Miami Memorial Day Visit

Emilie and I flew to Miami for the long holiday weekend!

We drove to Marco Island for a couple days of sun, beach and fun!

Sand between the toes, cold bear in the cooler, warm Gulf ocean water, perfect!

Spending time with my brother and his family - priceless!

Wish JoAnne was with us and my dad was feeling better to join.

1st Motorcycle Ride of 2016

We took our first motorcycle ride of the season a couple Saturday's ago now.  A chilly 105 mile ride!  It was nice to get back in the seat and chase out the Winter cobwebs.  Looking forward to many more this riding season.

"Wrenny" Is Back!

I relocated the small outhouse type bird house earlier this Spring.  I'm happy to report that "Wrenny" found the new location, in the middle of the raspberry plants, and moved right it!

Augusta Eat Your Heart Out!

Our lawn looks incredible this Spring!

A nice dark green.

It's loving the weather this Spring.  Also, the fertilizer and TLC it's been receiving.

You can see from the picture below, see red arrow, the approximate property line.  I set the spreader to only spread the fertilizer on our side and as you can see, what a difference it makes!

Here's a nice picture of the Maple trees we planted some 15 or so years ago.  They were babies back then, no thicker than your arm.  However, today they're monsters and doing great.  I'm still loving the red green red green placement.

A Sign Of Spring!

It's Lilly of the Valley time!

Just like the changing of the seasons, JoAnne picks bunches and bunches to place throughout the house.  Their smell is awesome.

Too bad they don't last very long, inside and out.

Just Taking A Rest

A beautiful Blue Bird resting atop one of our bird houses.

Sorry Charlie, this bird house is currently occupied by a pair of Black-capped Chickadees.

Move along...

Ain't No Vampires Here!

Our garlic is doing fantastic!

As soon as the cold weather broke these plants took off.

It won't be long now...

Not Interested!

Jehovah's Witness going door to door the other morning.

We've been here for 17 years and I don't recall having them as often as this year.  Times must be tough.

I see this akin to those dreaded dinner time soliciting phone calls, annoying!

And We're Off!

Riding season has arrived!

2016 starting odometer reading...

#yamahappy

Nope Not The MLB Team

We have a pair Baltimore Oriole nesting somewhere in the trees out back.  Of course with their flame orange and black they're hard to miss.  However, even if you can't see them, their distinct rich whistling song is hard to miss.

Looking forward to their presence all Spring and Summer long. 

Happy Birthday Stephanie!

Happy 24th Birthday Stephanie!

Enjoy your day.

All my love, Dad

Missing You

Happy Birthday Mom!

Christos Anesti

Happy Greek Easter to family and friend!

Drum Roll Please!!

THIS -

Plus THIS - 

Equals THIS -

Had the bike (front & read fenders and gas tank) painted this Winter.

What do you all think?!?!

I'm YAHMAHAPPY!

Before and after pictures above.

Shoo! Go Away! Scram!

First sighting of another problem critter, UGH!

Fortunately, she was over in the side neighbors yard but we all know that could change in short order. They're welcome to visit anytime as long as they limit themselves to clover only!

UPDATE:  In the days since this picture was taken baby bunnies have been spotted in the same general area.  It's only gonna get worse from here...

Insect Fornication 2016

I'm not sure what these insects are, beneficial or not. Therefore, I let them be and didn't interrupt.

Spring is in the air for sure!

Work In Progress!

Two of the girls working -

Our rewards -

Good Morning Moon!

Last Sunday early mornings, before it went to bed.

Lazy, Sneaky or Smart?

Snapped a photo of this pair of Brown-headed Cowbirds.

The male is handsome but these birds don't waste their time building nest and raising young.  Instead the females put all their energy into laying eggs, sometimes more than three dozen a summer, which they lay in the nests of other birds to be hatched and reared.

Slow It Down...

Where do I sign up for the town's yearly fire hydrant flushing gig?!?!

No stress or urgency with these two, that's obvious!

Um, I Can't Breath!

Here's Trixie dog joining me for a quick afternoon power nap...

Nation of Pussies

People will believe and buy anything.

Emilie and I came across this jug of "Snake Stopper" at our local farm and garden store.  Who knew something like this even existed.

I'm sorry but, in my humble opinion, this is a complete waste of money and another chemical created to aide the skittish.

A "Murder"...

or group of crows was also visiting the other morning.

I had thatched the lawn a day earlier and it looked like these social birds were on the hunt for nest building materials, aka pieces of my lawn.  I'm good with them lending a hand or rather a beak to pickup the pieces I missed.

There were other crows keeping watch in the tree tops as these two foraged.

Egg Chicky Bunny

Easter eggs colored

Uniquely decorated candy apples adorn our kitchen table, along with a single hand picked daffodil and expertly colored Easter eggs (by Emilie).

Nope Not A "Gobble" or "Flock"

We've been overrun with wild turkey's this Spring!  They're everywhere and roam in numbers or groups called "Rafters".

There was over 25 in this group, as they slowly crossed the street and into the neighbors front yard.  They didn't seem to mind the chilly and rainy conditions.

The Toms were vigilant and constantly on the lookout -

Of course they were showing off too -

And off they went into the wooded area and out of sight.  Too bad they don't stick around longer. 

Throwback Monday

A Spring Monday morning snowstorm.

Of course Emile's project was due that day.  Lugging a big box on the bus is tough enough without the snowy, wet and slippery conditions.

On snowy days all buses are required to pickup all riders wherever they're standing, so on this day Emilie was picked up at the end of our driveway.

#TBM

Boston Day Boston Strong