The Birds Are Busy Nesting

Mr. and Mrs. Finch have been using the Christmas wreath from our door to feather their nest. (Looks like he's giving her instructions in the top photo). The nest is a basket with artificial plants hanging in the carport. It is at least 15 years old. They used it when we lived in the Ridges and they continued to use it when we moved here 12 years ago. The contents are now packed like cement, so Con bought another one to hang up this weekend. Hope they'll adjust to a new home. (Looks like the silent treatment below. The body language is somehow familiar, eh)?

I love watching the birds. In the second or third year of growing lavender in the backyard, the birds took notice of it. Although we kept the bird feeders full, some renegade decided to taste the lavender and liked it. At first I thought it was so cute --- O look, honey, they're tasting the lavender! One day I came home and finches were all over the plants picking away at the buds. They would eat the flowers leaving the empty buds. If it kept up I would have had no flowers for the year. So I made a scarecrow -- and they just laughed -- after all, this is their yard. So then I put plastic trash bags on top of a couple of plants but they just moved to the lower branches and ate. Next, I wrapped each plant in a white trash bag and secured it to the ground. (You can imagine how lovely that looked). As the days heated up, I uncovered them and recovered them in the afternoons. It was a real pain in the neck and the birds were no longer my friends. This went on for nearly a week. Then I uncovered a few plants at a time and the birds were no longer interested. So the covers came off all of the plants and life went on as usual. The plants bloomed beautifully that year, the birds were never again interested in them, and we are all friends again.

I've not heard of anyone else having an experience like that. What would have happened if it was a whole field or acres of lavenders -- how would they be stopped from ruining a crop? If you know of an experience like it, let me know.                                                                                                            3/24/11

A Little Lavender Cabin

 A friend sent me some photos. I love this one. 

It's perfect except enlarge the windows, add a garage and circle driveway, a covered porch around three sides, two additional bedrooms, a sunporch and large patio outback and it's perfect!!!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           . 

Of course I'd also need one of these and, yep, three of those

OMG IS IT, LIKE, SPRING OR WHAT?

Saturday was a magnificent day.  Crocus are blooming and everyone is outdoors.  Con caught spring fever and started building a floor for the storage shed.  Alan came over to fix some cracks in the ceiling and while waiting for the mud to dry he build a bookcase in the driveway. I found a good spot on the patio to do a little sewing outside. Our internal clocks go off at the first sign of spring and we just have to get outside with the birds and build, clean, or plant something.

The lavenders look very healthy and I can't wait to start cleaning up the leaves and junk that has settled over the winter.  I did give them all some water because the soil seemed dry even though we've had recent rain. I haven't mastered the "screwdriver" method of testing the moisture in the soil. You know, push the screwdriver down 5 inches or so and see what sticks to it.  Nothing ever sticks to mine even when the soil is damp. So I end up using the old fashioned "finger" method - perhaps it should now be called a "digital" method, ha!.  I won't trim the plants yet because we can still get some cold and snowy weather here.

Wish me luck because I'm sewing my first zafu meditation cushion. A friend mentioned that she uses one in her yoga work and so I thought I would try my hand at one.  I'm starting with a crescent pillow and should have it finished tomorrow.  I'll have her use it to test out its construction and make sure the seams hold well.  The buckwheat hulls used for filler will be mixed with lavender buds for a beautiful aroma.  Then I'll try making a zafu cushion and test it out before I make some to sell.                                                     3 16 11

Namiste    

                                                                                                  

This N That on Friday March 11th - Remember to spring forward Sat.night.

The emails are flying back and forth and all around the members of the Lavender Association of Western Colorado (LAWC).  We are all pretty excited about the 1st Annual Lavender Festival in July and everyone is busy doing their part to make it a fantastic experience.  Email correspondence is a mixed blessing. On one hand it is a great time saver. It is nice not have meetings to attend to accomplish things. On the other hand, it is easy to miscommunicate when 6 committee members are trying to reach consensus.  I've had 14 or more emails running a conversation on one small topic.  Nonetheless, we worker bees get the job done. 

I think the temp reached 65 degrees today so I was outside checking out what needs to be done in the garden. The lavenders look healthy though some of the leaves are dry.  Digging my finger down a few inches into the soil assured me that they are still moist.  The soil in my yard is clay which does not drain well. That problem was corrected by amending the soil to get good drainage. Still it needs to be checked often to be sure that it drains well.  The plants over at Angie's house are in "Glade Park" soil which has a lot of sand  in it (that can drain too fast) so it was also amended to help hold the moisture in.    It is so enjoyable to play around in the garden on a beautiful day like today.  We are so blessed here in Grand Junction with great weather all year round.

After getting my taxes done, I'm back to sewing like a crazy woman.  Need lots of eye pillows, and neck wraps and pillowcase liners to take with me to Swedish Hospital in Denver where I'll have a booth for 2 days.  I hope it is successful because I really like the idea of being inside an air conditioned room with food and drink and bathrooms nearby  --much better than an outside booth in 90 degree heat and portapottys across the field. 

Namiste  (I'm back taking tai chi classes again). Namiste is so much more pleasant that "catch you guys later if you don't get  hit by a bus before then" (Detroit talk).