Despite very little sleep, I pressed on yesterday. Did some yanking of poison ivy, which seems to be worse than ever this year. I wear an old flannel shirt for this, as well as special gloves, and I use a pruner that is only for poison ivy. It’s all kept in a box in the former kitchen island.
Then I mowed 2/3 of the front lawn. Don mowed the rest, as well as the secret garden.
It felt good to do something, rather than just sit here moaning about how tired I was. (Though I did a bit of that, too.)
Later in the day, we sat on the glider and listened to all of the birds singing. I love the amount of bird sound at this time of year. And, we looked at our property and gave thanks for it. Almost nothing makes me happier than sitting on the glider, holding my husband’s hand, and gazing at our pretty porch, the big maple, and the green grass and trees off in the distance.
I did sleep in a bit this morning, which is a rarity. So I’m feeling better today.
Today? A day of rest. Don’s lower back is sore. I’ve encouraged him to rest for the next couple of days.
I gave up on the science fiction book I was reading. It was a very interesting premise, but it was too long and science fiction really isn’t my thing. Plus, the writing was clumsy. Now, I’m reading Night Hawks by Elly Griffith, which I started right before I moved to Brooklyn to work on the movie. I was so busy that I never got back to it and it’s been sitting here in the den on my TBR pile. Since I’d only read about 20 pages, I didn’t have to get reacquainted with the plot.
Speaking of hawks and birds of prey. I know there’s another robin couple on our property tending to their nest. I’m not sure where the nest is, but it’s definitely somewhere closer to our porch. Right before dinner last night, I heard the warning cheep that a robin makes when there is a threat. We’re quite familiar with it around here. I looked out at the big maple and there he was sitting on a branch, facing the road. A steady barrage of cheep and then a tut-tut-tut which involved the tail feathers. I was watching the robin rather than the road, but I suddenly sensed the flight of a big bird with some white feathers as it took off over my neighbor’s house. Don assumes it was sitting on the wire across the street that stretched between phone poles. I only sensed it for a brief second, so I don’t know what kind of bird it was. That robin was relentless. It didn’t stop the warnings until the other bird left. Then our feisty little robin flew down to a lower branch to make sure the enemy had left.
Truly amazing.
Stay safe.
Happy Wednesday.
Never realized how territorial robins can be until a few years ago. We had a robin attack his reflection in the side mirror of my husband’s car. We covered the mirrors with plastic bags to discourage him. That worked up to a point, then he started on the back window. So we hung aluminum foil on windows like farmers and gardeners would hang tin pie plates in their gardens. Then that robin started on my car. We moved the vehicles away from where we thought the nest was located. That wasn’t enough for him. We can see he was wearing himself out by attacking the imaginary threat. The little bit of research I did–cardinals are just as bad. And I was surprised to learn this because I have always thought that blue jays were more aggressive birds.
Someone else who comments here has a robin= that continuously attacks his reflection in the window. Poor things!
Thanks, Trina.
Stay safe.
You should download the Merlin bird app. You can record the birds and it tells what bird you have on your property. It is kind of addicting.
Thanks, Sally!
I’ll look into that.
Stay safe.
Those robins are tough birds! Glad you are feeling better and more rested. You’re right about the birdsong this year — it’s spectacular!
It really is!
Stay safe, Jeanie.
hope it’s a day of good rest for you and don. i know it’s well-earned.
lots of birds (and earl the squirrel) to watch throughout the days this time of year … love it and them.
had my “welcome to medicare” physical this morning. taking a quick break before grocery shopping and a couple more errands … working on some smaller projects and a long to-do list (i am ready for a very short to-do list).
happy wednesday, everyone! and stay safe!
kathy
I never had a welcome to medicare physical – or are you calling it that because of the insurance you have now?
Stay safe, Kathy.
sorry, claudia.
that’s what medicare staff and my doctor called it. said it had to be done within first year on medicare. also to be free to me (no co-pay today … whoo hoo) unless something would be found to need follow-up. nothing found. whoo hoo again!
hope you and don had a good, easy day.
kathy
We never did that and were never required to do that.
xo
It’s so nice that you live on such a beautiful property which gives you so much comfort and pleasure. It’s important that our surroundings give us joy if at all possible. I’ve lived in places where I didn’t have that, so it makes for greater appreciation today because, even though my house inside and outside is a mess right now (everything needs grooming), I’m still mesmerized and in wonder of the colors and new blooms of things growing in the yard and also of how my home gives me shelter and a spot to withdraw when I need it in the world.
As always, I’m so impressed by the amount of hard, physical work you both can accomplish in your 70s. All the mowing and weeding! That said, my husband does walk the rescue dog a lot, and they’re up to eight miles a day again with the conclusion of my husband’s surgery recovery, four in the morning and four miles in the evening; notice I said the two of them and it doesn’t include me (I can only dream!).
We took a drive in parts of our County on Monday which aren’t usually where we go and it was so inspiring to see how green our landscape is STILL, back in the deeper canyons whereas in other dry years of drought it’s been a moonscape; of course this is benefit of our abundant rain this past winter and also heavy, misty-drizzly marine layer which has persisted since April; never saw the sun yesterday once and it’ll be this way beyond Memorial Day as we yield May Gray into June Gloom, or so it’s known here in the coastal valleys of Southern Calif.
On our little journey, we saw current agriculture crops of lemon-laden trees, also oranges (which are becoming rarer here); additionally, lots of onions growing in the row-crop industry. Is always fascinating to see what’s happening in our agricultural valleys and coastal plain here.
Relax today; you and Don have done a lot of work! Enjoy those fruits of your labor.
Truth be told, we are more tired after this kind of work than we used to be. We feel our age lately.
I well remember June gloom!
Stay safe, Vicki.
I, too, am impressed by how much physical work you do on your property, Claudia. But, I also think that the more you do, the more you’re able to do. However, you definitely deserve some “me” and “we” time for your books, music, puzzles, and, concluding, your girls.
Thanks so much, Wendy. I love working outside but I do get tired more quickly these days.
Stay safe, Wendy.
dear Claudia/Don — glad you all are able to enjoy your beautiful porch. spring birdsong is the best music!! we have a very shy oriole who sings constantly in daylight — so far we’ve only seen him once this year but enjoy his very loud singing thruout each day. all others — cardinals, robins, brown thrashers seem to try to ‘drown’ him out but he does not seem to care, LOL!! hope you all stay healthy/safe
What a sweet sound that must be!
Stay safe, Linda.
That’s a process to rid your yard of all the poison ivy…..and good you are so protected. Swinging on the glider with Don, especially after all the mowing, sounds like a comfortable reward… I love that gentle swaying in the fresh air! Enjoy the birds!
I love swinging on the glider – very comforting.
Stay safe, Barrie.
Love that you and Don enjoy spending time together on your lovely porch. Hope you had a quiet, restful day listening to birdsong and reaping the benefits of all your labours yesterday. Hugs, Elaine
Thanks so much, Elaine.
Stay safe.
Hi Claudia, your post answered my question about how you tackle poison ivy, that’s a great idea about separating the gloves and pruners. It’s rampant here too and I’ve already had 2 break outs of rashes from the vines. Take care, Jen
Yes, I think it’s the only way to go.
Good luck!