It's May!

Happy May everyone!  A busy time of year, too busy to keep up on the blog.  It's so nice to be outside again.  In comparison, it seems like a chore to sit at the computer desk.  But I need to keep track of all the progress that's been going on out there.  It's raining  today, so it's a good time to get up to date.

Early May was pretty windy.  We had a frightening thunder storm, it seemed to be sitting right over the house one night.  We've had very cold windy days, and some warmer sunny periods.  The clouds are always up there, puffy and white and so perfect in the blue sky.  When they cover the sun, the temperature goes down dramatically.

The grass likes this weather, I've already mowed a few times.  I just got some grass shears, so I can do the edging around the garden without a weed whacker.  Not that I ever used a weed whacker myself.  I use a manual push mower and grass shears and it's so much nicer than using those loud, dangerous machines.

The peas, radishes, and other stuff came up in the greenhouse.  I made a little climbing structure for the peas with twigs and twine.  I (bravely) planted the tomatoes out there about a week ago, and planted zucchini and bean seeds on Saturday May 9.  Ooooo, that's early.  I set out some flower transplants outside in the garden, most of them are perishing from the cold.  Better wait till June.

  I had to refill this birdfeeder once so far.  The bags are working, I'm glad to know.  Except, look who found it.  I don't mind, I like watching squirrels as much as birds.  There's also a nestbox in this tree and he was sitting by it while a bluebird and some other birds drove him off.

Rusty was looking with us out the window, making those weird noises and licking his chops.
The wildflowers are starting to bloom, here's the Arrowhead Balsamroot, nearly ready.  It's blooming around the neighborhood already.  It is colder here at our house, I knew it.

Here's one I don't know the name of, I'll have to get a library book.

This one has a hitchhiker.

The violets and some willows are also blooming.

Birds are waiting for better weather, I think, to start nesting.  We now have five boxes up but no takers.  Bluebirds and Tree Swallows come to look sometimes.  I hope Rusty hasn't scared them off.  The hummingbirds are back and they are at the feeder a lot, since there aren't many flowers out there.  We have some Towhee visitors frequently, I'm still trying to get a good picture.  The crows are coming around more, making their strange noises.  I don't know what they're after, though Snoodly thinks it's him.  A foggy morning and two crows on a branch outside your bedroom window is pretty spooky.  And noisy.  

It's raining and 49 degrees at 12:00 pm.

Spring Arrives

Grass!

55 degrees!  

And, oh yes...we have a new darling.
He doesn't have a name yet.  William, Jinxy, Scotty and Tito have been considered.  How about Camo?
Or maybe Destructo.
On mommy's lap.
He's Slammy's baby, so she gets to name him.  And clean up after him.  Unless she's at school...
Luckily, he sleeps a lot.

Mini rose at the kitchen window.
The guys covered the greenhouse.  I may plant some peas in there today if the ground has thawed.

The Juncos are plentiful this year.  
And well fed!

This Spring's Fashions

A grey coat with tails, trimmed in black.

An eye-catching vest in burnt orange completes the look.

Distinguished in any setting.

It's 42 degrees, sunny at 9:30 am.

Going with it

Every morning I wake up to new snow.

By afternoon the clouds are clearing and the snow has melted.  

This is the flow in the Northwest.  After almost 9 years I still haven't learned to surrender and just go with it.  Many Californians can't take it and leave.  Long, cold, dark winters and then this.  It is not supposed to snow in spring.  However, I am coming to realize that snow in spring is not a negative.  By watching the natural inhabitants, I'm catching on.

Snow does not make the birds sad.  They are active and cheerful no matter what the weather. They seem to like snow, maybe because they appreciate all the moisture it brings.  Moisture in any form - snow, hail, or rain, is welcome.  It brings life.

A Robin looking for morsels in the leaf litter.

A Pileated Woodpecker found the suet.

Finches (undoctored photo) found the other feeder.

                                  

And a Nuthatch (doctored photo).

It may be a bit early to start seeds outside, but indoors the flowers sprouted in only a couple of days.  The grow light works wonders.
It's 33 degrees, sun breaking out of the clouds, at 9:00 am.

Living in the Moment

We had a great weekend, there were no commitments so we got to spend time together doing whatever we wanted.  On Saturday we shopped at the bead store for The Good Medicine Project, and got ice cream at Zips.  Then we had green beans and won tons at Noodle Express. We managed to squeeze in all the four food groups: Cream, sugar, fried food, and dipping sauce.

Slammy read The Art of Hand Reading, by Lori Reid, in the car.  It's an excellent book on palmistry with many illustrations and photos. 

On Sunday we got crafty and I drug out the sewing machine, which didn't die, thankfully, until I had finished mending Slammy's gypsy skirt and making a medicine bag.  I pity the kid who gets my bag.  Oh well, it's the thought that counts.  Slammy and I went for a chilly walk (Rusty declined) and collected rocks to make into pets.  She painted one of them, but seemed more interested in painting her hands. It's nice to know that she hasn't changed in that respect.  

Jr. and J worked on the Datsun.

I just went out and checked for daffodils, not a sign of them.  It's 30 degrees and there's a chill wind blowing.  The birds are absent, hunkered down in their nests.  

The receding snow is exposing many bent and broken trees.  The little Japanese Maple is thrashed.  Pretty soon it will be time to do some pruning, when it's a lot warmer.

The butterfly weed has come up.

These cedar nest boxes are $5 each (bargain!) at The ID Department of Fish and Game.  

Also this weekend, the WBH (World's Best Husband) put these up and cleaned out the third. Rusty can't get to the ones on the garage, because it has metal sides.  The one on the tree he may be able to climb to, if he discovers it.  However, I plan to keep him inside most of the time and arm myself with a squirt bottle on his supervised outdoor excursions, (a likely story).  I had a dream last night that we had a pet lion.  Hmm, I wonder who that could've symbolized. 

What can I say, it was on clearance...

                          

   

If we keep the beast inside, he's got to have entertainment.

Good Clean Fun

I've been saving all these netted bags for some purpose, I didn't know what.  They look like the kind of thing that would end up in the ocean and entangle animals.  So today I got a suet cake for the woodpeckers and discovered that my feeder was all black and gungy.  Not a keeper, since it was made with wood.  I've read that people put hunks of suet in these net bags, so I decided to use one for the block, and then I got carried away and made ones full of thistle seed and sunflower mix.  I knew I'd find a good use for these bags!  I think they may stay cleaner and clean up better than regular bird feeders too, we'll have to see.  It's possible that the birds will rip them to shreds and choke and die on the plastic.  But since it's OTGF, I won't ponder on that.

You know what tomorrow is...

Rusty and I can't believe how much snow is still here.  His paws have disappeared!  But spring is coming.

Look who showed up!

Female Western Bluebird...
and male.

I was just lamenting to Janeywan that it's hard to take pictures of birds, because they run away as soon as they see me with the camera, like it's a gun or maybe a soul stealer.  So I had to be stealthy and take these from afar, behind some trees.  Just yesterday, the Western Bluebirds, Juncos, Robins and Finches all returned here together.  They must travel in a group.  I'm really happy to see them again.  The air is filled with bird song!

Just now the bluebird was attacking my bedroom window, I think he sees his reflection in it.  Isn't there a story or song about a bluebird at my window?

The willows have buds.
Ahhh mud.  You know it's spring when there's mud.
It's 50 degrees! and cloudy at 3:00 pm.

Hibernation Ends

More animals are around these days, the birds are singing and it really feels like spring is coming.  The sun even came out for a good stretch today and I started dusting the shelves and opening doors!

The Mountain Chickadees came this morning, they have been faithful visitors all winter.  This one stayed within view of me long enough to take an almost clear picture. One of these days I'm going to set up the tripod and get some better shots.  They move so fast!

We also had a visit from the squirrel. Rusty alerts me to his presence by quickly slinking over to the window like the killer he is.

Who would want to kill a cute little thing like that? So fluffy and adorable.

                                   

That's who.

It's 34 degrees, mostly cloudy at 4:00 pm.

The Return

My Spring Robin is back. See, I told you spring was coming. First the snow began to melt over the septic tank area (a sure sign), then the rains came. Now this guy is here. It's conclusive. Pay no attention to that white stuff behind the Robin, it's not snow, NO, it can't be.

Last year I saw the first Robin on March 10, but it was also in the 50s that day, imagine, 50s, how nice.

I got a bunch of garden books at the library yesterday. I really like John Brookes, who I mentioned before, and got another one of his, called Garden Masterclass. He has great photographs and a wonderful eye. He relies on nature for inspiration a lot more than other garden designers. Exactly what I'd like to do. Now I just have to figure out how. It's not as easy as it sounds. You need to study natural forms and landscapes around you and keep your garden in harmony with them and kind of flowing with them.

Dagnabbit, all this grass has to go! We live in a forest! Well, some of it has to go. I do love grass, and the goats will like it too. They'll also like the rose bushes, the fruit trees, the flowers, the vegetables...

It's 40 degrees, overcast at 10:15 am.