I’ve been working in the backyard all afternoon!  Sooner or later this has to get finished!  I won’t know what to do with myself when I no longer have any yard work to do.

I made 4 hanging planters, trimmed the ice plant hanging at the back of my large flowerbed, pulled weeds, put in a few more plants in the large bed, tore out an old grapevine that never produced any grapes, and planted some basil and sage.  Whew!  Still have to put in a few more plants in the long flowerbed along the back fence and need to trim the roses out front.

I bought something today called Sluggo.  It’s supposed to kill snails and slugs, but is not harmful to pets or people.  Tomorrow I’ll be spreading it around to see if it really works.  I also bought a roll of screening material that I’m going to staple onto some redwood stakes to surround my tomatoes and herbs.  I’m hopeful this will keep Murphy and the cats out…as well as a squirrel that has taken up residence in one corner of the yard.  He feasts daily on all the citrus fruit and I don’t want him devouring my tomatoes!

We have some other critters who also have decided they like the backyard–bluejays!  They have a nest in one of the tall cedars along the north side of the yard.  I can hear the babies chirping and mom and dad are not happy to see Murphy and the cats down below.  They yell and divebomb all the animals and were giving me hell while I was working underneath the nest.  Fortunately I only have a bit of cleanup to do at that end of the yard and then I won’t have to be harassed by birds any longer.  Loki can’t get away from them, though.  Everytime he steps foot outside they go after him!  This is the first time I’ve ever seen Loki intimidated by another animal!

Well, I’ve let the house go long enough.  It’s dark outside, so I guess I’ll get started on the inside until my back totally gives out and I crash.  I must say, though, it is extremely nice knowing that I don’t have to do any accounting work this weekend.  Stopping the accounting work at home was an excellent decision.