..... robins, bluebirds, garden flowers and snow. Yes, it is snowing again. Had a nice short window of opportunity to work in the garden and prepare the beds for planting. Also need to dig one more flower bed in an area where the grass just will not grow. And I have grass seed ready for sowing once the weather warms up just a bit for other areas. A new fence will be installed - once it gets a little warmer to keep the dogs safe and to give them a little more room to run. The old fence did not hold up very well to the heavy snows over the last few years and I am a bit concerned that at least one of them will be able to jump over the sagging fence. All of the winter implements are stored in the tool shed - shovels, reflectors from along the driveway and melting salt. Even if it snows a lot today, it will quickly melt. At least hope springs eternal!
So my Spring chores are lining up and there is much to do. We all have cabin fever and are roaring to go! Last week we had a great walk at one of our favorite trail sites. The dogs were thrilled to be out again in the woods although we did have to steer away from a couple of horses. I now have a device that emits a high pitched sound designed to be a positive influence on the dog behavior. It seems to work best on Shorty and Gunnarr as it does keep them from barking. I think it just annoys Fionnegan as he looks directly at the device as if he wants to say - stop that Momma! and he keeps on barking. What is the old saying - two out of three's not bad.
We have a few bird feeders out and are enjoying watching the birds visit. It is mating season and nesting season and I hope we have another cardinal build a nest in our yard. It was so nice to watch the pair fly back and forth building the nest then feeding the young. And we even had the chance to watch one fledge from the nest.
The pileated woodpecker is in the back yard again this year. He is one big woodpecker that is incredibly noisy and loud with a really coarse call. Sometimes I see him on the ground - one of the dead trees had fallen and he seems to like the easy reach. I also saw him this year on the trunk of a tree, so I am hoping for more sightings of him in the future. Maybe if I am really lucky I'll be able to snap a photograph of him. But he may too clever for that!
We have a few flowers that have bloomed but the daffodils and tulips are just in bud. It may also be the year to plant new bulbs to freshen up the beds. We'll see how energetic I am in the Fall! Right now I am going to enjoy a little down time with a good book and then review a few new course postings from Cornell on Spring birds. A wistful look at a few garden books is also a possibility for today!
So my Spring chores are lining up and there is much to do. We all have cabin fever and are roaring to go! Last week we had a great walk at one of our favorite trail sites. The dogs were thrilled to be out again in the woods although we did have to steer away from a couple of horses. I now have a device that emits a high pitched sound designed to be a positive influence on the dog behavior. It seems to work best on Shorty and Gunnarr as it does keep them from barking. I think it just annoys Fionnegan as he looks directly at the device as if he wants to say - stop that Momma! and he keeps on barking. What is the old saying - two out of three's not bad.
We have a few bird feeders out and are enjoying watching the birds visit. It is mating season and nesting season and I hope we have another cardinal build a nest in our yard. It was so nice to watch the pair fly back and forth building the nest then feeding the young. And we even had the chance to watch one fledge from the nest.
The pileated woodpecker is in the back yard again this year. He is one big woodpecker that is incredibly noisy and loud with a really coarse call. Sometimes I see him on the ground - one of the dead trees had fallen and he seems to like the easy reach. I also saw him this year on the trunk of a tree, so I am hoping for more sightings of him in the future. Maybe if I am really lucky I'll be able to snap a photograph of him. But he may too clever for that!
We have a few flowers that have bloomed but the daffodils and tulips are just in bud. It may also be the year to plant new bulbs to freshen up the beds. We'll see how energetic I am in the Fall! Right now I am going to enjoy a little down time with a good book and then review a few new course postings from Cornell on Spring birds. A wistful look at a few garden books is also a possibility for today!
