I Mean The Nerve

This is SO true!

Matter of fact, some POS pulled into my driveway last night around 7ish and just sat there for a a while, then backed out and went back the way he came.  AND I reacted EXACTLY like Dwight in the picture below, I kid you not!  Honestly, I was about to put my sneakers on and head out there and chase the dickhead off.  The nerve of some people. Piss off somewhere else!

Yup, I'm a grumpy old man!

Car Ride Fun!

Came home yesterday to my pepper plants destroyed, GRRR!  Something, I believe squirrels are to blame, got in the raised bed and dug up some plants, ate the tops off others and they were looking great and starting to take off.

SO THIS MEANS WAR!

I immediately broke out all my traps and set them in various spots around my gardens. We had oodles of squirrels in the fall and the same this spring, so it didn't take long to reap my rewards!

This youngster ventured in this AM, I watched him, and went for a ride with me to work - 

This super skittish adult was waiting for me when I got home from work and went for a ride shortly thereafter -

The traps have all be rebaited and reset.

Rodent deportations are underway!

MMYGA - Make My Yard Great Again!!

Oh, It's On!

DOH!

Well well well, look who went for his first car ride yesterday...

Another Turtle Save!

Good news, another turtle rescued from the middle of the road this morning!

This one a youngster Snapping turtle.

I was beside it before I realized it was a turtle, it blended in so well.  Fortunately, there was no one behind me or coming in the opposite directions, so I hit the brakes, backed up, threw the LLV in park and jumped out to make the save!

I turned around and drove to the pond, which was right there.  You can actually see it in the background of the first pic.  Ironically, this dude was only some ~50' from where I made my last rescue of the Painted turtle.

Before placing the dude into the water and setting it free, I performed a road side surgical procedure.  You can see it in the pic below - I circled it in red, a leach was firmly attached and sucking away.  No worries, I grabbed my handy-dandy scissors and with one snip the leach was no more.

I'm gonna call it a win win!

The Pope Leo XIV Hail Mary

I picked up this souvenir t-shirt while attending the Chicago Cubs vs Chicago White Sox game Wrigley Field.

They were being offered by most of the vendor around Wrigley.  Oodles of fans were wearing them too, along with other Popely attire, e.g. Mitres and robes. A fun atmosphere.

Seems "Pope Chicago", "Chicago White Sox Pope Hope" and other similar references refers to the increased optimism and renewed belief among White Sox fans since the election of Pope Leo XIV, who is a confirmed White Sox fan and a Chicago native. The fact that a figurehead of global religious authority, and a fan of their team, has emerged from their city has brought a sense of hope and faith to the struggling team and its supporters.

As of this morning with roughly 60 games played the White Sox's have a whopping 18 wins and no longer in last place in the entire league (Colorado Rockies have an embarrassing 10 wins). 

Maybe it's working!  Lets keep an eye out...

Let The Expenses Begin!

So, this happened today, UGH!

The weather really hasn't been that good.  Most weekend we've had rain on one or both days.  That coupled with I'm now working, finding the time AND the motivation to do the work necessary to open the pool just hasn't been there.

However, since it needed to be done, today was the day!

I've master installing and removing the pool cover all by myself.  It's a challenge and I'm spent by the time it's all done and everything put away AND today was no different.

I took this pic below once I removed the cover.  It does look a tad green but now, some six hours later and six gallons of liquid shock applied, the water itself if crystal clear.  The gunk on the bottom, well that's a different story, and I'll vacuum most of that to waste at the same time I lower the water level.

Then I'll fire up the pump and let the filter do it's job to clean up the rest...fingers crossed.

I dragged the pool cover to the driveway and spread it out to dry. Once dry I used a broom to loosen most of the debris, then broke out the ole gas leaf blower.  Works like a charm too!  A couple hours after that I strategically folded it, so come the fall it'll unfold like an accordion and in the proper order\direction.  The question is, will I remember how I folded it in 5 months, dunno?!?!

Oh the joys of it all!

A Welcomed Returning Occupant

I sure do miss having chickens.  Looking out back and seeing the empty coop seems wrong and makes me sad.  Oh, I've been tempted many times and have almost caved a couple times this year alone but passed each time.

However, not having the worry about protecting them from predator's is a relief and stress free.  For example, I recently posted pics of the coyote I watched stroll through my back yard and onto the neighbors chicken coops.  If I had chickens in my coop, the encounter would have been completely different.  Also, the other morning around 6ish, as I was standing at the sink washing my breakfast dishes, a BIG raccoon came ambling by, along the same route as the coyote, and made a b-line towards my neighbors coop and sure enough it wasn't a minute or so later and the chickens erupted with squawking and cackling and carrying on.

Now, not to be completely discouraged, I am happy to report that I do have a resident of my chicken coop this spring!  A returning resident too that is reusing their old nest after some patching -

Anyone care to take a guess at what type of birds these are WITHOUT looking below and cheating -

Looked like there were two littles in the nest but I can't be certain.  I was already causing a disturbance and the parents were in an uproar, so I snapped my pics and hurried away -

A small bird; one of the smallest in North America.

A very chatty boisterous bird.

A busy and energetic bird.

A territorial bird.

A master at finding and catching all sorts of pesky insects, especially on the ground and under plants.

A Northern House Wren! 🐤

Another of my favorite birds.

These Apply To All, Not Just Sons

So much easier to see these when looking back...

Let The Show Begin!

Here are some of the recent planting I've done around my yard -

This clump of Cannas are one of two that I over-wintered in my basement this past year.  I chose to plant it in the same spot I had it in last spring\summer, as it did very well there -

Added some Marigolds to add some color along my driveway -

These two flower pots, with "Main Street Abbey Road" Coleus and "Daybreak" Gazania will adorn my front stairs -

These Cosmos came from my farmer friend and have oodles of blossoms coming -

A current pic of how well all (33) of my fall planted garlic is doing -

Now, if only the sun would come out and stay, all my plants would surely take off!

Sweet Baby Jesus of Chicago

The oddest thing...

While cleaning up the front yard flower bed at my daughters new house in Chicago, I found this 3" Jesus status that was upside down and pushed into dirt with only the base visible.

I'm thinking this is a good sign for the new homeowners, so with a little elbow grease and the garden hose I hosed Him off to remove all the dirt -

He cleaned up quite nicely and now sits upon their front deck watching over the house and those that pass by.

#Blessed

I Did It Again!

Working towards donation pin #10 and I've already booked my next eligible appointment for September!

My 2:00PM Power Red donation appointment went without a hitch -

Power Red donations allows you to safely donate two units of red cells during one appointment versus only one unit when donating as a whole blood donation.

So, they're getting twice the goodness of ME 😊

Honestly, the toughest part of donating blood, is trying to get all of the glue that gets left behind by the tape they use to hold the gauze and band-aid on post donation!

Ever take a price tag sticker off an item you've purchased, where the tag itself comes off but it leaves behind the sticky, glue residue?!  Well, it's just like that but on your skin...

#Blessed

I Went With "Yellow Sun" This Year!

Yesterday was a light day in terms of mail and I was able to finish up early, so opted to run some errands versus heading straight home. The timing was prefect - well after lunch and before the knuckleheads got out of work, so traffic was not too bad and less POS to deal with!  For example, I was the only person browsing and shopping at the nursery, perfect 👌

Although, my farmer friend had given me oodles of plants when I visited with him a couple weeks ago, I was "jonesing" for more.  So, I headed to my favorite local nursery, The Pumpkin Seed in Bellingham!

I picked up another 4-pack of peppers, as well as a variety of annual flowers to fill a couple other planters I have, pics to soon follow.

One of the planter plantings I look forward to doing every year in the concrete planter pictured below.  This was my mothers planter that I relocated here to my homestead many years ago.  I always hose it down and wash it, then put undercover from the elements for the fall.  Come spring planting time, I pull this gem out, add fresh compost and plant a nice vibrant and beautiful annual in it!

I'll water it daily and tend to it with care, as it always reminds me of my mom and brings a smile to my face regardless of the day I had or the mood I'm in.

I changed into my yard cloths and spent a couple hours out in the yard, decompressing, and planting what I bought -

2025 -

Here are the plantings I've done in this planter the last several years - 

2024 -

2023 -

2022 -

2021 -

The petunias really does the best in this planter and look the best too!

Will They Come?

I've had milkweed growing along my side yard for several years now.  Of course I leave them be, even the ones that have started growing into the lawn, all in the hopes of attracting Monarch butterflies and their caterpillars.

Last year a couple milkweed plants sprouted in a flower bed inside the pool fence.  Again, I let them be and this year LOOK at my reward - oodles and oodles of them!

As you can see these are doing really well, which is because they have full sun for most of the late morning and all afternoon!  I also have plenty on the side yard again this year but they don't get as much sun, so are on the smaller side.

Invasive perhaps, but either way, I couldn't be happier that they've taken so well, keep coming back year after year, even if they're taking over in some places.

Fingers, and toes, are crossed in the hopes they finally attract Monarchs!

Bush Bean, Not Poll Beans

And since I'm on the planting theme here, I planted about (30) of the below "Burpee Stringless Green Pod" beans yesterday (Memorial Day) afternoon -

I planted them in my tomato garden this year, up against the wire fencing I installed last year.  Hoping this will help deter the deer and rabbits from easy access to them.  Also, I believe tomatoes and beans are very good companion plants...

Ehh, What's Up Doc?

I planted a couple row of carrots on Sunday afternoon.

This year I planted them width wise versus length wise, so instead of one 8' row, I have two 4' rows.  Really doesn't make much of a difference other than I now have freed up half of the raised bed to plant something else and I'm thinking more peppers...

I planted the below "Touchon" carrots last year but they didn't do very well at all.  Even though I have half a package from last year, I tossed them and opted to try the "Nantes Half Long" above this year.  Gardening is all about trial and error to determine what works best for you.

We have oodles of wild rabbits again this year, UGH, and I've not yet seen any babies.  They're already doing a number on my perennials, like they did last year, and eating my echinacea, balloon flowers, spiderwort and even the milkweed, GRRR!

So, will need to fence in the above raised bed before the carrots take off, otherwise they'll become rabbit food...

Happy Memorial Day!

So, the USPS has a contract with Amazon to deliver some of their packages.

Yes, we deliver said packages during the week and lots of them but seems there's enough to warrant Sunday deliveries too, so I signed up.  Sunday deliveries are to Franklin residents, out of the Franklin post office, so I was in my own backyard...

Today, was my first day, so they went easy on me.  I delivered (21) packages, which took me 2.5 hours.  On my way back to the Franklin PO I made a small detour and stopped at my house for a photo op, see above, and to water Trixie.

Ironically, you can see several Amazon boxes sitting on the front steps.  These could very well have been delivered by one of my fellow carriers. Would have been comical if they were in my batch to be delivered, HAHAHA.

I also volunteered to do the same tomorrow morning too, Memorial Day.

Grabbing hours when I can.

Happy Memorial Day everyone and remembering all who sacrificed! 

Look Both Ways Before Crossing

While out on my route this morning delivering mail, and driving from one location to another, I noticed this awesome creature making it's way from the safety of the sidewalk and heading out onto the street!

I immediately turned around and chased it into the underbrush and hopefully back into the water!

There is no way this big Northern Water snake would have made it across the street.  There's no doubt it would have been run over.

We had a nor'easter around these part the last 24 hours or so and it dumped upwards of 7" in some locations!

Most of the local streams and rivers and ponds are above their banks and with the water roaring in torrent's.  I suspect this BIG beauty was collateral damage and likely washed away or washed out of it's home as a result.  Also, the temps have dropped considerably this past week hovering in the 40's at night and maybe the 50s to low 60s during the day - chilly and raw.  Perhaps, this snake was simply drawn to the warm pavement of the sidewalk.

Whatever the reason for it venturing out, I'm VERY happy I came upon it first and chased it off to safety.

Now, back to delivering mail...

The Woman On Lansing Way

Today, while delivering mail at the retirement community housing, an elderly woman came into the mailroom saw all the CBUs open and packages everywhere and asked if it was okay if she grabbed her mail.  Said she guessed there was a lot, as she's been unable to find the time to make her way down to collect it.

"Of course" I said and asked which box was hers!?

She did have a lot; a full box actually, and as I was pulling it she told me that her husband has been sick.

I handed the stack of mail to her and wished her husband a speedy recovery, to which she said that he was suffering with dementia.  Said that he hasn't been sleeping and struggling more of late and that she was exhausted herself.

We chatted for a couple minutes and I told her that my mom suffered from dementia too and offered up that I felt the caretakers seem to suffer more than the person with dementia (to some extent), in my opinion. She looked tired too.

That simple encounter and exchange brought back SO many memories of my mom and her struggles, so I thought I share this with you all.  The mailroom door hadn't even finished closing and there I was in tears. My heart went out to her.

We all have our battles that most people have NO idea about.  Be thankful for what you have AND be kind.

Kudos To All Those Fighting

Hang in there...

A Sprinkler Conundrum

Posting to get your thoughts on what appears to be a lawn sprinkler, that is recessed in a ground level green PVC pipe.  It's located in corner of the front yard of my daughters new house in Chicago.

It's the only one on the property and I was unable to locate any button or switch or spigot or anything, both inside the house and out, to control this thing.  Nor was there any way to physically raise the sprinkler up directly.

** Side note - look at how nice the flower bed is edged in the picture below <pats myself on the back>!

The yard itself is tiny, so this one sprinkler as installed would be sufficient to water the entire front lawn without any problems.

 The house was originally a one story house with a basement.  However, a second floor was added and the house remodeled from top to bottom, including a complete finish of the basement.  What I'm guessing is that this was installed BEFORE the house was renovated and during the remodel, the switch or nozzle or whatever it was that controlled this device was either removed or covered up with sheetrock and plaster.

It's unfortunate to lose the ability to control this but what worries me, especially residing in Chicago, is the winter and the very real possibility of the water line feeding this freezing and busting.  How would you know, assuming it wouldn't puddle?  Perhaps, a super crazy water consumption bill!

Any thoughts on how something like this can be troubleshot in an effort to locate a way to turn on\off or confirm it's still connected to the water lines?

SO weird!