Blog Archives

Big city wild critters

 

     Wild critters wander this big city at night.  At least they do around my neighborhood.  Tonight I had a skunk trot along behind me as I walked into my back porch.  You’d better believe I closed the door quick.  He was within two feet of me.  I’m so glad he didn’t spook and spray.  That would not have been fun.  The dogs would’ve barked at me for days.  Dear Hubby would’ve laughed his assets off while handing me tomato juice and a bucket.  I would’ve been mad as hell because I’m wearing my best jeans.

     A couple of weeks ago a neighbor had to kill an opossum who had somehow managed to get his teeth stuck in the wire fencing that’s beside their house.  The critter was truly stuck.  He didn’t want to kill it but there was no way he could free it easily.  As it was, he had to cut the fencing to get the critter off it. 

     We’ve seen deer, raccoons, and hawks of all sorts, tons of rabbits and squirrels, ducks, Canadian geese, wild turkeys and even a pheasant or two near our home.  DH says that when he was a child they had foxes roaming about.  I think the only wild critter we haven’t seen in our neighborhood is a bear.  We are NOT out in the country.  We are smack dab in the center of Pennsylvania’s third largest city.

Evolving into a water creature

 

     I may be a Pisces but I don’t want to turn into a fish.  When I woke up today, I thought I saw the beginnings of webs growing between my toes.  I checked myself in the mirror for fear I may have some rudimentary gills erupting too.  Is that moss covering my north side?  Am I growing mold?  Scifi or Darwin?  You decide.  All I know is, I want at least a week straight of sunny weather.

     Since April, we’ve had 43 days of rain.  Yes, I said 43 days of rain.  It’s no wonder my yard is a swamp.  When we actually do have a day of sun everybody stops, looks at the sky, and wonders if we should make a sacrifice to Ra.  I forget what does the sky look like without clouds?

     Farmers around here are worried that we are getting too much rain.  I know if we had more sun I might have more green tomatoes on my plants but with all the rain a lot of the blossoms have dropped off the plants.  I’m glad that some tomatoes had time to set, but at this sunless rate, they may never ripen.

We’re getting close to breaking a record

 

     In June of 1947, a record was set here; 18 inches of rain fell that month.  As of earlier this evening, before it began to pour down by the buckets again, we had 13 inches of rain.  The month is barely halfway over.  At this rate, we’ll be setting a brand new record and I’ll be building that Ark I mentioned in a recent post.

     I have a bag of grass seed I’d like to spread over a few thin areas of grass in the yard, but I can’t, it’ll all wash away and my next door neighbor will have my lush lawn, not that she wouldn’t appreciate it.  Heck, she’d probably dance for joy.  After all, she has all the rich soil from the old vegetable garden that used to be on that side of my yard.  Over the years, it’s managed to wander out of my yard and move to hers, leaving us behind, so why not my grass seed too.

     Now I think I’ll go measure and saw a cubit or two of gopher wood, gather up some nails, locate some canvas, and find a hammer.  Happy sailing everyone.

Someone stole summer

 

     It is 51 degrees outside right now and it was only in the mid 60’s today.  For heaven’s sake, it’s June!  Who stole the summer weather?  Where has the warm weather gone?  Global warming?  Not here.  It’s more like Global cooling.  This has to be the coolest, wettest June we’ve ever had.  Normally we are running our air conditioners at this time of year because it’s too hot for Dear Hubby without them.

     Our electric bill should be nice without the use of the AC.  But, gosh darn it I want to sit outside in the evening without the need for a light jacket or an umbrella.  I like summer.  I enjoy sitting out by the pond at night. 

     I was talking to one of my cousins the other night.  He says that they are (in Upper Western NY State) having mosquito problems this year.  He told me he just came into the house from the horse pasture and had to walk through clouds of over-sized bloodsuckers.  I must remember to pack my mosquito repellent when I go visit them.  And from the way it sounds, I’ll need the giant economy sized container. 

     You know you’re dating yourself when you can remember playing in the DDT spray when the mosquito sprayers came through.  Yeah, it’s a wonder that our generation survived.

Mindless Monday

 

     I think I’ve lost my mind.  Sometime while I was getting the dinner dishes done, cleaning Gavin’s ears, thinking about my dentist appointment tomorrow afternoon, and trying to figure out what to post tonight, my mind wandered off by itself and hasn’t returned.  I’m betting it’s going to be one of THOSE days when I wake up.

     We had sun so I worked in the yard again.  The ground is so wet that it made weed pulling easy.  We had such a pounding rain last night that I had to tie up some of my flowers and trim others back.  My Cranesbill was completely flattened and looked as though someone had placed an anvil on it.  I had to trim that way back.  I was glad I’d taken the time to trim back my huge baby breath plant a week ago or it would’ve been flattened too.

     If it rains tomorrow, I think I’ll curl up with a good book after I get home from the dentist and relax.

Building an Ark in the basement ala Gibbs

 

     Lately we’ve had so much rain that I’ve been thinking it’d be a good idea to build a mini Ark in the basement.  I wonder if I could get some tips from NCIS’s Gibbs?

     “Hey Gibbs, I think it’s time to build an Ark.”

    Gibbs throws me that baleful look he’s so good at giving.  “”That’s 300 cubits by 50 cubits.  Your basement won’t hold it.  And for heaven’s sake don’t ask me what the hell a cubit is.”

     “Okay, so I didn’t mean a full sized Ark I meant a mini-Ark.  It only needs to hold Dear Hubby, me, and the dogs.”

     Gibbs whacks the back of my head.  “Next time say what you mean.”

     I rub my head and glare back at him.  “So where do I buy gopher wood?”

     “You don’t.”

     “Will you at least help me with the plans?”

     “I have other plans.  I’ve a murder to solve.  Make your own.”

     “But, I’m clueless.”

     “So am I, but I’ll solve the crime.  Will you build your Ark?”

     “Hold on, I’m getting a clue.”

Commando trained weeds take over the gardens

 

     We actually had sunshine today.  What a lovely change from the last several dreary, rainy days.  The pups were ecstatic about being able to go for a walk, so was I for that matter.  We don’t walk a long distance but we do it at a brisk pace.  Both the dogs and I are panting when we finish.

     After the walks, I was in the gardens weeding for hours again.  Geez, I can’t get ahead of them no matter how hard I try.  They must be commando trained.  I get one area weeded and those darned weeds sneak over to another one and laugh at me.  They can’t grow that tall in such a short time, can they?

     My leather gardening gloves have holes in the finger tips I guess it’s time to buy some new ones.  I can’t use those cotton ones because we have some prickery weeds that can bite through them.

     After a day of weeding, I can tell I’m getting older.  My knees, hands, and back ache.  At least that’s the only time I feel my age.

     I added some pictures to my pond and garden page today.  I took them the other day in between rain storms.  I hope you enjoy them.

The great robin rescue

 

     First, let me get this straight.  I don’t like heights.  I don’t like to climb ladders, cliffs, or tall fire towers.  I occasionally will still climb trees but I feel more secure in them than I do on a ladder.

     Today when I took Patty out I heard a fluttering in the top of the magnolia tree.  I didn’t think anything of it.  Then I took Gavin out and heard it again.  This time I looked up.  There, high in the tree was a robin dangling on a string from a small branch.  I’m a real softy when it comes to creatures in trouble but for the life of me, I couldn’t quite figure out how I was going to save this bird.  He was awful high up in the tree.

     “Hmm, ladder?  Oh, crap I hate ladders and Dear Hubby is asleep so I can’t ask him to stand there and hold it steady for me.”

     The poor bird flapped frantically. 

     “Okay, I’ll get the ladder.”  I dragged the step ladder off the porch and climbed up to the top.  Knees shaking, hands sweating.  “No way I can reach you.  Now what?  Broom?”  Climbed down the ladder.  Climbed back up the ladder.  Tried the broom—not even close.  “Well, crap.  Maybe the long pole branch cutter.”  Long, poled, very, heavy branch cutter that could easily knock me off kilter.  Don’t forget I’m also a klutz.  There I am with the long pole balanced against a tree branch so I can climb the dreaded ladder.  The robin is still dangling and watching me with trepidation.  I slowly make my way up the ladder, reach for the cutter, and haul it up.  Next comes the hard part.  (As if all of this wasn’t difficult enough.)  I now have to extend this 8 foot long, very heavy pole with a cutter on the end up above my head and try not to hit the now panicking, wildly wing flapping robin.

     My plan was to cut the small branch as near to his foot as I could.  (If I didn’t over balance and fall off the ladder.)  I eased the cutter closer to the crazed bird.  I hooked it onto the branch and suddenly the bird was flapping downward.  I hadn’t cut the branch but somehow managed to clip the string.  I eased the cutter down to the ground, rested it against a low branch, and climbed off the ladder.  I was glad to be on solid ground, though from the way it looked not nearly as glad as the robin.  Once he caught his breath, he shot out of the yard like a red and brown arrow.

Weeds, rain, Koi, and worms

 

     Whew.  It’s a good thing we had another sunny day.  When I said that all that rain made the plants happy, I should’ve said the weeds were the happiest.  I spent all afternoon and most of the evening (while there was still enough light) pulling weeds.  I’ve only managed to clear the garden against the back fence and the backside of the pond garden. 

     Unfortunately, the weather report predicts rain for tomorrow and Tuesday so all my work might’ve been for nothing.  Two more rainy days and those weeds will be shooting up like sky rockets.  I hate to think about the growth spurts the weeds I didn’t pull will go through. 

     While I pulled weeds, I found a bunch of worms and as I found them, I tossed them into the pond.  My Koi were going crazy—they sure do love worms.  If I take the time, they’ll take them right out of my hands.  Tiki and Yang are real pigs about worms and will fight for the chance to get first grab.

Rainy night rainy day…

 

     My plants are happy.  We’ve had rain, rain, and more rain.  The dogs aren’t happy they don’t like wet.  I’m not happy because I’m typing this up in between thunderstorms—not my favorite weather. 

     We did need the rain, if only so I didn’t have to water the gardens.  It was beginning to look as though I might before the rain began last night, and has continued throughout the day and into the night again.

     I took the pups out for their last chance for the night out a few minutes ago.  Patty went out first, she hates rain, and she thinks she’ll melt in the stuff.  She cringed out the door, her tail tucked under, and clamped so tightly against her belly, I wondered if she’d actually untuck it long enough to pee.

     Then Gavin had his turn although he’s not as theatrical as Patty he does show some disdain for the rain.  Rather than dawdle he was done quickly and back in the door like a shot. 

     Earlier in the week, I’d thought about penciling in cleaning the kitchen floor on Thursday—not going to happen with the pups tracking in.  I’ll wait until the mud is gone.

Frog songs and gardening

 

     It was such a lovely night tonight that instead of watching TV Dear Hubby and I sat out by the pond listening to our bullfrogs sing.  No, they didn’t sing The Michigan Rag.  Gosh darn it, we could’ve made a fortune if they had—no, wait they’d only sing for us and everyone else would think we were crazy.  Think?  Heck, I know we are.

     I spent most of the day pulling weeds, dead heading flowers, cleaning algae off the waterfall and rocks, backwashing the filters, and cutting back overgrown plants.  DH spent the morning with his mother and then rode the mower around our yard.  I think I got the better part of that deal.

     We have a ground cover growing near the waterfall.  I spent several hours thinning it out.  I have no idea what its name is.  What I do know, is that it hides the wild strawberries and those, ever so devious, hummingbird vines until they are well established and difficult to remove.  I thought I liked hummingbird vine, well I did actually, until I planted it in my yard.  Now it is a curse.  It’s invasive as hell, as difficult to control as a fresh from the wilds mustang, and a real pain in the aster to pull out.

A klutz’s guide to yard work

 

     Dear Hubby finally listened to me and bought a weed whacker that isn’t too heavy for me to handle.  I really like this one.  It is battery powered.  There’s no electric cord to drag around or heavy gas tank to struggle with or refill. 

     Today was sunny and warm.  I decided to trim around the yard and gardens.  I was blithely trimming away then I stepped backwards and tripped over a couple of bricks.  As I looked at the sky, I pondered.  Why was I seeing the sky?  Gee, the hummingbird vine on the arbor needs trimming.  I hoped none of the neighbors saw me do that double deluxe flip.  Maybe I could tell them I was trying some new gymnastic move.  Yeah, sure.  They’d believe that.

     Time to take inventory.  Hey feet, you okay?  Yeah, we’re fine.  Ankles?  Still here.  Legs and knees?  We’re a go.  Hips?  Not a problem.  Back?  Spry as ever.  Shoulders, arms, and head?  Ready.  Whew. 

     Okay, the human was fine, but how was the machinery?  I stood, picked up the weed whacker, turned it on and it worked too.  What a relief.  I shut it off.  Then I heard my neighbor yell from her bedroom window, “Glad you got up.  I was ready to send my husband over to check on you.”

     Rats.