In the box...

Several weeks back folks from the electrical company told us that the bluebird boxes had to come off the power pole. Okay, we'll take them down.  Too early for birdies, so no harm, no foul....or so we thought.

Took the first box down, emptied last year's empty nest out.  Took the second box down, emptied a somewhat unusual fluffy large nest out.  No eggs.  However, as soon as it was on the ground, little critters started mewling and crawling out from the center of the nest.

Little tiny chipmunks.

Stuff the nest back in.  Scoop the five mewlers into the nest and leave them alone.

Three weeks go by. Having no idea how long it takes baby chipmunks to fledge, we go back to the nest.  Empty.  Take the nest out, set it on the ground. Then realize that bigger baby chipmunks are clinging to our hands and crawling from the center of the nest.  

Stuff the nest back in.  Scoop the five crawlers back into the nest.

Now we are pretty shy about bothering that nest.  

Today I was working outside and noticed that the babies are beginning to explore outside of their box.

So much fun to watch them begin to explore their world.  

baby chipmunks

Amazingly, it seemed like the babes had no fear as I was able to be within ten feet of them as I took the pictures.

Home again, home again...

After a week away, it always feels good to come home.

So much changes in a week.

More weeds.

Grass in major need of mowing.

I look around and see work.

But its my work, and I choose it.

I choose the weeds and the dirt over panty hose and paper, 

the color of iris over the taupe of cubicle walls,

rain, wind and sunshine over air-conditioned buildings with windows that cannot be opened.

I choose gardens, home-grown vegetables, stained knees, and dirty fingernails.

I am so lucky that I have the option.

All the bearded iris bulbs were a wedding present from Uncle Ralph and Fran.

Iris from Walster Way Iris Garden: Maltby, Washington

Reminds me of a creamsicle

One of my favorites

 Russian iris. (Not from Uncle Ralph)

Peas!

Strawberries!

Good to be home!

Pick-up sticks...

Two more trucks of doug fir left yesterday.

Watching this self-loader handle the logs reminds me of a game of pick-up sticks.

A couple more loads still to come out.

Dave and his self-loading log truck

Other pictures taken during the walk up the hill.....

A little color in the rock garden

A quince blossom... someday to be a real quince.

Concoction to combat apple maggot.

1 cup vinegar

1 cup sugar

2 banana peels

water

A friend puts this out on apple trees right after blossom. 

She says it makes a huge difference with her apples. 

Certainly cheaper and friendlier than so many sprays.

We'll see how the apples look in the fall.

Turtle Update:  There are at least two of them.

Turtle..

We went down to the pond this morning to see if the Western Oregon Pond Turtles had survived the winter.  This guy was out sunning himself on the submerged log that we put out last year.

Western Oregon Pond Turtle

The picture was taken from across the pond, so the perspective is not great.  This guy is big! 
Happy that he is using his new pond furniture.

So Proud!

Sid caught the gopher.

Libby caught the mole.

And I made the bread.

Mmmmm.  Dinner.

Just kidding!

Happy May Day!

Today is May Day.  As a child this is the day that we made bouquets of roadside daisies, some lilacs, a few bluebells and whatever other flowers had made their way to springtime blossom.  Tied with a ribbon, a rope, or piece of bailing twine, the big decision was upon whose door the messy posy assemblage would be left.  Mrs. Kinsley, the Brooks, Grandma.  Who would be the lucky recipient of our little nosegay?  

With just a little fear, sneak up to the door, lay the flowers on the porch, ring the doorbell, run away and hide behind the nearest bush or vehicle.  "Oh my, well, would you look at this, Phillip?  Someone has come by and left us some beautiful flowers.  Now, I wonder who that could be.  Who would do such a sweet thing?"

And the memory, and the color, and the feeling of doing something bold and sweet at the same time stays in your heart forever.

Happy May Day!