This Week at Iten's Acres: Spring Begins in Earnest March 23, 2016

This week at The Acres: A few last daffodils, more tulips, the first iris--two dwarfs--the marsh marigold. crab apples are starting--The Acres are coming into spring.

This Week at Iten's Acres: Survivors April 17, 2016

This week at The Acres: The two days of hard freeze and two days of frost are in the past. (Not that we don't have a whole month yet to have some more.) Two days of warm have revitalized a few things. Snow birds are still here. The heron has given the goldfish the yips. Whenever any bird flies over, they "flip" and dive or head for deep water. I suppose if something with wings was trying to eat me, I might "yip" a little. Anyway, a few pictures for you of what has endured April's snow and cold.

This Week at Iten's Acres: April Snows April 10. 2016

If April showers bring May flowers, what do April snows bring? This week at The Acres has been interesting to say the least. Three snows. Two nights in the mid-twenties. April and February flip flopped this year. I hope it hasn't done strange things to the flowers and trees. I will be surprised if I have any pears. Those blossoms got frozen for sure. Now, one can only wait and see. The snow fall was gorgeous. This may be the first time that I've seen a goldfinch all decked out feeding in the snow. The towhee came out of hiding to eat as well. The robins and bluebirds seem flustered. Supposedly it will warm up again by the end of this week. I am way behind in my work. Maybe I can hire a couple of young strong men to do some work for me next Saturday. Those forty and fifty pound bags are convincing me that I am 70--with a little help from Arthur. No new flowers this week--sadly. Maybe by next week--unless the cold has destroyed spring. The cat herd is fine. The birds are still joyful singing their spring songs. The heron has had a goldfish lunch. The Acres are still a beautiful walk. Five weeks left of school. Time flies--like snowflakes in April.

This Week at Iten's Acres: Spring Break 2016

Spring Break at The Acres:

Fish in my pond that aren't goldfish. How does that happen?
Weather--every day--some sun, some wind (always), some monsoon rains, snow, hurricane winds,  thunder and lightning, hot, cold. Can anyone say "Ohio."
Getting old. Outside most of the week working--if messing around with flowers and flower beds can be called working. Didn't get nearly enough done. Certainly not anything near what I wanted to get done. Bags of soil that used to be "nothing" or now groans. "You're seventy, old man. Admit it." Nope.
Yuk. First tick.
Ugh--six more weeks of possible frost. Everything is gorgeous now. Will it be a spring without a summer?
Beauty, everywhere. Have a look!

This Week at Iten's Acres: Homesteader Update March 31, 2016

Homesteader Update:

Yes, she's still Queen of The Acres.
Yes, she still speaks fluent Catonese fluently.
Yes, she still enjoys the nightlife--raccoon, possum. She sits and watches patiently while they ignore her.
Yes, I still have my three functions: caterer, plumber, lap dog.
Yes, she still enjoys being a living alarm clock. Persistently. Day of the week is irrelevant. Spring Break--yeah, right.

Only one thing has changed. She is obsessed with the stray cat posse. She and Mama Calico and Kitten Calico (and occasionally the Tiger Beast) spend their mornings, evenings, and, I assume days, staring each other down. Whenever they move anywhere, she has to see exactly where they are going. Plants in the way. No problem. They can be smashed. And for some strange reason, she loves to tap on the window with her paw. Is she saying, "Hello, fellow felines," or "Go away, fellow felines"? Frankly, at three in the morning I don't really care. How can one little paw sound so much like a jackhammer? And then, for apparently no reason, she'll climb up in my lap, stretch out to her full length, and just continue the stare down from there. What will she do when Mama Calico has her kittens if some of them survive and join the posse? See, what a soft heart will get you! A cat posse--and you become the prisoner. At least, they don't know how to tie a noose--do they?