neighbors

An exert from my journal dated 5/14/15.

Yesterday I spied two small groundhogs running in the back yard towards the house trailer next door to the day care.  I've known for a year or two that an adult groundhog lives underneath the empty house.  Today, as I finished my reading during naptime while working on my farmer's tan outside, I noticed a stumpy looking figure behind the air conditioning unit next door and knew it was the little scruff.  I got my binoculars out and watched him for a few minutes.  I felt just by observing him that he knew more about me that I did him.  He knows when we are all outside yet inside the playground fence and maybe that I am the adult and the kids are kids.  I wonder if they can tell the difference.  Maybe they have a name for me.  "Oh... no bother... it's just her."  I spy one now in the front yard.  He grabs something from the grass to eat and stands on his bottom to get a better look around as he chews looking for what I don't know.  Even though their home is below an abandoned trailer it is where they were born, as I came to work each day merely feet away... they were babies there.  They know the smells, where the back door is or an escape route to their place and where to get the nearest bite to eat. 

I've seen other animals go underneath the same home where the metal skirting is pulled away on this end.  Several cats, I've noticed, and one time a skunk.  Is the opening a portal to their underground get away system?  The reality is surely a damp dirt world with the smell of cat pee and who knows what else.  But what looks like a run down mobile home to us actually has residents that love it just how it is. 

He is now on the trailer hitch and is braving the daylight.  He hangs out there a few minutes before almost gleefully jumping off into the grass when he feels it's safe.  He rested his head atop the trailer hitch and through the binoculars I watched him rub the side of his face on it like a cat.  He's back on the hitch after his snack and watching me like a hawk.  I think his twitching nose is curious about my garlic pretzel chips.  I wonder how keen his eyesight is.  And now there is two.  These chips must smell good!  While I am watching these two (and they are watching me) I back up my vision and spy another groundhog behind the house.  How big is their family?  Is Grandma cooking supper in the underground kitchen and Grandpa reading "The Under Ground Hog News?" 

Directly, he's had enough and trots back under the house.  The second one I call she.  She seems to be
just as interested in me as I am her.  Maybe she was babysitting or watching the other one.  Maybe she's thinking "what the hell is the chick in the hat looking at?"  Maybe she's looking to see if I leave my bags of pretzels.  Maybe I will. 

I haven't had my computer here for two weeks.  The eye gets keener and curious when it stops to look around.  Truthfully I haven't missed it much. 

weekend shots

I really had no idea how much I would love my sacred space on the porch.

I've been seeing a lot of hens around.  This morning I saw two hens and six babies.  I always worry when the hay is cut because they normally nest in the tall grass of the fields.

First batch of hay has been cut, raked and rolled.  

Despite the heat of the weekend and needing another hair cut Katie Bug is still ready to play.

I love how the dichondra finds it's was through the teeniest holes.

My roses have been going crazy blooming!!



My shoes are off as much as possible.

Bulbous Begonias growing and doing well.

Something about the top being off of my truck makes me feel good.

My Christmas cactus is slightly confused on the time of year but I am not complaining about this beautiful bloom.

 

Lazy porch naps.

a house cleaning

We have lived in our beautiful home for six years now.  all the while I have maintain a clean home on the inside and have tried my best to keep check in cleaning the outside furniture at least twice a year.  Mainly to get pollen off so you can sit on chair without getting your breeches dirty.  The outside of our home has been on Shaun's mind for a little bit know and a couple of weeks ago, and after the two nests of birds who call our porch home had flown the coop, he decided to give it a bath with the pressure washer.  Man!  What a difference it has made.  Our porch looks almost brand new!  So clean and bright.  I didn't truly realize how bad it was.  I guess I was used to it. 

Now, if it ever stops raining for a bit, we plan on sealing the wood.  Maybe then we can just hose it off when it needs it again.

 

Porchy stuff gets pushed to one side during the cleaning.

Miss Kitty could care less either way.

salads

I have always been a salad lover but never really stuck to eating salads as a meal.  Lately, in an effort to get rid of what I call and am not afraid to admit "the winter beginnings of a beer gut" I have been eating fresh salads for lunch.  My lunch salad is lovely and contains only a little bit of dressing and no meat.  I have wanted to get Shaun on the salad wagon too, at least for some of our suppers, as he complains about the "BG" too... on himself... not me!  In an effort to do this I have tried to come up with salads that have meat added to them.  The problem I find is in the dressings.  Mexican or Tex-Mex salads are easy.. just throw on some salsa to counter act the dryness along with some chicken.  I love it but it will get old and you can't just throw ranch dressing on everything.  So I employ the help of my beloved library.  I found tons of books to grab online and have sent to my local library plus a few extras that had salad in the name and seemed fun enough to place on hold too!

 

Does this not sound like fun in a jar?!? 

And goodness knows I've got the jars to do it!

 

 

On the list for this one.  It's on order.

 

 

The thing I love about the warmer months is that it is never too late to throw some seeds in a pot of dirt and before you know it... fresh greens!

 

 

 

 

My spring mix growing at the day care.  Lovely to be able to snip a few leaves to go with my romaine for lunch.

Made into a healthy lunch for me.

 

Hey... here's an idea... check out a book from the library instead of staring at your phone or kindle or whatever you choose to stare at.  It will probably reduce your stress level not to mention get your eyes off of the blue glowing screen.