April showers bring flowers..............

We had one day of rain, just one. Today was cloudy and cold. It's not going to get a lot warmer and I even heard mention of snow. I really don't think we will be getting snow. Tomorrow is Saturday and we want to finish trimming bushes and trees and raking up the leaves and junk. The back yard is done. Now the side and front to do. Come May it will be time to prepare the vegetable garden.I am looking forwards to that. It will be a bit of work but I am hoping for success.
Today we had a different visitor, well not new but rare for us. Very pretty little finch type bird, looks like a Sparrow with yellow cheeks. He was scratching around like a chicken. I hope he comes back.


I identify him as a White Throated sparrow. Closest I could find anyway. Please correct me if I am wrong as I want to know what birds come to my feeders.

So Bessie now likes being outside. I think she is learning from Boots. I have seen her explore the adjacent gardens but so far not too much further. She has discovered she can get in and out of the bathroom window. I put my glass top table under that window that may have been a mistake.She is enjoying climbing trees and chasing squirrels.

Boots is showing her how to go potty outside.Thankfully in MY garden and not Buds. Bessie is watching her. Watch and learn.


The birds are not here as often as they were, they are no doubt finding enough to eat.Also busy nesting. The Cardinal couple are busy with their nest above the porch and may stay long enough to raise some kids.


Spring flowers are popping. When the sun comes back out they will really pop.I wish they would spread quicker. The ones I don't want to do. I have to dig out some Lilly of The Valley before they get going again.



The Trillium is trying to bloom but not quite yet. Soon the woods will be full of them. We put some more in last year but I am not sure if they will come up this year. I am hoping because I love the Trillium.I love it when we drive out and see woodlands full of them.

The Primroses are blooming, the yellow ones are budding. The red ones come out first.

The Hyacinth are up.


These are from ones I have bought to have in the house, I love to do that when the snow is still on the ground. Makes me dream of Spring. I think maybe getting real garden ones would come up fuller but hey, these are spreading and will revert to what they should be at some point.
The Chickadees are here as always


Then there are the pests who are here every day without fail

Did I say that all the fish survived. Here is a picture of the black one. It's hard to see except in full sun.


All four are doing well.
The we have the Yellow Finches, they discovered the seeds.


Those guys sing so sweet, I can always tell when they are around.
So tomorrow is Saturday, I hope that it doesn't rain because I want to get busy trimming trees. It's exciting after all the anticipation all winter. I just hope it doesn't get hot really quickly and foil my plans. So much to get done this year. We need a new roof. New porch and we need to get the window done out back. That is not my department though.

They Live................

The fish are alive yeahhhhhh!!!!!! Another year gone by and they survived the winter. I was a bit afraid at first. I usually see them as soon as it gets sunny. Well I did once, just enough to know they made it through the winter. Then they disappeared. I was worried because the pond was looking murkey. It really needs cleaning. The trouble is I am afraid to have it cleaned because the change in water can kill them. I think I will get some pond cleaner instead. Just clean the filters.

I still have not named the fish. I am still reluctant because all my other fish had names and died. The black one has grown and is more in the open than it used to be.

Anyway, it was nice seeing them have some fun today out in the sunshine.

I didn't get a picture of the orange one by the looks of it. I wonder how you can tell the sex of a fish??????
I wonder who the mum was. Who had the black fish? I wonder if they will have more. Also, will Mr Toad come back?

The old ash tray is still in one piece, it is beginning to rust. I put a plate on it for the birds to bath in. I saw Robins bathing the other day in my concrete one that is laying on the ground so I know they are looking for water.
Some of the flowers are coming out finally.



Still not many just yet but they are working on it. Some have popped above ground. We are working on the spot for the veggies I will post about that on Bluebell Woods.

Cats playground..........................

Not much happening in the garden at the moment. Our newest cat, Bessie is now allowed outside. Well, she didn't actually ask permission. She said Boots goes out so I goes out, and out she went. Both cats are conflicted at the moment. Both want out but do not like the snow.Bessie trys to avoid stepping in it at all costs. She doesn't like the wet either.
So when she goes out she finds a sunny spot and watches the squirrels and hopes for the Chipmunk to show up. She acts much more agressive than Boots. Boots pretty much ignores all but Chipmunks.

Boots went next door because Bessie is in her spot

The Robins are a little happier now they can get their beaks in the dirt. This one waiting for it to warm up a bit.

There is little change in the plant world. The Daffs are tightly closed and will wait now for some sunshine. I bet by the end of the week everything will shoot up and begin to open. I will get pictures then and see how long it takes.

I went to McGoughs and got new bird seed. This lot should now last till Fall. The won't need so much in summer.
I will need to get my fountains fixed but will at least keep the bowls full for now.

Bodi who has been reluctant to go out, or off the deck at least, is venturing forth again. Hope that will help trim her down.
The Blue Jays are appreciating the fill up at the feeder. I love how they broadcast it to everyone within hearing distance

Meanwhile Bessie comes in for a nap. I am hoping she will be like Boots and stay around the garden. She certainly knows how to ask to come in.

Boots was already inside napping down stairs on one of the beds.

Everyone came to dinner......................

Wow, I went and looked out the bathroom window and didn't know what to do first. Birds, all over the place. The Crows came. The Starlings, the Finches, Woodpeckers, Chickadees, Cardinals and all the other usual suspects. I didn't know where to point my camera.
The Starlings were looking a bit damp

The yellow Finch was nice and bright

The Cardinal was showing off.

The yellow Bellied sap sucker

The Nuthatch

The Downey

The Crow

The Blue Jay

Even the Robin. It likes that rusty pan for some reason

The Junco

There were a few more but I have to show this squirrel enjoying some of my bread. I had made the dough but it didn't rise. So I baked it and gave 1/2 to the critters.

The female Finches were there too

Cute little Downey, I think it's a girl.

This guy was looking smart


This was a good shot because I was down in the garden and she flew right up next to me. Funny how a different angle makes them look so different

Anyway, not a lot to say today but wanted to get some of the pictures out. It's still snowing. It's also raining. It is melting, slushy and yeuk. I need to replenish the bird foods but I am out of money at the moment. Meanwhile I put out what I can and have emptied out some older things like cereal and they are liking the Cranberries I put out for them. They say not to give bread to birds. Well, if a bird is hungry like those Starlings I am sure bread is better than starvation, so if thats what I have thats what they get. I normally buy the black seeds, sunflower seeds, peanuts shelled and in the shell. I give them good food but I also buy bread for them. For the Crows I put out meat and anything that does not get eaten. I put the table scraps out for anyone who wants them. Rabbits, Possum and most likely Raccoons.

I think that Boots is one of the beneficiaries of the scraps. Hmmmmmm. I would not put it past Bessie either.

Make up ya mind.................

One day it snows, next its warm and it melts. Then it rains, now it's snowing again. We have outside stuff to do. We need to get those fences done so that I can get the gardens ready to plant vegetables. This total waste of time is a bunch of nonsense, I try not to complain because it has been a very good winter. I don't mind if it stays coldish, just need to stop snowing or raining long enough to get stuff done. I just hope it doesn't decide to turn to summer before I am done.
This was yesterday

The Daffodils were thinking of opening but changed their minds. This is today


Poor Robins are freezing their tails off. The worms are probably hibernating again.
I do have a pair of Cardinals nesting around the front. The Ivy that we want to tear down will have to wait for a bit until they are done with it. I cant see a nest but they are in there all the time.That explains why Mr C is so loud in the mornings.


There were a few birds out there today but not many. Everyone is busy nesting I think.

I love the little Titmouse

The Nuthatch was curious

He didn't come to the feeder while I was around.
Yesterday I took a few pictures of my flowers that were popping up.


Blossoms


Today though, still snowing and no one wants to be outside.

The poodles are snug as bugs in their blankets and heating pad.


Tristen stayed in and had a PJ day as did I............

Tomorrow is another day. I don't think I will listen to the weather man because I want a sunny day and I want to get outside and if he says its going to snow I will smack him.I know where the station is.