Another Fire in the Woodstove

I just came in from doing a little triage on wind blown tomato plamts. It's cloudy, windy and cold and my husband is building another fire in the woodstove. June 18th! I hope this isn't going to be another "one of those summers."

Last week the phoebe babies vacated the nest. It seemed to happen so fast! The nuthatches are diving in for sunflower seeds and then swoop off to furiously peck to get them open to then pass on to their pursuing flock of offspring which look just like them--no hint of baby feathers left. Seems like all of the birds, except for the late nesting goldfinches, have moved to the final stages of child rearing.

"Chuckie" discovered the broccoli early this year so we had to fence in that raised bed. This particular woodchuck is actually one of four of our original "Chuckie's" babies. They were great fun to watch even though they ate all of my echinacea and later, the one who moved in to the den by the barn on the other side of the property, ate the broccoli. But we had harvested all the florets at that point so we didn't mind.

Our bear cub returned Saturday, now a three year old with a cub of her own. So tiny and unsure of itself! Mom was trying to get some sunflower seeds out of one of the bird feeders but the raccoons had already gotten most of what the squirrels and birds hadn't finished. Up until that morning I had called the bear a "him" but now that is obviously not the case. Haven't seen her since that day but assume she'll be back.

The hen turkey that was scratching around on the lettuce patch has returned occasionally but I don't know if she has any chicks. I hope so. I spotted a grouse with her tiny chicks heading towards the mountain ash that grows just down the bank from where we keep the bird feeders. THere is a well worn path that everything from bears and foxes to woodchucks and turkeys use to come frokm the deep woods out back to our yard to check for scraps and sunflowers.

Speaking of flowers, the snapdragons are spectacular and the impatiens in the "window" boxes on the deck rail our doing great. I had to move the pansies under the overhang because the daily rain storms were really beating them up. The chipmunks who come to get there sunflower seeds and water on the entertainment station we set up for the cats (they watch from inside--their tails beating back and forth in unison) dig little holes in my potted pants and est the portulaca blossoms. Oh well, it's been too wet and cloudy for them to flower much ayway.

It looks to be another bountiful year in the vegetable gardens. Small peppers and zucchini are already present and I will be picking the first of my Early Girl tomatoes tomorrow. Hope all is bountiful and peaceful in your cherished place on the planet as well.

Ho;d the sun in your heart!