Friday 31 May 2024

A glorious time of year

 
At 5:30 I stood out on the back deck and listened for the birds. This is what Merlin told me. I've photos of all these, except for the Wood-Pewee. 

I remember standing under a tree trying like heck to find it. The other App I used said it was a Robin. Pfftt. 

We've cool mornings and warm days this week. Pretty ideal conditions for all the critters nesting and borrowing.

The Merlin App has been really helpful. 

  

songbirds from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

  I figured out where the blackflies are: my front garden. Only one bite on Wednesday. I woke up at 4:40 Wednesday, slept in until 5:30 Thursday. That is a good thing. The night before I was awake from 2 - 4 and man, the mind chatter and brain festering with problems. This morning, Friday, I slept until 5 a.m., which isn't bad.


The butterflies are fun. This is a Canadian Tiger Swallowtail, according to iPhotos. It is going after the Goats Beard.





Busy yard!
I've been wrestling with the lawn tractor. I'll recharge the battery, take the heavy sucker down to the shed, pop it into the tractor and it won't start. I had to get some lawn done. I pushed the durn thing across from the shed to the garage where I started it with the recharger, kept it running, and did the deed. 

I was interrupted by a phone call from the OPP Fraud department. I explained what happened. Got all upset again, and put the tractor away. It wouldn't start without the whole routine again. I didn't have the heart for it. I mow in sections so as to not get rid of the various wildflowers the birds, bees, deer and Fred like. There is a No Mow May effort by some. I like that idea. There are others who only leave an inch of grass. It is an old fashioned notion. Especially with droughts and the like.


First poppy:

Since I was lathered with bug spray, I transplanted the Marigold elsewhere, and added the Basil I'd picked up on Monday just before the storm and the tornado watch. (We didn't get a tornado!) This activity makes me happy. 



The trailcams have been fairly quiet. Here is our doe, sniffing at the camera. I think she is pregnant and has been wandering around, trimming the 'grass' for me. 

🎾 Distractions...
Tennis have been great, except for the rainouts! We taped both Shapovalov and Auger-Aliassime, and watched them one after another until the rain fell. The electronics are interesting. I was out back, checking the bank accounts (yes, I'm checking them hourly), and checked the tennis activity. With all the rain they've had to rejig schedules. We've several tennis players doing well. 

🎥 AFTER THE FLOOD

JB went out and brought me a pizza, a new library book, and a bottle of wine. My hero, trying to calm me down. We like to escape to the TV at night. I've a funeral to attend Saturday, and what with worrying about the banking crap, it just sets us both on edge. (You know how it is, many of you!) Watching this murder mystery has been great.

I've been chatting with fellow bloggers about the setting of this UK TV series. We were wondering about the set. There is a YouTube video for everything! This was fascinating for me.  A long drone video, gives the overhead view.

An overhead drone video

This helps some:

10 comments:

eileeninmd said...

Hello,
I have not tried the Merlin App for the bird sound id's.
Pretty butterfly and your flowers are pretty.
I hope things get better with the bank fraud problem.
Take care, have a great weekend.

RedPat said...

It is hard to relax when things feel overwhelming. I hope the pizza and wine were good.

Jenn Jilks said...

They were great, Pat. Actually, when JB did that for me, it was comforting and kind.

DeniseinVA said...

I hope you will be able to get more sleep, and that the banking issues are being resolved. That would keep me awake! I've recently rediscovered the Merlin app thanks to my sister-in-law when she visited recently. It's a great id tool and I love being able to identify the bird calls instantaneously. J.B. certainly is a hero, sweet of him to do that. Always enjoy your posts, obviously not when you are having such concerning things happen, but otherwise. Take good care of yourself and I hope tonight you will sleep well.

Elephant's Child said...

I am so glad that JB knows how to relax you - and that you have each other.

Christine said...

IT is a glorious time of year! Love your poppy.

Karen said...

I love wandering around my yard when I'm stressed. For those few minutes all the nonsense is replaced in my head by the sound of breeze in the trees and the many wonderful birds telling me their tales.
The vid. of the Flood set is very interesting. I was very curious about how they did that.

Cloudia said...

Find your solace in nature and refuse worry Aloha my friend

Anvilcloud said...

We watched the first two episodes and then waited for the season to finish. We should get back to it although I didn't love the two episodes that we saw.

Yogi♪♪♪ said...

I am just starting to use the Merlin app. It is wonderful. On the trail in the woods though I have a devil of time locating the birds. At home it is a lot easier.