Friday, May 14, 2021

Friday


Mr. Moon is experimenting with all sorts of different types of propagation. Here he is trimming tomato cuttings to try and root. We do not need any more tomato plants- trust me. If the ones he has planted bear even reasonably well, the pantry will be full of canned tomatoes, tomato sauces, ketchups, and chili sauces. But he is having fun and Levon and August were having fun with him. Levon helped me and Jessie pull up my celery and the rest of the rainbow chard. 
The celery- sigh. 
It was a valiant effort. But I just didn't do it right from the way I planted it to the way I did not thin it enough and it was just getting tough and I didn't especially like the flavor so- farewell, dear celery! And the chard? Well, full of bugs and past its prime so it is now gone too. Perhaps zinnias will be planted in their places. 

We found this little guy in the celery after we had pulled it. 


Jessie was holding it in her cupped hands and Levon was holding his hands out to receive it but it jumped away and we let it go unmolested. 
"He's scared to death," I said. 
I am sure he (or she) was. 
Just a baby.

It was a Boppy day all the way around. Those boys wanted their grandfather and they got him. They did all sorts of Boppy things and even found an old model car in the garage that they started working on together. They guys had no use for me except to help Jessie make lunch but that's the way it is some days. 
I understand. 

And now I am waiting on Boppy to bring Gibson home from Lily's. He had asked for spaghetti and meatballs when I asked him what he wanted to have for supper tonight so I have made a nice tray of roasted meatballs from a mix of ground venison and sausage made from both venison and one of the little pigs we got this year. I hope the meatballs are good. Honestly, I've only made meatballs a few times in my life but these seem fit, as we say around here. 
I offered to make Gibson any dessert that he wanted but what he wanted was a purple cow. 
Nostalgia wins over all, I suppose. 
I have found over the years that children are more fond of ritual than most adults which is interesting to me. I am wondering if I will be reading The Little Red Hen Makes a Pizza tonight. I would not be surprised. 

And that's about all the news from here. It's been another cool day but clear with completely blue skies. Absolutely crazy-unusual for May in this part of the country. At least I am not worried about Darla's eggs baking underneath her. 

Oh- here's a little bit of news- I have a wren who has made a nest in the flowering begonia on my little kitchen porch. 


Yes, that begonia is getting too much sun there but I cannot move it until the wren activities have moved on.

I saw her about a week ago with something twiggy in her beak and then saw the leaves of the begonia bouncing about. She is still flying in and out. I can't see into the nest and it is fairly well hidden but it is too close to the cats for my comfort. 
Wrens are determined to nest around humans for some reason. I have had them make nests in the mouth of a taxidermied tarpon on my porch before and have even had them begin nests in a bowl in a cabinet when I have left doors open. As much as I hated to, I had to nip that little plan in the bud. 
So we shall see what happens there. 

I'll report in tomorrow on how the visit with Gibson goes. 

Happy Friday, y'all. 

Love...Ms. Moon


23 comments:

  1. I love the way wrens just squat anywhere they choose. In the peg bag hanging on the washline. On top of a partly opened door. In a wreath on the front door. All these choices force the humans to figure out workarounds.

    I'm surprised you tried celery. It loves the black earth of Utah best. I can't grow it at all. Nothing edible happens.

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    1. Wrens are just going to nest where they want, aren't they? They don't really think things through. They are quite determined for being so scatterbrained.
      They grow a lot of celery in S. Florida. I need to do more research on this situation. Like the wrens- I am determined.

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  2. A wren built a nest between the air conditioner and the sashing and used it year after year. One year a fledgling got between the windows. Long story. Removing the air conditioner was not possible. My brother used his hands to direct the baby bird to the way back out. It was an unbelievable save.

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    1. Poor baby wren! I'm so glad your brother could save it.

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  3. Happy Friday back at ya! Have fun with Gibson!

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  4. Here wrens stick to the hedgerows - amazing, plucky little birds - so a small and yet so tough. I like the frog too!

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    1. We must have different sorts of wrens. We even call our variety "house wrens" for obvious reasons.
      That little frog is a tree frog. They are great singers.

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  5. I also have a wren nesting in a hanging begonia on my porch. So fun to watch. Love reading your posts and watching your grandchildren grow up and your garden adventures!

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    1. Thank you, Corinne! Does your wren have eggs yet?

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    2. I don't know - It's really high and I'm afraid I'll disturb it if I try to look. I keep seeing the wrens coming and going into the nest.

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  6. The photos you take of Boppy with his grands are so evocative and beautiful. You have a lover's eye of course, but you make us love them too. And Gibson, that darling child, your only middle child grandchild, how wonderful that he will have you to himself. You are such fine grands, I'm taking notes and hope I get to use them sometime soon.

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    1. I love the pictures of my man with my grands. They make me so happy because almost all of them show quite clearly the love between them.
      Yes. Gibson is the only middle. I hadn't thought of it that way.
      I have a strong feeling that there will be beautiful grandchildren in your future and you are going to love them more than you ever imagined possible. It's crazy.

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  7. I wonder if wrens make nests EVERYWHERE, and we just notice the ones around us? There are probably lots of good nooks and crannies in a human-built environment. I've never heard of rooting a tomato plant, but maybe it will work...? Have fun with Gibson -- I hope he enjoys his purple cow!

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    1. Good question, Steve! I wonder if the little birds ever, EVER nest in trees?
      I'll keep you informed on the rooting situation.
      Gibson loved his purple cow.

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  8. I took a cutting from my San Marzano tomato and am attempting to root it, so I was interested to hear about Mr. Moon's experiment! I'd like to have another paste tomato and I have an empty spot crying out for something in my garden bed!

    We have wrens nesting in the ventilation slats on one side of our attic. It's just above the pomegranate tree where the cardinals are nesting. It's turning into a real baby bird spring around here!

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    1. Let me know how that goes, Jennifer with the tomato cutting.
      You certainly ARE having a baby bird spring. You are rich in the bebes of birds!

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  9. That's one tiny little frog you have there - and those are one hell of a pair of long legs on Boppy!

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    1. Almost all of his height is in his legs. Especially the femur.

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  10. I read that wrens make more than one nest and the lady gets to pick the one she likes. Not sure if that's true or not. I do love wrens. Little birds with a really big song.

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    1. I should look that up. Bird nesting behavior is so fascinating to me.

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  11. that tiny neon green frog....... Boppy's long legs that go forever...and the rapt expression on August and Levon's faces....well- that says it all right in a nutshell. I SO look forward to your time with Gibson.....and I know he will be the *prince*.
    Susan M

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    1. Gibson was indeed the prince! I think he had a fine time.
      Those little boys are pretty much fascinated by everything Boppy does.

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