Save Me

Annie having small sale here tomorrow.

I still have to be around.

Save Me

Huge Community sale so we're joining in.

I'll be hiding out in garage corner.

Annie says she'll handle it all...

but the money. lol

I have some tree tools, pole pruners, chain saw etc

(no longer have trees)

a small dresser and some linens.

Should be easy peasy for me,

especially since I'll be hiding in the corner 

studio in the garage.

right over here

AND it's going to be cool YAY

any locals who did not get email - we open at 7:30

Have a wonderful day

I Have A Problem

I have a problem mom.

These guys are in my bed.

I can't stretch out.

"But you put them there turkey lurkey,

so don't give me the stink eye."

It seems that lately all I have talked about

is the garden and Howie,

but really that's all that's happening here.

I now have 4 varieties of tomatoes, zucchini, 

6 different peppers

and the herb list keeps growing.

Well, there is the reading.

I just finished 20 Ian Rankin "Rebus" novels.

That took me 2 weeks.

Now I'm reading 5 of his other books.

Then I'll be searching for another serial mystery writer.

Both the kiddos moved into new apartments

this week; from studios to one bedrooms.

Both apartments are darling

and I'm so happy for them, just wish

CA prices weren't so ridiculous.

Their rents for these wee spots are more than

what I would get if I rented my house!

Wish I could give them my house and move it there.

My greedy little birds have gone through a large

bag of birdseed in one week so I may have 

to do this every other week, due to cost.

As for the rest of the world..

I'm reminding you guys of the 

&%#$ it bucket

http://oldgreymareprimitives.blogspot.com/2013/03/it-bucket.html

It's still there if you need to vent,

link above or upper right corner.

Your relatives, close buds won't know about it.

I have about 6 drafts on the orange menace

 topic that I never posted. Think I'll

take another look at em and drop one or two in the bucket.

Z

Reading Not Allowed

I just said yesterday that he was such a good boy.

Seriously?

The book is on my lap.

So is Howie.

Howie Playing I Spy

Howie being such a good boy even though

the babies are right there.

They've gotten so big, soon I won't be 

able to tell them apart from adults.

Finished up the flagstone;

didn't get too particular with it,

just so long as it keeps my feet dry.

Added a blue bird feeder under the chaste tree,

it is THE social place to be. 

Unfortunately some pigeons

found it this afternoon. grrrrrrr 

My buddy Carole asked me today if I 

was happy with the yard and I paused 

and thought, you know I am.

It has been one of the 
best decisions I've made,
after the enclosed porch.

Going out each morning for breakfast

 and reading out there just before dusk
without one thought of
"oh I need to clean up the debris,
oh the trees need trimming,
oh what a mess!"

Annie is coming by in a minute to 
check it out. First visitor since completion.

Fledging Update

Update below

These two have been hanging near 

by my front gate for over a week.

We startle each other from time to time as they 

hide, and perhaps sleep,

 underneath my white banks roses and 

take flight as I open the gate.

Tonight they sat just a few feet away while I 

worked on repairing the slate walkway

that was crushed during the 

 backyard work. 

I went out to check on them

 just a moment ago and Mama

was feeding them. I tried to get a shot but Howie 

tripped me up trying to see.

I was surprised she was feeding on the ground?

Perhaps in our horrible winds their nest 

came down?

I watched from inside 45 minutes
 but she hasn't returned

and I've got stuff to do.

I'm sitting right next to 

the flowers, that close to the babies.

The slate repair in progress;

messy looking but those lantana nearly cover it 

all summer and fall anyway.

The lantana were run over by 

machines so they are a bit behind.

Anyway cute as can be.

Update:

So I have since learned that
the parents kick the babies
 out of the nest at around 2 weeks 
but continue feeding on the ground.
Since I noticed these guys about a week ago,
I'm guessing they are 3-4 weeks old.

Here they are this morning under my chaste tree
waiting for breakfast? I hide behind the gate
when I take the photos so as not to scare off
a parent. Don't know why I'm worrying.
I'm sure this is a natural occurrence
around here, I've just never
 caught it before in 24 years, though I hear
grown doves and see babies, just never like this.
A dove has been cooing out there for awhile
but no activity otherwise.

Get That Woman Out Of The Garden!

Some boring stuff to you folks who have easy gardens, 

but it is hard here, or at least harder.

Growing up I had gardens with my dad

 and they were so easy and 

abundant that we resorted to leaving zucchini

on doorsteps.

My first pepper is growing but so far he's a loner,

because the plant was attacked by a varmit.

Then I spied these two babies

and I think maybe I squealed when I saw them.

and of course another picture of...

can you guess?

Spring flowers

A Good Orange

 Howie and I were enjoying our

morning ritual today under the pergola 

and I look over to my right.

(forgot to show this part yesterday)

This is the walkway behind the 

enclosed porch and the open porch,

 and follows around

to the south side of house.

I spied some orange!

The good kind, not the menace. 

These were not open yesterday.

 I'm over the moon.

I never thought it would work

 so I planted a bunch in too small of space

 assuming maybe one would live.

So I'll either have to train up or replant.

It's as if my green thumb 

long dormant has returned. I have tomato plants

and 1 green pepper.

(that project may be a failure)

Anyhoot I am so happy.

I have a half dozen of these guys 

that travel back and forth along the wall.

They sleep and hide behind my birdhouses.

Howie sees one and dead stops

as if he's a real pointer spaniel.

He watched us all through my coffee and juice.

My project list is growing.

I'm energized by the near completion

of yard, still want to paint the 

dog run fence and I may paint the front

 of the gate into the yard 

to match my front door. I think 

the pop of color will be good.

 I'll get some more posies and

24 bulbs coming soon. 

6 colors - 4 of each

They are a shorter variety

and will front all the beds

 on the side and partial back.

I also bought a fig tree

which everyone says 

won't make it, but I'm determined.

Mine will be in a pot

so that it can be moved to help it survive... hope

I have to paint re-touch bathroom,

 and kitchen cabinets, re-paint garage floor

and as always still purging down.

Got my taxes done yesterday

and returned 15 books to the library,

 and picked up another 12.

I'm on a roll!

Share a Cuppa

C'mon by in the early morning

and share a cuppa

or wander by in the evening for 

some red or white.

The majority of labor is complete

and now I can 

putter with posies 

while my two fountains

provide a soothing backdrop.

Here's a first look.

IG folks already had a peek.

The yard is set up so it can 

easily convert to a dining area in the pergola

with additional tables around the perimeter.

First gathering will be the kids 

sometime this month.

Ben is hinting at barbecue.

Howie and I are headed out for breakfast.

Hope your day begins 

as lovely as ours.

Z