Monday, May 20, 2013

The Weekend

My grand daughter turned six yesterday, but we all threw a party for her the day before. I think she liked her gifts, although, I'm pretty sure she liked the ice cream cake better. I think we both did.

Then, on Sunday, hubby and I planted our garden. Lots of plants and lots of seeds. We're hoping really hard that the corn "makes" this year. We both like corn on the cob.

A pic to come when the weeds have taken over. Sigh.

Knitting wise, not much to talk about. The weather has turned suddenly to almost too hot to breathe (at least for me), and even though I love the warmer weather, there is such a thing as too warm. I used to pray for 70 degrees year around....now, I'd be okay with 50. I am overheated most of the time these days, and praying that I survive menopause without killing somebody (including myself). I'm pretty sure I'm make it, but only just by the skin of my teeth.

Why yes, I do have a fair amount of plaque on my teeth.

Crochet-wise I've got an English Sheepdog on the hook. I didn't bring him to the office today, because I haven't got his body stuffed yet. Tonight, I think, will be a good time for that.

It's a busy week this week, and when the weekend comes, it's the Alma Highland Festival again. Amazing how quickly this time of year has come around. Anyway, I'll be wearing my "garb", and will be taking my wheel with me to demo--I'll have to remember to take some sunscreen this year. Even under the trees, you can get burned VERY quickly. I'll see if I can't get somebody to snap a picture of me in my new outfit.

Sunday, I'll probably be in the garden pulling weeds. Truly, it doesn't take them long, trust me.

Saturday, May 11, 2013

Bird Feeder Time Again

This evening, after filling the bird feeder for the third time, I decided to look out the window from my "blind" (between the halves of the curtains) and got the shock of my life.

Okay, maybe not the biggest shock of my life, but quite a surprise.

There was a robin at my feeder eating seeds.

SEEDS!

I thought they mostly ate worms!?

Now, I know that they eat berries in the wintertime, so I was aware that they didn't ONLY eat worms. I mean, worms don't come out to play in the winter, right? But to see a robin at the bird feeder was unusual--especially during their nesting time.

So how do worms keep from freezing in winter? Or do they just die? Nevermind. It's one of those questions that you just kind of ponder on when you have nothing else to ponder on--like "Why is there a robin in my bird feeder instead of on the ground eating worms?"

Now, there's a well-known visitor--a redwing blackbird. It's a really pretty male, and he sings his little heart out. I don't think he has a mate yet. There are several in the vicinity protecting their "property". A couple of purple finches and a blue jay and a pair of cardinals, with a pair of mourning doves rounding out the bunch. In all, they seem to eat the feed pretty quickly, and so far, I haven't seen any raccoons, but I have seen a couple of cats.

Speaking of cats, mine are curled up in the blankets at the moment, but this morning, were staring at a spot near my dryer. Then my border collie, Mandy got in on the act. I had to put her into her pen and lay a trap for the mouse that is OBVIOUSLY hiding in there. I expect it to be full of mouse by morning.

I watched a pair of bunnies jump around the other night in the yard, just before nightfall. Later that evening, I could hear the coyotes yipping about something. Mandy didn't want to go outdoors. I wonder how she might have some fear of coyotes--since I don't believe she's had any sort of contact with them. She's never been off the leash, because she'd run off, but she has no reason to fear coyotes--could it be my concern over them that she's picking up? Unknowable.

But spring has hit the area, and birds are all nesting--including the one in my grill that I had to force to vacate--not a popular decision in the bird's opinion, I'm sure. The grill is mine, and I will be using it. The starling can find another place to hatch eggs. Baby birds in the grill tend to die anyway--mostly from heat stroke. Note: The grill is black. In the heat of summer, baby birds die in the grill ANYWAY. Lest PETA come knocking on my door.

Socks are finished, if I haven't told you. I'm gearing up to start a new project--probably an English Sheepdog. I just haven't gotten up the ambition to start it. Or anything else, for that matter, but it's time to start thinking seriously about the whole thing.

In the meantime, I'm going to enjoy a drink and maybe plant some tulips before the bulbs die.