About Me

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Greetings and Welcome to http://www.crittersgaloreandsomuchmore.blogspot.com/ and also http://www.gardeneroflight.blogspot.com/ From these spaces I want to share my love of animals and Nature and Life in general. So here you will find stories, information, reminiscences, an occasional bit of advice and a recipe or two. Please check them both out!!!

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Habit And Mindless Actions.


So much for my stalled terracing project in the back yard! But that wasn't what I was thinking as I took these photos from the little bathroom window. Thats when it hit me... what the heck was I thinking about the other day?


Its just a mindless action due to repetition and habit. I set all the buckets out on purpose hoping to catch some rain so I could water the plants for the next couple of days!!!! That was on Saturday.... this is Tuesday. And the squall lines are coming through and STILL bringing us RAIN!!! 

Luckily the water is receding really well in the yard and my corner lot. A lot of places around here aren't as lucky. Theres LOTS of serious flooding.


Of course, Ahulee is happy to finally have some dry ground. He just isn't going to leave it that way!  WHAT A RELIEF!

Monday, June 25, 2012

Maynard Is NOT HAPPY!!!

Maynard decided to tough it out on the porch during the first full day of Tropical Storm Debby. He was not a happy cat! So I took some photos to show you why he was soooooo displeased...

The small rushing river underneath the front steps was enough.

More water! And it got a lot deeper after I took the photos.

Under the clothesline... where the cats like to hang out if its not too hot.

The rain gutters couldn't handle the amount of water. So they were leaking.

Yep, they were leaking everywhere!

The chickens were safely in the shed, but I've since found out that it has quite a few leaks! So, not only does it need a good scrubbing, but I have to get up there and do an awful lot of patching too. Oh well, at least I found out now!

And it rained and rained. Maynard finally gave in and let me bring him inside! We were under tornado warnings for quite a while last night, and have pretty much stayed on tornado watch. (Thats pretty typical for this weather.) We have relatively clear skies this morning, but there are storm bands coming our way... with more RAIN!  TS Debby is just sitting out there in the Gulf of Mexico in one spot.  Lazy thang!  Well, I said we needed rain! ha ha ha
Will post a few more photos later. Check out the Gardener of Light blog to see the corner lot... uhmmm, I mean the "lake". Can't stock it with fish because the water won't stay, but thats a concept for future consideration!

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Ronan's Window: Grey Squirrel

I've been trying to get a photo of the male Redwinged Blackbird for Mama, but when I went to look the other day none of the birds were there! Then I noticed this young fellow, calmly eating sunflower seeds that he had purloined from the feeders. I guess he'll have to do for now.

He certainly is an active little creature! I remember Mama saying that her Granny loved to eat these. He seems awfully small, but they were her favorite type of meat! Mmm, I wonder if I could bribe the dogs into catching one so we could have a taste? But then again, maybe not. Mama seems to think they're CUTE. She gets irrationally attached to things that she considers CUTE. Must be one of those "human things".

Oops, I wonder if they're telepathic? Something just got his attention! I can definitely admire how alert this species is. No wonder they're considered to be so important in warning the other animals when danger is near.
Well, I'll just  have to keep an eye on this little seed-thief in the future.
In closing, I'll wish everyone a very happy Solstice.

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Rootbound

I hate it when I unpot a plant and find something like this.
But as I'm trying to catch up with the backyard chores,  this is what I came across. I knew when I purchased this blue agapanthus that it had outgrown its container, but this is pretty extreme by any measure you could use!

But this time I thought to myself..... that would make an awesome series of pencil sketches.  And I've certainly had days where I can relate to this! ha ha

Took a while, but eventually most of the roots came untangled and I was able to divide the clump up into six main plants. Now I have to plant them all! Ooops, almost forgot, have African irises to divide up too. It'll be a busy day.

Friday, June 15, 2012

This Is Purty Thang.

We had five days of rain, so even the outdoor cats that are notoriously shy were looking for a dry place to take a nap. This is Purty Thang. She has been roaming the neighborhood for a few years now. Has just settled in with me since the beginning of 2012. I could always tell it was her when I saw her tail. Its a bit too short for her body length, plus there is a crook in it. I'll have to try for a picture of that! It gives her a "signature look".


These little baskets are under the porch eaves. Luckily nothing is planted in them at the moment! I might just leave them that way. She isn't the only one to use them in this fashion! ha ha ha

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Breaking News.


   Greetings once again. Brave Dave O'Malley speaking. I am pleased to announce that Emmy the German Shepherd has chosen young Joey the pup as her replacement blogger for Dogs in Brazil!
    From her current vantage point on the Rainbow Bridge she is expertly guiding and encouraging him in his new assignment. He has big pawprints to fill.... but I am certain that with his youthful vigor, boundless enthusiasm and captivating charm and wit, he will be a fine addition to the global blogging community.
    With Emmy as his mentor, there is no doubt in my grand feline mind that his talents will be crafted and honed into a precision instrument capable of communicating information and transmitting Goodwill on a world wide scale. I see grand things in this young dog's future!
    So, to Joey, puppy blogger of Dogs in Brazil, on behalf of all of us here at Critters Galore and Gardener of Light...  I wish to extend a sincere and joyous WELCOME. May all the endeavors in your path through Life be blessed with Love and an Abundance of all good things.
    I'm also certain that you will make Emmy very, very proud indeed!

Saturday, June 9, 2012

Another One!

Yesterday evening I looked out in the yard and saw this!  Same type of flower, different location in yard and more importantly... different lizard.
What is up with this?

I've never noticed this before! And now I've seen it twice in two days.

Friday, June 8, 2012

I Don't Have A Clue About This!!! Any Ideas?


I was out by the old pump house when I looked over and saw this character just hangin' out on the flower head. Stayed there a good twenty minutes, just giving me the eye. I think the camera flash is what finally made him leave. 

Close up. Isn't he CUTE!!!!??!


"Heres lookin' at you, kid."


I just love the composition of elements in this "pose".
And you can see that he lost part of his tail, which has grown back nicely.

Monday, June 4, 2012

Have To Start Catching Up!

Sad looking, but trying to hang in there!

The blooms all dried up on this eggplant. Too hot and dry, then too wet!

  Well, I have soooo much to catch up on around here. Our above-average heat ( thats putting it nicely!) combined with lengthy periods of NO RAIN have threatened to fry up whats left of the container garden. I'm tempted to try and plant a few things in the ground. sheesh  Then just when I think that I might as well give up on any moisture falling from the sky..... boom! we have a day or two of HEAVY rain, then back to dry as a bone. Its been a stress on all the plants AND me! ha ha ha   Will be rearranging the containers in the next two days, and deciding what to transplant. Hoping to borrow some scaffolding so I can start taking down that sick maple tree. I don't need to be worrying about that now that our Summer storm season has started. (You'll notice I didn't use the word "hurricane". Lets just keep that quiet. Shhhhh..... )
   Neighborhood news has it that there is a litter of kittens over on the next street. Don't know why they're telling me about it? My friends seem to be trying to find me a replacement for Malcolm. Trust me, there will never be another like him. But we do want to make sure the "babies" have a decent start in life, and hopefully loving forever homes. I'll keep ya'll updated on that.
   And some good news for Dogs in Brazil. They got the most votes and won that much needed $5,ooo! I'm certain Emmy is smiling about that one!