A Patient Craftsman Creating Exceptional Landscapes
After putting oranges in the compost pile, I realized somebody was dragging them under a nearby trailer and eating them.
The next week, I set up the trail cam when I brought some apples.
I discovered a Red Squirrel enjoying the feast.
Based on her belly, it looks like she has babies on board.
Apologies for the poor quality, trail cam pictures are hit or miss.
A cold front swept through a couple of days ago, leaving temperatures in the low 40s°F.
An unexpected thing happened around the house: the cats started sleeping in groups.
Phantom (cow pattern) and Snowball (tabby), our outdoor cats, were peacefully sleeping in the three-season room they appropriated.
They usually sleep in different locations, so I make sure to put two of everything out for them.
Phantom, a male, likes to sleep in high positions and relentlessly chases Snowball around, though he never hurts him or her. He makes sure Snowball knows who’s the boss.
Phantom and Snowball showed up in the yard about a year and a half ago. I started feeding them, and surprisingly, they decided to take me into the colony.
Phoebe (black) was up in Chloe’s (pastel tortie) usual sleeping spot, sharing the warmth. Chloe has appointed herself the top cat of our three indoor spayed cats.
Chloe has some issues to work through, as we all do, but that’s for another time.
Phoebe, the most tolerant and psychologically balanced cat we have, is Chloe’s sister. They had identical childhoods but grew up with completely different personalities.
There’s a lesson there somewhere.
Besides sleeping in high positions, the dominant cat is sleeping on top in both photos. Interestingly, the cats they’re sleeping on top of both have calm and agreeable personalities.
If Phoebe and Snowball were people, they would offer to help move furniture or take your mail in while you were away.
I’ve also noticed the dominant cat showing more aggression toward other cats, but it never gets physical.
Chloe and Phantom have some unresolved issues, as we all do, but are also the most affectionate. Chloe doesn’t let me to share my affection with other cats in the room.
Come to think of it, Snowball won’t let me pet her either, especially when Phantom is around.
A cat that sleeps in high positions, sleeps on top of the pile, and initiates aggression toward other cats are signs of a dominant cat.
I can’t say the dominant cat is also the most physiologically balanced cat. I can say they’ve appointed themselves leader of the colony.
About an hour ago, I started the first fire of the season in the wood stove. It’s October 14th and overcast, 53°F, and starting to rain.
While it’s 63°F inside the house, and a sweatshirt takes the chill off, it’s cold to me.
After lighting, I walked into the room with the stove and noticed the cats started to congregate.
I keep a knee pad next to the stove, and the cats put it to good use. The knee pad is too warm to sleep on once the stove gets going.
Minne (Cow pattern) and Phoebe (Black) are thrilled about the arrival of wood stove season.
The temperature at my desk is now 71°F, and the room with the wood stove is 77°F.
That’ll do.
This morning, dappled clouds filled the sky with temperatures in the upper 40s after a couple days of rain. The air was clean and damp, and the light was perfect for photography.
I grabbed the DSLR and tried to take a picture of everything at once. A sure recipe for disaster.
After almost 200 photos, I had a few keepers. It’s better to be lucky than good.
This is Minnie staring at me like a bird on the feeder beside me. Minnie spends hours in this window watching woodpeckers come to the suet.
Minnie is looking through a window that is older than me and possibly my parents. It has rope pulleys, is covered with layers of lead paint, and needs new glazing.
I wouldn’t trade those windows for the world. Even with the needed maintenance.
Click on the image for a larger version.
Last summer, a couple of weird things happened.
First, I turned on the backyard light one night and saw an orange and white cat patiently sitting under a shrub by the bird feeders.
Then, a few weeks later, as I walked across the side yard, I spotted a black and white cat carrying something.
I ran toward the cat assuming it was holding a bird. The cat dropped its prize, a partially eaten roll, and ran.
I felt like a heel after that.
In elementary school, perhaps fourth or fifth grade, I spotted a cat under one of the cars. I investigated and saw a white and grey cat that looked down on its luck.
The cat’s white fur had a yellowish tinge in some spots on its legs. While the cat wasn’t well groomed it wasn’t overly scruffy either.
I remember looking under the car at the cat, and it looking back at me. Neither of us moving. Neither of us sure what to do next.
I ran into the house to get something to feed the cat. All I could find was a piece of American cheese. When I returned the cat was gone so I left the cheese.
When I got off the school bus the next day, the cat followed me to the house door. From that day on, he was part of our family.
Cyrano was a feral cat who decided it was time to live the good life. I hope we gave it to him.
Getting back to where the story started.
After chasing the black and white cat away, I put some dry food on a paper plate and left it for the cat.
Although I never saw who was eating it, the food was gone daily, so I kept putting it out.
Eventually, I was refilling the plate two to three times a day.
I don’t remember exactly when or how, but over time I had two cats showing up daily for meals. Every time I fed our indoor cats, I brought food to the outdoor cats.
Eventually, I named the black and white cat “Phantom” because he’s a master at not being seen. He hides in shadows and under plants to avoid detection.
In this picture, I caught Phantom at a bad time, so he looks a little irritated. He’s keenly aware I’m encroaching on his space and taking his picture.
Initially, Phantom was the more timid of the two cats. He wouldn’t touch the food until I was at least 50 feet away. He would watch me while eating, and if I moved toward him, he would back away.
As a matter of fact, I told my children Phantom is a wild animal and will never be interested in people.
I’m not sure when it happened, but gradually Phantom let me get closer and closer.
Phantom learned his name and started coming when called.
He ‘lived’ under an abandoned shade canopy in my neighbor’s yard and slept on an old lawn tractor seat with some plywood remnants overhead.
Below is Phantom lying in catnip, looking at Chloe, our rescue cat.
Phantom’s go-to body language is rolling on his back and side looking for attention. Generally, he follows me daily while I feed the birds.
Initially, Snowball was the more friendly of the two cats and more comfortable with people.
Snowball has a left ear tip, meaning they have been spayed or neutered.
Further, Snowball spent most of last summer sleeping next to our shed. If you walked by the shed, Snowball watched you go by. Things are fine if you don’t get too close or walk directly at them.
Snowball enjoys sleeping in the catnip growing on the side of the house.
Last summer, as I was working in the garage, Snowball kept meowing, hoping for a snack. Snowball knew the exact tone that sounded the most helpless. I’m sure it worked!
Snowball has a very calm personality and is quite content to sleep and eat with some hunting mixed in. Snowball is a master at finding warm places to sleep.
Lastly, Snowball’s go-to body language is a long, slow blink. I have learned that means a cat feels comfortable.
I’m fairly certain Snowball was a monk in a previous life.
I occasionally wonder what brought these two beautiful creatures to me. The answer is quite hilarious.
Two winters ago we had an overpopulation of mice and I purchased catch-and-release mouse traps.
For this purpose, I emptied the traps in the yard away from the house. I believe the abundance of mice attracted the cats.
There is no evidence of mice these days.
Below Snowball and Phantom are sleeping on the covered bed I made for them. Subsequently, I purchased a K&H Pet Products Lectro-Soft Outdoor Heated Dog and Cat Bed when the weather got cold.
Today, February 28, 2023, we received our FIRST accumulating snow this winter in Connecticut. Once again, mother nature did not let me down with the photo opportunities.
Last weekend I visited the Connecticut Flower and Garden Show and purchased a barn wood birdhouse. It gives the garden an instant old-timey feel. I hope to purchase another larger birdhouse for the fence in my backyard. Visit Birdhouse Brokerage for more information.
Last year, I built a platform to put bird seed on and found a sign that says “This is our Happy Place” for it. When I saw the birdhouse at the flower show I immediately knew where to place it. The birdhouse looks great looking out the kitchen window.
My Arnold Promise Witch Hazel is in full bloom. I first noticed flowers on this small tree on February 16. That is ridiculously early because it has been a ridiculously mild winter.
Arnold Promise Witch Hazel isn’t a show-stopper. However, in late February with 5 inches of snow on the ground, there’s not much competition for the best tree in bloom.
The sunnier and warmer the weather the more witch hazel flowers become noticeable. Once the temperature goes above freezing and the sun shines Arnold Promise Witch Hazel looks like a different tree.
I like the contrast between the heated birdbath and the pile of snow on the unheated birdbath. A bird bath heater is a great service to the local avian population in addition to possums, raccoons and stray cats as a water source through the winter.
I use the Farm Innovators Model C-50 Premium Cast Aluminum Birdbath De-Icer, 150-Watt for my bird bath. I’ve had it for two years without an issue.
If you heat your bird bath keep in mind the colder the temperature the quicker the water will evaporate. When the temperature is below 20 degrees you can see a mist coming off the water.
The boxwood provides a green and white backdrop for the flag. I need to power wash the house this year!
The depth of this picture excites me! Dragon Lady Holly in the foreground on the right, a tongue and groove cedar fence in the middle, and Emerald Green Arborvitae in the background.
If you run your eye along the siding you’ll see Phantom watching me from a window well. I started feeding Phantom, and Snowball, last summer.
When we first met Phantom would hide in shadows or be within feet of me without me knowing it. He can be quite stealthy when he wants to be.
When I began feeding Phantom he wouldn’t eat until I was at least 50 feet away. Phantom now rolls on the ground in front of me hoping for pets and lives in our three-season room.
Thanks for viewing my snow day pictures!
Which picture is your favorite and why?
Theo, our Great Pyrenees rescue, barks defiantly into the wickedness of the dark night.
Ever vigilant, Theo comes from a long line of guardians, livestock guardians. His breed has been trained for generations to bark at any sign of a threat to the herd. Whether that threat is a pack of wolves, wild dogs, or poachers.
Theo’s biggest nemesis is the Cottontail Rabbit.
Nightly, ever vigilant, Theo warns of the hazards caused by the cunning and ruthless Cottontail. Theo’s piercing eyes focus like lasers toward the woodline while his deep, throaty bark sends a final warning to the trespasser.
Not tonight Cottontail. Not tonight,” Roars Theo.
Our supervillain, recognizing Theo’s cunning, strength, and sheer force of will has partnered with another malefactor. Will these dastardly scoundrels overpower our hero and enslave humanity? The balance of power in the world, lest I say the universe, is precariously perched on the razor’s edge.
Will these two Supervillains trick Theo after their reassurances not to attack? Will the offering of birdseed, avocados, and grapes tentatively keep the peace? How much can a bunny eat?
Peace. Such a fleeting concept, like a snowflake melting on your tongue on a cold winter’s day.
For now, Theo’s nemeses feast rather than attack. The peace is held for one more day.
Can peace last?
Wait! What is that?
Did the Cottontails open a wormhole to the squirellebulous galaxy in the forestal quadrant? Is it yet another alien race seeking to enslave mankind?
How can our hero; Theo, guardian of the livestock, defeat this new threat, the black squirrel? A villain capable of climbing to unseen heights and leaping incredible distances.
What defense can there be against such powers?
How much can one dog do?
Theo vows to always be there to save mankind. Ever vigilant.
In reality, Theo doesn’t take his job all that seriously.
Last night I set up the trail cam expecting to see opossums but I got two rabbits, a bunch of mouse eyes glowing in the darkness, and squirrels in the morning.
Theo does bark at the bunnies nightly, but it’s more of a half bark than a ‘Get off my lawn’ bark. Further, he frequently pauses to see if he can get a treat for coming inside.
Admittedly, sometimes Theo refuses to come into the house until he literally sees, or hears, the treat bag.
I saw the black squirrel at the end of last winter and spring but it stopped visiting. The cold weather and frozen ground have brought the squirrel back seeking food.
It’s very cool to see a black squirrel!
I don’t know the sex of the black squirrel but it has a mate. I hope they start a family.
I also got a cool photo of this grey squirrel eating an avocado.
Thanks for reading this (attempt at) comedy!
While feeding birds attracts birds it also attracts other ‘woodland creatures’. I’ve stopped labeling creatures as desirable or undesirable, they’re simply creatures making their way in this world the same as you and me.
Woodland creatures can be divided into two categories. Those you see during the day and those you don’t see at night.
There are as many night creatures as day creatures proving yet again that man is definitely NOT the master of his domain.
Last night I spotted a new night creature whom we’ll refer to as Pepe Le Pew.
The Possum aka ‘The Banana Bandit’ visits regularly, he or she grabs a piece of fruit and moves deeper into the woods to eat it. I didn’t realize we had possum until I woke early one morning and watched him or her meticulously combing the lawn for birdseed.
In addition to birdseed, red grapes are a huge hit with the night creatures. If I place a bunch at the woodline the stem is picked clean by morning.
What creatures visit your yard?
Last week I spotted a little turtle on the patio. It blended with the paito and moss so well I barely noticed it. The turtle’s shell was about the size of a half-dollar.
There’s a pond about 200 yards away. A turtle must have laid her eggs in the area.
This is the time of the year you’re likely to see a turtle crossing the road in search of a place to lay her eggs.
Turtles are quick to cross roads but extremely vulnerable when they do. If you see a turtle crossing consider stopping your car, putting your hazards on and alerting other drivers of the turtles presence.
Put your own safety first. I don’t recommend waving your arms and pointing at a turtle in the midst of rush hour traffic.
That’s quite the look on the baby turtles face. He seems very chill.
