Damn it feels good to have a few days off. The rest of the garden is planted. The tomatoes started in the basement are on their own and look healthy. They looked happy to be planted. Of course we had a short windstorm today that knocked them around. It’s up to them now.
We’ll see if anything comes up. The birds are enjoying the sprinkler as it has been dry with not a lot of runoff due to low snowpack in the mountains.
***
The other day Lisa thought she heard something in the basement. She was right, it was a scratching and banging in the stove pipe. I opened up the pipe and nothing. I checked the chimney and stove, still nothing.
That night the banging and scratching started back up. Willow did her job letting us know of potential intruders. We didn’t get much sleep.
In the morning I took it all apart again and nothing. Once I put it all back together the noises resumed.
We went to Cooper’s soccer game. When we came home the noises were still coming from the pipe but now they were coming from where the pipe joins the stove.
I opened it up and there was an American Flicker, a type of woodpecker hiding in the flume. It must of, somehow flew down the chimney. When I had opened everything up it would go back into the chimney where we couldn’t see it. Once it went down the pipe to the stove it couldn’t get back up.
Lisa opened the basement door. I reached in and gave it a nudge. The Flicker burst into flight and flew across the room and straight out the door.
We couldn’t have been happier. I’m sure the bird felt likewise.
Palliser Pass 
Anonymous
Whew! I’m so relieved that it wasn’t Santa! Hahaha!
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underswansea
That’s what I was worried about!😀
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mountaincoward
The poor bird. I got a new roof last year and, in spring, I had a constant procession of little birds in my lounge as they could see the light at the bottom of the chimney as I leave the fire door ajar when not in use. They were flying down and into my lounge. I got them all out one by one but it was very difficult. There was one who, as the weather was atrocious outside, just wouldn’t go out – he kept standing on the lip of the open window, assessing the conditions, and then coming back in. He was a nice little thing and the only one not to be afraid of me – we had quite a few ’round and round the sofa’ sessions and I swear he thought it was fun. He was also perching on the back of the sofa and settling down there.
I could do with putting a post out saying the opposite title to yours – I came back from a week away in Scotland and my garden is total chaos – I don’t know where to start. It had been very dry up to me going away so nothing was growing and then it started to rain mid-week. Everything in the garden suddenly shot up and loads of weeds appeared – what a mess!
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underswansea
Great story about the little bird. It sounds like you just about had a pet.
My weeds will start growing in a couple of weeks. When that happens I’ll have trouble finding what I planted.
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mountaincoward
it’s mainly my weeds which have shot up – most other things are coming along quietly apart from one of my potentilla bushes looks dead this year which is sad…
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Carol A. Hand
Tenacious effort to rescue the Flicker, Bob, and such a lovely photo of you and Lisa. 💜
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underswansea
Thanks Carol! I put up that picture, because that is the smile Lisa had when the Flicker flew straight out the door. She said I had a big smile as well. It was good to help it out and back to where it belongs. Thanks for your comment. I hope you are enjoying spring.
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Julie@frogpondfarm
I bet the bird was relieved! Well done Bob! Good news on your tomatoes .. it’s a good feeling to get them in the dirt. What variety are they? Loving my garden even if it’s winter. My brassicas are very happy too!
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