I'm Over the Moon!

I finally got my first ever Dragonfly picture. I'm quite excited about it. I don't know what kind it is and the ones I've usually seen flying around don't look quite like this one and are bigger. Maybe it's a young one, I'm afraid I don't know much about Dragonflies although I think they're super. Click on pics. to enlarge.



I've been so busy all week. I had a muddy patch on part of the garden what with all the rain we've been having and it looked like the grass wasn't going to grow back. So Monday I dug up about 10 buckets of earth, no mean feat in itself as I had to go all over the place getting a shovel full here and a shovel full there. I spread that, then I dug up clumps of grass and earth that had grown into some of the beds and laid that down. I don't know how many wheelbarrows full of sod I put down, but a lot. I was going full throttle until sometime in the afternoon and I can tell you my body was burning with pain by the time I stopped. I'm pleased with it and that's the important thing.

Today I've been trying to weed but the black flies had me driven crazy and they are biting now. I had to come in many times just to get away from them but did get a bit done. Just finished mowing the grass but couldn't do the pathway going along near the stream as it's still far too wet in that area and there are trees shading it as well. Hopefully we'll get a few days in a row of sun so it has a chance to dry up.

The bees are arriving finally. Saw a few very large Bumble Bees. Also saw what I think was a Fritillary and another very small pale blue flutter.

Bees and Butterflies

You know you're losing it when you think you hear the first bee of the summer, you run at breakneck speed up the steps, in through the door, grab the camera, look frantically around all over for the bee, then discover the hum is a small engine plane off in the distance. lol

Anyway, I did see a bee later on and managed to get a picture. Not the best pic. but after all it's the first one this year so here it is.

And now, hold on to your hats. Just got first shots of Butterfly this year.

Sun then Thunder and Heavy Rain

It's now lovely and sunny. I spent most of Friday morning banging together a two platform feeder. The one I had up for years came crashing down earlier this spring and as the birds really like the platforms I figured it was time to make one, well two. Now I have one high up on either side of a large tree trunk. I figured it would take the birds a while to get use to it but they immediately landed. Very pleased with myself I was.

Saturday it rained off and on. The ground in places is very muddy, everything is soaked what will all the rain. At five pm. I had company in for food and drink. Had a grand time. Ate too much as usual when I have people in. Got to bed late so am feeling a bit stunned today.

We decided to go get a movie for tonight. Just want to get my jammies on and chill out. We went to the store to see what was available. I had a recent Richard Gere movie in my hand, himself had a Steven Segal. I looked at his and made a face, then I saw the look on his face and I relented. Sigh! Now, I have to admit that I found Steven Segal very sexy one time but he seems to have put on a lot of pounds over the years and I'm not so excited about him anymore. Shall we say that he doesn't move like he use to when he was younger. lol

Took a walk around the garden and got a few pictures.


Then I found this little angel asleep on a rock.


Saw this fly and he kept still long enough for me to take the picture.

I believe this is a Pine Grosbeck. Only saw one here once before. Managed to get just this photo before he flew off.


I think this is a Siskin.


Bleeding Heart




Sign holding up well after going through two winters of harsh weather.

June 18th., 2008

Still no sun to be seen but heigh ho, one must go on. It's warmed up considerable though and the black flies make it near impossible to work outside. Still, I did get a few things done coming in with a few bites.

A very nice person came by yesterday with a pile of net bags that I can use to pack with food for the birds. Must be a hundred or more, all on a rack so all I have to do is slip one off as needed. I filled two of the bags this morning.

Jay on one.


Minutes later, Mr. Crow has it just about finished off.



Beautiful colours on Blue Jay.

Poppy bud.


Tulip

Wood is stacked up by the wood stove. Stove going. A nice warm, enveloping heat surrounding me. The sound of rain hitting the roof. Well, it is June after all and I suppose I should be grateful as we've been known to get a bit of snow in June. It's been raining for this past three days and everything outside is so lush and green. Obviously the earth is thankful for the wet weather. The rain has been hampering my attack on the weeds but I've been going out in between showers and am getting through it.

Himself tells me this morning that he's going to a "yard sale" in the basement of a church in a nearby community. Are you going, he asks me. Not a chance says I, and don't dare bring another thing into this house, lol. Now, I have to admit that when I go to these things I tend to come home loaded down with junk and then never know what to do with it so I rarely go any more.

So, the other day I made him a flag...yes, a flag. Every year he wants a new one, he designs it and buys the material and I put it together. My sewing machine is an old treadle. You know, the kind you use your feet to work and if the electricity goes you just light a candle and keep on sewing, lol. Anyway, it's a big clunker. So flag was finished and put on the flag pole. He decides he wants more stuff added to it, this after I have the machine closed up and put back in place...argh! Something I'll have to get at again in the next day or so.

The last sunny day I took some more pictures of the early blooming flowers.







Saskatoon Berry tree in bloom.

Another bird......

I don't often see in the garden. A Robin.

Had this blog just about finished when the power went...I AM NOT HAPPY! So, to start again.

Was up early this morning and had an email from our good friends saying that yesterday they had to have one of their cats put down. Liver disease, cancer. They are devastated! He was a huge, lovable boy, more like a teddy bear than a cat. The same thing happened to our Thomas a couple of years ago and to tell the truth, I still don't think we are quite over it. So sad when these things happen.

It's been a sunny day but wind has been coming from the North for days now so it was chilly. Decided to do some weeding early morning as with the chill the black flies wouldn't be bothering me. My heart wasn't in it really so didn't get much done. Then we decided to go buy some grass seed as an area that was quite wet during spring doesn't seem to be coming along very well with regards to grass. Have the seed down now and my main worry was that the chickens would eat it all, but they are not bothered with it...yet.

Spent a while sitting on the deck. Finches coming and going. It's funny because I rarely saw a finch before this year but now they are back and forth all day long. Took some pictures. I know, I know, I've put on lots of finch pictures. What can I say....here they are.







And then we have "Chicken at Rest"

Clever Crow

The old body is a bit of a wreck, but I'm getting through it all. Still have to take green house doors off and re-do, also re-do the chickens "greenhouse area". Then weed, weed, weed! Did some already but chickens see me at it and are under foot, or should I say, under hands. Scratching around where I'm trying to dig, all muttering to themselves. Me talking to them as if they could understand. The weather has been a bit chilly with frost warnings a couple of nights this past week. Perennials are coming up nicely.

I helped a neighbour out with her yard sale yesterday morning. Was suppose to start at 10:00, but people came at 9:30 and an hour later most of the stuff was sold. Then, figured I'd give my body a break and relaxed for the rest of the day. Not much else happening at the moment.

Clever Crow

Is it Wednesday already! I've been so busy lately. Parents arrived around lunch time last Thursday, had lunch then my mom and I hit the greenhouses. My father brought his new video camera and on the way to the car I looked up and there he was taking a video of our progress. I yelled for him to stop, he wouldn't, so I put my large purse in front of my face. Let me tell you it's not easy to walk with your face covered. We came back with our arms full of annuals and as I was coming through the gate, there he was with the video camera again. I put the plants down and grabbed the hose, pointed it at him and threatened to use it. Ok, ok, he says, and that was the end of that! lol.

Friday arrived. In the afternoon a couple of people stopped by to see the parents which was great as my dad gets really bored when he's here. He's a mall walker! No malls in this area I'm afraid. We had a lovely afternoon, coffee and lots of cookies. I've never eaten so many before...argh...my mom brings lots of sweets when they come. Then that evening more company came, more sweets, but it was a good day. They left early Saturday morning and phoned when they arrived home saying they saw a momma bear with two cubs along the way. I asked my dad if he got a video of them, No, he says, he didn't want to stop. Says he's sorry now he didn't.

Sunday we were invited to Brunch at a friends house. A nice crowd of us there and what a spread of food, wow. Lots of different breads, cheeses, beans, scrambled eggs, buns, fruits, jams, I could go on and on. It was fantastic.

Monday we had an appointment with a new dentist, wasn't happy with the one we had. He's from Romania and a very nice young man. I had a couple of small cavities and he had a problem getting the teeth frozen. I was not happy! This has never happened to me before. Anyway, all in all it wasn't too bad. Got home around supper time. I was beat, it was a long day.

Yesterday I spent the day in the garden potting up plants, etc. Just stopped long enough for lunch and supper. There is some colour in the garden now. Not much yet mind you, but enough to give me joy.

Tulip


Only noticed a little beastie in this flower when I took it off camera.


Primrose, I think!

Grape hyacinth.


I can never think of the name of this one....anyone know??