This and That

 

It's May 1st but it feels like March 1st!  It's cold outside, raining and breezy.  The rain is to be with us throughout the day although when the first of the month picture of The Puddle Pond was taken earlier this morning, it was not raining.  There appears to be an attempt to make up for the rainfall deficit over this past week and it sounds as if it will continue into next week and maybe beyond.  The rain is welcome for the garden but gives one cabin fever since outside time is very limited. 

First I want to wish sister, K, and brother, K, our twins, a Happy Birthday today!  It's not a "milestone" but best wishes to them for a good birthday. 

Mr P took a walk down to The Puddle yesterday and came back excitedly to collect me along with the camera.  Guess who was there?  Our bufflehead duck with eleven little ones trailing behind!!!!!  He saw her/him come out from a large clump of cat o nine tails followed by the babes.  The parental unit softly squeeked and took the little ones who also made little noises for a few turns around the puddle.  We left them in peace after snapping a few pictures.  I think they probably have a nest in the reeds and she had been sitting on the nest which is why we didn't see her after our initial week long spottings.  I went down a little later to snap a picture on my phone to send to OnlyDaughter but they must have been back in their nesting spot since they weren't anywhere on the water.  I'll let OnlyDaughter know the pics are here for the viewing.

I've been snapping off asparagus in the garden since mid April and lettuce can probably be cut this week.  Two more raised beds were erected recently by Mr P and the upper one has been planted so far with some leeks and a few herbs.  There are bedding plants of cukes, yellow squash, zuchinni, eggplant, peppers and tomatoes to be planted and green bean seeds to be sowed in the longer bed.  I purchased flowers to plant in my big terra cotta pots too.  Mr P borrowed the neighbors front end loader for an hour last week and did some cleanup work to push large logs/trees/brush/soil away from the edges of the yard and into the woods. 

I mentioned before that there have been tasks that were previously placed on the back burner that we are working to get to.  I have been working to weed as time and energy permits and next up will be cutting a nice sharp edge around the beds with a flat spade, installing new edging, and finally putting down a thick layer of mulch.  There's always something to do around here.

I hope that you are having better weather than we are right now but I know this can't last forever.  Until next time....