Pond Project is Complete!

Unlike most committees, the CPDOT did deliver on the plans for today and completed the Pond Project. In the spirit of the last email (telling you without telling you), the picture above shows nothing about the project. The only clue would come from considering the question "Where was I standing when I took this picture?".

A Lotta Water!

After several days of being trapped inside by the weather we finally ventured out today to see what the rain has done to us. It's been a slow soaking rain so all of the plants are OK. The accumulation of water is really seen along the creek. The little Orange Trail pedestrian bridge on the east side of the property is now closer to the west side. The creek was almost dry and now has been over 20-25 feet wide in places and is still flowing rapidly. The pier in the pond has disappeared. It's now 6-8 inches under water. If you look closely in the picture you can make out the shape. (And the beaver was out swimming while we were there.)

CPDOT Meeting Minutes

The Committee for the Preservation and Development of the Orange Trail met today.

Members present: Jim Willis, Glynda Willis, Alex Reyes, Beverly Reyes, Daniel Reyes, Aaron Booth.

Members absent: None

The meeting was called to order at 1:10 PM over pizza furnished by Glynda.

The first order of business was discussion of the Pond Project. Jim, Alex and Beverly had just completed a visit to the site and construction plans and schedule were finalized. Jim and Aaron will move materials to the site on Monday. Alex, Daniel & Aaron will start construction Tuesday morning and will be joined by Jim after his other meeting. It's hoped that construction will be completed Tuesday.

Discussion then moved to the Tree Project. Feasibility and preliminary plans were debated. The group is arriving at a consensus on size and has agreed that the project should maintain a natural appearance.

Daniel then brought up the Bridge Project. After discusison it was agreed that Daniel would head up this project and would ask for help as/when it was needed.

Reference was then made to a couple of other projects being considered.

It was later discovered that the adjournment of the meeting must have take place just before the table talk drifted to other things.

Amazing Grace

If you didn't see this in Vicki's email, you should take a couple minutes for it now. Click here Amazing Grace

Ruby-throated Hummingbird Migration Map, Spring 2009

This time of year, we're watching for the arrival of the Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. We're not the only ones! There's even a migration map that's updated daily. It looks like we need to put out the feeders - one was seen in Gilmer today! Check here to see the map. But beware! It's pretty exciting stuff.

He's Been Back! for a Reason!

He was fishing - for gold fish! Aaron saw him actually down in the fish pond. If he got one, it was just one of the smaller ones. The three big ones are still there. We did lose the biggest fish a couple week ago (in the upper pond). It was obvious that something had been in the pond. The water was dirty and the lily had been torn to bits. I blamed it on a coon at the time but it looks like I may have been wrong. (He appears to be a "Red-shouldered Hawk".)

He looks a little docile in this picture

but you can see him up close and personal. Glynda, Aaron, Alex, and I were eating lunch on the deck this afternoon when this hawk landed in the tree above the pond. He, or one like him, was also there a few days ago. We watched him for a while and then I crept into the house to get the camera - fully expecting him to fly away. I got back to the deck and he was still there so I took several pictures right away. Then sat back down at the table - it was a good angle - and took a bunch more. Decided to walk back off the deck and, from behind the big tree, was able to go around and get some more shots. Then, giving up any sort of cover, just walked a few steps toward him and took some more. I was able to do this several times until I was getting so close the angle was getting worse. He was still there after we returned to the house and Alex left for home.

The SPOTs were here!

It was our honor this weekend to host a gathering of the SPOTs for lunch on Saturday. Several of them were missing and were missed! Unlike what I'd heard about them, they were a much more gracious, refined, and sophisticated group. The only questionable behaviour took place on a walk on the Orange Trail where, in spite of a clear posting, there was (reportedly) a clear violation of Orange Trail Rule No. A-34. (This rule addresses the prohibition of the mooning of wildlife.) Other than that, it was an enjoyable afternoon made even more so by the presence of Blake and Xander. The photo of the lady in the red glasses is quite different from the photos we took of her the day before! Congratulatons Jill!!

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.