Around and About

I'm truly grateful for the kind comments in response to my previous post. We are well here at the Lodge.

This morning the sun returned after a long absence. I took time to wander my gardens, which proved very interesting. A naughty deer visited in the night to chew the tops off some perennials as well as tender shoots off a few rose bushes. The damage could've been a lot worse.

I spotted the snowshoe hare hopping about the front yard, before I had my camera in hand. It was enormous! It's been quite a long time since a big brown bunny sighting. I'm happy for proof that it survived the winter and is still bouncing along.

Our feeders are busy with colourful birds--orioles, hummingbirds, rose-breasted grosbeaks, blue jays. The orioles have taught their bumbling baby where to come for food. The red-breasted nuthatch brood is constantly pecking at the suet cage, as are the young hairy woodpeckers.

My wisteria is looking quite lovely. I waited so many years for this plant to produce flowers, I never cease to cherish them!



My Therese Bugnet rugosa has already appeared as a Rose of the Day, but this specimen seemed worthy of a wider audience. My hand clasping the stem gives some perspective on how massive this blossom is.



When I drove off to begin my daily errands I saw the mallard family in the shallows of the little lake. I pulled over to take some pics. They retreated into the foliage.

They thought I couldn't see them.



It's a huge brood. Above you see Mama Mallard and six large ducklings. Papa Mallard and another duckling had headed out into deeper waters.

This duckling was laughing at me.



In Concord I dropped off an official Honorable MEP letter in support of funding for an Early Head Start Program in 2 of my district towns. Then to Manchester to test drive the car the Chap found for me while I was away. Back to Concord for my mandolin lesson.

Got home to find another condolence offering decorating the deck, a very attractive living plant arrangement, from the Chap's office. Yesterday his department colleagues sent one. People have been so kind about phone calls and notes. It really means a lot.

I've just now polished off final edits and the indexing of the cookbook, which goes to the printers at week's end.

I'm planning a trek to the lake cottage to resume novel-writing. And to catch up on sleep, something I've not had much of since about Wednesday.