Journey II
Images
Lap dog
Though lap and one half is more accurate.
Rainwater harvesting
This is our rainwater harvesting system. It’s instrumental in keeping our garden irrigated.
We obtained two food-grade olive barrels (free!). I drilled a 1″ hole toward the bottom of the vertical side of the one on thre deck and another 1″ hole toward the top of the vertical wall. I installed a brass spigot in the bottom hole and a fitting with a 1″ I.D. tubing in the top hole.
Then I drilled two holes in opposite sides of the upper portion of the bottom barrel. The other end of the tubing with a fitting on that end plugged into one hole and serves as an automatic overflow from the upper barrel into the lower barrel. An inexpensive plastic spigot fitted into the other hole and serves as an overflow valve for the lower barrel.
Faye stapled window screen to the inside of the screw-on rings to serve as mosquito barriers. I had to do a little cutting on the downspout so the upper barrel would fit underneath. Then we put them in place.
Betweeen the two barrels we can store about 100 gallons (375 liters) of rainwater. Our various water jugs – repurposed laundry detergent, water, and vinegar jugs – add another 8 gallons’ capacity. For the past three years this has been more than enough to keep our garden, potted houseplants, and some specimen plants irrigated, and we have never run out of water. Our financial layout for the whole setup has been around $40.
We do not irrigate our lawn, either with harvested water or city water. While we like the look and feel of turfgrass we are gradually decreasing the amount of lawn. We are a little different from many people in that we do not see the point in watering and fertilizing something that you then mow, that you water and mow, that you water and mow, that you fertilize and water and mow . . .
We expanded the garden this year and this may test our water storage capacity. Only 13mm of rain has fallen since May 16. After the (probably overly) prodigious watering I did while Faye worked we have around 50 gallons between the two barrels.
It’s a bit of a fiddle to carry water to the garden. We are looking at adding eavestroughs to the shed which would empty into one or two barrels inside the garden area, shortening the carry.
Flowers in his hair
Several years ago we bought this piece of yard art at the antique store at the Carlow crossroad. It has a semi-permanent spot in one corner of our backyard. Longhorns aren’t known for wearing flowers but the iris flower leaned over just right to dress him up.
Living Wall
I drive past this hedgerow nearly every day. It has always intrigued me because of its uniformity of height and size. More because of its scale, stretching all the way across the concession from one road to the next for a mile. A mile. At some time a farmer made the time and expense and sweat equity to plant this living fence, this living wall. I honour that fellow for taking on and completing such a huge task. This wall breaks the wind, settles blowing snow and soil, adds beauty and colour, provides habitat, made for a good subject.
At the time I did not realize that a cardinal was in the frame. Look just above and to the left of my copyright.
Errand
While Achilles lays quietly, Stella trots by on an important errand. Namely, coming to the deck and bumping her head up under my hand.
Posing
I visited Faye out in the field last Sunday. While waiting for the planting crew to finish the pass and break for lunch I came across this Great Egret standing in a drainage canal. It held this pose long enough for me to capture it.
Actually, I flatter myself that it held the pose. It was hunting and had no care whatsoever that I was present.
Watchful
The female Baltimore Oriole is a frequent visitor to this feeder. She vigilantly monitors our movements and flies away if we move too much.
Redbud
Our redbud tree was in bloom a couple weeks ago. Our chairs beckoned us to take our ease yet this year the opportunity escaped us. Next year we will correct this oversight.
Journey
It’s been a hectic week-plus. Faye put in over 100 hours of work in eleven days. In addition to my contributions to household management I needed to keep the garden alive and try to keep up the many, many other talents she so enthusiastically and ably contributes to keeping our home running and in such fine shape. My appreciation of all you do, sweetie, is doubly, triply reinforced during these times. Life is a journey and along the way it’s important to stop, look around, see, smell, hear, and appreciate all that we are given.
Now that Fayes’ done working I’ll pick up the pace of my blogging a little.
previouslytexan 