Bird Station - Three Year Update! :)

 Just three years ago my hubby built the new improved "bird station"! :) The place for our bird houses and feeders, ... and vines! :)
 If you'd like to see it in it's beginning stages, feel free to scroll down to "BLOG ARCHIVE" click on 2012 July "This Year's First Summer Project!"
You can also find 2013 September "This One's Done!" to see how it looked when I'd finished laying the bark and had the new trumpet vines, and other vines planted! :)

 It's worth a look back to compare with how it looks today! :)

 The vines have reached the top of the station now and are doing well! :)
The other day I looked out and saw something red! To be sure, I ventured out for a closer look and sure enough the orange trumpet vine is beginning to bloom! :)

 I've been told it can take trumpet vines a handful of years to get established enough to bloom! :)

 Since I did not expect them to begin to bloom this soon, I'm quite thrilled! :)

 The clematis are doing better than I had expected as well! :)

 I wanted a red and a yellow trumpet vine at the bird station both for their beauty and for the hummingbirds! :)

 Their are a variety of seed in the feeders for the other birds! :)

 I wanted something at the bird station for the hummers, too! :) I've already been seeing them enjoying their new find! In time the blooms will grow in greater numbers and the hummers will have even more food sources to enjoy! :)

 At first I didn't see any signs of the yellow trumpet producing blooms yet. ...

 When I looked closer, I saw buds beginning to form on it too! My hummers and I have one more thing to look forward to! :)

 I've been debating about weather to plant another vine on the one mostly bare post, or wait and let the heavy leaf vine work it's way across and down it, as I'm sure it will in no time! :)

 It is a vigorous plant that gives cover for the birds! :)

 It has tiny blooms that are too small to take notice of, that put on these small berries! :)

 The most impressive thing about it is how vibrant red the leaves turn before they drop in the Fall! :)

 It also makes a nice green backdrop for the clematis to climb! :)

 I even love the frilly after-life of the blooms! :)

 The hummers are fond of the red blooms in a flower bed that's near the bird station! :)

 Now they will have even more available to them at the station, itself! :)

 The birdhouses are in use every year, as well! The tree swallows use them regularly! :)

Other birdhouses are used too, like this one currently hidden within the grape vines of the grape arbor! Through the open window I hear the lively little chirp, chirp, chirp of the babies within it right now! :)
So far the bird station has become everything I hoped it would be! :) The birds seem to agree! :)

A Country Road! :)

 One of this year's goals is to lose my excess weight and get more fit in an effort to maintain good health. :)
 I've found the process to be like a country road. There are ups and downs, flat plateau sections, and turns and bends! :)
 It would be nice if one could start at point A and coast straight down the whole way to point B, do a happy dance and call it good, ... but that is not life! :)
 The scale wiggles up and down, three steps forward, two steps back, two steps forward, one step back, ... day in day out! :) Just when I think I'm not making progress, I look back and see how far I've traveled! :)
 For the past several weeks our Summer temps' have been steady in the 90's, making it too hot to work out on our Nordic Track in our unconditioned home, or to work in the yard. Thus my exercise program has been at a standstill, ... and so has my weight. ... Thankfully, the Summer weather has decided to drop into the 80's and 70's, giving me opportunity to begin working in the yard and garden and get back on the Nordic Track again! I'm hoping to see another downward slope in the road, as a result! :)
 In spite of my Summer standstill, I'm close to my destination! I have around 11 pounds left to lose! I'm close to being back into my lean wardrobe again! I can hardly wait! :) ... However, the closer one gets to their ideal weight, the slower the weight comes off, so these last pounds make me feel like a child on a road trip that has become too lengthy, looking out the window and asking, "Are we there yet?" :)
 I Will get there! I keep looking at my sticky note on the 'fridge that says "Make It Happen!" I Am making it happen! I remind myself that by this Fall I will have obtained my weight goal and it will then just be a matter of maintaining my weight! :)
 Yep, this whole experience is quite like a country road! It's best to expect the ups and downs, the plateaus and turns, and just make up one's mind to worry less about the destination, (I know I'm going to get there), and just enjoy the journey! :) Besides, I quite like traveling a country road! :)

Welcome To My Garden! :)

 For those of you who love gardening like I do, and for Sheana to see how the garden's coming along at home, ... Welcome to my garden! :)
Because I was gone last Summer and the fruit section of the garden, along with the flower beds, got away from me, - I decided on a smaller veggie garden this year. Once I get things tidy and in order, I will grow more, again! :)

 The onions are coming right along! :)

 Yesterday I plucked the first two from the ground and added them to our crockpot meal! :)

 This morning I noticed roots showing at the base of the corn stalks so I knew it was time to hill them up! :)

 As corn is a heavy feeder, I distributed organic fertilizer at the base of the stalks, hilled them up using a sturdy hoe, and watered them well, (leaves and all to make sure all fertilizer was off the plants and in the soil)! :)

 It always feels good to have this task done and know the corn has been given an added boost! :)

 I don't have many flowers growing in the garden this year, but do have a few! :)

 The potatoes are withered showing they are ready for harvest! For now, I'm storing them in the ground and digging them for our meals, as needed! They won't be there long! :)

 The tomato plants continue to reach in height! :)

 The tall one on this end corner is Juliet! She is our favorite for salsa! One plant is enough for our salsa needs! :)

 She is a heavy producer as you can see! :)

 The tall one in the middle is Sungold! :)

 She's another heavy producer so one plant is all we need for enjoying sweet cherry tomatoes! :)

 The 3 plants on one side, and a 4th on the end of the other side, is Big Beef! :)

 She is our favorite for beef tomatoes! Just one ripe tomato will fill my open hand with the most delicious, perfectly formed, round fruit! :)

 We can hardly wait for tomato sandwiches! I hope to do a bit of canning, too! :)

 I'm disappointed with the sparse germination of the corn this year. I've decided to use it as a learning experience, to see if all four rows produce in spite of the odd spaces. :)

 We have one row of squash this year. I'm crossing my fingers, hoping they produce well! :)

 Only one pumpkin seed germinated, but it's a doozy! :)

 I'm hoping it delivers a great pumpkin for us this Fall! :)

 Some friends are already harvesting Summer squash! Ours is not there yet, but I'm happy to see little zucchinis forming! My mouth waters just thinking about zucchini casserole! Yum! I'll try to remember to share this recipe with you later! :)

 Of course our garden is seldom void of feline company! They always seem to notice when I walk to the garden! :)

It's always fun to have them join me! :) ...
It was fun to have You join me in the garden too! :)
Come back again, you're always welcome! :)