Gardening

The few potatoes that have grown in our garden are now being eaten by Colorado Potato Beetles. Not to be discouraged we went to town today and bought pepper, tomato, and herb plants and all the seeds we will need for the garden.  It's a gamble.  If it pays off we'll eat good this summer.

Dorothy and Gracen plant herbs in our big pot.

 

 

Gracen does some digging of her own.

 

 

 

 

End of the Squirrel Wars

I think we have caught and relocated all the squirrels.  We still had the trap on the roof just in case a straggler happened by.  This morning a Cardinal was in the trap. The nuts we used as bait proved to be just too tempting for him.

I steady the ladder while Marley climbs up

and retrieves the trap.

 

I removed the door and the Cardinal flies away.

 

Squirrel Wars

Dorothy and I have seen the tide turn in our war against the squirrels.  Today we caught two squirrels in Hav-a-Hart traps.  We transported them six miles away to Squirrel Haven.

If I was a squirrel I wouldn't mind an all expenses paid trip to such

surroundings as these. Imagine the freedom to frolic tree to tree, or to lounge

around polishing your nuts all day if you feel so inclined.

 

Mr. Squirrel kept calm during the trip. I couldn't help but think

that he was memorizing the landmarks along the way with the

intention of finding his way back to my house. I hope six miles was enough.

 

 

 

Springtime

This is an unusual spring. By now we usually have our garden planted. So far we have only put in potatoes and they are just beginning to peek out of the ground.  It's been too cold to garden. It's not just a continuation of winter but extremes of temperatures are inhibiting not only the growth of plants but of our usual joy at the arrival of spring.  Each spring we get a break on our utility bills as it gradually warms and the need for heating the house wanes and the summer heat has yet to require the use of air conditioning, but we find ourselves heating the house in the morning and turning on the air conditioning in the afternoon.  Thunderstorms pop up in the warm, humid afternoons only to leave a layer of frost in the mornings. The people who doubt the existence of global climate change probably don't live in the country.

Here are some photos I've collected in recent weeks:

This squirrel has invaded our attic. Those pesky critters will

do much damage to your home if you allow them to remain. They will

chew the insulation off wires potentially causing  fires and will even

chew into PVC pipe. In the lower left of the picture is a humane

trap which I'm using in an attempt to capture the squirrel and relocate

to a new home miles away.  He doesn't seem too interested in being

 caught so I have my .22 rifle at the ready. I would prefer not to kill

him but one way or the other he is going to leave the premises.

 

Mocking Bird

 

Blue Jay

 

Tulips

 

Daffodils

 

White Breasted Nuthatch

 

Red-bellied Woodpecker

 

Show Gracen a box and she will crawl into it.

 

Grand kids enjoying Nana's fried chicken, mashed potatoes,

and gravy.  LtoR Jenna, Gracen, Hunter, Marley.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

G and the boys

Our great grand daughter loves the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

She takes these pillows with her everywhere she goes.

 

Quote of the Day

As soon as man does not take his existence for granted, but beholds it as something unfathomably mysterious, thought begins.

-- Albert Schweitzer

Bird of the Day

Brown Headed Cowbird. This is the infamous bird

that lays its eggs in another bird's nest. The imposter cowbird

offspring is bigger than most bird chicks and will hog

most of the food and push the rightful heirs from the nest.

Quote of the Day

Stories happen to those who tell them.

-- Thucydides

Bird of the Day

The female Cardinal is not a bright as her male partner. Just

below the platform is a Downey Woodpecker

Quote of the Day

The only time to eat diet food is while you're waiting for the steak to cook.

--Julia Child

Bird of the Day

We keep bird feeders just outside our patio door so that we can watch the different species come to feed.

Cardinals are one of my favorites. They stay here year round

and during winter are beautiful when seen against the snow.

Dorothy's Latest Cake

Dorothy did this cake for a baby shower with an Arkansas Razorback sports theme.

 

The sneakers, bat, and balls are made from sugar and completely

edible.

 

I made this Razorback Hawg. It has a rice krispie treat center covered

with fondant.

 

 

"One-sy" sugar cookies

 

Strawberries dipped in chocolate and decorated like footballs, basketballs

and baseballs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quote of the Day

"You can safely assume you've created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do."

--Anne Lamott

What I'm Reading Now

Flight Behavior  by Barbara Kingsolver is the story of a young woman stuck in a bland marriage on a barely self supporting farm with a docile husband she's not sure she loves.  When she witnesses an unusual natural phenomenon she becomes the center of attention for, not only the community she lives in, but the news media. This story plots the awakening of a young woman to the world around her while educating the reader about the natural habits of Monarch butterflies.  

Jenna's Birthday

For her 7th birthday Jenna wanted a black and orange zebra striped cake, so Grandma came up with this: