TREE REMOVAL

There were three River Birch trees that were very close to the house and one was actually leaning over the house and a hard Maple that was starting to rot near it's base.  We decided it was time to have them removed before they caused more problems.  The tree guys came yesterday and took them all down without dropping a single twig on the house.  They did a great job.  The guy doing most of the cutting did it while climbing the tree and using a rope to get the branches to fall the right direction.  He knows his business.  The following pictures show the step by step progress and the final result.

This is the clump of three River Birch that were near and overhanging the house. 

This is the hard Maple that was starting to rot at the base.

This is the clump of three from the other side.

This is the guy that did most of the cutting starting on the first tree.

Here he is at work progressing up the main tree in the clump of three.

This is some trimming of the lower branches on the hard Maple.

He is getting near the top of the big Birch now.

This is how he cut off limbs and lowered them to the ground.

At the top of the big Birch

Now he is working on the Birch that was hanging over the house.

Just one more branch to go and it is topped.

All done on the "over hanger".

Now to finish the  third one.

Preparing the big Birch to be taken down.

Now he works on the hard Maple to get it topped.

Just about done.

One branch to go.

Hard Maple topped and ready to be taken down.

Hard Maple staring to fall.

This is the Birch that was hanging over the house coming down.

This is the big main Birch coming down.

And last but not least the third Birch coming down.

The three stumps on the upper right were the Birch trees and the one on the left was the hard Maple.

 This is the after shot.  You can compare it to the first picture to see the change.

Patrick

BIRDS OF COLOR AND OTHER MISC.

We have many different kinds and colors of birds that come to our feeders daily.  The following are pictures of several different ones that are regulars.  There is also a picture of the new feeder I made for the Bluebirds  and a Dove that thinks one of our feeders is a bed and breakfast.

This is the new Bluebird feeder.  The screen keeps out the big Blackbirds that were hogging the Meal Worms that are put out for the Bluebirds.  If you look closely, you can see a Bluebird inside.

This is the Bluebird who takes care of the Blue category.

This is a Cardinal and he takes care of the Red category.

This is a Goldfinch and he takes care of the Yellow category.

This is a Female Oriole and she covers the Gold Category.

This is a shot Pat got recently of a Female Oriole feeding one of her offspring.  The other one has already figured out how to eat the Grape jelly.

This is a male Oriole and he is in the Orange category.

This is a Rose-breasted Grosbeak and he covers the red white and black category.

This is the Red-bellied Woodpecker and he covers the Red Head category.

I think the one on the left is a Downy Woodpecker and the one on the right is a Hairy Woodpecker.  They really like the suet cakes.

This is the Dove that spends a lot of time on this feeder including staying there overnight.  The Doves are usually on the ground picking up the stuff the other birds have spilled, but this one just stays on the feeder.  She naps there and has stayed overnight.  Guess it is her bed and breakfast.

Patrick

Pats 50th Reunion

This past Saturday we attended Pats 50th reunion at the Pine City Country Club.  There was a very good turnout and all seemed to have a great time.  The following pictures are of the class of 1966 attendees.

One of Pats classmates brought his Ford Mustang.

The group is starting to form for pictures.

The gathering of the group continues.

Just about ready. This and the next picture are the best.

This is about the best shot of the group.

Some weren't paying attention in this one.

Final shot.

It was not a very nice weather day.

Patrick

Oldest and Newest

I mentioned in the previous blog that there was one group of ducks that we saw first this year that I hadn't been able to get a picture of lately.  I finally got them and also the latest group to show up.  This group has 8 little ones that can't be much more than a day or two old.  There are 14 in the older group along with mom.

This is the old group.  There were 15 when we first saw them, so they have fared well.

This is the new group of 8 with mom.

Patrick

DUCKS

We saw the first group of newly hatched ducks about 3 weeks ago.  There were 15 in that bunch.  They are all feathered out now and haven't been around so that I could get a picture.  The pictures I have for this blog are recent new groups.  I am sure there will be more to come.  Also have a new picture of one of the regular Orioles that enjoys the grape jelly.


This mom has 8.

This is actually two groups.  The one just behind the feeder pole and the one at the far right belong to one of the hens and the rest belong to the other one.  I guess they have decided to work together.

Mom with 9 fairly young ones.

Mr. Oriole

Patrick

Birds

This past week the Bluebirds finally returned and are building a nest in their house.  They were here earlier, but were driven off by the Tree Swallows.  We have since convinced the Swallows to leave the area and now the Bluebirds can raise their family in peace.  The following pictures are of the Bluebirds and also several other birds that use our feeders on a regular basis.  We have Orioles this year that are staying around and I think nesting in the area.  Hope you enjoy the pictures.

This is Mr. Bluebird protecting his house and he may be praying also.

This is Mr. and Mrs. Bluebird sitting just outside their house.  She has been working hard the last few days building a nest and looks a little worse for wear.

Mr. Baltimore Oriole.

Mrs. Baltimore Oriole

Mr. Gold Finch

Mallard Drake.  We have several ducks that come to eat on a daily basis.

Mr. Woodpecker

This is a Robin that likes to set in my new Cherry tree.  We see him out there often.

Patrick

Brrrrr!

They are predicting that the temperature will get down to 29 tonight and down to 32 tomorrow night.  I decided it was time to try and protect the plants in the garden.  I will leave the covers there until sometime on Sunday.  It is suppose to be warmer at night after that, I hope.  The first picture is the before covers and the second is after the covers were installed.  Sure glad we saved the old bed sheets.  They come in handy quite often for various projects.

This is the before picture.

This is the after picture.  The tomatoes are in the square things and the peppers are under the tent on the left.

I also have radishes, carrots and sweet peas planted, but they haven't come up yet as I only planted then 3 days ago.

Patrick

Garden and Tree

Earlier this week I got my garden started for this year.  Planted 6 tomato plants and 4 pepper plants.  There are two different kinds of tomatoes, 3 each and one kind of pepper the green Bell pepper.  So far they are doing okay.  This coming week I will get the radishes and some carrots planted along with the the Cucumbers.  The following pictures are of the garden and our Crab Apple tree that bloomed very nicely this past week.

The long range view of the garden.  Only the posts show of the new fence I put up.  The fence is made of green welded wire.  Hope to keep the rabbits out.

A closer view of the garden.  You can see the plants if you look closely.  The peppers are to the left of the tomatoes and close to the white fence.  The enclosures around the tomatoes are the ones I made.

Crab Apple tree.

 Patrick

EAGLE NEST

On our way to Delano yesterday to have lunch with Dan and Carol, we got the following pictures of an Eagle nest just a few miles from Delano.  It is only about 3 or 4 football fields from where we turned off highway 55.  You have to look closely to see the Eagle.  We took the picture with the Olympus Stylus camera at full zoom.  I would guess that there are either young ones or at least eggs in the nest.

The Eagle is in the center of the nest.

You can see the Eagle's white head in this one.

Patrick

EASTER MORNING 3/27/2016

It really looked more like Christmas time this morning than Easter.  I guess March is going out like a Lion.  It will all be gone by the middle of the coming week as temperatures are suppose to be in the 50's and maybe even 60.  I guess it is pretty for now even though I am not a big fan of snow.

A shot of the backyard with the frosty Maple tree.

Another backyard shot with the frosty trees.

Bird Feeder City.

It doesn't show real well in this picture, but I still get a kick out of how the water turns black from the white snow for a short period of time.  The river was closer to a light brown color yesterday.

Front yard.

My garden spot is in front of the white fence.  Be glad when I can start planting.

No grilling today.

Hope you have a great Easter.

Patrick