Followed by a trip to San Francisco. It’s difficult to go right now because of all that needs to be done in the garden.
Plus, look who showed up yesterday.
Our first bluebird of the season.
And look who I saw in the back yard.
We don’t often see the foxes in the daytime. Better keep my little dogs inside.
Never a dull moment around here.
Right Now at Bumblebee
It was nearly 100 degrees while I was working outside today. I have a sliver of wood in my big toe, poison ivy and am covered in bug bites. Sometimes I think I need an easier hobby.
Robin
Holy moly, it’s hot. I was just outside providing drought assistance to the suffering greenery. Now excuse me while I cower here in the air conditioning for a bit before making dinner.
It has been such a busy work week. I have been chained to the desk. I can’t wait until the weekend. I have tomatoes to stake, flowers to plant, garlic to harvest, strawberries to keep in control, some clipping and pruning and, who can forget, weeding!
My friend Helen Yoest, from Gardening With Confidence, will be here in about 10 days. I plan to pick her brain and get advice about some real problem areas here. I was hoping for more time to prepare for an esteemed guest, but that’s just not to be. She’ll have to take me as I am.
I hope you’re all keeping cool.
Robin
You can’t pick up the newspaper or turn on the television without hearing more about the Gulf Coast oil disaster.
The wildlife population will be devastated for years, perhaps decades, to come. You can help with the conservation, monitoring and aid to the birds by donating to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. This is the top school and science center for birds in the U.S. and sponsor of many, many programs, including citizen scientist-type programs. If you cannot afford to donate, it’s a great place to just be informed or to get involved through volunteer activities you can do in your own back yard.
Robin
Tonight I am grateful for the internets.
Over dinner we were talking about blast-from-the-past music and then blast-from-the-past comedy. Harry and I explained how we would play stacks of 45s on the turntable to my 19-year-old son. And I remembered my parents’ Dick Newhart album and “Driving Instructor.” And while we were talking about old comedy, who can forget, George Carlin’s “Seven Dirty Words?” Ah, the things I am teaching my 19-year-old son! Yes, I taught him about seven dirty words!
I am also grateful that the chickens had walkabout time without destroying my garden this afternoon.
And I am grateful for that arms and shoulders P90X workout, although I will be sore again tomorrow.
Live the dream,
Robin
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April 4th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
We sure don’t get that kind of animal around here. I do have two families of bluebirds nesting though. I’m really enjoying them. I’m kept busy filling the birdfeeders.
Brenda
April 4th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Looking forward to having you in Austin. Maybe we can spot a coyote to go with your fox.
April 4th, 2008 at 5:30 pm
Where can I see wild blue birds? I’m in Chula Vista, California, no blue birds here. Norine
April 4th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
Hi Norine,
Here’s a link to the San Diego County Audubon Society:
http://www.sandiegoaudubon.org/
Their county bird checklist includes both the Mountain and Western Bluebirds. Looks like they have some field trips coming up too and you could contact them about the possibility of seeing bluebirds on any of these field trips.
April 4th, 2008 at 9:20 pm
Hey Robin,
Any visits or reports of Purple Martins yet? Those gourds look pretty inviting. Just make sure the tree swallows don’t get in there first!
April 4th, 2008 at 9:47 pm
Nice to chat with you at dinner tonight! So glad you stopped on your way to SF!
April 4th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
Hope we have more time to talk tomorrow. Fancy our both having Spitfires in our youth.
April 5th, 2008 at 8:28 am
Do you get bluebrids every year? That is a great picture. We had a couple of bluebirds nest the first year we put up a bird house. It was so nice to have them around. We’ve seen a few “couples” check out the house this spring but don’t have ny takers yet.
April 6th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
My husband takes pictures and we know how hard it is to get a good picture of a fox. We did when we lived in a state park in Florida at night. I love your blog and sure will be back
Donna Godfrey
http://ramblingandstitching.blogspot.com
(you can see a few of his photos here)
April 6th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
Wow, what great pictures–although scary for your little dogs, for sure!
Hope you had a grand time in Austin, and an even better time in San Fran.
April 7th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
oooohhh I love your picture of the fox, we had a fox family last year living somewhere along the creek behind our property. Yesterday I saw some coyote chasing deer here in(Indiana).
Karen
April 7th, 2008 at 6:07 pm
we just saw a coyote, grazing in a nearby meadow. i would rather see them from the car!
while i love wildlife, it makes me nervous to think about falling asleep on the chaise in the gardens!
April 7th, 2008 at 8:31 pm
That fox is a bit scary. Hopefully you scared him. Your gourd houses look inviting. Do you get many different types of birds?
April 8th, 2008 at 6:38 am
I should send you our bad boy cat. He’ll chase that fox off your property. We feed a wild cat but had 3 foxes who also frequented the feed bowl. Our cat snuck up on one, attacked and raked his claws on the fox’s leg. Left bloodstains on our walk and driveway. Trouble is … he would probably attack your dogs too although he seems to get along fine with our shar pei terrier mix with a few fake feints thrown in.
We wanted to put up a purple martin house but was disappointed when I read you needed a large field or open space to attract the martins.
May 17th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
we have had a family of foxes living here this spring – the babies and mama were playing on the front lawn every morning while we had breakfast… it was delightful dancing on their hind legs – if we had a dog – we wouldnt see them.. our cat is a bit of a monster too tho and has left fox fur on the lawn.