Random Little Bits

Since we live 30 minutes out of town, we try to limit those trips to once a week.  This means that we head out with a long list of needs...groceries, supplies and errands...and spend the entire day accomplishing everything on the list.  And today was the day.  We've been in the town of Franklin all day, in and out of the car, doing this and that until everything on the list was crossed off.  For some reason, we're more exhausted after a day in town than we are after a hard day in the garden or chopping and stacking wood!  The good thing is Franklin is surrounded by mountains, so everywhere we drive, this is what we see in every direction...not bad scenery to deal with while running errands, even on a cloudy day!

Since we've been gone all day, I thought I'd share a few little bits about things around here.  This is a glass chime I brought up here from our river place, and hung it up some time ago...it's in a corner of the cabin where the beams jut out, giving it a little protection.  Every now and then, when the wind comes from the south or south west, the chimes sing softly.  I really like them.

This is another Pipevine Swallowtail caterpillar getting ready to make it's cocoon...you can see the string (not sure what that is called) attaching it to the wall...

 ...this is two days after the picture above, and you can see the remains of the exoskeleton it shed before pupating...

 ...I thought that was kind of cool!  Maybe I'll get to see this one emerge...I'll be watching closely!

I told you about my new fly swatter so I could zap and splat those little insects that are eating our cabin...you can see it's gotten quite a bit of use.  I have to say, I do believe there are fewer of those bugs, though I doubt I will ever get them all (and yes, I admit I am feeling some pleasure in splatting them...it's one strategy to save our much loved cabin from them...better than pesticides!).  I have saved one to bring to the Extension service the next time I head into Sylva, to see if they have any solutions.

My last little bit has to do with my scavenging squirrels that I am trying to keep from our bird feeders.  One day I decided to throw a cup of water at the squirrel...I missed...but the squirrel didn't seem very fond of water being tossed in it's direction.  A few days later, Johny came home with couple squirt guns...and the battle has begun!  I do believe it's working, because when they see me coming, they run...it may not be a permanent solution, but it's fun to try to squirt them, and it's harmless. 

The things we do around here to protect our homestead! 

Thanks for reading my blog, you are the best f/f/r/s/f's, see you tomorrow,
Lise