"Gather ye rose-buds while ye may." Robert Herrick

"Gather ye rose-buds while ye may." Robert Herrick

Hello Friends!

Friends, Romans, countrymen...y'all. Foodies, gardeners, artists and collectors - let's gather together to share and possibly learn a thing or two in the mix.

Donna Baker

Wednesday, June 14, 2017

Sittin' On The Dock Of The Lake


Each morning is about the same.  After coffee and such, I head outside to look about.  My flowers are really taking off now.  The heat and dry season began this week.


My coneflowers and phlox have started blooming.  Love them both.


I feed the birds and waterfowl.  They are usually waiting for me.  The ducks, geese, turtles and fish get a 27% protein mini-chunk dog kibble.  This rather large red-earred slider, along with different sized friends, never miss a feeding.  They make me laugh.


Turtles are pretty smart and have wonderful eyesight.



The baby Canada geese are nearly as large as their parents now.  Only a small tuft of fluff left on the back of their heads.  The turtles get close to them and I've seen the geese warn them away and even peck at them.  It's a free for all.



So, this is how my mornings go.  Just hanging out back, sitting' on the dock, wasting time.




39 comments:

A Brit in Tennessee said...

Reminds me of the Otis Redding song I loved so much in my teens :)
Your flowers are just gorgeous, what a pretty view you have to enjoy each day.
All the animals now enjoying your treats....next you'll be labeled Mother Earth :)
Thanks for sharing Donna, I needed some peace and tranquility today.
Hugs,
~Jo

local alien said...

Looks idyllic!

donna baker said...

That's what we need Jo. Sit on the porch and rock and let all the rest of the world take care of itself. I'd like to be on your porch with iced tea and watch the world go by. I thought of that song too.

donna baker said...

Yes, I get a lot of enjoyment in my home and garden.

Joanne Noragon said...

All our little comforts. Mine are the deck, the bench, the anemone, and the sparrows.

Mary said...

What a great place to relax and enjoy your thoughts along with the wildlife Donna.
Your flowers are just gorgeous - I love both coneflower and phlox - you should be seeing hummingbirds soon!

angryparsnip said...

Love this post !
I try not to feed the animals or critters, they are alway planning attacks on my home ! If I fed the birds the packrats and all the squirrels, gophers and other critters are always trying to live in my home and garage.

cheers, parsnip and thehamish

coffeeontheporchwithme said...

I can't believe you have a trained turtle! Geese, I understand because they are kind of pushy and greedy, but that is so cool that your turtle shows up everyday for food. Your flowers are lovely! -Jenn

Curtains in My Tree said...

Your dock look so great and love the coneflowers blooming I'm hoping for some to bloom soon.
Looking at your picture I think of that old saying you are "Living the Life Of Riley" are you old enough to remember your grandparents saying that? I am haha

donna baker said...

Love all those too. The sparrows on the back porch are on their second set of babies. It didn't seem long enough to hatch out another batch.

donna baker said...

They usually return to our area in April and I've had the feeder full but haven't seen one yet. Love hummers.

donna baker said...

That's why I am battling rats and gophers. The squirrels are even peeking in the windows waiting for their nuts.

donna baker said...

Thank you Jenn. Many turtles show up. All sizes. The smaller ones are usually a little shyer.

donna baker said...

Oh yes. I remember watching the television show. I'm old as dirt. Remember Father Knows Best, even a little Amos and Andy.

Sandra Cox said...

How wondrous. It looks so pretty and serene. It calms me just looking at the pictures.

Debbie Nolan said...

Now Donna I think that is time well spent - wasting the day away. Your flowers and sea life are wonderful. Have a great day. Hugs!

ellen abbott said...

love it

The Weaver of Grass said...

I just wish there was some reasonable weather here Donna to waste time in.

donna baker said...

I spend many an hour outside Sandra. I am kind of a naturalist. Thank you.

donna baker said...

Oh, thank you Deb. I do feel a little guilty from time to time that I need to do more, but not guilty enough I guess. ;)

donna baker said...

Me too Ellen. I have always been an outdoors girl.

donna baker said...

Pat, we've had a late spring and soon, it will be so hot out it will be hard to enjoy except in early morning and evenings. Won't even be breezes or rain until fall. And, by the way, a large chain store had fall and Christmas stuff starting to fill shelves. I thought I didn't just see that.

Ry @ Sotto Il Monte Vineyards said...

Beautiful and peaceful garden!!

La Table De Nana said...

Singing..in my head..not a waste of time..a great USE of time.."Time Spent in a garden is time well spent"..I didn't invent this quote..but it's a true one;)

donna baker said...

Thank you Ry. So full, I can barely get some zinnia seedlings in there, but I love it freestyle instead of manicured.

donna baker said...

That's what I think too Monique. I just have to plant a flat of zinnia seedlings I started and some more coneflowers. I like things that return and re-seed themselves.

Stephanie Faris said...

How nice! I dream of living on the lake someday. We did have a big pond in our back yard where we used to live, but it was private, so not quite the same!

donna baker said...

It is one of the reasons I bought the city house Stephanie. I spent a lot of time at the farm ponds. Believe it or not, even fish come when I go out there. Thank you for coming by.

angryparsnip said...

Donna, I was just reading where people cut up Irish Spring Soap and chuck it around the garden to keep pest away. Funny I remember this from years ago. see if this help with your critters.

donna baker said...

Gayle, I used to do that in tangerine bags and hang them around the garden to keep deer away. I just noticed a mole is making its subway tunnel around my front yard now. I am really getting sick the subterranean rodents. I did it with mothballs once too but couldn't stand the smell.

RachelD said...

What a morning! That Oklahoma Spring breeze, the green scene and all your critters---just perfect. Even your little folk standing sentry as they gaze their days away are a part of the sweet serenity. I well understand the power of those little adopt-each-other creatures who accept and then demand attention and food.

Good Morning.

r

donna baker said...

And I forgot to even mention the bullfrogs. I am at the farm now and I need to go back to city house to rest.

Down by the sea said...

What a wonderful way to start the morning. It feels exotic having turtles visiting you! Sarah x

donna baker said...

Lots of different species of turtle in Oklahoma. There is an Alligator Snapping Turtle that can weigh over 250lbs. It mostly lives in Rivers.

Share my Garden said...

That's not wasting time, Donna, it's living the life!

donna baker said...

Nature girl. Can't change my stripes at my age.

Catarina said...

Hi!
What a lovely place you have. Peaceful, relaxing... always bonding with nature!
Enjoy!
: )

donna baker said...

Thank you Catarina. Mother Nature - I've been called. I just bought a bag of birdseed and poured it out for the parking lot birds at Wal Mart.

jerilanders said...

The garden looks super! Two old fashioned flower favorites. It looks so very serene and cool sittin by the dock.