Back Door Visitor - And a Few More Pics and Preparations

We made a day trip to Delaware a couple weekends ago and as we usually do when we're away for the day, turned on the camera at the back door.  It wasn't until we were almost home that I noticed that the camera had sent a notification of a person at the backdoor earlier in the day.  I was totally surprised to see this..... make sure to turn your sound up..............

They do come and tap at the windows when I'm sitting in the dining room so I guess they missed seeing us that morning.

Here are a couple of friends at the suet feeder....

We had almost 11" of snow and these flower pots were just asking for faces with their snowy pompadours....so I did a little editing........

And one more picture that I tried to capture late one afternoon last week when the setting sun illuminated part of my gypsy rod and caught my attention....

I don't have a picture of it, but a couple of weeks ago, in a routine e-mail from the state, we were encouraged to visit the Unclaimed Funds site and I did.  I was totally surprised to see that there were, indeed, unclaimed funds in my name so I put in the claim and received the check late last week.  I would caution anyone doing this to not speak of it in front of your appliances, because not 10 minutes after I spoke with my son on the phone last night about it (because he also had a claim), our microwave got so excited it dropped dead.  I don't have the time today to go shopping for a new one so I sent HWNSNBP to get a replacement - he's going to have to make due without it for a few days until it can be delivered......we really only use it to steam vegies and to reheat food, so he can get by with what I've already prepared.  Having an air-fryer now that can do most of the same thing I might forego getting another microwave but ours is not free-standing and I don't want to have that gap above the stove.  

I wrote a little tongue-in-cheek info segment on dealing with abdominal surgery after I had my hysterectomy 15 years ago (find it here) and I'm revisiting it to get ready for my back surgery coming up tomorrow.  I already know that I won't be allowed what the doctor calls "BLT's" - Bending, Lifting, or Twisting so some of that advice will also apply for this.  What's new to me is the preparations that the  hospital has in place - I have Gatorade to drink at certain times that they provided at my pre-op admission appt. because they've found that staying hydrated improves recovery, and I have special "wipes" to use after showering this evening (not the morning of) to help prevent infection.  We are washing/changing all the bedding today because instructions say - clean pajamas and clean bedding tonight, clean clothes tomorrow.  I usually shower in the morning so this is throwing me off a bit and adding to my anxiety.  HWNSNBP moved one of the single beds from upstairs downstairs because I won't be able to climb the stairs for 1-2 weeks and we had to rearrange all the furniture to accomodate it and a new chair that we picked out that has arms.  A friend is going to lend me a dining room chair with arms again like she did for my last back surgery.  I'm thankful for that and also that we thought ahead when we redid the bathroom downstairs and made it safer for "seniors" with a step in shower, built in seat, and grab bars.  Still, I'm sure there will be a learning curve but it will all be worth it if I can walk without pain again.  Fingers crossed!

I have some posts pre-scheduled but I'll mostly be absent for a bit while I get myself in recovery mode.  

PS - Remember to celebrate Pink Shirt Day on Wednesday - wear a pink shirt to stand up against bullying!  

He's Here

I've been absent for a while because we just became grandparents again!  Beckham Fredrick H-C (GS3) was born on May 15th - about a month early.  We knew he was going to be early because a few months ago they found out that he has a heart condition and would probably not go to full term.  We were praying that it wouldn't be too soon.

  

Our daughter and SIL had been making twice weekly trips from Newark, DE to CHOP in Philadelphia where they decided they were going to have him as it's one of the best children's hospitals in this area.  They had met with the cardio team there and it was possible to have the baby in the same hospital and not have to have him transferred there.  He went right into the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit and got the best care as did she.  

He was 7 lbs. 2 oz and remarkably didn't need to be put on oxygen as they thought he might.  He has a third degree heart block which means that the chambers of his heart are not beating at the same rate.  One is very low.  This is not repairable with surgery to the heart but eventually he may need a pacemaker to help his heart.  There was the unknown as to whether that would be right away, but he's got a strong heartbeat and the doctors were very pleased with what they saw so he was able to come home 8 days later and meet his big brother Maverick.

We have been traveling back and forth to Delaware to take care of Maverick while his parents were staying in Philadelphia at the Ronald McDonald house there so they could be with the baby as much as possible for feedings.  During those eight days he spent time at his other grandparents' house and some time with mom and dad when they came home to get their personal items and see him.  And we stayed with him at his house for several days.  It was important to his mom and dad that he stayed on his schedule as much as possible  - like going to daycare and his daily routine at home, so being there in his own house was a lot easier on him during this time.  

He helped Papa with a project - building a tomato enclosure for their yard - by using the heavy drill to put the screws in.  

He picked up a wagon full of sticks from the yard one day.

And he water-painted after dinner one night (Note to add: it was a purchase from the $Tree and one of the very rare times that I've been disappointed with the product.  It came with two posters that had the paint on them in dots and all you were supposed to do was use the paintbrush to add water to activate the paint.  Well, it didn't activate easily but he gave it a good try.)

Grandma and Papa did the best they could keeping up with a 4-yr-old and we're happy to say that there weren't any meltdowns during this time.  (But I can't say the same about HWNSNBP who tried my patience more than once.)  

As soon as Rachel and Ryan got home we left so that they could have their family bonding time and Maverick could welcome his baby brother.  Rachel was thinking ahead and had a gift for Maverick from Beckham and she sat right down with him to put it together while the baby was still sleeping from the car ride.  

I only got to hold him the day after he was born when we went to visit the hospital and purposely didn't go near him at their house before we left because I thought I was coming down with a sinus infection (which I was).  I know we'll be going back down soon though to get in plenty of cuddles.

And remarkably, the day that they called us from hospital to tell us that he was going to be born that day was the day that the little bluebirds fledged from the nesting box.  I was nervously waiting outside to hear from our SIL the status and got to see the 3rd and almost the 4th baby leave the box.

Week 11 of The 100 Day Project (With Bluebird Baby Update)

Here are the baby bluebirds - there were originally 6 eggs and it looks like only 4 of them have gotten this far.  They should be ready to fledge at any moment so the box won't be opened again for a while.  We do have a set of mirrors on a stick so we can spy on them without too much intrusion.  The only problem with that is that HWNSNBP sometimes doesn't remember to put it back where it belongs and it becomes the wrong kind of scavenger hunt.  (Much like when he misplaces his cell phone.  That may be one of the only reasons why we still have a landline telephone ...... so he can use it to call his cell phone without asking me to do it and getting a lecture.)

We made another trip to the nursery again for more plants.  We had to search for the vinca in the colors we wanted but finally found a few flats left to choose from.  One of the plants that we had previously bought is doing well amongst the forget-me-nots - a bleeding heart.  It's not the first one that we've had here but those previously planted years ago have disappeared for whatever reason.  So I'm hoping that putting this one in this somewhat protected area will keep it around for a long time.  I remember that my grandfather had one planted in our yard growing up and I always loved it.  

And finally, the sunset from Friday night.

 

Week 10 of the 100 Day Project (and More)

Okay, 70% complete for this project which, by the way, will flow right into ICAD for 61 days.  Time to look for my index card stash.  

Monday, May 1st was Melanoma Awareness Day and just to remind you, as this has hit close to home for us, please get your skin checked.  

I posted about our GS2's birthday on the 3rd previously.  We did have a quick facetime call with him just to wish him a Happy Birthday on that date.

Earlier that day we made our first trip of the season to the Great Swamp Nursery and were surprised, yet not surprised at how busy it was there for the middle of the week.  We wanted to get there and pick some things up before the weekend when we know it will be crowded, particularly the weekend before Mother's Day.  We got some of our regular stuff but we did splurge on something that will be experimental to see if we can both enjoy it and protect it from the deer.  There is a plan - we just hope it's a working plan.  

I was going to take a picture of this girl we saw there but decided against it.  She was a young girl, not skinny, wearing an oversized sweatshirt that just barely covered her butt and both HWNSNBP and I thought she had patterned leggings on, but as she passed us we realized that those were tattoos on her legs - just here and there not all over - no pants to be seen.  I hoped she wasn't going to bend over to pick up any plants.  Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against tattoos, it was the length of the top and absence of the pants that made me shake my head.

The 4th was Bird Day and we are pleased to report that we have 6 baby blues in the box nearest the house that have hatched within the last week.  This box does not have the camera in it for us to monitor.  HWNSNBP had taken down the old bird house in the garden because it was falling apart - that was/is the one with the camera - and the bluebirds don't seem to like the newness of the dwelling that was put in its place.  At least not for now.  Perhaps they'll move into it later in the season, but for now, here are the babies.

We've had some wet and raw weather here and I was sad to see that someone that lives not too far from us lost their clutch of 6 babies that were further along than ours presumably to the weather.  I thought it might be from an inexperienced mama blue not tending them or gone missing.  Unfortunately it's one of those things that you never will find out how it happened or why.  Still it is a heartbreak.

HWNSNBP stopped at Costco and got us Churros for Cinco de Mayo and we were lucky to spend the evening with most of our Table 7 Group celebrating a birthday.  

I dug out my crown and though I did not get up early, managed to watch some of the replay of the King's Coronation today.  (No, I really didn't wear it, just had it nearby.)

The weather is warming up slightly and there is yardwork to get done along with getting our daughter's wedding celebration invites put together so she can have them to mail out soon.  (They did get married in July of 2020 but because of the pandemic, couldn't have anyone except immediate family at the time and circumstances with venues and vendors kept postponing the "re-enactment" which has been scheduled for August.)  So let me be off hoping everyone enjoys the weekend.

Clouds and Flowers and Birds, Oh My!

I've been doing a lot of weeding this month and spending a lot of time looking down.  And while there are interesting things that I find in the rocks and beds surrounding our property I have to take a break every once and a while and remember to look up. Usually the birds attract my attention with their antics, but on this day it was HWNSNBP who alerted me to look up over my right shoulder because our neighbor was cutting the grass and I hadn't heard the sound of the balloon in the sky very nearby - the first of the season.

And when I looked over my left shoulder I couldn't believe the clouds.

And closer.....

and closer......

and further away .....  Can you spot the plane?

Two minutes later they were gone - all piled together.

Over by the garage the brunnera are in full bloom.

So are the barberry bushes.  Those yellow flowers are always a surprise to me.

There are several clumps of wild geraniums scattered about.  Some consider them weeds but I let them thrive hoping they'll spread some more.  The flowers don't last long but they're so pretty bouncing in the wind.

And this combination really caught my attention.  The forget-me-nots have been outstanding this year and very prolific.  This is the new poppy that we added to this bed and I love the contrast in colors of the poppies themselves as well as against the blue forget-me-nots.  

And look what HWNSNBP found in the basement a couple of weeks ago that decided to bloom.  Two stalks opened at the same time.  On the top stalk the two blooms left of the center one are solid red while all the others are striped..... very unusual.  

And here's a bluebird update.

Five eggs were laid, the last one on April 12th.

On April 27th they hatched.  This was taken a couple of days after hatching.

And this was the last picture taken the week before they fledged.  We came home on Saturday and they had all left.

But curiously, a few days before that and right up until Monday of this week, the female bluebird was acting very strangly.  She kept fluttering around and into the windows of the dining room.  

She had me really worried that she would hurt herself by hitting the window too hard.  She would grab onto the screen or the door handle and perch there intermittently.  There were mealworms in the feeder and we even put some live ones in the planter outside the window to see if she was looking to be fed, but she kept up this behavior even after that.  She finally stopped when I put some cardboard and wrapping paper along the bottom 3 feet of the windows.  It's been a couple of days since she's been here so I'll remove the cardboard and paper and see if she returns.  

And I'll circle around back to looking down and say I had a big Oh My! last night when I went to get my little gardening trolly that I sit on when I weed.  I heard some rustling in the leaves that had collected against the house and what we refer to as the well cover though the well is no longer under it.  It only took me a moment to realize that it was a snake.  I can't tell you what kind it was but it was patterned. I did not see the head or tail, I just yelled to HWNSNBP that there was a snake there.....several anxious times...... and quickly left the area.  By the time he got there, it had burried itself in the leaves again and he questioned my outburst but he had brought a shovel with him and started moving the leaves around and there it was.  I had my phone camera at the ready, but before I could snap a picture the snake decided to check out the house and slithered up under the fascia board beneath the siding.  The back of our house is very low to the ground being on a hill, so the fascia board is almost on the ground giving the snake a very short distance to get to it.  And it was gone......into the house.......who knows where it is now.  HWNSNBP doesn't believe that it got into the house, but I am not so sure.  The mice get in somehow and I reminded him of the awards banquet that we had attended at a banquet facility when Rachel was in high school where everyone in the audience could see the snake slithering around in the plants that were above and behind the head table.  In the 43 years we've lived in this house I've never seen a snake - salamanders, toads, turtles and all sorts of mammals and birds, but no snakes ..... until now.