We have a family of raccoons living with us. They moved in under the back deck one cold winter night several years ago and since have multiplied. We have the mom and dad and their 5 babies, which we had the pleasure of watching grow up.
Sometimes in the summer, in the morning, they would bring them to play on the deck. Unfortunately, they dug in all my plant containers, removing decorative rocks and if I put the rocks back they'd dig them all out again. They had to inspect under all the cushions and chairs, quite often sitting on them to play with each other. As idyllic as this sounds, we would just hope for a breeze to blow the raccoon odor away from us.
I tried scrubbing the deck with everything I could think of and worried that we would be blessed with the smell forever but winter came and it disappeared. My daughter had developed a desire for water, pond, fountain things in large containers and we realized it was the water that was so interesting to them. Anything you put on the deck they had to investigate.
Gas got spilled on a sweatshirt and we hung it out on the handrail hoping nature would fix the problem. For a few days, it remained untouched, then curiosity got the better of them and they began pulling it down and playing with it. I'd replace it the next day on the handrail and they'd pull it down again.
The one question they raised that we couldn't answer is why an axe forgotten in other parts of the yard was hauled under the deck and into their little nest area.
My son figures they heard the coyotes howling as they often do at night and figured they needed some self defense and they've proven to be so smart, I begin to wonder.
While looking up raccoons on Google I came across this wonderful website on keeping them as pets. It's illegal in our country but not in all countries.
http://remocoon.mnsi.net/index2.htm
Here is one of my raccoon pictures
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
And now Bookplates
I found something else fun to make! I don't know if I'll sell any but if I can't keep busy selling items, I may as well have fun making them and these were fun to make.
This little hummingbird sticker is featured on this Squidoo Lense, thank you very much http://www.squidoo.com/the_best_of_zazzle_weekly
This little hummingbird sticker is featured on this Squidoo Lense, thank you very much http://www.squidoo.com/the_best_of_zazzle_weekly
Monday, February 15, 2010
Hummingbird Island
I was looking on the internet for information about Hummingbirds and kept coming across Hummingbird Island in Trinidad. I know there is one in Alaska too but that wasn't quite as appealing. At any rate, before long, I'd spent hours looking through the incredible photos of this tropical oasis wishing I could go.
This time of year it would be nice to go to a tropical Island. I wonder what people who live on a tropical island think about doing in February?
Anyway,after having painted this hummingbird, "Take me to Hummingbird Island seemed like a natural."
This time of year it would be nice to go to a tropical Island. I wonder what people who live on a tropical island think about doing in February?
Anyway,after having painted this hummingbird, "Take me to Hummingbird Island seemed like a natural."
Friday, February 12, 2010
Hummingbirds
Hummingbirds didn't come into my life until I moved to a home that had a hummingbird feeder. After settling in to my new surroundings, I walked out onto the front deck and saw the feeder hanging there and thought, "I may as well give it a try".
This was before the internet and Google with its instant access to information so I had to wait until I went to the library to find a recipe for the food.
I filled the feeder then forgot it for spring was arriving, gardens needed tending and lawns needed mowing. I don't remember how much time passed but enough for me to completely forget about the feeder, as it hung high above my clothesline and out of my line of sight.
After hanging my second towel on the line, I reached into my basket for another and heard a loud whirring sound next to my ear. The hummingbirds had found the feeder and from that day on they visited regularly.
What amazed me was their lack of fear. They would zip by, inches from my head, oblivious to me or my actions unless I got in the way of them and their feeder. This continued throughout the summer and I learned to love them, their bravery and their determination.
They are a wonderful bit of nature that are easy for us to enjoy
Sister Custom Birthday Rufous Hummingbird Greeting Card by countrymousestudio
Find more note cards online at zazzle.com
This was before the internet and Google with its instant access to information so I had to wait until I went to the library to find a recipe for the food.
I filled the feeder then forgot it for spring was arriving, gardens needed tending and lawns needed mowing. I don't remember how much time passed but enough for me to completely forget about the feeder, as it hung high above my clothesline and out of my line of sight.
After hanging my second towel on the line, I reached into my basket for another and heard a loud whirring sound next to my ear. The hummingbirds had found the feeder and from that day on they visited regularly.
What amazed me was their lack of fear. They would zip by, inches from my head, oblivious to me or my actions unless I got in the way of them and their feeder. This continued throughout the summer and I learned to love them, their bravery and their determination.
They are a wonderful bit of nature that are easy for us to enjoy
Christmas Dated Custom Rufous Hummingbird Bird Art Silver Plated Framed Ornament by countrymousestudio
Sister Custom Birthday Rufous Hummingbird Greeting Card by countrymousestudio
Find more note cards online at zazzle.com
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