Gnome Sweet Gnome

These hybrid yellow "Easy Wave" petunias did fantastic this summer, even with the hot and humid weather we had.  I watered them daily, which helped.  They bloomed for most of the summer, then stopped and took a break.  I snapped this picture last week and as you can see they're in full bloom again!

There are so many incredible colors with this hybrid, and they're so hardy, that I'll be looking for these again next season and adding some additional pots too.

Yup, All Too Familiar!

Sums it up pretty well, alas...

Not A Worry In The World

Took my first kayak ride yesterday after work!

A nice relaxing 1+ hour ride on the 157 acre Ashland State Park lake.

It was early evening with the sun going down, so calm and peaceful; very relaxing.  Ducks and swans, and cormorants too, were enjoying the water too.

Find The Critter

Can you find the critter in the first picture?!

A Grey Herron perfectly camouflaged! 

Fall Haircuts

After cutting my lawn I spent this past Saturday afternoon doing some pruning.  It's a regular fall chore that I've been doing for years, this year no different.

I like to trim my weeping cherry trees so they have a more upside down umbrella look.  Otherwise they get all squirrely with new limbs shooting up and out, which defeats the "weeping" looking.

Below is a Kouda Dogwood tree, which I planted when Emilie was born.  Hindsight being what it is, I should have planted it 3 or 4 feet to the right, as it's beneath the electric wire that runs to the house.  I trimmed this tree too, so it's clear of the wire but also I like them short and stout versus tall and lanky.

Before pic taken during the end of our hot humid summer.  The colored leaves are not the onset of Fall, rather stress from lack of water. Hoping it bounces back fine next spring

 - 

After pruning the top - 

Onto the next fall clean up project...

No Goodbye...

The Life of Riley

Trixie dog and Oliver cat sure do live a stress free life; No worries in the world.

I can only assume these are comfortable positions, as I often see these two in similar and weird positions quite often.

I love Trixie.  She's been my confidant and saving grace this past year!

Oliver I tolerate.  He's really a good cat, however, I do NOT like a) any aspect of his litter box and b) his throwing up, which is almost always on the carpet!  Why not the linoleum, UGH!

All I can say is it's a good thing these two can't talk, yikes!

Walking Stick Bug

What a find, a Walking Stick Bug!

I went out yesterday afternoon to grab the mail and noticed this awesome, unique and rare (in my book) critter hanging on my garage door.

Seems it thought it was well hidden, as it did not move when I approached it nor when I had the tape measure next to it. Rather it stuck out like a sore thumb!  Good thing I wasn't a predator looking for a snack.

The below sideview pic is great and captures it's eye really well - 

I relocated the dude onto a potted geranium inside the pool fence.  Hoping it's better hidden with many more options for it to move to and hide in safety -

Certainly a VERY cool find for sure!

I haven't seen one in years, so spotting this one was special.  Interestingly, I had never seen one until I moved to Franklin back in 2000.  Perhaps, Franklin is where all the Walking Stick bugs hail from, you think?!

Da Birds!

I was quick on the draw to capture this picture of a Downey Woodpecker perched on the head of my still wet mop!

I can't imagine what it was searching for but I can tell you with 100% certainty, that my floors are NOT that dirty!

The things you might see at a red light, if you take your head out of your phone! Below is a Grey Heron, wading amongst the lily pads, in search of a meal - 

Tick Tick Tick...

Framed Memories

Out shopping the other day I came across these cool t-shirt picture frames.  I immediately knew I had a use for them and picked up the four I needed.

The four t-shirts that I framed are all reminiscent of my dad.  He wore two of them all the times, the white ones, and the other two are from places he introduced us too.

I held onto these after his passing but they've been tucked away in a drawer with the exception of the Kwaj shirt.  Emilie has been wearing that one from time to time, which always brought a smile to my face when I saw her in it!  She was fine with giving it up for this project.

They're now hanging on a wall for me and others to see and appreciate each and every day.

So many great memories - THANK YOU dad, miss you!

The Place To Roost

Turns out these are not the best pics, as it's hard to see all the roosting birds, so you'll need to believe me when I tell you there are about 25+ turkey vultures in it.

I noticed this quite some time ago and initially thought the birds we turkeys but soon realized they're turkey vultures.  I'm not sure what the attraction is but they roost here all the time and there are usually twice as many too.

I'm not sure how messy or how noisy they are but, so not sure I'd be too happy about them roosting in my front yard but definitely cool!

I took the following pic last evening on my way to the market.  It's a little better -

Motorcycles and BBQ!

Although, it's Labor Day weekend, which signals the end of the summer, I went on my first major motorcycle ride today in several years.  102 miles, round trip, from Franklin, MA to Sterling, MA and back!

We drove out specifically to grab barbeque lunch at Davis BBQ, SO SO good!

I got the Gouda Mac 'N' Cheese Bowl with burnt ends and a side of Fried Cornbread w/Honey Butter, OMG to die for!  Well worth the trip!  It was a beautiful day, warm and sunny, and the ride on routes 140 and 62 was tremendous!

Starting mileage -

Our lunch spot -

Our motorcycles -

Ending mileage -

What a great ride, what a great day and with a great friend!

And That's A Wrap!

This mess, which is getting worse - 

Because of this messy and ugly tree, a boxelder -

Led to this -

Pool season is officially over at the ole Frye homestead!

I decided to close my pool this weekend.  In part due to what's pictured above.  I've been needing to spend far too much time vacuuming and hand skimming leaves and bugs and debris lately.  With the end of summer upon us and fall around the corner, the debris issue was only going to get worse.  That and the very little use the pool got this season there was no need to keep it open any longer.  Putting it to bed frees up more of my time and should save me a couple bucks on chemicals and electricity.

One less thing to worry about.

Anything Less Is An Excuse...

Get Out Of The Way Roadhog!

Franklin PD's passive aggressive way of speed enforcement, alas.

Rather than random and more frequent speed traps, this is FPD's approach to the new school year.

I certainly understand the need to remind most of the idiots on the road now that school is back in session but speeders, aggressive drivers and distracted drivers are out there EVERY DAY!  

Reminders like the one pictured above, and enforcement, shouldn't be a seasonal thing, rather ticketing the offenders and hitting them in the wallets and pocketbooks each and every day!

A Slithery Friend, Welcome!

I spotted this beauty slowly slinking along the backside of my driveway.  It was a pleasant surprise for sure, as I seldom seem snakes around my place and never really have.  Over the past 20 years I've seen some and a couple have fallen into the pool but for the most part not too many.

Perhaps, because I grew up seeing them in my folks yard all the time!  We lived next to wetland, so perhaps that attracted them with more critters for them to eat, e.g. frogs and toads.  I certainly miss those dad and my folks house and yard.  Plenty of wildlife to see and enjoy.

So, let this dude alone and watched him from atop the driveway, as he slithered to and fro. Hoping his diet consists of slug and other insects and he leaves the toads be.  However, the few toads I've seen this year, there is NO way this dude would be able to eat them.