SPRING VISITOR

Spring is here and we’ve had more birds showing up in our area every week.  We put our 2 birdhouses in trees this year, one in the front yard and one in the back.  A few days ago the chickadees were checking out the one house in the back yard but we aren’t sure if they have claimed it yet.

The other morning, we looked out and saw a fairly large bird sitting in the middle of a thyme plant.  It looked like a grouse so we got out the camera and went out to see what it was.  Sure enough, it was a female grouse and we were able to get quite close to her.  We haven’t seen grouse this close to civilization.

 This is a great time of year for smaller projects that can be done in the shop.  Stuart has built a garden tool rack/stand so we can put the most used tools in the garage which is closer to the garden than the shop.  He used a cardboard box last year and has now upgraded to an MDF custom built unit with a shelf.  

I am in the process of painting it—always a slow process with the primer coat and the 2 coats of the colour.  It is a good way to use up older paint.

Just yesterday, Stuart got ambitious and build 2 sets of knife holders that fit into one of the kitchen drawers.  The knives used to lay on their sides and would get dull by rubbing against each other.  This is much better.

We have been transplanting a few things in the yard and moving ornamental grasses to open places.  They are so beautiful and easy to maintain.  Last summer, we grew parsnips and left them in the garden over the winter.  We harvested them a couple of weeks ago and have been enjoying parsnip puree, just like they make on the cooking shows.  Still a while before we can think about gardening although we heard that peas can be planted this early.  We’ll give it a try in a few days.

I’m still rehabbing my knee and it is slowly getting better.   No word on the surgery but life goes on.