Saturday doings...

We're all ready for the little munchkins to come bumping on the door tomorrow evening. Their numbers have dwindled over the years, but have stayed pretty steady at about 75 or so for the past couple. Hopefully we'll have enough.

This year they'll be getting chocolates and pretzels.

The temps are continuing to fall so before we get hit with our first frost, we got a little fall planting done.

Planted more daffodils to fill in some

sparse spots in the mailbox bed.

We have a split rail fence around our property and have always had a problem with the gates. First, because we have a two-rail fence instead of a three-rail fence, they're hard to find. Seems to me, if you're going to sell all kinds of fencing material, it would make sense to have all kinds of gates to go with said materials, but, hey, whadda I know! The last gates we got we had to order on-line.

Secondly, they wear out/decay faster than the fence posts and rails. I can't remember how many times we've replaced them. So, this time, to preclude all the aggravation we usually go through with the stupid things, Lew decided to make the gates himself.

Now for the pièce de résistance of the day:

This pile of wood...

turned into this beautiful gate!
Isn't it just lovely?

Ahh, the man is so talented!

This, that, and the other

It being apple season and all, we've been peeling, coring, and slicing a bunch. We're eating and drinking (got some fresh pressed cider too) more than an apple a day and so far, have four bags of sliced apples and six pints of applesauce in the freezer. Since we have an abundance (like the song goes -- a bushel and a peck!) this weekend will find us fixing more of the same, along with several loaves of another favorite, pumpkin-apple bread.

Dogwood Update:

Our ailing tree has received its three treatments but being that it's losing leaves naturally because of the season, it not obvious to me that there's been any improvement. The tree doc seems to think it will recover, but it's pretty much a wait-and-see thing until it starts budding and leafing in the spring. That's also when the dead wood (hopefully not the whole tree!) will be removed. *sigh*

Baby B is 4 months old already! How can that be? I hate that I'm in MD and he's in SC and I'm missing soooo much of his growing. He's in good hands though - his SC grandparents dote on and spoil him rotten -- just as it should be! ;-)

sweet, sweet baby boy!

Got my mammogram done (it was normal,) had our six month check-ups, and got stuck for our flu shots. I have one more doctor's appointment next month and then we're good to go for another six months. Yay! Well, not counting one unpleasant appointment we haven't made yet... we're both due for colonoscopies this year. Ughh!!

Okay, I lied. I just remembered... I also have to make an appointment to get my eyes checked. I'm a bit overdue and my glasses are starting to deteriorate. ♫A chipped lens here, a scratched lens there, here a lens, there a lens, everywhere a lens, lens!♫ lol Anyway, that's another one I'm not looking forward too -- I hate picking out new frames.

Oh yum! Lew came home with a half dozen beets this afternoon, so I'll be roasting and freezing them this weekend too. Loooove roasted beets! We have a devil of a time finding them with any regularity at the grocer's around here, though and the orchards we frequent carry mostly fruits, not veggies. Definitely have to find a better source cuz I know we can't be the only beet-lovers in the area! We may just have to start growing our own (wink, wink, Claudia!)

So, that's what I've been up to. If I don't answer the phone, come looking for me under the apple/beet peels!

Yet more doings....

Along with all the family fun this summer, we still had other pressing needs to attend to.

First, was my prized (to me, anyway) pink dogwood, which was definitely in dire straits. Initially we thought the dead branches we were seeing this past spring were due to the extreme winter we had. On the advice of our tree trimmer, we tried a few things but nothing seemed to help. Finally, we called on the services of a regular tree doctor type, and turns out my poor tree is pretty ill. Seems it's suffering from root rot, probably caused by too much water from our sprinkler system. That accounts for the dead and dying branches. It's also under attack from borers, which can happen when a tree is stressed, and it also has a case of powdery mildew, caused by weather conditions. My tree is a mess!

So, presently it's on a three month treatment plan for all of the above. While the tree doc gave a somewhat positive prognosis, I'm not too convinced as I continue to see more branches dying back. I'm thinking it's probably pretty iffy... but, we shall see. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

dead branches don't belong on an otherwise blooming tree

borers are munching on my poor little tree

Then, there was the driveway. Over the years, it was becoming harder and harder to maintain, in spite of regular and periodic applications of sealants, etc. I guess thirty-some years is a pretty good lifetime for a driveway. There were no major breaks, but the cracks were becoming a concern, so it it was time.

The contractor determined that the base foundation was good, so we only had to have it resurfaced.

the equipment arrives

lots of workers getting 'er done!

nice job!!

I think I'm all caught up now on my away time happenings... back to my regular mundane babbling!

Getting there...

We've spent most of the past week outdoors weeding and digging and planting and then weeding and digging and planting some more! I say "we" but I really mean "he" because Lew does all of the heavy work ... but I'm real good at providing moral support and supervision!! ;-)

Gardening Chores To Do List

Rose Bed
☑ pest spray roses
☑ enrich soil
☑ plant Gerbera daisies around
☑ spread anti-slug granules around hosta
☑ water/mulch

New Front Bed
☑ dig bed
☑ enrich soil
☑ plant hostas/impatiens around tree
☑ spread anti-slug granules
☑ water/mulch

Mailbox Garden
☑ weed/clean up;
☑ transplant black-eyed susan;
☑ enrich soil
☑ plant remaining impatiens
☑ water/mulch

Front Corner Bed
☑ weed/dig out sedum
☑ dig spot for black-eyed susan
☑ enrich soil
☑ water/mulch

Backyard Bed
☑ weed backyard bed;
☑ thin/dig out sedum;
☑ dig spot for lily;
☑ enrich soil;
☑ plant New Guinea impatiens;
☑ transplant lily from side bed;
☑ water/mulch

Around Deck
☑ prune winter-damaged weeping Japanese maple
(in progress)
☑ prune damaged azaleas
☑ feed azaleas
☑ enrich soil
☑ plant geraniums
☑ water/mulch

West Side Bed
☑ thin lilies/salvia
☑ plant tickseed (coreopsis)
☑ water/mulch

Front Fence Azalea Bed
☒ replace 1 azalea
☒ feed all
☒ mulch
☑ replace rotted wood border between beds with stone blocks
(in progress)

Front Porch Azalea Bed
☒ plant annuals (haven't decided what yet)
☒ feed azaleas
☒ mulch

Rhodendron Bed
☒ replace damaged rhodo
☒ feed all
☒ mulch

West Side Fence
☒ dig spots for 4 hibiscus plants
☒ plant
☒ water/mulch

Back Yard Azalea Bed
☒ maneuver 4 railroad ties (120 lbs ea!) to rear of bed
☒ weed (again!)
☒ feed all
☒ mulch

Lilac Beds
☒ spray lilacs
☒ weed
☒ dig up shoots to give to neighbor
☒ mulch

Miscellaneous
☒ decide on future/treatment of my prized pink dogwood - not only did it suffer severe winter damage but it may be diseased as well *sniff*
☒ the shed is in dire need of a paint job - some time soon
☒ add dividing stone border in east side bed
☒ I'm sure I'm forgetting something that needs doing!

Phew!! No wonder we've been sleeping so well! Check out Lew's Other Pics for a few photos.

Hummmmmm...

Oh joy! My tiny little flyers have returned for the season and I am ready to be entertained.

I bought another feeder this year in hopes of avoiding some of the territorial battles that went on last season, but haven't decided where to hang it yet. Maybe we'll do one in the backyard and another in the front. Dunno.

These were late-in-the-day quickies through the patio door, so they're not terribly detailed, but you get the idea - at least you can see it's a hummer.

...how does your garden grow?

Very well, thank you! Well, hopefully very well. How well remains to be seen.

For more years than I care to remember, I've wanted a bed of hosta around either our front yard maple or our back yard oak. For one reason or another, we just kept putting it off - there were other beds to dig, other things to plant, etc., etc., etc. Well, this was the year and it's finally done. Our maple has hosta underneath it!

Lew has worked very hard the past two days measuring, digging, and laying border blocks. The major chore and time-eater was digging through and around thirty-five years worth of root growth. Jeez, what a job!! He persevered, however, and I'm loving the results:

Measuring blocks and plant placement...

Extra soil, compost, and peat moss ready for the plants...

Hostas and companion impatiens all planted...

and looking pretty as can be!!

Now all we have to do is keep the slugs and rabbits from turning it all into a buffet and the neigborhood cats from making it their personal litter box!

Turning in the wind...

One of the pretties we picked up at Oktoberfest was this different wind spinner. It's ever so pretty as is, but glows and glitters like a jewel when the sun hits it at certain angles. Mesmerizing...






The tail with the amber ball creates an optical illusion when the whole thing continuously spins; the ball looks like it's moving up and down the spiral - very cool!!

Not your ordinary visitor...

So, I'm hanging over my porch railing, clipping some creepy-looking leaf gall off of my azalea (compliments of all the rain and cool weather we've had these past several months,) when I look up and see a couple walking by with what at first looks like one really biiiiig dog. I did a double take and then realized I was looking at the rear-end of a GOAT on a leash, walking down the road! Now, I know we live out here in the rolling hills of Frederick county where we have our share of cows, horses, and other farm critters, but still. You usually see them on the farms, not walking down the street in your residential development, you know?

So I sez to the couple "is that a goat?" (brilliant observation, huh?) which of course prompted them to stop for a chat. Seems our neighbors (they live a few houses down) are good samaritans who rescue animals. They rent a pasture nearby where they keep several goats, sheep, and even a horse. I've never seen them, but occasionally they bring the sheep to their house to "trim" the lawn. The stuff you find out when you're going about your day!

The little guy's name is TyeDye and what a friendly little guy he is. He let me pet him and I discovered goats have very coarse hair. But, underneath that coarse guard hair is a soft undercoat of cashmere (or mohair, depending on the kind of goat.) They've got weird eyes too -- with rectangular pupils. The better to keep watch over broad flat areas against predators and such. Oh, and did you know they poop little pellets?? Just like rabbits. Pop, pop, pop -- out they come, like bubbles. Fascinating stuff!

My friendly visitor,

TyeDye the goat.

While we talked, he attracted good bit of attention. Two mommy neighbors drove by with their kiddies, and stopped to ask if they could come in to see the goat. The little ones were enthralled by the idea of a goat in the front yard. It was cute.

An interesting diversion to an otherwise ordinary day.

For the birds

Several years ago we used to feed the birds on a regular basis. I had several feeders in the front and back yards and really enjoyed watching the variety of feathered critters who would come to visit ... cardinals, gold and housefinches, sparrows, wrens, titmice, mourning doves, woodpeckers, bluejays ... the list goes on and on. We even managed to somehow keep the squirrels out of the feeders with a simple baffle. I'm convinced we must have had the dumbest squirrels in MD because most squirrels get around most baffles with no problem.

Anyway, over a period of time, the big birds took over, the feeders deteriorated, and I just got weary of supplementing the crows and starlings as they scared away the smaller, prettier birds. An infestation of moths in the birdfood stored in the basement didn't help either (needless to say, birdfood does not even make its way into my house anymore!) and eventually I gave up feeding them and just continued to fill the two birdbaths for them to drink and frolic in.

With the arrival of the hummingbirds to the patio flowers last year,


I had already decided to try a hummingbird feeder again, which is now hanging by the backyard bench, patiently waiting for their return.


Because I enjoyed watching the birdies feed in my brother and sister's yards while we were there, I also decided to give more feeding another try. So, we picked up a finch feeder and some thistle (which is stored in the outside shed!) and it too is waiting for the little ones to discover it.

I figure I'll start small and see what happens.

Squirrely

I'm thinking the squirrels know something we don't. For the past couple of weeks the furry critters living in our backyard oak have been scurrying around hither and yon and digging like crazy. Methinks they're readying themselves for some looong months of winter coldness.


I got a shot of this one munching on an acorn the other day, but much to my disappointment, missed a great shot of one today. The fearless little bugger hopped onto the patio, strolled up to the patio door, nonchalantly stood up on its hind legs and stared in through the glass! It just stood there for what seemed the longest time, looking at me and checking out the rest of the room.

By the time I got my camera turned on and ready, it had satisfied its curiousity and jumped on back into the yard to gather more acorns. *sigh*

They're everywhere, they're everywhere...

Perhaps the cooler weather is playing a part, I don't know, but there seemed to be an unusual flurry of activity among the woodland critters in our back yard today.

(The squirrel post is doing double-duty with my photo blog today.)



Our resident back-yard rodents have been frolicking and chasing one another (and the birds) pretty much all day. At one point, one of the local stray cats slinked (slunk?) ... whatever... snuck over to see what was going on. Too late! The squirrel saw it and scurried up the post to safety while the cat waited and watched from under the Japanese maple below. No dummy he, the squirrel just outwaited it until the cat finally ran off to chase something else.

(click photo for enlargment)

Later on, I noticed some movement across the yard at the fence. At first glance, I thought it was a couple of dogs playing but as I continued to look, realized it was two deer. On closer examination, I discovered it was three deer -- a mommy with her two little ones, a he and a she!! How exciting!

You can't really tell so much from this photo (Lew's Pics has a darling series of better photos) but the little buck on the left has tiny little antler buds forming and the doe on the right still has her baby spots.

They munched on the vegetation along the fence for a while and then disappeared into the cornfield.

Still later, our resident hummingbird made one of its several daily visits. I've actually discovered we have at least two of the little hummers -- saw them both together a couple of weeks ago but wasn't quick enough to get a photo.

I've been snapping away since I discovered the little guys in July and have almost 200 (!) photos of them now that I really should do something with... maybe a mosaic. Some day.

So, anyway, it seems to be getting busier in our backyard -- I also saw a chipmunk earlier this week which, of course, disappeared before I could grab my camera -- and Mother Nature's little beasts are providing me with a great deal of photo ops and viewing pleasure. :)

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's...

SuperSquirrel!!

Looking up is this week's theme on my Project 365+1. So, I go out on the front porch to look up and around the immediate neighborhood and maybe get a picture of something interesting. Out of the corner of my eye, I spied some movement on the edge of the roof, but when I looked, caught only a glimpse of something moving back quick and then a bird flying off to the side. Not thinking anymore of it, I sat down and resumed looking around.

All of a sudden, out of that same corner of my eye, I see something come off the roof, and almost simultaneously, hear a thump. Turning my head, I see a squirrel pick itself up off the ground where it landed, glance at me as if to say "I meant to do that," and scurry under a nearby rhododendron bush! A few seconds later, it scurried across the grass to the maple tree and disappeared somewhere up into its heights.

Cha!! I was flabbergasted! The stupid thing jumped off the roof! With a big ol' maple tree and its branches sitting right there for it to jump onto, the goofy animal jumped off the roof! Now, I've always known our squirrels were a bit intellectually challenged, but I never suspected they were into hari kari! Or maybe it just miscalculated and fell, but it sure didn't look that way.

Oh, and even more stupid? There I sat, mouth open and camera in hand, and not.one.picture... not a one! *sigh*

Where have all the birdies gone?

You may remember my kitty saga from last summer - (here, here, and here if you're interested.) Well, in spite of capturing one mama and four babies, it seems the beasties have multiplied anyway. We are now seeing, at a minimum, at least seven - count them, s.e.v.e.n !! - more cats roaming around the immediate area, including, of course, our back yard. They've made themselves quite comfy under the bushes and on the deck/patio, and are enjoying chasing the squirrels 'round and up the trees and across the yard. Oh, yes, and did I mention?? Taking over my flower beds for their potty too. Grrrrr.

So now, besides driving my two indoor beasties quite nuts, we've noticed that the birds have become scarce as well. Used to be we'd see all kinds of feathery critters visiting - cardinals, blue jays, robins, wrens, sparrows, woodpeckers, finches, etc., etc. - especially in the springtime. I can't remember the last time I saw a blue jay cracking open an acorn. It appears they've all gone on cat alert and found a safer yard to visit.

Since I don't see a dog anywhere in our near (or far) future, methinks a trip to Animal Control may be...