We're safely home, we will chat more later.
Your neck of the Woods part 3
I agree Wow Aspen, keep a good eye out for him.
Ric and Holly, I hope you had a great trip and good beach weather.
Yep, I'll be on the look out for a bear and I'll be thinking twice before I sleep out on the front porch, which is something I usually do this time of year.
Welcome back, Holly and Ric!
Aspenhill, that sounds so scary! Will you be mixing in cayenne pepper to all of your bird seeds now?
...and, Teri--IF you see that bear again--are you allowed to shoot it?
Nothing like some fresh bear meat. Would Mike know how to render it?
G.
Wow Teri, it does make you think twice having a bear close by. The cayenne pepper will deter even a bear though, any mammal in fact. I think it's just wonderful that the birds are not effected by it at all. We have had 2 cubs seen about 1 mile from our house, that means mama isn't far off, and the only thing between us and the sighting is a small creek and woods.
The beach was great, great weather, et all. It was actually rather hot a few days, but hot at the beach is a good thing when the water is as warm as it was.
I think this may have been the first Bear sighting in our area. Sleeping out on the porch sounds like a lovely idea. The beach was really wonderful, I got plenty of Beach time and quite a bit of sea kayaking.
I love the beach, but this is the first summer in quite a while that we didn't get there. Holly, you are so adventurous with that sea kayaking. All I do at the beach is be extremely lazy. I just read books and nap in total enjoyment of the sea breezes and sound of the ocean waves LOL.
I will get to the store sometime this week to get more bird seed and a suet feeder and see what happens. We were also talking about putting sand around the base of the pole so that we could capture some kind of foot prints if it happens again.
Oh I had plenty of sitting just reading and looking at the ocean. I don't think I could ever get tired of just watching the waves roll in and out.
Dear Josh & Courtney carried my kayak on and off the beach for me. I could carry Courtney's smaller one but the one I borrowed from Jen is much bigger and heavier. We took them down and mostly left them on the beach the whole 2 weeks. Here we are 1st one is me not sure which of the 3 of us is in the second pic. That is a early morning sunrise shot.
Sleeping on the front porch sounds wonderful!! I suppose not much sleeping would get done though thinking about a bear. YIKES!!
Glad you guys enjoyed some quality beach time.
Gita: Following up on what Cat said -- if your daughter uses Nature's Miracle (or one of those products), you should let her know that she needs to really saturate the area with it and then just wait for it to dry. Just sprinkling a little bit around won't take care of the smell. But doing that -- soaking the area -- wouldn't cost much at all, and might make a nice difference.
Did anyone go to the Greenbelt garden tour? I had a last minute family thing come up and couldn't make it.
I couldn't - wish I could have ....
Me either. I spent the day lokking everywhere I have seen milkweed growing looking for Monarch Butterfly cats!
I started a thread over here, join me with any reports from your neck of the woods. Thanks.
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1333378/
Judy, we haven't seen any Monarch cats this year, but we forgot to start the Scarlett milkweed we usually have, and didn't get any volunteers.There is a lg. meadow nearby, but I just haven't found the time. Walking has become an issue as well, I go to the frame shop for an overhaul on 11/11, so by next May I hope to be moving better. As to moving better, I put my truck back together this AM and it is doing well. Our old Ford Exploder has reached the point of diminishing return, so I'm seriously considering sending it to Valhalla via smelter. It has served us well, it has 250k miles on it, and a lot of memories, but 15 years of beach takes it's toll. Anymore, taking it apart to repair it gets harder, I think it has ferrous arthritis, or ortho oxide.ROTF
And to think the Exploder just had a joint replacement 18 months ago.Snort,Snort!!!
exploder----ROFL!!!!!!!!!
Jamie named it. LOL
Where is everyone? No one to talk to.
This message was edited Sep 20, 2013 10:49 AM
Mine is an exploder too, 226k I would be thrilled to get another 25k out of it! It did spend two summers in the outer banks and countless trips to the banks so it is showing its wear and tear that is for sure. A few rust spots, sticky locks but she is still alive.
I just love being outside in this weather...what a day! Didn't get much done in the yard though.
MD- new laws taking effect Oct 1, it is a PRIMARY OFFENSE to use handheld cell phone while driving, you can be pulled over just for that and first offense is $75. We all better just put those phones in the back seat and not even be tempted to cheat if it rings. And remember to give people five minutes to pull over and call you back, in case they were driving when you called.
thanks, Sally--I had missed that change--a good one for me to know about!
ITs really hard to resist checking the phone when you hear a call or text, isn't it!
Even if I'm not holding it in my hand, I know the phone takes me to a different 'mental place' and I try not to use it myself, knowing I don't feel focused on driving, personally.
God must love me, because he gave me coffee, a deck, a laptop, DG friends, a good night's sleep, and this beautiful morning.
I admit I tend to read emails while stopped at our incredibly long red lights.
And what a lovely positive thought for the day, Sally! :-)
I am here at my sister's house in Richmond, the breeze is picking up, a storm is supposed to be heading in this direction. The folks across the street are having a huge yard sale, got a bunch if glass and crystal plates, bowls, and glasses to make some yard art. And a metal chicken for the yard, already nicely rusted.
Will be home tomorrow, I do miss my kitties.
Thanks for the heads up Sally. I really don't like to be on the phone while driving, I'd rather just stop, especially if it's an involving conversation.
Yeah, Paul, I forgot the sticky locks. I got so frustrated with the tailgate I unplugged it a couple of years ago. That was after cleaning it twice.Same with the drivers door.
I've finally decided that I'm not driving past Richmond 1 more time without visiting the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. http://www.lewisginter.org/
We are leaving for Florida on Tuesday and plan to make it our first stop. I am so looking forward to our visit. I have heard some of you all say such nice things about it.
While we are at my Dads, Holly wants to take a side trip to the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. http://www.selby.org/
On our return to North Carolina we are planning to stay in Surfside Beach, South Carolina which may allow for a break in Charleston or Brookgreen Gardens, that we just loved. http://www.brookgreen.org/
There is a pull your own parts junk yard around here called Crazy Rays which has been the source for many a replacement part. Since we drive older high mileage vehicles on our paper routes in all kinds of weather with the window down we have found that rain and power door locks and windows just don't make it. We thought it was just us. but every junker we went to retrieve the door electronics from was always gone! That and the front passenger headlight and the rear drivers tail light!
Good to hear you all have gotten succh longevity out of your exploders! Delivering the paper with one, I only got 6MPG so they haven't been on our watch list. Did have '64 and '65 Econoline vans which were so simple to fix and went foreve r Ric did you ever read the book "In Watermelon Sugar"? The land of Forgotten Works....
No I haven't read that. I have spent my fair share of time in u-pull-its.
Alfie, enjoying some couch time with Holly.
Ric, will you start a cintinuation thread before you leave?
Sounds like a fabulous line up of side trips.!
Lots of smooches to you and Holly and Alfie! Does he travel with you? Safe prep and journey and can't wait to see some pics.
I just posted this on the Swap ? thread, but I wanted to really shout it out, so am posting here. too.
Miracle of life. The first of the Black Swallowtail caterpillars I brought to the Swap has emerged as a butterfly!
Five more to go and one that is still eating the parsley plants and is twice the size of the others!
Will release this afternoon or put a nectar plant into the container. Am attempting to glue two pupa into proper position for their eclosure any time now. When I checked them this am at 8, nothing and then by 10, a butterfly! Quicker than I thought.
May all our transformations go well on this glorious blessed first day of Autumn 2013 and ever after!
Judy
PS for progress on the Monarch cats I'm raising check over here
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1323783/
And post your own Monarch sitings on this thread
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1329084/
We've moved on to: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1334742/