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| From July 2012 in Vegas for Andrew's 21st Birthday :) |
Tuesday, December 4, 2018
Monday, December 3, 2018
BAMBOO MANIA, SEABREEZE BECOMES GREENLAND ON SOUTHERN BORDER
MAKING $229 POTS OF BAMBOO
At Rockledge Gardens they charge $229 for what they call "15 Gallon" pot of bamboo. With that as our guide we manufactured similar sized clumps from our nursery inventory. With Steves help digging the initial holes we were able to create seven new clumps from our stash of Seabreeze.
Mary questioned my move at first, "you want to move ALL the Seabreeze?" was the question. After a moment I said YES, lets do it.
I ran two 10 gauge extension cords to provide power for the 13.5 AMP SunJoe tiller. The tiller breaks up the sandy soil and makes it much easier to dig out the bamboo plants with minimum damage.
STEPS TO BAMBOO TRANSPLANTING
#1 Tie off the clumps with twine. Separate clumps into individual items to be moved.
#2 Put a long strap around each clump and draw it tight so the limbs are not trying to poke you in the eyes.
At Rockledge Gardens they charge $229 for what they call "15 Gallon" pot of bamboo. With that as our guide we manufactured similar sized clumps from our nursery inventory. With Steves help digging the initial holes we were able to create seven new clumps from our stash of Seabreeze.
Mary questioned my move at first, "you want to move ALL the Seabreeze?" was the question. After a moment I said YES, lets do it.
I ran two 10 gauge extension cords to provide power for the 13.5 AMP SunJoe tiller. The tiller breaks up the sandy soil and makes it much easier to dig out the bamboo plants with minimum damage.
STEPS TO BAMBOO TRANSPLANTING
#1 Tie off the clumps with twine. Separate clumps into individual items to be moved.
#2 Put a long strap around each clump and draw it tight so the limbs are not trying to poke you in the eyes.
Saturday, December 1, 2018
Bamboo Update 12/1/2018
It's December 1st! And time to update what we've done with the bamboo forest here at P2.
The "Southland" has made major strides this year toward becoming a massive bamboo wall between us and our neighbor to the south "Sean". Between strategic purchases of our favorite Emerald bamboo from Rockledge Gardens and the propagation of the Seabreeze bamboo forest clumps, we're well on the way to the impermeable bamboo wall we dream of.
I'll update with pictures soon, but for now, here's the lineup (starting from the southeast corner moving toward the southwest corner of P2).
1. Big Mike (banana plant at the southeast corner)
2. Queen palm (new, planted Nov 2018)
3. Calamondin (one of the few remaining citrus trees from when we moved here)
and now the bamboo...
4. Angel mist
5. Original recipe (propagated cane turned monster clump)
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
The "Southland" has made major strides this year toward becoming a massive bamboo wall between us and our neighbor to the south "Sean". Between strategic purchases of our favorite Emerald bamboo from Rockledge Gardens and the propagation of the Seabreeze bamboo forest clumps, we're well on the way to the impermeable bamboo wall we dream of.
I'll update with pictures soon, but for now, here's the lineup (starting from the southeast corner moving toward the southwest corner of P2).
1. Big Mike (banana plant at the southeast corner)
2. Queen palm (new, planted Nov 2018)
3. Calamondin (one of the few remaining citrus trees from when we moved here)
and now the bamboo...
4. Angel mist
5. Original recipe (propagated cane turned monster clump)
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
Saturday, October 27, 2018
Monday, October 22, 2018
MELBOURNE FALL WEATHER
FALL WEATHER 2018 MELBOURNE FLORIDA
It's October 22 and this morning was our first sub-70 degree morning. At 6 AM when we arose from our burrow it was 68 degrees F and 78% humidity. This was also the first Fall morning when the humidity was not 99%.
Outside it felt wonderful. Our morning exercise routine out in the screened-in porch was a joy in the more comfortable temperatures.
That magical time of the year is almost upon us when the bugs die off and it's actually nice outside.
**NOTE: All readings contained in this report were obtained from our own "tomato cage" weather station location.
It's October 22 and this morning was our first sub-70 degree morning. At 6 AM when we arose from our burrow it was 68 degrees F and 78% humidity. This was also the first Fall morning when the humidity was not 99%.
Outside it felt wonderful. Our morning exercise routine out in the screened-in porch was a joy in the more comfortable temperatures.
That magical time of the year is almost upon us when the bugs die off and it's actually nice outside.
**NOTE: All readings contained in this report were obtained from our own "tomato cage" weather station location.
Monday, October 15, 2018
DUCK ISLAND VERSION 3
VERSION 1 AND 2
For the last three months I've been experimenting with floating islands in our big pond.
Some pine boards were the first test pieces, they were used in a construction project. I set them afloat when I discovered they were covered in ants. I left them floating in the pond because the turtles and ducks liked climbing on them and floating around in the afternoon sun. Eventually these boards became so water-logged they are no longer able to support an animal, the boards are scheduled for removal.
This led to the construction of our first larger island project made from a used pallet that came to us filled with concrete blocks. The pallet was stuffed with pool noodles for extra floatation and set adrift. It was an immediate success, almost all of our wading birds and ducks loved the floating pallet.
Pool noodles have proven to have a short life as floatation devices, I'm not sure what happened to them but they were severely eaten away and shrunken after a month of exposure to pond water.
The decay and subsequent sinking of the first pallet island led to the construction of a second model which was very similar to the first. The second island was just like the first with the addition of pine boards on each side to provide boarding ramps for turtles and ducks plus a piece of plywood on top to make it smooth. This island also proved to be very popular with the ducks and our large heron named Huey. The anhinga also likes to ride this island. Just like the first pallet island it began to sink after the pool noodles were exposed to the water for a month.
ISLAND VERSION THREE, THE BOAT - OCTOBER 15, 2018
The third version of the island project much more closely follows the design of a traditional boat-like barge water vessel. The interior is design is intended to be dry. A combination of pool noodles and empty water bottles is used for additional floatation buoyancy. These are all held in place by four cans of sprayed-in construction foam. The pool noodles (nine total, cut in half) are contained inside the brown center section.
For the third version of the duck island I constructed a ring made of 2x4 pressure treated wood. Using corrosion resistant construction screws I attached a half-inch sheet of pressure treated plywood for the vessel bottom.
In the center of the vessel hull is a package of pool noodle pieces that are wrapped in a thick contractor trash bag and sealed on top to prevent water entry. This package of pool noodles is very light weight and displaces quite a bit of space in the hull.
Around the hull interior my beautiful partner helped me glue in water bottles we collected for the last couple of weeks. These are glued in with construction foam and fully foamed-in to prevent them from moving around. Additionally I'm hoping the foam will help displace water should the vessel leak.
All of the joints and seams are sealed with 100% GE Silicone, the good stuff. All the joints were aged for over 48 hours before exposure to water.
The entire island is painted with two coats of latex based Killz to help seal in the pressure treated wood and to prevent rot from long term exposure in the pond.
The anchor points are sealed with silicone on the inside and the outside, stacks of washers help hold the eye bolts in place and seal the hull from leakage.
I planned on anchoring the new island with two anchors to hold it in position but upon reconsideration I've decided to try a single anchor point and allow the island to swing around it.
The anchor is a 16-pound model I bought at a local sporting goods outlet. I'm testing 3/8" poly anchor rope to connect the anchor and the island.
I purchased two anchors but will start with one at first to test the island for floatation, leakage and general construction integrity.
DUCK FUN
It is such a great feeling to look out and see little wild ducks and birds of all shapes and sizes landing on the floating island and enjoying our big pond. It's so much more than just a big bowl of water, it's a universe and home to all manner of fresh-water fish, frogs, turtles, snakes and birds.
For the last three months I've been experimenting with floating islands in our big pond.
Some pine boards were the first test pieces, they were used in a construction project. I set them afloat when I discovered they were covered in ants. I left them floating in the pond because the turtles and ducks liked climbing on them and floating around in the afternoon sun. Eventually these boards became so water-logged they are no longer able to support an animal, the boards are scheduled for removal.
This led to the construction of our first larger island project made from a used pallet that came to us filled with concrete blocks. The pallet was stuffed with pool noodles for extra floatation and set adrift. It was an immediate success, almost all of our wading birds and ducks loved the floating pallet.
Pool noodles have proven to have a short life as floatation devices, I'm not sure what happened to them but they were severely eaten away and shrunken after a month of exposure to pond water.
The decay and subsequent sinking of the first pallet island led to the construction of a second model which was very similar to the first. The second island was just like the first with the addition of pine boards on each side to provide boarding ramps for turtles and ducks plus a piece of plywood on top to make it smooth. This island also proved to be very popular with the ducks and our large heron named Huey. The anhinga also likes to ride this island. Just like the first pallet island it began to sink after the pool noodles were exposed to the water for a month.
ISLAND VERSION THREE, THE BOAT - OCTOBER 15, 2018
The third version of the island project much more closely follows the design of a traditional boat-like barge water vessel. The interior is design is intended to be dry. A combination of pool noodles and empty water bottles is used for additional floatation buoyancy. These are all held in place by four cans of sprayed-in construction foam. The pool noodles (nine total, cut in half) are contained inside the brown center section.
For the third version of the duck island I constructed a ring made of 2x4 pressure treated wood. Using corrosion resistant construction screws I attached a half-inch sheet of pressure treated plywood for the vessel bottom.
In the center of the vessel hull is a package of pool noodle pieces that are wrapped in a thick contractor trash bag and sealed on top to prevent water entry. This package of pool noodles is very light weight and displaces quite a bit of space in the hull.
 |
| WATER BOTTLES EMBEDDED IN CONSTRUCTION FOAM |
All of the joints and seams are sealed with 100% GE Silicone, the good stuff. All the joints were aged for over 48 hours before exposure to water.
 |
| THE TOP LID IS HALF-INCH PT PLYWOOD WITH TWO COATS OF KILLZ ON BOTH SIDES |
The anchor points are sealed with silicone on the inside and the outside, stacks of washers help hold the eye bolts in place and seal the hull from leakage.
I planned on anchoring the new island with two anchors to hold it in position but upon reconsideration I've decided to try a single anchor point and allow the island to swing around it.
The anchor is a 16-pound model I bought at a local sporting goods outlet. I'm testing 3/8" poly anchor rope to connect the anchor and the island.
I purchased two anchors but will start with one at first to test the island for floatation, leakage and general construction integrity.
DUCK FUN
It is such a great feeling to look out and see little wild ducks and birds of all shapes and sizes landing on the floating island and enjoying our big pond. It's so much more than just a big bowl of water, it's a universe and home to all manner of fresh-water fish, frogs, turtles, snakes and birds.
Sunday, October 7, 2018
Orangey
I love colorful bugs... this orange tipped oakworm moth made an appearance tonight. See his eyes and smile? LOL
Wednesday, October 3, 2018
BEAUTIFUL OCTOBER FLORIDA DAY, DUCKS, PEAFOWL, EGRETS AND RACCOONS CHILLAXIN
Another beautiful day in Paradise
Ducks riding their platform, enjoying a leisurely day of nomming corn and tanning :-)
Peafowl dust bathing by the pool cage
Two friends relaxing together
Big Dennis the big white egret, hanging around with his buddies, the Sneetches :-)
Raccoons nomming dog food, everyone getting along.
A view of the "Raccoon Force Field" electric wall of doom, instantly stopped raccoons from breaking in to our porch through this screen (sly chuckle lol)
We actually love the raccoons and would never do anything to intentionally hurt them, the electric fence charger is totally safe and UL approved.
We love all the animals at P2
Ducks riding their platform, enjoying a leisurely day of nomming corn and tanning :-)
Peafowl dust bathing by the pool cage
Two friends relaxing together
Big Dennis the big white egret, hanging around with his buddies, the Sneetches :-)
Raccoons nomming dog food, everyone getting along.
A view of the "Raccoon Force Field" electric wall of doom, instantly stopped raccoons from breaking in to our porch through this screen (sly chuckle lol)
We actually love the raccoons and would never do anything to intentionally hurt them, the electric fence charger is totally safe and UL approved.
We love all the animals at P2
Friday, September 28, 2018
New Snake!
Today we got in the pool after our workout, and noticed a friend swimming in the pool. We used a 32 ounce water cup to scoop him out and free him out of the pool cage. Just looked him up, and he's a ring necked snake, only slightly venomous :)
Tuesday, September 25, 2018
Peafowl Triplets Looking up at Mom
Mama Peafowl brought the 3 tiny peafowl babies to visit for snacks today. They hung around this afternoon for hours, which was awesome while I sat and read on the computer. At one point, mom jumped up on the pool cage and the babies were like, uh, mom, do you want us to go up THERE? So they just hung out below, cute and agitated :)
Sunday, September 23, 2018
3 New Baby Peafowl
We thought we'd seen them all for the year, and then a new mom just brought her 3 new ones to show them off.
These are tiny - smaller than the other 4 we've seen so far.
These are tiny - smaller than the other 4 we've seen so far.
Saturday, September 8, 2018
Baby Duck First Flight!
Yesterday, September 7th, was the first day we saw one of the duck family fly. The family is now six baby ducks (mom left LOL), and yesterday one of the six took off flapping like crazy and flew a few low laps over the pond and the beach. He made at least three laps, probably four, and landed in a bit of a crash landing in the northeast cove water. The other ducks swam quickly over to "Flapper" and congratulated him in duck language on his dangerous and brave flight!
So amazing getting to see all this from the "control room" window where we're always hanging out.
Mark says Flapper did another lap this morning :)
UPDATE: FLAPPER FLIES AWAY!
We hoped it would never happen, and then in an instant he's gone. It's Flapper, he's flown away. Fortunately Mary was watching and saw his exit or else we would have thought something awful happened to him. Nope. In what appeared to be one of his low orbit "Wright Brothers" test flights around the big P2 pond Flapper powered up his engines and took off towards the east, away he went.
It was a joyous and sad moment as our little baby duck flew away, out into the cold cruel world. His five brothers and sisters swam out to the middle of the pond as if they were looking for him to come back but alas little Flapper did not return. Hopefully he found a big pond to splash down in.
Mary promised me Flapper would return Sunday (tomorrow) but I'm doubtful. He's gone out into the world to discover his fame and fortune. Good luck little guy. Hope we see you again. Thanks for coming to P2.
Q U A C K ! ! !
ANOTHER UPDATE: QUACK QUACK QUACK! FLAPPER CAME BACK!
Low and behold, we awoke sunday morning and to our joy and surprise little Flapper had rejoined his brothers and sisters, six little brown ducks swam over to the corn pile to nom breakfast, then they swam to the far end of the pond, got up on the shore in one of their favorite spots and took a nap.
Peace and Flapper returned to P2. Life is good!
So amazing getting to see all this from the "control room" window where we're always hanging out.
Mark says Flapper did another lap this morning :)
UPDATE: FLAPPER FLIES AWAY!
We hoped it would never happen, and then in an instant he's gone. It's Flapper, he's flown away. Fortunately Mary was watching and saw his exit or else we would have thought something awful happened to him. Nope. In what appeared to be one of his low orbit "Wright Brothers" test flights around the big P2 pond Flapper powered up his engines and took off towards the east, away he went.
It was a joyous and sad moment as our little baby duck flew away, out into the cold cruel world. His five brothers and sisters swam out to the middle of the pond as if they were looking for him to come back but alas little Flapper did not return. Hopefully he found a big pond to splash down in.
Mary promised me Flapper would return Sunday (tomorrow) but I'm doubtful. He's gone out into the world to discover his fame and fortune. Good luck little guy. Hope we see you again. Thanks for coming to P2.
Q U A C K ! ! !
ANOTHER UPDATE: QUACK QUACK QUACK! FLAPPER CAME BACK!
Low and behold, we awoke sunday morning and to our joy and surprise little Flapper had rejoined his brothers and sisters, six little brown ducks swam over to the corn pile to nom breakfast, then they swam to the far end of the pond, got up on the shore in one of their favorite spots and took a nap.
Peace and Flapper returned to P2. Life is good!
Sunday, August 26, 2018
IBIS BLEACHING
As we head into the fall season the Ibis are spending more time out on the lawn bleaching their brown feathers white in the bright hot afternoon sun. It's a funny process they go through to lay out and bleach their feathers in the same UV that tans humans.
Saturday, August 25, 2018
First Baby Peafowl of 2018 - 8/24/2018
It's begun! The mother peahens are starting to bring their babies to the P2 buffet for seed and other snacks. Yesterday, 8/24/2018, we had the first sighting of a mother and baby wandering around the pole barn and starfruit tree area. It didn't take long before the pair came around to the front. You can see the baby on the left as a perfect scale model of the mom on the right, with the "ratty topknot" as clear giveaway that she's a baby. Awwww!
Mark had just been lamenting the lack of peafowl kids visiting us this year and there they were, one after another came to visit.
Finally we had a mother with three babies following her show up. When they're young peafowl all look like females. After a few more months the changes in color will begin and some of the young will transform into beautiful blue male peacocks.
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| Mom and three young peafowl, the young are perfect scale models with full size feet |
Young peafowl are really funny to watch, they don't know what they're doing but they are filled with attitude. Young pea kids run around in silly ways, like they're running from invisible ghosts. When they get older all that running around is chasing lizards and delicious bugs for food.
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| Notice how big their feet are, they are full size adult legs and feet |
Monday, August 20, 2018
REMEMBERING GUPPIE
We've had six little ducks and their mother living in the big pond at P2 since July 3rd. The littlest duck of the six became disabled on Saturday August 18th, I was shocked to see him mortally wounded when he came ashore to eat. He has always been small and had a weird strut but he stayed with his siblings and hung in there. Life in the wild is really hard. Guppie is 48 days old today.
When I first saw Guppie today he was visibly walking in a horrible deformed and torturous manner, it was heart breaking to see. It was as though the whole crew of brothers and sisters realized Guppie was not going to make it. As they left the corn feeding area they all paused by Guppie, as if to say goodbye to their little brother.
Sunday Guppie did not come to the feeding area, he pushed himself into some tall grass away from the other ducks. Mary and I contemplated any life saving strategies for Guppie but it was not to be, by 4 'o'clock a little motionless body laid lifeless by the pond. By morning his remains were gone, the dinner for some other wild animal that forages on third-shift.
Thankfully the five other young ducks in our brood are doing well. Today is Monday August 20th and there are 10 ducks hanging out together and schwim schwimming together. Our little family of ducks has been joined by several other ducks that "momma duck" approves of, she chased all the others away. For some reason she's letting the kids party with strangers today, perhaps part of the process of socialization.
I'll miss Guppie, I always cheer for the underdog, his beautiful spirit lives on in my memory.
Good luck next time little guy!
When I first saw Guppie today he was visibly walking in a horrible deformed and torturous manner, it was heart breaking to see. It was as though the whole crew of brothers and sisters realized Guppie was not going to make it. As they left the corn feeding area they all paused by Guppie, as if to say goodbye to their little brother.
Sunday Guppie did not come to the feeding area, he pushed himself into some tall grass away from the other ducks. Mary and I contemplated any life saving strategies for Guppie but it was not to be, by 4 'o'clock a little motionless body laid lifeless by the pond. By morning his remains were gone, the dinner for some other wild animal that forages on third-shift.
Thankfully the five other young ducks in our brood are doing well. Today is Monday August 20th and there are 10 ducks hanging out together and schwim schwimming together. Our little family of ducks has been joined by several other ducks that "momma duck" approves of, she chased all the others away. For some reason she's letting the kids party with strangers today, perhaps part of the process of socialization.
I'll miss Guppie, I always cheer for the underdog, his beautiful spirit lives on in my memory.
Good luck next time little guy!
Saturday, August 18, 2018
Sunday, August 12, 2018
Saturday, August 11, 2018
Paint by Number - began 8/11/2018
This paint by number acrylic painting "kit" is for fun and inspiration.
I love this review on Amazon... "Finished the painting....mine doesn't look ANYTHING like the example, but I like it anyway!"
https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R1K7LRQBSW6HEU/ref=cm_cr_getr_d_rvw_ttl?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B075B3NLD9
Starting today!
I love this review on Amazon... "Finished the painting....mine doesn't look ANYTHING like the example, but I like it anyway!"
https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R1K7LRQBSW6HEU/ref=cm_cr_getr_d_rvw_ttl?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B075B3NLD9
Starting today!
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| The canvas came rolled nicely - from China - with no instructions... I got the little easel and canvas backing from Michaels. |
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| Before ironing and mounting the canvas. |
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| Ready to start. |
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| Final version - in oils - by a professional artist! My results will certainly be dramatically different using acrylics and paint by number. Note the cute little ducks in the water and let's see how mine turn out... |
And here's why "paint by number" kits are helpful to beginner artists for learning painting skills.
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