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Years ago, we had an old barbeque that resided on our back deck. Over the years, it did a good job cooking up suppers. It also turned out to be a great home for birds.

Each spring, a couple of blackbirds took over the cooker and built a nest. Filled the whole dang thing up with grass and leaves, they did, making a proper nest in the southwest corner. They flew in behind, on the east side, and up into the lid. Several families were raised there. And it didn't matter how many times the nesting material was removed - they always brought more.

Well, the old barbecue finally saw its day and we got rid of it. Paul saw the neighbour's swanky grill and replaced our old one with one similar to theirs.

There hasn't been a nest for a few years - we figured they couldn't find their way into this one. Paul was relieved. And then yesterday, I saw a bird. And some grass sticking out from under the lid. Being the inquisitive type, I headed outside to investigate.

They're back.
 

Veggie Fortress

We're in the home stretch with lacrosse now. It's been a busy couple months with Cameron playing two nights a week and Nolan on Saturdays. Times like this, I almost wish I lived in town. Almost. Good thing gas is so cheap. This week, Cammy's team plays playoff games Tuesday and Thursday and Nolan plays a make-up game Wednesday. Then Saturday is the grand finale, champions are decided and I get my life back. It's all good.

I was at the Kinsmen Arena Saturday afternoon with Nolan. He made a beauty pass to set up a goal - no small feat considering there's not a lot of passing at this age.

#13 on the run. Shockingly, he's the tallest on the team.

Spent a good part of today in the garden. I had taken a couple days off work a few weeks ago and got most of the veggies planted. The lettuce, cabbage, radishes, zucchini, pumpkins, sweet potatoes and 12 rows of spuds went in then. Oh, and the melons. We've a small garden to the south of the house, beyond the firepit, where I moved my herbs. I had some room left over so planted the melons there. Even came up with a brilliant structure that allowed the sun through but kept the dog out. Did I mention she likes dirt? Later on in the day, as I came back up for a shovel or whatever, I noticed that the big tree to the west of the garden completely shaded my newly planted melons. I hear melons like full sun. Heat, you know. I may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, but at least I'm fairly likable.

Today, at long last, the tomatoes went in. They've been on the porch for several weeks and are doing great but it was a relief to finally get them in the ground. I also managed to get half the carrots in, the dill and some peas and beans. I've built a fortress of tomato cages around the tepees for the peas and beans and will win this season against the deer. (I know, I know; I said the same thing last year and how'd I make out.) We've also discovered that Rosie has selective hearing. "Come, Rosie." Oh, look at her run right through the potatoes. Good thing she's cute.

A cage or two here, a bench there, and victory will be mine.

Hey, what do you think about this for show-and-tell at school? We've a robin building a nest in the garage. Paul's removed two of them so far and there's another in the process of being built. Too bad it's on top of the garage door opener - that isn't working properly right now. Wildlife.

The trick is getting it to school without making scrambled eggs.

S-s-s-s-s-nakes

Have I ever mentioned how much I hate snakes? (I'm making a face as I type this.) I don't like them. Not a bit. I don't think I'm really scared of them. I mean there's no poisonous varieties in these parts but I do find them creepy. Shudder-deep-in-the-spine creepy.

Years ago, we planted a hundred or so seedlings out back - we, being the royal we. Paul, brother Enos and Jeff did all the planting. I looked after kids. Anyway, some weeks later I was off work and decided to go out and find and mark each seedling with an orange tie. Probably should have done that as they were planted, but, well, we're not that organized. Sometimes sheer brilliance takes time to develop. I was on the third tree, tying a marker around it when I spotted something black slithering through the grass. Near my foot. I probably gasped. It's a bit of a blur now. My heart raced. "Liz," I said, "you can do this. It's just a stupid harmless snake." Then I saw another one and I was out of there. Hadn't run so fast since college basketball. Never did mark another tree.

Today we went to the Indian River Reptile Zoo. Why, you ask? Because Cameron's buddy, Nate went there in June and Cammy's been on about it since. There's a lot of snakes there. Did I mention I don't like snakes? Oh. Ya.

Oh, good Lord.

That's Ri in the middle with a Burmese  *shudders*  python. It's not fully grown. Eww.

You just don't see that everyday. Surely it's time to go.

Oh. Oh. *shakes head*  I have video too. I deserve an award.

Bat, Man

Last year, Paul built a bat house and we've yet to find a bat anywhere near it. Turns out we may have been trying too hard. As I opened the door at work this morning, I looked up and there she was - hanging from the door. Pretty cool, in a batty, cover-your-neck kind of way. 

Just hanging around, catching a few winks. Wonder where Alfred is.

Weather Watch And Wee Birds

I picked the kids up after school today. As we drove along, the sky to the west threatened. Then, shortly after arriving home, the skies opened, the winds puffed and we were blasted with rain. Hail was thrown in just for fun. It's been like that lately. Hot, sticky, humid days followed by a cold front that turns the weather upside down. There was a tornado warning for the area last week. That was after the earthquake. Had a power outage too. Quite frankly, I could do without that much excitement in one day, thank you very much.

Thankfully, with this evening's storm, came cooler air. As we sat outside watching the rain, we could feel the temperature changing. What a relief.

After supper, Nolan grabbed a hockey stick and ball. He wandered out to the hockey net and discovered he had a new goalie. A wee bird was sitting in the crease. Not exactly a mighty duck and too far from home to be a penguin, we looked him over. He didn't have red wings and he wasn't a blackhawk but he was still wild. We wondered if the strong winds had pushed him out of the tree. The little guy was really too small for the draft. Or, perhaps, he just wanted to get away from the maple leafs. Who could blame him really. We searched high and low for a nest while a bird flew about us. His mama we figured. Then another peep, peep and we discovered, in the garden, a second wee bird. A left winger, no doubt. We set the rookie goaltender down with his teammate and vacated the arena so that their coach could join them. Go flyers, go.

Lookin' Out My Backdoor

Thirteen years and I still can't get enough of that view

Local Paddlers

Some of the locals out on Little Lake

Life Returns

While supper was cooking last night, I hung out on the back deck, taking in the beautiful spring day. It was around 5:30 or so and still about 15deg. out there. The weather is unbelievable for this early in the year.

As I leaned on the railing, the robins, red winged blackbirds, and others put on shows for their potential mates. The dove has returned from the south and taken up its perch on the roof peak at the north end of the house. A robin splashed below. In the distance to the east, I heard ducks. And then two Canada geese appeared in the sky and floated down behind a hill.

I put my shoes on and went out back to see if I could catch a glimpse of the pair in the pond. Unfortunately, they heard me coming and off they went. But seconds later, with a 'quack quack', two ducks arrived and took their spot in the same pond. I came up over the hill and spotted them. As I readied my camera, they, in turn, spotted me and flew off. I'll have to work on my approach.

The pond is the same one that the kids skate on in winter. Full of water in the spring, it's dry and grassy by late summer. The time for observing ducks and geese is now. I will try again.

Hanging Out

What else would you do on a beautiful day,
but hang out with a squirrel?

Strawberries and Frogs

My back is killing me and I'm sunburnt. You know why that's great? It means I got lots done in the garden this weekend.

My wee little strawberry patch was in desperate need of help. Who invented grass, anyway? I spent hours pulling dandelions and grass. I must admit, I suddenly understood why pesticides and such came to be. However, it's done now and looks so much better. Looks like I lost several plants over the winter but I picked up a bundle of them last week and in they went today.

My helper, Nolan, waterer-extraordinaire, I might add, assisted me with some of the digging and watering. And what a worm-finder! That boy's got a gift, I tell ya. During our breaks, which at times were frequent, we'd head out to one of the bogs and hunt for frogs. Like this one...


Over the weekend, I think we found a grand total of seven. We also took a look at this website and we'll see if we can contribute.

Our neighbour Greg was able to reconnect his tractor and tiller after 'converting' it into something else (and forgetting how the belt laid out - says he'll take pictures next time :o) ) and was good enough to drive it over this afternoon for our use. The garden, much to Paul's chagrin, is going to be bigger again this year. There's a good chance I, too, will regret this as weeding gets out of hand at the best of times, but, what the heck? We've got the room so might as well make it productive. And, yes, I admit, it may kill me, but I figure, with Nolie by my side digging up weeds (mostly) and never ever drowning plants - Look Mum, muck! - I've got it covered.

This week I'm looking forward to more blackfly bites (well, maybe not) and an achey back. And soon, the first strawberries. Mmmm.

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Visiting the Salt Lick