Friday, November 23, 2007
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Thursday, August 16, 2007
A Helicopter Ride and Aerial Pics of the Homeplace
We were fortunate to take a free helicopter ride today thanks to Crop Max's community appreciation day. It's nice to have that bird's eye view of the homeplace. Hmmm...I can see that everything is very green... I must plant more flowers! And maybe a few red trees, such as some red leafed plums or cherries, maybe a red or scarlet maple, or?
Compare these shots to the 1960's photo which we have hanging in the dining room. The grandparents were living here then. There have been a few changes, but nothing too drastic.
I hope we have another chance to take some more aerial photos in a year or two. We'll see how many of our big plans come into fruition.
Compare these shots to the 1960's photo which we have hanging in the dining room. The grandparents were living here then. There have been a few changes, but nothing too drastic.
I hope we have another chance to take some more aerial photos in a year or two. We'll see how many of our big plans come into fruition.
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Jenny Wrens
I have enjoyed making my own bird boxes. One cheerful little bird that is easy to please is the 'Jenny' Wren or House Wren. I guess 'Jenny' Wren is not really an accepted common name to the purists, but it is commonly used around here to describe the House Wren and the name is much more pleasing to my ears! Speaking of what is pleasing to the ears; have you ever been enchanted by the serenade of a 'Jenny' Wren?
Go here to listen.
A couple of the houses that I have made are from lumber from an old dead pine tree that DH felled in our yard. He cut the tree into lumber and then helped me on the table saw. Actually I watched as I am afraid of the table saw! All I need for this house is 1x6 lumber, an empty tomato juice can, and some screws and a few brass nails. The original plans are from a birdbox book that I have, but I have made my own modifications. The rounded top is mine, as is the tomato can roof. I also had to make the entry hole smaller. The book called for 1 1/8 inch diameter entry hole. I found that this is so large that it allows the EVIL exotic English House Sparrows to enter and destroy! 15/16ths works well for me. One person even told me that they have gone to 3/4ths. To make the entry hole, the easiest way for me (and most satisfactory) is to use my scroll saw. The book suggests using a forstner bit, but this does not make a nice smooth hole in the pine. I also use the scroll saw to make the rounded top. One side of the house is an inspection door. Two nails at the top are used as a hinge and I used a cable tack(?) as a latch.
On this one I have used decorative rosettes for the sides.
We removed these from the interior of an old house that was scheduled to be burned.
'Jenny' Wren eggs. The babies are so tiny when they are first hatched! When I open the door to inspect them, they all pop their naked little heads up with mouths wide open! I wish I had a picture. I will try to take some next year.
Go here to listen.
A couple of the houses that I have made are from lumber from an old dead pine tree that DH felled in our yard. He cut the tree into lumber and then helped me on the table saw. Actually I watched as I am afraid of the table saw! All I need for this house is 1x6 lumber, an empty tomato juice can, and some screws and a few brass nails. The original plans are from a birdbox book that I have, but I have made my own modifications. The rounded top is mine, as is the tomato can roof. I also had to make the entry hole smaller. The book called for 1 1/8 inch diameter entry hole. I found that this is so large that it allows the EVIL exotic English House Sparrows to enter and destroy! 15/16ths works well for me. One person even told me that they have gone to 3/4ths. To make the entry hole, the easiest way for me (and most satisfactory) is to use my scroll saw. The book suggests using a forstner bit, but this does not make a nice smooth hole in the pine. I also use the scroll saw to make the rounded top. One side of the house is an inspection door. Two nails at the top are used as a hinge and I used a cable tack(?) as a latch.
On this one I have used decorative rosettes for the sides.
We removed these from the interior of an old house that was scheduled to be burned.
'Jenny' Wren eggs. The babies are so tiny when they are first hatched! When I open the door to inspect them, they all pop their naked little heads up with mouths wide open! I wish I had a picture. I will try to take some next year.
Monday, July 9, 2007
Sunday, July 1, 2007
Friday, June 29, 2007
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Windy Ridge Farm, Indiana
Today I visited Windy Ridge Daylily Farm in Hillsboro, Indiana along with a couple of friends that I met in my master gardening class this spring. The grounds were just lovely--seems like it would be a thoroughly enjoyable business venture! We spent some hours there strolling through the rows of hundreds, if not thousands, of different daylilies. How I ever narrowed my selection down to just three, I'll never know. There were some other wonderful varieties that I had to place on my wish list, as they were quite spendy. Some that I wanted were upwards of $25 or more just for a small division to get you started. Nice thing about divisions is that they are something that can be shared between gardening friends at no charge---you just have to wait until the plants are big enough to divide.
The ones that I selected this time were S. Ury Winniford, Royal Charm and Jungle Beauty. You can see all of my daylilies in my Garden Journal.
The ones that I selected this time were S. Ury Winniford, Royal Charm and Jungle Beauty. You can see all of my daylilies in my Garden Journal.
Monday, June 25, 2007
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Baltimore Oriole not Oreo!
We are fortunate to have a rainbow of colors when it comes to birds around here. One that I really enjoy is the vibrant orange of the Baltimore Oriole. This guy that showed up at my hummingbird feeder was quite the clown. He stuck around for awhile working on that nectar...doing his acrobatics. He didn't seem to mind me right on the other side of the kitchen window, snapping away with the camera. This was great, because usually when I see an Oriole, they would make a speedy exit for a distant tree.
This guy was curious enough to inspect me through the window.
I think I'm in LOVE with this handsome fellow!
This guy was curious enough to inspect me through the window.
I think I'm in LOVE with this handsome fellow!
Friday, March 9, 2007
Psanky at Home
After learning the basics and struggling through with the traditional Kistka in my lesson, I had learned two things. First of all, that I really LOVE Psanky! and secondly, that traditions are wonderful, but I am going for the ease of an electric kistka. I ordered my tools and all of the dyes that I wanted online through the Ukranian Gift Shop which is THE place.
Here is my goldfish done on a brown egg from one of my 'girls';
what I consider my first work of Psanka art:
I am really pleased with the end result, but there are several things which I would do differently. This design is really meant to be displayed and viewed horizontally. In the future, I will keep the designs vertical with the point of the egg upwards.
Also, I will be more careful about making the background line up the way it should. The lines of the waves and the fish net do not meet up as they should if followed through.
Here is my goldfish done on a brown egg from one of my 'girls';
what I consider my first work of Psanka art:
I am really pleased with the end result, but there are several things which I would do differently. This design is really meant to be displayed and viewed horizontally. In the future, I will keep the designs vertical with the point of the egg upwards.
Also, I will be more careful about making the background line up the way it should. The lines of the waves and the fish net do not meet up as they should if followed through.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
