Friday Sky Watch with Tom

Happy Birthday Mom

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April 17, 1911

The DREEN

~~Trickle trickle little stream ~~

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~~You are ever so clean~~

~ ~~Why did they call you a “dreen?”~~

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This Old House of some 120 years has names that the first owners used for some things. We have chosen to keep those names for the integrity of the original owners and their history. Dreen had to be an archaic word for drain…the water source for this “DREEN” comes from the hillside across the “HARD” road…! The HARD road was built @ 1920 and now goes in back of our home…the REAL road, back in the horse and buggy days went in front of the house… Bearing that in mind, we actually use the BACK of the house as the Front…although, much to the chagrin of our children, we refer to the Front of the house as the actually front…because it has porches…the back has a deck.

Just beyond our cat Castor you can see the Creek

ACHE~Ache~Arrgh & Twinge

Temperatures in the 30’s last night Frost warning due for tonight AARRGGH… just

cover them up the best ya can… Great news though… the new cover for the Cold frame came at the perfect time…

Yesterday… How neat is that…

We found the replacement in Canada…so shipping was much less than ordering it

from the England…

See Background Information on the Post Grumble Grumble!

After several WARM days,

you know the ones that MAKE you WANT to go outside

and play in the dirt…

Weed eating, roto-tilling etc…

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I can say SAFELY today I do nothing but

allow my body to return to what I think is Normal…

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But then NORMAL is only a setting on the Dryer… ;)

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Even my knee pits ache.

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I can sit here today and say,

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“By Golly and Gee Whiz, it is DONE.”

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Good feeling ey?

This a weeping Cherry Tree to the side of the front of our home,

Note all the daffodils there…

90% of these were already here when we bought the home @ 30 years ago…

NOT THE TREE, the flowers ;)

Meanwhile on the back side of the house… More flowers planted… New project are stirring…which is always a fun thing… One [did I say just ONE…hint~~ hint…] Soon to be Mothers Day gift [May 11] … another raised Flower Bed… Whooooooooo hooooooooooooo NOTE... the raised bed that is already there will be duplicated ONLY is shape NOT in total height. The new bed will be to the right and infront of the Veggie Garden...

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I had to dig up all the Daffodills that otherwise would have been covered by the

soon to be New Bed.

Click to make the picture larger and notice all the DIVITS, that is where all of

those flowers WERE

Speaking of Mother’s Day ~~~ Need to tell you all how the

Great State Of West Virginia Figures into this Holiday. ~~~~~~~

Ann Maria Reeves Jarvis (September 30, 1832, Culpeper, Virginia — May 9, 1905, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) was a social actitivist and organizer during and after the American Civil War. She and her daughter, Anna Marie Jarvis (1864-1948), are recognized as the "mothers" of the Mother's Day holiday in the United States. Jarvis worked throughout western Virginia (now West Virginia) to promote worker health and safety. During the American Civil War she organized women to tend to the needs of the wounded of both sides of the conflict. After the war she became active in the promotion of a "Mother's Day" holiday that, unlike the modern version of the holiday, specially emphasized the causes of pacifism and social activism. She organized meetings of the mothers of soldiers of both sides of the late war. Ann Maria Reeves Jarvis died in Philadelphia in 1905. Jarvis' daughter, Anna Marie Jarvis, held a memorial to her mother in Grafton, West Virginia on May 12, 1907, and then embarked upon a campaign to make Mother's Day a recognized holiday, a goal which was achieved when President Woodrow Wilson declared it so in 1914.

Story of Anna Jarvis

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WAIT there is MORE! This time Father’s Day!

In the United States, the first modern Father's Day celebration was held on July 5, 1908, in Fairmont, West Virginia.[1][2] It was first celebrated as a church service at Williams Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church South, now known as Central United Methodist Church. Grace Golden Clayton, who is believed to have suggested the service to the pastor, is believed to have been inspired to celebrate fathers after the deadly mine explosion in nearby Monongah the prior December. This explosion killed 361 men, many of them fathers and recent immigrants to the United States from Italy. Another possible inspiration for the service was Mother's Day, which had been celebrated for the first time two months prior in Grafton, West Virginia, a town about 15 miles (24 km) away.Another driving force behind the establishment of the integration of Father's Day was Mrs. Sonora Smart Dodd, born in Creston, Washington. Her father, the Civil War veteran William Jackson Smart, as a single parent reared his six children in Spokane, Washington. She was inspired by Anna Jarvis's efforts to establish Mother's Day. Although she initially suggested June 5, the anniversary of her father's death, she did not provide the organizers with enough time to make arrangements, and the celebration was deferred to the third Sunday of June. The first June Father's Day was celebrated on June 19, 1910, in Spokane, WA.

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HA and grin ~~ bet you all cannot tell I am a proud

West Virginian?

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Psssssssssssst

...do not tell my Sweetie but I have ALMOST narrowed down what he is getting for Father’s Day… while I sit today the final decision will be made…but you all will have to wait until June 15 to find out.

A Walk about

It all started innocently enough ~

For more Camera Critters visit Misty Dawn

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Sally [DOT] Spotted my HUBBY

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Yup Sassy Sally in her Slinky, tight fitting Faux poky DOT Swiss ‘OUTFIT”

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GRrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

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OR was it the other way around…???????????????????????

No matter it happened in that hole in the earth…

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SUBMARINE areas… yes indeedy.

~~ Hubby called for me to take a look and his new find…

~~ There she was SALLY in all of her glory

~~ Let me introduce your to Sally [Dot] Mander

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;=)

In the area of Sarah’s Pond we have post holes already dug to accommodate

fencing to keep the ducks out of the Koi pond.

Low and behold in one of the holes was Sally

Eventually, after it was obvious she needed assistance getting out…she was ever so

gently released into the small stream that we refer to as the “Dreen”.

I was weed eating in that area and I kept a close eye on her as she slowly regained

her strength and gently swam away to safety.

Spotted Salamander Ambystoma maculatum

She was large and maybe SHE was responsible for the Glutinous Glob in the Koi pond .

Habitat

Spotted salamanders require

woodlands with ponds for breeding. Petranka (1998) states that mature deciduous forest is the main habitat

type for the spotted salamander, but Minton (1972) also makes note

of mixed hardwood habitats.

Vernal pools are very important for breeding.

Fish free ponds are best,

but Figiel and Semlitsch (1990) found that larvae may

change habitat usage to survive in ponds containing fish.

Then there are their HABITS! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Check this site about Sally but there is more…you can see the Plants and Animals of Your Area!

Beauties & Breeches

One of the neat aspects of SPRING, is seeing the small flowers that re introduce us to the wonders of it all…

In a far corner near the woods I have ever so carefully guarded some of the small wild flowers that like the edge of the woods…surrounded by river stone …their tiny emergence has always been a delight.

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While some of the pictures are not so great, I did manage to get a few good ones.

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Later today I will be planting more but in another area on the edge of the Woods…Next spring, if all goes well I shall see more beauties in another area. Meanwhile I pour over the seed and plant catalogues and drool…

Dutchman’s Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria (L.) Bernh.)

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This native wildflower is common throughout the Eastern United States more rare

in the Pacific Northwest.

The western populations of Dicentra cucullaria appear to have been separated

from the eastern ones for at least one thousand years according to the Flora of

North America.

Dutchman’s Breeches blooms in the early spring from March to April.

Flowers are white to pink and resemble a pair of pantaloons hanging upside down.

The flowers wilt almost immediately upon picking so they should not be collected in the wild.

The one or more finely compound leaves make the plant appear fern-like.

This perennial species has rice-like seed bulbs and is an attractive addition to any garden in moist shady areas.

Something new I learned some Lore:

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Among some northern tribes it may have been used as a love charm or for seduction. Imagine a young man chewing the root and circling the intended female breathing out the fragrance in the belief that once she smells it she will follow him even against her will.

Another thing I learned ~Dutchman's Breeches sounds so silly, but this tiny spring ephemeral's bloom really looks like a white pair of white pants with the slightly yellowed pockets turned out. The pale green foliage is fern like and delicate. The blooms alternate up a stalk and dangle. It is easy to miss because of size as well as fleeting presence but well worth looking for and easy to recognize ever after one's first sighting. Dutchman's Breeches grow primarily in deep, old growth forests with deciduous trees. They bloom in very early spring and then disappear (foliage and all) once the leaf canopy fills in.

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The queen bumblebee with her long tongue is the most likely pollinator of this plant. She emerges from the ground in early Spring to begin her egg laying. Her worker bees will pollinate and obtain nutrients from other species of plants that have a longer life cycle. One queen bee gaining sustenance from and subsequently pollinating a few Dutchman's Breeches when no other flower is yet available will give rise to an entire colony of bees to pollinate the spring and summer fruits and vegetables.

The seeds of Dutchman's Breeches are spread by ants. In Patuxent (an old growth forest area in Maryland), Appalachian mound ants are common, as are Dutchman's Breeches. On a walk today (late April) most of the Dutchman's Breeches were already going to seed, and the ant mounds were almost visibly growing. Neat timing, huh?

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YA think these “Breeches” are new Spring clothes for the Fairies?

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Good Site Here!

Some pictures of CAROLINA SPRING BEAUTY [Claytonia caroliniana] are in today’s post as well.

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The genus was named in honor of John Clayton, an early American botanist who supplied the material for an eighteenth-century book on the flora of Virginia. Spring Beauty grows from edible, underground tubers that were relished by Native Americans because of their chestnut-like flavor.

Sky Watch Friday ~ Ootheca

Dateline ~~ Friday’s edition ~~ Check it out at

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Tom’s Place for Sky Watch Friday

In the spring I look at the trees making sure the progression of leaf buds are coming along, especially on the trees we planted last year. Deep within hoping they made it. While doing a walk about I noticed, on an overcast day…what appears to be a cocoon of sorts.

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Sleuthing ~~ What’s That Bug? Camera in hand then a dash for the Audubon Book on Insect 's …double confirmation using site from the Internet I have concluded that is is highly likely we have a CASE.

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In Fall, the female builds cocoon out of something like paper mache and lays her eggs inside. The cocoon over-winters and the eggs hatch out in spring. The frayed material dribbling out of the left side of a cocoon indicates a successful hatchout.

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Ootheca ~ a case or capsule containing eggs, as that of certain gastropods and insects.

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Origin: 1850–55

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I am guessing it is a Mantis home

~~Taxonomy ~~

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More Information and Pictures Here!

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...I think it is a wonderful work of Art...

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~~ ~~Mother Nature is Awesome! ~~

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Have a Splendid Weekend

FULL to capacity

Again seedlings in the cold frame

~~ Seeds for Hubby’s garden~~ They are only on their second repotting and the cold frame is bulging at the seams.

Hubby like to do most of the Vegetable gardening...

He is good at it...

I enjoy doing most of the Flower gardening...

...But I do the tomatoes...

...sometimes Garlic...

and lettuces

I am no match for his gift at beans, corn ,broccoli

peas and carrots ;)

ABC Wednesday Letter " L"

Lure and that is NO LINE… ;)

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Feel free to Join in here!

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Go To Mrs. Nesbitts Place

Fishing has been in my blood for years… This is the first photo of memory… I learned so much from this man; fishing was one of the many skills he offered… Just ask me how to operate a Band saw, or a Table Saw etc… there is so much more… I wish I had listened HARDER…Now.

~~ My Sweetie and I even went Fishing on our Honeymoon… ~~~ OH yes you may laugh…but tiz true… ;) Fisherfolk ~~ BY Robert Service

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I like to look at fishermen And often times I wish One would be lucky now and then And catch a little fish. I watch them statuesquely stand, And at the water look; But if they pull their float to land It's just to bait a hook. ~~ I ponder the psychology That roots them in their place; And wonder at the calm I see In ever angler's face. There is such patience in their eyes, Beside the river's brink; And waiting for a bite or rise I do not think they think. ~~ Or else they are just gentle men, Who love--they know not why, Green grace of trees or water when It wimples to the sky . . . Sweet simple souls! As vain I watchMy heart to you is kind: Most precious prize of all you catch, --Just Peace of Mind.

In terms of recreational fishing, a lure is an object attached to the end of the fishing line and designed to resemble and move like an item of fish prey. The purpose of the lure is to use movement, vibrations, and color to catch the fish's attention to make them bite the hook. Lures are equipped with one or more single, double, or treble hooks that are used to hook fish when they attack the lure. Lures are usually used with a fishing rod and fishing reel outfit. When a lure is used for casting, it is continually cast out and retrieved, the retrieve making the lure swim. A skilled angler can explore many possible hiding places for fish through lure casting. ~~~

History/Methods/Types I happened onto a great sale the other day. 75 % off fishing Lure Christmas ornaments. How Kewl is that! ~~ Here are the ornaments along with my tackle box~~

A Fishing line is any cord made for fishing. Important parameters of a fishing line are its length, material, and weight (thicker, sturdier lines are more visible to fish). Factors that may determine what line an angler chooses for a given fishing environment include breaking strength, knot strength, UV resistance, castability, limpness, stretch, abrasion resistance, and visibility.

Early Developments

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Fishing lines were often constructed from horse hair or silk thread, with catgut leaders. From the 1850s, modern industrial machinery was employed to fashion fishing lines in quantity. Most of these lines were made from linen, silk, and more rarely cotton or flax, sometimes with a waterproofing compound added during line manufacture

These Awesome RED HOOKS…

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well my Sweetie bought those for me last weekend…they are just to neat.

In my Tackle box is a Mini first aid kit and of course hand sanitizer. YUP Laugh again if you wish. Ever since I was a little girl and Daddy would pull those worms apart and there was this ICKKY STUFF…

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YUP I had to have clean hands, Goodness sake what if I wanted to play with my hair… HA HA!

~ ***An aside, I used a knife to cut the worms apart so their insides would not spill over onto my hands… Tee Hee