The Joys of Home-Ownership

This isn't likely to be pictured in "Homes and Land":



Nor is this:

Nor this:

The above are all the things we presently need to fix on our home. We are very grateful for our house, but the benefits to renting become obvious when one is faced with images such as these.
Let's just say that the government's economic stimulus package came at a great time although even more stimulation may be necessary to accomplish all the goals we have.

One nice thing about our place is the cherry tree out front. This year we have more cherries ripening on it than I've ever noticed before. Unfortunately, this is also the year that a swarm of bees decided to choose our tree as its most recent resort location for a bee convention. This is enough to strike terror in the heart of any epi-pen user:


Apparently, bees swarm like this while scouts are out looking for a good place to build a hive. Vector Control informed me that they'll move on in a few days. Let's hope it happens before all the gorgeous ruby fruits shrivel up and drop onto the lawn below.

I'm so thankful that Delaney didn't have an unfriendly encounter with these guys. One of her favorite things to do in our yard is climb up in that tree and read a book or pick cherries if there are any.

The testosterone coursing through Tobias' body overrode his brain last night. My normally intelligent son asked, "Can I put on sweats and go shoot it with my pellet gun?" Usually, I try to be a kind mother, choosing words carefully so as to not bruise any budding ego, but to this request I answered, "That's about the stupidest plan you've ever had. " I then went on to explain what a horrific and swollen experience he'd likely have if he put his plan into action.

(Incidentally, when I was about 5, a neighbor boy threw a rock at a wasp nest when I was walking by. Guess who got stung and who didn't get stung...I'm still bitter.)

It was a good thing that Jeff wasn't at home at the time, because when he arrived home and I showed him the swarm, his first words were, "I want to shoot it with my paintball gun!"

What is it with you testosterone bearers???

He was only joking. (Sort of.)

I had to mow the lawn today and I decided that the grass directly under the cherry tree looked rather charming longer than the rest of the lawn. I realized this when two bees started circling me and the mower and continued to do so even as I moved away from the tree. I think that was Apiarian for "Back off, human!" Which I did.

Below you'll see one of God's gentler creatures:

This lovely little fellow is a horned lizard. Here he is, on our swing in the front yard. Despite his thorny looking appearance, he is actually very calm and rather sweet (in a grumpy looking way). No, he's not our pet, but we all enjoyed picking him up and examining him up close before we let him continue on his way out in the wild.