Beginnings of Spring

One recent day, while pursuing a shot of the horse and sulky training on my road, I turned around and caught this view of the JayBee. So cute!

It's been a number of years since there's been someone training for harness racing on my road. 

They turn around at the foot of my driveway on each loop.

Crazy cardinal is still doin' his thing.

 

I imagine the eagles will be building nests soon.

For the record: Three sightings of foxes and one barred owl in my yard--though not caught on camera. First owl I've ever seen in my yard! Apparently barred owls are flourishing in Maine this year. (See story.)

Incredible early moon rise--before the ice went out.

Looks like an ordinary empty box, right?

Surprise! Even elderly cats love boxes.

Due to worries about potential flooding, the Coast Guard broke up the river ice before last Friday's heavy rain. Open moving water!

Clothes Closet Shelf

I decided to add a shelf to the bottom of the east section of the clothes closet. Remember, this section will pivot open as a unit. If I want to keep things on the floor of the closet and don't want those things to scatter every time I open the closet, I will need a shelf to put them on.

I started by added a cross piece to the bottom.

Then, after much fussing and futzing, I added a shelf.

I am happy with the results!

On a completely different note...

After not seeing any cows at the neighboring farm all winter, they are back outside again. As they walked along this fence looking for something to eat, their feet crunched loudly through the ice and snow.

Three of them here among the trees.

These three cows on top of the hill were fiercely butting heads and pushing each other backwards. At first I thought it was some kind of testosterone-driven springtime male head-butting thing; then it occurred to me maybe they were just fighting over the one small patch of grass they'd unearthed.

West Wall 5

The side walls of the west end bumpout get installed first. Here are the cut pieces.

One side wall assembled.

One side wall installed.

Both side walls installed.

Also see:
West Wall 1
West Wall 2
West Wall 3
West Wall 4
West Wall 6
West Wall 7
West Wall 8
West Wall 9


As you know, one of the decorative shingle designs I put on the east end of the JayBee is of a cattail plant. So, get this! On the road directly in front of my house, in a spot that is not moist or marshy (in other words, not a conducive environment for cattails), two cattails are thriving!

Bumper crop of daisies this year.

I did a little thinning of the brush along the river to keep my view open. What did I get for my trouble? A monstrous case of poison ivy on both arms!

Siding (East Wall) 4

I finished up the rest of that last course of shingles from yesterday.

Then I added another row. (One more row and I'll be done with the special design!)

Also see:
Siding (East Wall) 1
Siding (East Wall) 2
Siding (East Wall) 3
Siding (East Wall) 5
Siding (East Wall) 6
Siding (East Wall) 7
Siding (East Wall) 8
Siding (East Wall) 9
Siding (East Wall) 10
Siding (East Wall) 11
Siding (East Wall) 12
Siding (East Wall) 13


Look who was visiting my road this morning. This is egg-layin' time; it's amazing how far from the water she traveled to find some easy-to-dig sandy soil. She's a big 'un; her shell is about a foot in diameter.

Siding (South Wall) 16

Here is an example of one of the more bizarre custom-cut shingles. Is it any wonder that it takes me a while to create these?

Another course done!

That custom-cut shingle ended up on the top row here.

Also see:
Siding (South Wall) 1
Siding (South Wall) 2
Siding (South Wall) 3
Siding (South Wall) 4
Siding (South Wall) 5
Siding (South Wall) 6
Siding (South Wall) 7
Siding (South Wall) 8
Siding (South Wall) 9
Siding (South Wall) 10
Siding (South Wall) 11
Siding (South Wall) 12
Siding (South Wall) 13
Siding (South Wall) 14
Siding (South Wall) 15
Siding (South Wall) 17
Siding (South Wall) 18


My first iris of the season!

Siding (South Wall) 9

And more.

Also see:
Siding (South Wall) 1
Siding (South Wall) 2
Siding (South Wall) 3
Siding (South Wall) 4
Siding (South Wall) 5
Siding (South Wall) 6
Siding (South Wall) 7
Siding (South Wall) 8
Siding (South Wall) 10
Siding (South Wall) 11
Siding (South Wall) 12
Siding (South Wall) 13
Siding (South Wall) 14
Siding (South Wall) 15
Siding (South Wall) 16
Siding (South Wall) 17
Siding (South Wall) 18

Siding (South Wall) 8

More progress.

Also see:
Siding (South Wall) 1
Siding (South Wall) 2
Siding (South Wall) 3
Siding (South Wall) 4
Siding (South Wall) 5
Siding (South Wall) 6
Siding (South Wall) 7
Siding (South Wall) 9
Siding (South Wall) 10
Siding (South Wall) 11
Siding (South Wall) 12
Siding (South Wall) 13
Siding (South Wall) 14
Siding (South Wall) 15
Siding (South Wall) 16
Siding (South Wall) 17
Siding (South Wall) 18