My patio is complete

It's spring! I believe the threat of frost has passed. We went from frost last Thursday to 83 degrees today. Phew.

Here is how my planting and potting turned out. I also re-arranged the patio furniture and stuff. This will be my coffee nook in the mornings when summer comes and the evening reading nook in the cool of the evening.

My front door. I try to train the ivy to climb up the side of the hanging wrought iron thing (which was a CD stand at one time I found by the side of the road or some discarded place, I forget).

Notice how pretty the hanging flowers are? Look closely. They will be dead soon, knowing me.

I bought some geraniums and verbena. I really like my new potting table (another freebie-by the side of the road-fell off a truck thing)

The patio gets full sun for a few hours then goes behind a tree then behind the house.

The back yard. Nice, isn't ti!

Reading nook! A nice table and a comfy chair is all I need.

So, that's it. I hope the plants last.

Plants, birds, life

I am still amazed that the seeds are sprouting this quickly in the three pots I planted on Saturday. In just three days they have poked through and are growing quickly! I can't wait for the flowers to come. Here is my attempt, beginning attempts, to prett-ify the front door, which is now all concrete. It used to have nice bushes next to it but they had to be removed to put in a culvert and it was paved over afterwards--

I plan to get a few small plants, perhaps cacti, for the wrought iron shelves above the daisies. It gets soooo hot on that spot. But maybe some small pots of flowers for color would be good too.

Here is the birdhouse I got in the mail today. It is made of coconut fiber and is a small wren resting house.

The directions said keep out of direct sun, away from the worst of where the rain comes, and offers unrestricted access. The other birdhouses in the yard are being used gangbusters and I sure hope the wrens arrive and find this spot for their home, too.

Kitten attractors: leather and plants

My kittens have been getting where I don't want them to go. Luke loves the plant atop my highest bookcase, which I had to bring in when it turned cold. I've tried several blockades but he blew through them all. Yesterday afternoon I get home and another blockade is on the floor; a huge basket and an oversized box of Corn Flakes. Apparently they were no match for his kitten curiosity. All the lower leaves on this plant are now eaten. It could pass easily for a Charlie Brown Christmas tree!

Bert has gotten a taste for leather. I saw him sticking his head in the cubby where I throw my leather backpack a few times. I thought he was going after a spider or a bug. No, turns out the straps all have kitty teeth bites up and down. So THAT'S what he does at night! And last night I forgot to put my Bass shoes in the closet and today I went to put them on and the leather laces are an inch apiece: the remainder chewed up in a little pile next to the shoes. LOL

I love my kitties!