Baby falcons are ready to fly

I posted before about the Perigrine Falcons nesting on the roof of the Rachel Carson State office building in Harrisburg, PA. There is a falcon cam showing the family. Click here to view the falcons via slide show, live feed or photo gallery.

The five young eyases have physically grown and developed considerably. Soon, they will make their first flight attempt, known as fledging. Beginning on Monday, June 8th, watch and rescue staff will track the activities of the eyases as they take to the air, one at a time until all have fledged. Although the larger eyases have had the advantage at feeding times, the smaller, more agile ones may have the advantage in flight. The little male (white band) has been running up and down the ledge all week. He’s just waiting for his feathers to develop a little more before he makes his first attempt. At the other end of the spectrum, we see the largest female (green band) - she may not be as agile as the smaller birds and the watch and rescue team will watch her closely and respond if she ends up on the street or on one of the nearby parking garages. In any event, fledging is probably the most critical step in the life cycle of peregrines and success can help to ensure the long-term survival of these endangered raptors.

I've been watching the live feed all morning, and one just took off. How, cool.

Click here to see my prior post.

What kind of dog is right for you quiz.

Martha at Mid-Atlantic Martha asked me why Bichons are such a good dog. Well, that response takes way to much explanation that a reply post would take. I'm sure everyone thinks their dog is the best in the world. Tell me about your dog.

If you don't have a dog and wonder what breed might be suited to, click here to take the quiz.

This is why a Bichon Frise is wonderful:

The Bichon Frise is a charming puffball of a dog with a white loosely curled coat, weighing in around 10-15 pounds. They are virtually hypo-allergenic and sheds little to no hair.

This breed should be trimmed for a rounded appearance every 4-8 weeks. The Bichon is identified by it's jaunty tail curved over it's back.

Show Dog Clip

The Bichon has a merry temperament. They are bred to be companion animals, crave human contact and are easy to live with. This charming, gentle dog is not a yapper. These bright little dogs are easy to train, but may be difficult to housebreak. They are naturally sociable and are happiest when they are part of a family that takes them everywhere.

This sociable trait also means that they are fine in the company of other dogs and pets and are excellent with children. They have an independent spirit, are intelligent, affectionate, bold, lively and self-assured. They are used as watchdogs and to perform tricks, this breed is competitive and obedient.

Bichon's at Dog Show

When given daily walks, the Bichon will be a very stable minded, trustworthy dog. The Bichon Frise can live in an apartment if it gets enough exercise, at least daily walks. They are fairly active indoors and will do okay without a yard. They do enjoy a good romp in a safe open area off lead, such as a large fenced in yard.

Some are prone to watery eyes, cataracts, skin and ear ailments, also epilepsy and dislocated kneecaps. They can be very sensitive to flea bites.

Share a Garden Sunday #1

I would like to thank Artie at Color Outside the Lines for hosting Share a Garden Sunday. I have only now found his blog. I'm glad he is sponsoring this meme, or else I wouldn't have seen his great posts. Make sure you stop on over. I'm going to add this blog as a favorite.

My garden is zone 6. The first few photos were taken in the spring. This is the second spring for my daffodils.



Last fall I planted the tulip bulbs and was rewarded with these beautiful flowers. I think I'll plant some more.

These pictures below were taken on June 1st. This is our side yard looking into the back yard beyond the picket fence. Come on in.



In photo below, the blue/purple flowers are lupines. They do come in many other colors. They are a member of the pea family, arranged in tight whorls that encircle the stem, creating clusters 1 to 2 feet long, lending a strong vertical effect to the garden. They bloom in June. Lupines self-sow, so I should have more every year.

The bright yellow flowers are coreopsis, Nana. They only get to about 6"-8" high. The pale yellow flowers are fox glove which are just coming out and should get much higher. I will have to stake these.

Below is purple salvia. This flower bed always has something blooming. I like my sundial which gives it a bit of sculptural interest.

I have my Don Juan climber going up my arbor. Don Juan has magnificent clusters of shapely blooms throughout the summer. Foliage is glossy and dark green. This disease-resistant plant grows 10-12 feet tall.

The white rose below topping the white picket fence is inviting and says welcome. This popular rose is Iceberg, a floribunda, which makes a good cut flower. It is in the rose hall of fame. It is a very profuse bloomer with masses of large trusses constantly covering the bush. There are approximately 20-25 petals on each rose.

This is my pink Knock Out rose. While it doesn't have very many petals per flower, it stays full and leafy all summer and blooms continuously. It is very disease resistant.

My favorite rose breeder is David Austin. He has developed the class called the modern English shrub rose. They are a combination of old world charm and new advancements in rose culture. I like many of them which have the large number of petals which produce a large cabbage rose.

Below is David Austin's Abraham Darby, with approximately 70 petals in shades of apricot and yellow, acquiring a pink tint as the bloom ages. It has a rich fruity fragrance. It repeats flowering and benefits from summer pruning.

Below is Gertrude Jeckyll, another David Austin rose. They have an old fashioned rose bloom shape and a more natural shrubby growth habit. Their produce approximately 80 deep pink petals per flower which has a wonderful strong damask fragrance. A repeat bloomer. It winters well.

A peony is in bud in the forefront.

I hope you have enjoyed your visit to my garden. Come back again.

Foodie Friday - Spiedies

Designs by Gollum is hosting Foodie Friday. Check out her site for other yummy recipes. This is my third is a series of regional favorites. I would like to share Spiedies.

My husband is a native of Binghamton, New York. Binghamton is in the southern tier of Upstate NY. Their food of fame is the Spedie. I must admit, I never heard of a spiedie until I met my husband. The first time we went back to his hometown, I had my first Spiedie. It is cubed marinated meat, using chicken, pork or lamb, traditionally eaten on a slice of white Italian bread.

For mine, I used 3 chicken breast halves. Cut the meat into 1 inch cubes.

If your local grocery store carries the bottled Spedie marinade, pour the marinade over the meat and let set in a covered bowl in your refrigerator overnight.

After it has marinated, place the meat on skewers and grill until your meat is done, approximately 12-15 minutes, turning once.

The meat is served on a slice of Italian bread folded over. The kind I buy is not very big, so I cut it thick and then slice down the middle, not quite clear through.

Lay your skewer of meat on the bread, pull out the skewer and you have your sandwich. They eat it dry and plain.

(Being a Pennsylvania girl, I don't think you can beat a cheese steak.)

The town has a festival, called The Spiedie Fest, the first weekend in August. There are hot air balloon launches, a carnival, craft booths, and of course spiedies. The spiedie marinate can be purchased online or in some supermarkets. If you can't find it in your area the recipe is as follows:

BINGHAMTON SPIEDIE MARINADE

1 c. oil

1/4 c. apple cider vinegar (not distilled)

1 tbsp. oregano

1/2 tsp. basil

2 tsp. pepper

2 tsp. salt

pinch rosemary, garlic & onion salt

1 tsp. paprika

Who says you can't take it with you. - RVing

Susan, at a southern daydreamer, is hosting Outdoor Wednesday. Click on the link to see that other great outdoor posts are offered.

It's Memorial Day weekend and we are going to the campground where we've had our RV for two years. It is a 2 hour drive from home.

There are a lot of people who are seasonal as opposed to weekenders. The season runs from April to October, however, some choose to leave their campers there over the winter for an extra fee.

The campground has a few amenities (think affordable). There is a camp store, a rec. room with pool tables and arcade games, Friday night bingo, and on holiday weekends a DJ comes in for a dance. There is a large playground in the center of the campground. Sometimes, they show outdoor movies.

The best feature is Penns Creek right along the campground. It is a wonderful stream for fishing, catching crayfish or tubing.

There is a fishing lake not too far away. Hiking and ATV trails are nearby, too. Of course, just relaxing in the hammock is nice.

Our RV has most of the comforts of home. It has a microwave, double bowl sink, large refrigerator and an eating booth, which could turn into extra sleeping area, if needed. No dishwasher or disposal. The living room has a sofa which turns into a full bed. There is a swivel rocker. There is a built in radio/tape deck. The best feature is the very large bathroom with a large shower, toilet, and sink. The bedroom has 3 wardrobes and a queen size bed. There are 2 TV hookups, gas furnace, AC, electric and water hookups. They don't have sewer hookups here, but we pay $5 to have the guy come around and dump us. We put a 24' deck on the front after this picture was taken.

The main reason we keep coming back is because my daughter and her family have an RV parked in the lot beside ours. I get to visit her and my grandchildren. Our RV is pulled in backwards. This configuration allows our awnings to face each other. We share the large area between our RV. My other daughter and her family are weekenders. They brought their pop-up.

Here is Uncle Don giving the kids watermelon.

At one point, my daughter and I went to Mifflinburg, location of the buggy museum, to go to the supermarket. This sign was at the supermarket.

Across the street is a bank which has this sign and a parking area for horse and buggy for their Amish customers.

That evening, some went to Beaver Springs Dragway to see the Jet Truck. Are you getting the contrast between the buggy and the jet truck?

Recreational Vehicles 101

I was going to post about our RV. However, many people are not aware of the differences in RVs. I thought I would begin by giving a basic overview about RVs in general. Later I will post about our RV and camping.

Our RV, like the one above, is a travel trailer which is self-contained housing unit that is towed by cars or trucks, using a hitch. They can be unhooked and left at a campground or storage facility. Many have slide outs which are opened once they are set up.

Class A RVs are the luxurious motor homes, usually 30-40+ feet long. These motor homes are capable of pulling trailers, cars and boats.

Class B RVs are van conversions, with varying amenities.

Class C RVs are distinctive in that they are cab over on a truck chassis. They look like a truck camper, but it is one unit.

5th wheel trailers are also self-contained, pulled by a truck using a distinctive hitch.

Pop-up campers are lightweight and built to expand at the campsite. The hard top pops up, the canvas sides pop out, the stairs come down and you are set.

Toy haulers, in travel trailers or 5th wheels are RVs that have a garage for motorcycles, ATVs, even cars.

If you have a truck, you are 1/2 way to owning an RV. Truck campers fit right over the bed and cab. Some are hard shell campers and some are pop-up or a hybrid.

Park Models are really just small mobile homes. They are not meant to be hauled around, but stay on a site you lease or own. Some models have porches and upstairs lofts. IMHO, you are not camping if you own this.

Porch Party

Rhondi at Rose Colored Glasses is hosting a porch party. I have so excited about this event. I really need ideas for my back porch. We love our porch, but it needs a lot of work. I think I will save my photos as the before.

Some of the projects on our to-do list is to upgrade to white vinyl porch railings and paint the porch floor.

This folding chair was just purchased at GW for $15.

Here is my thrift store birdcage I shared with you when I first got it.

I think this was meant to be a hanging candle holder. It's Princess House. We got it for a wedding gift. I got so tired of the wind blowing over my vase on the table, I thought I would put my flowers in here. No more spilled or broken vases.

My husband's pride and joy.

I hate the amber votives, but they will do until I find 6 of the same in clear. When I first got this, I put tapers in. The first time I lit them, they dripped down all over the table. Uck.

I am on the hunt for a charming little stand for the lamp. Until I find the right thing, thrifting or yard saleing, the little TV tray will have to do.

I got the idea from all you bloggers to use real indoor furniture outside. This is a cheap piece, I don't care if it gets ruined by the rain. It holds bird seed, and other garden stuff. See Caesar looking. Down off the porch is our hammock and swing.

My hosta bed alongside the porch.

Gate to the backyard. Come back again.