Feeling Squirrely

Bushy-tailed hoarders scamper still. Our yard; their playground.

Here's what I watched out the window the other morning....

Squirrely was too efficient with the hiding of his pantry staples for the winter. Not a walnut in sight. He's choosing to forage for rose hips.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today's the day for pruning the rose bushes. The start of pruning, anyway. We have countless thorny rosaceous climbers, trailers, bushes, etc., and it takes awhile to get them all under control.         

 

 

Winter is seen in countless ways around my garden. Our flying friends have left their home ...

 

 

     

 

 

 

Last post I eluded to the fact that I'm "Spring-dreamin".  'Tis true... I sat for hours and browsed a gorgeous seed website and ordered their catalog - solely to gander again at their imagery! What  

beauty there is to be found at Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds.... oh my!                    

 

 

Grey, cold and if I may say so- some gloom - are how the last few days have been. However, it's nothing that a handful of bright yellow tulips can't change!! They too are a harbinger of Spring!!

 

                       

 

 

 

 

 

** If you'd like to see some fresh, new blog posts that begin the new year in style... go see My Romantic Home. I've joined Cindy's Thursday group that highlights beauty in our homes.

The Makings of Waldorf Salad

Waldorf salad ingredients strewn all about the floor...
The grassy areas, down gravel paths, on terracotta brick patios, embedded in oyster shells, wedged in cracked concrete crevices....
Apples and walnuts in every square inch of backyard garden.. love the fruits - not the mess
It's our seasonal bane - squirrels and their Waldorf buffet..

We rarely get a taste of one of the walnuts from our beautiful tree..

Found a drying screen at a yard sale, and when we're able we pick some of the fruit early and place the screen over the nuts out in the sun to dry them. {I've posted this pic before}

You've seen this unsightly shot once.. well, you wouldn't want to relive what these downed Golden Delicious beauties smell like once they've sat on the ground in the sun for a few days...

                                          APPLE CIDER -{ ish } is putting it nicely...

As much as we like watching the antics of the furry little creatures using our tree as a jungle gym..  sure wish they'd bring along their cleaning lady once in awhile..

This lil' guy is happy with any droppings...

It's been said many a time, and here I go again, I'm contemplating a treatment for the tree next spring that will cause the fruits not to produce.
It may just send the squirrels packing....

No more Waldorf salad buffet....

Feeling Squirrely

Don't you love receiving postcards from someones fabulous vacation? My friend sent these two from her antique-picking roadtrip ~

There's a story behind the squirrel one. Megan (vintage picker) and the Goat Hill planner-boss-lady Cyndi gave me the title of "Squirrel Lady". A couple years back Cyndi owned a shop, of which I was a frequent visitor. When they both really got to know me I was on the prowl for any squirrel item to use for a wine and cheese party we were hosting in our home. Thus the moniker. Our party theme, invites and wine label was Squirrel Nut Vineyards. The soiree was held under our gigantic walnut tree.

Funny that... receiving the squirrel card in the height of walnut-mania!! Our backyard is overtaken by cute rodents. The brick patio and walkways are littered and crunchy! Every year we say that we'll find a way to tent the tree, or pick nuts ahead of time. Each year's the same deal - not one nut for our pantry.

The pests even come sit at the patio table to graze on their nutty feast...

At this time of year I most surely appreciate cement squirrels rather than the furry sorts ~

What the heck... maybe I should just make friends with the little guys??...