Groundhog Day

One of my favorite movies.  Today though was a different story.

Brooke had just left for a wedding in Detroit and I had a list of things to do so we would be ready to leave for Toronto in the morning.  I was upstairs looking for something when I heard Luke (my dog) bark.  Just a single or double bark and then silence.  Luke is like an alarm.  Sometimes he just barks and you don't know why.  There is a reason and frequently it's just a loud noise like a car door or a shoe dropping to the floor.  No one was here so I carried on with my task.  Another bark...if only I was smart enough to interpret this unusual bark!  I looked out the back door and saw a groundhog looking like he/she was getting ready to claim our hot tub as their new living quarters.

Just recently I had put some moth balls in the den that had been established several years ago under the storage shed.I had heard that it was a good way to keep unwanted animals away.  I thought, "Hey, maybe that worked.  Now, what?"  I let Luke go out to chase off the groundhog.  

Luke has no fear when it comes to confronting critters.  He has killed a skunk, a baby rabbit and a squirrel that I know of.  He chases rabbits and squirrels but has little interest in cats.  I thought he would chase the groundhog away but after a minute or so the animal felt trapped and was in a standoff with Luke barking mere inches from it at the base of the cherry tree.

Concerned that Luke might get bitten, I tried calling the dog off but there was no way he was backing down.  I have three bows in the garage and a pathetic assortment of arrows.  I grabbed a bow and an old wooden arrow with a broad head on it.  This should make short work of the intruder.  I waited for a good shot from about ten feet away.  I thought there was no way I would hit Luke.  The arrow flew about a foot over the groundhog.  If you've never shot a bow, that is a common occurrence  on your first shot.  I returned to the garage to get more arrows.  I chose a very similar arrow for my second shot with similar results.  Closer though, so I was zeroing in.  The third shot was a charm, an aluminum shaft with a target tip.  I felt no remorse for shooting the rodent.  Luke found his chance to go for the throat and did so.

When the groundhog was dead Luke started carrying it off toward the front of the house.  Was he going to eat it?!  I called him back and took him in the house.  I left the carcass out in the yard. 


Back to preparing for our trip to Canada where we hope to see Gabe play T-ball and soccer.  Ciao.

 

 

The Joy of Gardening

Already, simply by writing this title, I'm self cautioned about alternative meanings.  I am only referring to the real thing, clearing the ground, planting seeds (or seedlings) and weeding.  

We are struggling mightily with those tasks.  The perennial beds must be weeded and mulched.  This is unpleasant if you suffer from back pain.  The work in a garden is rewarding in it's own way.  Gardens are thought of as wonderful places.  We sow and we reap.  We treat the garden well for we must sustain the soil for future use.  In order to move the mulch I felt I had to fix the landscape wagon we have had for a few years now.  I needed a ball bearing and possibly an inner tube.  A visit to Taylor Hardware didn't solve the problem but they said to  check TSC.
They did have a replacement wheel and switching a tube between two other wheels got the wagon back to use.

Every Spring the gasoline engines have to be brought back to life.  This year the rototiller was in poor condition.  The pull rope broke on about the 5th pull.  I had removed the battery a couple of years ago so, in order to use the electric starter I used my jumper battery.  I'd get it running, disconnect the battery and in a few minutes it would stall out.
I know this shouldn't be a big problem but I'm kind of teetering on the edge of becoming an old man who doesn't do these things any more.  I got out the owners manual and watched some youtube videos and got my mojo back to work on the machine.  I think I'll have it in working condition soon.

So progress is being made and I have a feeling of accomplishment.  I enjoy the time out there and the work has made me stretch and flex a lot more than what I had been doing over the winter.

I spoke to an old acquaintance who told me about a series of DVD's  that were about these gardeners who were also amature detectives.  I have watched a few of these.  Not too good, but they keep me interested in gardening.

I've gotten interested in the NBA playoffs this year.  I would like to see the Heat win.  I think LeBron has paid his dues.  Last year I wanted anyone else to win, so I am throwing my considerable influence behind Miami this season.

Thanks for checking in.