WE NEED RAIN and LOTS OF IT

 It has been so dry here.

We rent out a portion of our land to a local farmer and

Danny has had to replant one field due to conditions.

I am equally nervous about our little garden.

 Every day I see more and more leaves shriveling.

I try to water when I can

but it doesn't seem to make much difference.

I thought I might have lost my pot of Basil

but after babying it and watering

I think it is saved.

 I honestly don't know why I'm worried,

I can't seem to keep up with what is producing.

How much squash can a family of three eat?

 It's my nature...a worry wart

that's what my Dad calls me.

Anyway fussing with it is

part of the fun...

am I right?

After I wrote this post
guess what
IT RAINED!

BACKYARD BIRDING

Our backyard is alive with birds.

Watching them and naming them is one of our

favorite past times.

We have a great variety of color.

Goldfinch

Cardinals

Bluebirds

Barn Swallows are a new bird for me,

here we watch them soar overhead daily.

Blue jays and robins are always in the mix.

The darling starling

(my father hates)

Martins

(his favorite)

House Finch

(there everywhere, there everywhere)

And an occasional hummingbird.

Lots of sweet Mourning Doves show up at

the bottom of our feeder

and we often see the Turkey Buzzard gliding

overhead.

The Towhee

is a bird I was not familiar with.

I had to identify him using my trusty

The Cornell Lab app

Merlin.

I love it!

You type in:

when you saw it

where you saw it

the size

what it was doing

colors

To my knowledge it hasn't been wrong once.

A couple days ago I added this guy to my

list of siting.

Great Crested Flycatcher

All bird pictures were pulled off Bing Search

THE BAKING CHALLENGE

Zucchini Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting.

When I saw this cake on Pinterest

I knew I had to make it.

Our little garden is already producing

zucchini and yellow squash

in leaps and bounds.

Cooking and baking has its challenges

here at the folks.

The oven I have to work with is a bit dated.

Uneven heating and a faulty thermostat are only the

beginning of my woes.

Most of the time I rely on our trusty toaster oven.

It usually gets the job done.

Today I had three layers to make

so I had to be creative.

I played musical ovens,

rotating from one to another.

We haven't cut into it yet

but I am chomping at the bit.

Yum Yum!

Since this post was written
my sister Susan, my brother Rick
and my sister-in-law Pat,
have all made this cake.
The official Davidson Cake now.
Definitely a keeper.
See my sister's post here.

A QUIET BIRTHDAY

 Yesterday was Mom's 87th. birthday.

She had a good day and was completely

oblivious to the tragic events

in the news.

I was very envious of her because I was

out of sorts and anxious all day.

I tried out a new recipe from a cookbook

my brother Rick sent me.

I found it very tasty, but not so sure about the folks.

Throughout the day I kept reminding Mom

that the day was her birthday,

and every time it was a surprise to her.

Her response each time.

"Just another day".

When I put her to bed I asked her if she had a good day.

"I had a great day", was her response.

She slept like she always does...

like a baby,

me, not so much.

BEFORE AND AFTER

 It's amazing what a little color can do.

 A little softening around the back door.

 Wintered these geraniums in our basement,

they are coming along nicely.

Outdoor furniture redo.

Our two side fields

cut, raked and bailed.

The backyard garden has undergone quite a

transition...with more to come.

AND THE RAIN CAME DOWN

Last night we got some well needed rain.

Peeking in my window last night

you would have seen this girl doing

"the happy dance".

 Our garden was so thirsty, but I believe last night's

rain will keep us strong.

We've been watering, but it just isn't the same is it?

The tomatoes are coming along nicely

considering how dry it's been.

We only have one that is stunted, but it may make

a come back.  Dad said you shouldn't water tomatoes too much,

who knew.

 Beans are starting to climb their poles.

 It actually looks like a garden now.

Sis brought some blue bottles up that we

weren't using at Buttermilk Cottage.

Even my Dad said he liked the pop of blue.