Dragonfly Ranch

Arlin and Betsy are hard at work building the structure that will enclose our new composting toilet. Well, okay, Arlin builds and Betsy holds things steady.

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Phil has begun the spring planting, with the able assistance of Arlin.

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Our little lemon tree has done great this year. The lemons have been ripe for about six weeks now, and I’ve picked fifty or sixty and given most of them away. Now a few have started to drop, and new flowers are opening, so I thought it was time to pick the rest. I got 160 beautiful lemons.

The mingling of scents when you’re picking ripe lemons from a blossoming tree is heavenly.

I took the photo while I was in the middle of harvesting. I had picked the other side of the tree clean, so what you see is about half the harvest still on the tree.

No wonder lemons are referred to as the zucchini of California.

… to get a jury summons, my first since moving to California.

Monday night, on standby, call on Tuesday. Tuesday night, on standby, call on Wednesday. Wednesday night, ….

Oh well, at least they thanked me for my contribution to our justice system and say they will summon me in the future. Just wish I’d had the chance to vote Guilty!!!

A question for those who are hip-deep in snow — would you trade if you knew you had to mow in February?

Look what Arlin made for me! I mean for us. It’s 4 by 8 feet, which allows for fabric cutting for shirts (Arlin) and quilts (Betsy) and all sorts of crafting. There is room for seating four when we hold our crafting and jewelry making classes (just an idea we’ve had) which really probably means having our neighbors over to try some crafting with us. Love it! Thanks to Arlin!

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……. are starting to warm up to each other. Not best buds yet, but at least there’s hope for a relationship.

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Can’t even see the fire house or flag pole from my door.

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Within the thirteen divisions of Narcissus, there are at least twenty-five species, with some debate on whether this number should be greater. The Royal Horticultural Society maintains a Daffodil Data Base that lists over 13,000 different named hybrids of Narcissus, all divided among the thirteen divisions.

Which is why I prefer to just say, “wow, daffodils in January”.

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This is Ella’s new avocation. She “hides” next to the olive tree and waits for a ground squirrel to appear or make a move or something. She hasn’t learned the Fritz and Chester full on running attack yet. She still thinks stealth will work.

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