Garden is in, chick dispersal, safety first

Garden is finally planted and  secured with bird netting.   We had to take a trip to   the gardeners disneyland : 'Flowerworld' ,  just a little north of us in Maltby because we never got around to getting our starts going.  Flowerworld is great fun.  Its acres and acres of plants, trees and garden gewgaws.  We picked up all of our squash and cucumber starts and  some rosemary, tarragon and thyme for the new herb bed.    We realized that the herb bed  that we put in  two years  ago was a prime spot for high sun veggies. A month ago we moved all the herbs and conditioned the bed in readiness for squash, cucumbers, and tomatoes..   We built up one of the beds that I have been struggling with since we moved in.  The struggle?... Creeping buttercup.  Its on the WA state noxious weed list and I know why. We put down gardeners felt  and raised it up by a foot.  Hopefully  that will keep it at bay while my beets gain a foothold.  With everything in the ground, we just need the sun to come out. 
  I anxiously await the first meal of the season  that comes completely of our own efforts. 
The salmon berries are slow  to  ripen this year. I'm pretty sure its because of the lack of warm sunny days.  I'm afraid the raspberries will all come in at once like they did last year.  I really need that 6 week slow ripening to be able to process them all.
At some point over the next month I need to take little sisters advice and hang a gazillion  cd's in the plum trees to discourage the squirrels.   I would like to actually get some plums this year.  Its been a while since I made plum wine and I'm really  wanting a glass of the good stuff.
The new chicks update.  I put up an add on craigslist     http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/grd/4488886929.html     
So far I've had a few responses.  There has got to be a better way.  Everyone responding  has a paranoid note to their emails.      I'm pretty sure only two of the respondents actually read the whole add.       Oh well, hopefully I will get the leghorns I want before this season is over!
In the meantime, I need to clean the garden shed.  I was in there looking for something yesterday and was almost buried under a cave-in.  Safety First!

The Godfather, East Coast language, Mystic Cedars Menagerie, Photos Finally

The Godfather visit went well!  Whew!   And I learned to speak East Coast.  Before the visit I didn't even know that the east coast had a language completely different from ours.   The first two days the Godfather was here I  only understood  about 1/2 of what he said.    Jimmy's Mom has the east coast accent but she has been living on the west coast for the the last 40 years.  It wasn't until the Godfather and Jimmy's mom were in the same room and talking to each other  that I realised that they were speaking a different language.   We did the usual Seattle first timers visit to Pike Place and Pioneer Square.  Every few blocks The Godfather would bark "What are we doing here?"      At first I thought he was unhappy and unimpressed with the local flavor.  But by the end of the day I  figured out that a barked "What are we doing HERE?" is east coast for  'I'm lost and turned around', 'how far away is lunch?'  'Where are we going next" 'What's that smell?' 'Why are those kids running around unsupervised?' 'Is everything in Seattle UP the hill?'  and 'I'm tired, I want to go home.'   Jimmy's Mom  understood what he was asking every single time by listening to his intonation and following  his line of sight. .  In a loud and barky way  it was a very subtle form of communication that the east coasters  must have developed to  live in the density   of  New York.  You can say anything, anytime about any activity and only  the person or people you direct the phase too know what you are talking about.   I also learned that  "Don't worry about it! " means everything from  'I already printed the boarding passes' to  'I'm going stab you in the eye if you say one more word.'  Yep, very interesting linguistics education I got  this week.
The Mystic Cedars  animal population was very popular this week.  No one was bored.  The Godfather is an award winning photographer and spent a lot time  photographing our menagerie.
Jimmy's Mom spent a good amount of time playing with  Marlow, the newest edition.   Much commenting was made concerning his emerging  personality.  Marlow has ceased completely being a toy.  He is a full fledged dog or I should say Dog.   He no longer spends his days  on any one's lap or wrapped in a blanket.   We had several beautiful warm days this week and he took complete advantage of them. He ran the yard, chased the chickens,  greeted everyone that walked by the fence and bounced everywhere he went.  Then we had the inevitable rainy day and he pouted and sulked in the house.  The Godfather  and Jimmy's Mom were very worried about him and thought he must be sick.  He had so much energy all week long  and now "he's just laying there looking so sad and unhappy".   I couldn't convince them that he was just pouting...and then  it stopped raining and  warmed up. He jumped up and took off running.   They just watched him and smiled.  Altogether it was a great visit.


Blogger will finally let me post photos  so here are some great shots taken by the Godfather

Marlow   

Blue Laced Red Wyandotte chicks and one strange.  Naturally nested

Rare Blue Laced Red Wyandotte chick. One week old

Blue Laced Red Wyandotte Rooster . Rare

Michaeletto The Assassin