work, birds, and spring chores

I'm still working away on these images for the Leadership Wall. My presentation last week went well, choices were made. The sample they chose for the etching style surprised me as it was one of the first ones I rejected, although it had started to grow on me. I should finish the image manipulation today and then I'll be ready to start the enlargements for the full size art work.

I also have a couple of proposals to do and full size art work on another job. So I'm still plenty busy here but it has been really nice not having any fabrication to do. We are enjoying not having to spend 3 nights and 3 days every week in the city. The downside though is that it's way too easy to get distracted.

I have managed to get the garden mostly planted. I may have planted the okra seedlings too soon as the high dry wind really beat them up yesterday and the day before. It was beating up and desiccating the little tomato plants too so I got the cans out and enclosed them, watered them and they perked right up. So far this year we have put in tomatoes, zucchini, okra, cucumbers, bell peppers, jalapenos, and japanese eggplant. The onions are left over from the winter garden, waiting for them to bulb up better. I still need to get the pole bean seeds in and the cantaloupe. We are NOT putting in any white patty pan squash this year. I'm still not over all the squash we ate last year.

Some of my other spring chores included cleaning out the gutters that were full of leaves and trees. You think I jest. I pulled out half a dozen that were at least 16” and numerous smaller ones. I also uncovered a fire ant nest. They were in my hair, on my arms, on and in my shirt before I knew it. I wasn't completely naked by the time I got down from the ladder and in the house but it was a near thing.

There's been a big flock of cedar waxwings mobbing the birdbaths the last couple of days. They came through early in the month and stripped the photinias of every berry on every bush. They are very communal being the only bird I have observed so far that group bathes and drinks.

There's been a big group of grackles hanging around too. They run all the smaller birds off and then proceed to monopolize the bird baths and empty the bird feeder. They are very ill-mannered. Marc bangs on the window in front to chase them off but all that does is send them to the Little Backyard.