaYnyyMMDCkH38dn6WCM8ZXbdg/s1600/maxwell+teardrop+clean.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg47szuFKgnRLxSKJQr2IMJsG4feQh_bvNElQ260Vg4XuqZwcBrasZGS28p-Ifu2VHIPDeakh6X0Qc8aYB3aGcad_9z3VRzN4hA76UQHVaQ7uZrOaYnyyMMDCkH38dn6WCM8ZXbdg/s320/maxwell+teardrop+clean.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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He wasn't amused and made an even funnier picture.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb4vfBIRXBKyzPbngy3_lHz2zQQj6a5sNLR7Fo7z3CT_qa2BhhXSd_rlDDTIu1DH0XF91fkT2V7wPWZGLDjlfhTJQTogHQrEfgJCTCxWEOdzvldweWEk8AEo3VR1WzmKzH5OygmQ/s1600/maxwell+you+looking+at+me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb4vfBIRXBKyzPbngy3_lHz2zQQj6a5sNLR7Fo7z3CT_qa2BhhXSd_rlDDTIu1DH0XF91fkT2V7wPWZGLDjlfhTJQTogHQrEfgJCTCxWEOdzvldweWEk8AEo3VR1WzmKzH5OygmQ/s320/maxwell+you+looking+at+me.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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And remember he never answers to "Max." It's Maxwell.<br />
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Until recently when the mosquitoes got so v=bad, I was letting the chickens out about 20 minutes before full dark so they could range a little bit but I had time to watch them and they didn't get too much time to wander too far. There is always one hen, the same one, who wants to stay up all night long.<br />
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It was pretty much dark, this is courtesy of the phone's flash.<br />
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And, remember my little Pokemon among the chickens? Well, Gible is all grown up into Garchomp...if only he could guard the chickens in real life...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiberJqtpRq7D0L7jSRwSIFLpkW3NJGKwHGC-CLJuETW-bVS_p-Vfx0GxysTSEzdZORqYiTe_dog9sx-9PR2PHH8K_h8YFHnsXRjMwKmPSEjHFMQ_nrz1gCtQUPNY2_ZAU1AkbVxA/s1600/IMG_2020-05-29-21303875+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1297" data-original-width="676" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiberJqtpRq7D0L7jSRwSIFLpkW3NJGKwHGC-CLJuETW-bVS_p-Vfx0GxysTSEzdZORqYiTe_dog9sx-9PR2PHH8K_h8YFHnsXRjMwKmPSEjHFMQ_nrz1gCtQUPNY2_ZAU1AkbVxA/s320/IMG_2020-05-29-21303875+%25281%2529.jpg" width="166" /></a></div>
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Here is a nice sunset picture to wrap up for now.<br />
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Julie & Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12291682548017240598noreply@blogger.com0