Almost ready for winter

Gizmo has been storing up reserves for the coming winter.

Gizmo Hogg packing it on...

And almost ready for winter.This little fellow is becoming quite content and seemingly happy.

The Night Shift Arrives

This friendly youngster is quite willing to clean up anything that has been left by the daytime birds or Gizmo Hogg. Thankfully this one is almost completely odorless, at least for now. :))

Gizmo Hogg

Gizmo is wondering why I have not left his breakfast out.

G.H. (Aka Gizmo Hog) Returns

Gizmo is ever alert and ready to scram for home. I must move very slowly and quietly. This has to be the smallest groundhog I have ever seen. But I'm happy he seems to call my backyard home. Being a vegetarian he has a taste for the bird food I put out.

Old Friends Return?

Much to my surprise this time. But that's antoher story. Now these two seemed to know me, perhaps a pair of kits from last year. Or - is this a mom and one quickly growing kit? I have no idea.

More Flowers

In spite of the miserable spring weather, the summer heat has done wonders for many of the plants in the garden.

A New Garden Friend

Now I know who was making all the noise under the retreat. It was not a young skunk, but this little groundhog. Though very shy, he (or she) keeps coming back. Yes, I call him (or her) Gizmo. I have no idea why that name seemed to stick - it just did.

A Hint

Of (I hope) the Retreats new location by this fall.

Summer Arrived - at last.

Though things were late in starting,the new blooms are doing great. We are still getting ready for our big move. I hope to be able to show you the great place that will be the new home for Rusty's Retreat - deep in the Laurentians, with a small river within feet of the front door.

This bird finds warm is good

Quite a difference from the picture taken back late in the winter.

It's been too long. Computer problems were part of the problem in keeping things more or less up-to-date.

However there are some very BIG changes coming to Rusty's Retreat. True, things are going to be slow until the Fall, but wait and see.

ATB! Rusty

Waiting For Dinner

A friendly Visitor

There are quite a few of these birds around but I don't have a clue what they are. Though fast moving, they don't seem to mind me sitting just a few feet away.

A Friendly Redwing

And boy, does this character give me whatfor until I put the bird food out in the morning.

Look What I found.....

This young squirrel seems to think he has the motherlode of food. It seems just a little too big for him to drag away - but he is trying.

Bleeding Heart

Isjust starting to bloom. I'm going to have to divide this beauty later this year.

Mother Robin

Taking time out to find her breakfast.

Mrs Napoleon?

I seem to be getting a very strange look. She probably wants a change in diet. No peanuts in this particular bird feeder. Though it's illegal to feed any wild critters here - including certain birds - squirrels and raccoons refuse to read the signs on the bird feeders. :-(

Spring Nights

We had a few clear days - temperatures up to near normal. But after this was taken the rain returned.