Fake Fruit

I heard from my brother, that he heard from an expert that if you hang FAKE fruit from your fruit trees while they are blossoming, the birds will be faked out. Apparently they try the "fruit" and realize that it isn't a source of something yummy. Then when the real fruit ripens, the birds think, "been there, done that" and they leave it alone.
So I am trying it. I went to the dollar store in search of something fruit-ish. I found mini pumpkins, which are not grown in spring. But, I thought they had the right color. I have a peach tree. So I used twisty ties and attached them to a few branches. I don't know if it will work yet, the fruit is just starting to come on. I'll let you know!

Ribbon Storage

How many times have we been through this! Where is that ribbon? I have tried bags of ribbons, putting the ribbon on dowels and hanging them up, putting them in drawers, stuffing them into pencil boxes, putting them in large plastic bins. But every time I tried to use one, I couldn't get to it without unloading ALL (OK that may be an exaggeration) of the other ribbons. It was so frustrating.
Then I got smart! I looked up ribbon storage on line. I found a really nice storage system, but did not have the $115 to get it. So, I had to find a way to get the same result, easy access. I had a cord organizer from Ikea. You know the one that looks like a shoe rack. I turned it on an angle and mounted it on the wall. I then added some clips that are used to hang curtains. That is where I put all of the ribbon that does not have a spool. It works like a charm. Any time I need a certain ribbon, I just take it off the rack. I can then put it right back when I am done. And, it is visible so the search is off!

Who ever heard of Hayseeds...

I was out with my chicks cleaning out their chicken coop. I have a bail of hay at the end of the coop that I use to make a layer at the bottom of the hen house. That makes for easy clean up too because all you do is sweep out the hay and presto... the poop goes with it! I realized what a huge mess the chicks were making out of the hay. They had spread it all over the rocks I have around the coop. As I was raking it into a pile, I took a good look at the bail of hay. There were green spouts sticking up out of the top of the bail! Who ever heard of hayseeds. Well! They are real and they sprout!

peach blossoms

I was enjoying the blossoms on our little tiny peach tree. I just had to take a few pictures. Enjoy the blossoms with me!

Feeding Frenzy

Have you ever seen a feeding frenzy? I just got back from a Cruz to Catalina Island, in California. We went on one of those glass bottom boat tours. We got super close to some fish and the KELP was huge.
Basically what we did was we pushed a button from the inside of the boat that sent out fish food. That caused the fish to rush up next to the boat and push up next to the windows...of course. I am not sure I am much of a cruzer, but I would not mind going to Catalina Island again. We did not get enough time there. The kids had so much fun.