Frankensquash

We get a lot of cross pollination in our backyard and then the seeds survive the compost pile and surprise us.

This year, we got something that appears to be a cross between a pumpkin and a zucchini.

Last year, we got something that seemed to be a cross between a pumpkin and a butternut squash. I used for all the applications I would normally use a butternut squash for and it worked quite well.

Not sure how the pumpchini will cook up, but we shall see!

Planted!

This is what the pond looked like yesterday afternoon.

Sadly, as I was working in the kitchen last night, I heard a splash. Rob went to investigate and the eighty pound rock that makes up the waterfall had slid into pond.

The good news is that Tubby wasn't in it. We've been keeping her in the ghetto pond during the day and bringing her into the bathroom at night.

The bad news is that we're 90% sure it crushed the filter, it takes up the entire deep end and we have NO idea how we're going to get it out.

Ground Work

Rob really got into it when it came time to lay down the liner.

We're 98% certain the turtle's a girl. Her name is Tubby.

She seems pretty content with the pool Rob made in the blue storage bin, but she's vulnerable to raccoons, so Rob's been bringing her in each night to a similar bin in the shower. Not a great long term solution.

We decided to build her a pond along one corner of the house. Last weekend we dug the basic pond and laid the foundation for a cage that will go around it -- kind of like a chicken coop -- to keep raccoons and other critters from getting to Tubby. We used some of the old bricks from the fireplace that we still had on hand.

Rob's been watching Gardeners' World to learn how to make a pond. After we had the basic shape, Rob put in a special pond liner, which will keep the water from leaking out.

The pond needs a filter and Rob rigged the outtake hose so that it splashes over a rock. Hurray! Our own private waterfall. It sounds really pretty.

Tomorrow, the plants go in and then we get to work building the cage. Hope to have this done before the weekend is out. 

Turtle Watch 2015

The turtle took off yesterday and we couldn't find him anywhere. We thought he might be hiding in our vegetable garden, because the squash leaves make a lot of shade and the grey water keeps that area pretty moist, but I couldn't find him.

This morning, he was back sunning himself in the same place as yesterday, so Rob built him a really primitive pond out of some stuff we had on hand.  

The tub is what I normally store my knitting supplies in; the rocks are from the arroyo seco we've been building. (Hm. Should probably get some pics of that up here.)

He seems to really like where he's at, although we have to figure out how to keep racoons and cats from getting him.

Garden Guest

Rob and I always hoped our garden would be a habitat and I found this guy hanging out in the back yard this morning. Bit of a mystery as to how he got there.  Welcome!

Growth Spurt

The backyard is coming together!

Some days I think we aren't making any progress, but when I look at the picture below, taken on New Year's Eve, I realize how far we've come.

We No Longer Live in a Fishbowl

Four years after we moved in, we FINALLY have curtains!

I wanted traditional bungalow curtains, which are made from Irish linen and are designed to stay inside the window casings, allowing the beautiful refinished douglas fir to be seen.

Alas, all of our windows were custom sizes. When I totaled up would it would cost, the sticker shock nearly knocked me over.

So I did what any enterprising chick with a DIY streak would do -- I took a sewing class.

It's taking a little longer than expected. Sigh. Most of my projects do. But we are still WAY ahead on the cost side. I'm so glad I decided to do it.