Ack! I just cut into a field mouse nest while shoveling up an abandoned raised bed that had gotten

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

overshadowed as the cherry trees grew. I don't think I killed any of the pups outright, but I might have injured them, since they were all still hairless and with closed eyes, no bigger than the last joint or so of my little finger. I went ahead and put a large flat rock over the hole I'd cut in the top of the hollowed area they were in and carefully covered it with dirt, so that they're hidden from predators (like my beagles), but I hope the adults come back and clean out some of the fallen dirt and make sure they're ok.

More of the potatoes are leafing out now, and the birds are starting to feast on the cherries. Got more tomatoes and peppers in and growing over in Dad's yard, and the raspberries in his yard are coming along quicker than those in mine (mine are more in shade from the apples and cherries), but none anywhere near ripe yet. Gotten 5 strawberries out of the beds so far, so probably will be picking pints at a time within a week or two.

[alfie]

1. I dug up a frog one year.

Not a pleasant surprise. He was dazed but eventually hopped away.

Your garden sounds like it is coming along. I am in zone 7B, we had a long, cold, and wet spring. My tomato, pepper, and eggplant plants are alive but just now growing much. Pole beans starting to run, limas, squash and cukes just coming up. No sign of okra yet but they are slow to germinate.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

2. I'm in SW Ohio, haven't looked up my zone in a while, but I think it's 5ish at a guess.

I was slow to plant because we tend to get surprise frosts right up to the start of May and occasionally even later, and I've never gotten around to getting the extra equipment needed to protect young plants on cold nights. If anything, we've been dry, which has been good for the cherries - getting far less brown rot issues than usual. But when I had my large maple out front cut down this last winter, the guys piled a lot of the biggest pieces right over my hose, so I'm having to hand water with a can, so I really could use more water in my garden until one of the neighbours gets his son back around to take the rest of the large wood to split for his fireplace.

[alfie]

3. Off topic

Does bsn stand for bachelor of science in nursing? Just asking because I hold that degree. Best decision I ever made. Second best was retiring.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

5. Yes.

It's my most recent degree, and one of the few I've actually ended up using things I've learned in the program. I'm a licensed RN as well, but haven't worked professionally as a nurse. Been using my skills taking care of my elderly father who has a whole slew of health issues.

[catnhatnh]

4. To a Mouse-on turning her up in her nest with the plough"

"Thy wee-bit housie, too, in ruin!
It's silly wa's the win's are strewin!
An' naething, now, to big a new ane,
O' foggage green!
An' bleak December's win's ensuin,
Baith snell an' keen!"

My favorite Burns...


http://www.robertburns.plus.com/mouse.htm

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

6. I was thinking I should build them something better (and farther away from my house).

Something sturdy and better protected from the elements, maybe out by the compost heap.

[catnhatnh]

7. You sound like a gentle person...

...but I doubt the mice will cooperate. You have probably already done what is for the best. That nest was their winter home and the kits will have a full summer to build anew. The horror of Burns plowing was that it occurred at the onset of winter when there was neither time nor fresh nesting materials available for the mouse to prepare another winter sanctuary...

[Brainstormy]

8. How lovely!

gardener, but Lit teacher here. And I do love Burns!