Bird Count

I'm not really counting birds - but I am counting my blessings. Today I worked my buns off building a new "step" off of our deck. It is actually a temporary replacement for the very precarious footing to exit our deck to the yard. After I removed it from it's location at the exit from the deck to the back yard I discovered that the former owner had no reservations about burying his trash under the deck. While raking out dirt from a newly discovered concrete structure at the edge of the porch I discovered pieces of wood, lengths of pipe, some sheet metal somethings and - a pair of socks. One sock would have been no surprise, but two matching socks -that was really different. Of course, since I am such a "sock warrior" I was tempted to rush them to the washer but I resisted. What was a blessing was the fact that I built this new "step" from materials that I found in the garage. I also did some creative wood cutting with my old, but trusty, Craftsman Skil Saw. Even I was impressed after I ripped a 2X6 to the size I needed. And, I did it on the saw horses I had constructed myself. You should see my work - it's getting better, but I will admit that I am no pro.

One of the things I have committed to is making things plumb and level. It paid off today when I sat the new base for the step on the concrete "pad" and had very little to do to make it not rock and roll because everything was not square. It does make sense and you will not find me out carpentering without a level or construction square nearby.

After I had screwed the piece of "sub-flooring" that used to be the ramp onto the porch to the base, I began to clean up. I used to laugh at my nephew, Dwayne, because he could get out more tools in 10 minutes than I owned. Well, at the end of this job I thought I had him beat. I groaned when I realized that I had to put away two cordless drills, two sawhorses, a shovel, a SkilSaw, an extension cord, a hammer, nails, trash, a dolly, excess pieces of wood, two empty Coke Zero cans, the stuff for the compost pile, etc., etc. and etc. Because I am a one-woman show and have only two arms and one back I got most of it done but asserted myself and left the sawhorses on the back porch. Then I had to put out the trash and recycling. I did it! and collapsed into a chair to watch the birds. Thus the bird count.

I have been keeping track of what is coming to our backyard to feed. We have grackles, house finches, goldfinches, robins, doves, some pretty little grey juncos, a pair of cardinals - but, alas, no JAYBIRDS! Well, today my goal was reached when finally Mr. Jay showed up to eat. I felt that we now were complete - did I mention the squirrels and the rabbit? I am declaring that we are a Certified Wildlife Habitat - except for the deer and bears. I'm working on the butterflies and bees. We do have some of the big bumbles, but too few honeybees. I'm going to do my part though. I have lots of annuals to put in their flowerboxes, and some perennials on the way at the end of the month. Did I mention the garden? I figured out today that I have spinach. I am so excited. By the end of the week I may have a little crop of baby spinach to go with the mesclun that is bigger every day. So, not only is the bird count up so are my spirits. And - I can step down without fear. Please come for a visit.