OUR FRONT YARD BIRD BATH WAS A BUSY PLACE TODAY

THIS MALE BALTIMORE ORIOLE SURE HAD HIMSELF A GOOD TIME IN THE BIRD BATH TODAY…..I FOUND OUT HIS NAME IS ORVILLE

By far the most popular hang out at our place today was the front yard bird bath.  On what I guess may very well have been the hottest day of our year so far there was a steady stream of feathery little birds seeking a drink, a bath, and refuge in the cooling bird bath waters.  From my vantage point at the computer in our sunroom I can look right out upon the bird bath about 15 feet away.  Twice I went out and topped up the water level after a lot of gleeful birdie splashing sent water flying all over the place.

OK HERE I GO

‘OHHHHHH THAT FEELS SOOOOOO GOOD’

BURRBLEBURBBLEBURRBLEBURRBLE

‘THINK I’LL JUST STAY HERE ALL DAY’

‘COME ON ORVILLE GET OUT OF THE BIRD BATH IT’S MY TURN’!!

‘JUST A MINUTE WILL YA I HAVEN’T WASHED UNDER MY WINGS YET’!!

BURRBLEBURRBLEBURRBLEBURRBLE

‘THERE THAT OUGHTA DO IT’

‘YOUR SUCH A SHOW-OFF ORVILLE’

‘YA WHATEVER MYRTLE’

Soon as I stepped out the door this morning I could tell we were in for a steam bath day so Pheebs and didn’t waste any time in getting ourselves into the Jeep.  It was 7 a.m. and we were northbound for Goderich.  A quick stop to mix it up with a few local Walmartians and we were soon on the move again.  Coffee and a carrot muffin to go at Timmies and minutes later Libby’s tires were kicking up clouds of dust and gravel.  A short leg stretch stop beside a lily pad pond and it was back in the Jeep again.  Air was just to hot and heavy to be walking or standing around in it.

It was a year ago this week that I woke up very dizzy one night.  Turns out I had a nasty case of Vertigo which left me sick to my stomach for 3 or 4 days.  Also turns out it was the last night I slept in my bed too.  Since that time I have always slept in a recliner whether it be here at home in Bayfield, Congress Arizona or in the Motorhome.  And I  have never had another case of Vertigo since.  Who knows, I may never ever sleep in a bed again…………….

‘WELL I TOLD YA YOU WOULD GET WET IF YOU FELL IN’

YIKES WHAT THE HECK HAPPENED DID I JUST GO OVER NIAGARA FALLS IN A BARREL OR SOMETHING!!

Thursday afternoon while sweltering around in the front yard planting some flowers I noticed a couple butterflies flittering about and that gave me an idea.  This morning with that idea in my head Pheebs and I headed over to Londsborough and Gray Haven Gardens.  Minutes later we had a Butterfly Bush loaded up along with 2 big bags of cedar mulch.  From there we headed for home. 

NOTICE THE LITTLE GOLDFINCH ON THE LEFT….’HEY COME ON ORVILLE QUIT HOGGIN THE BIRD BATH AGAIN WILL YA’!!

In the front yard area where I have been planting flowers there are 3 different types of invasive ground covers so figured the only way to stop or slow them down is to put a heavy layer of mulch on the ground.  I did roto-till a lot of them up but they’re hardy and I know they will return.  Living in a pine forest we do have an endless supply of pine needles so I first put a layer of pine needles down and am now putting a layer of mulch on top of those pine needles.  We have well drained soil here so those layers of pine needles and cedar mulch will help retain moisture and coolness for the plants and their roots as well.

THE PINE NEEDLES ARE THE LIGHTER BROWN AND THE MULCH IS THE DARKER COLOR

 

HAVEN’T FINISHED PUTTING IN ALL THE CEDAR MULCH YET AND THAT LARGE PINE CONE IN THE PHOTO AT RIGHT IS ONE OF THE CONES WE PICKED UP ON CALIFORNIA’S MOUNT PALOMAR LAST WINTER

Hadn’t figured on cleaning our front yard pond Thursday but that is exactly what I unexpectedly did.  Shannon (handy man Bruce’s daughter) who goes by the name of ‘Kayak Attack’ on Facebook and also lives in our park brought some water Hyacinths over Thursday afternoon.  Growing like crazy in her pond she had to thin them out so brought over 4 nice ones.  I hadn’t been paying much attention to our pond lately and when I went to put them in the water I realized the pond was way overdue for a cleaning.  Algae has been growing like crazy since we have much more sunlight in our front yard.  Hyacinths are now in the pond and all is groovy again:))

WATER HYACINTHS

THERE IS A SMALL FROG IN BOTH THESE PHOTOS

Fortunately we had a cloud cover roll in and that enabled me to stay outside working a bit longer than usual.  As it was by 11 a.m. my clean shirt was sticking to me and I had to call it quits.  Inside I went, threw my clothes in the laundry and myself into the shower.  Always amazes me how one can feel so yukky pre-shower and just so amazingly great just minutes later post-shower.  That refreshing shower is for sure the absolute best part of any hot and humid day.

SURE SMELLED GOOD WHEN I WALKED INTO THE HOUSE AND I COULD TELL LITTLE MOLLY MUGGINS HAD BEEN AT IT AGAIN

PHEEBS STAYING COOL IN FRONT OF THE FAN TODAY

Within half an hour of planting our Butterfly Bush this morning we had the prettiest purple and black Butterfly on it.  I planted it right next to our bird feeder so now looking out our sunroom windows I not only can see birds but I can see Butterfly’s as well.  Nice:))

FIRST BUTTERFLY ON OUR BUTTERFLY BUSH

We sure are needing us a good rain in these here parts.  Storms have been going around us and it’s so dry even the trees are a spittin dust.  When I went outside for a few minutes this afternoon it felt like a Turkish steam bath out there.  Whoever last winter predicted it was going to be a hot dry summer sure hit the nail on the head.  Hope it’s not the new norm…………….

GROANER’S CORNER:(( A guy calls the hospital and a nurse answers the phone.  The guy said, "Send help because my wife is going into labor."  The nurse said, "Is this her first child?"  The guy replied, "No, this is her husband."

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One Sunday morning, a mother went in to wake her son and tell him it was time to get ready for church, to which he replied, "I'm not going."
"Why not?" she asked."I'll give you two good reasons," he said. "One, they don't like me, and two, I don't like them."  His mother replied, "I'll give YOU two good reasons why you SHOULD go to church. One, you're 54 years old, and two, you're the pastor!"

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Q: Whats the difference between a politician and a snail?
A: One is slimy, a pest, and leaves a yukky trail everywhere and the other is a snail.