My dad was over on Tuesday and he brought me the martin house that he had made. Here are a couple of photos:
Isn't it cute? I'll let you know when I see the first load of washing hung out to dry, then I'll know when the first residents have moved in. There are a total of 18 holes, so that should be good. The pole was already there, it just needs painting, but I think that will have to wait until next year, its not a priority.
Now on Tuesday I was talking to a delightful British woman "H" who works in the fireplace store and to cut a long and boring story short, we got talking about the wildlife around here. She lives further north than I do, I forgot to ask her exactly where, anyhow it doesn't matter. As most of you know who have been reading my blog for a while I am terrified of frogs, its a back to my childhood thing. Anyway "H" mentioned we have tree frogs up here???? I mean I have heard of tree frogs in the Amazon, but didn't realise we have tree frogs here in Southern Ontario. Why would a frog want to live up a tree? The whole thing puzzles me, and concerns me at the same time, as when I am walking by a tree, should I be concerned about a tree frog jumping out at me???
Then she got on about the no see um's. Remember we were plagued with them when we went on vacation to South Carolina. Somehow I had convinced myself they were a Southern United States thing, apparently not. Between me and you all this stuff is starting to concern me and I think I need to go out and purchase protective gear against dive bombing birds, frogs jumping out of trees and various biting insects. My poor old body is in danger otherwise!!
11 comments:
I sometimes think you would write a book about your adventure of moving and adjusting to country life! I love reading your blog entries about your new home and experiences!
Gill: I'm really enjoying reading about your adventures in your new home and all of the things you have been doing. The place sounds amazing and you are really knocking it into shape. Keep on writing. I am always waiting for the next installment.
:-)
I agree, S Ontario is a dangerous place! I suggest a pith helmet with a misquito net, full body armour and some wellies, that should keep you safe from the little devils!
That looks like the Buckingham Palace of bird houses. Isn't he clever!
I love reading about your new daily life. You seem to have so much energy I have to say you make me feel like a real lazybones. That was the posh word for what I really mean! We only have a small house and garden and they're both a mess! Need a total revamp but I'm so lazy I need a real kick up the bum.
Maybe you'll tell us about what caused your frog phobia one day, I'm intrigued. It is sounding like you've moved to a dodgy place healthwise. Have you increased your insurance cover?
too funny about the purple martins...made me chuckle.
we've a neighbor with several birdie condos in his backyard...
have a wonderful day.
No seemums are here too. Tree frogs usually stay on the tree and are quite beautiful, honest. What about the horse flies that bite? you'll get use to them and come Sept. you won't even notice them... I'm chuckling here reading this post. I was the same way when I moved here. We have these maple bugs that fly and are everywhere. Had I known they were here, I might have chosen a different place to live. Course there are also the June bugs!!
Hi again!!
When I saw the pic of the weird bird I had to check it out. I believe it is an adult Killdeer from the Plover family.
They are funny things-they feign an injury, usually to the wing when you are near it's nest!!!Watch where you are walking as they lay their eggs in a shallow nest on the ground-usually stoney!!
Hope that makes up for the tree frog and no-see-ums!!
H
Gill, tree frogs sound awesome! My kids would be scouring every single tree upon hearing the news.
I've never heard of anyone being afraid of frogs, so I think that must make you special. ;)
Also, I just realized that my latest post (I'm only doing about one a week these days) has a bunch of pictures of frog parts sculpted out of gumpaste for a birthday party. Just wanted to warn you in case you decide to stop by.
We have tree frogs down here, too! The thing I don't like about them is that they're kind of sticky...sort of like the sticky part of tape? It's hard to describe. Country life has many adventures!
WOW! You have Purple Martins!? Where were they before the house arrived for them? You lucky, lucky girl!
We even have tree frogs here in Ohio, although I have never seen one, I do here them at night. The no see um bugs I had never heard of until we took a vacation to Upper Peninsula in Michigan. We didn't feel them until we would see the tiny trickle of blood running down the back of our necks. They seemed to bother the kids more then Abe and myself. It's spiders I don't like, and I will squash them, if they are in my house, no matter how big they are. Even a little mouse doesn't bother me that much, but now a big ole rat is a different story.
Good luck with the martin house.
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