Birds-Slug Update

Here is a pretty little warbler or redstart perhaps that was nesting in Jan's little woodland garden.  There was one baby in the nest but Jan and I think something got it because it disappeared shortly after I took this photo-stray cats maybe.
Now for the slug update.  I checked the wood traps and it was successful, there were a couple of slugs under each one.  The wet boards worked the best.  I'm probably just getting the tip of the iceberg but it makes me feel better.

I had Hannah and Axel this morning.  They came in with their mom who's teaching summer school and we spent about 30 mn in the classroom and then went out to the cabin.  Melissa joined us at noon for lunch and the rest of the afternoon.  We spent some time in the water and on shore reading cooking magazines.  The kids were pretty happy just hunting for clams.  Hannah loves the bunks and spent some time reading up on the top bunk.  My camera batteries were dead so I missed a fun photo...next time.

My tomato plants

Aren't they lovely?

I have an olive grape tomato and roma tomato in pots.  They were doing pretty well until 3 days of hurricane force winds (I am NOT exagerating) over the weekend blew off and dried up many of the flowers and little tomatoes.  On Saturday I moved the pots to a more sheltered spot but the worst damage had already been done.  The romas are faring the best at this point and I hope to get a few measly tomatoes from them.  

Onto more gardening woes...the slugs are devouring my hostas down at the cabin.  I researched the problem and have decided to lay board traps instead of beer traps.  First of all, the little slugs don't deserve the beer even if they will die from it and mainly the boards sound easier.  You lay an old piece of wood near the hosta and during the day the slugs will congregate under the board to escape the sun.  You scrape them off and smash them with a  rock.  I will let you know if it works.  I had slugs in Morris too and let me tell you they do like beer!  

Joey's room

Hey, Joni!  Thought you might enjoy seeing Joey's room too.  Notice the neat wall words?!!

Yes, More Cabin Photo's

The bunkhouse and the new fence/gate.

View of the fence from the backyard. 

Interesting pergola shadows

These little window boxes should be on the bunkhouse but I enjoy moving them around.  The white original window box that I had put up last year didn't fare so well so we had Lyle and Bruce take it down.   They were NOT the ones who put them up in case you were wondering.

Landscaping

Nancy and David have put a LOT of work into their backyard landscaping.  They cleared the back, mulched, laid stone and planted perennials.  It makes me tired just writing about it.  The stones are from Dad.  He has a flat stone pile that we can help ourselves to.   It's a lovely view from all the windows facing the backyard.  Nice job you two!  You will be glad that you invested all the time and energy and it will just get better as the years pass.

Visiting Nancy

Joey shows off his swim trunks.

Relaxing on the deck.  I like this picture of Mom.

Mom wondered if Joey and Sophie would like this bench...I think so!!!

Nancy poses in front of her freshly painted door-love that color!!

Sophie has a fun pink room!

Mn Arboretum Photo's

Mom and I explored the gardens quickly before the storm forced us inside.  Nancy and the kids played in the children's area.
After lunch and the big storm, we took the three mile drive and I reshot my favorite barn in the cities.  What's the big water tower doing back there?!?


A very interesting wine rack!  We had a nice lunch inside while the severe storm blew over.  It was the same storm that produced a tornado hours earlier just east of Elbow so we were forewarned by Dan while we were rummaging that morning.  

Cork Idea

More Trees Down

On Thursday afternoon a tornado was on the ground just west of Sandy Point.  We had branches and a big limb down at the cabin but our neighbors (Kenny & Becky) had a big basswood come down. (This photo is their tree NOT ours!)  It missed their cabin by a foot so they were lucky.  The tree was pretty much hollow inside. 

Mom and I returned from a fun couple of days with Nancy and I have some pictures to post later from her house and the arboretum.  Dan was working in FF when I got home around noon so I got busy moving all his piles of branches he had raked with the wheelbarrow. 8-10 loads later it was finished just about the time he got home at 5.   I did take a few breaks as it was pretty humid and windy otherwise it would have been a 2 hour job but I had cleaning and litter box issues to deal with in the house too.  All is good now.  The hurricane winds finally went down a bit but it sounds like more storms tonight.  Is it just me or does it seem like we've had more wind than usual this spring/summer??!

Dan has a double header in Menahga tomorrow and after his appt.  with the Dr today he is going full speed ahead.  He has pain pills now you know.  The doctor looked at his shin and thought that was normal too.  I am skipping the  Sat. game as it doesn't sound like a pleasant day with all the wind and cooler temps.  I have some jewelry projects in mind and a couple of books to keep me busy.  I'm sure I will also find some time to post some pictures on the blog as well.  Hope you all have a good weekend!   ~Laurie

Coffee with Friends

Annette, Shirley, Becky

What kind of bird is that?!!

Annette shot the little critter, seriously!

Don't mess with her strawberries or bird feeders.

Storm in the distance-on the way home.

I thought Jimmer might like to see how the corn's growing around here.  It needed the rain we got this afternoon.   We could use more in western Mn.

Annette's flowers/Oak tree

A perfect sized garden!  Yes, there are veggies/fruit in there too.

Annette has a green thumb!

A majestic oak and beautiful view.

Gracie Lynn Is One!!

Gracie's birthday was on July 6th.  Thanks for the darling pictures, Royce!  

Fourth of July 2008

We had a great weekend!  I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.  Plus, it's getting late!

Cow & Calf

At Mom and Dad's a couple of weeks ago, I snapped this photo.  The dark border you see is actually an old pig barn that was also used as a sheep barn for a couple of years.  Anyway, I snapped the photo from the opening on the other side and got kind of a tunnel effect.  I only had time to take two pictures before another curious cow walked by and spoiled the shot.  I like how the leaves border the top too.

It was a beautiful cool summer day here.  I'm hoping it will be a bit warmer for the fourth but still cool down nice at night, am I picky?  I don't think so.  I'd also like a little less wind, thank you very much.

Big Local Fish

Good morning!  Did you see this photo in the Star Tribune yesterday?  This guy from Fergus caught it fishing off a dam on the Ottertail river  with a worm!  It's a 47 inch muskie.  That thing scares me, to think we could have one on Pomme De Terre.  Actually, one of our carpenters Lyle, found a northern that size (53 inches if I remember correctly) on his shore last summer.   I don't think they linger around docks, do you??  This fish was released according to the story.  Shari, ask Paul if a fish like that can live after being on shore for a few mn, some Strib readers didn't think so.

Things cooled off nicely over night.  I'm taking advantage of the free air conditioning this morning.  Mowing is on my agenda for today and I'm going to try a new scone recipe too. I picked wild asparagus a couple days ago for probably the last time this season and I need to freeze that.  Darlene are you getting raspberries yet or is it still a little early?  If you are, would you mind bringing some up for ice cream?

Have a great day!  Laurie