Coleus Basket

My farmer friend "Tim" gave me a half dozen "Black Dragon" coleus plugs that he started back in the Spring.  They were so tiny.  I didn't think they'd make it but hand watering and some TLC and they took off.

Coleus come in so many different varieties and colors now a days.  I'm partial to the blacks and chocolates.  May just do a coleus garden next year with a bunch of different types.

I may even try to bring one of these Black Dragons in the house for the Winter and start clippings come early Spring.

Find The Critter

Can you find the critter in the above photo?

Perhaps, these pics below will assist -

Lone Pettunia

What's that pink thing over there on the far side of the pool?

Awe, it's a lone pink petunia!

What an odd spot to grow and an odd time to appear.  Even odder is that with all the potted plants we did and maintained this Summer not a one had a petunia in it.

We'll enjoy it for as long as Mother Nature allows.

"Music" To My Palate!

Oh-boy-oh-boy-oh-boy!

Look what came in the mail today from Sow True Seed - my Fall garlic!

I ordered a variety called "Music", which claims to be cold hardy, slightly spicy and incredibly flavorful.

Guess what I'll be doing this weekend, rain or shine!

Whirly Bird

Finally bought my helicopter!

The Potato Chip Fair!

Look what I found in my lunch box on Monday morning!!  What a nice surprise whoever you were!

As far as biscuits and gravy goes it doesn't even come close to Clarence's Drive-In in Unicoi Tennessee.  However, for a lunchtime oomph, not too bad.

Bulking Up!

Took this picture the other morning of a deer in the neighbors front yard.

There were two deer foraging, both the babies that were born earlier this year.  As you can see they're no longer babies.  They were happily eating the hickory nuts now falling and covering the area.

The squirrels didn't seem to mind sharing.

Knock-Knock, Knock-Knock, Knock-Knock...

And this is the result of the Downy Woodpecker, ARG!

He sure has done a number on our trim that's for sure.

This time of year they become a HUGE nuisance as they forage for food and place to hole-up.

A friend bought and hung garland along the side of her house to prevent this.  I believe it worked, however, you should see what the different color garland looks like hanging sporadically in the house, YIKES!

Instead, I used a couple strands of bird netting and stapled over this area.  It's the netting we use to cover our strawberries and blueberries to keep the birds out.  It's difficult to see unless you're up close.  So far it seems to have worked on this spot.  My worry is they'll simply moved to another spot on the house and do the same damage.  

No Bottoms!

TA-DA!

This is the outcome of my recent shrub pruning.

I think I like it or at a minimum I like them better than what they looked like before.

The lower limbs were mostly dead with very little green left in them but still had a cone-type shape to them.  This was the alternative to pulling them out, which I'm still mulling over.

Samara Time of Year

This is a picture of one of the many Boxelder trees that we have along the back of our property. Notice the brown items, otherwise known as the Samara, which are essentially a type of fruit and covering most of these trees.  They're much easier to spot now that they've dried and turned brown.

Samara's are often referred to as a wingnut, helicopter, whirlibird, whirligig, polynose, or, in the north of England, a spinning jenny.  I like to refer to them as super annoyances for the fact that they're very mess this time of year when they begin to fall and fly all over the place.  It's a bear keeping the pool clean of them.

For Fall Lease

A Downy Woodpecker checking out our Fall accommodations.

What's All The Racket?

This helicopter was flying over the area last month for what seemed like 10+ minutes.

Still not sure what all the commotion was but one thing's for sure, it was very loud and very obnoxious!  It certainly disrupted an otherwise beautiful day.

Half Moon, Blue Sky!

Awesome picture of the moon with a deep blue sky.  Too bad my blogs watermark is smack dab in the middle...

Hello Down There!

I spent some time on my roof this past weekend, which I am not a big fan of.  Performed some pre-winter checks, preventative maintenance and repairs.

Years ago when we removed our wood stove, a piece of sheet metal was glued to the top of the chimney to prevent rain and snow and the elements from getting in.  Well, the seal had long since dried and there wasn't much holding the sheet metal in place, so it needed some attention.

While I was up there I also re-chalked the numerous cracks running through the concrete top.  It too was all dried out.  With fresh chalked applied the issue of the cracks worsening due to water getting inside and freezing is greatly reduced.  It definitely needs to be repaired properly sooner rather than later but for now this will suffice. 

"All of the pizza flavor, none of the melty cheese"

I can't make this stuff up...

Click the link below to read more -

Pizza-Flavored Ice Cream Combines the Two Most Important Food Groups Into One

I know two girls who are now in their glory!!

Crafty As A Fox

We had a 4-legged visitor this morning, and what an absolutely beautiful animal it was!

The chickens alerted me to his presence with their distinctive, something's amiss, carrying on's!

The good news, from what I saw, he didn't seem interested in the chickens or at least he wasn't near the coop or fussing with them.

I opened the window and began to clap in an effort to shoo him off.  He did scoot but didn't bolt.  He made a long slow arch to the driveway side of the house.  Looked like he was thinking about crossing the street but something scared him back.  By the time I got to the downstairs window that overlooks the driveway the dude ad caught, what looks like a bunny, and was devouring it.

This dude is welcome anytime, so long as he leaves the chickens alone and continues to catch and eat rabbits and other small unwanted critters.

He wan't having an attempt at a closer photo opt, nope.  He heard the slighter slowly opening, grabbed his breakfast and took off into the woods.

I Sew I Sew It's Off To Work I Go!

Pool closing season is upon us and I hope to be closing our's down soon, real soon!

In preparation for this upcoming undertaking some repairs were needed to the cover.  These items were noted back in the Spring when we removed the cover, several seams have come apart, UGH.

We bought the cover back in 2004.  Although, it's faded quite a bit all in all it's held up and done a fine job.  However, I wish they would have used sturdier stitching, as there are many sections showing wear.

So, since Sunday was a rainy day, down to the garage I went with needle in hand.  I unfolded the cover and located the problem sections.  Using a heavy duty fishing line, I began the task of sewing the holes - knit one, purl two or something like that.

TA-DA!  Shown is the pool cover's underside and the end result of my sewing technique!

Time will tell if my time and effort were well spent.

Looks like another big pool expense is in our near future!

What A Difference!!

I did a little side work this past Saturday for a family friend.

She had some old and very overgrown shrubs along the front of her house.  I suspect they were some forty-plus years old and not tended to or pruned in that same time.  They were blocking the windows on either side of the front door and growing out into the walkway making access to the door a challenge.

I made the recommendation that something should be done with them and I told her I knew just who to call too.  I was very surprised when she said "Okay"!  So, I jumped at the opportunity and with loppers and chainsaw in hand I went to work

Before -

After -

I cut the evergreen shrubs back, leaving just the stump and some short branches.  The plan is to pull these dudes, four in all, right out of the ground with a friends truck and some chains.  This is a future task.  The two rhododendrons I cut back drastically. New growth should begin all over and it'll fill in before you know it.  Same with the azalea.

The homeowner can now see out her front windows without obstruction, more sunlight will come into the house, especially the basement windows on the far side.  The pachysandra too will now get more light, as will the rest of the beds.

I'll pull the stumps this fall, then come Spring we'll reassess and look to plant new shrubs and annuals.

I'm Batman!

The bats have been out and about all Summer long.  We notice them out just before night fall and they go all night long.  They're constantly flying over the pool and our backyard. Counting them is difficult but suffice to say there are at least two or three.

Here are a couple cool shots.

Another Unique Pool Critter!

What a find and a rare find at that.  A Spotted Salamander!

These secretive animals spend almost their entire lives hidden under rocks or logs.  Only coming out at night to feed and in the Spring to mate.

Although, on the smaller side at about 2.5", this dude had a full, plump belly!

I remember when I was a kid that we'd hunt for this critters in the Spring in the hopes of catching a glimpse of some.  We'd head down to the neighboring stream in early March.  Usually on a rainy night following a full moon. That's when they'd come out to mate.

There were times when we'd spot one or two. Even when we didn't I recall finding their jellied egg clusters affixed to branches. Sadly, today they're becoming harder and harder to find, which is why finding this dude in our pool is an encouraging sign but it also reminds me of another place and time.