Yard

[lighter]

The birdbaths look so nice, Hops.  I have the bottom of a cement bath growing ivy... it needs another top as the first one broke.  I have it arranged, in pieces, around the drains in the yard, but that darned pedestal is just standing there, waiting for a new top.  Pushing sticks into the ground, then balancing something cool on top looks easy and very woodsy.

I love the idea of a regular bunny visitor,  CB.  My neighbor sends pictures of white squirrels... they live in his neighbor's yard.  There's a new one with a black spot on his face and a black stripe down his tail.

Lighter

[Hopalong]

WOW! A squirrel mated with a skunk!

I better get offline or my viognier mood might show....

))))

Hops (post happy friend backyard wine visit, hic!)

[Hopalong]

Ohh, this one's sad.
A dove was perched on the edge of my birdbath, not moving much if at all. But perching there. Didn't look normal but I'd leave it alone to recover a bit, hopefully. Although I walked right past it twice, no startling, it didn't budge.
An hour later, s/he remained so I felt more concerned. Actually though fresh water in the bath might help, so I approached it and poured some in. Didn't budge, worry grew. But still let it alone.

By evening it was gone and I was hoping it'd recovered. But when friends came by to drop off a grocery thing and stayed for wine, as we came onto the patio it leaped up out of the hostas and seemed panicked. I know this is anthropomorphizing, but its expression looked panicked. I figured it might rest in the hostas safely since the area is free of cats and might be better by morning.

What I SHOULD have done (googling away) was pick it up gently (would've been easy while it was sitting stunned on the bath rim) and place it on a small towel in a box, cover the box with a towel and leave it overnight, then take it for care. No pushing water or food because it was probably in shock.

Meanwhile, this morning I figured that was my plan for today, so I contacted the local wildlife center (an hour away) for advice. They wanted a picture first to know what kind of dove it was. So I went looking through the hostas and couldn't find it.

I felt awful that I'd dithered and not done the obvious helpful thing in time. My hope is it did recover but I don't think it can fly. So now it's out there somewhere and unable to fend for itself.

Very sad,
Hops

[Hopalong]

For anybody who loves flowers and has Netflix, I recommend The Big Flower Fight! It's a new, good-natured competition somewhat like the Great British Baking Show. Lots of laughs, quirks, creativity and it's a relaxing antidote to too much other reality.

CB....it's made for you!

Hugs
Hops

[lighter]

Awwww, Hops.  Don't beat yourself up about the bird. You didn't know what to do.  Why assume you should have done something, when it might have done more harm than good?  You have such a good heart.  Of course, you would have done something if you'd know what to do.

Here, we've had 2 incidents with hummingbirds looking dead.  Both times they were just stunned.  Each time they took off flying.... like miracles. 

I think I've seen the flower show you're talking about.  You're right.  It's a welcome escape in troubled times.

Lighter

[Hopalong]

Thanks, Lighter. I can let it go.

What I was upset about was that I didn't act in time, and then the poor thing was stuck on the ground in the hostas during the evening thunderstorm. I actually did know what to do because I'd looked it up, but I dithered (didn't act on that knowledge in time). So that's what I was upset about.

It could've spent a quiet night resting safely indoors in a box covered with a towel and I might have been able to take it to the Wildlife Center (a national leader) the next day. Its look of terror when it jumped up out of the plants (falling back down) in the evening haunted me.

Mistake was made. But I am letting it go now. Just feel a little sad when I go out here.

hugs
Hops

[Hopalong]

CB, I'm betting your houseplants and tropicals, all indoors to shelter from the extreme heat now....have made your apartment look like a rainforest display in a very fancy botanical garden. (That would be wonderful apart from the dripping!)

How is it feeling in there? Shady and calm? Do the plants talk back yet? Keep trying, I know they will.

I had a nice yard thing happen. There's a conservation foundation locally for the river that's at the bottom of my street (and that flows most of the way around the city). Anyway, I'm on their list, and months back they had a notice about a small grant they'd received for a pilot program of rain gardens in local neighborhoods, to reduce runoff into the river. They plan to install eight of them.

I sent in my info and to my amazement, got picked! It involved site visits and two perc tests. Anyway, beside my driveway, they bring a team of 6-8 volunteers and install a lovely rain garden -- basically they dig a shallow long oval bowl kind of shape, fill it with half compost and half sand, and plant the whole thing this fall with lovely native plants (I get to help pick) that like a lot of water. That's it. I'll need to stay on top of the weeding but will pay a kid to do that. It costs me otherwise nothing and will include a plaque explaining its purpose to folks who walk by.

I just figured any free landscaping is fine by me and better than I could do, and am delighted to help protect the river.

I share your wish about photos but I've never been able to attach anything here. I click on "attachment" and nothing happens. Same with highlighting URLs instead of having to insert them. Oh well, thank god we're here anyway.

hugs
Hops

[Hopalong]

I think you simply need to be courteous and invite the squirrels in for tea and peanuts. Really, I thought you were a kind person!

Have you already tried dividing your African violet?
What I know from plants fits in a thimble, so forgive a dumb question.

Gotta go therapize.

hugs
Hops

[lighter]

Upcoming family reunion.... will have 2 houses for 2 families.... practice social distancing... wear masks... enjoy shared meals out of doors.....there's a fire pit.... covered area in case it's raining... and I'm trying to plan ahead some.

The best family reunion we ever had was a pirate themed reunion. Cut up mustaches for goatees and eyebrows and mustaches, of course.  Bandanas, and earrings, and a treasure chest for the kiddies,  and water slide, and a pool, and games, and older kids and little ones... 2 birthdays with cakes, and lots of good food cooked on a huge wonderful grill.... all covered, with access to walking trails and amazing firepit for a huge group. 

This time I thought we'd have a cowboy theme, though I'm not married to it.  About 50.00 will get me hats, and mustaches, and bandanas and cute napkins enough to make ONE day amazing with fun photo ops.  The thing about summer parties is....  sometimes the sweat makes sticky mustaches not so sticky, but I will tell you...  SO MUCH FUN.  So... it's a serious consideration.

THat day could be the day we go to my Grandparent's grave... they were horse people... he trained horses and rode them in parades.... western all the way.... lots of trophies for competitions... and ribbons.. I remember those ribbons in my childhood... so many.  The smell of grandpa's pipe... vanilla... sweet.  Lovely. And I want to evoke that childhood joy for us all... if I can.  BBQ,  picked up on the way home, would be an easy meal, suited to the theme. 

One meal will be real Italian Lasagna.... cousins have ham and bean soup planned, so that's 3 big meals.... we only need 3.  I don't want to do any cooking.  At all.   Just relax and be present and apologize for being an ass for a couple of things.......... listen to their stories.... tell  some stories... have some games planned. We have a pool going... guessing my Aunt's, the cousin's mother's, genetic makeup.  These cousins LAUGH.  A lot.  I love them.

I remember horseshoes from the farm of my childhood.  What else would be good outdoor games?

Smaller meals.... lunches.... brunches, actually, would be better. There's a place that sells many different pies... will do that one day.  But 2 for the energy of one BRUNCHES, yes.  Mimosas, and naps and trips to Amish produce markets and maybe farms and the places we grew up.... restaurants we used to go to in childhood.   Trail Balongna store.... the candy store..... the BIG amazing Amish hardware store...... it likely sells everything.  So amazing. 

And......Thai Basil Lemonade.... bright green.... real lemons and lots of ice.  Yup yup yup.  Cousin will make boba tea. 

Any ideas for memorable,  easy food to feed a crowd?

Games?

Lighter

[lighter]

Houses are 10 minutes apart.  Plan is to have brunch together and dinners with games outdoors and general fellowship. 

Each group will stay in their own space.  Will have masks and hand sanitizers and make sure there are different serving bowls for each group.  Everyone is healthy, but acting like everyone is sick is how I intend to roll.  Our side all feel that way, and cousins will comply.  My Uncle and Aunt are the ones we're worried about, and we'll only see them at the cemetery, outside.

This is next week.

Lighter

[Twoapenny]

The party sounds nice, Lighter   The only outdoor, non contact games I could think of were the traditional sports day races (traditional here, I don't know if it's traditional there!).  But things like sack race, egg and spoon race, ordinary running, backwards running, obstacle races (jumping over bowls of water, stopping to put on a hat and gloves, crawling under a piece of rope, that sort of thing), gymnastics competition (forward rolls, cartwheels, handstands etc).  Just silly things that people can do at the same time but without touching.  Games like charades and pictionary (everyone can have their own pencils).  Maybe hangman, on a white board, with words that mean something to the family (childhood holiday places, favourite books from years ago, names of pets, that sort of thing).  Pin the tail on the donkey but maybe you could do pin the lasso on the cowboy (although you'd all need your own lassos, it might be time consuming to make them.  Maybe pin the moustache on the sheriff would be easier?).  Doughnuts on a string?  You could spread them out far enough that you're not touching.  Maybe a non contact version of twister so you spin the thing but instead of using the mat everyone stands on one leg for green, touches their toes for blue, that sort of thing.  And just have silly prizes and maybe an overall trophy for the person who wins the most events or something? xx

[Hopalong]

The way it works with Esteban is -- I write him a detailed email or text, listing extra things I need done besides mowing. Explain I'd like a Yes or No within a week so I can plan. Ask him to reply to confirm. He doesn't. Ask him again by text. No dice.

Two or three weeks later he turns up and does an excellent job. If I'm lucky, I'm at home that day and can fill in or change details. He undercharges me by a mile compared to others, and I'm very fond of him. He just operates on his own system, which doesn't include great communication but somehow, it still works out. I always leave two cold beers on the patio in a cooler for them.

Today things got done that I needed and can't (not in my present shape) do myself. I feel good about it (it's like cleaning help for my spirits--btw CB, I found someone my neighbor trusts, virus wise, and look forward to her starting next month). Both of these aren't cheap but adding it up over a year, it's still less than condo or HOA.

Esteban:
Trimmed or took out overhanging mulberry branches shading the garden and removed half of one mulberry that makes a pretty entrance to the back yard by the gate but also shaded a peony bed.
Removed a brush pile.
Cut a path through azaleas to a spigot that chewed me up to get to.
Cleaned out the gutters.
Cut out a big vine that was eating my crepe myrtle.

Feels good to be taking care of my little place. Now I need to take care of me.

hugs
Hops

[lighter]

Thanks for all those suggestions, Tupp.  We ended up playing football and basketball at the farmhouse.... much time was spent around the fire pit.... great weather.  LOTS of wood provided for us.  It was amazing, but for the Pug running after horses and buggies, then standing in the road.  It's always something.

Hops:

It was gratifying to read about Estaban's progress in your yard.  Some things are worth the money.... no doubt about it.  I never regret asking for help with organization, for instance.  It makes so much difference in quality of life.

My sister and I worked next to the stone path in the yard yesterday.  The moss is growing nicely there.  Its's very satisfying to SEE and touch the fruits of our labors. 
So beautiful and natural... the path meanders along..... curving and lined with large rocks.  I have a better idea where to plant more Hosta.   It's a very gratifying place to be with yard work.

Lighter

[Hopalong]

Thanks, Lighter!

BUGGIES?

Hops

[lighter]

Think.... Amish country; )

::clop clop clop clop::

And BIG fast moving trucks. 

 
On second thought....
think Pet Cemetery in Amish Country. 


Lighter