INTERESTING ANT TRAIL...WHY NOT A STRAIGHT LINE?

I walked out of my gate and this ant trail wasn't there.

I walked back to my gate and there it was!!  They look like wood ants and I'm not sure if they're after my picket fence or the oak trees nearby.  They were working really, really hard, but I had to get rid of them.  Often, I'll find a little trail of wood ants close to and on my house.  Twice, I've seen a trail of them going up to my roof or attic.

On Google, I read about a product called Terro and it's borax and sugar water.  It's supposed to kill the ants within a couple of days.  I truly do feel badly about killing them, but can't have them destroying my home and they WILL do that!! 

I just thought the trail was interesting.  Why didn't they have a straight line, instead of this particular pattern.  The end of that trail was going right back to the edge of my driveway.

  They were on a mission, for sure!

A SQUIRREL CHEWED THROUGH MY GARDEN SHED SCREEN DOOR!!

Recently, I had to replace the screen in my garden shed door.

Instead of putting the bird seed back in the big garbage can, it was easier to leave the sacks on the floor of the garden shed.  I noticed some holes in the screen and then, through the laundry room window, I was able to take a photo of the culprit!!  That squirrel had chewed holes in my screen to get to the sunflower seeds.  The yellow tape was to deter the squirrel.  I twisted several pieces so it would be sticky.  

After a couple of days, the handyman came to replace the screen.  Even though I had chosen a much thicker screen, he said that squirrel might chew through it, too.  So, I'm keeping the birdseed in the big trash can, again.

Everything is hungry and trying to survive.

(I understand, but it doesn't make me like the squirrel!!)

MIGRATING ORANGE TUMMIED BIRD STILL HERE & A FLYCATCHER AT MY BIRD BATH

     It is soooo hot here and can't believe this orange tummied bird is still around.  It's shaped and looks like an oriole, but doesn't have wing bars.  It's back is a browny greenie color.  I'm thinking it might be a scout and waiting for it's flock.  But, we'll see and I'll be watching.
   

And, the other one looks like a flycatcher because of the shape of it's head.  I'm just so glad I'm home and get to see these beautiful migrating birds.  I'm so happy they come to my yard.  I will make sure they have plenty of fresh waater.

TUES:SidewalkShoes,

SECOND SIGHTING OF A MIGRATING BIRD AT MY BIRD BATH

Today, my second sighting of a migrating bird in my yard.  I'm pretty sure the post below and this bird are baltimore orioles at various stages of maturity.  I always start seeing the baltimore orioles in my yard from mid August to mid September.

MY FIRST SIGHTING! MIGRATING BIRDS ARE ON THEIR WAY SOUTH!!

My first sighting of the migrating birds that pass through my yard every fall.  This is the time of year that I start watching for them.  I'm never quite sure what kind they are, but am thrilled, anyway, that they come to my yard on their way to wherever they're going.

This one looks like some kind of oriole to me.  It's kind of big and was not afraid of the sparrows that were trying to chase it off.

I think water is the most important thing you can offer them.  They'll find bugs and seeds, but water is hard to find.

I am happy, happy, happy!!

TUES:Sidewalkshoes,WED:ASouthernDaydreamer,FRI:FloralFriday,

I'M STILL HERE!!

(I just posted this to my decorative artisan blog, but wanted to share with you, too.  I really miss working on my blog and will be posting again, soon.)

Hi there,
     Anyone who might be wondering where I've been, I've been on back to back jobs and believe me, I'm WORN OUT!!  This is the time of year that my clients start creating and planning how they want their homes to look for the holidays. It is a bit stressful, finishing with one job so I can move on to the next client who is waiting.  I love my work and love the transformation and am so glad they choose me to work with them.

In these photos, I'm working on Christa's kitchen island.  I finished her kitchen a few days ago.  She was looking for knobs and handles and wanted something special and unique.  She did her research and hunting and I wanted to wait for photos until those were installed.  They are just beautiful in her kithcen.

I really enjoy working on my blog and am looking forward to getting back to posting, soon. 

HELP ME IDENTIFY THIS BEAUTIFUL PINK FLOWERING VINE

Do you know the name of this flowering vine?

Years ago, I was driving through an older neighborhood and saw this vine growing on a fence.  It was sooo beautiful and in full bloom.  I knocked on the homeowner's door and asked about the vine.  She didn't know the name.  She said a friend gave her some seeds a long time ago and she's always let it grow on that fence.  I asked if she would share some seeds with me.  

Months later, she called and had a large sack of seeds for me.

It is similar to a wisteria, but the leaves are very different.  It is a legume.  The large seed pods look almost like a large okra and have several beans inside.

All of these little green flower buds look like a stalk of bananas and will turn into the large pink flowers.  Then, as the flowers drop off, a seed pod will start growing.

I love vines and really love this one.  I've planted it in several places because I never want to lose it.  It's very hardy and comes back year after year, no matter how bad the past summer or winter happened to be.

Can you help me identify this vine??