In reading up about how best to feed birds, and how some types will eat at feeders, others prefer raised platforms, while still others prefer to eat at ground level, we made sure to have all three covered.
I have since discovered something.
It makes no difference. They all eat anywhere.
It’s interesting how, unlike to many other birds, the female American goldfinches are just a darker gold than the males.
Today, I finally had both the time and the weather conditions to work on the south fence line of the spruce grove (there there aren’t actually any spruces left…).
So, while waiting for the freshly washed gates to dry, I brought out the weed trimmer, my new reciprocating saw, and a whole lot of extension cord!
Here is my first progress shot.
Continue readingSo today has been an odd mix of productive and not so productive.
First up, we set up the wifi booster in the garage. There was some doubt as to whether it would work, as the outlets are against a metal clad wall.
Continue readingThis picture reminds me of the children’s book I used to read to my daughters, long ago, in which a lost little bird kept asking different things if they were its mother.
What a difference between these male and female rose breasted grosbeaks!
(Click on the images to see them at full size)
My goal of the day was to finish using the weed trimmer around the yard, then hopefully starting part of the lawn.
Then I read the forecast for the day.
There were thunderstorms predicted for the evening.
On doing my rounds and finding the grass was already dry of dew, I skipped everything else and started mowing. Aside from a couple of short breaks to eat and hydrate, I’ve been outside all day.
The forecast ended up changing to rain, and now even that seems to be off the radar, but the job is done.
The last section I work on is the path to the back gate. As usual, I’ve been making the mowed area slightly wider then before, but in that area, sections are just too rough, and I know there are rocks and logs hidden in the grass somewhere, so I’m very careful about that right now.
While going past the back gate, I found myself looking at the other side each time. It hasn’t had new gravel on there in decades, so it’s grown over. Grass is one thing, but I was seeing saplings start to grow, right under the gate we rebuilt last year.
Then I remembered I still had the gate key in my pocket.
That looks much better!
On the list of things to eventually get done it to add gravel to our driveway. I’ve talked to my brother about it, and he says our little gravel pit is mostly out of gravel and wouldn’t have enough to do the driveway. What I would really like to do is extend the driveway from one gate to the other, so that this entrance can also be used without lurching over the rough areas. At least part of it is from someone driving through the area when it was muddy; a pair of tire tracks cut through, deep enough that I figure the driver was doing a lot of spinning to not get stuck.
This would be pretty low on the priority list, compared to things like a new roof. When the time comes to get estimates, I hope to get 3; a shorter term goal to do the main driveway, a mid-term goal to do the parking areas and up to the old pump shack, and a long term to extend the rest of the way to the back gate.
Until then, I’ll just keep it mowed, so the trees don’t take it over.
The Re-Farmer
Last year, we saw some Baltimore Orioles now and then. Usually, just a flash of brilliant colour, and they were gone.
So we were pretty excited to see them showing up at the bird feeder in May, and being able to finally get some pictures!
They are now regular visitors, and we just love them! What amazing colours!
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 reading
The Re-Farmer 