They’ve definitely moved in. At around 6 am, they emerged from inside the trailer – both of them – and sang. It was like a Disney movie in which the cottage door is flung open and the heroine sings. Back and forth, back and forth – they’ve been singing and flying in and out of the trailer for a few hours now. At first, we wondered if perhaps they were feeding babies, but then as it got lighter out, I saw nest-making materials in their beaks.
Christopher and Jenny are our new tenants. Chris and Jen, for short.
I’m endlessly fascinated with them.
I couldn’t resist sharing this rather blurry shot with you. One of them perched on the hubcap (is that still the name for it?) for about 10 minutes.
We’re so glad they chose our little trailer.
It was cold and windy yesterday and there was a frost warning overnight, but when I arose early this morning, I didn’t see any signs of frost. I think we dodged a bullet and I’m very grateful. We have warmer temperatures ahead, so I’m going to do a little raking this morning – the chicken wire fence gardens are full of leaves. Don is going to replace the chicken wire in a couple of days as it’s very, very rusty and looks terrible. Also, a little weed pulling is on the docket.
In a couple of days, I’ll trot off to the nursery and buy my porch and patio plants. I can’t wait!
I bought a turntable for the English Cottage, which will make it much easier to work on, as well as adjust for better photo lighting. I have three of them now; one for Hummingbird Cottage, one for the vintage dollhouse on top of the china cabinet in the den, and now, one for Dove Cottage. Turntables wouldn’t work with the big vintage dollhouse in the kitchen, or with the modern dollhouse. Nor with the Beacon Hill, if I ever get around to constructing it. It’s too big. Anyway, once I placed the dollhouse on the turntable, I wondered why I had waited so long to get one! When I want to secure it, I stick a Scrabble letter rack under it. It’s the perfect size.
Okay. Have to get a move on. It’s sunny, finally, and a good day to work outside!
Stay safe.
Happy Friday.
Yay! Chris and Jen picked the best spot! You will have fun watching them.
It’s sunny today and yard work on the agenda for us too.
Stay safe
My son is Chris and his wife is Jenny. Perfect names for your renters.
happy that the wrens chose to join you and don. how sweet the one looks sitting on the hubcap, checking out the new neighborhood! how did you pick their names?
glad you’ll have milder weather soon to do some favored yardwork and porch-sitting!
glad for me that today is friday. i am tired from physical therapy … means getting out the door by 6:15 for pt twice a week at a clinic (plus doing a lot of exercises at least twice daily at home … depending on the exercise). am told they see visible progress. hoping and trying to trust i will begin to feel it soon …because my balance is really bad right now (can’t stand on one foot for longer than three seconds). one step at a time, though, right? right!
thanks for often asking what people are reading … i have lots of titles to choose from when i order a book online from your oblong tomorrow in support of independent booksellers day.
happy friday! stay safe!
kathy in iowa
One exercise at a time….one day at a time! We’re pulling for you!! ;)
it’s been a slow (and very humbling) start, but it’s a start and i appreciate your support, donnamae!
doing alright? hope so. and that you have a nice weekend ahead.
thanks again, donnamae. and stay safe.
kathy in iowa
Good job!!!!!!!!
thanks very much, chris. i appreciate you cheering for me.
can you see your kids and granddaughter soon? hope so!
however you spend it, i hope you have a nice weekend. and stay safe.
thanks again.
kathy in iowa
PT is the way out. I know you can do this. Best to you Kathy!
thanks very much, martha.
i agree … physical therapy will be helpful. just going to take longer than i’d like (i am not a patient patient)!
hope you are well, have a good weekend and stay safe.
thanks again for your support.
kathy in iowa
kathy in iowa
The wrens that came to our feeders last year especially liked live meal worms and suet in case you get pulled into catering for the new neighbors.
ceci
ps … glad the turntables help to work on the dollhouses (hope it helps your back). at first i thought you were taking about a record player … haha!
kathy in iowa
I do believe the correct terminology would be wheel cover. However, it does depend on your age. Us older folks call them hubcaps…millennials call them wheel covers….LOL! Great pic no matter what you call them.
Love that you named the wrens…they are busy beavers from the sounds of it. That bird song must have been lovely.
I’ve got my plant list made…just waiting for the right time. I was thinking next week too….while the selection is good. Even if I have to keep them in the garage in case the weather turns…which it probably will. It is Wisconsin….so the weather is sure to turn!
Have fun raking…glad the weather is cooperating! ;)
With names like that, they have to be wrens! How delightful!
The turntable is brilliant. I sense a lot of dollhouse time in your near future! Maybe even this weekend, which I hope is terrific!
I thought the same as kathy, and figured you were getting a turntable to put in the house. Soon realized to what you were referring. I bet that really makes it much easier to work on them.
We are supposed to have 70’s next week. But we know there will still be cold temps at least a few more nights for sure. I am getting impatient to start gathering plants, that is for sure. Glad we have the garage to shelter them. Can’t wait!!
We haven’t seen wrens or orioles yet this year. It is late. I do so love their beautiful songs. Have fun working in the yard. Take care.
I never thought of a turntable, but I’m a doll house novice. Can you give a photo?
Hope you indeed dodged a bullet on the plants with a frost reprieve. Oh dear, we took a drive to the beach this morning and it’s as bad as I’ve been reading in terms of drought. No wildflowers on the beach cliffs at all; just some mustard, or so we think it’s mustard, ‘way, ‘way up there in the mountains beyond. All my fave places along the way for lupine or poppies; absolutely nothing. The hills are almost devoid of green and it’s only April. We might get a spot of rain Sunday/Monday but it’s not going to be any miracle for SoCalif with our significant rain deficit. I’d seen a thing on TV about NorCalif/Sonoma County and how one rancher had to sell fifty head of cattle because there will be no grazing; only the hay the rancher can afford for the hundred head he has remaining. I feel so badly for the wildlife but I probably said that before; the deer, rabbits, foxes, mountain lions, etc. No water and no feed. It’s when we expect to see them all come down out of the canyons on the ancient paths to the river, only to find there’s no water in the river; but they’ll be in the lemon groves and avocado orchards and people’s yards in broad daylight (confused/disoriented/desperate from starvation and thirst), and it’s just not a good scene. Drought is AWFUL. And of course it leaves us ripe for brush fires/wildfire. (And heat. So, I know I need to gear up for that onslaught because it gets hotter here earlier, every year.) At least for now, our own wildflower patch in the yard, which is watered, is glorious and meadow-like with bloom of every color and a variety of ‘species’. And you’ll have all that color and enjoyment very soon, Claudia!
I hope Christopher doesn’t find trailer life too much of a comedown after all his architectural triumphs. Jenny, being fictional, may be more of a shapeshifter.
Daughter left after a quick visit-back to cold ?snow in Indy…in the pool before her flight…will be back in June with youngest granddaughter…everyone is fully vaccinated but the two little boys and that granddaughter…almost 16…will be vaccinated before flying…airlines strict…stores here where I live in Florida are strict…signs plus coming over loudspeaker and asking those who don’t come in with masks to return to front and get one…I have only been in two stores plus grocery of course…daughter went in a couple and saw the same thing…if family is fully vaccinated, the little ones can start returning to the park…who really knows anyway? Prayers to both of you…
Chris & Jen – OK.
The trailer had me thinking of Lucy & Desi and the trailer movie.
They are so charming. Could there be a musical coming?