Things That Go Bump In the Night

Last night I awoke at about 3:00 am, only to find Bill already awake. "I heard some noises outside, but I couldn't determine where they were coming from," he said.  Always up for a challenge (well, not really, but I was up  - that counts, right?) I decided to go investigate.

First stop - the bathroom. The window overlooks our deck, so it's always a good place to start. I close the door quietly, leave the light off, and gently pull the blinds up. AHA! Smack in the middle of my view is a youngish-looking raccoon, hurriedly rushing across the top of the railing. I don't think he knew he'd been caught yet, because he hopped down on the deck floor and headed towards me and the window.

"Bill - come see this!" I shout excitedly (maybe a little too loud) and he rushes in, iPad in hand (yes, it's still 3 am, by the way). I point to the window, but of course by now the raccoon has slipped from view, and Bill has come precariously close to dropping his iPad into the open toilet bowl. He catches it just in time - crisis averted! Not enough excitement to keep him occupied, however, he heads back to sleep, but not before saying we should do something to scare the raccoon away. 

I take up the gauntlet, head to the back door, and raccoon still milling about, I proceed to rattle the screen door as loudly as possible. This startles the raccoon greatly (and probably all my neighbors within a mile radius too) and it quickly scampers away down the steps and into oblivion.

I turn around and head towards the kitchen window to see if I can catch a fleeting glimpse of it (literally moments later); instead, there now sits our neighbor's cat in the driveway, totally relaxed and looking back at me, right in the path of where the raccoon just scampered! And I always thought that cat was shacking up with the groundhog; now it appears he's hanging out with the raccoons, too!

The scene of the crime the morning after . . .

 A few hours later in bright daylight heading out the door to work, I see the full effect of the night's events. Seems the raccoon had pulled down one of my birdhouses and proceeded to do terrible things (that explains all the ruckus Bill was hearing). So now, one of this weekend's chores will be to hang the birdhouse somewhere less raccoon-accessible.

We should be thankful it was just a raccoon; I had read an article that same night about how bears now number in the hundreds in Connecticut. That's all we need, a bear on the back porch! We've had about everything else, so it's probably only a matter of time. I can just see it now, Monty the Cat riding bareback on some grizzly through my vegetable garden. UGHHHH!

YAY! The Fence is Done!!!!

The groundhog fence is up . . .

In the last few weeks, we finally finished installing the fence around our vegetable garden, finished adding the mowing strip pavers, and completed the mulch pathways which fill in the interior of the plot. There were a lot of stones encountered along the way; I have them piled up around the edges for now, but I think I may have other plans for them. Plus, installing these pavers was the equivalent of doing four hours' worth of chair-squats, so needless to say, I was walking a bit funny the week after they went in (ouch)!

We now have an awfully nice garden gate too, thanks to my husband Bill's fabulous handiwork. It is lined with chicken wire to keep out our little furry friends:

. . . and the gate is doing it's job!

And if you look closely to the picture above, you can see baby kale and collard plants in the raised bed - our first crop to christen the newly-upgraded garden!

I'm thinking of painting the gate and posts a dark green, mainly because we opted for non pressure-treated posts (due to possible chemical leaching into the ground). Going au naturale will for certain shorten the lifespan of these components. Painting them will afford a bit more protection than leaving them unfinished, and also make them blend in more with the surrounding fence and flora. Or maybe staining them, or maybe painting them a contrasting color . . . as you can see, I'm still on the fence (ha ha) with this decision.

In the end, this was a bigger project than I think either of us thought it would be. But we were fortunate in that we planned fairly well, measuring and buying just enough materials to complete our project (through sheer luck, the wire fence spool was literally the exact amount needed to completely enclose the plot).

And (of course), we haven't seen that groundhog since we first broke ground some weeks back. But I have no doubt that he will return the moment I forget to close the gate. So I suppose it was all worth it in the end . . . and I'm not talking about the chair squats, either!

The Whole Fence Thing In Progress . . .

Another Sunday working on the vegetable garden. .  .

We finished digging out all the soil we planned (or, frankly, could physically take out. There comes a point where you just go, "I'm done with this," right)? We were able to get the fence up, in preliminary fashion. It's not all fastened yet; but at least we get a visual. I can tell you it's TALL.

A few changes to the original plan - we decided to go with pavers as a mowing edge around the fence. We're three-quarters of the way done with them. They aren't perfect, they're a little wonky, but HEY, we did them ourselves. I'm pretty sure Martha Stewart isn't out there laying pavers anymore.

We're still trying to figure out how to do a gate. I'm tentatively planning on building one myself (unless of course, I have another "I'm done with this" day and decide to go and find a ready-made one. I'm fighting the urge).

The other change is a big one. We're going to use mulch instead of stone for the interior paths. First off, stone is pretty darn expensive. And labor-intensive. And heavy (see the "I'm done" part above). Plus, I've been reading comments on the internets from people who totally regretted putting in stone, as once you commit to it, there is basically never the possibility of getting rid of it should you change your mind down the road (as in, hmm, I don't think I'm done here after all). Plus, they complain that the weeds still make there way into the paths, and they are even more difficult to pull. And while the pavers help with keeping the stone from migrating into the surrounding lawn, I happen to have a freakishly strong gravitational pull to my head, which seems to attract basketballs, baseballs and stray stones flying up while I mow the lawn. So you see, I just can't take the chance of putting an eye out. SO, mulch it is!!!!

Then there was the debate over landscape fabric. The consensus is that it doesn't really prevent weeds from popping up, either. And it's not an approved material for an organic gardener; it's made from petroleum and can possibly leach into the soil when it breaks down after many years. So, I shall say no thank you to landscape fabric.

I did learn that newspaper is a certified-organic material to place as a weed barrier as or under mulch (only the black and white pages though - no glossy color ads, magazine pages or that god-awful USA Today color rag), so that's what I think I'll do. You do have to replace it yearly, along with replenishing some of the mulch which, as an organic material, will break down too. So that digital edition of the NYT you're reading will do you no good in the garden. Please support your local newspaper, if just for the composting:-)

So next weekend is the home stretch - a couple more posts to go up, set the rest of the pavers, a gate, and the mulch. THEN it will be time for the vegetables (I almost forgot about them)! How embarrassing. Stay tuned . . .

Speak of the Devil . . . er, Groundhog, That Is!

the construction begins for the new fence and stone path

It was an absolutely beautiful time to be outdoors today. With temps nearing 60 degrees, and the sun shining brightly, we broke ground today on our plans to outwit the groundhog who feasted upon our vegetable garden last summer (see my blog post from Aug. 2012). Reducing our harvest to next to nothing by the end of last year's growing season, it was a formidable foe, and we vowed to have a plan this Spring.

So we began the first step - digging out the sod around our existing raised beds. Bill and I worked on it for about three hours; backbreaking work for someone who's been somewhat sedentary this winter (that would be me). I'll probably pay for this tomorrow with sore muscles and the like. Or maybe not; come to think of it, I'm going to count all that snow-shoveling we did in February as preparation for this big dig. Anyway, we're almost done with the excavation. It doesn't look like much, but trust me - it was more wheelbarrow loads to the compost pile than I care to count.

Next will come the fence; nothing too elaborate - metal posts and chicken wire (with the wire extending out away from the fence underground to discourage any digging). Then leveling sand and finally a top layer of crushed stone to make it all "pretty." Like a page right out of Martha Stewart's playbook.

Exhausted from our progress so far, we put away our tools for the day and went inside. After a shower, we too were all pretty again, and we settled into the rest of the day's duties. But I couldn't resist one more peek out the window to admire our handiwork; the ground now dotted with robins, sparrows and other assorted birds hungrily gobbling up the insects we overturned.

Wait a minute - what's that over there by the bushes? That big round ball of fur that actually looks a lot like Jasper (one of our cats). Couldn't be him, because he's an indoor cat.

DAMN! It's none other than our friendly local groundhog, obviously out to admire our work as well, with visions of swiss chard, baby kale, and yummy collard greens dancing in his/her little head. And it was certainly not the emaciated creature I pictured first emerging from it's cave, after spending many months hibernating. Nope - it's as plump as ever (maybe even more so than last summer)? WTF??? OK, I don't want to even consider that it might be a pregnant groundhog (please, please, please, please Nooooooo).

Oh well - take a deep breath; it is the reason we're building this fence, after all . . . but somehow I have a sinking feeling it's not going to be that simple.  Stay tuned, as this saga is just beginning.
Oh, Lovely Spring!!!!!

Spring Comes In . . . Like a Lamb

crocuses by the garage

This time last year, the lawn was green, the daffodils were in full force, and the cherry tree was bursting with flowerbuds ready to pop. This year, not so much. Spring is taking it's time to show it's colors. Not that I'm really complaining; this easing into the season suits me this year.  The crocuses are at their best right now; a few daffodils are just starting to bloom. The cherry tree's buds are still tiny, but they are there.

I always get a bit anxious when I start to check and see what made it through the winter in the garden. Tree peonies? Looking good (I actually trimmed off the dead wood last week). The brownish-red buds are beginning to emerge unscathed. Phew! Dodged another bullet. Honestly, most of the other perennials have still to make an appearance with the flush of new growth. They are still dormant; lying low. The warmer weather finally forecast for this weekend should jump-start things.

Last weekend, I took a trip to the Nichols area of Trumbull, and stopped in at the Trumbull Historical Society grounds. I'm embarrassed to say, I've lived in this area 12+ years, and just discovered this hidden gem a few miles from my home.

snowdrops on a lovely hillside . . .

It's park-like setting make it an ideal place to stop and have a picnic, or read in solitude under a tree. I hiked up a hill where, to my surprise, I found a beautiful apple orchard, well-tended; the trees standing like sentinels in a row.

At the bottom of the hill were a few outbuildings and a fantastic old greenhouse. It's interior was overgrown with ivy, making it look like some ancient, abandoned relic from days gone by, but charming just the same.

Across the street from the Historical Society is the Nichols Community Center. On the corner stands a really beautiful fountain. It's the Peet Bunny Fountain, a gift from the Peet family to the residents of Nichols in 1895, but I just call it the Bunny Fountain. Restored in 1992, it's a nice example of turn of the century sculpture (reminiscent of the Arts and Crafts movement and Tiffany-age ironwork).

The Bunny Fountain in all it's glory 

So with this image, I'll leave you to your Easter weekend pursuits, and hope they bring you out into your garden to enjoy the fresh air and the inevitability of warmer days ahead.
Happy Gardening!!!

New Life for a Vintage Poppy Brooch

 In a cute antique store in Deep River CT (while I was out shaking off the winter blues this past weekend), I stumbled upon this adorable vintage Oriental poppy brooch. The colors are fantastic, all fiery, orangy-reds and bright greens contrasted with the black seeds. JUST THE THING to get me in a Spring frame of mind. The price was right, so home it went with me. Now, what to do with it?

Nothing against brooches, but they do have a bit of an image problem these days, reminding some of their grandmothers' stodgy fashion statements of days gone by (that is, if you have/had a stodgy grandmother. I happen to know many grandmothers who are amazingly stylish and cutting edge).  Plus, "brooch" - what a strange, funny word. What's up with that?

 I really felt this beauty needed a little updating however, something to bring it out of the past, but still acknowledge it's timelessness. So I ripped apart an old charm bracelet that had seen better days itself,  and with a few adjustments and the addition of a chain, I now have a really great necklace.

Now I'm inspired - time to raid the jewelry box and see what else I can re-purpose! And most importantly, no brooches were harmed in this process. It can still be worn the "old-fashioned" way (but the same can't be said for the charm bracelet, unfortunately(!)

Blizzards and Creativity (or Lack Thereof)

It's been about a week and a half since the Great Blizzard of 2013. Thirty-six inches later, the remnants remain; great mounds of snow in parking lots (that no doubt may still be there in April, I shudder to think); lawns still hidden from sight beneath great white blankets.  My ancient azalea shrub brought to it's knees under the weight of the drifts. There is hope however; alternating freeze and thaw cycles have melted a good amount (at least on the relatively flat surfaces).
House-bound for four days last week, unable to go to work for two days due to un-plowed streets, you would have thought it would have been a creative bonanza; a free-for-all with paintings and illustrations and photos flying off the drawing table and computer screen. Not so much. Blizzard paralysis set in. Well, that and alternating hours of shoveling, and shoveling again, and did I mention shoveling? You get the idea.
So I am trying my best to get motivated  to ignite that creative spark. This past weekend, we visited the Winter Carnivale in quaint Chester CT, which featured ice sculptures and chili cook-offs, art galleries and a tractor parade(!). It was below freezing all day, with biting winds, but you know what? We had fun. They know how to do it there in Chester:
http://www.visit-chester.com/major_annual_events/Winter_Carnivale.html
There is something to be said for embracing the cold; enough of hibernating and playing a waiting game with the weather. The cliche of "life's too short" is begrudgingly true; Spring and another year closer to death (just making sure you're paying attention) will be here before you know it. Oh yeah, and with Spring comes new projects, like building that fence around the vegetable garden to keep out our favorite little buddy Mr. Groundhog.  Can't wait. No, really. I'm not kidding.