My College Graduate

My oldest graduated with honors from Sacred Heart University's (SHU) John F. Welch College of Business the past Sunday!

Seems like only yesterday I was moving a nervous Freshman into the dorms.  Four years later she's a beautiful, confident young woman with endless possibilities and set to embark on the next chapter in her life.  

I'm a VERY proud dad!

Congratulations Stephanie!

It's A Veggie Gardening Time!

and we're off!

Our Garlic is doing terrific!  We planted these in the Fall and once the warm weather arrived these plants took right off.  Hmm, can't wait to taste!

Planted eight Cucumber seedlings; paired up.  Also, there's a single Red-Leaf Lettuce plant growing.  This must have come from last years planting AND I'm NOT complaining!

The coup de gras, our BIG garden.  Planted twenty tomato plants; (12) Big Boy's and (8) Jet Star, four Broccoli, twelve squash; (6) Zucchini and (6) Summer

Still to plant: peppers, pole beans, kale, parsley, carrots and radishes.

Apartment Space For Rent

Well, it last just one year before it went to the birds...

As you can there are six bird nests atop the support beam to our deck.  They're all American Robin nests.  I'm just not sure yet if there's more than one nesting pair that's taken up residence. The best view is from the basement door, however, even that view isn't the best and as soon as you open the basement door off they go.  But if I was to guess I would say there's only one pair.

I really would prefer they do their family rearing someplace else.  I'm pretty sure the cranky old homeowner isn't going to be too happy when bird droppings start adorning the support beam...

Emilie's Bed - Raised Flower Bed That Is!

Emilie and I, with help from the neighbor youte; her friend, built a new raised bed to replace the old, rotting one we had strawberries in for years.  This new one, however, is for Emilie's use.  To plant whatever her little heart desires.  As you can see form the picture she's started with some flowers - Dalia's and Salvia, and has begun decorating with some granite as stepping stones.

I'll get her thumbs green yet!

Sprung A Leak!

We noticed a couple of weeks ago that there was quite a bit of water in the cabinet under the kitchen sink. 

Our kitchen faucet head is removal-able so you can pull it out and use it like a garden  hose, for lack of a better analogy.  Upon further investigate I discovered that the hose (the one on the right in the above photo) sprung a leak about 6" down, which of course was under the sink hence all the water.  

Although we bought the faucet, a Delta faucet, back in 2005 once call to the company and a replacement hose was shipped out to us, at NO cost including shipping!

It arrived the other day and within 10 minutes I had the new hose installed.

Crisis averted.

Sunny Side Up!

Trixie found the one warm sunny spot and claimed it for her nap.

Ah, a dog's life...

Oh Deer Mr. Sedum

The Whitetail deer were visiting the other day.

There were three of them and I'm guessing a mother and her two babies from last year.  Nice to see they made it through the long, cold New England winter we just had.  Although, not quite sure how.  The younger ones ventured out onto the lawn; not the mother.  She stayed along the woodline and constantly on the look out.  Someone should tell her they're in Franklin, not the Serengeti.

As I've said in the past, they're welcome to come and visit as long as they stay in the neighbors yard.  You can see in the second picture below, one of the youngsters was snacking on the just-popping-through-the-soil Autumn Joy Sedum.  Ate it right to the ground before moving onto the next plant.  Just glad it was the neighbors plants and not ours.

Another problem that these Odocoileus virginianus bring with them are TICKS!  I've found several on me already this Spring.  The neighbors boy too. Little pest, potential big problems.

Guess The Critter

Can you identify the bird in the first photo - WITHOUT peaking at the second photo?

Well?

Hmm?

Nope, it's not an American Robin!

Good guess though.

Put on your thinking cap.

I'm smelling something burning!

C'mon you know this!

You can do it!

Take a guess...

Well?

Give up?!

Fine!  It's a <see below>

Baltimore Oriole!

He's hanging out, sticking out and dinning out on the pear tree's Springtime blossoms.

HBD Daughter #1

Wishing my oldest daughter, and soon to be college graduate, a VERY Happy Birthday!

In A Hurry Sally...

So, the douche-bag that rode my ass up the parkway and into the office park and who continued as we drove over the speed bumps and into the parking lot is the same woman who went out of her way to hold the locked door open for me as we entered the building, WHY?!

That was nice of her but it bothered the $hit out of me just the same.  Seems she was in a bit of a hurry to get into the office, so why wait and hold the door open for the person who's ass you were just riding for about a half mile?!

In my mind I proceeded slammed the door off her dumb head repeatedly, then leaving her in a heap in the doorway as I stepped over her and adjusted by coat.  However, in reality that's just not me.  Rather like the dumb @uck that I am I donned a smile and happily said, "thank you"!

Happy Lawn and Gardens

It's been a couple weeks now but the following items have all been completed:

Pulled lawn tractor out of winter storage, purchased a new battery, checked tire pressure and fluids - all looked good.  She started right up!

Thatched the entire yard/lawn.  Performed this tasked in several different directions to ensure a through thatch job!  Crazy just how much thatch came up too.

Mowed the entire yard/lawn, with the cutting deck set very low, to both cut the grass but more importantly to pick up all the thatch, leaves, sticks, bark, little rocks, acorns, etc.

Spread (2) 40lb bags of pulverized lime on the mossy areas of the lawn.

Spread (1) 15,000 sq ft. bag of Scott's Step 1 Crabgrass Preventer Plus Lawn Food on the entire lawn.

Turned (tilled but without the tiller) our BIG garden, approximately 15' x 24'.  This got the compost and winter rye turned and mixed in nicely to help "feed" the soil.  All are gardens are now ready for planting. Just need the New England weather to cooperate and warm up.

Re-edged a number of flower beds to help define them.

With all the rain we've had this past week the lawn looks fantastic!  If a dandelion happens to appear, it's pulled and fed to our rabbits. 

“the expulsive discharge of neuromuscular tensions”

The Best Reasons to Do It!

An interesting article on how orgasms can affect longevity...

"As it turns out, the benefits of sex are a factor in all three categories of male mortality – heart disease, cancer, and environmental causes (stress, accident, suicide) – and plenty of scientists are pushing the idea that the more sex you have the longer you’ll live."

"“For men, the more the better,” he says. “The typical man who has 350 orgasms a year, versus the national average of around a quarter of that, lives about four years longer.” And more than those extra four years, Roizen says, the men will feel eight years younger than their contemporaries. Is there an optimal number of orgasms for the average man? Roizen suggests, with a straight face, that 700 a year could add up to eight years to your life. This is an ambitious prescription: The average American adult male has sex just 81 times a year."

 “Frequency of intercourse was a significant predictor of longevity.”

 “Sexual activity seems to have a protective effect on men’s health,”

Wild Visiting Bird Managerie

A Chickadee

A Blue Jay 

A Cowbird (female)

A Robin

Some visiting birds

A Turkey Hood Ornament Perhaps

Here is an interesting picture of the lone wild turkey that has been visiting off and on throughout the Fall, Winter and Spring.

I find it rather unusual that she's alone all of the time.  I would have thought, with Spring in the air, that she would have connected with some of the other turkeys that are nearby.  Not yet anyway.

I would suspect that if she continues to perch atop vehicles she's gonna wear out her welcome very quickly!

Mouth Watering Garlic!

Lookie lookie!

Our garlic isn't wasting any time and taking off with the warm weather!

Can't wait, hmm hmm good!

Oh NO!

It certainly didn't take too long once the weather broke for the woodchucks to venture out, UGH!

They have a couple holes they're currently working on and they're not very far from our gardens.

Another gardening season and another seasons of matching wits with these darn whistle pigs.

Stay tuned to see who comes out on top!

The "Zakim"

The Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge, Boston MA.

Took Rt.93 over the bridge the other day on my way to the office.

Find The Critter

Can you find the critter in the above picture?

Easter Bunnies

We're happy to report that all (6) of our baby bunnies have been placed in their new homes.

I'm happy to report that both mother rabbits have since been moved back outside and are NO longer residing in our basement!

Happy Easter!

What's Wrong With This Picture?!

Apparently, when you're contracted by the town of Franklin, to perform road work in the town of Franklin, violation enforcement doesn't apply!

This roller was parked within 12' of the fire hydrant all weekend long, beginning at approximately 3:00PM on Friday!

It's Official I Now Hold A Class M License!

I now have a valid Massachusetts Motorcycle license!!

Took and passed the Motorcycle learners permit exam on 2-11-2014

Signed up for the Basic Rider Course (BRC), given by the motorcycle training school Training Wheels, in Norwood, on 1-31-2014

Just completed the (2) day class: Saturday (4/5) 7:30AM - 6:30PM and Sunday (4/5) 7:30AM - 12:30PM, which consisted of five hours of classroom time followed by a 50 question test and eleven hours of riding time.

The Motorcycle driving test was given at the end of class, which I passed!

Open road here I come!!

Allergy Testing - Passed!

Had an appointment on Friday with an Allergist at the request of my Internist.

Both my forearms were pricked with different food samples for a total of 24 pricks per arm.

The picture above shows my right arm.  As you can see, down my wrist, there are two mosquito-type bumps.  This result is expected with whatever they administered there and used to verify the testing.  If any of the other 46 sites react the same way it's an indication of an allergic reaction.

Good news, I had NO allergic reactions!

Patio Furniture Arrival

Another sign of Spring!

Our patio set has come out of hibernation to grace our deck.

All pieces got a complete soapy & bleachy scrub down too.

Springs Arrival is Coming!

The Snowdrops and Crocuses are up and flowering!

The Hyacinths, Tulips and Daffodils are beginning to poke through the ground, so it shouldn't be too long now before they're flowering too.

Red-Headed Woodpecker

This Red-Headed Woodpecker was enjoying our suet feeder the other days.

A nervous bird that spends as much time looking around for danger as it does eating.

Awesome Blue and Orange

The Blue Birds have been visiting quite a bit these last couple of weeks.

Their blue color, along with the burnt orange on their chest is awesome!

I enjoy watching them and hope they stick around for a while.

Cleaning Time!

Cleaning time at the ole dentist for Emilie.

The good news, no cavities!

However, what a process.  Back in the day, when I was Emilie's age, a dentist visit was no fun.  It was such a sterile and unfriendly environment.  However, today's kids have it made when they visit the dentist.  Emilie had a choice of flavors for the toothpaste used to buff her teeth, which were all presented to her on a laminated sheet of paper.  Choice of flavored floss and choice of toothpaste to go home with.  Also, she was asked if she wanted a pair of sunglasses to wear while having her teeth cleaned.  You know because the lighting is so bright!

Also, interesting to note is the protection worn by the hygienist. She donned a pair of protective glasses, a mask and gloves.

Not when I was a kid, nope.  When I wasn't blinded by the light, I had stare up into the nostrils of the dentist.  In some ways today, it's good to be a kid...

Well Hello!

Our Gerber Daisy is doing her best to welcome Spring!

What Leash Law?!?!

Apparently, the town's leash law doesn't apply to all dog owners.  No sir, some dog owners just don't care.  They're selfish and inconsiderate.

Moe's Litter Update

Here are Moe's (3) baby bunnies!

The black bunny is actually Moe's daughters baby. We move her in with Moe since she only had two little ones to raise, versus the six Shadow had.

They'll be two weeks old tomorrow and at the age where their eyes are beginning to open!

AHG Bar & Grille

We stopped in at Angry Ham's Garage Bar & Grill last night, which is located in Framingham, MA.

Had several cold wobbly pops and some delicious wings!

Had a front row booth for the cover band "Dope Slap"

The kids really enjoyed themselves and were welcomed by the band.

We all enjoyed ourselves!

Find The Critter

Can you find the critter in the above photo?

Just Hang'n

Darn squirrel just keeps hanging around.