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Does anyone know what this is? I'm sure some insect had something to do with it but which insect and what for? It is hard just like the tree branch it was built on. It is only about 1 to 1.25"" across and the holes seem too tiny for bees. There was no signs of life so I have no clue who lived here.
I think its strangely beautiful and would love to know more about it.
One of the greatest things about gardening is geting to enjoy the taste of summer even though it is dark and dreary outside...fruits and veggies put up from your own garden are gifts you give yourself that will keep you smiling until next spring!
Fruit, apricots to be exact, carefully harvested (thanks mom!), prepared with great anticipation, canned and put up with forethought and purpose. Just so in the bleak days of winter you can open a jar and spread sunshine on your bread!
I got to crack open my first jar of this year's jam today...ohhhh the simple and delicious pleasure!
(Note: I canned over 100 jars of various jams and jellies this summer... you all may be seeing a lot of jam pictures, lol!)
As I was taking fall pics of an ornamental cherry tree in our driveway when I noticed a yellow jacket on top of one of the leaves. He was moving very slowly in the cold weather. After a few shots of him on the top of the leaf he suddenly disappeared. I waited a few seconds and he popped his little head over the top of the leaf and looked at me, then ducked back down. He did this three or four time like he was playing peek a boo with me.
I'm sure what he was really doing was waiting for the chance when my camera wasn't in his face to sneek up on me. He lost his chance for revenge when he fell out of the tree and baby boy proceeded to smash him to bits under his baby boots...what is it with boys and smashing bugs anyway????
I would say I felt bad for him but I have been tormented by the little beasties all summer...so I cry not for you little yellow jacket!
I sit here staring out of the window watching it rain...I glance at the calender...November is just beginning...sigh
I know as a native of this side of Washington State that it will now rain for the next 7 to 8 months, no let up, no reprieve for the rain weary... just non stop drizzle, showers, and downpours...sigh.
I am determined to not just sit in the house and stare glumly at the drippy landscape but to go out and see if I can find something worth celebrating in all this wet.
Here is my first in "It's Raining, Its Pouring" photo series. The rain chain seemed like a fine way to begin!
BTW...rain chains are so cool, much more fun than downspouts!
Drip, Drop...will the rain ever stop?
Rain Chain from above... can you say tippy toes?
Rain Chain from below...watch out for falling water on your lens!
It may be soggy, it may be wet but I'll take pictures...on this I'm set!
I LOVE greens. I was one of those weird little kids that would eat her spinach. My sister on the other hand thought I had a screw loose. While she was gagging on her swiss chard I was asking mom for more. She thought I was sucking up to our parents but really I wasn't, really!
Now before you all start thinking I was the perfect child...that is what you were thinking right? I'll let you know that I would not have turned down a bowl of chocolate ice cream or anything like that for a bowl of beet greens, I may have been an odd child but I wasn't crazy!
BTW, I still love chocolate more than beet greens but I digress...
As a gardener I must say that my love affair with greens has grown even deeper. It is just about the perfect garden plant. It is easy to grow, likes all the rain we get around here, slow to bolt (ok spinach bolts in the heat but still...), and they come in a rainbow of gorgeous colors while packing a nutritious punch like no other!
Except for the slugs, that I kid you not grow to the size of a small child's foot around here, they are quite pest free. They even withstand quite well the ravages of frost!
Baby greens are good in salads, full grown are good steamed with salt and a little lemon juice, the big old tough leaves are good chopped in lasagna and soup.
Swiss Chard, Spinach, Beet Greens, the whole family of greens...you gotta love 'em!
Besides they make pretty pictures, lol! What more could you ask for?
I have fall garden chores to do, a chicken house that needs cleaning, the last of the apples need to be made into sauce, but...
when there is a crispy, crunchy mountain of leaves...
freshly raked into a pile...
that is just beggin' to be played in...
then life becomes that pile of leaves...
just for this brief moment...
for when you blink the moment will be gone...
So go jump in your pile of leaves today, the chores will wait...
but the leaves will soon be gone! The Inadvertent Farmer
PS...don't forget to take your camera!
One of my blog readers commented that she missed seeing Gizmo. I replied that I usually only posted when he was misbehaving...well it didn't take long, here he goes again! This time the pygmy goat Fluffy is his intended target and not my roses or baby boy's hair!
"Mmmm, yummy, yummy grain..."
Watch out behind you fluffly!
"GROSS camel breath...Who's idea was it to get a camel anyway????????"
and the chase in on...
Fake Left...
Goat Right...crackin myself up here!
"You don't scare me you big lumpy oaf..."
"Ok...maybe just a little"
"All I want is a little respect...and to eat my grain in peace. Is that too much to ask???"
