Dimples and Dolly have settled down and are now back to their loud, stream-of-consciousness selves. I even got an egg this morning. This made me even sadder, as I miss my gray, speckled egg from Cordelia and my giant egg from Gertie. Dolly has only once laid an egg in the almost-two years that I've had her. Maybe that will change, now that the competition is down.
The weather has been gloriously --- summer. Honestly, I don't know that we had more than four days of actual spring-like weather. It was 80 degrees and humid yesterday, and it's looking the same today. I took down the fleece curtains - still working great through the winter! - and put up the summer sheers. That did seem to make everyone feel lighter. Leilani/Layla is now throwing herself into play with Peanut and Lovey. When it becomes a little too much (Mr. Butters is certifiable), she hides behind me for a time-out. We have our first adoption clinic on Saturday - an abbreviated appearance on our part, as my mother is having an overnight Saturday-into-Sunday. We will zip off while she is having tea with her bestie, my neighbor.
With summer comes...ticks. Man, oh, man, they are really bad this year. I have spotted and killed six on Miss Blinding White, found one on the back of my neck and had my friend remove it last Saturday, then woke up at 2A this morning with an itchy hip and - you guessed it - another tick! Needless to say, another very early start to the day. Sigh.
BUT, there's a bright side to insomnia. Socks!
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| Matchy-matchy! |
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| With my favorite sock project bag and adorable cat stitch markers! |
22 comments:
I don't like ticks and fortunately, we don't have many of the smaller deer tick variety. Most of ours are the larger wood ticks which are much easier to find before they become attached.
Hi Susan :) I'm SO SORRY about your duck loss...how traumatic. Poor things. But honestly 80F??? What is that all about lol??? We got up to 20-ish C (about 68F) and yes, we got that humidity too. Mind you, there is still snow on the ground, but it's raining the next few days so hopefully it'll all melt, but the car will likely sink in the driveway mud bah! Your socks are gorgeous!!! We don't have ticks here...at least it's not a known issue. They sound like terrible little monsters.
Btw...when you put your lemon tree out, what is the minimum temperature at night you'll keep it out? When I got mine, the lady said 15C which is about 59F. I had my tree out just a few hours yesterday in the sun but got cold feet when the rain started and the temperatures dropped.
I must have missed your post about the duck loss. We've seen fox around the area, but not at our place this season. We've seen ticks here too, and the wind carries them everywhere. I love the socks!
We have both - the deer ticks are so small, plus they bury themselves in your skin. The only place safe from them is in the chicken yard.
Rain, this weather is not inspiring me. I'm glad I decided to take this year pretty much off from gardening. I put my lemon tree out when there seems to be no danger of frost. It's in a sheltered place - on the back deck, close to the house. It gets sun (when there is any) all day. If it's going to get cold enough that I am nervous about it, I swaddle it in a bed sheet.
Yes, it was awful. I have seen a fox, off and on, but thought I was safe because of the fence. I forgot that they are amazing diggers.
Yup, we have zipped right into Summer! Complete with humidity and T-storms. Which pass over here, and wander right over to you, I think.
TICKS! I am deathly afraid of them! Actually glad to hear someone who knows they are around. Here, I get a lot of; "No ticks here!" Well, maybe there aren't as we are in (the edge) of the city. But......... -sigh-
Happy Summer!!!!!!!!!
do you have flea collars for the pups? i was loathe to put one on the win but she is wearing one now once i found ticks! those socks are so cool. i wish i could knit like that. it was 88 degrees here today. i am not happy.
Grrrr, I hate ticks. They used to be bad here, but the chickens seem to have cut down the population enough to make them rare now. Have you considered guineas?
I love your socks!
Count me as another person nearly petrified of ticks. We have the potentially really bad deer ticks here, too. (((Shudder))) That's one of the reasons we're holding off on getting another dog. I just can't see having to do a thorough body check on a dog (or two) every time he/she comes in from outside.
Two of our Muscovy ducks left us today. But in a much better way than yours did. A couple who have an acre pond on their little homestead have some ducks but no Muscovies so bought one of our breeding pairs. He called when he got home to say they were immediately accepted by their ducks (yay!!) and everyone is happily splashing around on the pond. Makes us feel good to hear that. :o)
I have one more sock (the second of a pair) to finish and then I'm thinking I'll be done with them until next fall. You're amazing to keep turning out a pair (or more!) each month!
Yuck, ticks, we have them but not like the Northeast. Occasionally I find one on the dogs, maybe one or two a year, usually in the fall. They are disgusting little creatures, right there with mosquitos and wasps.
The socks are simply divine. Did I miss the pattern share somewhere or are you keeping it all to yourself? How fun to here the Certifiable Mr. Butters is feeling tip top, or at least to and fro. Miss Mandy is enjoying the change in weather here and spends a large portion of each afternoon sunning herself. All she needs is one of those little grills that roll the hot dogs to keep them from browning too much in any one place. What she really wants is someone to go out and hold a parasol for her.....
I've seen three ticks in the 26 years we've lived here, but I hear they are moving in with climate change. They were terrible in MN and give me the heebie-jeebies – and that was BEFORE Lymes disease had gotten much press.
Ticks aren't really a problem here, thank goodness. Mosquitos? Yes! Although they are noisy creatures, have you ever thought about guinea hens? Apparently they are good tick eaters. -Jenn
Well, let's hope they are NOT around you! I really dislike the deer ticks, as they are so tiny. But they pack a huge (bad) punch for their size.
88 degrees? Your company must feel at home, but I am not happy, either. The dogs are all on Nexgard and Heartgard. I've heard equal amounts of pros and cons about the collars and haven't made a decision yet. I need to talk to my vet first.
tpals, I did try guineas but couldn't stand them. They refuse to go in at night, making them easy prey for raccoons and all sorts of other predators. Then there is the racket! Good gawd!
Hurray for your ducks! That is definitely a win-win! I have decided to try a natural solution for us - cedar oil - and, in the meantime, I take those sticky lint rollers over them every time they come in. Honestly, it gets worse every year.
I feel the same about wasps, mosquitos, black flies (another charming NE insect...) ticks and anything else that bites me. Who needs them?! The pattern is Rose City Rollers and I believe it is a free pattern on Ravelry. I love it! That does remind me so much of our doxie growing up. She would lie in the sun until her tummy turned black. We'd go by and switch her from side to side. We were her slaves... :)
Another reason to turn my sights on the NW! I think this is the worst it's been in my memory. I hope to get the grass cut and get some cedarcide sprayed around the areas where the dogs go. It's ridiculous.
Mosquitos here, too. That's why we have to be vigilant about protecting our dogs and cats from both fleas, ticks and heart worm! It's a pricey affair. I did try guineas but they tend to be suicidal and noisy.
Wow! All your socks are great but I have to admit I love the color combo on the WIP pair. Not just prejudice either. I may need to make a trip over to an alpaca ranch soon :-) And you are most welcome Susan. Knit on!
Sat. May 5th...
Hope all is well, after that line of T-storms, which came across the area, last night.
They were quick here, but the worst did not go over us. Happily.... But some areas must have had damage...
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