TRUCK CARRYING RAMEN NOODLES CRASHES. ESTIMATED LOSS TO COMPANY $38.00

TRUCK CARRYING RAMEN NOODLES CRASHES.  ESTIMATED LOSS TO COMPANY $38.00 

(David Stewart's post on Facebook)

MONARCH BUTTERFLIES ARE ON THEIR WAY SOUTH...GET YOUR BUTTERFLY WEED READY FOR THEM

MONARCH BUTTERFLIES ARE ON THEIR WAY SOUTH...GET YOUR BUTTERFLY WEED READY FOR THEM

I read that the monarch butterflies have been spotted passing through Ontario.

Get your butterfly weed ready.  It's a host plant.  The monarchs will lay their eggs on it and you'll have more butterflies.  In August, I start feeding my butterfly weed so it will have 

lots of leaves for the tiny caterpillars to eat.

This picture is from last fall.
They love pentas, too.

FLEUR DE LIS TRELLIS & ELEPHANT STATUE

FLEUR DE LIS TRELLIS & ELEPHANT STATUE

This fall I might be helping a client landscape and decorate her backyard.  

This morning, I visited a garden center and found this huge fleur de lis trellis.  Since my client is all about "french" I called and suggested we purchase it.

Isn't it wonderful!

Marshall was nice enough to hold it for me to see how tall it is.

Once it's in the ground, it will be about 6' or so tall.  I want to hang it on her back fence and put birdhouses in those open spaces and grow vines on it.  

You'll be able to see it from the house and the porch.

I took a picture of this elephant statue because I thought it was so cute the way they had him up on the tree stump like he's eating that little tree.

I really, really have a problem going to any garden center.  I went for potting soil and that's not all I left with. 

 I'm very happy!!

PAINTING TWO MORE BUTTERFLIES FOR KAREN'S GARAGE/CARRIAGE HOUSE DOORS

PAINTING TWO MORE BUTTERFLIES FOR KAREN'S GARAGE/CARRIAGE HOUSE DOORS

Remember the garage door that I painted a few weeks ago?

 Karen wanted it to look like two carriage house doors that open in the middle.

Here is a link to that post:

GARAGE DOORS TO CARRIAGE HOUSE DOORS

I painted butterflies and vines on the door(s).

Karen called and wanted me to paint two more butterflies.

Next time I'm over that way, I'll paint a little more black on the caterpillar part of the butterfly.

I loved painting the butterflies.

From the street, it looks like my painted vines might be a part of the foliage in the pot by the garage door.  In the winter my vine will be the only thing green.

I love working with Karen.

HOMEMADE SPRAY INSECT REPELLENT & MY ELIJAH CAT'S "INSECT SENSITIVITY"

HOMEMADE SPRAY INSECT REPELLENT & MY ELIJAH CAT'S "INSECT SENSITIVITY"

Elijah is a sweet cat that came to live at my house about three years ago. 

 Recently, his favorite place to sleep is behind this rake.  So, I just leave it there for him.

I think my Punkin is his sister.  Punkin's mother put her in my garden shed as a small kitten and I'm not sure why she didn't put Elijah in there, too.  Maybe a neighbor found him, first.  He was always following Punkin around and he did, finally, come to live here.  I take very good care of him and Punkin.  The only problem is, they have to live outside.  I have a kitty door in my garage and in the garden shed, so they have very warm places to stay in the winter.  And, when a dog or an occasional coyote! come by, Punkin and Elijah have a safe place to hide.

Elijah has "insect sensitivity".  Sometimes, his nose is very bloody from scratching.  He's not as tame as Punkin, so I really can't do much for him.  

Recently, I found a recipe for a homemade mosquito repellent on Facebook.  I have made it several times and twice a day I spray all around the front porch area where Elijah likes to sleep and I'm amazed at the difference.  Also, when I feed him in the morning, I spray a little of the repellent on my hand and "accidentally" touch his head.  His nose might look bad to you, but it is tons better than it was.  Here is the recipe.  I love the way it smells.

HOMEMADE MOSQUITO REPELLENT

Combine in a 16 oz. bottle:

15 drops lavender oil

3-4 Tbsp of vanilla extract

1/4 cup lemon juice

Fill bottle with water.  

Shake. 

 Ready to use.

ANOTHER TINY MIGRATING BIRD VISITING MY YARD TODAY

ANOTHER TINY MIGRATING BIRD VISITING MY YARD TODAY

Another little migrating bird visiting my yard.

This little fella has visited my yard several times in the past as he was passing through.

He has a dark greeny back and bright yellow tummy and hop, hop, hops everywhere.  He usually has a lighter colored mate.  Maybe I'll see her tomorrow.

FIRST MIGRATING BALTIMORE ORIOLE AT MY BIRD BATH

FIRST MIGRATING BALTIMORE ORIOLE AT MY BIRD BATH

This is the time of year that I start seeing migrating birds at my bird bath.

It's such a fun time of year for me.

This oriole has been here since Sunday morning.  I saw a beautiful male oriole fly across my yard.  Usually, I see a couple of them first and then several.  These might be scouts.
Yesterday, I saw a large dark speckled bird bathing, but not sure what it was and didn't get a picture.
The sparrows and doves always guard the bird bath and when they start suddenly gathering, I know a new bird is nearby and coming for a drink and a bath.  That oriole was fighting with a sparrow and the oriole won and took a good splashy bath.

The flower bed around the bird bath was overgrown and there were a few tall pot plants close by.  So, a few days ago, I cleaned out the weeds and moved everything tall.  Last year I noticed that the birds were a little bit leery about landing on the bird bath.  I think they were afraid predators might be hiding.  They have a clear path, now.

I always notice that most of the migrating birds come in front of a cold front and there's one on the way.  I think it will be here tomorrow night or Thursday.

I'm ready!! and, will be taking as many pictures as I can and will be sharing them with you.

A NEW BABY FOR EX ORPHAN ELEPHANT EMILY IS BORN & FAMILY GATHERS

"When Emily the elephant was a baby, she was an orphan who was raised by the keepers of the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Kenya. When she got pregnant, something miraculous took place. Instead of having her baby in the wild, Emily decided to return to the Wildlife Trust to give birth in the company of the keepers that took care of her when she was a calf. This is something you almost never get to see in the wild. Apparently Emily felt really comfortable around humans and she decided it was safer to give birth next to her old friends. After giving birth, the herd gather around her. It is a very powerful sight to see all the other elephants from the family gather around to give Emily support and protection, celebrating with her the arrival of her baby."

(For a larger, more wonderful view, click on YouTube in the lower right corner)
Nancy Ridenour on Facebook

LIONS BY MELISSA GROO

LIONS BY MELISSA GROO

"A tender moment between mated lions. We watched the male appear on the horizon, far from where we sat in our vehicle next to a shady spot by a river where a lioness, her sisters, and their cubs were resting. He slowly approached, and then, when he was some 50 yards away, his mate, the mother of his cubs, came to greet him. She gently nuzzled him and rubbed against him, and he then followed her to the rest of the group, where he was greeted by his cubs as he laid down to rest as well.

I developed new respect and fascination for lions on this trip. It's the first time I've seen them in the wild, and had a chance to observe their close family bonds. I found myself often wondering, how could anyone want to kill a lion? Why deprive the world of such a magnificent, intelligent animal? Or a pride of its father and leader?"

(MELISSA GROO ON FACEBOOK)

REINCARNATION

REINCARNATION

(Click on YouTube in the lower right corner for a larger view)