Slip -Slidin' Away

  So I was out on the deck the other day picking berries from the black-rasperry bushes that are taking over the deck, yard and porch. There were squirrels wondering what I was doing to their snack-bush, robins that were startled to find me rustling around in their lunch, chipmunks that were curious about my presence and various other birds and bugs that didn't care what I was doing. But it's the chipmunks that provided the most entertainment.

As I picked a particularly juicy berry from the bush I heard a commotion - soft, startled, yet muffled squeaks echoed across the deck along with the screech of claws scrabbling on metal . The chipmunk had apparently tripped and catapulted head-first down the downspout. He put up quite a fight - for quite some time I heard the slow, descending squeal of claws as he fell, little legs outstretched, vainly trying to stop his downward spiral to the no doubt dirt-and-bug-infested bottom of the downspout. But to no avail - there was no fighting gravity!

So after that racket, I heard the pitter-patter of teensy paws along the 10 foot length of pipe that travels under the deck. Unfortunately, the end that lets out into the grass is partially squashed. I looked it over and thought there might be just enough space for a panic-stricken rodent to squeeze through. I know that rodents are particularly squishy when it comes to getting in and out of tight spots. I bent down and tried to pry it open a bit.I heard some more startled squeaks and the pitter-patter of little feet back up the pipe toward the house. Then shortly thereafter, a bit more squeaking of nails on metal as he tried again to climb back up the pipe.

I decided to leave him be for a bit. He wasn't going to come out while I was there messing with the bottom of the pipe. Maybe if I left it be, he'd venture out, squashing himself flat and slithering out.

I don't know if he ever did get himself out. There are no more squeaks coming from the pipe, but there's also no rotting rodent smells either so I think he made it out OK. That's what I'll tell myself anyway.

Quack!

It's Wooly Bear Season

  Don't you just love wooly bear caterpillar season? Me too! I've seen quite a few so far this year.

The other day while I was at Dunkin' Donuts getting myself several donuts some coffee, I ran into one crossing the sidewalk. I think he wanted some coffee but I'm not sure. In any case, the ducklings and I took him for a little ride. We didn't think he was safe on the rowdy sidewalks of Dunkin' Donuts, so we drove him over to the mall and let him go in some nice big fluffy bushes. He seemed very happy.

Then I ran into another in the backyard. He was strolling across the grass, all fuzzy and cute. I brought him in the house for a short visit with the ducklings, then let him go in the willow tree. He really took off up the trunk! He was a caterpillar on a mission!

And of course I've seen plenty crossing the road. Just the other day Sweet Pea and I were driving along the highway and I said, "Oh no! I hope I didn't run him over?"

"Who?" asked Sweet Pea, looking at me quizzically.
"The wooly bear caterpillar. Didn't you see him?"

I think she thought I was crazy. Who sees caterpillars crossing the road when you're going 70 mph?

I do, that's who! I hope I didn't squish him!

Quack!

Spider Smashing Stick

The other day I mentioned my contraption fence that I put around the tomato plants. I'm hopeful that it will keep the groundhogs out. But I know it won't keep the spiders out.

I know for a fact that the spiders like tomato cages. They can make some very elaborate webs in those things. And I'm sure that now that I have these tomato cages all clustered together it will create new opportunities for web building. For the sake of the anticipated tomato picking I left a path of sorts between the pots. I have to step over a pot here and there, but it's navigable. At least until the spiders get their webs strewn across the path with the hopes of catching me unprepared. I would make quite a meal.

So, I've got my spider beating stick at the ready. I plan to use it for sweeping webs out of the way, but if it comes down to it, I can use it for spider smashing too.

Quack!

Munchin' on Tomatoes

I decided to be proactive. Not too long ago I mentioned that I have some tomato plants and that so far they are untouched by the groundhog family that lives in the yard. But I just know as soon as the tomatoes turn red, they will be fair game for the varmints. So, I got out my tools and my cable ties, chicken wire and fence bits and got to work. After a few scratches, a bit of sweat, a few mosquito bites and minimal swearing, I was done. Voila:

I checked and double checked and don't think the critters can get in. (Not easily anyway). My lettuce and tomatoes are safely wrapped in wire.

I know I'm being very optimistic. I know that critters are very resourceful, but I'm hopeful. However, I fully expect to go out onto the deck someday and find all 5 of the little buggers trapped INside the fencing, happily munching tomatoes.

Quack!

Hello Phillip

I had a garden. I no longer have a garden. Too much work. Too many weeds. Weeds won. 'Nuff said.

But I still have pots. Nice big pots on the deck where I occasionally try to plant tasty things. Things that are so tasty that a groundhog will risk life and limb to climb up onto the deck. He will clamber right over to the pots that are directly outside the back door. He will hoist his hefty haunches right up into the pot and sit right in the middle, munching on my lettuce! Munching it as if he has every right to be there! Little hog!

We've named him Phil Clover DeGroundhog. The neighbors know when he's in the pots when they hear me yelling out "Phillip Clover DeGroundhog!".

He's eaten all the spinach, despite the chicken wire around the pots. He's eaten the pea plants down to the ground. He's eaten every sunflower sprout that dared show its head above the dirt.

He even managed to get his grossly oversized groundhog teeth on my lettuce. My lettuce that is surrounded by iron fence pieces AND chicken wire! Apparently he is not only a groundhog, he is also an acrobat capable of leaping and spinning over the fences and landing deftly smack dab in the center of my lettuce. Goodbye sweet lettuce. Who knew that those ponderous, squinting, waddling creatures were so clever - those lumbering little beasties. So now I'm torn between building some sort of lettuce cage out of 2x4s and wire or just letting him have the damn lettuce. I haven't decided yet which option I prefer.

Here's a picture of him when he was still post-winter slim:

On the plus side, he doesn't seem to like tomato plants. I planted several and so far they are untouched. He also does not like oregano or chives. However he is a big fan of birdseed!

Quack!

Fat, Pre-Diabetic, Hypertensive Chipmunks

Since we put out our bird feeder this summer we've gathered quite an array of wildlife. We've had visits from birds of all sorts, squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits and groundhogs. They love the free seeds!

We've also had visits from neighborhood cats and hawks. They love the free snacks too. (Chipmunks have a very loud squeak!)

Besides just being entertained by their antics, there are other benefits as well. Thanks to the squirrels I have a nice garden of sun flowers growing in my pots from all the buried sunflower seeds. Occasionally I'll see a squirrel digging at the roots of a sunflower plant, no doubt looking for the seed he knows he buried there! We also have quite a few interesting plants - probably millet and goodness only knows what else.

I've also discovered that this may be a good way to clean out the pantry without feeling guilty about throwing away the stuff we haven't eaten before it was too old and stale to be any good. The other day I found some of those bright orange peanut butter cracker sandwiches. The ducklings were fond of them for a short period of time, but now no one will touch them. And these were pretty old besides - past their 'best by' date. So I thought I'd try them out on the wildlife. Animals always like peanut butter and they don't care if it's a little old.

I've seen the squirrels nibbling at them. They pick one up in their little paws, turn it this way and that, sniff it, nibble the edges, turn it, sniff it, nibble the edges, then drop it and pick up another one - hoping that one will taste better. (the taste of store bought snacks rarely live up to their smell).

I just know what's going to happen. We're going to end up with a backyard full of fat, lethargic, pre-diabetic, hypertensive rodents. Not that there's anything inherently wrong with bright orange peanut butter crackers, but it's probably  not a healthy choice for a chipmunk (or arguably, a person). It's definitely not something their little bodies are used to. I mean, how often do they come across wild peanut butter crackers? With food coloring, salt, sugar, preservatives and other unmentionable chemicals? Not too often I think.

Now I'm torn between
1) Only feeding them healthy, natural nuts and seeds
2) Cleaning out the pantry and feeding them all sorts of garbage - saving money on seeds, but fattening them up like tiny little Paula Deans.

So hard to decide!

Quack!

Kudos to You, Mystery Bird!

When I was a kid, one day I found an empty bird's nest and brought it home. As I held it up to show my mother she casually mentioned that sometimes there are bugs in bird nests. And as the words escaped her mouth, the bugs began to show themselves. I shrieked and dropped the nest and when it hit the floor (and this memory may have grown and changed over the years) hundreds of thousands of squirmy little critters scattered in all directions as I danced and pranced trying to avoid them. They were those creepy, shiny-brown little lobster-shaped monsters that I referred to back then as penny-pinchers due to the little pinchers on the end of their front set of legs, but have heard referred to since as silverfish. In any case, ICK!

I was reminded of that the other day when Sweet Pea found a nest in a tree in the back yard. Fortunately, this one does not seem to be swarming with critters, but it is carefully encased in a bag nonetheless. A 20 pound concrete bag, covered in steel and welded shut. OK, that's what my mind was telling me to do as visions of squirmy critters rolled past at the back of my eyeballs, but really it's just a Ziplock back. It should be enough should a critter come wandering out. Unless those pincers are extra tough and manage to cut right through the flimsy plastic, letting out the swarm. No, no. don't think about it.

Let's talk instead about the nest. It is a Very Nice Nest. Whoever built it knew what she was doing! It is made of mud and sticks and bits of string. It's a nice size - a deep bowl shape and is filled with pine needles and leaves. Very cozy! I suspect it may have been robins, but it could just as easily have been sparrows, starlings or grackles. In any case, kudos to you mystery bird! (I hope she was done with it!)

Quack!

They Are Upright. They Are Green. They Are Sticking Their Tongues Out At Me.

  Remember when I used to blog about the fish and snails? Yeah, me too.

But moving on, did I tell you I planted some sunflower seeds? Yes. I planted them before the danger of frost was past. And I know what you're thinking. You're thinking that was stupid! Now they're all dead and aren't you sorry?

Well, you're wrong. I was smart and I started them inside. But that doesn't mean that they aren't all dead, most of them are in fact. They started out so nice. Of the 18 I planted, about 14 sprouted. They were so happy and green! But then I forgot to water them. Only the healthiest 7 or so survived that.

Poor little things. So I watered them. And for some crazy reason, things started to get moldy. Damn plants!! Damn dirt! Damn mold spores! So, a couple of them rotted away at dirt level and toppled right out of the dirt. Hmmm. Not doing so good. Only about 5 left. I decided they would be better off on their own. A danger of frost certainly couldn't be any more dangerous to their leafy green livlihood than I. So, they are now outside, in a pot, on their own - the 3 that managed to survive the transplanting.

But the good news is that they are doing great (so far). They are upright. They are green. They are sticking their tongues out at me and saying 'Nah na na na na'.

Survival of the fittest I guess. These little guys should be the hardiest, healthiest, strongest sunflowers the world has ever seen!


Quack!

Where Do Baby Carrots Come From?

Where do baby carrots come from? I think I know. I found these carrots in our garden. I like to think they know winter is coming and are snuggling together for warmth. Despite their cuteness, they went into the soup the other day. At least it was a nice warm place to be!

And to finish off today's post, here are a few carrot haiku's inspired by the little orange lovelies:

End of the season
Preparing for winter's cold
Two carrots snuggling

or maybe

Two carrots entwined
How do carrots procreate?
An erotic twist


Quack!

Mail-Order Larvae

 So, I just finished ordering mail-order larvae. That's right. Mail-order larvae. You see, Snickers just got a ladybug kit (a belated birthday gift). It comes with a nice little ladybug habitat and a coupon for ordering some ladybug larvae. Very exciting! So I placed my order and now we have to wait 1-3 weeks with bated breath for it to arrive.

And, to top it off. Remember this?

That cute little blackberry eating monstrosity I discovered a few weeks back? Do you know what it is? I couldn't believe it when I saw it. Drum roll please . . .

It is . . .

Ladybug larvae!! Yes indeed. Who knew? Apparently ladybugs are little cuties in more than one part of their life cycle. Very cool!

Quack!

A Blackberry Eating Monstrosity - How Cute!

We found this bug on our blackberry bushes. There were 4 or 5 of them. Probably some blackberry eating monstrosity that will eat the bushes to the ground, infest the house and turn it to sawdust, but since I don't know for sure I can say "Awww. Look. How cute!"

He's blue and orange and has a cute compact shape. He had little spiky bumps on his back and 6 little legs. Very sweet (as long as it's on the plant and not on me.)

Quack!

Poppies! Poppies!

A poppy from the pots on the deck:

bright yellow sunshine 

The essence of summer time

reaching for the sky

Quack!

Snuggled Up Under the Zinnia Sprouts

 Aren't these the sweetest little mushrooms? I found them in one of my pots the other morning, snuggling up under the zinnia sprouts.

I imagine a whole village of little fairies lives in there, sheltering under the mushrooms in the rain and cavorting through the leaves all day. Makes you wish you were there, doesn't it?

(Just don't think how big the bugs would be if you were that small!)

Quack!

Yard Bunnies

This is our yard bunny (one of them anyway):

Isn't he sweet? We love looking out the window and seeing the little guys out there munching on clover. The kids will creep outside ever so quietly and try to sneak up on them. They can get pretty close, but of course, not close enough. Eventually the bunny takes off, 3 kids in tow.

We've watched bunny games where 3 or 4 of them chase each other around the yard. We even had a squirrel join in the fun once. It was very funny to watch a squirrel repeatedly goose a bunny! And sometimes the neighbor's cat will just sit and watch the antics. He never interferes, but just watches, probably hoping a defenseless little baby bunny will show up.

And so far they haven't gotten into the garden (thanks so a fence) or the pots on the deck.  So it's all good. 

Quack!

Our Garden

Garden and pots are planted for the summer! In the garden we have peas, cabbage, broccoli, spinach, lettuce, carrots, green beans, yellow squash, zucchini, spaghetti squash and sunflowers.

In pots on the deck we have green beans, tomatoes, green onions, green peppers, various herbs (basil, mint and parsley), strawberries, poppies, pansies, star flowers, moon flowers, marigolds and zinnias.

Holy cow! That's a lot of stuff. Especially considering we really don't eat much in the way of vegetables. I mean, we'd like to. We really would. They are good for us and all. That's why we plant them. Now we just have to actually get ourselves to eat them!

But we do somewhat. Last year we ate quite a bit of lettuce, peas, spinach and tomatoes (put into tomato sauce). And we've been using the onions and carrots from the freezer over the winter. The broccoli never quite became edible, the cabbage, watermelons and squash were dismal failures, and the peppers never really got big enough to bother with.

We also shared the carrots with the guinea pigs (especially the odd shaped ones) which they thoroughly enjoyed.

So, we did manage to grow some and also to eat some. We're healthier because of it. I'm sure. Really.

Quack!

Strawberry Squirrel

I know! I know! Where's the Calvin and Hobbes cookies I promised three weeks ago? (Was it three weeks? Or only two, I forgot.) I haven't forgotten them. They are in progress, but I've been so completely, incredibly busy lately, and then with the spectacular weather this weekend, I made no progress on them. I spent the weekend riding bikes, picnicing, gardening, walking in the sunshine, and just overall enjoying myself and my children. I needed a break! So, needless to say, no cookies. But I still have some batches planned.

In the meantime, I did find time to squeeze in a little creativity of the paint-and-paper kind recently. Here, for your viewing pleasure, is "Strawberry Squirrel".

Quack!

Random Quote of the Day

I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze
Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,

They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

~William Wordsworth, "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud," 1804

They haven't bloomed yet. These are from last year. But soon, very soon.

Quack!