Wanted: Someone to function as sentry on the grounds of Mockingbird Hill Cottage.
Must be able to spend enormous amounts of time watching for adorable critters, big and small, and be willing to (nicely) scare them off from specific areas that are off-limits to the general public.
Job Duties include: Standing at the kitchen door and looking out the window, where you will often see little groundhogs scampering toward the areas known as The Big Corral, The Mini Corral and The Big Garden Bed. On no account are said animals to be allowed to enter these areas.
Sometimes your duties will take you to what is called The Front Porch, where you will observe adorable critters and loudly proclaim “NO!” This word may have to be uttered more than once.
Job duration: three weeks.
Example of critters that must be observed:
Other animals to watch for: deer. The current holder of this position saw a beautiful young deer this morning. She made the mistake of running for her camera in order to capture its beauty, thereby missing the fact that said deer was headed toward the big garden bed and was ready to eat the contents of that bed. The camera was hurriedly put down, the front door was opened – thereby activating the alarm, which was quickly deactivated – and the young deer was told “NO!” with a firm, but kindly voice.
This is the sort of thing you must do. All day long.
The other occupants of the house are well-meaning, but not up to the task. The male occupant will occasionally notice critters who are ‘getting into things’ and will open the door to scare them off. The other female occupant – a dog – seems not to notice or care, which is a far cry from the hyper, over-observant pup she once was. She has a much more zen attitude now, so she cannot be counted on.
Therefore, it is up to you.
End of job notice.
Hey, I’m not kidding. It’s Critter Central here. Last night I was standing right in front of the catalpa, camera in hand, and to my shock, a skunk crossed the street and trotted right by me on his way to some destination in the woods behind the shed. I was so shocked that I was unable to get a good picture – just a blur.
By the way, isn’t the catalpa beautiful? The scent hits you as soon as you go outside. It’s sweet and heady and incredible.
Even with the torrential rains and winds and thunderstorms of a few days ago, there are still a lot of blossoms on the tree. Glorious. I’m so grateful I didn’t miss the blooms this year.
I was at Lowe’s yesterday and happened to notice this trellis – I believe it was called the Zen Trellis. It was only $18 and the clematis is now thanking me for getting it up off the ground. I should have done this earlier in the spring, but alas, I’m just now getting around to it.
I have to say, I love that splash of red.
Don’s night of filming went well. Like a dog who knows when it’s master comes home, I woke up in the middle of the night, noticed that Don was not in bed with me, and, two seconds later, heard the sound of the car coming up the driveway. It sort of freaked me out….
We spoke only briefly but he was happy and loved the experience, as he always does. I’ll find out more later, but he’s still sleeping at the moment.
More to do today in the garden; weeding, weed whacking, mowing. Time to start making lists for Don. Lists for me. Laundry. You get the picture.
Happy Thursday.
Well, that sounds like the perfect job for a 3 week summer vacation! If I could only take off my real job, I’d take you up on your offer – ha-ha. Of course, I’ve been known to be distracted by trees or flowers or birds and it is possible that I would not do a “thorough” job of of keeping the unwanted intruders out of gardens, corrals, etc. Love your new trellis – what a great splash of color and the design is wonderful.
It’s all too easy to be distracted here, Vera!
Critter Central- LOL! Made me laugh and I am SO glad I was in between swigs of morning coffee!
Glad to hear there was no ‘spit take’, Kim!
I would love to sit on your porch for three weeks and keep an eye out for critters. Think of all the knitting, stitching, reading, and snoozing I could do! Oh yeah, I was supposed to keep an eye out for critters, huh?
Exactly. Therein lies the problem. The same problem Don fells prey to.
I hope you find a taker for the lookout job before you leave for Chautauqua. Who knows what your gardens will look like when you get back!! At least you really got to enjoy them this year! Thanks for the laugh this morning.
You’re welcome, Barbara!
I’d enjoy that job so much but like others might get ‘distracted’ by naps on the porch or playing with a sweet Scout. My daughter has critters near their home with babies that also like their garden, but Tiger will shoo them away as he plays outdoors! Good Luck with all of that. Love the Zen trellis, so pretty. I got some ugly bushes removed from around my house so now I have a nice place in front to put something pretty. The zen trellis would look nice against the brick there…hmmmmmm. Lowes visit coming up. Glad Don had a good time with his filming.
Linda
Go get one, Linda. They come in black, too.
If I lived close by I would happily volunteer for the job. Bentley would love it! He would have those critters towing the mark in no time at all :-) I am in love with your Catalpa!!!
Big Texas Hugs,
Susan and Bentley
We could use Bentley right about now, Susan!
Claudia, you are a hoot! I’d take the job if I was closer! Love that trellis. It was just what the clematis needed.
Have a wonderful day.
Deb
I had to get something. The other day we were mowing and I had to hold all of it up so that Don could mow around it. It needed a trellis!
What gorgeous pictures of your home and gardens. If I lived closer I, too, would take my turn on ‘guard duty’ just to be able to sit and enjoy your beautiful setting of Mother Nature at her best. Hope you have a wonderful day.
Thank you so much for your kind words, Cathy!
What a hoot! I’d applyfor critter control…but afraid I wouldn’t be able to supply a stellar recommendation. My level of competency at my current critter control position, is being questioned as I write this! Besides…with your front porch…..I’m sure I’d be too distracted to perform my duties. ;)
As is mine, Donnamae. Those darned rascals seem to find a way to get around me!
I love the new trellis, but I’m thinking of it as “I Love Lucy” rather than Zen. Someone once told her that redheads shouldn’t wear pink, so of course she promptly did. And no doubt looked fabulous. As does your trellis.
I wish I could come and mind the “critters”, but I would probably want to paint your wheelbarrow as a dollhouse for the ants. It’s probably for the best that I live about a million miles from New York.
That reminds me – we haven’t painted the darned wheelbarrow yet!
As Donnamae said, my references, also, are not stellar for the job. And I like Scout’s attitude… as we get older, adapting a Zen attitude about SO MANY things is a much wiser option ~ for our health and our stress levels.
The trellis is lovely! It really pops the pink as Barbara W’s reference to Lucy says.
We are having some nice rain today. No wind or heavy downpours. The plants, grass and shrubs all look quite happy and are showing off the lovely droplets which they seem to be wearing like jewels. I love the effects of a nice softly falling rain.
Maybe we’ll be getting your rain tomorrow? It’s hot and humid here today, Chris. I worked outside this morning and I’m pooped! The A/C seems awfully nice right about now.
I’d like to apply for the job. And to top it off I don’t even want my pay! I really miss watching all the wildlife in the spring.
I once purchased a real nice little lettuce plant for my decorative pond and Phil managed to eat the whole thing in one night. Lesson learned……
I’ve never had to deal with as many critters vs. the garden as I have this year!
That was so funny Claudia..I would like nothing better than to sit on your pretty bluestone porch and read..and pet and spoil Miss Scout..but then my cats would miss me terribly bad..at least I think they would..lol..Crossing paths with a skunk can be a serious thing..I have never run into the skunk here but he/she always leaves a sign to let me know they have visited..I think I would rather not see a skunk even though they are adorable critters also..Well..maybe if I’m standing inside at a window..Your clematis looks quite happy on that bright red trellis..those blooms look so big..mine climbs up the lattice work at the back of the carport..Tell Don his fan club is anxiously awaiting his new TV performance!
This one was so close to me, and it seemed like I reacted in slow motion to the whole thing, all the time remaining completely still so I didn’t get skunked!
I would take the job but I am too busy trying to keep the chipmunks (talk about adorable!) out of my potted plants on the patio.
Oh, I know! I’ve just spotted our little Chippy. He always looks like I’ve caught him doing some mischief!
Right now I am having to monitor the rabbits because there are certain plants they like to munch on. Also, since I FINALLY HAVE RED TOMATOES ON MY TOMATO PLANT I’m having to cover it with green net to keep the birds away. I don’t think Bella would be happy with me gone for three weeks. Maybe some day……
Judy
So glad you have your tomatoes, Judy! Whoo hoo!
I’d take the job, but I’m too busy monitoring baby bunnies and chipmunks in my own yard. ;-) I absolutely love that trellis! Can’t believe it was only $18 – good find. No yard work for me today…just started pouring rain. Looks like chance of rain every single day in the 7-day forecast, too.
I bet it’s headed our way. We have a little bunny but I haven’t seen it for a while. That always worries me.
Does this wonderful position include round trip airfare?
The trellis looks great. The red makes everything pop.
Unfortunately, no. We are on a very tight budget here at MHC….
Claudia, It looks so pretty at your place. I see those critters can make you yell NO. I chased a bunny today.. If you can find Judy at 20 North Ora blog, check out the McCoy piece she posted about today. Blessings, xoxo,Susie
I saw it, Susie. I have that piece and I told Judy that price was way too high! I’m glad she didn’t buy it.
I would take the job but the caterpillars would eat me out of house and home by then, and of course no one here would notice.
Mere
No, unfortunately, they wouldn’t notice! xo
We could trade. I am on 5 acres. Lots of lawn for hubby to mow. Two horses, a dozen hens and two roosters, 1 grumpy cat, 1 crazy bird dog.
You home is beautiful. I’ve loved the inside, but the outside is a slice of heaven. The clematis is fabulous.
Sounds like you have your hands full, too!
Great new trellis, I noticed them at Lowes in several colors. I’ve been chasing baby rabbits out of my garden lately or sending the dog out to chase them. I hoping to have some spinach left if I can keep them scared off.
The baby animals seem to be getting into things everywhere! You and Judy have baby rabbits (I probably do, too) and I have baby groundhogs!
LOL….I know how you feel. I have 3 dogs and a fenced yard but bunnies get in as well as skunks, raccoons and an opossum raised her family under our shed. I keep telling them they need to move to a “safer” neighborhood but they won’t go. There is a land conservatory behind our house and we also have a herd of deer that roam the neighborhood quite freely. The first year we lived here I had flowers boxes and planters full of beautiful flowers on my front porch, which goes across the whole front of the house. I was so excited to have such a pretty porch but got up the morning after I set all the flowers out and they were all gone! The deer had come and eaten them all. I only stems sticking out of pots….it looked like Morticia Addams lived here. Now I hang baskets and set out flowers the deer won’t eat.