Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Smoke & A Surprise

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Well, the air quality here is terrible due to the smoke from the fires in Canada. We’ve been advised to stay inside and today, that’s just what I plan to do. We left some of the windows open yesterday and by the end of the day my eyes were burning. They’re all shut now.

I know many of you are experiencing the same thing and, of course, many of you who live in Canada or on the West Coast have experienced this many times. The photos from NYC were eerie.

I do have respiratory problems, so it’s best to lay low for the next few days.

Moving on to a delightful story.

I happened to look out the living room window yesterday afternoon and there was a groundhog standing on his/her hind legs on one of the big rocks that edge the garden. I’ve seen this pose before. It’s an ‘alert’ pose. I told Don that I was watching the groundhog and before I got the words out of my mouth, two babies appeared! I couldn’t believe my eyes. They were emerging from an opening at the base of the big maple, where groundhogs like to hang out. Oh my goodness! Don came over and we proceeded to spend at least 45 minutes watching them. I grabbed my big girl camera with the telephoto lens.

Here’s mama with two babies to the right. She was high alert. At one point, she emitted a sharp whistle and the babies scurried back inside the tree. I’ve read about this whistle but this is the first time I’ve heard it. It sounds like a sneaker screeching on a basketball court. A few minutes later, still standing on her hind legs, another whistle. And boy, did those babies know exactly what to do.

Three babies.

You’ll note they are right next to my garden. I want to get some more metal fencing, but I’m stuck here today, so it will have to wait until tomorrow.

Later on in the afternoon, I opened the front door to the porch and I saw mama and (this happened very quickly) I’m pretty sure I saw SIX babies! They were all running back to the tree.

And even later on, mama was trying to eat some of our grass and one baby kept trying to latch on to her. Do they nurse like most babies? I think they must. This kid was relentless, following mom all over the place. Mom was determined to get some food so she kept shrugging the baby off. Eventually, mom went far away and the baby didn’t feel comfortable following her, so she stayed right by the tree waiting for her.

Oh my heavens, they’re adorable.

But this brings back a memory of the last time this happened and that was many years ago. I was constantly worried about the babies because they would get very close to the road. You know me, I’ll be worrying about them every day. Not to mention my garden.

I like that they’re so close to the house for photos but I really wish they were under the shed for safety. Plus, there’s a lot more grass over there. Who knows, there might be other groundhogs under the shed.

I’ll be on the watch today and hope to get more photos of these little ones.

We’ve sure had a lot of babies on the property this year.

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

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Flowers

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Our two peony bushes are very old. I believe they’ve been here for decades. In the past couple of years, they haven’t done much. Last year, I think there was one flower on the bush that gets the most sun. The other bush is now under a tree that has grown in the almost 18 years we’ve lived here and now its leaves block out the sun.

But this year, one blossom managed to emerge before the leaves took over. I’ve missed this peony.

I would try transplanting, but I don’t know if it would work – especially digging up the peony with the tree blocking some of the roots.

The other bush might be a better possibility. Anyway, isn’t this bloom beautiful? I told Don about it and later in the day he came in the house declaring that the scent is ‘intoxicating!” It is.

Maybe I should simply plant two new peonies next spring.

And when will I remember to spray my plants with deer repellent earlier in the spring? I forget all about it, thinking that it’s a problem I’ll have to address in a month or so. In the meantime, the deer chomp on everything and I’m always shocked that it’s happened so early.

I made up the recipe yesterday and sprayed it on everything. And I mean everything.

Of course, it rained for two minutes this morning. It might rain more this afternoon (we need it.) If so, I’ll spray again.

Before you ask, I can’t send you a link for the recipe because I no longer have access to it – it was on my old computer. It may be on this blog somewhere and you’re welcome to search for it.

More clematis.

Just read a big chunk of War and Peace  this morning. This particular section of the novel is so good I could not put it down, so I’m now ahead of the schedule.

Some good news: my former student from San Diego, Christine, has been battling cancer and her most recent test results are very positive. As Don says, Christine radiates joy and love, and we have been praying for her daily. And Adrian continues to get stronger. He walks a lot every day. His color is better. He is doing very well.

We have an air quality warning through tonight because of particulates in the air due to the wildfires in Canada.

Stay safe.

Happy Tuesday.

 

Bees, Flowers & Books

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This beautiful bumblebee obligingly stopped to take a rest. Thankfully, I had my phone with me.

I did a lot of work outside yesterday, which involved trying to prune some of the bushes in the big garden bed because I could no longer get around them to tend to the garden. There’s still more to go. While I reacquainted myself with that overgrown part of the garden, I noticed that a deer had chomped on all the David phlox, which I rely on for late summer color. I’m hoping the phlox makes new shoots. I was not a happy camper. Deer tend to come around in the very early morning or at dusk. I’m going to be more vigilant about showing them the exit. We’re usually up by 5:30 am, but I suppose 5 am would be even better.

We also put some netting over Don’s experimental vegetable garden. I’ve seen our curious bunny friend in that stretch of garden. We’ll see. Don has alway said that he’s doing it for fun and he’s not invested in it, but that changed on Saturday when he discovered lots of green things emerging from the soil. I hope he can at least harvest some  of it.

There’s still a lot more to be done out there, but today, I rest my back. I’ve noticed certain sections of the front lawn are turning brown. No rain will do that. I do see a chance for showers tomorrow and later in the week, but I’ve become cynical about rain forecasts. I admit it.

Gosh, I’m really enjoying The Locked Room  by Elly Griffiths. I read a big chunk of it this morning and I might finish it today. War and Peace  is also riveting at the moment; there are many discussions about the plot on a daily basis.

The clematis blooming in the midst of the unkempt boxwoods. Another job on my list of chores.

I had a long talk with my sister on Saturday. It’s not my place to share anything, but her life has been hellish for several years and it continues to be, as the divorce is not yet finalized. I despise my brother-in-law. What I would like to ask of you: your prayers, good thoughts, and positive wishes for my sister. She is such a truly good person, always helping others, always giving. She doesn’t deserve any of this. I believe in the power of positive energy and prayer. She needs that.  Thanks so much, my friends.

And I hope karma has some payback headed my BIL’s way.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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