Billy came over this weekend and finished installing the kitchen lighting. It is so awesome to be able to see what you’re doing in there now.
Got one more wall sanded and painted. Only one left to g0. Hope this ancient ruin doesn’t fall over after all this work. Did we ever mention it was built in 1900?
A few bird nests I found: two were most likely dislodged by the wind, but the smallest one on the right was accidentally displaced by me while pruning. I felt terrible and tried to put back the 3 tiny blue eggs that tumbled out and reposition the little nest in the shrub in a place the mother would have chosen herself. The nervous mommy chipping sparrow did come back for a few days but sensing something was awry soon abandoned the little nest.
The nest in the middle is the coolest. Though you can’t really tell in this photo it has more depth than the other two, probably cozier for the birds. Ann and Jim, any idea what kind of bird built this?
The nest on the left is interesting because it was constructed with whatever scraps the architect could get ahold of. There are pieces of landscape fabric (no doubt ripped off by a dog), twine, dog hair, different types of feathers – a conglomeration.
The Buddha doesn’t feel cold the way we mortals do. But somehow I feel he would not like to be completely buried in the drifts. Yep, I attribute feelings to a cement garden statue. I can’t help it. He looks so pensive, and no drift should compromise that.
Anne and I had a snowday today. It was a bit too cold for sledding, but I managed to hike up to the mailbox and found more garden catalogs! Yay!! I think it is about time to order some seeds. I also want to build a little seed starting shelf – the light shelves in the catalogs sell for about $400… seems a bit unreasonable for a shelf with lights on chains. I will build one and if it works, I will post plans to share. Buddha will help.
It seems Winter is a good time to post about corkscrew willows, because last November I posted about these twisty creatures. They are so crazy twisty you can’t help but look at them and say, “Cool! That is twisted.”
The sad truth is that the willow I posted about last November might not make it, but this one has serious potential. It grew very well all Summer. So much so that Anne already has plans to start more. Many more. I’ll help, of course.
Willow cuttings grow roots readily in a glass of water. With just a few roots forming, I like to stick them into soil and water well. Keep them well watered as willows like it damp. I’m wondering now if it would save time or be better for the tree to plant the cuttings in buried pots or simply stick them into a growing-on bed for transplant at a later time. Maybe we will do half/half and see what happens.
Newly stained and painted kitchen ceiling
