Bugs, Butterflies and Birds

We are still getting lovely sunny days but the wind is cool and one can feel just a touch of fall in the air. I'm spending far too much time wandering around looking for bugs when I should be doing other things.


Come into my parlour said the spider to the fly.


Correct me if I'm wrong but I think this is a Green Comma.


And a White Admiral.

The Jays are bringing their young each day now. Sounds like a nursery at various times during the day. The young are as big as the adult.



While they are quite capable of eating on their own, the parents are still feeding them. This one, on seeing parent on a branch above with food, starting "squeaking" and fluttering wings.

While sitting having coffee,

A Dragon landed on a pansy.

Sun shining, still smiling.

Looks like it's going to be a busy summer family wise. My brother and his wife are coming home for ten days the end of the month from the states. Their daughter and her boyfriend are also coming at the same time from Australia. They will be staying at their house just outside of the city and throwing a big party, so I hear. Don't know if we'll get in for it as it would have to be just an overnighter and it's a three hour drive there and back. We shall see.

Grandson is in Amsterdam at the moment with a couple of friends from university. Granddaughter and her partner in Ontario have just moved to another Ontario town and she and grandson are hoping to come here for a holiday in August. Can't wait to see them.

Weather is holding nicely. Warm and sunny....love it!

I do like spiders, but not on me. If I see one on me I tend to do that strange yelling dance while tearing clothes off. lol. Finally found a web with spider this morning.

Lunch is served.




Beauties in the garden.






Pathway into another section of garden.


Just for fun, not real reptiles. Wish they were. Love reptiles.

Year of the Dragon

This is the first summer that I've been able to get pictures of Dragonflies. I have to thank Gallicissa for telling me that if I put some sticks in the ground they would likely land on them. He was right. I do get overly excited when I see one land, I suppose I'll get over it sooner or later, lol.

It's been hot and muggy, don't know how long it's going to last but I'm enjoying it. I've been searching around for spiders as I do like taking pictures of them but alas, no luck yet. There are webs around but guess the spiders are hidden.

A pair of crows were here last evening with a young one. Funny sound the young make, they haven't quite got the "caw" right yet. Lovely to see the family though.

Just got these pictures this morning. Click on photos to get the big picture.




And Roses have started to bloom.

Bits and Bobs.

It's been hot, in the 30's, and sunny for days now. I heard someone say that they would love to see a few flurries...NOOOOOOOOOO! I hope it stays like this for months yet. Awfully hot to be working in the garden once it gets on in the morning so trying to get somethings done early. I'm not complaining though.

Earlier on I bought some annuals, can't remember the name of them, and put them in two of the planters that are on the ground. Within an hour the chickens had them all eaten down to a stub so went over to the greenhouses and bought some pansies figuring they wouldn't bother with them, ha, ha, ha. In a short while they were also eaten up. Funny as I have pots of annuals all over and that's the only ones they've bothered with.

Not many birds around these days. Don't know why, maybe it's the heat or maybe they're going further afield. Although I think there are nests all around as I see them take food off into the trees.

Nothing exciting happening so thought I'd put on a few pictures I've taken this past couple of days.

Blue Skies, Nothing but Blue Skies...Grinning!

I expect this week will be as busy as last week. This morning I've been up in the little "cabin" trying to get things sorted out. I banged up a couple of rough shelves then started taking things out of bags and boxes. Trying to get a lot of stuff off the floor. I also put stuff in those big plastic Rubbermaid boxes and can't get the lids to snap shut. You'd think with the cost of them I wouldn't have a problem and they aren't over filled. When himself came back from his walk I got him to have a go at it but no luck. He suggests that I tie a rope around them, lol. It's getting hot here now so have given up that for today and will start again tomorrow.

Still lots of weeding to do. It seems I get an area done, then turn around and it's full of weeds again. No end to this gardening business. Oh well, I do love it.

Took some pictures of bits of the garden. Still not much in bloom as yet but in another week or two there should be tons of colour.

Flutters, Dragons and Bees

The garden is getting busy with all manner of creatures so took some time to take a few pictures.

Managed another Dragonfly shot. Don't know what kind this one is.


Some flutters





I don't know what this next one is. He wouldn't keep still and was small, had to take picture at some distance.


This picture looks sugar coated, lol


Do you suppose these two are making out. Not sure what they are.

At Last....A Summer Day!

Hot and sunny, Yay! It's been a long time coming but it's been worth waiting for. And....suppose to be the same for the next few days.

I've been so busy, I'm tired and the body is screaming out. I've put up inside shutters on two windows, I've cut and laid carpet, I've painted, I've taken all the clothes from my closet and have three large garbage bags full to get rid of, plus other stuff that I can't think of right now as my mind is starting to go to "stop". I've been filling feeders every day especially the ones that hold the sunflower seeds. The Finches in particular are devouring them.

We went to a flea market on Saturday. I bought an exercise bike for $5.00. An argument ensued as I was paying for it as Roger kept going on with "What are you going to do with it, where are you going to put it, you'll never use it. " And, he's probably right. I think it was the price that attracted me and I couldn't think any further than that, lol. I also bought a Barbie doll...don't laugh...I love them and have a collection of about 16 now. Every now and then I take them out and fix their hair and clothes while himself is telling me that I'm mad, insane, etc. etc. I also have three miniature doll houses that I've built or had help building. Every now and then I re-arrange the furniture and dishes and people, etc. in them. I'm still a little girl at heart and don't mind saying so.

Just before lunch today, I took a break and went out with the camera. A few large bees around so got a few pictures.





The garden is coming along well and the Lupins have now started to bloom. This should attract many more bees. Once the Monkshood comes in bloom along with some more of their favorite plants, there will be a constant humming in the garden. I love it, such a comforting feeling.