Dock tweaking

I prepped the wood duck boxes 5 days ago, thinking I was early. PPfft!


The trailcam reveals critters. I love this one!

coyote from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

The wood ducks continue to appear on the trailcam. Things are hopping.
The dock was almost submerged. This is a vernal pond, and will go down with the summer, but it bothers me, the wood sitting in the water.


I came up with an idea. I hauled some large pieces of wood down to the dock, and set them underneath the dock to raise it as much as I could.


From there, I put on my chest waders. In I went, clutching my wrench. I nearly dropped it twice. That would not have gone well. It's darn cold water.
I used the newel post to prop up the dock. (My stick broke!)


I'm not sure why the trailcam didn't capture photos of me in the water, delicately tromping through the mud, but it did not. Good thing, as it was not a pretty sight. The mice had left some sunflower seed hulls in the pants, I store them in the garage. I laughed!

I have a disaster. My boots have a big hole in them. This is the liner, but there is a crack in them.


Voila!


I had to undo the bolts on one side, prop it up with a newel post I found in the shed, holding it with my body, and lifting up the dock, loosening and retightening the bolts. Then, I repeated it on the other side. It took 3 or 4 tries, inching it up slowly until I had it where I wanted it. The water drains into the wetland below. I had to take advantage of the high water while I could.

Yesterday we had 34mm rain (1.35"). I'm anxious to go down and see how it looks, but it is still raining.

Voila!


It comes at a price. My tenosinovitis kicked in. Hubby fetched me an ice pack, which I tied on with my scarf. I only have two small bruises on either arm. It was a good morning's work.

Later, when the task was complete, I looked for other tasks. Any ideas would help. This wood duck nesting box doesn't have any lip to keep the wood shavings in. It was an early model, my first box. I used pieces of bark. 

I cannot change it during nesting season. Time is short. I'm not sure how to fix it. I'd have to screw in a piece. It should be something removeable, which would make it easier to clean.

Sadly the wood is warped.


Another task, this art piece needs to be moved, as the elm tree is beginning to fall apart. I'll have to remember to do that.


The spruce I cut down is now frozen into the ground. I have moved part of it, but I shall have to be patient.

Here we have evidence that the goldfinches think it spring. They have gone from their winter olive colour to bright yellow.

Finally, I know many of you have spring flowers in bloom, we wait with baited breath. We'll see if the deer trim down my tulips. I planted daffodils amongst them, which they do not like to eat.



The season unfolds as it should.