Front Garden still frozen..................................

Well I almost finished raking the back garden today. It is almost finished. Well not really but as much as I can for now. What I really want to do is plant flowers. Alas, not yet. This is the front garden.

I did see that one lone Daffodil is braving the weather and making an appearance.

My wind chimes mainly survived. One broke, one of the beaded ones but all the others survived intact.


Well, I do know there is one heck of a lot of work to do out front. I noticed that several shrubs died. I am not sure if I can replace them or not. I suppose I will have to wait until I see what everything looks like once the raking is done. Right now the, what should be grass is all plastered with leaves. the side just looks like a mud patch. As soon as that gets raked I will have to sow seed there. Gosh, I wish I could buy sod. No chance. I do have to finish the front fence though. What a mess it all is.
This guy was up in the tree noshing on something.

I liked this shining in the sun

I tried to break up the ice out back again today but that was a no go, my back was hurting from raking. Not a good sign. Tomorrow is supposed to be a bit nicer and sunnier. Maybe I can get some more raking done. I need to rake all the stuff to the curb that I raked up and added to Gerry's pile. The driveway looks terrible and we have an appraiser coming on Friday. We are refinancing the house. Got to get the mortgage down so Gerry can retire. Trying to get everything else paid off for that event. SO that's why funding for my garden will be lean and mean.
This is the back today

So close, yet so far away. I did notice that some daffodils are pushing through out there and the Hyacinth's are popping through. Just a few more days and it's going to be 70 degrees. Then we will see everything pop. Then again the beginning of next week more rain and the weatherman said snow. Thats OK it won't settle once the ground has been warmed up. Maybe next week I will have some better pictures.

It's almost May..............

Yes it is only April, 23rd to be precise. Still next week it will be MAY. I need to get everything that I will plant in by the end of May. Otherwise why bother. So today I got outside to try to tidy up a bit. I can only work on the back right now, the front is a disaster. I hope by weeks end maybe Gerry can get it raked out front while I deal with the back. Then get around to the front the following week. As I was out with the Poodles today I took a few pictures of the things just daring to pop.


So much to be done. First things first, tidy up, cut back all the dead stuff. Loosen the dirt and add compost to it. Replace the wood chips and then get to the front.
I won't be planting much this year. Two of the shrubs I bought last year did not make it. I can't afford to keep doing that. I do want to replace them though. I won't be able to do a lot as years go by so flowering shrubs are a good choice. I also need to split some Hosta's so that I have more of those to spread around. I wont have the money to spend on the garden after this year so I must do as much as possible this year

My Tulips got a bit nibbled

I don't know if it was rabbits or frost. I am sure they will recover.
The Snowdrops are a bit weak this year, not so many as before.


So this morning the Crows were making quite the racket. I went out to see what the problem was. There were two of them yelling at Bessie who had climbed the tree. I would have taken pictures but I figured no good could come of that situation and so I went outside. The Crows were not happy and there was one either side of the tree. They let me approach and so I called Bessie to come in, she was stuck, but with a little persuasion she came down. The Crows were happy and left. I scooted her bum in the house. Not for long though. When I took the Poodles out she was out there too.

What a brat she is.
Here is Brea enjoying the sun

Bodie didn't want to be out for long today, the snow had melted a bit by afternoon. Except in the shady spots where it is shear ice.

People went by and even Bodie managed to run to the fence but that was enough for her, she wanted to go inside

My poor Bodicea, such a sweetheart and she has to be carried out now. She can't get around much these days. She does like to sit out in the garden in the sun and will do until it gets hot. She will enjoy sitting in the shade on the deck and I can put a fan out for her. (and me)

Can it be here?.......

After the long spell of ice and snow the sun is finally out and it is actually warm. Well after such cold weather it feels warm. Actually it's only in the 40s but the sun is warm. The paths that Gerry dug in the snow for the Robins has thawed to the ground.

I see little spots where little critters have been digging in the wet soil, that's good. The news has even been asking people to feed the birds and how to feed Robins who do not eat seeds. Apparently a lot have been hit by cars because they fourage by roadsides. Poor things are so hungry and many migrating birds have died. Nature can be cruel. Survival of the fittest or luckiest if they find back yard birders. My Robin was grateful I know that much.
The sky is blue and the buds have survived. I have seen Squirrels eating them. I was going to go out and clean up the mess on the deck. All the seeds that got lost under the snow are laying there. They will rot and make them sick. Right now though the Squirrels are doing clean up for me and the stuff has not been there that long. This weekend is supposed to get up to (gasp) the 50s, perfect for me to work outside. I sure hope things move along from there.

It looks as though the Crows are staying. Once again it looks like they are trying to set up residence in the neighbours pine tree. It's a goodly tall tree and they probably like that.

I see them coming and going and I hope no one disturbs them this time. I know they will kill other baby birds and thats sad, but that's life I guess. Everyone has to eat. I just wish it were not so. I like the Crows, they are intelligent and clever. They are getting braver and I saw one today close to my deck cleaning up stuff along with the Squirrels. Maybe by next year they will feel more at home. I stopped putting out food for them because they disappeared for a couple of years. I would supply them with hamburgher and they loved it.


The Holly berries are all gone so the Robin or someone else who likes Berries found them as we had hoped. A relief because it was laden in berries but buried. Gerry tried to get the ice and snow off for them. Well she has not been back the last two days so maybe she can finally sit on a nest and unload those eggs she is carrying. She was so big


I sure hope she survived.
The birds will cut back now they can find food in other places and I won't put so much out so the Squirrels will look elsewhere. He he like Buds Tulips when they begin to shoot through. He will get his live trap out and begin transporting them. I don't like that because who knows if they have babies but he does not care about things like that. He is a very nice man but really is not into animals like I am. He does not like them when they eat his stuff. I don't care about that. I do appreciate it if they at least stop for a photo opp though. I think it may be the rabbits but last two years someone ate my Hosta in the Fall. If it's deer then they better stop long enough for a picture it's only fair.

Finally some Action.................

Birds that is. We have had some terrible Spring weather. The snow just will not quit. Worse still is that it rained on top and froze, then snowed again. I felt so bad for the Robins who are full of eggs, sitting in the Mountain Ash trying to find a withered berry or two.

Someone told me that birds like cat food. So I put out dried cat food. What a success. Not only the Robin ate it but so many others came down for it. Cats are getting a bit worried I think as their supply is dwindling. It's on my shopping list.


The local Starling population spend most of their day in the surrounding trees waiting for me to refill the feeders. I have resorted to putting it on the ground.
I am putting out nuts, raisins and bread and any scraps I can find. I won't be using the nuts for some time and they get stale. May as well be of some use.


The Blue Jays have had to take turns with the Grackles and Starlings. They are all about the same size so don't intimidate each other too much. Talking of that, one Squirrel got really pissed off at a Crow who had the nerve to come on the deck. It chased the Crow away.

The Crows are shy about coming down and only do so very reluctantly, I am not sure why. Hunger tends to ward off fear though and they started to take the chance when I threw out some Chicken stew. I added some bread and vegetables. Got to have a menu to suit everyone.


I see Seagulls fly over every day but they never come in. Then they spotted the stew and for the first time ever they came in to feed. I am sure Bud next door is doing his nut.

Such beautiful birds, how do they stay so clean? I know they are mean. I know they will kill other birds and have attacked pets etc but, they have their place and I welcome everyone. They are hungry, they need food. So I supply it. For now.............they only have ever come in for human food. So I can control this, same with the Crows.


They are so beautiful I can't get over how clean they are.
Well my camera needed it's batteries charged and so I went and downloaded stuff on the computer. I heard tapping on the side of the house near the Window. I couldn't see anything but from experience believed it to be a Woodpecker. I tried to creep out but no one there. Then I saw it in the tree. Naturally my camera was out of action. I quickly loaded it again and went in search........

I couldn't get a good shot because of the trees and by the time I put on boots I knew he would be gone. So this is it.

The little birds have been staying away pretty much while this lot have been in. I did fill up things for them and the Chickadee does not care who is here. He says this is all mine.

The Cardinals have been every day and I got loads of pictures of them both. I can only take so many pictures of the same birds so now wait for perfect opportunities. Like the two of them together. That does not happen often. The only others I have seen would be the Titmouse and this guy. Once I stop feeding the big guys they will be back.......they tend to come at the end of the day when everything settles down.

The weatherman says it should warm up at the end of the week. The snow is covered in Ice. I tried to get the Holly leaves up for the Robin to no avail. It was solid.
That's when I tried the cat food idea that someone told me about. Mrs Robin is so fat, she must lay her eggs soon or she will pop.

RedWing Blackbird........

Remember I was sort of surprised to see a loan Redwing Blackbird in my garden not so long ago? I did not expect to see him again because we just do not see them in town. They tend to stay in the wet areas across the main road. Well, yesterday, imagine my surprise when he showed up with a bunch of Grackles. Everyone got along just fine and there were also a few stray Starlings with them.

I love the Starlings, such pretty birds. Yes and the Grackles. They may be mean (so I am told) but they sure are beautiful. When at my feeder they seem very well behaved around the other birds. I doubt anyone would challenge them, look at those beaks.

Starlings have sharp beaks too.

The colours on both these types of birds are like those of Peacocks. They shimmering iridescent blues and greens. So beautiful in the sun. I know most people chase them away but I don't. When I see them flock into a tree I will go put out extra food because I know they won't leave until it's all gone. Then I refill for everyone else.
Blue Jays will come in very cautious like when they are around. They are bigger but are timid they seem so anyway. Any of these birds fly at the slightest movement from me (in the window). So it's hard to get good pictures. The peanuts tempt them though.

Everyone loves the Peanuts.

I am Wondering if this is a female RedWing and maybe that's why she is allowed to stay? The males seem to have a redder band.


Everyone was getting along and not squabbling as they usually do. Got to love them.

I have been keeping the cats inside. They don't care for the cold and so maybe that's why the birds are back. Anyway, the Blue Jays were loving the critter food. I need to go get some suet. Poor little Woodies have to be content looking for bugs in my bushes,

Yum, what shall I eat first?

Now if only these two would have faced the other way it would have been a good picture.



She is feeling sassy

Well I will now go and fill up the feeders and hope to see some small birds come in. I have so many bird pictures it's crazy but I still want to try for those perfect shots.