Saturday, July 20, 2013

Outside the Lair

The sewing, craft and DIY projects I write about typically take place inside. For a change of pace, let's see what's going on outside the lair.

The yard still looks so pathetic, it makes me want to cry. No job = no money for landscaping. But at least the teeny tree planted last spring...


is still alive. :D I love my tree! I can't wait to see it turn red in the autumn.

The local rabbits don't mind that the front lawn is patchy and full of weeds. They like to chill out in the shade of the house.
 

Around back, a robin made an impressive nest on top of the electrical panel next to the kitchen window. Sadly, she only stayed a couple of weeks. I think jays harassed her and chased her away. :(
 

An acrobatic squirrel was caught in the act of helping himself to the birdseed.

Sometimes an afternoon shower passes through and then I see a lovely rainbow to the east.

Here the end of the rainbow is at the school. Wonder what the students would think of this...

Sometimes while the sun is shining and the sky is blue...
 

rain is falling.

Sunshine and rain falling on the pavement simultaneously? Indeed! 

Ah, Colorado... where you need sunglasses and a raincoat at the same time.

15 comments:

  1. Aww, the robin is a wee cutie! :D Yards are a fair bit of work, and plants do cost a fair amount, so it's perhaps best to wait on that.

    How is the business stuff going, actually? You haven't mentioned it for a while. :)

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    1. The robin sat on the next constantly like she had eggs, and I was hoping to see chicks in the nest... but then the jays drove her away. Jays are mean! :(

      The business stuff hasn't really gone anywhere. I'm planning to post an update on my job/life situation in the next couple of days.

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  2. "Rainbow ends at the school", heh, probably not the treasure they expected :)

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    1. Probably not! My school experience was certainly no pot of gold. :P

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  3. I know it's not easy to build a garden from scratch. But you can do lots of things with a small budget. I don't know how it is in the US but I throw left overs and weeds in a rat safe compost, by that I don't have to buy good soil or fertilizers. It is much cheaper to grow plants from seeds. If you know someone with a garden that person could propably share a part of their perennials, or you can ask if you can take seeds from the flowers. I have even snatched seeds from japanese maple on a parking lot and growed successfully.

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    1. You are very kind, thinking that I have skills to grow anything! ;)

      In all seriousness... part of the problem is that it's challenging to grow anything in the dry climate here. In the east where it's humid, plants grow without much help. The wild areas are forests with shrubs everywhere and vines climbing the trees. But here, most plants have to be watered frequently. The wild areas are flat expanses of brown grass.

      I'm used to a humid climate with a 9-month growing season and no real winter. It's so different here... I just don't have a clue what to plant or how to take care of it. :/

      The real budget-busters are tasks that I don't have the strength or equipment to do myself -- taking down a dead tree, moving tons of rock, that type of thing.

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  4. When we first started our garden, we got cuttings and seeds from all our neighbours. Cheap way to start as long as you have a green thumb! Luckily, one of us does (certainly isn't me!)

    We put new sod in the front this year since we weren't going to plant a vegetable garden. The bunnies have actually killed the grass in three places where they lay in the same place all the time. Who knew that would ever happen!

    Squirrels make me laugh. :o)

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    1. I have a black thumb. Especially here in Colorado, where I can't even identify most plants, much less take proper care of them. :/

      Half my front yard is a dead zone which used to be underneath a giant spruce tree. I want to put sod there, but first I need to have the ground resloped, the soil treated, and the sprinkler system repaired. Last year was record-breaking hot and dry, so laying sod would have been futile. This year, I have no money. Oh, well... some type of little vine-type plant is growing on the mulch that I put over the bare dirt last year. It's not grass, but at least it's green. :)

      Squirrels are crafty little acrobats. They're all over the place back east, but I don't see many here. Instead, there are prairie dogs to fill the Comical Rodent role.

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  5. Figure out what your local natives are and plant those. I'm a huge advocate for native plant gardening. They like neglect.

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    1. I have every intention of planting low-maintenance natives.

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  6. Replies
    1. The bunnies are used to me now and don't hop away unless I get very close. One brave bunny even hangs around in the back yard with my dog.

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