Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Taco Tuesday & Other Tidbits

Hello.  Want to see my lunch?  I had tacos.  It is Tuesday.  So I titled my post Taco Tuesday.  Catchy eh?
Every once in a while I will buy those premade taco shells for a quick dinner of tacos.   They are certainly not as good as the real McCoy, but they are pretty darn good when you are hungry for a taco and don't want to make shells!  I am harvesting a lot of fresh cilantro and basil and radsishes now.  So yummy!!
My son is here tonight to watch the Laker game with his Dad and he is taking all of this home with him.  He is kind of getting into cooking too.  He loves to eat, so he should learn to cook!!
Yesterday and today were quite hot.  Today got into the mid 90's.   I guess summer is coming, like it or not.  I do like summer, but I don't have the tolerance for the heat that I used to have.
This afternoon after school, Noah and his buddy Christopher next door, had more bike races.  This is the new thing.  They race back and forth, up and down, around and around.
Is that cute or what?  Chris and Noah have become great buddies.  If you have been reading my blog for a while, you know that Christopher is the young man that lives next door.  He is 19 now.  We have known him since he was a little tiny boy.  Chris is an absolute delight.  It has been wonderful to watch him grow up, and to be among his favorite people.  He has taught  us so much.

I sat in my chair and worked on my Bobble.
I had to "frog" three rows.  I am a perfectionist.  I just couldn't let one skipped stitch go.  With this pattern, you really  have to stay on it.  One missed stitch messes up the offset pattern of the bobbles.
The more I work on this blanket, the more I love it!  It is super soft.  And weight of it is perfect for this time of year.
I have been waging a war on birds and gophers!  I have to preface this by saying that I love birds. But not gophers!   I have made natural habitats to attract so many different species to my yard.  I have nest boxes, water stations, seed feeders and nectar feeders.  I love that so many nest here on my property, and I get to document it and then watch them fledge.  But....but...but.....I have never had them nest on my doors!!!  I have had a pair of house finch trying to nest right outside my patio door, and I keep removing the nest material to try to discourage them.  I think they have finally moved on.  Then today, I walked out my front door, and it was splattered with mud!!!  I looked above and there was the beginning of a mud swallows nest.  NO!!!!  What a MESS they make!  And not on my front door!!!!!!!  NO way!!!  I hosed it all off, and then dried my doors and wood frame around the door, and cleaned off my baskets  hanging on the door, and hosed the porch, and hoped that they would leave.  I had no sooner gotten the hose rolled up and towels brought into the house when I saw that they were BACK!!!  Slinging mud!!!!!   I googled how to discourage them, and was not encouraged!!!   Not owls, or snakes or much of anything works at deterring these persistent birds.  So, I searched the garage for a tall pole and something to put up there to keep them away.  This is what I came up with.
Nice isn't it?
I am hoping that I can take it down in a couple of days.  Maybe they will have moved on to another location by then!!!
That's all I've got.  See you soon.
XO  Kris

26 comments:

Gracie Saylor said...

Oh my,Kris. I know it is not entirely funny for you, but I am laughing with you as you defend your home front! Our first year in this house we had persistent nesters over our front door. We needed your creative assistance! I hope your tactic is successful. <3

pembrokeshire lass said...

It's still cold and wet here so no point setting anything in the garden. Lovely to see the boys on their bikes together! I just love the colours and texture of the blanket that you are making! Joan

corners of my life said...

I have always loved your front door. Hope the hatted stick works!

Holly said...

The tacos looks great, how nice that Drew is getting into cooking. I love birds too and spend quite a bit of time watching them and the babies run around the back yard. Your hat cracks me up, I fear that maybe you have just provided added shade for them.

From the Kitchen said...

Love the photo of the little boy and the big boy racing in the driveway! Also love that piece you are working on. It's very cool here after our big rain. O.K. by me!

Best,
Bonnie

Heather - The Good Life said...

Hi Kris, your Tuesday tacos look great. I haven't made tacos in a while and should, everyone here loves them. We get birds nesting all around our house too with the trees. Our biggest problem is woodpeckers pecking at our eaves. We are going to get stock in wood putty soon. ;-) Good luck keeping the pests at bay. Have a great day! Heather

Kerri said...

The picture of Noah and Christopher is great...so cool that they are buddies. Your tacos look so yummy...you make me want to plant a few herbs...maybe I will...or is it too late?

priscilla said...

The birds are very determined ! We have a nest in the wreath on my front door. Its decomesh and they have the nest in one of the loops and there are eggs in it..
looks like your garden is doing well , can't wait to plant mine !

Genn said...

First off, that pic of Chris and Noah is SOOOOO cute!!! Oh my gosh I just love it.

Next, tacos, hmmmmmm.

Third, lol about those swallows and your hat on a pole! I hope that works, but am laughing at Holly's comment about it providing shade for them! good luck!

Sunny Simple Life said...

Tacos are a weekly event around here. I am hating the scrub jay and mocking birds that are harassing my chicks. I want Dean to take the nests down but they are way up there. I keep Lola our chi out there. She goes after the annoying birds. She is my chicken guard.

Pam said...

I love that Noah and Chris have so much fun together!

Your Bobble looks pretty.

Putting your hat up in front of the door will hopefully work to keep those mud swallows away!

Mereknits said...

So glad Noah has a friend, a very special one at that! I wage my war on armadillos. They dig hole all over looking for bugs. I love that they eat bus, I just don't want piles of dirt all over my sidewalk. They make little grunting noises and drive my Max CRAZY! The tacos look yummy!
Meredith

Jill said...

Hi Kris!

those tacos look yummy! The hat is rather cute up there! LOL
I have been so busy the days are getting away from me and I have so much catching up to do and posts to write :-)

hope you have a great week!

blessings,
Jill

annielizabeth said...

Hi Kris, I like the pre-made tacos they just taste different but still good and less to clean up after. About all the birdies that make their home in your yard, they seem to be taking over! Hope the hat trick works. I wonder if spraying some cheap strong cologne up there would keep them away from your front porch? The worst is to be dive bombed when they think you all are the intruders. Keep us posted!

Teresa Kasner said...

Hi Kris.. Noah is so lucky to have such a good friend to ride bikes with. Your bobble is looking GORgeous! I can so relate on the birds.. we have house wrens making nest all in our roof eaves and they make a huge mess down our windows and on the window ledges of straw and bird doodoo.. yuck. I hope your trick works! Now I want tacos! hah!
((hugs)), Teresa :-)

kathy b said...

hysterical scarecrow....

Im trying some shallow water baths for my birds this summer. I have some ceramic bowls from a fountain that was too much trouble. I will put them flat on the group and hope the squirrels don't break them that way.
Any tips for me?

NanaNor's said...

Hi there, Don't know how I missed this. Loved your tacos. I love cilantro-big time. So fun Noah can have a good time with your neighbor.
Have a great evening!
xxxoooNoreen

~Niki~ said...

love all your pics, especially the one with christopher and noah.

Debbiedoos said...

Mmmm...on the tacos Kris..and yes very catchy title LOL!

Debbie said...

I just had to tell you this story...In our old house we had a front porch that sparrows built a nest in the roof of every sprint for at least 5 years! The first time we loved it. Melody got such a kick out of watching the mama and the babies etc. However by the next year I was done...the birds swooped around and made a mess and dived bombed at your head as you came in and out. For some dumb reason we just put up with it for a couple of years. But then one year a bird flew right into my house!! It was just a nightmare getting it out! Sooo after that year, the next year my hubby covered the whole area with paper he stapled in so they couldn't get back up there. Worked perfectly. We took the paper down eventually and they never did it again....haha Good luck over there with your idea. Mud? No thanks... ; )

Nicolle said...

I love Taco Tuesday around here. Your tacos look good!

I adore the photos of Noah and Chris. What a special friendship they have. I just love it so much.

The herbs and veggies from your garden look so great. I need to grow my own cilantro, it's one of my absolute favorites.

ps. I'm making your shredded meat right now, with garlic and pepperoncinis. The chuck roast was so expensive for some reason, so I'm trying it with pork. It already smells so good!

Val said...

I love tacos and yours look amazing.

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson said...

Kris, the hat on a pole made me laugh. What us woman can come up with when faced with a problem. I have never had one of those darn birds try and make a nest on my home. I have seen them at others and they are really messy. I don't blame you for trying to scare them off. Every now and then I crave one of those hard tacos. Hubby and I like them once in a while.
Hugs,
Jann

Unknown said...

Totally my kind of lunch girlfriend. I can't believe how much fun you have weekly with those grandkids. They truly are keeping the two of you young. Have a rockn' good MD this weekend. And keep those birds from nesting there, please. I agree...any where else is fine.

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Mmmm...I used to make tacos like yours with the Ortega shells for my children when they lived at home. I will have to make them for my husband and I again soon. I love them with guacamole and sour cream on top.

Noah and his friend look very happy together -- it is nice for both of them.

Your bobble knit looks so pretty! I like the rainbow colors.

Good luck with keeping those birds away from your doors...your "scarecrow" is so funny!

I wish you could send some of your hot weather here, Kris. My daughter is getting married next weekend and I'm hoping for a warm and sunny day!

Cheryl said...

Nothing like having a bike buddy..such sweet pictures. Love your bird keep away thingie!!!!