Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Wednesday Variety

Here are the first zucchini from my garden--finally! This is an actual, unretouched photograph. They really were this shiny and beautiful when I picked them!
I also finished weeding the garden this afternoon. It's not completely weed free, but at least you can see the soil again now. I ran the sprinkler early this morning, so the soil was soft and easy to dig up this afternoon. Everything looks pretty good, but I think I need to invest in some organic fertilizer to help boost these plants a little bit--especially my poor little pepper plant in the lower right hand corner of the photo.

While weeding, I was serenaded by a House Wren who is establishing a home in the little mailbox house under my deck.

Here's a rearview shot of this tiny songster as he tries to evade me and my camera. I'm always amazed at how much sound comes out of such a little bird.

That reminds me, we found a nest box of just-hatched house wren babies this evening. Oh my, they are so tiny--not much bigger than a cricket! When I opened the box, their little beaks automatically open up for food, even though they can't even hold up their head.

Brother Phil and his family arrived from California late this afternoon. Here's my nephew Charlie. He will be 5 next week. After the initial 5 minutes of shyness, he got up to speed with all of us.

We all went out to supper together at a little restaurant near the Rochester Airport. It's really great to see them again.

10 comments:

Jayne said...

Beautiful zucchini from your garden! I am also always amazed that wrens have such a big song voice! Love the mailbox house. :c)

RuthieJ said...

Hi Jayne,
I like that mailbox house too! It was a "crazy days" sale item when I worked at Wild Birds Unlimited. It hung under my deck for a couple years before the wren decided to move in. I love hearing him sing so close to my patio door. The clothesline is right above the house, so he spends lots of time singing from the clothesline also.

Ruth said...

I cannot grow zucchini at this house. Something eats the flowers. Yours look so fresh and beautiful. Enjoy your family.
Ruth

Mary said...

Enjoy your family! Your garden looks very good (wink).

Pretty zucchini!

RuthieJ said...

Hi Ruth,
I like zucchini and it seems to grow well in my little garden. By the end of August, it's hard to find people to give it to though!

Thanks Mary....it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be once I just got out there and started weeding (having the weather cool down helped too).

Robin (Bumblebee) said...

Hi Ruthie,

You got to spend a Thursday afternoon weeding? How did you wangle that?!?

I enjoy family time. I love it when they arrive. I love it when they leave--so I can miss them all over again.

Relax. Have fun!

Robin (Bumblebee)

KGMom said...

Well, Ruthie, you beat me to it. I was going to say--if there are 2 zucchini, more are SURE to follow. You can send some my way--that's a main ingredient in ratatouille (a recipe I posted a bit ago).

RuthieJ said...

Hi Robin,
I start work really early (5:30), so am usually home by 2:30. It's nice, especially in the summer to have lots of hours of daylight for working outside.

Hi Donna,
I'll have to look back in your archives to find your ratatouille recipe, I printed out Nina's zucchini spaghetti yesterday, but I'm looking forward to finding some new ways to prepare zucchini this year. Thanks for the tip.

Anonymous said...

Those wrens can make one heck of a racket!

RuthieJ said...

Hi Tom,
You got that right! He's sitting out there singing right now!