A great return

I spent a good hour on Saturday cleaning out one of my bird feeders. It is a relatively decent feeder that I bought at our local hardware store about two years ago. I have yet to see a squirrel dangling from it. I tell you, had my yankee frugality not kicked in I would have definately considered just starting over by buying a new one. In the old days that is exactly what I would have done. Paul Parent, that garden guru told his radio show listeners to make sure that we cleaned our feeders so here I am. This one had caked-on thistle on the bottom of it and it gave me a run for my money cleaning it. Suffice to say that the squirrels are not the only ones who have difficulty with access. It must have had a distinct odor of bird to it, despite having been left outside for the last 6 months. My cat was fascinated with my cleaning it. She couldn't take her eyes off of it. One hour, some soaking and one sacrificed sponge later, the job felt done!
This morning the very first yellow finch of the season appeared at the feeder. I guess it was worth the work.

That Sunday it rained all day

Sunday was the day that the proof really was in the pudding. Looking out of the guest room bedroom I could see every single dip in the landscape; measured by the pools of water fast filling up in them. I had tried my level best, if you will, to even the garden out but it was obvious that the job had not been done to perfection. It's the darn clay. Loam I can deal with, maybe even a little sand, but try gardening in red clay.

I had been digging holes to China all the while thinking of Paul. There is no doubt that he belongs on my list somewhere. That number one slot is wide-open now with Lisa having dropped off. I guess it was a matter of time before that happened anyhow. She ruled the roost for nearly 20 years. Not bad! Does Paul belong in the number one slot? He is very good, no question, but to be the number one best person I ever met....I've met a lot of people. I think he might even agree that the number one slot is a tad lofty for him. Still, he definately has a place on my list. They broke the mold when Paul came along. I just wish he had a dog or a cat that may have nudged him up a notch.

I don't know what's going to happen to him-lying in a long term facility somewhere. A million times I told him not to hold things in.