Day 226 of 2026

We had thunderstorms for the third day in a row. 

The hydrangeas don't seem to mind.

 

Day 225 of 2026

GB#6 and I just got home before it started raining again today.

 

Day 224 of 2026

We had very strong storms most of the afternoon. 

We lost power for 5 1/2 hours. 

I couldn't cook dinner. 

Here's the backside of a bunny.

 

Day 219 of 2026

We had a visitor in the yard this afternoon. 

He was camouflaged quite well.

(zoom in if you can't see him) 

He was definitely looking for some lunch. 

I have completed filling in the photos 

from my time away on days 204-210.

Go take a look.

 

Day 217 of 2026

GB#6 in the yard discovering a leaf.

 

Day 213 of 2026

We came home from our Big Adventure 

to new flowers in the garden.

 

Day 211 of 2026

Painterly

 

Day 188 of 2026

The mailbox flowers are finally blooming. 

There will be more. 

This is one of my favorite plantings.

 

Day 183 of 2026

The volunteer walnut tree next to our deck 

has started producing fruit for the first time

 after years of growing. 

I suspect it will be a mess below, 

but it has finally become a great source of shade 

so I'm not complaining...yet.

 

Day 176 of 2026

When I fill the bird feeders, as I did today, 

there is ultimately some spillage of seeds. 

I leave them on the deck so the four-legged critters can enjoy it. 

Today the little red squirrel was the first one to notice 

and benefit from my plan.

 

Day 175 of 2026

I've been checking for buds on my hydrangea bushes, 

and today is the first day I have found some.

 I can't wait to see the blooms I get this year.

 

Day 169 of 2026

It was a dark and stormy night. 

I went out front to see how hard it was raining 

and was distracted by the pretty ferns lit by the porch light 

and showing off new growth. 

 

Day 168 of 2026

Cardinal at the feeder. 

He also spent a good amount of time on the ground 

under the feeder.

 

Day 164 of 2026

My daylilies currently go on for days.

 

Day 160 of 2026

The yucca has suddenly bloomed.

 

Day 158 of 2026

 Fireball and I are working on a long procrastinated project today 

and needed some supplies from the local home improvement store. 

It is amazing how many boards will fit in a small car 

when the back seats will flip down revealing the trunk. 

These 8-foot boards spanned the distance from the back of the trunk, 

almost to the radio past the console

 and to the tops of the seat backs.

 

Day 157 of 2026

This chipmunk has been chirping on the deck for a while. 

He has moved to the edge 

and is ready to sprint for the bird feeder.

 

Day 156 of 2026

I filled the feeders today 

so I spent some time watching the increased activity. 

It may not be especially clear to see, 

but the adult woodpecker (stripes showing) 

is feeding a young one (belly showing.)

 

Day 155 of 2026

I haven't seen a nuthatch in a while, 

so this was fun to see.

 

Day 152 of 2026

I have so many daylilies with buds on them, 

it's not possible to get them all in one picture, 

so I decided to concentrate on the one

 that is most likely to open first.