Tiny squirrels, tiny patience.

Started accumulating a few plants to fill up the many, many pots.  I have worked on the “dry creek bed” at the downspout area and fought the urge, fought it again, still fighting, to put something in the ground.  I have started “hardening” the few plants I have by setting them outside and then bringing them back in at night.  We have a few more days of cold nights…below 40…ahead but I think the freeze is over.  Possibly.  There’s a chance that Wednesday will get below 32.  Come on.  My patience is wearing thin.  

For the last couple of years we have had a black squirrel running around the property.  I have only seen one, at least I think its just one.  However, this morning I noticed a little bitty black squirrel, a baby, chasing around with other tiny squirrels.  Now, my old neighbor told me when we first spotted the lone black squirrel a couple years ago that they are not a separate type of squirrel but more of a rare coloring of your typical squirrel.  So, it’s not like I have new varieties of squirrels popping up, just regular old squirrels that have a degree of “melanism”.  Here’s some info, if you would care to learn more: https://animalsake.com/facts-about-black-squirrels

At any rate, the tiny little squirrels chasing around and around the wood chip pile and up and down trees this morning are very entertaining.  As soon as they start uprooting my plantings I will be less enamored, I’m sure. 


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Spring marches on.

Yesterday I watched two white birds circle the lake, hover, dive and circle again.  I watched the birds for a long time, trying to determine just exactly what they were.  I am hoping they come back today, so I can get a better view of them.  Yesterday was just too cold to walk down to the lakeshore for a closer look; today is a bit better but, they haven't shown up yet.  And, no, they were not sea gulls but, thanks for that. I have my guess as to what they were but need a closer look to know for sure. 

I am not necessarily a bird watcher. I am more of a bird appreciator but it’s not something I spend a lot of time thinking about.  In the spring, though, like today, and in the morning, I am fascinated by bird behavior.  Like, right now, for example, I glanced out the window and way, way up in the sky is a big bird, circling, I can’t make it out enough to know for sure, but my guess is its one of the bald eagles that has settled in to our area. It’s cloudy today but the sky is very blue, and this guy was easy to spot, hunting for breakfast.

I need to shake it up a bit, however, and watching out my window is one of those things I need to consider...as in giving it a rest.   Complaining *almost* silently about the snow and temperature this early April is not how I hoped it to go, and being inside even less so.  Its going to stay pretty much mid-30s today which makes it just a little too tough to dig into the wood chip pile or to think about having some dirt delivered. I am going to shop for dirt. Of all the things I would like to have for the yard this year, a load of dirt is going to be the big expense. Maybe even a load of river rock. Hey, big spender.

I am watching a woodpecker out my window now and wondering how many holes it can punch into this particular tree before the tree gives up. From the looks of the tree, thousands. I really wanted to get a picture of him to share with you, but woodpeckers flit and he's being mighty coy.  Husband and I spent a little time in the woods this past weekend, surveying the trees, picking up limbs and sticks, blowing leaves off the walking trail, explaining my ideas for the moon garden and talking about undergrowth and “weed trees”. Grateful to be able to spend a little time outside, doing what we do every spring in unspring-like temperature, but it still felt good,  I may get about an hour in the low 40s mid-afternoon today to venture out and move around some rocks.. 

 

Yesterday I put out a call for help this weekend to put in the pier.  The weather is to improve a bit and the water should warm up, at least a little, as I am sure it is not the most comfortable thing to walk in icy cold lake water.  A bonfire might come in handy, even if in the early part of the day, and of course there will be food and drink.  Because, it’s a pier raising, and still a party.  


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We will get there again.

This has been a crazy week, with the stock market going up, then down, then up…then, who knows? Then, there’s the snow issue.  I’ve written about April snow before and well, I don’t like it one bit.  I have sweet little primrose blossoms trying to push their way through and it isn’t going well for them, nor all the daffodils that sprinkle the woods with their smiley yellow.  What did they ever do except look precious and sweet?

Good news is I am watching robins daily.  Now, I am keeping an eye on the light fixtures around the house to prevent nests from appearing.  I know some of you would just say “Oh, let them nest on top of that light!” but, you know, its just not my thing.  I like birds but really don’t think they need to nest on the house.  Especially not my new light fixtures.

 

I am still struggling with the right piece of furniture to put on the front porch area.  I’m now just without anything out there.  The wicker settee that I had moved there came back in to the screen porch last week for a party and has not been moved out.  The screen porch is the next project to be completed, is about 90% and awaits the arrival of the ceiling tongue and groove boards, and the shiplap to complete the project.  Yes, shiplap.  I drank the kool-aid and admit I kind of like the look, at least for now.

Another project I am undertaking this next week is the top of my desk and the office/guest bedroom closet.  I am just going to have to bite the bullet and buy another tote for Christmas decorations that can go in the attic.  I couldn’t possibly squeeze another box in this closet, and I feel like I have condensed as much as I can.  Now, this is from the lady who doesn’t put up a tree remember?  Yes, and still has that many boxes of Christmas stuff, and there may be just a bit of Halloween crammed in that closet as well.

  

Construction is going on all around me this spring as the neighbors across the way are finishing their garage, the house next door is being renovated and the big project – the brand new house.  Its going to be noisy and not always the most convenient perhaps since we share a yard and driveway, but, we are all so excited to see that house get underway!

I am looking forward to it warming up just a bit more…to longer days and being able to sit on the deck, with a fire in the firepit, or down by the bonfire. Maybe with an adult beverage, a cheese or two, as we say goodnight to the day.   

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