Out & About
The Mallard was AWOL for a while last night:It turns out she was just playing in traffic:So I went along the side of the house to look at my flowers:While I was gone the mallard came back:Here is another video
(Listen for her huffing and puffing toward the end):Labels: Ducks, Flowers, House, Nature, Summer, Video, Yard
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Close Encounters
That Mallard is still nesting in our planter. I've been afraid to mow our lawn lest I should upset her or somehow usurp nature's balance with an internal combustion engine. Our house was starting to look like one of those garbage houses that you hear about on the news, where the water has been shut off for the past 6 months and the people inside have been pooping into garbage bags. I couldn't stand it yesterday so I finally mowed the lawn. Much to my amazement the girl was as cool as a cucumber and allowed me to do my thing. I got about my business as fast as I could and now we are no longer an aesthetic blight on suburbia. Except of course that we still cannot plant anything in our planter, because there's a duck already planted there. Squatters, I tell ya! Here are some pictures I took this morning. I'm not bashful anymore. I just opened the front door and leaned out and took these.
I shot a video too:Labels: Ducks, Flowers, House, Nature, Summer, Video, Yard
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Home for unwed Mothers
The Mallard Hen is now living in our planter full time. The drake has disappeared; according to wikipedia that is normal. I guess he had to run off and do drake things for a while. A took these photos from the truck when I drove around the front of the house. I just rolled down the passenger window and snapped off a couple of shots. Here are a couple of closeups (Be sure to click on them to see full size): From what I read, gestion takes about four weeks. Given that the eggs have been there for a week now and supposing a week or so before they leave the nest, I won't be able to use my front door for the next month, and really shouldn't be mowing my front lawn, either. I think I'm going to be really popular with the neighbors this summer. Labels: Ducks, Flowers, House, Life, Nature, Summer, Yard
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Springtime surprises
Two weekends ago When I was clearing the yard I noticed that a bunch of the dead flowers had been removed from the planter out front on our steps. Last weekend we spotted four eggs in the planter:   On Monday I spotted a mallard couple wandering around in our front yard, and this morning I was able to spy through the sidelight on our front door and actually see the hen, sitting in our planter. Now there are 7 eggs. These waddling squatters are a welcome addition to our yard, especially after what happened last year. In the mean time, the planter can wait. Another pleasant surprise this spring were the hostas that I transplanted from my parent's place last summer. Out of the middle of one of the plants sprung up four royal purple tulips, which had obviously mingled into the hosta's root system and been transported unwittingly by me. So mom has been gone for a year and a half but she is still sending me surprises.    Labels: Ducks, Flowers, House, Mom, Yard
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Homebody
While waiting for the coals last night I walked around
my house and this is what I saw.
Click on photos to enlarge (Open in new windows)Still have a few minutes to kill.
Snow on the mountain is taking nicely.
Bleeding heart, offering up some late-season blooms.
The planter has grown a beard.
I never knew...
That plants can smile.
Meanwhile, in the garage...
My collection of retired ice fishing utilities. I used an old tobaggan as a wall hanging and attached the various items that I have collected over the years, including a swedish spoon (That actually was what I used for drilling holes for my first two winters), an old Jon-E handwarmer with vintage fuel can, various jigsticks and an old single-mantle lantern (needs a new generator and pump seal)
My Bike.
An old Trek Elance 400 that just turned 20 this year.
The child's bike.
Garage sale special, 2 whopping dollars. SCORE!
The wife's bike.
Even cheaper: Free from a friend, including the brain bucket.
Labels: Family, Flowers, Food_and_Recipes, House, Life, Summer, Yard
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The Spice of Life
Summer blooms continue unabated: My spice garden looks like a sheep that has been sheared: This past weekend I tried my hand at dehydrating lemon peel: Here is that lemon peel being used on the tuna steak that I cooked for us last night. It imparted a zestiness to the fish that was not overpowering. High five to me! Labels: Flowers, Food_and_Recipes
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Backyard Visions
My gardening mind at work over a recent lunch hour. Labels: Flowers, Moleskine, Yard
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Flower Power
Lunchtime sights from an outdoor shopping mall
near where I work. Click on photos to enlarge (Open in new windows) Petunias
Planters near a fountain
Labels: Flowers
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The world around us
We took a walk last week and this is what we saw. Click on photos to enlarge (Open in new windows) Our Neighborhood -
On the swing -
Mass Planting -
Making a living -
An entrepreneur sets up shop -
Our Planter in front of our house -
Closeup of a daisy -
The new hydrandgea is thriving -
Out back - a closeup of a petunia -
Marigolds, Petunia, Salvia -
Closeup of Marigolds -
Closeup of a purple Salvia -
Labels: Family, Flowers, Life, Outside, Summer
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Gettin' sick a winta
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Fresh from the garden
These photos were taken out on the patio earlier tonight:      Labels: Flowers, House, Nature, Outside, Yard
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