I’ve got many posts drafted but none ready to publish. I’ve got tonnes of photos but not sorted. I’ve got two class assignments to do. I’ve got a new shipment of comics arriving. I’ve had appointments all day so enjoy my photo of this rose from Leu Gardens in Orlando. I’ll be back tomorrow once I’ve caught up!
While we were car shopping what was left of Hurricane Isaac hit Wisconsin. The cloud formations were interesting. It moved through in a ban and then it was cooler and clear. I shot photos of the approaching when we were test driving various vehicles. The BOY did the rain come and need all the rain we can get this year. Enjoy the odd clouds.
I’m not a gardener, never have been, never will be. It’s just not in me. I find it miserable work. Though I enjoy the fruits of the labor be they flowers, vegetables, or fruit. If I had to do it I would. Mike on the other hand finds it relaxing. He likes to garden and looks forward to it. It’s beyond me just like my comic book hobby is beyond him. He appreciates it makes me happy. I appreciate produce and flowers.
Join me as I checked in on Mike’s garden. It’s coming along fine. The kritters enjoyed watching me take photos of the garden. Except Rappy, she slept in the sun. Can’t say I blame her.
How in the heck Mike gets in there to bring in the harvests he does is beyond me. I think of gardens as being measured in portions of an acre with nice wide rows not a jungle where if you step wrong you crush your next harvest. It’s his garden done his way. Left to me, I’d be living in a condo but it makes him happy. So there for the dense garden makes me happy.
Saturday Mike’s employer (he’s a reservist) had their annual company picnic at the Racine zoo. It was a lovely day for it. Clear, sunny, not too hot, great weather for a picnic. The zoo sits right on the shore of Lake Michigan so we added the lake breezes as a bonus.
The great thing about this picnic is we didn’t have to haul food and tend it. We just showed up and were treated to a great meal and then walked it off looking at the sights and animals of the zoo. Join me for a photo tour. If you want more click an image to be taken to my Flickr account and you surf images there until your heart is content.
It all started when I wanted a big crisp dinner salad. No dinner salad is complete without a boiled egg.
So as afternoon was rolling in it found me standing over the garbage in the kitchen looking out the window peeling boiled eggs. (I always make few extra). Rappy was out in the backyard and I was enjoying the feeling better stage after a week of being ill.
I noticed how much more had bloomed and greened since the last time I felt well enough to assess the yard. The red tulips had come out and were flanking the yellow custard ones with the same number.
The perennials in the same bed are greening up nicely. Their winter trash getting cleared away. I wondered if Mike had done it this weekend, I bet he did. The purple tulips are just making a showing as the frilly jonquils are doing their finale. The lilac bush Mike had trimmed so harshly not only has leaves but is getting ready to bloom. The cat nip by the fence has grown in leaps and bounds.
As I stood there watching the wildlife began its activities with no human clamoring around in the small space. Squirrels perched on the back fence running back and forth to keep an eye on Rappy as she romped in the grass. Soon they took a perch up on the peak of the back neighbor’s garage to survey when it was safe to make a run to the currently full bird feeder.
While they wearily watched Rappy a nuthatch landed in the lilac bush. They always make me laugh because they seem to look at the world upside down for most of the time. He’d dart out and land on the feeder to eat a few bite before the chittering of the squirrels made him dart back to the cover of the heart-shaped lilac leaves. It was so loud I could hear them through the glass of the windows. Greedy buggers didn’t want to share with the tiny nuthatch. But remember there’s always someone bigger than you keeping watch, in this case it was Rappy. The chittering would perk Rappy’s ears. She’d prance around looking for squirrels and they’d go silent hunkering down on the shingles of the neighbor’s roof. Then the nuthatch would dart out again to eat. Once Rappy settled down to watch out the gate the squirrels would scold the nuthatch, it would dart for cover and Rappy would prance about on patrol. Then rinse and repeat again.
As this went on a large robin bopped into the scene. He wasn’t concerned with Rappy, squirrels in the balcony, or nuthatches nibbling birdseed. He was collecting the dried vines from last year’s morning glories. Then he was back to pull out the dried leaves from the perennials. He made several trips to our yard then up to our garage’s peak the off in a Northernly direction to return shortly and clean up my yard some more. So maybe Mike had some help with that.
This was just a moment peeling eggs and looking out the window. Yet it was just what I needed after a week of being in bed ill. The freshness of it all, the simple fun and quiet activity that goes on all the time unnoticed. I’m not up to a full day’s activity yet but it was good to see it go on.
Now excuse me I’ve a dinner salad to make now that the eggs have chilled. As always it’s good to hear from you. Until next time.
Today has been a rainy day and I’ve been low on energy. It’s colder now but the rain has greened things. Soon the tulips will bloom.
Then they will join our already bloomin’ daffys.
I am glad to see the green. It wasn’t a particularly hard winter but it was a dreary one.
As always I’d love to hear from ya feel free to comment below. The comment will show up when I get it. Also if you like any of my posts give me a few stars and a like.
Until next time.
Mary Louise Eklund 