Today at Iten's Acres: Bird Watching January 31, 2015

When I'm home on the weekends, I get a better view of my feathered friends. During the week they dine without me, and I doubt if I'm missed. Well, maybe those who feed off the ground miss me because on the weekends, I "cater" that area more than normal. Monday through Friday it's one serving scattered in the dark before I head for school. Weekends, they get several scatterings.
I must confess that a certain hierarchy of bird friends exist. I do play favorites when I'm home to enforce the "bye-laws." When I see those on the low end of the totem pole feeding, I step outside and send them fleeing into the country side. Who are the unwanted? Starlings and doves. And I think they know they are on the Go Away List. The Most Unwanted List. When I come outside, they go away--far away. The other birds must know the set-up as well. They barely pay any attention to me when I step outside. They watch the enemy flee and simply go right back to feeding. Sometimes I think they're waiting for me to do my thing so they have more room to feed. The chickadees and titmice--two of my favorites--ignore me completely. They just keep right on feeding as if I'm not there. Smarter bird brains I guess. I have a bunch of them this winter as well. Must be a dozen or so. The goldfinch in their winter dress-down garb usually come back fairly quickly to the thistle feeders--the starlings and doves don't feed on those anyway. The woodpeckers are fairly much Iten-proof as well. It doesn't take them long to go back to lunch. (It is a good thing we don't eat like the birds, you know. They eat all day long! I guess if we could fly we wouldn't gain weight by all day feasting.) The Cardinals are a little shy, but they beautify the feeders consistently most of the day. Blue jays as well. The other finches and sparrows are fairly active. The snow bird population has picked up considerably. Another favorite--like polka dots they hop their way around the feeders. The nuthatch aren't shy either.
My roommate isn't as prejudiced as I am. She could sit in the window all day in equal admiration of all our visitors. In fact, she may have a special fondness for the doves. I guess their size is enticing. I'm sure she would love to have them in for a snack. Ah well. She can't have everything. But don't tell her I said that . . . my life is already immersed in her daily opinions on everything. I need no more harassment.
Anyway, bird watching is one of my exhausting activities on the weekends. It's tough sitting there in the chair enjoying their antics and their beauty. Hey, I do have to get up once in awhile to chase the unwanted. (And for you critics out there, at least my most unwanted list is only two. There is no top ten.) Hmmm. I wonder if the birds consider us "wild life"? Topic for another day. I need to shift my position in the chair. Without disturbing the boss sleeping in my lap. Life can be so tough at times out here at The Acres. I don't know how I survive it.

Walking Iten's Acres: One Down Two to Go January 20, 2015

The first month of winter is behind us. Two more to go. Then spring! The Acres are a paradox these last few days. There are still patches of snow everywhere although a lot of it has turned to slush. The ground though is frozen tundra still. Rock hard as I traverse the homestead. Some snow places won't melt until it really gets warm--especially the patches up against the treeline. Winter boots are still a must. The pond, too, is frozen solid and up. I'm always a little surprised that the water level rises all winter. I shouldn't be--but I always am. Slow learner or slow rememberer? Both, I imagine.
The pot bunkers seem to be doing okay. The iris are still showing signs of life. The snow blanket has melted on most of them. Must really be warm under there. Some spring buds are starting to poke through the mulch as if it's March already. Hope we get a new blanket soon. The pussy willow by the pond is marvelous. (Sorry to keep bringing that up Kathy.) I do have some work to do. I'm tempted to buy a power saw but I am such a klutz I know I would be armless or legless the first time I tried to use it. Still tempted, though. I will continue to work on cutting down the beds. Winter exercise. Amazing how warm one can get working in the cold--wind and all. No buds yet on the Lenten Roses. They'll be first to herald the arrival of spring.
Anyway. Expectation disease is still doing well. Waiting is still in order. Sooner than you think the renewal will begin. I am still hoping for a few beautiful snow storms. Some nights of listening to the wind moaning in the barren tree tops. A few winter cold evenings with a star-studded sky. Beauty and winter are not enemies. They are times filled with wonders, rife with expectation and imagination, designed to make us contented waiters. One day at a time.

Walking Iten's Acres: Not Today January 9, 2015

A little frigid at The Acres this morning. Wind chill around minus 28. And that's at 8 AM. Wonder what it was earlier. I do believe I will forgo my morning walk today. Maybe by this afternoon it will get into double digits. It is beautiful though. I know the kids are enjoying their school every other day routine. I don't mind an occasional snow day--or frigid day--but we just got back from Christmas break. Hectic way to start a new semester. Oh well. I will make them suffer--more. Just because I love them, of course.

This Week at Iten's Acres: The End of Break January 3, 2015

Alas, my two weeks in hibernation are about to end. Back to the Rascals. No doubt, they have already contracted senioritis. Poor little things. The only cure I know is tons of work. Poor little things. (Heh-heh). Good thing I love them so much. I know they are dancing with joy at just the thought of coming back to the hallowed halls in a couple of days. I miss you too--scamps and rascals.
The Acre time has been marvelous. Rainy today--somewhat warm in anticipation of next week's frigid temps. I do wish it was snow!!! A couple of inches would be marvelous. Don't think it's going to work out though. I'd settle for just one inch, Lord. Something.
Of course, the disease I'm struggling with right now is anticipation. Three months from now what will be coming up at The Acres? When will the first crocus say "spring is here"? When will the snowdrops and Lenten roses start to bloom? Aconite anyone? Dwarf yellow daffodils under the Ancient Maple? What about all the new stuff I've planted? Will the pot bunkers be a success? When will the pond "bloom"? It's a terrible disease, but I've survived it before--barely.
I did get a few things done the last two weeks. Lots of walks. Discovered some things I didn't know were there. Just yesterday, two more iris! Oh, I did at the very beginning of the break even move some plants around. Entertained the dish rag. Read a few books. Lila by Robinson was the best. I never will catch up with all the reading on my piles in the living room. One pile for fiction. One pile for non-fiction. They grow faster than my time to read. But I did get make some headway this break.
Had a little work done on the cave as well. Kitchen, bathroom, septic all needed some "had to do it" work. More to do, of course. Hail! to the joy of home ownership. I'll get around to it eventually. Well, the people I hire will get around to it eventually. Mechanically minded I am not. At all. I can teach some, garden some, write some cook enough to live, torture students with a smile on my face, throw things at the cat. Mr. Fix-it? Not in this life. I accept the disgrace.
All in all, it has been a great two weeks. Now, I guess I have to go love on some kids--rascals and scamps. Actually, it's a joy. But they don't need to know that. I can sense their temperatures rising already--such a contagious disease that senioritis stuff. Sigh. Here we go!

Today at Iten's Acres The Totally Irrelevant January 2, 2015

As one of the resident facebook teachers, I feel that it is my responsibility to ask the rhetorical questions:
1. Is Ohio State better than people think?
2. Is The Big Ten better than people think?
3. Is the SEC not quite as invincible as people think?
4. Will the de facto MVP of the championship game be the OSU strength and conditioning coach?
5. Taking into account their one loss and their many wins with multiple quarterbacks, is the offensive line the OSU MVP?
6. Is the team that hired away the OSU Offensive Coordinator brilliant, or what?
7. Will the Buckeyes have a raging QB controversy next season?
8. Should a baseball franchise draft Cardale Jones as a pitcher?
9. Are you ready for some baseball?

For those of you who answered in the negative for question 9 sing along with Professor Al, "Summer school and the homework ain't easy."
One last question: Why is facebook always marked as a misspelling?