To GPS or not GPS....that is the question.

When my oldest daughter was about 3 years old we were driving to a see a friend of mine and she was not familiar with the route.   At one point she asked what street we were on. I said that I did not know. She asked if we were lost. I replied that we were not lost and that I just knew how to get there. She wasn't falling for that. She pondered it for a moment and asked "Mom – how do you spell 'I am lost'?" Ah from the mouths of babes!



That brings me to yesterday. Last year I got a car that has a built-in GPS. I haven't used it much because I actually have a great sense of direction not to mention that I can be quite impatient with technology. Yesterday I was taking a drive to an unfamiliar area so I decided to give the GPS a try. The area was mostly small winding streets and Madame GPS and her orders were grating on my nerves. "Left turn in ¼ of a mile."……"Slight right at 200 feet"…… A fight broke out and I turned her OFF. I went with my gut instinct. This is what I found….

 Definitely a wrong turn somewhere!

Definitely a wrong turn. LOL!

At this point, with my proverbial tail between my legs, I admit defeat.  This time.  GPS to the rescue!

 

Furry & Feathered Friends

I haven’t posted lately ‘cuz the garden is hibernating.  Yet life goes on.

I was pleasantly surprised when I looked out my kitchen window last Wednesday morning (on one of the coldest days of the season) to see one of my feathered friends.

A bluebird!   

I don’t see them around much so I was surprised to see one on this chilly morning.  Sitting atop the feeder pole.  The feeder was empty so perhaps he was sending a message.  Seed is not their food-of-choice but I have seen them eating it when meal worms, etc. are not available.

On another note, have you ever seen a Pug after Thanksgiving turkey consumption?

On a tryptophan high!  Conked out and snoring to beat the band!  Haha!

And then there’s silly Cally cat who randomly decides to play dead.

She just drops on her back and doesn’t move!  It shocked me the first time she did it but I’ve gotten use to it.

A pleasant reminder.....as we al meander our way through the holidays, remember soon it will be time to check out the seed catalogs!  Hurray!

Fall is in the Air - Out & About – Fertilizer Friday

Wow!   Fall sure didn’t creep in this year!  We went from 90 degrees and sweltering to a high of 70 and very cool nights in just a few days.

September 8th was the last time I had visitors at the Hummingbird feeder.

I figured it might be the last time.  Boohoo - until next year.

The Morning Glories were in full swing just a few days ago…..

….and now they are fading.

The daturas are still blooming but…..

…..starting to put out seed pods for next year.

One of the prettiest weeds is showing up everywhere….

Pokeweed!  I love those deep purple berries.

On a recent jaunt, my new roomy, a former city dwelling dog, is being introduced to the suburban life.

A few days ago on a trip to a pond a few minutes from here, Elsa met some new “beasts”.  And much barking ensued.

“What is that!?!?!” she barked.

The beasts were very curious too.

There were every bit as interested in her as she was in them.

They followed us along the fence.  And at one point even showed off by kicking up their heels and prancing around.

I would have loved to get a little closer but didn’t want to spook the horses.  Maybe next time.

So what’s going on in your neck of the woods?  A good place to see what 's going on elsewhere is to visit Tootsie’s Fertilizer Friday.

Out & About – Week 2 – Fertilizer Friday

I love to keep a timeline of what is going on in the great outdoors.  Which plants are blooming as well as the wildlife that emerges or migrates back to the area.  

Last week I was out & about and here are a few of the pics.

In my own yard….

Brussel sprouts!  I was shocked to see this is growing from the last year.   It was the first time I grew it so that was one of my experiments.

Leftover garlic.

And leeks.  And acorns, of course!

This beautiful tree blooms for a very short time every Spring.  Such a pretty addition to the landscape.  I wish it lasted longer!

Hydrangeas are budding.

Tulips & Hyacinths…..no garden is complete without them.

Nor these, unfortunately.

Neighboring towns….

I love this place.  It’s a house on a corner so it’s easy to see the pond from the side street.  It was quiet on this day.  Usually it’s brimming with geese and ducks.

Only one lonely duck on this day.

Then just down the road, this beautiful pair.

I hadn’t been to this pond in quite some time and was delighted to see this beautiful swan. 

 

Her partner was across the pond when I started feeding her but not for long.

 

What beautiful creatures!

We’ve had a very wet spring in the northeast and it hasn’t been very much fun.  

But there is a bright side.

Flowering trees have all exploded at the same time.    I’m happy to enjoy the beautiful sight even if just for a short time.

So that’s what’s been going on in my area over the last week.  I hope you are enjoying the bounty of Mother Earth’s wand too!  I look forward to seeing everyone’s posts on Tootsie’s Fertilizer Friday.

Out & About – Week 1 - Fertilizer Friday

Spring is such a welcome time of year for me.    I love being outdoors.  The first true sign is seeing the crocuses pop through the soil.  But there are others……

Right around the time the crocuses appear, these guys show up.

This year, after the snow melted away, a long forgotten issue resurfaced.Acorns!   Last year was a banner year for acorns.  They.are.everywhere! 

Next to appear in my yard……

Daffodils

Hyacinths

 

Foxglove

***********************

Beyond my own yard, I also like to grab my camera,  hop in the car and get out & about!   I just  need to see what’s going on in the ‘hood!

Forsythia

This one I do not know.  It’s pretty though!

Over by the pond….Weeping Willow?

Trees are budding!

Geese are swimming!

Ducks are nesting! 

A horse enjoying a day in the sun!

Today was a glorious day here in New England.  About 76 degrees!

The kind of day that makes me count my blessings.

Ain’t Spring grand?  These are just a few of the reasons that I like to be out & about!

Now pop on over to visit Tootsie's Fertilizer Friday post.  She has a visitor!

The Trees Are Alive…With the Sound of…. – It’s Fertilizer Friday

When we moved south of the border on a steamy August day in 1999, we quickly made a discovery.  When night would fall, the trees seemed to come alive…..with the sound of music!  Well, not real music but an awfully loud racket.  Upon inquiry, I learned that the nightly din was tree frogs.

As the years went by, the nighttime ritual on hot and humid nights became a regular part of life.   Yet the tree frogs remained elusive.  Just hanging out in the tree in the dark of the night practicing their vocals.

Until last summer that is.  I heard that familiar sound.  In the middle of the day.  On my deck.

Come out, come out wherever you are!

Oh!  There you are!  And there it was!  Live in person!  10 feet away.  Scared the beejezus out of me!  And then….

He stared me down in a most threatening way!  Look at those ET fingers!

Luckily it was a short visit!

Off he went!

Now that I’ve seen one, I hope just to hear them!  I'm such a weenie!

Well that’s it for this week.  Please join Tootsie for Fertilizer Friday!

Silly Sheep! They Fertilize! Fertilizer Friday

When I wrote this post it was not intentionally written for Fertilizer Friday.  As I was trying to think of what I would write about this week, I had a “DUH!” moment.  A few days ago, I wrote a post about sheep and thought “Sheep are natural fertilizers!”.  (If you have access to their poop!)  So without further ado….

From time to time I come across things that I simply must share.  I’ve been following a blog called “Chickens in the Road” by Suzanne McMinn.   Suzanne lives on a remote farm with a barnyard full of animals.  She has an interesting life, writes well and it is always amusing to read. Click on the picture to visit her blog.

Recently she included a 1 minute video of funny farm activity.  If you need a belly laugh, check it out.   You deserve it!

Don't forget to pop over to visit Tootsie and her Fertilizer Friday friends!