Oh What A Relief It Is!

We finally bit the bullet and hired a contractor to replace our front stairs, walkway and driveway retaining wall.  In the process, and since the contractor had heavy equipment on site, we took advantage and had them pull out and remove most of the original shrubs adorning the front of the house.  This work was done on a Friday.

The contractor was to cart off and remove all the brush.  However, their dump truck was full of concrete from the walkway and stairs, so there was no room. They would remove it all come the first of the coming week.  They chose to pile all the this debris on the front lawn and on a spot that was nice and green.  Well, those that know me and my analness, this wasn't sitting well.  The grass would be damaged having all this debris sitting on it for days.

Thanks to my neighbor, his trailer, his muscle and his recycling center pass we took care of it!  We loaded and piled it all on his trailer, tied it down and made the slow 4+ mile trek to the center and dropped it off.

AH, what a relief it is!!!

Toad or Turd?!

Well good morning my little friend!  I'm happy to see you out and about.  I'm pretty sure I pulled you from the pool skimmer not too long ago, and if I remember correctly it was in a nick of time too.  It's a good thing I was paying attention, otherwise I might have stepped right on you and that wouldn't have been fun or pretty /

Actually, up close the dude blends in pretty well with the concrete walkway -

Unlike these Trixie-dog turd nuggets, that she strategically placed at the foot of the deck stairs, UGH!!  I think I'd rather step on the toad... 

Darn dog!

Second, Late Season Planting

Zucchini and Summer squash has come to a seasons end.  I pulled the plants and chopped up nice and fine for the compost, turned the soil they were in and planted two rows; about 50 seeds, of Burpee Bush Blue Lake 274 bush beans.

There should be plenty of time to get a good batch or two before the cold weather sets in - 58 days to harvest.  Time will tell.

Eyes See You

A Polyphemus Moth.

What a handsome specimen too.  In the past when I've come across these they've been in tough shape - ripped, torn and tattered but not this one.  Perhaps a free hatch.  He hung around for a while, in the shade, before flying off. 

The joys of summer.

Tadpole or Polly Wog?!

The tadpoles we had in an aquarium became little frogs. Oodles of them!

Loaded them up and off to a local pond they went and released.

Garden Glory

Our tomato garden is doing fantastic this year. Seem like they're growing overnight and need to be tied up again.  Hoping for a bumper crop for canning but also for dinners of BLTs!

The Blind Leading The Blind

The dynamic duo, Trixie-dog and Oliver, stocking a blue-eyed chipmunk.  Sure they're so bold with the fence between them and the chipmunk, not to mention that the critter is already dead.

Oliver is letting Trixie-dog take the lead on this one...

Flower Time

It's that time of year hot, humid and dry but the perennials are in full bloom and loving it.  Always a favorite time of the season with SO many awesome colors!

Arm Chair Warrior

Trixie-dog fits perfectly on the arm of the couch.  An added bonus is that she can see outside and keep an eye on things.

Peek-a-Boo

A single Black Eyed Susan flower taking a risky path in the middle of the stairs and reaching for the sun.

Korean BBQ

Thursday lunches when in Boston is authentic Korean food from BiBIM BOX, a bright blue food truck.  Always a long line and always delicious!!

The King

Vintage Boston Herald newspaper insert from the early 70's

A Fox In The Hen House, Perhaps!

Surprise surprise!

I was shocked to see who had a hanker'n for apple and was swayed to into the trap.

This young fox pup was calm, leary and beautiful!

I explained to the pup that she was more than welcome under two conditions; 1 - she stay way from and leave any new chickens alone, and 2 - that she catch and eat as many chipmunks as possible!

A gentleman fox hand\paw shake was all we had and good enough for me. 

2018 Maiden Ride

My first motorcycle ride of 2018!

Destination Ocean Mist Bar, Wakefield, RI. for a variety of delicious chicken wings!

178 mile ride

It was a scorcher and the ride down and back was a hot one for sure.  However, the temperature at the ocean was cooler and a beautiful day.

Cheers to good friend!!

2018 Broccoli Harvest

I picked (4) head of delicious looking broccoli from our garden.  They survived the woodchuck, rabbit and deer.  Now I'm feeding Jack 2.0, our senior rabbit, the leaves from the plant and he loves them!

The Life of Riley

Emilie took some great pictures of a not-so-great critter...

Enjoy the day my friend, as yours is coming.

See What I Did Here?!

I sure do work with some turkeys...

American Pride Petunias

Pre fourth of July prep

Picked up (4) flats or 32 4" pots each with three petunia planted in them.  Each was supposed to have one red, one white and one blue (purple) but they all didn't turn out that way.

I was able to get all 32 planted!  Some in ceramic pots, some in hangers and some directly in the ground.  Everyone took and they all look great today, just in time for the 4th!!

Orange-you A Handsome Bird!

A male Baltimore Oriole snatching an insect out of our garden -

They have a nest in one of the Boxelder trees along our back yard, so we see them often around this time of year.  They love insects and are more them welcome.  Also, how can you not love their colors?!

I'm Being Watched...

Um, can I come outside too?!

Accident Waiting To Happen

I've posted a similar concern before and see it on the highway all the time during my commute to and from the office.  This one was by far the most dangerous looking that I've seen in quite a while.  It looked like it was tied and secured properly, however, I just can't imagine the roof racks are really rated or capable of handling that load and weight! 

Although, this dude was driving in the slow lane, he was none the less traveling at 65+ miles an hour.  Too dangerous, in my simple mind, especially on a major highway at rush hour.

I think even Charlie Frye, who loved his roof racks, would agree with me.

I Spy With My Little Eye

A male Bluebird staying close to his mate and keeping a watchful eye on the area.

Love me some Bluebirds!

Count The Rabbits

How many rabbits do you see in the below picture??  How many are ornamental and how many are real?!

There is a wild rabbit nest hidden perfectly in the ground among the sedum -

Here's a closer look.  I know it's hard to tell or see but trust me there's a good size hole there.  It's not too large or deep, rather it long.  I suspect so the kits can scoot up to be completely covered and protected from say the rain.

Here's the momma rabbit, just before dark, returning to the nest to nurse the kits.  A watchful eye, as she's always on guard -

Posted NO Trespassing!

I pulled, dusted off and baited the old hav-a-heart traps with tasty, juicy hard to refuse apples and my-o-my was it a busy weekend!

A first time catch, much to my surprise, a male wild rabbit -

BIG opossum #1 -

BIG opossum #2 -

and the coup de gra, a dreaded adult woodchuck!

mora coup de gra, a youngster woodchuck!

Quite a surprise to see this beautiful fox pup -

 AH!  Another member of the woodchuck clan that's living in my backyard -

Not shown, a couple grey squirrels and a couple chipmunks.

In the evenings the neighbors on both side of us have woodchucks and rabbits grazing on their lawns.  So, there are plenty more critters out there. If they stay away and in the neighbors yards we're good.  However, if they pull the old Peter rabbit deal...