Our New Squirrel Feeder

 Bruce and  and I (CC) collaborated on a new Squirrel Feeding Station

CC)  created the design and and templates for the cat and hte signs

 Bruce but the cat and signs shape  out of a  cedar fence plank 

CC sanded and painted the cat and signs

We puchased a open 12" X 12" feeder box from wild wings

Bruce assembled the cat and box 

and hung the feeder on the back fence

well away from the other bird feeders

 We are  hoping  it  will draw the squirrels away from the 

Bird Feeding Station

(So far it seems to be working.) 

Happy Purim! 2'21

 

This year I decorated the table with 

A diorama of Purim Biblical

Purim Characters

atop a platter of

Cherry Hamantaschen

Sunflower for our Front Door: 1'21

 I made a corn husk sunflower to decorate our front door today.    

Here come's Peter Cottontail: 3 '20

 The National news media has been relentless  in their coverage of  the devastation COVID 19  has been creating, and how it is  forcing everyone to lock themselves inside their homes, devastating the economy,  putting the entire population of the country at risk of death,  and devastating the economy.  After months of this kind of end of the world  news, Bruce and I decided we needed to do something  to remind ourselves, and our neighbors, that the sun is still shining, and flowers are still blooming, and that this  crisis too shall pass.  We decided to set out our Easter wood art earlier than usual.

We put this family of three front and forward closest to the street.

These two little guys with our initials on them were set closest to the house.

And this Little Bunny Butt went into the narrow flower bed  by the driveway.

Our neighbors have responded positively; many of them  have asked Bruce if he would make one for them to put up in their yard. 

Lee's Cats: 2 '20

For Christmas ,Bruce and I had made our neighbor

 a wood art representation of her three cats.  

Unbeknownst to us,  she has a 4th kitty,

 who is so shy that it stays hidden whenever we are around.

Once we discovered that we had missed  one of her fur babies,

 we set to work correcting the family portrait in time for Valentine's Day.

Meet Miss "Lucky" on the far left.

We still haven't seen anything but a photo of her, 
but Lee assures me we nailed the likeness.

Getting the yard ready for Valentine's Day: 2 ' 20

Bruce and I are really tired of cold weather,

 so we're overjoyed that February is here. 

It is time to put away the snow flakes ornaments

and replace them with the Valentine's Day  decorations.

We were working steadily all throughout January to create

some wooden yard art Valentines Day ornaments.

Most of it took the form of

hearts 

with messages that 

we put in the flowerbeds

and in potted plants.

Closer to the house, we  added  more detail.

Like an elaborate red and white flowered wreath on the door,

 lighted hearts on the front porch,

and a V-Day flag in the window.

 Every time we look we drive up to the house, or look out a window, 

we are greeted with bright colors 

and symbols of love and joy.

We are so glad that Valentine's Day is finally here!

Chanukkah Snowman: 12 ' 19

Bruce Got this Chanukkah Snowman complete just in time for the first night of Chanukkah.

Lee's Christmas Cats: 12 '19

Lee's Lilli, Bubba, and Lola/Diabla

One of our neighbor's has been especially kind to us this year. As a way of saying thank-you,

Bruce wood-worked an artsy-craftsy  table-top  representation of her three kitties; then, I painted the cats' coat designs and colors  onto the wood.  Lee was thrilled.

White Christmas Kitties : 12 '19

Bruce Surprised me today with three white Christmas kittens

 that he'd made to decorate one of our tabletops.

I love it!

Bruce's Snowman: 12 ' 19

Bruce's latest wood-working creation is an advent calendar. He set it up on the front porch so we can  easily change the days to Christmas count-down carrot.

Pumpkin Patch: 11 ' 19

Last week ( Nov. 4) , I made mention of moving Scarecrows from the back yard to the front.   To clarify, I've  stored away the Halloween ghosts (see Oct. 10 post for photo of the Halloween Pumpkin Patch)   but kept all the other scarecrows that were in the pumpkin patch garden I put up in the at the beginning of September.

I've  also moved some of the small pepper plants into this garden in hopes that they will reseed themselves next year ( and maybe keep some of the raccoons away from the bird feeders).

I am not certain how much longer we'll keep these scarecrows on display, but they'll  certainly remain here until after the Thanksgiving holiday is over.

Thanksgiving Turkey Project Complete: 11 '19

It took me an entire day to get all the parts and pieces painted (the feathers were especially time consuming) and then it took Bruce another day to get everything assembled,  but I think he really came out sweet.

We've named him "Samoset Abenaki Sagamore " after the first native American Indian to make contact with the pilgrims of Plymouth Colony.

More Thanksgiving Yard Art: 11' 19

While Bruce is working on his Thanksgiving Turkey, I have repainted some of the Plastic Halloween Jack-o-lanterns with colorful fall colors and use them as pots for some Mums and dried grasses. 

Then, just to add a bit more whimsey,  

I moved a couple of my scarecrows from the back yard to the front,

and added some  signage to the front porch

and 

to the front door.

Now the front yard is starting to show some holiday spirit again.

Thanksgiving Project Underway: 11 '19

Yesterday, (the day after Halloween), I dis-assembled and packed away all of the Halloween decorations.  Bruce says he feels sad looking at our neat and tidy front yard, and that he misses the playful ghosts and party atmosphere that all the Halloween decorations had added. 

Unfortunately there really isn't a much by way of affordable Thanksgiving -theme yard art available. To compensate Bruce has decided to try his hand at wood-working by making a Thanksgiving turkey for the front yard. 

I (CC) came up with some concept sketches, then once Bruce had selected the design, I created a full scale cardboard template of all the pieces.  Bruce  salvaged some scrap  plywood for the body parts, and  we went to Home Depot to pick up some thin pre-cut fence pickets to use for the tail feathers. 

Trying to cut, sand, and paint in our crowded single car garage is a royal pain in the arse, but so far so good.  Once the pieces were cut and smoothed to his satisfaction he turned them over to me to prime  with white house paint/primer.  As soon as the primer is dry,  I will paint the pieces with colorful acrylics and seal them with a coat of varathane,  then turn them back over to Bruce to assemble.

Halloween is coming: 10 ' 19

With the center front flowerbed closest to the street decorated, the  only remaining area that needed some Halloween spirit was the large flowerbed by the front porch.  I decided to add three more ghost, using the same tomato-cage under-structure and draping materials that I had used with the Rosa sisters,

 but this time I used  clear Halloween masks to make them look like one of Bruce favorite characters: 

'The Weeping Angels' from the 'Dr Who' TV series.

Only one of them has a name ( IT) 

The other two just have signs indicating that they are watching you.  

And to make the point a little more  obvious,

I put a lot more eyeballs around that flowerbed 

Most are solar powered so they light up at night

A few are just plain creepy looking

Neighborhood Holiday Decor Competition 12 18

Time's are a changing.

This year has seen several new people move onto the street. AND, one of the HOA Board member's has her family spending Christmas with here in South Carolina.  The visiting relatives brought with them early Christmas gifts of lighted  yard ornaments.

As soon as the board members lights went up, the newbies began decorating their front and back yards  as well.

There are now 6' snowmen  street side

along with  golfing pink flamingos

  and with life size alligators 

swallowing Santa by the golf course.

Bruce calls it the Christmas decorating competition. That may be true, but I love it. It feels like a fresh breeze has swept through this rather stodgy neighborhood leaving a most welcome bit of whimsy and fun in its place.

Don't mess with Mother Nature: 10 "17

After all the hurricanes we have gone through this year, it seemed only fitting to choose a Thunderstorm for my costume this year.    I had so much fun making the raincloud hat and storm outfit from scratch.  When I put it all together with metallic face paint, a chiffon gown, and crystal raindrops I almost appeared to float above the ground when I walked.