Cedar Waxwing Migration

Every year about this time we get a visit from a flock, or flocks, of Cedar Waxwings on their way to their spring and summer homes as far north as Canada. They like our pond. These are beautiful birds with their "Lone Ranger" masks lined with white, the bright yellow tips of their tails and the red tip of their wings that's the source of their name. The swept back crest on their heads and the very smooth gray backs and yellowish underparts finishes off their distinctive markings. They come in flocks and it's impressive to see 20 or 30 of these in the trees swooping down in little groups to the pond. A harbinger of Spring!

The Backyard

Lot's of work on the backyard this "Spring". The right side of the picture is an extension of the Pond Garden all the way to the house. We have very little "full sun" space and this will give us an area where we can plant more flowers! We also added more plants around the pond that will finish it off. They don't show well in the picture because they're still too small - but they're very nice and unusual plants. After a couple weeks work here I'm about ready to move around to the front of the house.

The Last Orange Trail Update!

This should be the last update because the trail is finally finished. The extended part goes almost to the very back of the property and parts of it were difficult - the first areas where we had to use a chain saw ("we" = I got Aaron's help). All the signs and markers are up, a bridge repair completed and another small footbridge added. The deer love the trail! Every day you see new tracks and often right down the center of the trail. They are using it to move around. There's most always the owl (s?) in one area and woodpeckers in another. Note to Bev - the perfect place has been found and it's there!

A Package From Jacob's Creek Vineyards

Bambi asked so here's my little story. Jacob's Creek wines are made in Australia and they do come from a place called Jacob's Creek. When I decided that I wanted to name our creek "Jacob's Creek" I emailed the company asking them if they could send me a couple pieces of their advertising material and briefly explained to them that I wanted to use them to make a couple signs for our own creek and I told them the reason.

It took a few days for them to reply and in the reply they told me that they weren't able to send printed advertising materials to individuals but they were sending me something that they hoped I'd be able to use. Another couple weeks went by and one day, as I was walking out to the mailbox, a FedEx Ground truck pulled in to deliver a package. When I got in the house and opened it, I found three very nice golf shirts with the Jacob Creek logo on them, a black BBQ apron with a photo of the vineyard and the 'Jacob's Creek' roadsign on it (the photo is the pocket). There was also a little box that contained the wine bottle opener in the picture above. I've greatly enjoyed this little tool and I can open a bottle of wine with it just like the most accomplished sommelier!

I think that was "above and beyond" for those folks and I'm going to keep drinking their wines!

The First Time I Saw This Wine on the Store Shelf

. . . several years ago, I thought of Jacob so we decided to try it - "Jacob's Creek Shiraz"! It was a good wine and we've been drinking it often since then. More recently the name took on another meaning and I decided to name the creek across our property "Jacob's Creek". So, after talking to Bambi, here it is. You cross it twice when you walk the 'Orange Trail'. (Ask me about what happened when I sent an email to the Jacob's Creek Winery.)

I Think I've Said It Before -

. . . but Glynda is getting the baking of croissants to a state of perfection. This one was as flaky on the inside as it is golden crusted on the outside!

(If ever a group of SPOTS was returning from a walk on the Orange Trail, they could probably stop by here and get a "second breakfast" of croissants like these served with coffee or mimosas!)

Compost,compost, compost - mulch, mulch, mulch

The necessities for a good garden! And this is what I've got for now. The mulch comes at the best price. Call the electric company and they'll bring it to you for free. Sometimes you have to wait a bit but mine was there the next day. (It comes from clearing right of ways.) The compost is $42 a truckload. I'll need another one or two loads. It's a nice drive to Big Sandy and it's about the best compost around.