11 posts tagged “backyard”
Sadie pulled the naughtiest of all naughties first thing out of bed this morning...she decided to go take a tour of the neighbor dog's house. Remember the photo of the Great Dane and her matching doghouse I posted sometime back? Yes, that house. Thank goodness for her little puppy sake that Molly was not in her house or even in the yard. Molly doesn't like other dogs. Molly will maul and eat other dogs. (This is what her owners have specifically told me, I am not about to test their word on this.) So, it has come down to the wire. Sadie can no longer go out without being on her leash...at least until I get the fence installed.
No more procrastinating! Monday I will call to get the bid and I will get the proposal submitted to my HOA so I can get their approval (one of the blessings that is also a curse about living in a nice neighborhood setting...there are rules to keep broken down cars from sitting in front yards and such, but there are also rules that impede moving forward with yard projects when the time finally comes to getting around to doing them). Hopefully, I will have the fence up before I leave for my trip home over the Fourth of July...it will all depend on the company's schedule and how fast I get my HOA approval back.
So, that was my excitement for the morning...traipsing through my neighbor's backyard, sans bra, in my pjs, dragging my dog home because she decided to not listen at the most crucial moment. She has never been a good 'off-leash' dog, but up until now, she has mostly been good about staying in her own yard. I guess we have gotten a little too comfortable with things and it is time to go back and work on some puppy rules.
A friend of mine demanded photos after my last post regarding the Common Grackles that had found my backyard feeders. Always aiming to please, I present to you, Mama Grackle:
And of course, Mama with the kids:
I know. They are very much like crows in that they take their name literally and are very common...except that we don't have them back in the Northwest, so I have never seen them before.
There is a pair of Common Grackles that have found the feeders in the back yard. This morning the bird ruckus was louder and more obnoxious than usual so I had to sneak over to the window to see what was going on. I am glad I did! There were three grackles foraging on the ground under the feeders. One of them was feeding another, a young one - who was making a HUGE fuss when he decided he wanted more food. I wonder how long mom and/or dad go feeding their young. This one was old enough to fly well, though it was sticking very close to mom and dad still.
In the sun the male is gorgeous with his iridescent blue-black head and his body is almost a green and purple mix.
Alright...that was my big excitement for the morning. I hope everyone had a nice holiday weekend - to those who are having to return to work (and/or school) today, I am sorry. And for those, like me, who are taking one more day before that return...enjoy!
Things have been busy around the household here...but a brief, photographic update for you all is long past due.
The veggies are growing like mad and soon we will have more peppers and tomatoes than we will know what to do with!
And finally the front walkway planter box has been planted. Eventually, all of the pine straw will be replaced with red rock and all of the plater beds will be redesigned and extended.
And of course, what photo entry would be complete without the SadieDog in it? Here she is modeling her new collar. Of course, being the fashion hound that she is, we had to have the matching leash to complete the look.
Chilly, but gorgeous morning...the goldfinches are back in full force today. There was a flock of about ten or so on the feeder and in the tree this morning. Some of them haven't lost all of their grey winter feathers yet (like this guy) and others are in their full, bright yellow glory.
The freeze last night got to my tomato plant...even covered wasn't enough for it. Unfortunately, the pot is too large and heavy for me to drag up by the house or that might have helped. The peppers, which are in smaller pots, I did get up by the house and snuggled in next to the grill. That along with the plastic covering I placed over them helped save them, I think. Let's hope that it works for about another week until this cold snap passes!
The forecast keeps getting colder with overnight temps now estimated down in the 20's. Nothing like what the Midwest is experiencing, but cold none the less! At least the days are still nice with sunshine and highs in the mid-fifties.
Well, stage one of the garden effort has been mostly completed. The veggies I purchased have been planted in their respective pots. Of course, after all the weather checking I did before buying them, now they are predicting below freezing nighttime temps for the next week or so starting on Thursday. Grrr. I will have to cover them (and then uncover them during the day so they don't cook).
I think if I am careful, though, they will be just fine. In another week or two I will look into the cucumber plant and the bush beans. I can't wait to have fresh veggies!!! I also still need a couple hotsas for the front porch.
Last night Sadie and I hung out on the patio and enjoyed the lovely weather. The daytime highs are supposed to dramatically cool off for a bit again too. Mid 50's to 60's...which the Northwesterner in me will like, but at the same time, I was getting pretty used to this 70's and 80's weather! Here's a full view of the patio with the plants and new furniture...
The grill (and house) is just out of the photo to the right. You can also view my beer there on the table. Ha! Good old RedHook IPA...reminds me of back home.
In just four weeks Mom will be out here and the real garden/yard planning will begin. I have some ideas that I want to try to do while she is here, or at least get some hands-on advice for - like laying pavers to extend the patio area. But mostly, we are going to just draw up plans and get stuff mapped out. I am fine with the execution, I just don't know where to start with any of it. Over the next couple years though, my neighbors are going to be shocked - I am determined to surpass a certain neighbor who currently looks down upon me because I haven't jumped right into beautifying my yard. Won't they be sorry! Once I am comfortable on the inside the ouside is scheduled to look just as nice if not nicer. SO there!
Finally, a photo that isn't the dog or the kittens! There were several of these yellow ladies in the yard this evening. And for anyone really wishing I had chosen another photo of Sadie, or Clyde, or a bird...you can check out my Flickr stream because there are all of the above there from this evening as well.
However, I will also share a photo I finally got of the neighbor dog so that you can see how well she matches her dog house. You know, cow spotted, Gateway looking dog houses really aren't my thing, but she is an adorable dog so I guess it makes it all okay.
Yes, another bird at another feeder in my backyard. I have been so busy with work and home improvement projects that I haven't had the opportunity to get out lately and shoot. So, things close to home are what you can expect for a while...sorry! I'd take photos of the projects themselves, but mostly they are just paint colors...nothing too terribly exciting (going from beige to tan mostly with some deep turquoise in the kitchen and dining room).
Also, another day missed (Day 19)...que sera sera.
Today there were only two...usually there is a flock of up to fifteen of them that come to feed. Normally, they wander under the feeder area, but on occasion they will come up to get the seed directly out of the feeder if they aren't finding what they like on the ground. I believe this is the female...there is a shot of her mate on my Flickr page.
