Another One And More And More Even A Fox

Yes, another Zucchini . The first one became Zucchini Fritters along with Sour Cream .  So , good !

And , I think this one is going to become Spiced Zucchini Bread . 

The ingredients are -

• 1 1/2 cups shredded zucchini absorb moisture with a paper towel
• 2 1/4 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 heaping teaspoon of cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon cloves
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 6 ounces non-fat Greek yogurt
• 1/2 cup oil

1. Mix together your eggs, yogurt, oil, sugar and zucchini till combined.
2. Combine your dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves.
3. Add your dry ingredients to the zucchini mixture and mix till just combined.
4. Pour batter into a greased bread pan and bake at 375 for 45-55 minutes.

From - https://www.domestically-speaking.com/spiced-zucchini-bread-greek-yogurt/

And , look - it's a Watermelon .  And , not just one but nine more are growing larger day by day. They are all over the place !!  And , look at all that growth from just two little plants . It has spread fourteen feet across in length and is still growing longer and longer .

This is Acorn Squash .  Growing like crazy trailing everywhere . Looks promising for some Squash but nothing so far. 

Delightfully , the Tomatoes are starting to produce a few on almost each plant .

Lovely late summer blooming Sedum that will open soon with domed flower heads packed with a profusion of tiny starry flowers in a pale pink that turns to a darker pink .  Every year toward the end of summer I look forward to these blossoms when so many other flowers have said goodbye until next year . 

This is another late in the season bloomer. A beautiful Rose of Sharon that resides in my White Garden .

And, this is an interesting plant that I call a "pass along plant" . It was given to me years ago from a fellow classmate when I was taking the Master Gardeners Certification class .  I am not certain about the name .  Perhaps a Sedge plant .  Possibly , a Japanese Evergreen Sedge . It never fails to produce a beautiful clumping border .

Why am I showing you a photo of this beautiful Red Fox?

(google image)

The answer is because these creatures have been visiting my garden at night time . All kinds of things have been pushed over like a small wheel barrel and different small garden statuaries. My security camera at the front of the garage has shown them at the front gate and also drinking from a bird bath on recordings from a couple different occasions at night time .  Additionally , people living in this area have reported seeing coyotes as well as foxes and have been concerned about their small pets .

Very surprising - two mornings ago at about 9 AM while I was hand watering at the front of my property I noticed an animal moving slowly in my neighbors yard about 25 feet from me on the other side of my fence.  It was a Red Fox ! It walked a few feet one direction and then turned around and walked the other direction .  And , then it was gone .  It was beautiful in color and markings . And, looked very much like this photo. I was surprised but I would have been shocked if I wasn't aware of their recent night time visits. It was the first time I have seen a Fox.  And , it was special !

I have had night time visitors like Skunks , Raccoons , Opossums and Mice and Deer . Oh , and a Snake recently . And , this year I have seen small Lizards almost every day . Also , there was a large Frog . Haven't seen one of them for years . But this was a first time for a Fox !

Just a few more sentences for my stories of a City Girl living in The Country .

California is experiencing an unbelievable number of wildfires primarily caused by lightning strikes over a period of 72 hours which started yesterday .  Currently there are 367 reported fires with 26 considered major . 124000 acres have been torched with 100 structures destroyed and thousands of people have been forced to evacuate . The air quality throughout a lot of California is extremely poor and unsafe . The Bay Area as well as many areas are in very dangerous circumstances .  It's difficult for me to wrap my mind around the reality of these emergencies along with the dangerously high heat wave and the pandemic . 

My immediate area has had many fires but they have been contained quite rapidly .  And , our air quality is slightly smoky and quite safe

 

Stay Safe . Stay Well .

Mary

Modern Day Technology Brings Common Night Time Activity To Our Doorstep

This Past Monday Night these beautiful five Mountain Lions were viewed on a Home Security Surveillance Camera at a rural home in the next county about an hours drive (fifty miles) from my home .  Reportedly , they are probably a mother and her four cubs .

With the increased number of residence cameras more and more wild life will be observed . And, as the human population increases into their habitat we will see more .

And, on Thursday this gal/fellow was seen near the front porch of a home about a mile from my home .

We must be careful when out and about when we are out after the sun has gone down .  And very importantly , we must be sure our pets are safe especially at nighttime !

Closer to Home . This past week was the first time my security camera (which I haven't had very long) picked up an image at night.  It was a pretty large Racoon coming into the driveway from under the gate and walking toward the house .  When he heard the voice from the security camera he started to run ! My image of it was not clear enough to copy .  This image is from the Internet .

The striped tail was helpful in identifying it . I have always had small wild nocturnal animals around my home including skunks, opossums and mice .

Technology is putting a new spin on "guess what I saw" !

One more thing .  Can you help me ?  What is it .  It's  moving and breathing . And , that is unusual for a tossed blanket unless -------

 

there is a little cat named Ivy who burrowed in for a warm morning nap .  See that little black ear at the top of the photo .  She brings me so much comfort and delight !!!

Mary

What Would You Do

If a Mountain Lion came in through your screen door ???

This happened a few days ago in the area where I go to shop in the next county .  I go there when I want to shop in larger chain stores that we do not have in or near my little town .  Can you imagine having to make fast decisions about how to remain safe if there is a lion in your house ? The family took shelter in the basement and called the sheriff .  Through the help of the officials breaking the upstairs bathroom window the lion jumped out the bathroom window and hasn't been seen since .

This week in this county a car was damaged when a bear ran into the roadway .  Look at the extent of the car damage !  No person was injured .

The Sierra Foothills are seeing an increase in large wildlife entering into areas that we have not seen them during the past .  New bright yellow signs warning about bears have been posted on the roadside going up to the higher elevation from my home .

There have been several bear versus automobile accidents in our county . The wildlife habitats are being harshly threatened by the wildfires , bark beetles and land developments .  Changes of the Times !!!

Mary

So Difficult To Comprehend

I have avoided writing about the Horrendous California Wildfires (firestorms) because it just seems so unbelievable but with the extensive continual news coverage and nearby communities suffering with all the fringe hardships (dangerous air quality) to so many humans and animals the disaster is not far from my constant thoughts .  Never in my wildest thoughts could I have ever thought something like this would happen in my lifetime .  All the emotions that one feels are so magnified in severity .  And the feelings of helplessness is enormous .

Today's newspaper - - - Paradise, CA — "The damage tally continues to increase for the most destructive wildfire in the state’s history .

The Camp Fire in Butte County has now destroyed 8,756 homes, 1,310 outbuildings and 260 commercial buildings. 56 people are now confirmed dead and many more remain unaccounted for. The fire is now 140,000 acres and 40-percent contained."

How can a whole town just disappear ? ? ?  And the ramifications will live on for many many years.  

I hope that all of us do what we can to help in whatever way we can .  Even if it feels small and insignificant !  And, let's be grateful for what we have in our own lives . Remember WANT is very different from NEED !  Blessings to All .

Mary

Neighborhood Visitors

Our area has been having more visitors of the wildlife kind more frequently than anytime in the past.

It was just last week when I was talking to a neighbor who lives on the next street over and she mentioned that a couple bears had been in their yard the night prior.

And, recently on two different occasions, I have noticed the trash barrel in my next door neighbors yard has been turned over and lots of what appears to be white paper spilled out nearby . The home is a vacation home and they are frequently here since their main residence is only about two hours away.  They are the neighbors that live on the other side and are very meticulous about their home and garden maintenance. So, I really doubt that there are any food scraps in the barrels. But, the bears are really hungry and they probably smell food from the barrels.

The fact that my property is fully fenced seems to help keep the bears as well as the deer out.  The prize (trash) with the least resistance is probably the more desirable target area.

The forest lands further up the hill have been severely clear cut and that causes the bears to migrate down to forge for food.

The Rose Of Sharon is starting to bloom.

The Rebecca At The Well fountain sounds nice and cooling !

I hope your week is Going Well.

Mary

The Heavens Opened And The Raindrops Fell

What wonderful blessings in each and every rain drop. A day and a half of fabulous moisture penetrated our harshly parched land here in the West. Thankfully the snow is falling in the higher elevations starting to rebuild the snowpack that is so important. It was a fairly gentle rain most of the time with some brief periods of heavier downfall. Hopefully, any mudslide,  flooding issues are at a minimum. I can't help but fixate somewhat on the wildfire survivors who are experiencing more and more challenges. Please God, give them strength and solidarity to continue moving forward to a more peaceful, organized, warm and safe lifestyle. And, hopefully a return to some normalcy!
This morning, The Sun is Shining Brightly and everything looks so fresh, bright and shiny outdoors. Before the rains started I was able to do a little transplanting in the garden of some White Iris that I had saved in a few pots as well as Lambs Ear.

This is the White Iris and I do not know the name because it was a "pass-along plant" from one of my neighbors a few years back.

The Iris are going to be spread out through the white garden. I have been concentrating on the White Garden because. I would like to have it filled in for the first time with many plants so there are some white flowers blooming throughout the year.

Many things on my "to do list" today. It is time to get started.

Have a Wonderful Day.

Mary

Did You Have A Good Day Yesterday

I ask because I hope it was better than mine. Maybe, we could play "Can you top this?" No, let's not. Well anyway, there were two noteworthy experiences. One inconvenient and one disgusting.

OK #1 - I locked myself out of the house! So, I worked outside until I decided what to do. Get this! I eventually poked my head, right shoulder and right arm through the small pet door and used a long handled item to open both the deadbolt and door knob lock. Good thing I am still a little gal. I got a lot of dirty outdoor work accomplished while pondering what "my attack" would be. Success was predicated on the fact that the pet door was not locked from the inside. Yes, I have an extra key outdoors that I faithfully return after using. However, I used it the day before and it was sitting on the dining room table. Am I getting old and forgetful? Impossible, right.

OK #2 - Hold your hat on for this one! At 2 AM, Lily had to go outside (her medications for her heart problems include a diuretic) and she was sprayed in the face by a skunk. That is a first for her and I hope the last. It was just a couple days ago that I was thinking how nice it was that Lily had not had an encounter with a skunk during her 10 years of life. It wasn't to bad, mostly her eyes. My heart hurt for her and her puzzlement over "What Happened?"

Living in the country has it's very own activities that are unique to the area. Some day when I have time I will tell you the story about the first time (in 1994) when my little Yorkie was sprayed. Remember, I was a city girl prior to moving here.

What a weapon he carries! Trivia - both male and female skunks spray, males especially during mating  -  against other males!
I hope your day is nice and calm. I think maybe I should sit in a chair in the house all day.

Mary