Rose Cottage Ltd

Plan to participate! We deserve a break today so pick your own “poison,” but below is my FAVORITE ice cream cone!!

Well, actually it’s the chocolate ice cream and maybe in a waffle cone but you get the idea. Even if you are dieting, treat yourself this one day you have a built-in excuse!

Happy Sunday!

Well I’ve had the Golden Euonymus growing in my yard for nearly a decade and I have never seen this:

Apparently I have never been able to have them in a location with enough late-season sun. This year’s change of location took care of that so, Merry Christmas from the Golden Euonymus!

I haven’t been able to post much lately. It seems that about 75% of the leaves have fallen so raking has become part of a nearly daily routine! But, there are quite a few left ON the trees as evidenced by this colorful example:

For once there is a bird feeder without a squirrel on it!!

As for the Paperwhites…

I came down this morning to see several of the bulb stems bent over – meaning the top-heavy buds are starting to form. Right on track for some Thanksgiving Day blooms this year…

I don’t think the lake is large enough for the “6 Geese A-Laying” mentioned in the Christmas carol – but there seems to be room for three!

There was a successful nest in this first location last year so I’m not surprised they’re back this season.

The only problem is that this spot is just to the left of the path leading around the lake. The male goose (gander) is very protective of his mate on the nest so if I don’t want to be chased – I’ll need to swing a wider path away from the nest – most particularly when I am walking the dog, Cato. This is his first year here during “nesting” season and I’ll need to work hard to make sure there are no incidents.

The second nest is “Daisy’s” at the back of the house. She’s an expert at that thing realtors say is most important, “location, location, location.”

She picked this spot off the lake which is maybe less convenient for her needs, but keeps her – and the nest – further away from the other dozen or so geese frequenting the lake.

This spot is being used for the 3rd year so “Mother” really must know best!

The third nest is my biggest problem. As you can see from the image, the nest is just to the right of the path. The male protecting this nest has decided that most of this side of the lake is HIS property!

I tried to have a conversation with him yesterday to inform him that his name is NOT on the property’s mortgage and that I can walk where I want to walk but I’m not sure he got my meaning!

I did get a bit of jump on this one though…while noticing about 45 days ago that these two geese were hanging around this area, I cut back and then raked a path about 10 feet higher up and away from the lake. So although he will hiss at me as Cato and I pass through – I don’t think he feels too threatened by our presence.

After checking my calendar from last year, it looks like the geese went on their nests full-time about 2 weeks later than in 2012. This should mean goslings will hatch on or just before 1 May 2013.

While out walking yesterday, noticed these three daffodils almost ready to open. Knowing there was a day of rain coming today, I decided to bring them in last night and this morning – here they are!

Just a hair over 3 weeks until the first day of Spring – we can do this!