My Lawn

More storms will be coming through tonight.  Must be getting close 'cause Whip keeps woofing - like she's hearing the far off thunder.  Last night's storms completely filled the rain barrel.  I turned off the diverter and put a lid on the bin.  Didn't need to water the plants today since Mother Nature did that adequately overnight.  I've also turned off the heat in all of the buildings.  No more temps below freezing so figure I'd tough it out until warmer weather comes in.   Can always use the fireplace to heat the house and I haven't taken the electric blanket nor quilts off the bed yet.    

Happened to be outside this afternoon as the Waste Management truck went past my place.  They wrote everyone around here announcing they wouldn't be picking up in our area anymore.  A week or so later reversed that decision with an e-mail saying if customers wanted to stay w/ the company to let them know.   I don't know how many stayed and how many, like me, found a different provider.  Interesting that after all of the fuss, they still  drive right past my place.

Boxelder Samaras

 Another day when I didn't get as much done as I'd hoped.  All of the overwintered plants are moved from Sleipnir to the deck.  I realized I'd forgotten one pot as I started putting away things on the flower benches.  Will probably set it out in front of Sleipnir but it only has one geranium and needs something extra added - will pick up alyssum from one of the local greenhouses.  The large garbage bin I'd moved into Sleipnir in the fall  and filled w/ water had worked well for watering all winter long.  I used up the last of it in my potting/repotting activities this month.  Today moved it to the edge of my deck and reattached the rain gutter diverter.  Coming storms should fill up the container w/ water off the roof and I can water the plants on the deck using it.  The Memorial Day flowers and the herbs are still in Sleipnir.  Forecast is for a couple of nights next week with night time temps in the high 30's.  Not close enough to freezing to worry about the flowers out on the deck but maybe a bit too cold for my herbs and I mollycoddle the flowers that will be put on the gravesites until after their debut.

Haven't mowed the lawn yet.  It's beautiful w/ a carpet of light blue violets, enough dandelions to keep any early pollinators happy, and dotted w/ white wild strawberry blossoms.  Saturday morning I listen to Garden Talk on NPR and the people calling in are desperate to remove various non-grass encroachments to their sterile green lawns.  They don't know what they are missing.

Tick count 6.

 

Indigo Bunting

Didn't get as much done as I planned but at least have a good start on spring activities.  The weather has swung back to warm and there isn't any below freezing temps forecast for at least the next 10 days.  Finished planting everything but my wellie boots.  I may look around for other shoes (or something) to plant w/ impatiens this year.  

The lilacs had been setting on buds during this week's freezes.  The buds were so small I wasn't sure if they had frozen and would crumble if touched.   With the rain last night and sunshine today the buds are exploding in size so there will be sweet smelling flower clusters soon.   I grabbed my "Keep Off.  Pesticides Applied" signs and pounded them in on either side of the original lilacs out by the road.  Last year they worked well - hopefully they will have the same effect this year.

Noticed some yellow rocket coming up at the edge of my lawn.  The gravel that was put down when Mjolnir was built was full of yellow rocket seed and there have been a few plants that have popped up ever since.  If it's blooming by my driveway, I assumed it would also be blooming in the far hay field.  Every year I go out and pull the stuff out.  Whip and I jumped in Jormungandr and went out to see.   I slowly drove the perimeter of that field but only found a few stalks on the NW section.  Pulled those and threw them in the truck bed.  Either my vigilant picking every year has practically eradicated the stuff or it's still a little early in it's blooming cycle.  Probably the latter.  Whip and I will need to check back there periodically for the rest of the spring.  Tonight's tick check count was six.

Baltimore Oriole (female)

Had the follow up w/ the cardiologist to see a) how I was tolerating the new medication she had put me on, b) if it had taken care of my a-fib, and c) next steps.  I was tolerating the medication well, it had not done the trick, so she scheduled me for a conversion.   Since the grocery store is just down the street from the clinic I stopped afterward to pick up provisions.  I should have done it last week but for various reasons just never felt in the mood.  My early morning appointment meant I hadn't eaten breakfast.  I picked up more than I needed.  Breakfasts will be a feast for the rest of the week.

We can have freezing temps up until Memorial Day.  My cardiologist said for Mother's Day her husband and daughter had taken her to a greenhouse to pick out plants.  She hadn't realized it would frost that night and was now worried some of her new plants won't make it.   I can't  want until Memorial Day for all of my springtime activities so I'm dong those things which won't care if it frosts - put out the garden poles my sister painted and moved around deck furniture.  It was so inviting that I sat out there, read the paper, and threw a treat for Whip into the tall grass occasionally.  (Looks like I'd better mow soon.)

Whip started barking after sunset.  I could just make out deer grazing in the meadow.  Too dark to see if there were any fawns yet.  Watched something low and sleek walk past the stockade fence and jump in through the gate.  Again too dark to see for sure what it was but suspect it's one of my neighbor's cats.  If they want to hunt here for mice, I'm all for it.  Whip is still barking - rabbits cleaning up under the birdfeeders?

Wild Strawberry blossoms

I was researching something and came across National Anita Day.  It's a celebration on May 13th of all of the contributions people w/ the name of 'Anita' have made.  I sent off an e-card to Neighbor Anita hoping she had a grand day.  Wondered if there were other celebratory days for names like this one. As a sampling I checked my sibling's names.   National Philip Day is August 24th.  National Connie Day (there is no day for 'Constance') is February 27th.  National Susan Day is February 24th.  National Russell Day is July 23rd.  There is no National Brent Day - closest I could find was a Say Hi To Brett Day.  No National Douglas Day though there is a National Douglass Day on February 14 in honor of Frederick Douglass.  I noticed that my parents must have given us names they liked rather than have all of our names rhyme, start w/ the same letter, or be specific to a nationality.   Philip originates in the Greek and means 'lover of horses'.  Constance is Latin for 'constancy'.  Susan is Hebrew and means 'lily'.    Russell is an Anglo-Norman nickname meaning 'red hair'.  Brent is from the Celtic meaning "flame"/"fire" (though Brent says it means 'goose').  Douglas is from the Scotch word for 'Dark River'.   Meanwhile my oft-used pseudonym of 'Electra' also has no national day.  The name comes from the Trojan War saga where Electra is the daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra and ...- but that's a different story.

Pussytoes

Friend Nancy picked me up around 7:30 a.m. and we stopped off in the village for breakfast at the cafe.  Then it was off to Winter Greenhouse.  Nancy had geraniums to pick up for her family's cemetery plots, some vegetable plants her husband likes to grow, petunias & alyssum for hanging pots, and various other plants.  We had a good time looking around.  Somehow I managed not to pick up another daylily though it was a struggle.  Today my mission was herbs.  Herbs look really cute all bunched together in a pot but they don't grow well that way.  Chives makes everything smell like onion.   Basil wants it warmer than everyone else.  Mint takes over the whole pot.   I'll plant each herb separately in it's own pot so they can do their own thing.   I'm looking forward to fresh basil and thyme in my omelets, crisp lettuce to add to sandwiches, and refreshing mint in my water this summer.

Spring Sunset

 Excerpts from the Sheriff's Report:

12:19 a.m. - Caller stopped to look at vehicle at car dealership and noticed a car that had interior lights blinking and flashing.  Officer who had already looked at the vehicle stated it was an electric car on a charger.

12:31 a.m. - Officer reports lights on and cars outside of Sports Bar, but all doors are locked.  People in bar visible through window.  Officer knocked on back door while other officer watched the front door.  Officer saw individual trying to hide in a closet.  Other individual answered the door and said first individual was not there.  Individual in closet was discovered and arrested on a child support warrant.

3:30 p.m. - Blue tote with towel and red rope tied around it, lots of flies, located on the side of the power line on the trails.  Tote contained what appears to be decaying fish carcasses.  Nothing suspicious.  Just littering.

4:46 p.m. - Report of a lady leaving store without paying for groceries.  Store clerk reported female who was being very rude to customers and clerks.  Complainant warned the woman that if she didn't act civilly, he would refuse service to her.  The female left with a case of Natural Ice beer, a frozen pizza, and a fifth of vodka without paying for it.  Got into a black Ford Escape being driven by another female.  Phone number associated w/ vehicle no longer works.  Deputy will attempt to identify the offender.

5:47 p.m. - Caller upset that their neighbor was having an internet line replaced and the workers came on their property without permission.  Officer in contact with extremely intoxicated caller.  The box appeared to be between her property line and the neighbor.  Officer attempted to explain when complainant got upset and began to curse at the officer.  Caller requested the Sheriff's office come to her residence.  She was told they would not be coming.  Later multiple phone calls from same complainant stating a live wire is down in her yard.  She was told unless she has an emergency to stop calling.  If she continues she'll be issued a citation.

6:18 p.m. - Caller states animal control dropped off a letter and entered the residence when only their kid was present.  Reporting party wants to speak with a deputy.  Dispatch left a message with animal control.  Deputy spoke with resident and his son.  It appears animal control came to the residence to give them a warning letter of their animal violation.  The son said animal control knocked on the door and he took the letter.  Deputy spoke with animal control officer who stated she went to the house to deliver the warning letter but she never go out of her vehicle as the animals were loose.  The child came and took the letter from her.

6:49 p.m. - Clinic reporting a male carrying a gun in ER.  He was located and disarmed in the hospital.  He stated his friend was having a heart attack so he took him to the hospital and forgot he still had his gun.  Officer brought male home to get a picture of his concealed-carry permit.  A follow-up will be done at a later date and he will get his gun back then.

10:39 p.m. - Female entered the Law Enforcement Center lobby attempting to get a ride home.  Female speaking with dispatch began yelling at them and flipping them off.  Female lit a cigarette in lobby.  Officer told female to put the cigarette out, initially telling her she wouldn't be cited.  Then female began to yell at officer and told him she was Elvis Presley.  After female left, officer entered and there was a strong odor of cigarettes.  Citation or smoking in a government building will be mailed.

Brown Thrasher

 

Around 2 a.m. the outside light at the end of Mjolnir was activated.  I got out of bed and looked but saw nothing.  Probably a rabbit tripped the motion detector.  On the morning constitutional Whip and I disturbed a doe in the tall grass and she bounded off to the woods. Maybe it was her or one of her kin that set off the light last night.  Went out to fill the bird feeders and saw the double-sided suet feeder was missing the door and suet on one side.  Found the door a few feet away.  It had only been disconnected from the rest of the feeder so I could snap it back in place.  Probably not a bear.  When they have raided the feeders I either find them crushed or gone - never to be seen again.  Maybe a coon.  Now that all of the local fauna is roaming around freely again, I hope I won't have to start bringing in the feeders at night.

Neighbor Rose reminded me on Friday that Mother's Day is coming up and I should have a hummingbird feeder out.  I hadn't yet since it had been so cold but she was right.  I put up a feeder that day.  Had an oriole visit but no hummers.  Today, however, I saw one stop and grab a quick drink before flying off.  Maybe it was going further north.  The second hummer visited closer to sunset and this one stayed and drank long from the feeder.  It will stay at least overnight.  Glad I got the feeders out in time for these first vanguards.

Cinnamon Rolls - before and after

Errands this morning started out w/ picking up my mail.  Drove over to the library.  Years ago, Winter Greenhouse handed out plant tags w/ the customer's account number encoded on them.  I suspect more as an advertising gimmick.  The cashiers are adept at looking up a customer's name since so many of those tags have been lost.  I still have mine though now it  has two serious cracks in it.   The cashier said I might want to have it laminated - something I knew the library could do for me.  While I was at the library I also picked up a book that had come in for me w/ the morning courier.  Drove off to the County Seat.  The clinic had texted me that I had an unpaid bill but I'm so old-school that I waited for them to send me the bill in the mail.  Since that wasn't coming, I just bopped in to one of the clinic's greeting stations, asked if they would take my check, and was out again in less than five minutes.  Stopped by Grandpa's Pizza to pick up a couple of frozen ones for the future.  Then to the Chinese Restaurant for a carton of rice.  I debated just buying a carton of their fried rice but I really like making my sister's fried rice recipe - which is made even simpler if I use the wonderful rice from this Chinese place.  Stopped off on the way out of town to pick up something for lunch when I got home.

This afternoon Neighbor Anita invited me over to try her homemade cinnamon rolls.  On the way to Winter Greenhouse on Monday we had stopped off at Toad House and she had ordered one of their cinnamon rolls.  She still had a yen for them so made a batch yesterday.  Must admit they tasted as good as Mom made so will try using Anita's recipe next time I make them.  Big Plus: she sent two home w/ me for my breakfast.

The pictures are from Anita Dearhamer.

Wild Turkey

 I started out the day e-mailing my federal government representatives.  I don't feel I'm haranguing them since it's something different every time I write.   However, based on responses I've received (when I receive one)  neither they nor their aides actually read my missives.  Writing just helps me blow off steam.  Probably just as well that they go unread - I might suddenly have CIA show up at my doorstep.  Could even be ICE since pretty sure my great grandparents never formally became citizens after immigrating in the late 1800's.

Most of the day was cloudy but I noticed when Whip and I were out on the nightly constitutional the sky was clearing.  We are in another cool spell so cloudy days and cloudless nights mean frost.  The peonies have seemed to be OK through the other frosts.  One bunch bent over but straightened up again in the sunshine.  The stalks are now taller,  turning green, and leafing out.  I waited until the sun had set and the winds abated before going out and covering the young plants w/ sheets.  Will take the sheets off in the morning but not take them in.  Possible frost for the next two nights before the weather becomes warmer.

Spring Turkey season is still on-going.  I watched this one stroll across the lawn this afternoon.  I checked on-line to see when it would end (May 26) but was surprised at a hunting site admonishing hunters to "Avoid red, white, or blue clothing to prevent being mistaken for a turkey."   Yikes!  I think a better rule would be "unless you can see that it's a turkey, you shouldn't be aiming at it."

Sunset

Picked up Neighbor Anita and we went to Winter Greenhouse.  It takes awhile to get there so we were able to catch up during the drive.  The greenhouse opens at 8:30 and we arrived maybe around 9.  I'd fretted about it might be busy as it was the week before Mother's Day but Anita reassured me we were early enough in both the day and the week that we wouldn't have a problem.   She was right.  There was only one other car in the parking lot when we arrived.  We parted ways - Anita off to the herbs and I to the geraniums.  My goal was flowers for cemetery gravesites.  The  arm of the greenhouse housing geraniums was a sea of warm colors - red, pink, burgundy, coral, rosy, crimson, orange.  I chose different combinations that reminded me of each person.  It wasn't long before Anita and I met up again and checked out our purchases.  The lady before us in line asked about getting red, white, and blue flowers and the checker said they expected a run on them because of the 250th U.S. birthday celebration.   I wondered if  people wanted them for their own decorations or maybe for public places like parks or streets?   The lot had filled up w/ cars by the time we left - Anita was only partially right.   This afternoon was cool, sunny, and very windy.  Glad the potting bench was deep inside the shelter of Sleipnir.  I'd looked for new pots at the greenhouse but couldn't find any that matched what I needed.  I picked out five of my existing pots that would work and transferred their flowers into other pots w/ similar or complementary colors.  Once that was done I filled the now empty pots w/ the new geraniums I'd just bought adding in some accent plants here and there - lavender, alyssum, blue arrows.  Got them all finished tonight.   They have three weeks to grow into their pots and for their buds to mature and bloom - all hopefully by Memorial Day.

Plum Blossoms

 Phyllis Tiegs piped up during the church's 'shared celebrations & concerns' portion of the service. "It was 73 years ago this week that Otto and I walked down the aisle of this church and were married."  Otto is now in a care facility.  Phyllis though can't be in her 90's.   I must have heard wrong.    After church I saw her at the bottom of the stairs and said, "Congratulations.  Did I hear correctly that it's 73 years?"  "Oh yes/" she laughed.  Later I watched as she walked across the street to her car.  I hope I'm in as good a shape when I reach 90.

Out in Sleipnir this afternoon I was finishing cleaning up the last long trays of geraniums I'd overwintered. I snipped off a stem that had grown askew.  It had green leaves on it so reached for one of my compostable coffee cups in order to put the snippet in soil and coax it to grow into a new plant.  That's when I noticed movement - a tick was working it's way up the edge of the cup.  My potting bench is at the very back of the shed.  The cup was located atop the bench and stacked up so it was maybe four feet off the cement floor.  If ticks have wings I've never seen them.   Have to admire the tenacity of the little buggers.   I picked him off the cup, scrapped him off my finger into a plastic container w/ 16 of his kin, and popped them all into the freezer.   Ticks may have impressive capabilities but that doesn't mean I would set one free.

Tonight Whip and I went out to the plum copse.  There are enough in bloom now that the air is scented w/ their perfume.  One of the delights of spring.

Cottontail

 Whip started barking this morning at the front door.  Can mean there is a visitor or that a rabbit is taunting her by chewing grass in the front lawn.  This time it was a visitor.  "Hi Sue."  he says.  Unfortunately, I hadn't a clue who he was until he pulled a garbage bin out of the back of his van.  Oh... my new garbage pickup company!  If you remember, Waste Management announced they wouldn't pick up in the area after April 20th.  Then they picked up their bins on April 13th.  To add insult to injury I think they still owe me for another month of pickup.  Just happy to be shed of them.  The new garbage pickup rep was pretty upbeat and said they were signing on more customers at a rate of at least three a week.  He also understood why many of us were so disgusted w/ Waste Management and the other pickup company in the area 'Republic'.  He said, "Garrett was paying $200 and the guy that takes care of dogs was paying just over $50 for the same service."   My new garbage pickup day is Monday - same as before so I should be able to remember it.  His service costs a few dollars more per quarter than what I was paying but is well worth it to me if cuts out the constant cost escalations and add-on's of his competition.  I'm hoping this new business makes a  go of it.

Replacing the Windshield

Today was the appointment to replace my car's windshield.  The crack from the stone was slowly growing so good thing I hadn't waited on it.  Dropped off the car and walked down to the Family Store (maybe 1/2 a mile).  Turns out that is the place where all the guys congregate for breakfast before going off for the day.  Talk included getting ready for the golf course to open, hunting turkey (there is a spring season), and farming.  After breakfast I walked up to the Toad House for a latte.  Talk there was a little the same and a little different - plans for fishing (it is the fishing opener this weekend) and people's various operations.  I sat back and went through the ballot for the Honeywell Board - looking up each candidate and writing 'yes', 'no', or 'maybe' next to their name.  Will get on-line and vote when I'm back home.  Next I went through the documentation showing how the Honeywell pension fund is doing.  While I was still working there the company stopped offering pensions.  Those of us vested were offered to continue our pensions or take a buy-out when we left.  I still remember Co-Worker Suresh coming up to me and saying he would never speak to me again if I didn't stay w/ the pension fund.  He was right as he often was when it came to finances.  I got a call that the car was almost completed so walked on back to the auto shop.  Finished a few more errands before going home.  It froze last night and probably will again tonight.  Hope the peonies can hang in.