With all the wonderful rain we’ve had, the lawn is quickly reaching jungle proportions. So I started weed trimming the edges before breaking out the riding mower.
It never fails.
Every time I bring out the weed trimmer, I find myself going further and further into the bush.
Continue readingYesterday, I posted a picture of a common grackle. I almost posted it together with this picture, but on closer inspection, I realized this was a different bird!
This is a brown headed cow bird. The body looks a lot like the grackle! The differences are in the beak (which is shorter on the cow bird) and the eye (which is yellow on the grackle).
I’ve never been much of a bird watcher, but I’ve been trying to make sure I accurately identify the birds we get out our window. In the process, I’m discovering that, for a lot of them, it’s really hard to be sure what I’m looking at! Some are so similar, it’s easy to miss the little details that separate them. Usually, I don’t see the differences until I’ve uploaded the pictures and started to process them for here!
I called several companies to get estimates to get our roof done.
The first one came by today to do an estimate.
He spent quite a bit of time checking things out and taking measurements, after we did a walk around. During the walk around, we talked about the chimney from the wood furnace that will need to be removed. I couldn’t tell him, one way or the other, if the TV antenna would be going back up after the roof is done. There is an unused satellite dish to take down that he included as a removal, though my brother might take it down himself before any roof work is done.
Among the things he noted was that, whoever did the roof last time, did not do the valleys properly (I think the roof was redone by my late brother, with various family members helping out), which could be easily seen from the ground. When on the roof, he identified two leak spots that corresponded to leaks we’d found inside during the winter. I brought up the possibility of finding rotten wood under the shingles, so he included the rate per foot that would be added on, should any be found.
The guy clearly knew his stuff, was very professional and efficient, gave me a very detailed estimate, then took the time to explain some of it. Such as how the step flashing would not be under warranty, because they would not be able to install it properly, due to the existing flashing being under the siding. They’re not going to break the siding to install new flashing, so they would have to install it over the siding. A silicone bead would be run across the top that would have to be redone every year, until we redo the siding and the flashing is property covered. At which point, that flashing would also be covered by the 30 year warranty.
His estimate also included things like converting plumbstacks, applying and supplying ice and water shields, one and two ply underlay for the different slopes, and replacing the goose neck exhaust vent. Clean up is included, too. It was all quite thorough.
The final number was almost $8,500, plus 5% GST. Given that I am sure they will find rotten wood to replace, I would expect the total to reach about $10,000. Which is pretty much in line with what I was expecting.
I also got a call from another company my SIL passed our phone number to (someone she knows personally), so we should have a total of 4 estimates to go over, by the time all is said and done.
I expect the other estimates to be similar, except the metal roof one, which I expect to be higher. Those come with lifetime warranties, so it’s a longer term investment.
So now we have to figure out how to come up with $10,000, or more if we go with a metal roof.
Before it becomes a real problem!
*sigh*
The Re-Farmer
With so many branches of all sizes fallen during the storm, I’m still picking up ones I’ve missed around the yard, along with new ones that have fallen since.
While I have been staying away from working on the outer yard, I did notice a fairly large branch had fallen near the chain link fence, so yesterday evening, I went and dragged it out.
I ended up dragging out other dead branches that had been there before, as well, but none were as big as this one.
It will be good to finally clean up around and between these old maples. When I was a kid, the fence was on the other side of them, and they were part of the inner yard.
They are not doing very well.
I’m pleased to find, however, that another maple IS doing well.
When I cleared here last year, taking out a rotting stump, I found it had actually been supporting the still living part of the tree. It tipped over precariously, so I straightened it and tried to give it support at ground level. It tipped again, if not quite so much, and I had my doubts if it would survive.
I’m happy to say, it is looking quite healthy! Just a couple of dead branches that will need pruning.
As I doing my rounds in the morning, I pick up any branches that have fallen during the night. I was doing just that in the south yard, under one of the Chinese elms, when I heard some noise above me – looking up just in time to see another dead branch fall down and land next to me!
Picking up fallen branches is one of those never ending chores. Like dishes. No matter how many times you do them, they always come back!
The Re-Farmer
Addendum:
Sorry! I had to hurry because a roofing company was coming over to do an estimate, and didn’t get to include the kitten news!
With my daughter’s help, I was able to get photos of each of the kittens, and the 2 moms. I’d already got permission from the administrator of a regional Facebook group that includes the city, and posted the pictures last night.
The first person who responded told me I should go to a rescue society, get them fixed, because there were too many kittens.
It was very condescending.
Then I got a response from someone talking about how we probably have more all over the place beyond the ones she’s seen, and even made a comment about how she thought they looked “demented.”
This person has never been here, and has never seen these kittens.
I recognize the last name, so this is probably someone who lives in the area. In fact, she might even live on the property on the other side of my brother’s place, at which point, she might be thinking of his yard cats. I don’t know, but it was a weird comment!!
Thankfully, I also got three people expressing an interest in adopting. One lives 2 hours away, but if things work out, we might be able to meet half way, in the city, at the end of the month and we can deliver a kitty when we do our monthly shop. The kittens will be old enough to leave by then.
We shall see how it works out!
While doing my rounds yesterday evening, I decided to prune away the dead parts of the mock orange at the clothes line platform.
It did so well last year, it’s a shame so much of it died over the winter. At the same time, I was happy to see the tiniest of leaf buds struggling to emerge from some main branches. I pruned all the dead stuff off and cleared out some Virginia Creeper that was trying to re-establish itself. That’s a wheel barrow full, right there. Now that it’s all open and pruned, I’m thinking it will recover quite well.
While hauling this away, I also started picking up branches in the West yard that had come down in the storms. I kept finding more and more branches – most were just small enough to be hidden by the grass, but still be enough that I wouldn’t want to hit them with the mower! I probably cleared another 2 wheelbarrows worth from the West lawn, including the section behind the storage house. I found more in the maple grove. I’m glad I was able to mow as much as I did, as it made it easier to find the fallen branches. Branches that had fallen into the areas I still need to get to with the weed trimmer were almost completely hidden! I’m also glad I brought my pruners with me, because I ended up cutting away spirea and caragana that was trying to reclaim the spaces between the lilacs, plum and apple trees again. It’s going to be a constant battle to keep those under control!
Then I checked on the transplanted raspberries and found a surprise.
A single asparagus spear!
It wasn’t there a few days ago. It wasn’t there last year.
It may be that, after having cleared away the weeds and mulching the area, a hidden root was finally able to grow.
Of course, I did have to go into the sun room to get my pruning sheers, and managed to get this adorable picture.
Continue readingI was about to settle at my computer when I suddenly heard a buzzing in my open window, and Fenrir started going nuts at the screen.
My first thought was that it was a big bumble bee.
I was wrong.
I called my daughters over to see. They then went outside to rescue it, while I made sure Fenrir didn’t get back on the window sill and tear out the screen to get at it!
The girls found Doom Guy under the window, watching intently!
This morning, we saw a humming bird outside our living room window, going for the lilacs. That was our first sighting of a humming bird this year. I certainly didn’t expect to find one stuck in my window just a few hours later!
The Re-Farmer
My daughter had a short shift today, so I just stayed in town until she was done. At times like this, weather willing, I like to check out the beach (and play some Pokemon Go… ;-) ).
On a beautiful day like today, lots of people were at the marina, getting their boats out for the summer, while others were already out on the water.
If you click on the first picture, you should be able to see the row of sails at the horizon. :-D
Near the main dock, you could really see where the tide was working away at the beach stones. I like looking in this area for interesting things.
Like this.
This one is much bigger than the last one I found.
When I showed a picture of that one to my older daughter, the first thing she asked was, “did you keep it?”
I hadn’t, and she was quite disappointed, so this time I brought it home.
She was thrilled! :-D
Further down the beach, I found a pile of rocks someone had made. One of them reminded me of a nose.
So I did this with them.
I hope it brings a smile to someone’s day. :-D
The Re-Farmer
It’s been cats, right from the start of my morning!
I didn’t even get out of bed yet, when Fenrir claimed my wrist as a chin pillow while I checked my phone. I could just barely angle the phone to get this picture.
Her chin is so soft and warm on my wrist, I can’t complain, even if it does make it hard to check the weather for the day!
While starting the cat stuff outdoors, a very dirty Big Jim came by.
Do I really want to know how he got black on him like that?
Beep Beep came over while I was securing the door from the outside.
A curious Big Jim! Checking on things while I washed out the kitten’s eye.
Jim has gone into the sun room with the kittens only once, that I know of, and the moms drove him out. This morning, this was as far as he dared go. :-D
The Re-Farmer
This was taken towards the middle of May, when the rose-breasted grosbeaks first started showing up.
From a single male and female pair, we now get whole bunches of them, visiting us.
This is another one of those birds local to our area that I’d never seen before until we moved back here.
While doing the cat stuff this evening, kittens were getting into the old kitchen. When I put out wet cat food for them, I did a head count, to make sure all 9 kittens were accounted for.
I got to 10.
I counted again.
Still 10.
That means the orange kitten we thought was taken back by Rosencrantz or Guildenstern has been here with his sibling all this time, and we couldn’t tell it apart from the other orange ones.
Which also means all those times we did head counts for 9, we were missing a kitten and didn’t know it!
Well, I guess that means it’s eyes healed up fast, because none of the all-orange kittens have eye issues. Just the one tabby (whose eyes are much better today!).
That was rather surreal! 😄
The Re-Farmer
The Re-Farmer 