Thursday, June 14, 2007

Back at the Homestead

The kids and the garden survived our absence nicely. The weather was quite mild, so frequent watering of the yard and garden wasn't required. Other chores were left undone, such as the mowing, but that was soon remedied.


Do robins return to the same nesting spot every year? We seem to have a particularly nice spot for a nest, no matter how we try to discourage the robins from nesting here, or one robin as the case may be. :) While we were away for the Memorial Day weekend, Mrs. Robin got that nest finished and is now sitting on her eggs, flying away when we go out the back door to the yard, then hurrying back when it appears to be safe. I have very mixed feelings about the annual nesting of robins. I dislike the mess, but it is lots of fun to watch the nest once the babies hatch and especially fun to witness them leaving the nest!


This morning I visited my dreadfully neglected "garden" on the back of the fence and found the lavender in full glory and bees galore all over the plants! Yesterday I planted four new rose plants that I ordered from Heirloom Roses, and began repairing some of the rock path in the rose garden. Each week this spring HR has had different rose selection on sale. Since we haven't had to travel to Portland this spring, I ordered some online a few weeks ago, and again this week! I'm afraid I've acquired a rose addiction!

Also on my to do list for this week is preparing graduation cards and gifts for the grads in our family and among our friends. DS Brendan is leaving tomorrow for a week at youth camp, so gotta make sure his laundry is done and he's ready. Kirsten also has a little overnite camping fun with her girls' group Friday through Saturday.

I've recently had quite a bit of dental work done - ugh. With no insurance and a bunch of kids in braces, Gary and I have not been in to see the good doctor for years, many years. But a broken tooth landed me in the chair for a good cleaning, some fillings, and redoing an old crown. Considering how long it had been, the dentist said I didn't have a terrible amount of damage and I'd done well keeping my teeth clean. That was good to hear, but still my jaw is still sore from Monday's filling and preparation for the crown. Maybe next year it'll be DH's turn. :)

My needle has been sitting idle these last couple of weeks since my rr was mailed off. I hope to start on Heather's real soon. I also need to do the piecing on a crazy quilt piece for smocking guild. Then there's this matter of blog reading! How am I ever going to get caught up?! At one time I had the number of posts in Newsgator down to 200, but now it's up to 770. Commenting may be sparse as I get through them, but I will plow through them somehow! :)

Thanks for your many enthusiastic comments about my rr square. I'm not entirely sure yet just what I'll stitch in between the squares, perhaps a path, or a vine. Then I have to put a border around it. I'm just glad I don't have to figure all this out for quite awhile! :)

9 comments:

Leeland said...

The pics won't display so I'll come back to see them. How nice to have baby robins there, though I understand your concern about the mess... Well, nature has its ways...
Having spring back in the garden is such pleasure! I spend time everyday smelling the flowers (in particular, my ancient roses...) and enjoying the colours, the life that springs there... Very comforting.
I hope you have a nice relaxing week end!
Lili

mainely stitching said...

Oh, your pictures aren't showing up. :( I'll check back later...

Glad that your busy household survived your absence so well. Do nesting birds make a mess? We used to have a robin that would nest in an old hackmatack (some sort of scroungy looking pine) outside our camp every summer. I loved getting a litle peek at the eggs. Such a perfect color ...

Annemarie said...

Well, as we Dutchies say, you landed with your nose rightin the butter, with all the dental work and birdie mess and long long lists of blogs to read :o) Good luck with all that!

Wendy said...

I don't envy you all the dental work but it sounds like the worst is behind you! You sound like a busy busy girl these days, Von. I hope you find a little time to pick up your needle to put in a few stitches. I don't know what I would do without my 20 minutes some times.

Barb said...

The pictures aren't showing up for me either. Glad the dental work is behind you.

Deb said...

Dear Von,
The robins are so persistent, aren't they? We had a nest right in a crook of our window and the sill!! Beautiful blue eggs we could see, and the mother would fuss at us all the time! It was so high up, I wondered how she would teach the tiny little birds to fly once they hatched! Love your lavender and bee pic., too.
Hugs and happy Summer!
Deb

Andrea said...

I love the lavender and bee photo. Don't envy the dental work either.

lena-lou said...

Poor you with the dental work! Lovely pictures and I have to say I like roses too :-))

Cathy B said...

Hey Von, welcome back! We had some birds build a nest right outside our front door this year! It does get messy but everyone enjoys watching the baby birds!

Hope you are having a good week and that you get some stitching time in soon!