Archive for May, 2013
New Visitor to Our Back Yard
Posted by nbdog in Animals, Around the house on 21-May-2013
Western Tanager; from BirdWeb.org
Shortly after arriving home from our return flight from NJ, we were excited to see this little fellow at one of the back yard feeders.
This is the first sighting of the Western Tanager is our yard but hopefully not the last. They are truly beautiful birds.
Trisha and Harper Rose
We finally got to meet our grand niece, Harper Rose Bocage today. What a cutie. Here’s Aunt Trisha and the little sweetheart.
Harper with Aunt Trisha
Easy Birthday Day
We’re in Sicklerville, NJ as part of our visit with Trisha’s sister and we spent the day touring the spy exhibit at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, going to the latest Star Trek movie, and ending with a delicious dinner at the Wasabi Hibachi restaurant in Williamstown. All in all is was a most relaxing day and not a bad way to “celebrate” my first birthday over 65!
The famous German “Enigma” encryption machine
Related articles
- New Franklin Institute Exhibit Peeks At Secret World of Spying (philadelphia.cbslocal.com)
Brian Graduates
We accompanied Tessa and Bo and Katie to Millersville, PA to attend Brian Bocage’s graduation. The weather cooperated and the ceremonies moved along nicely. It helped that the stadium concession stand was open and I could get a chocolate chip muffin to hold me over until lunch.
Brian at MU
Spring on the Way
Posted by nbdog in Animals, Around the house on 14-May-2013
The back yard is finally starting to look springy. All the rhododendrons have blossomed and everything else is growing like crazy. Except our little squirrel who eats incessantly but stays remarkably tiny.
Our squirrel on his peanut feeder
Here are a few additional photos of the back yard.
Great Week of Golf (and Weather)
We’ve had an entire week of summer-like weather with high temps in the 70s every day. I took advantage of the beautiful mornings to play Mt. Si Tuesday, Thursday and today. After struggling so much over the winter and early spring I was pleasantly surprised to shoot 84, 79 and 80. This is the earliest in the season I’ve ever broken 80. In addition to the fun golf, I’ve immensely enjoyed the lovely mornings with views like this one from the second fairway on Thursday. The experienced was enhanced by rare birdie I recorded on this, the number one handicap hole on the course.
Mt. Si second fairway
Dow 15,000
I never would have imagined this kind of run-up in the stock market. By the end of 2008 I expected it might take ten years for the market to recover and for us to recoup our losses. I like this chart from the Wall Street Journal that chronicles the DJIA march from 8000 to 15000:
Related articles
- Up and Away (WallStreeetJournal.com)
- Dow Has Its First Close Above 15,000 Points (business.time.com)
Whew! Seattle as Hot as Phoenix
The weird spring weather continues. Just a week after our last glimpse of snowflakes, the temperature today hit 87 degrees, tying Seattle with Phoenix as the warmest major city in the U.S. and 24 degrees above the average high for the day. We had to begin watering the gardens, something we usually don’t do until the end of May or early June.
Related articles
- Seattle as hot as Phoenix on Monday (seattletimes.com)
Redesigned Front Porch
Posted by nbdog in Around the house on 1-May-2013
About eight years ago we did a complete overhaul of our front entrance landscaping. Over those years, the beautiful Hinoki cypress and ground covers overwhelmed the space to the right of the front door. We had the Hinoki removed with many evergreens we had cut down at the end of February. Trisha finally came up with a new design using a cool bird bath, a climbing hydrangea, Lonicera, and a low pot for annuals. I added a low stone edge and voila a new entry space.
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