Bogieblog

Gardening Inside and Out

What a hectic week! Pet-sitting and long hours at work took their toll on my sleep and blogging. At least I got to sleep in late this morning (WS was nice enough to get up and feed the birds while I slept on obliviously).

Thursday evening I planted the leeks and onions in the garden. Of course it was just before we set a record low for the night, so I don't know how they are doing. I did at least bring in some flowers of the deck so they would survive the cold. I also brought in the hummingbird feeder so the sugarwater wouldn't freeze. I had to do the same last night for the flowers and feeder.

Today is the big day; the tomatoes are getting planted in the garden. Naturally, it is supposed to rain all weekend (4th weekend in a row), and be on the cold side - but the tomeatoes and I will have to get over it. After the tomatoes are out of the cold frame, the peppers will be transferred out there as they could use the extra room. By the way, I thought the peppers were behaving themselves, but now they are trying to flower!

The chamomille that I planted on Saturday sprouted on Wednesday. Everything else is taking its time though.

By the way, am I the only one that can't sprout a Mornign Glory to save my life? Last year I started a bunch, anyway, I tried to start some, but they never sprouted. I started Morning Glories and 4 O'Clocks a couple of weeks ago; the 4 O'Clocks have been up for at least a week and the Morning Glories refuse to show anything. I follow direction (maybe that's my problem) and score the seeds, then soak them at least 24 hours before plopping them in growing medium. I also put 3-4 seeds in each cell in case the germination rate isn't good. Germination rate for the last 2 years = 0%. There must be some secret to it that someone isn't telling me!

If anyone has any suggestions I would be happy to hear them.

Birds of a Feather

With spring about 2 weeks behind schedule, we have had a lot of birds at the feeders. Yesterday, there were 9 Evening Grosbeaks at the feeder on the deck. They managed to chase away the Blue Jays that were there. Huh, so much for Blue Jays being thugs.

WS pointed out (actually it was more of a "What kind of bird is that?" pointing out) a Rose-Breasted Grosbeak visiting underneath the feeders on the clothesline, joining the displaced Blue Jays and the ever-present Mourning Doves. I haven't seen the Cardinals in a couple of days, but I figure I haven't been looking at the right times. A pair of Brown-Headed Cowbirds are also regular visitors (don't get all weird about the cowbirds, they just do what nature made them to do).

There are, of course, the regular Chickadees, White-Breasted Nuthatches, Goldfinches, Downy Woodpeckers and Hairy Woodpeckers. I haven't seen any Red-Breasted Nuthatches lately, but I am sure they are around also. I've also seen some drab sparrows - no real markings to try to ID them from.

I haven't heard or seen the Scarlet Tanager pair that have hung around for the last couple of summers, but if memory serves me, they don't usually show up until later.

With the new squirrel-proof feeders that I got last year (Okay, one only lets red squirrels in), I have kept the feeders out longer than I normally do. Also, without any visits from bears, I haven't felt the need to bring them in.

However, I'll bet those birds feel the need for me to fill the feeders, so I better get off the computer and get breakfast for all the guests!

Indoor Gardening

So I didn't get the onions and leeks planted in the garden. It rained all day (same expected today), and I'm not convinced it actually reached 40 degrees (39 at 5 PM and AM, when I took care of horses).

So I did what any sensible person will do in that situation, I planted more seeds inside. I planted 12 cells of Hostas, 8 cells of Roman Chamomile, 6 cells of Fairy Skullcap, 12 cells of Rock Soapwort, 6 cells of Marmalade Rubekia (black-eyed Susans), and 4 cells of some nameless vines that produce red and orange flowers (from seed collected from a pet-sitting client).

I also moved the onions from under the grow lights to the table on the deck. And, the leeks have joined the onions, being moved from the cold frame. I also uncovered the cold frame so that Mother Nature could water the tomatoes (hoping that a shot of cold air would help slow them down).

I managed to get absolutely nothing done that was actually on my list of stuff to accomplish this weekend. I guess today will be a busy day!

Bungee Jumping Spiders

As I've said before, I don't really mind spiders. After being spiderless in the shower for a couple of weeks, yesterday morning I suddenly had company. A HUGE daddy longlegs decided the shower was the perfect place for his domicile.

He also decided it was the place to play Tarzan and practice bungee jumping. Another game he seems to like is peek-a-boo around the bottles of shampoo and creme rinse. Those activities wouldn't be so bad if he hadn't decided the time to practice those games was while I was in the shower myself.

Unfortunately for him, his timing is bad. All I can think of while watching him drop down off the ceiling to just above my head is that he will get tangled in my hair as I am washing or rinsing it. I really don't want to explain why I later have spider legs falling out of my hair (hair is supposed to gets rats' nests, not spiders' nests! - hmm, not really the visual I was going for). Anyway this spider is going to be torn limb from limb today because he hasn't wised up and moved out while the gettin' was good.

Mr. Spider, I would like you to meet Mrs. Vacuum!

Mom's Day

Happy Mother's Day

to Cop Car!

131st Kentucky Derby

I got to watch the Kentucky Derby live, and what a finish! I didn't really have a favorite, not getting to study bloodlines at all, but there was a sentimental favorite in Afleet Alex. But in a 20 horse field, anything can happen, including Bandini, one of the favorites, coming in close to last (even behind the sacrificial Spanish Chestnut) and favorite Bellamy Road faiding at the stretch.

After the speedster Spanish Chestnut set a punishing pace in the first 3/4 mile, the battle came down to 3 horses that came from off the pace. Giacomo finished first, at 50-1 odds. Closing Arguments came in second and Afleet Alex came in third.

It was an exciting race to watch - can't wait for the second leg of the Triple Crown!

Gas Attack

The Monkey had a post yesterday (fair warning, Monkey's posts may will be offensive to some), and part of it was:

My grandmother was always allowed to go around the house farting and it was excused because she'd say "Goodness! This medication!"
But when I try it in my house and add "Goodness! This beer!" - it's not acceptable. I don't get it.

Reminds me of a time at work, a couple of companies ago, when I was on 2nd shift. A couple of the machines were down, so two of the maintenance guys were there working on them. Both machines happened to be in an area where 4 machines were grouped closely together. I was running the other two machines in the group.

I had had plenty of refried beens that day (Mexican type food being my favorite), and I had the gastric problems to prove that I had had way too much. While looking into one of the machines, I farted a silent, deadly one. I got up and checked the other machine, to get away from the miasma that I knew was to follow.

The two maintenance guys were consulting on the machine directly next to the one I had just vacated, but having been victims of theirs many times before, I didn't warn them. As I was sitting at the second machine , I heard Martin exclaim, "God, what a raunchy ass you have!" Dan retorted, "Don't blame your nastiness on me!"

This, or an approximation anyway, went on for several minutes. Apparently they had been so involved in their work that they never even noticed I had been there just shortly before the stink appeared.

I went off to check my other 4 machines, happy in the knowledge that I had paid them both back for previous behaviour without them even knowing it!

A Horsey Weekend

I have been so busy lately that I didn't realize it is Kentucky Derby weekend. I have no idea who is running, but will try to take some time later today to at least delve into bloodlines before I watch the (taped) race.

Aptly enough, I am taking care of horses until the middle of next week. It used to be that the horses were easy to take care of. The stay outside except in the most extreme weather (they have a large, 3-sided overhang to get out of inclement weather), so I would just take them grain, hay and water, and make sure everyone seemed to be moving well and in good spirits.

Last fall though, Jesse, the lead mare, foundered. Besides daily medicine that she now requires, she is not allowed any grain at all. She is now on beet pulp, while the other horses still get grain. This situation means that I have to take her from the big corral to a smaller corral, so she can eat her beet pulp and the other horses can eat their grain.

Jesse is very well behaved, so I don't have a problem transferring her to the other corral. However, now that spring has sprung (sort of), there is some grass sprouting in the small corral. Jesse will start with the beet pulp, then partway thru, will decide the grass is much better.

After taking grain to Bailey and Winnie, I set out the hay for the morning, and check the water. Then, I wash out the beet pulp bucket (it has soaked in water and leaves a residue that could ferment if not cleaned out). About the time Winnie and Bailey have finished their grain, I lead Jesse back to the beet pulp, so she will finish it. She  resists a bit, but if I am insistant she will finally come with me to the feed pan. I stand there, keeping her from going back to the grass, until she has finished her meal, then lead her back to the large corral.

Then there is cleaning of the feed pan before I can take care of the cats (another long story, but one I don't feel like getting into today - suffice to say, it's not just plunking down food for them either).

However, I don't mind the extra time and work; the horses and cats are great, as are their owner. I also get some of my best wildlife observations there, like the moose in the road a couple of years ago, and the turkeys that thought I was chasing them near the barn this morning - they just kept going the same way I was headed.

I'll just bet our pet-sitters are gratefull that our animals are easier to take care of than that.

Getting ready

The countdown is on for my Wonderful Niece's wedding (CK, daughter of Wichi Dude and Dudette) and I am busier than all get out. Work is being a pain in my butt, wanting all kinds of things done that can't be done in 40, or even 45 hours a week; I have been getting home late, and this will continue until we leave for Kansas (I can hardly wait to see what awaits me when I get back).

I finally got yesterday off (I am supposed to have every other Friday off - but that hasn't happened lately), and I spent time getting the birdroom ready for our absence. The cages have been cleaned and the floors and walls have been scrubbed. I also thought about the outside birds and put up a hummingbird feeder in case any early arrivals are in need of sustanence.

Additionally, I spent almost 2 hours at the dentist's office, getting my teeth cleaned. More specifically, I spent an hour waiting to get into a chair. It seems that the person that was supposed to do the cleaning was in a car accident, so a temp was taking her place. The temp walked out without saying anything to anyone, just before my appointment (maybe my reputation preceded me). So another gal had to rearrange her schedule to get me in. That was okay, I had taken a book to read and wouldn't have known how much time had passed if they hadn't been profuse with their apologies (I don't wear a watch).

Today I will have to make up the pet-sitting instructions for our neighbor and Karen, who are splitting the duties. I also have to make up plant care instructions for Heather, as I am farming out the house plants to her (in trade for taking care of her cat when she needs it). If it doesn't rain too hard, I will also probably transplant the onions and leeks into the garden too.

I have been debating about planting the tomatoes next weekend, but I'm not sure. We had 3 nights of frost this week and today we may get a mix of snow and rain, so I may doom the plants to a short existance if I take them out of the cold frame before Memorial Weekend. On the other hand, they will be a real pain in the butt for Karen to water (being over 3 feet tall at this point), and the room in the cold frame could be used for the peppers that are still under grow lights in the house.

Then there are all kinds of little things to get ready, many of them I won't be able to start until just before we leave. I have a whole list of stuff to do, but I won't bore you with it (you are welcome).

Anyway, if I don't post a whole lot in the next week, you know why!

Meme Theme

I received a meme from Cop Car a couple of days ago, and I am just now getting around to completing it.

1. You are stuck inside Fahrenheit 451. Which book do you want to be? First, since I haven't read that particular book, I had to do some research on what it was about. No, I didn't buy crib notes, just went to Amazon and read the description there. Anyway, sad to say, it would have to be a short childrens book, because of my lousy, and fading, memory. Maybe something like Dr. Seuss' Green Eggs and Ham.
2. Have you ever had a crush on a fictional character? Although I really get into the characters in most books (heck, I get teary eyed if one of them dies), I can't say I have ever had a crush on one of them. I'm just not a romantic!
3. The last book you bought was . . .? Starman, book 3 of the Wayfarer Redemption series, by Sarah Douglass.
4. The last book you read was? Enchanter, book 2 of the Wayfarer Redemption series, by Sarah Douglass.
5. What are you currently reading? Starman, book 3 of the Wayfarer Redemption series, by Sarah Douglass. (there is a method to my madness - or a madness to my method, I'm not sure which).
6. Five books you would take to a deserted island? Of course, Stephen King's The Stand (unabridged version), The Coldfire Trilogy books by CS Freidman (I would have to get them back from my BIL first), and Field Guide to Edible Plants (so I won't starve).
7. Who are you passing this on to and why? Any of my faithful readers that wish to participate.