Around the Garden.

Finally we've gotten a couple of days of sun and today promises to be the same. Needless to say I've been spending some time in the garden. I can't seem to catch up. All the terrible weather has put me behind. The annuals that I bought and potted up have, for the most part, given up. They are looking stunted and pathetic. Too much rain and no sun for such a long period of time. I'm afraid they are past recovery. The black flies and mosquitoes however are thriving. Driving me indoors at times.

A busy time coming up. The parents are coming on Friday for a few days, then Monday the granddaughter, her partner and Jasper the dog will arrive. I think I'm going to have to sit the cats down and explain about the dog coming. This is not going to go over well with them. I'm told that he's been to school and is a very good dog.

And, so, some pictures around the garden.




Most of these pics are from the wild side of the garden.






Chicken having a nap in among the St. John's Wort.
And, though not in the garden, a picture of one of the boys.

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad.

Yesterday was my parents 68th Wedding Anniversary and still going strong.

And so, Another Wet Day.

Every morning I get up, look outside and let out a big sign! It's been raining for most of the month and I and many more are quite fed up with it. There is nothing but mud and water on the ground. The wearing apparel each day is rubber boots and rain gear. So much to do in the garden and it's been impossible to get at it. One bright spot, they say we will get some sun tomorrow but then rain for another week.

It hasn't stopped the birds from coming around.

Many of these, White Throated Sparrow, I believe.

The Pine Grosbeaks have arrived.



This wet little squirrel was licking water off the tree trunk.


One good thing that happened this past week was a visit from my daughter and grandson. They stayed for a few days and it was so good to see them. Andrew had flown in from Ontario the week before.


And lastly, we have this strange creature. I think it's a wonderful old thing.

Where is Summer!!!!!

The new construction on the house is almost over. Walls and ceilings have been plastered and the painting has started. A couple of more days and I expect the flooring will be put down. I will be so glad when it's all over.

I have a line up of people waiting to come out for a few days here and there. My grandson is flying in on Wednesday so he and his mother will be arriving next Monday for about four days. So, mad rush this week to get everything done. Then a friend of himself is coming for a couple of days, my parents want to come out soon, my granddaughter, her partner and dog are coming in July and we got a phone call from a friend in the states that he may be here in July and that's just the ones I've heard from so far. It's funny, some summers we hardly see anyone and other summers there are so many people coming and going that I don't know where to turn.

The weather has been miserable. We've had a few glimpses of the sun but not much. Temperatures are low as well. +3 C when we got up this morning. Never the less the perennials are growing like mad. I think it's this wet weather that they are liking.

The rhubarb is just about ready to be picked.


The chives are about to flower.


The bun keeps getting fatter and fatter.

And the frog keeps grinning and grinning.


And this fellow is feeling quite laid back.

Two of the fairies have arrived in the garden.


Oh and mustn't forget....I got my first bee picture of this season. On one of the warmer days this past week, there were a few humming around the lungwort.

Dog, Doors and Squirrel.

The construction is coming along well. We still have no hot water but I expect the tank will be up and running sometime this week. Still, there seems to be a fair amount of work yet to be done. I suppose considering there is only one man doing the work, there's been an awful lot done. He comes with his dog Benji every day. Benji is a sweetheart.


The windows and patio doors were put in this past week and this was a big plus for me as I could see a bit of light at the end of the tunnel.


Yesterday was sunny and warm so I spent some time in the garden. Went to the library in the afternoon and also stopped off at the greenhouses where I bought another lot of annuals. Came back home and managed to get some of those potted up before it was time to get supper on the go. There doesn't seem to be enough time to get everything done.

I had put some leftovers on the platform feeder and it wasn't long before this little cutie arrived.

"What's this?'


"Oooh, sandwich!"


"Yummy!"


Praying for more tomorrow, lol.

The loss of our cat, Ratch.

It was a hard day yesterday. Our dear old cat Ratch was euthanized. She had gone blind and was fading. No matter how many times you lose a pet, it never seems to get any better. She ruled the roost here and few of the others crossed her path without getting a slap across the head, lol. Aw, she was a good old soul and would cuddle on the chesterfield with himself every evening patting his beard, her way of saying "pet me". She will be missed.

Taken last summer.



This week has been stressful for another reason as well. We are getting an extension put on the house. The old bathroom has been torn out so a new one will be built plus a small pantry and a sort of sitting room. Since last Monday I feel that we have been living back a hundred years ago. No hot water, no toilet, boxes and bags piled throughout the house and just a pathway on the deck to get to the door. The lawn is still full of wood and windows, etc. They expect to be finished in another week and then there will be the inside painting to do along with the outside painting. I didn't realize how hard it would be to have my "nest" upset like this.

The first thing they had to do was move a massive boulder.




It took some struggling but they finally got it out of the ground. It's now placed under one of the trees. It's a lovely big rock.

It's raining here this morning but work is still going on outside. I'll be glad when it's all over.

I D confirmed.

It's a Grackle. It came back while I was outside so I got a few good shots.

Bird I D needed.

This bird was at the suet feeder this morning. I'd never seen it before and on looking at my bird book it seems it's a Grackle. And, as far as I can tell, it shouldn't be here. The picture is of very poor quality because there was a screen in the way and there was no way I could get a shot without the screen there.

Cats and other stuff.

May 10th. saw the first butterfly of the season. A Comma! I did run for the camera and chased it around, stumbling through bushes, plants and banging into the occasional tree trying to keep it in sight. But alas, it flew off and I didn't get a shot.

The old wooden fence we had built years ago to hold up the Bittersweet finally crumbled. Between the weight of the plants and the winters, it's a wonder it's held up this long. So yesterday we drove stakes in the ground as a new support and all I have to do now is haul the plants up and get them supported. A job that will have to wait until it warms up a bit. I thought I might get at it today but it's very chilly outside.

Word is out that there are a lot of Hawks and Bald Headed Eagles around. The hawks have been taking a lot of rabbits and I heard that people up the road are keeping their small dogs close when outside. I've seen an Eagle scouting out this property several times lately.

I haven't seen the grouse for a few days and then it was only the male hanging around. I got this shot of how camouflaged they are even when up in a tree.


Even this Fox Sparrow doesn't do too bad a job of it when near a birch.


Cats know the best thing to do on a cold day.....I just went in the bedroom and there were four cats on the bed and one on the chair by the bed. I had to get the camera and so.......

Five sleeping cats.






Now, who wouldn't want to go back to bed and cuddle with this lot on a miserable day.