Notes from my patio

Grampa Don

Grampa Don

Yep, that's me
Location
Orange county, Calif.
This is my patio. It's my favorite spot.

patio.jpg


The old rattan chair swivels and rocks and it's comfortable. I like to sit in it when it's nice out like this morning; sometimes with a cup of tea, sometimes with my pipe and ginger ale, and sometimes with nothing but my thoughts. Usually there are birds, squirrels, or lizards to watch, even interesting bugs.

The hummingbird feeder is always busy. Lately there have been 6 or 7 of them fighting over it, but it has suddenly dropped off to 3 or 4. Maybe a couple have found a better feeder.

The picket fence is there because of a little dog we used to have. There is a garden area behind the garage and we wanted to keep him out of it. Now, the gate is always open. There is a bird bath behind the fence that is hard to see in the photo. I keep it clean and filled and put a ladder on it for the squirrels. We used to have a post with bird feeders, but I took it down. I got tired of taking care of it.

I intend to use this thread for occasional ramblings. I don't expect it will be of much interest to most folks, but it's something to do.
 

Thank you for the comments. The grass is whatever comes up, mostly what we call devil grass because it's hard to get rid of. The birds like it. In the winter there is a clover that dominates. In the spring, some of the weeds have tiny flowers in yellow and blue. There must be really tiny bugs to pollinate them

Our hummers are all Anna's humming birds. The males have metallic red throats. The chairs you see have open weave fabric seats and backs. A while back I was sitting there and one of the hummers chased another away from the feeder. It flew down and right into the back of one of the chairs and got its beak stuck. It was stuck there with its wings buzzing. I started to get up to free it, but by then it broke free and took off.

Yes, the pots are geraniums. It's the easiest plant to care for and the flowers are pretty. They aren't blooming right now.
 
There's an old fruitless mulberry tree in the back yard.

back-yard-small.jpg


It was there when we bought the house in '67. I remember scolding my oldest son for trying to climb it because it was so small. I fell out of it once while pruning. I kicked the ladder out of the way and fell flat on my face. It knocked me cold. My younger son heard the ladder fall and found me. The paramedics hauled me to emergency where they took xrays found nothing wrong. Luckily I didn't fall on the saw I was holding in my hand. I got a safety lecture from my wife.

When my granddaughter came along I hung a swing from it that she loved. I enjoyed it too.
 
Grandpa Don said: "I intend to use this thread for occasional ramblings. I don't expect it will be of much interest to most folks, but it's something to do."
You would be surprised Grandpa Don. The members here are kind, couteous and honest, they will read your "ramblings" and get pleasure from them. That I know from experience by the thread that was posted, titled: Question @Horseless Carriage re-Clothing. So many complimentary, kind and couteous remarks,
 
I hadn't looked to see where you lived until just now and now I know why that yard
struck a nostalgic pinch in me.
I lived right on the border of Orange and Buena Park in my last home in California.
If I recall right, Knott's was about 3-4 streets away. That cinder block fence gave it away I think.
 
Grampa Don said:
This is my patio. It's my favorite spot.

patio.jpg


The old rattan chair swivels and rocks and it's comfortable. I like to sit in it when it's nice out like this morning; sometimes with a cup of tea, sometimes with my pipe and ginger ale, and sometimes with nothing but my thoughts. Usually there are birds, squirrels, or lizards to watch, even interesting bugs.

The hummingbird feeder is always busy. Lately there have been 6 or 7 of them fighting over it, but it has suddenly dropped off to 3 or 4. Maybe a couple have found a better feeder.

The picket fence is there because of a little dog we used to have. There is a garden area behind the garage and we wanted to keep him out of it. Now, the gate is always open. There is a bird bath behind the fence that is hard to see in the photo. I keep it clean and filled and put a ladder on it for the squirrels. We used to have a post with bird feeders, but I took it down. I got tired of taking care of it.

I intend to use this thread for occasional ramblings. I don't expect it will be of much interest to most folks, but it's something to do.
Click to expand...
That looks very comfy and California weather? I don't believe I can beat that! Enjoy.
 
IrishEyes said:
I hadn't looked to see where you lived until just now and now I know why that yard
struck a nostalgic pinch in me.
I lived right on the border of Orange and Buena Park in my last home in California.
If I recall right, Knott's was about 3-4 streets away. That cinder block fence gave it away I think.
Click to expand...
I'm in Fullerton, so, very close to your old home. We originally had redwood grapestake fence. The posts kept rotting away so we went for concrete.

I'm kind of overwhelmed by the responses. I didn't expect that many. Thank you all.

My wife liked wind chimes, so we had a few. I still have 3 of them.

chimes.jpg


I've patched them up over the years. The bamboo one clacks, the big one gongs and the little one tinkles. I'm 15 miles from the ocean and usually about noon an onshore breeze kicks in. I like them. When we get a strong Santa Ana wind from the mountains, they really clatter.
 
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