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| Peach-faced Love Birds |
We are staying home to slow the spread, protecting ourselves by wearing masks when we must go out. In Arizona we "stay home, stay healthy and stay connected". I have no idea how we are to increase our physical distancing and be socially connected. We are supposed to talk on phone or skype. In my neighborhood we shout across the street to neighbors we see in their yards or walking. However, a good thing is we are getting to know our neighbors better at a 6 foot or more distance. This works, but it's not the same. No dancing, no church, no choir! At least with church we have services on livestream.
We are maintaining healthy habits by keeping 6 feet apart, washing our hands for at least 20 seconds, staying home, wearing masks, not touching our faces specifically our eyes, nose and mouth, coughing into a mask, tissue or sleeve when out, staying home if sick, going to doctor after calling if you are sick, self isolating if sick, cleaning frequently touched objects with a disinfectant daily, cleaning objects you touched with unwashed hands after you come home. This is the routine when you come home: wash hands, get a disinfectant wipe (which you probably cannot buy, so use diluted bleach which is probably old and out of date, but you cannot buy bleach anywhere), wipe off anything in car or house you touched before you were able to wash hands, then throw wipe away and wash hands again. Now you are good to go! Watch the news for the daily coronavirus update so you know if things are going to get better any time soon!
All of this is exhausting, so I get joy and adventure from the birds, flowers and produce in my garden
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| I love this picture! |
Somehow, I must fill my home with flowers from my garden. These are some of my roses in their first blooms of the season right now. I have given them to many friends and neighbors. Passing them hand to hand with outstretched arms to keep the required 6 feet distance! The 2nd blooms won't be as large, but will still be beautiful.
The birds above are my Peach faced love birds who came to keep me company while I was washing my front windows. I stood very quietly and they bravely came back to the feeder. My birds give me much joy and amusement. The lovebirds let me know when the feeder is empty by coming to the window and squawking. They also sing along when I play the piano. The sparrows and house finches are very persistent and hungry all day as most birds just eat in the morning and evening taking a needed siesta in the middle of the day. The hummingbirds are very brave and still come to the feeder even if I'm standing right next to it. I guess they know that I could never catch them no matter how close I am. They will also come right up and look in the window at me if their feeder is getting on the low side. The pigeons, morning doves, inca doves and white winged doves are always there to get the left overs from the hanging feeders. My back yard has a rain chain which is set up to have a slow drip going into the rain barrel from the cooler source (Gary's Birthday present to me last year). The birds all love this constant source of water. The back yard is the home to the Abert's Towhees who are very industriously pecking for bugs on the ground. Other birds that come and go on a regular basis are the Gila Woodpecker, Curved bill thrasher, Mockingbird, White Crowned Sparrow, Lesser Goldfinch, Long Tailed Grackle and Gambel's Quail. They all have their own calls and personalities and bring much joy to me!
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| Roses from my garden turned black and white |
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| Cut Nasturtiums from my garden |
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| Sage and Choc mint to dehydrate in microwave |
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| Building legos with gears, fun fun! |
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| Actually hanging my laundry on line! |
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| Harvesting seeds for next yr these are Nasturiums |
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| A friendship succulent from Thelma Wilson who is long gone to heaven |
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| Peaches ripening |
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| Apricots ripening |
Many of my plants are from family and friends. I list just a few. I have Paper-whites from my Grandmothers downtown apartments, Snow peas from the Sings, Violets, irises and others from my Mom, succulents from Denise, Calla Lilly from a choir member, Cactus from Mary and Connie, Trumpet vines from the Orcutts and a white Amaryllis from Rev. Tate. He brought it to my Mom when we moved out to S.Phx in 1952!
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| Flowers of Yellow Aloe and Mother of Millions |
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| A sweet spot to sit and enjoy the garden |
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| A self start lettuce from last year seed scattering |
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| Hollyhock in my veg garden |
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| I planted various kinds of squash from harvested seeds and watermelon |
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| My juicing setup with towels to catch splatter |
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| Here's the juicer at work |
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| My new freezer almost filled with juice to last year |
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| These are my pets, my worms! |
