POOH! NOT POO!!!

The other day I was telling someone how I had been playing with Wulfrig the kitten, and he was trying to bite my arm as part of the "entertainment". Then I said that to stop this behavior I grabbed and shoved Pooh in his face to distract him. They were HORRIFIED!!!  As they started to stammer about me NOT being much of an animal lover.... I realized what they thought I meant! WRONG!!!
We have a little stuffed Winnie the Pooh toy that all the cats just Love! If I need to get their attention its the best thing to use. Well, besides treats. So please, ask for more information if something doesn't sound right.  For the record, I wouldn't shove poo in anyone's face...... much less pick it up with my hand. Well, maybe in some extreme emergency that I can't imagine happening in the first place. But we won't think about things like that. ha ha

So here are a couple of photos of WINNIE the POOH with Ronan and Brave Dave O'Malley. They were both appalled by the confusion about their Pooh.

Sibyl Kabibbyl.

   Meet Sibyl. She is a bit on the shy side, but very loving. She was either lost or someone dumped her a few years back. She was so scared! Stayed on top of the mobile home in an effort to avoid the other cats. And she just loves to be carried on your LEFT shoulder. Not the right!  That means she was someones baby-girl once upon a time....... now she is the yard matriarch.   And she has quite the presence. (defined as: A supernatural influence felt to be close at hand) Must be the influence of those eyes! Will have to get a close up photo of them. That'll be great for Halloween! ha ha

They Are Sooooooo Good!

Finally found the time to pick a few mulberries. It wouldn't be right if the birds were the only ones that got to enjoy them!  I didn't get the ladder out yet, just walked around the tree and picked what I could reach.   They look really red in these photos, especially the second one. But it must be the angle of the sunlight, because they are mostly dark purple and deliciously ripe!!!!  yummmmmmm

These will go in the freezer for a pie or cobbler. I'll wait and make jelly another day... when I can pick more.  ( And have my jars clean and sterilized. ha ha ha)

Morning Raid!!!



   As I was sitting on the porch this morning I noticed a large number of birds landing in the neighbor's trees. Then they would swoop off in a mass and return rather quickly.... as a group. Then I realized they were Cedar waxwings. Lovely birds. Voracious feeders!  And a very happy bunch right now! Must have found a great food source! Gee, wonder what that could be?

So I went around my mom's place to check on the mulberry tree. Guess what?!     You can't tell from the photo... but there were anywhere from 40 to 60 Cedar waxwings in that tree when I took the picture. I always tell the birds that they are welcome to some of the berries. Specifically all the ones on the top half! They don't listen! Especially this bunch! They were darting in and out, up and down...... EVERYWHERE!   Oh well, there is always plenty to share. Maybe I'll even plant another mulberry out there. I'm all ready planning on some bird-friendly plants and trees, and some other flowering plants for the butterflies and hummingbirds. Whats one more?!

In Memory Of Matt.

    My friend and neighbor Matt passed away this last wednesday. He had a lot of  serious health issues going on, but he kept going. Always up to something! He was back to grinding flour and making bread.... even bought a brand new mixer. In his words it was " a REAL POWERHOUSE". That just pleased him immensely! The folks that moved in next to him had chickens, so he had made friends with that flock of gals also. And always looking things up on the computer.... he kept his brain active! Thats a key component in not getting "old".
    Matt was going to help me get into beekeeping. Now I won't be able to run across the street for advice! Yikes!  Oh well, I'm going to learn on my own then. I know he'll be watching from the other side...... encouraging and helping me along with this endeavor. And shaking his head when I mess up! ha ha ha
    Remember, friends never really leave you. And your heart isn't the only place they live on in. They're right there, at arms length. Helping you always.

Have Been Wondering About This!

   Well, I finally got around to comparing those two eggs from the "Never had this happen before" post. Both were fertilized. But I guess the little one just didn't get a chance to develop before the shell did. Still don't know why that happened.... but at least the mystery of what it looks like has now been resolved.
   Yep, you could say I "cracked it wide open".    I know! I know! My apologies! I can hardly resist a bad joke or pun. Especially when its this easy. (I want to make an "over-easy" remark, but I'm really trying hard to resist!)

A Snack Before Bedtime.

   Here are the girls helping with some of the yardwork before they head to their roost for the night. Of course, they are "cleaning" under one of the mulberry trees! Nothing like fresh fruit before bedtime. ha ha ha     Actually, they scratch up quite a few weeds in the process..... and I'll take all the help I can get!

Beauty To Share.

   You know its Spring in Florida when the first amaryllis flower opens! Years ago my Mom shared some of these bulbs with her parents when they moved here. They, in turn, shared them with other family members that followed. I got mine from my late Uncle Emzy........so the Circle was completed. Beauty like this should always be Shared!

Taming The Front Yard!

    Well, its time to reclaim the front yard from a few years of neglect. My first efforts have involved clearing out a spot for some grapes. There are LOTS of weeds and sycamore leaves to bag up and cart away. My tiny start-up compost area isn't able to handle this stuff.... so off it goes!  And since my little piece of land is on a slope I get to shovel lots of dirt in an attempt to level out the ground a bit. Had to do the same thing in the backyard!
    The result so far is that I have four new Muscadine vines planted.  Two Tara and two Carlos.  That was the easy part........ the posts HAVE to go in SOON!

   And yes, thats Bella you see in the background. She hasn't gotten a forever home yet. But she is still waiting patiently.

An Angel For Everyone.

   This is one of those days when it seems that everyone needs an extra angel. So I'll share one of mine. Will put her on both of my blogs so that she can cover more territory!

For Aunt Helen!

Mulberry eating is serious business!

If you do it right....its just a little messy. But you have to concentrate.

See! Not so bad. Of course, I only ate a few.

Clean up is always a chore. And resistance is futile!

Garden Move And Expansion.

   Well, here is the repositioning of the container garden. Found an old shelving unit that I took apart and am using as "tables". Makes it easier on my back! And that is a great thing! Hoping I cut enough drainage holes in the  3 1/2 gallon plastic buckets. Won't know for sure until we have some really good rains. I'm really hoping that this experiment goes well. I'm really starting to enjoy myself with it.   Used some bamboo to tie the plants to when the forecast was for heavy winds. Glad I did!  Now I'm considering making trellis out of it too.
    Also looking at plants to attract bees. If I plan on growing food, then I need as many pollinators as I can get! Went to a monthly meeting of some local bee keepers and enthusiasts. NOW I'm REALLY interested in having my own hives!! I've wanted to try my hand at that since I was a teenager.  Looks like the time may have arrived.  Remember... Life is a learning experience....and an adventure, if you make it that way.

Blossom "Helping" With The Landscaping.

   Yes indeed! She helped me dig up this eight foot long 4x4 post, complete with concrete base. Now thats what I call a REAL working dog!!! 
    This enabled me to move the container garden. Next up for the two of us is digging out a large amount of sand that has washed down the slope in the back yard. Its threatening to fill in under the shed. And I need to avoid that!

A Tree That Comforts.

    Read where its National Tree Week in Ireland.  March 7th-13th. I think we should all be more thoughtful about the trees that share their world with us. I've decided to post some photos of my favorite trees. 
    There are some wonderful oaks in the cemetery where all my grandparents are buried. They offer not only shade, but a steady, strong and calming energy. Its very comforting to go lean against them. Guess they get that a lot, huh?

NEVER Had This Happen Before!

    All right, its just a weird year all the way around! The egg on the right is the one I found in the hen nest today. The one on the left is from yesterday! Quite a difference! I've never seen one that small. Some of the pullet eggs are strangely shaped and smaller than normal...... but not like this! This egg isn't even as large as the yolk usually is.
    Anyone out there with more "egg-xperience" care to comment? I'd love to know what causes something like this!
    And "yes", I'm going to take a photo of it when I crack it open. Will be sharing that in the days to come.