We share our yard with dapper little black and white Chickadees
Or perchance they make allowances for us.
They are so industrious, so constant in search of food.
One stays on guard while their mate goes foraging.
The eggs are ever guarded from foreign marauders.
They keep their nest spotless, even removing their waste.
Soon little squeaky chirps fill the spring air.
How we wish we could see the wee balls of fluff.
As we delight in the parents brisk activity,
We are impressed by their family parity and devotion.
Humans could learn from these pillars of parenthood,
Who warn off feathered prey twice their size.
The wee hatchlings are safely sheltered,
Nurtured to enter the world when ready.
Nature can be a wonderful teacher,
Stay safe little ones, stay safe.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
High School Reunion
This past weekend, June 4th, 5th and 6th I had a trip down memory lane. Not only did I visit the town where I was born and raised but attended probably my last High School reunion. It was a blast from the past. The weather held out, it rained in the evenings when most of the events were over. My girlfriend and I spent two nights with a friend in Woodstock while we attended our reunion in Norwich, ON.
How wonderful it was to reconnect with former classmates from the two public schools I attended in Burgessville and Norwich as well as the High School. We shared memories as did others in the room, the noise level was very high but then so was the peals of laughter surrounding us all. Many hugs and handshakes were shared amongst old pals. We enjoyed a Pub Night at the Legion in town on Friday night, a tour of the old High School on Saturday looking at memorabilia displayed for the event. We peered at name tags as we walked the hall, some friends from the past being more recognizable than others.
Saturday night my friends and I attended the dinner/dance, the room was packed with eager and joyful partygoers all there to get reacquainted with former classmates. The food was excellant, the party was a huge success. All who attended will go home with many fond memories of three days of renewing friendships, exchanging addresses and being so grateful for an event that brought us all together once again.
After a Sunday morning breakfast back at the Legion my friend and I visited family gravesites, spending a few quite moments with our departed loved ones and leaving flower tributes behind. We had a wonderful visit later with my daughter who was utterly surprised to see us, then headed off home, happy and contented, our heads buzzing with memories from a weekend we'll never forget.
How wonderful it was to reconnect with former classmates from the two public schools I attended in Burgessville and Norwich as well as the High School. We shared memories as did others in the room, the noise level was very high but then so was the peals of laughter surrounding us all. Many hugs and handshakes were shared amongst old pals. We enjoyed a Pub Night at the Legion in town on Friday night, a tour of the old High School on Saturday looking at memorabilia displayed for the event. We peered at name tags as we walked the hall, some friends from the past being more recognizable than others.
Saturday night my friends and I attended the dinner/dance, the room was packed with eager and joyful partygoers all there to get reacquainted with former classmates. The food was excellant, the party was a huge success. All who attended will go home with many fond memories of three days of renewing friendships, exchanging addresses and being so grateful for an event that brought us all together once again.
After a Sunday morning breakfast back at the Legion my friend and I visited family gravesites, spending a few quite moments with our departed loved ones and leaving flower tributes behind. We had a wonderful visit later with my daughter who was utterly surprised to see us, then headed off home, happy and contented, our heads buzzing with memories from a weekend we'll never forget.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Gardening and Water Resources
My husband and I diligently stuck to our plan of finishing the vegetable garden on May 24th weekend. The peas and snow peas are already up and looking healthy but my first planting of lettuce didn't produce so it was replanted. We will probably be overrun with tomatoes come fall if old "Mr. Frost" doesn't come too early. He often arrives mid-September here in Muskoka.
We enjoyed yellow tomatoes last year and a new Heirloom purple tomato that I haven't been able to find yet this year. I always plant one cherry tomato plant and get enough for the whole neighborhood.
I had a bumper crop of turnip last year so we planted them again and tried parsnips for the second time around..they didn't get very large last year. I tried brussel sprouts last year but the growing season was just too short for them to mature to a good size..they were tiny and tasty but I'm not planting them again. We moved our good-sized black composter into the garden last week to get more sun, the maple tree we planted seven years ago has matured to the point it was shading our composter too much.
We hope to harvest green peppers my husband started inside in the early spring from seeds from a pepper we bought and ate. He enjoys doing this, I'd much rather just buy a mature plant.
We planted carrots, onions, lettuce, tomatoes, turnips, green and yellow beans, peas, snow peas and a few potatoes in a garden that isn't very large. We are able to share our produce with others and there is nothing I like better than picking my own lettuce and onions for a fresh salad.
To my dispair I'm not good at growing radishes but have fairly good luck with most everything else we plant.
The flowers in the yard are looking glorious, pansies everywhere, yellow iris, purple ones in various shades, bright orange poppies, lupins and phlox have reseeded this year to the point of nearly taking over, but the butterflies seem to love them. Last year we hardly saw any butterflies but they are numerous this year. We have hummingbirds flitting here and there, gold finches, robins and my favorite, the chickadees making nests and rushing around feeding their offspring. It's a glorious start to summer.
With our garden and many flower beds we have two large rain barrels and two tin washtubs collecting water. I try and remember to scrub vegetables over a big bowl as well as save all rinse water to use on plants. When my husband cleans the pond filter using the garden hose he tries to clean the filters over a small bush or plants, thus serving two purposes. If he cleans them over a pail the water is used on plants. Every drop of water is precious so we try very hard not to waste any. We were so grateful for rain this week, the soil in the flower beds was like powder so the rain barrels should now be refilled. I know the birds enjoyed the showers, they sang their delight as soon as it started.
We enjoyed yellow tomatoes last year and a new Heirloom purple tomato that I haven't been able to find yet this year. I always plant one cherry tomato plant and get enough for the whole neighborhood.
I had a bumper crop of turnip last year so we planted them again and tried parsnips for the second time around..they didn't get very large last year. I tried brussel sprouts last year but the growing season was just too short for them to mature to a good size..they were tiny and tasty but I'm not planting them again. We moved our good-sized black composter into the garden last week to get more sun, the maple tree we planted seven years ago has matured to the point it was shading our composter too much.
We hope to harvest green peppers my husband started inside in the early spring from seeds from a pepper we bought and ate. He enjoys doing this, I'd much rather just buy a mature plant.
We planted carrots, onions, lettuce, tomatoes, turnips, green and yellow beans, peas, snow peas and a few potatoes in a garden that isn't very large. We are able to share our produce with others and there is nothing I like better than picking my own lettuce and onions for a fresh salad.
To my dispair I'm not good at growing radishes but have fairly good luck with most everything else we plant.
The flowers in the yard are looking glorious, pansies everywhere, yellow iris, purple ones in various shades, bright orange poppies, lupins and phlox have reseeded this year to the point of nearly taking over, but the butterflies seem to love them. Last year we hardly saw any butterflies but they are numerous this year. We have hummingbirds flitting here and there, gold finches, robins and my favorite, the chickadees making nests and rushing around feeding their offspring. It's a glorious start to summer.
With our garden and many flower beds we have two large rain barrels and two tin washtubs collecting water. I try and remember to scrub vegetables over a big bowl as well as save all rinse water to use on plants. When my husband cleans the pond filter using the garden hose he tries to clean the filters over a small bush or plants, thus serving two purposes. If he cleans them over a pail the water is used on plants. Every drop of water is precious so we try very hard not to waste any. We were so grateful for rain this week, the soil in the flower beds was like powder so the rain barrels should now be refilled. I know the birds enjoyed the showers, they sang their delight as soon as it started.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Be Brave
I belong to two writing groups. We meet the first and Third Saturdays of the month. The first group is writing their memoirs. The second group writes poetry or short stories, often given assignments by our instructor. My newest assignment was to write a "postcard" story containing only 250 words. Our ending should be ironic, quirky or end up with a twist..Here is my effort.
Be Brave
It's not like me to be afraid. Well, okay, I don't like snakes much but I don't think I'd stand and scream like I did as a child. Now I'd give them a wide berth, maybe even cross the street.
When as a child on my way to school a few small garter snakes would creep out on the sidewalk, screaming was a great way to get my mother's attention. She came running with a corn broom after hearing "snakes, snakes" and whisk them promptly into the ditch from whence they came.
Now being an adult I try not to be afraid, but the munching was nerve wracking. I really didn't want to turn my back on it. I could scare it off but some people had told me they could get aggressive when threatened. He was only a couple of feet tall and here I am a little over five feet, surely no contest.
Waving my hands and yelling as loud as possible trying not to disturb the neighbors', I ran across the back yard, clapping my hands now to make lots of noise. He hunched over his lunch even more, wondering why he couldn't eat in peace. He considered my foliage his banquet table. How can a grown woman be afraid of a ground-hog? He soon lumbered off to one of the holes he had dug, one under my husband's workshop and one under my garden shed. I wonder how much a stick of dynamite costs?
Be Brave
It's not like me to be afraid. Well, okay, I don't like snakes much but I don't think I'd stand and scream like I did as a child. Now I'd give them a wide berth, maybe even cross the street.
When as a child on my way to school a few small garter snakes would creep out on the sidewalk, screaming was a great way to get my mother's attention. She came running with a corn broom after hearing "snakes, snakes" and whisk them promptly into the ditch from whence they came.
Now being an adult I try not to be afraid, but the munching was nerve wracking. I really didn't want to turn my back on it. I could scare it off but some people had told me they could get aggressive when threatened. He was only a couple of feet tall and here I am a little over five feet, surely no contest.
Waving my hands and yelling as loud as possible trying not to disturb the neighbors', I ran across the back yard, clapping my hands now to make lots of noise. He hunched over his lunch even more, wondering why he couldn't eat in peace. He considered my foliage his banquet table. How can a grown woman be afraid of a ground-hog? He soon lumbered off to one of the holes he had dug, one under my husband's workshop and one under my garden shed. I wonder how much a stick of dynamite costs?
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Robins
Robins
Four perfect blue eggs nestled in twigs
Warmed and nurtured with maternal care.
Mother serene as she shelters her offspring
Father guards the nest from all who would stare.
Built inside our carport, on top of a light
Outside the door we use day and night.
We disturb mom and dad with our comings and goings
Soon we detour out the back door to let sleeping birds lie.
My son ever curious climbs a ladder to behold
Three wee balls of fluff, harboring one last blue egg.
I worry like crazy as if they were my own babies
Long skinny necks crane above the nest begging.
Tiny perfect veined heads rear up at each sound
Mouths expand as wide as they’ll spread.
One bird escapes the nest, now outward bound
Where did it go, what will it catch?
Leaving town for a few days away
Our return is greeted by a nest empty and hollow.
Would that I had wings, my little family I’d follow.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Spring Walk
I enjoy going for a walk when not busy gardening. Went for a half hour walk today and a few snow flakes fluttered around me. After just returning from a week's holidays in Cuba, I'm finding the weather here a bit chilly to say the least. While walking I took in all the tulips in bloom, daffodils and grape hyacinths. I hope the birds soon start building nests in our back yard, we provide quite a few bird houses and have a small pond stocked with gold fish and koi. The birds enjoy bathing in the pond and give us much enjoyment. Most of the vegetable garden is turned over and Sunday we began planting peas, snow peas, carrots and parsnips. It's such a short growing season here, we try and get a jump start. Here's hoping the weather warms up soon.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Spring Gardening
Earth Warming
Tender shoots unfurling
Hands uncoil
From winter’s dormancy
Heart vibrating
Eager fingers flexing
To Plunge
Beneath earth’s surface
Dirty fingernails
Soil covered knees
Gardening tools
Smiling she sighs
Her joy
Thanking Mother Nature
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