We have so many baby chipmunks about we cannot keep up with them. They are everywhere you look. Here are some pics:
We have also had the hummingbirds coming and going. This is a photo of the female – not too good, but they are fast!
And here is a stunning moth we found on our porch. He is an Automeris io moth according to Wiki
When we first moved into our house the front steps leading to the front door were quite poorly done. The steps were uneven and several types of stone had been used to make them giving them an untidy appearance. Ever since then we have been planning to redo them but never got around to it. We rarely use them ourselves as we enter the house through the garage, but it might be dangerous for visitors.
Well this winter finally took its toll on the steps and they were starting to fall apart and become unsteady, so Chris decided now was the time to rip them up and start again. So the other day we went from this:
To this:
We now have a lovely rockery area which we will plant out later!!
The next stage was building a main step from pavers and we are then going to build a deck and steps leading from this to the door.
Since the weather took a turn for the worse we, or rather Chris has had to stop, but we are planning on getting the wood for the deck & steps this week, so we can make a start on the rest of it.
Other news:
Yesterday we saw the pair of flickers for the first time this year. They were hammering away in the back garden. We also spotted the thrasher the other day, but not since.
We definitely have two black squirrels, one very black the other more ginger. They both turn up most days, usually separately. We are hoping they are nesting near by and will bring babies over. Our reds are starting to molt and their coats are getting very tatty. Chipmunks are everywhere!
Weather is still very changeable lately. One day we have 21C, the next it is 4C. We have had rain, snow, thunder and lightening, sunshine, you name it we have had it. The other night we had a huge thunderstorm which woke us up several times during the night. One particularly loud bang which rocked the house had us thinking we had been struck, but we could not see any damage. The next day we found out large areas surrounding us were without electric, but we were okay, so somewhere close definitely got hit.
Whilst I was on the phone to my aunt in Spain yesterday morning we went from bright sunshine, to cloudy skies then snow, all within an hour. She was a bit shocked we were still in danger of snow as it is April. In Spain they are in the mid 20′sC with bright sunshine, but have had quite a bit of rain. When we went to bed last night there was a light covering of snow on the ground, but it had vanished this morning.
Hopefully the weather will get better for May, especially when for when our daughter and girlfriend arrive. We have so much planned to do that it will be a shame if the weather spoils it.
