Just When You Thought She Was Never Coming Back

 

The Dude has become my Ginger Maine Coon companion. No I don't know if he is any Maine Coon but I do know he weights 15 to 20 pounds . Trust me when I heft him my back protest loudly. He is NOT FAT he is solid as a rock at a bit over a year old. He is also a amazing hunter most likely due to his early months  living in a feral colony. But he loves me intensely and his favorite spot at night is on my lap getting a paw massage. Pathetic ? Yes but who cares not me!

I don't believe I ever posted  a photo of the new wood stove. It is from Pacific Energy and AMAZING. Am I excited? You bet it heats up to 2000 square feet and my living area have migrated up into the 72 degree range with repeated accuracy .  It also has a fan which pretty much manages to push the heat around my stubborn corner that goes around the kitchen island and then down the short hall to my bedroom.  Since installment wasn't until early March I haven't used it as much as I would if the weather was colder. But the times it has I give it an A+.

Flowers are a Spring passion. The wreath on the front door ( please note mat below) was one of a two piece set on sale for 50% off at Creekside Nursery in Mariposa. The nursery is one of my happy places.

The kitchen window cuties are from one of my stops to Trader Joe's when I happen to be in Fresno for appointments. Good price and very fresh. They have become a picker upper for me . I will eventually plant flowers galore but this year there are other fish to fry.

In descending order geraniums and the planter also Creekside Nursery. The planter another 50% off end of season find.  The signage is of course family and was made by Aubrey grandgirl number one. The adorable piggy sponge was in a basket of fun from one of my sweet "adoptive " grandgirls from long time friends.

                  My new hummer feeder that hangs in the garden in progress with one of my hummer family                                                                                   giving it a go.

Another surprise in store  mid May. You have most likely guessed but wait till you see who is coming.

The two photos above is what you don't want to see when you open your stock trailer door. This is not my first rodeo with this issue. It is a good trailer but the company should have made adjustments to the style of hinges they used for a door that large. That is all I am saying as I look for a welder who can handle aluminum.

New orchard! Front is an Arkansas Black and behind it a 

Johnathan . 

The Stella cherry tree.

 

Two tiny bare root peaches an Elberta Peach.

Lastly a Black Mission Fig. 

With guarded optimism I am calling the orchard a success for now. As we all know anything can and will happen in the orchard and garden!

Speaking of garden. Spring sprung early this year . We have cool to chilly nights still but days are in low to mid seventies. I need to do confession time now. No false advertising here. I added a new above ground planter. I needed more space and with all going on at this point something had to go. I found the lovely 48 square inches at the nursery. The price was good but it is p-l-a-s-t-i-c. The price of wood has shot up exponentially and I have just about used most of my left over pieces so I purchased it for a fraction of what wood would have cost to make it. I also gave myself some grace and and purchased starter plants for the most part. There I have confessed my cheating ways now I can sleep tonight. 

There is more much more. Which is partially why I have been a flake of late. More on that later. Hope you enjoy the update and that my momentum doesn't fail me now. Enjoy the coming week!