Old Tires and Chairs

I had some old tires laying by the shed.

Thinking that summer squash, zucchini and cucumbers needed mounds to grow on, I thought...what the heck!

I also had some old chairs that my husband tried to trash !

I rescued them, with the intent to 'sand and paint them.'

They rusted away for two years. When it came time to put my tomatoes in, I thought...Hmmm...

Those chairs will hold the plants up, and keep the dogs from laying on the plants!

Yankee ingenuity at work...

hummer update

The hummer went for a ride in a box in the back of my Hummer.




Thanks to all for their help in finding an answer to my dilemna!

Debi let me know about a lady named Natasha, a bird rescue lady, who called me right back with the number for the Blue Ridge Animal Hospital on route 122 in Bedford, which is located right before the road where my kids are now living. Quite convenient!

A lady there named Gwen Johnson, took the little guy and said that hummingbirds adapt well in captivity (who knew?). She said I did the right thing, putting him in the box with a feeder and a branch to perch. She also said that when an animal mends they like to release them back to the same location that they were found! My husband was delighted, and said to be sure and say we would go back and get him and take him back 'home'. Gotta love my guy!

A girl with a flying squirrel that had an encounter with one of her cats came in as I was finishing up the paperwork necessary to leave my tiny ward. I hope both bird and squirrel are doing well.
It is also nice to know that there are people out there who care enough about wildlife to give their time and knowledge to help critters...
Kudo's to the animal saviours...

Hummingbird save

Gentle hands........





Bob found a hummingbird on the ground.
We think it may have flown into the ceiling fan on the porch. Big hearted as he is, he scooped it up and came to get me...no easy feat with his big paws!





We put it in an open box, and put one of the feeders in with it, along with a few oak branches to perch. It drank right away, and then sat on the branch looking at us. (The quarter is for size reference..my hubbys' idea.) I think it may have a broken, or damaged wing, because it tries to fly, but can't get much height.




We put the box inside the dogs kennel area, which has a roof, because we hoped if the bird got so it could fly, then it would be able to get through the chain link, as opposed to having it in the screen house, and having no way to get out! We were sure the cats would get it if we didn't protect it somehow!



Anyone know what we should do with it if it doesn't fly soon?
The dogs need their kennel tomorrow!
The things we get ourselves into!!

Home alone

My company has gone home.

I find myself a little dazed.

I was getting used to the routine of a child waking and scurrying directly to the tv, like a moth drawn to a flame. The blare of loud cartoons had replaced my 'Good Morning America'. My brother and his wife are cheerful in the morning and we had our coffee on the porch watching the hummingbirds and the array of blooming flowers and weeds my neice called 'A Natural Garden'.(bless her!)

Somehow it was okay to set aside the daily grind, like bills and household chores, with company being here. Now I am back to the peace and quiet, and I find it strangely unsettling.

Odd creatures we humans are!

The cats are sprawled across the bed in the guest room. They are happy to have their napping quarters back.

I am taking care of my neighbors place while they are still camping, and I decided to keep their elderly Pomeranian here in the air conditioning since its so hot and she's so furry. That displeases Iris, my one-eyed cat, because her favorite spot is in the back room where 'Tay' stays.

I ran the dogs on a short jaunt this morning before the worst heat set in. They collapsed in the air conditioning afterwards, and are still comatose. Penny, the puppy, is growing faster than I can document with photos. She and Belle needed their 'tick and flea juice', so I had to pick her up and hold her on the scale to check her weight. She weighs 22 lbs. Last vet visit she was 19 lbs. She's not even 4 months old yet!
I have the laundry almost done, the bills sorted and I am off to WestLake for a dentist appointment and some grocery shopping. My overdue mamogram is scheduled and the routine colonoscopy is set for August 5th.

Now all I need is a lube job, a front end alignment and a new rear end...no wait...thats the truck..

Tracks,toadstools and turtles! Oh my!

The woods are dank, dark, and sprouting the neatest fungi !

Some look like tiny villages, others appear like flowers.
I think turtles may eat some types, because there were chunks taken from the ones nearest where I spotted the box turtles.

Deer tracks were really easy to spot in the damp soil.



















As I ride through the trees, I always say;
"Whose woods are these? I think I know!"

Lack of Blog

Rainbows




Pooped Puppy



Haven't had a chance to blog!!!
My older brother, his wife, their grandson and golden reteiver 'Missy', arrived June 21st..and with company, the puppy and the usual time involved taking care of 5 horses, 5 cats, one husband and one needy Aussie,I flop in bed at night barely getting daily routine done!
Okay, so I don't get housework done, I admit.
However we are having fun!
I took time out to visit my grandson one day, and also to bring Mr. Sambuccino and Becky Mushko and myself to a meeting at the Moneta Library, where Mr. Sambuccino gave a talk on literary agents and writing in general. Please see Becky 's blog;
peevishpen.blogspot.com

My neice Kate flew in from Boston on the June 27th and her stay was 10 days..This house is overflowing with love!
During her stay, she, my sister-in-law and I took a trip down the Parkway to Chateau Morrisette Winery, and took the tour and had a lovely 'ladies lunch'.I hadn't visited it prior to this, but would reccomend it highly!

Friday July 4th, we had a cookout for 40 people at my neighbors..We had 9 4-wheelers that ran on and off throughout the day and night! We rode over to the Pigg River around 9pm..fun night ride!

Saturday the 5th, we went to friends at the Lake over past the State Park on the Bedford side and had another cookout and watched fireworks. We arrived home around midnight to find my brothers 10yr old golden retreiver, who had been sequestered in the guest room, had freaked out and chewed the door molding off the wall, and had 'an accident' which she stepped in and tracked about!
My puppy and 2yr old Aussie Belle, had had their accidents on the living room rug, and destroyed a few stuffed animals, plus the puppy loves to take a bath in the water dish, which she did, and then chewed up!

Sunday, all the crew from the Lake(2 children,6 adults and 2 dogs) plus my daughter, husband and my grandson and their dog, came here for some 4-wheelin fun and a cookout. The 6 dogs did really well with much changing of rooms and kennels, everyone had a blast running in the mud!
I have sadly been neglecting my camera, and I have missed some truely great photo opportunities...with the mud and the dogs and the friends I don't see often. I also haven't been capturing the darling antics of this puppy and Belle. Penny now runs most of the daily route through the woods with Belle, but she does ride back on the 4-wheeler with me. She had her second round at the vets, and was 3 pounds heavier than her sister, who my neighbor has.She also has taken to swimming in the small pond with Belle and in the creek. She loves her small plastic pool, and with her snout under water, she runs in circles! Maybe thats why she tries to swim in her water bowls!

Forgive me for the lack of pictures. The second one is Penny pooped out on my porch and the first is one of the glorious rainbows that have followed our frequent thunderstorms of late..( not complaining God..love the rain.)

(Did I mention that Belle is terrified of thunder and lightening?)

Blogging has taken a back seat..
Family and critters have come first..
The end of July will find this house back to normal..
Whatever that is!

~