today was the first pigbird sighting
(northern hemisphere, mid-michigan).
the grackle family was clumped at the
top of the big dead tree along the
north side, surveying their potential
domain.

a few plinks with the air rifle later
and they departed for the rest of the
day. i hope they do not get established
this year with our yard being their
territory (like it was last year -- it
took me quite some time to chase them
off).

it was also the first day of red-wing
blackbirds being around. Ma and i were
just talking about expecting them soon
and here they are.

so soon, it will be gardening season
yet again.

have to get the strawberries uncovered.

all winter i've been having great fun
with worms and worm composting of various
veggie/fruit scraps, shredded paper,
egg shells. plus testing reconditioning
techniques for clay soil. more fun
than a mere human should ever be allowed.
and a great excuse to get my hands in
the dirt (and sometimes mudpies) all
winter. i'll leave details for another
message... haha.


basic garden plans this year:

- more beans, many kinds, turning the
red patch into a bean patch.

- moving the second clump of rhubarb

- fix the grape trellis


recent reading:

_1491_, by (thomas?) Mann. for the
historically interested person who wonders
what things used to be like. i never
considered the specifics of the passenger
pigeon extinction or that there were bison
in the eastern USoA areas, or that it was
so heavily managed.

so thanks Billy for putting that one on
my radar again.

peace,


songbird

In article ,
songbird wrote:

today was the first pigbird sighting
(northern hemisphere, mid-michigan).
the grackle family was clumped at the
top of the big dead tree along the
north side, surveying their potential
domain.

a few plinks with the air rifle later
and they departed for the rest of the
day. i hope they do not get established
this year with our yard being their
territory (like it was last year -- it
took me quite some time to chase them
off).

it was also the first day of red-wing
blackbirds being around. Ma and i were
just talking about expecting them soon
and here they are.

so soon, it will be gardening season
yet again.

have to get the strawberries uncovered.

all winter i've been having great fun
with worms and worm composting of various
veggie/fruit scraps, shredded paper,
egg shells. plus testing reconditioning
techniques for clay soil. more fun
than a mere human should ever be allowed.
and a great excuse to get my hands in
the dirt (and sometimes mudpies) all
winter. i'll leave details for another
message... haha.


basic garden plans this year:

- more beans, many kinds, turning the
red patch into a bean patch.

- moving the second clump of rhubarb

- fix the grape trellis


recent reading:

_1491_, by (thomas?) Mann. for the
historically interested person who wonders
what things used to be like. i never
considered the specifics of the passenger
pigeon extinction or that there were bison
in the eastern USoA areas, or that it was
so heavily managed.

so thanks Billy for putting that one on
my radar again.

peace,


songbird

I'm pleased that you liked it. Fascinating book.
--
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYIC0eZYEtI
http://www.democracynow.org/blog/2011/3/7/michael_moore
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZkDikRLQrw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyE5wjc4XOw