Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Well, that new sign at Swan Lake is right on. Yesterday I’d meant to go over there for just a little walk … and that lasted about 2 hours!I’d missed the early morning birders and there were only a few people walking the trails. At the little observatory, could see and hear some Red Wings plus a warbler or two.
Walking along a trestle pathway, I saw a little Drake, quietly swimming in a pond.
Didn’t notice any Geese in the fields, they were well hidden. Saw many well-walked trails through the field grasses .. showing where birders had traipsed.
At Tuesday Pond, I saw only a few Robins. For the first time .. I saw 2 Robins having a little “altercation” …. the “winner” stayed around and began grooming himself.
Finally reached the main observatory … couldn’t see any bird activity. Just about to leave and looked up .. saw the eagle (female) comfortably perched atop a tree by the Nature House. She showed a bit of interest when two pairs of Geese, squawking .. flew onto the pond.
Then a lone seagull flew by ..she looked, but wasn’t interested. A few Red Wings flew by and appeared to momentarily sit on her back .. but maybe they just lightly tapped her .. hard to really see from where I was standing.
Continued on towards the long observatory .. noticed the eagle had moved position and was now sitting on a lower tree, across the pond. Then a number of crows started dive-bombing her, so she just left.
The rest of my walk was uneventful. Stopped several times to take some pics .. then I heard some movement in the long grass behind me. Heard some snuffling sounds, thought it must be some kind of little mammal. Curious.
Finally back home, then out on some time-consuming errands in the city.
So, errands done, time to gather up my gardening tools and I headed out to the front, to do some much-needed weeding and garden-type work. Made some progress, weeding, digging, moving rocks around.
Glad with my progress .. so time for supper and spend time with my dh!
This morning ….. decided to continue on with my garden work .. so .. gathering all my tools, moving my amazing soil sifting stand (a very heavy steel frame on 4 legs ) and this morning I’ll start working on sifting soil. Oh joy.
Perfect day to work outside .. slightly overcast, although I expect a sunny afternoon today .. just like yesterday.
OK .. on y va!!!!
🙂
Garbed for gardening, I brought my toys outside, set up a working tarp and began to dig out dandelions, some blackberries, comfrey and errant ivy.
Found more flat, large rocks that I’d used, many years ago, to create a path. Now extremely overgrown and buried beneath roots …. I dug out these stones .. and will use them to finish the rock border in the front.
I find it to be so much fun to discover things in the yard, that I’ve used previously .. and totally forgotten about ..and re-purpose them somewhere else in the yard.
Over the past few months, I’ve been playing around in the back yard. Turning the mulch pile. Starting another planting border. Planning where to move plants. And I hadn’t spent much time in the front yard …. that would be an area I’d play with “sometime”.
So, it turns out that sometime is now. And I’m finding myself getting enthused about working in this area. I’d added mulched leaves and hay over the past few years and the soil is quite good. That explains why the ivy, blackberries and bluebells have become so invasive.
And, speaking of bluebells .. I’ve resigned myself to accept the existence of these darned stubborn flowers. Try as I might, I find that it is nearly impossible to eradicate these bulbs. So I admit defeat, remove as much as possible and decide to just enjoy their springtime beauty. That’s mature, right?
Tomorrow, I look forward to continuing on with this process!
Tonight, our Corrie group met for supper at Lakes .. as usual, we had a great time, talking, laughing, laughing, laughing!!
It’s been another great day!!!!
🙂