Squirrel Agility Course

Video - Building the Perfect Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder by Mark Rober

Zipper the squirrel assessing which bird feeder he is going to launch himself at this morning!

"Phantastic Gus is my spiritual animal."

--Mark Rober

(see above video)

Pardon Me

Song - Instant Karma! by John Lennon

"Pardon me but you haven't filled the bird feeders today and I'm getting kinda hungry"

 - Zipper the Squirrel

Flowers From A Stranger

Song - Where Have All The Flowers Gone by The Kingston Trio

A large FedEx delivery van pulled into our driveway this morning and Mr. B was there to greet him.  He walked back into the kitchen with this massive box of flowers and a puzzled look on his face.

Mr. B said "these flowers are for you......but..........I.......didn't......buy........them............"



I should of played along for awhile but the look on his face was melting my heart.

We are having a 90th birthday party for my mom in a few weeks and I had bought them online a few days ago to see what kind of quality they were for $1 per stem. YES - $1 - the business is called Dollar Hydrangea and they are flown in from South America.  As you can see from the photo above they come a little squished in the box but just give them a gentle shake after you remove the packaging and they fluff right up!

 The stems are all tightly rubber banded with water sacks so all you need do is re-cut the stems and place them in tepid water. 

Then E...N...J...O...Y!

 The minimum you need to purchase is 40 stems and free shipping. 

I now have four and a half large arrangements that are beautiful.

Some friends on Instagram turned me on to this company. The company offers two types of white flowers, two of blue flowers or two of lime green flowers.

I got them all cut and placed in vases around the house, then I looked out my back door.

Zipper the squirrel is a gymnast now.....don't even get me started with this guy!

"When I walk with you

I feel as if I had a

flower in my buttonhole."

--William Makepeace Thackeray

Creature Comforts

Song - Birds by Neil Young

Meet my new bird friend "Hop A. Long".  Every morning he shows up on my outdoor fireplace expecting some peanuts.  And again in the afternoon. He hops along (hence the name) any lifts each peanut in his beak assessing it's weight....then he flies off with the heaviest one.

But sometimes......

.....his enemy Mr. Scrub J will show up as well and they will duke it out over who will get the most peanuts.  

God.....I really need a life!

Hop A. Long will keep watch while grabbing more than his share of the nuts.  

But look who is overhead peering down on Hop A. Long......Mr. Scrub J!

I truly need a life.............

 I see you little trouble maker up there......

Help.............

Friday and Saturday I spent the day between my pool and vegetable garden staking up my tomatoes.  The tomatoes are so heavy with fruit that it took me half a day each day to untangle the vines and pound stakes into the ground to hold them off of the soil.  I even used my son & daughter-in-law's wedding sign for some support!

 On Friday I was able to pick two zucchini and three ripe tomatoes as well as a ton of Basil! We have had a heat wave in Northern California and every thing is either frying or maturing rapidly!

And look at this cute little guy - he is a little watermelon!  I have never grown one before.

A dragonfly resting on some of the tomato stakes.

I still see you Mister.....don't even think about raiding the bird feeders!

My shade garden is fairly happy because they don't get that blast of sun but just a little heat and dappled light.  Above is the row of Limelight Hydrangea's that I planted for the wedding two years ago.

The Hosta's are in bloom right now along with the Gardenia's.........

....which smell heavenly!

I have fresh water all around my garden for the birds and they really appreciate it when it's warm out.

But since I have been feeding the Steller's and Scrub Jay's, I have noticed that they are chasing the songbirds away from their feeders.

And they are making a mess on my patio furniture..........so, as much fun as they are to watch I think I am going to have to stop feeding them.  

Yesterday afternoon as I was reading by the pool, a family of five Blue Birds came to my feeders to eat a little and drink some cool water and then flew off happily!  I did not have my camera at the time but I will from now on!  It was a magical moment!

As the day was ending Mr. B joined me in the pool and we both read and relaxed.  He motioned for me to come over to the deck to see something.  So I grabbed my camera (I had grabbed it right after the Blue Birds showed up) and there was a Great Blue Heron looking for fish in the creek.

I guess I do have a life.....in my own backyard!

And look who snuck into the bird feeder while I was busy admiring the heron...........

"Do not take life too seriously.  

You will never get out of it alive." 

--Elbert Hubbard

Closing Down

Song - October Road by James Taylor

The intense heat that we endured in California this summer has faded and we are now officially into Autumn. The days are comfortable and the nights are crisp.

Everything seems to have received the earth's message that it's time to close down for another year. I listen to the acorns "thud" on the roof of our house or on our little lane.  Cars drive by and you can hear the tires crunch the acorns into dust.

 The leaves on our maple trees are beginning to change color.  

The last of the Dahlia's and roses are blooming.

Unfortunately they were not happy campers this year as they were trying to survive the blazing heat spells, lower water consumption and not having Moi take care of them. 
It was just too dang hot to go out there!  

My friend, the Flicker sings to me every morning and in the late afternoon.

The days are decidedly shorter and our shadows are much longer.

I am harvesting apples in hopes of future cobblers, applesauce or my mama's famous apple pie!

The birds are filling up on nuts and seed for the approaching cold weather.

 As I plant my spring bulbs......the squirrels are planting and hiding their acorns.

 All day long I am replanting my flowers that the squirrels have dug up to make room for acorns.

YES.....I am talking about you Mister!

Meanwhile, there are so many wildfires in Northern California right now.

It's difficult to complain about the smoky air around here when so many have lost everything.

I am reminded of my Great-Aunt Theresa who at the age of 82 lost her home 

and belongs in the 1991 Oakland firestorm - she told me that everyone was so generous 

buying her new mixing bowls and beautiful fluffy towels.  

But it was her old chipped dishes and comfortably worn bedspread that made her feel at home.

"Mostly it is loss which teaches

 us about the worth of things." 

--Arthur Schopenhauer

The Zipper

Song - Hungry Eyes by Eric Carmen

"Pardon me but it appears that all of the bird feeders are empty 

and I was kind of hoping for lunch."

--Zipper the squirrel 

looking at me

 through my office window today.

The Tanagers Are Back

Song - Western Tanager Call

Can you spot him?

On Friday my son Andy spotted one on the dead tree near our creek 

but then he flitted away before I could get my camera or binoculars.

Then on Sunday I spotted two outside my office window on the pergola eating the grapes.

I looked at my blog and found that the last time they were in my neighborhood 

was in May 2016.

But by the time I located my camera and put on the telephoto lens....they were gone.

So now I have my camera on my desk so that is how I captured these photos yesterday.

Unfortunately, he is not singing but panting as it was 103 degrees outside.

 

I had Mr. B move a bird bath nearby

 and a friend told me to place some ice cubes in there to keep it cool.

Now I have to figure out what to do with my other grape eaters - time for a new squirt gun!

"The highway of life is filled 

with flat squirrels that couldn't make a decision."

 -- John C. Maxwell

A Trickster In My Garden

Song - Cartoon Hoedown by Media Right Productions

Zipper the Squirrel is looking for me through my office window

He comes closer and double checks that I'm still here 

and not walking toward the door to pelt him with ice cubes.

Go to the right?

"Hey Zipper.....I see you!"

Better go to the left!

Zipper's got one hand on the prize but still checking to make sure I'm seated.

"Zipper - Don't you dare"-  Jeanette says while shaking her finger at him.

"I'm warning you Zipper - Don't you dare"

And he does.....

.... d a r e !

 How does he get into that little space?

I don't really know because just before he goes into the feeder - I'm at the door!

I clap my hands and throw an ice cube at him.

And by the time I sit back down, this is what I see.....

 

About a hundred times each day.

But Tyler and I have a trick up our sleeves - 

I'll send you a photo as soon as I catch him eating the nuts inside the horses head..... tee hee!

"Comedy is a necessity to get through life with the fewest scars. 

Humor is the best antidote to relieve all struggles." -- Suzy Kassem