Gerald Doyle:  

05/19/2024 This is good. Two birdhouses at opposite ends of the yard and bluebirds are nesting in both houses. The mealworm feeder has brought success. The blackberry vine has stopped producing and I haven’t had to place netting on it; although, it is still growing. 05/06/2024 Optimistic. A pair of bluebirds have dined at the new mealworm feeder and have been checking out the birdhouse. 05/01/2024 Well sparrows are relentless. The Mylar isn’t working. I’ll just leave the birdhouse open until they move to a new location. I’ve seen bluebirds flying through the yard - just not enticing enough for them to stay. 04/26/2024 We have put up bluebird houses in our backyard last year and this year the English sparrows moved in. After their first hatchlings left we cleaned the nests out and put Mylar streamers on the houses to deter the sparrows. So far it’s working and a pair of bluebirds looking to return. So I ordered some garden netting for the blackberry vines hoping to deter the cardinals and mockingbirds from dining. Time will tell. A few years back we had doves nesting in our hanging flower basket. A cat found the nest and killed a dove leaving it by our back door. Unfortunately, we had to remove the hanging baskets for several months. 04/08/2024 This weekend we’ve been painting at Vicki’s mother’s home (Alexander). Spring is a beautiful time to visit. The added treat was taking in the Solar Eclipse. I heard it was to be a crazy time with the inundation of visitors from across the nation. I asked the local store folks what they thought. Most said they would step outside look around but not much. The dark lasted about a minute. It was fun being here. Came back to Baton Rouge and no one saw any darkness. 03/22/2024 Spring comes early for me in south Louisiana, Arkansas usually gray skies - here sunny and flowers blooming with a light to heavy dusting of pollen everywhere. I will never get adjusted to it. I bought four hybrid thornless blackberry plants two years ago from the University of Arkansas. Three died; however, the fourth plant stretches four to five feet in four directions with a ton of blossoms this spring. The bees have been all over it and berries are coming on. With a late Hard Freeze, I lost a couple of limbs on the two Naval Orange trees; but the remaining limbs of the trees will produce a good many oranges in the fall. With three raised garden beds, I went to the nursery this morning for a couple of bags of fresh compost to mix in. The nursery was busy with folks getting their summer plants but we should wait until Easter for the planting. With a little assistance on my part I can kill the hardiest of vegetation unlike Vicki - she can grow just about anything. I tend to over do it. 03/17/2024 Been in Saginaw TX this past week moving the grandsons bedroom and painting the rooms for our expectant granddaughter coming in August. The boys are having fun so far. Oh so nice to sleep in your own bed again. 02/27/2024 Having a wonderful time, Vicki and her mom visiting Wye Mountain daffodils. I'm on the other hand taking in Continuing Professional Education on an Electrical/ Mechanical tract at ULL in Lafayette. One session is delving into AI - its background starting from the 1980’s to the present ChatGPT and its projected future. 2/08/2024 Well when great grandmother knows, I can say we are anticipating the arrival of our seventh grandchild. Officially the girls have the lead. It will be a trying summer with the heat and humidity. 12/23/2023 Visited the Greater Baton Rouge Railroad in Jackson Louisiana with public viewing on the 2nd & 4th Saturday o...Expand for more