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The previous owners of our house were quite the horticulturist by hobby. One of the best things they left behind for us (besides the riding mower) is a map of all of the plantings around the property. The first spring we experienced in the house was one blooming surprise after another.

Elizabeth and Jonah had planted daffodils, tulips and iris in the same bed. So first thing in the spring the daffodils peek through and they gracefully give way to the tulips which bow out just in time for the iris.

Admittedly the beds got away from us for a while, but since our landscaping fairy has been making weekly visits, things are starting to look under control again.

What? You don't have a landscape fairy? Keep some snacks, a friendly dog, and a nice relaxing place to ponder life or take a nap and see what happens. If that doesn't work, I'll give you my mom's number.

Azaleas

Azaleas

Hostas that made it through the winter in pots on the porch.

Garlic! It was starting to sprout in the window sill so I stuck it in soil.

Dogwood

Different Hosta

Signs of life from a Hibiscus that resembled a stick for a long time. I'm pretty excited about it.

Tulips

Tulips

Candy Tuft

Giant Carpenter Bee. Perhaps a Queen?

One - the lonliest number.

After unsuccesfully trying to open the egg carton from the hinged side and cracking the lone egg in there, our carton still only contains one egg. Before you pass too much judgement on me and my coordination: it was one of the clear plastic, tri-fold cartons. So technically both sides are hinged. But, whatever. That is not the point. The point is: over the last 2 or 3 days only one egg has been produced between 2 chickens.

"Eggs" might soon make its way back on the grocery list. How sad.

Analogous to Laundry

Since it is now officially spring I thought it was time to switch up the appearance of the ol' blog. I don't think I am quite satisfied with it so you may see a few more "outfit" changes in the near future.

When I was younger, as in 20 years ago*, 10 years ago, and probably last week, I had this habit of not being satisfied with what I was wearing so I would change my clothes in rapid succession until I had a pile of unfolded laundry. Luckily, with the digitalness of this medium, I don't have to re-fold anything(let's be real: wad and return to the closet), there is no mess left behind. 



*It is really alarming that I can say I did something 20 years ago and have a clear memory of it.

It doesn't add up

Aaron, Charlie and I went to Tryon, NC this weekend along with my mom and her dog. We were there to visit and to celebrate my nephew's 7th birthday. We went bowling.

Zac, the birthday boy

Before we left on Friday afternoon I made sure Kathy and Eleanore had enough food and water for the weekend. I also packed a carton of eggs to take to Tryon, leaving us just a few in the fridge. But, I figured, 2 birds, spring weather, an egg a day... 4 eggs upon our return.

I was mistaken. 1 egg. 1. Just one. I don't understand. These are young birds. Seemingly content birds. At the very least I would have expected 2 eggs. Maybe they are lonely...

Stormy Weather

The unusual-for-most-years-thunder-storm-in-the-winter that we had last night, reminded me that I documented some from the night of the other, more intense weather we had a couple of weeks ago.

My mom likes to ask: "Where were you when the lights went out?"

Answer: In the dark.



Charlie was on the couch though, pinning my legs down while the thunder, lightening, and wind kept him alert (i.e. scared).

No electricity. No Internet service.

Yet, we are still able to check the radar. (Air card)

This is how far I got with my emergency preparedness. I had already changed in to my pajamas so I figured I might want real pants to pick up the pieces if it came to that. My purse - there is important information in there. You gotta watch out for looters! Sneakers - like I said, I was in PJ's so I didn't have shoes on either. My phone - pretty self explanatory. And pillows - to cover my head with while I wrapped my body around either the toilet or the pedestal sink so I didn't fly away when the roof came off. One of those was for Aaron. I figured we could wedge Charlie between us.

Luckily, we survived unscathed.

The Difference a Day Makes

Ok, so it is probably more like The Difference a Fortnight Makes...
either way here is what is in bloom this week.

Red bud budding red

Those baby grape hyacinth buds grew up so fast!

An assortment from the backyard

and the front.

This is one of my favorite spring time plants to see.

Oh look, more daffodils. These are smaller though and have 3 blossoms per plant.

And of course, Charlie.

Resisting Temptation

Chick Days are back at Tractor Supply.

If there had been glass around them, I would have left smudges from my face. Fortunately they were just fenced off so I could peek over and say "awww" and have a little girl tantrum in my head while I reasoned myself out of purchasing young birds.

They are just so darn cute. And the little peep peep peep's and chirp chirp chirp's...

I don't know how to take care of chicks, and though I could learn, at Tractor Supply you have to buy at least 6. The existing coop would get really crowded really fast. I'm not sure how Kathy and Eleanore would feel about that.

At least 29

At least 29 eggs were collected from the ladies atop the hill this month. That is how many tallies made it to the calendar anyway.


and a little information on this February 29th from Wikipedia:

A leap year (or intercalary or bissextile year) is a year containing one additional day (or, in the case of lunisolar calendars, a month) in order to keep the calendar year synchronized with the astronomical or seasonal year.[1] Because seasons and astronomical events do not repeat in a whole number of days, a calendar that had the same number of days in each year would, over time, drift with respect to the event it was supposed to track. By occasionally inserting (or intercalating) an additional day or month into the year, the drift can be corrected. A year that is not a leap year is called a common year.


how I learned it:

It actually takes the earth 365.25 days to make a complete orbit around the sun. Ergo - every four years, we make up for it in February.

Why February and why does February only have 28 on a common year anyway? I have no idea. But, don't forget tomorrow morning to say "Rabbit Rabbit" first thing!

IMBY

I walked through my back yard yesterday. This is what I saw:

 

I don't know what this is. My mom speculates it is a type of mint. It is all over Charlie's yard and crowding out some tulips. It is kind of pretty, but it would be prettier in a different spot.



This is what was happening while I was trying to take a picture of the maybe mint.

 

Tulips - no buds yet.

 

Daffodils



Flowering Quince - I think it has been in bloom since January.

Crocus. Crocusses. Croci. Crocus.

Tilt head 90 to right. I'm not sure what this is. It sort of resembles daffodils, but the leaves (?) are much broader.

 

More daffodils. Save for Miss Look At Me here, all following the sun.



baby Grape Hyacinth buds



2 headed chicken

 

What?! More daffodils - Crazy

 

Time to mow already...



The first bud on my giant, school bus of a forsythia.



Charlie and Rosie stomping on some tulips. Good dogs! Rosie may look sad, but she isn't. I think she was losing patience with me.

Back to Basins

The amazing heated water fountain isn't as amazing as I hoped it would be. At least, not the way I have it situated.

No matter how full I fill the fountain, the next day it is empty. Since I have it hanging from a bracket and water finds its own level I thought I had a pretty good system.

Not so much.

The fountain tends to sway when Kathy and Eleanore bombard it for a drink. Then the water sloshes, runs down the side, under the hay, off the plywood floor and out of the coop. A few weeks ago there were icicles at my access door.

In order to keep my birds quenched I have reinstated the basin. They step on the sides and drop hay, but they somehow managed to get hay in the hanging fountain too. It is easier to clean out of the basin.

Fortunately there haven't been many freezing days that rule out watering from the basin. Although, I might try to set up a platform of sorts and shim the heck out of it until it is level and try the fountain again.

Love Birds

from here

Just some things

Nuclear is pronounced nu-clear. Not newk-U-lar. If you work where I work, you should be able to say it right. It's in the company name.

Recently I have heard adds for Shoney's Valentine's Day dinner. If my Valentine's date took me to Shoney's -consider that relationship over.

Green is not a primary color. It might be one of the first colors you learn about, but it is not primary.

The L is silent in Salmon.

So is the X in Espresso. Wait. There is no X in espresso. (for you, Mandalicious)

I'm taking a drawing class. Things are not as they seem. It is refreshing.

I have concerns about the recyclability of an e-reader. But I kind of want one.

The coop has been prepared for winter weather for at least a month. We might have seasonable temperatures this weekend.

My resolution to remember where I park is going pretty well.

My resolution to minimize snap judgements is more challenging. But, when I fail, I come up with an alternative explanation for the situation that is more forgiving than my initial thoughts.

I am happier since I stopped looking at  Facebook. In this situation my own ignorance truly is bliss.

I wonder how Nutella can be so creamy and smooth, yet have nuts in it. Interestingly, I have never questioned peanut butter.

Pop Quiz

Can anybody tell me what these two images have in common?

Anybody?

Bueller?

Bueller?

Ok. The answer is:

They are both too big for their britches. Perhaps one more figuratively than the other.
A little description from Urban Dictionary "... phrase meaning that your assumed position is slightly larger than the actual position you belong in." 

Although Charlie doesn't always get what he wants, that is when this particular trait is most evident.

• Most of the time he is treated to a dinner plate that has been 98.7% consumed.
• After a losing battle of not letting him on the furniture after letting him on the furniture as a puppy, we have a compromise that a sheet or blanket goes down first so he can have a 'spot'.
• Usually he gets to be off-leash before a car ride because he is so good at just running to the car.

• If I choose not to let Charlie lick my plate, I get talked to. Squeeled at. Huffed and puffed at.
• My feet touch him while he is on the couch - his whole experience is ruined and he walks away, glaring at me.
• When good ol' Chuck feels that he hasn't been on enough walks, he runs just far enough away to make Aaron's morning run less smoothly.

Aaron and I have created a monster. And I fear that we no longer fall into the category of dog owners, but owned by a dog instead.