We like hosting visitors. It is a lot of fun to spend time with family and friends, it is a great excuse to visit that restaurant we always wanted to go to, and it is usually nice to play tourist in our own town. We have had visitors, in some form or another, for the past 4 weekends. It has been a lot of fun but unfortunately not much has progressed on the house. I don’t think we have even properly cleaned the place in 5 weeks – a somewhat scary thought.
All has not been lost though. I have made some strides in the yard work over the past few weeks. It is actually pretty easy to do work in the yard while people are visiting. I can get out early in the morning (usually between 5:30 and 6), before anyone is awake, and muddle around as much I like – as long as I don’t make too much noise. Since I have been able to spend a lot of time outside, and since it has rained quite a bit for the past few weeks, the yard is looking pretty good. The rain barrels are now both installed, the wildflowers are doing well in the front, and the vegetable and herb garden is planted and thriving. Another highlight is that it appears the first crop of raspberries is about a week or so away.
The installation of the second rain barrel went a little easier than the first. I partially credit the learning experience of installing the first one but more importantly, I credit the vinyl screen I used on the top in lieu of the metal one I used on the first. I typical HATE plastic on, in, or near the house but using the plastic screen made the installation so much easier because you could screw the top of the rain barrel right over it without it binding, tearing, or slipping out (like the metal one did).
We have the beginnings of a nice compost pile. I have layered stockpiled yard and kitchen waste with dirt and leaves. We are now composting just about anything within reason. I haven’t built a decent enclosure around it (that might make too much noise) but it seems to be doing well and has yet to spill over into the garden.
Our back porch has hopefully seen the last person trip on it. After much goading from just about everyone that has used it, the rear stair has had a major overhaul. Now we just need to get used to it NOT creaking when we walk down it.
After much anticipation and much publicity, the cicadas never came. I had hoped this would be a highlight of the blog for the past month but the few we had were eaten by our ravenous robins. I hear a faint call here and there but not the chorus that seems to be developing in the nearby forest preserve. Maybe we’ll have a better showing in another 17 years.
The inside of the home has not changed in about 6 weeks but this will hopefully change as we are not expecting our next visitor until the end of July.
I went out in the garden this morning and took some photos for her. I also came across another cicada (is this 3 for Tiny Bungalow?, I loose count). Anyway, after he flew into our steps, he landed on the ground. I took his photo and threw him in the air so that he could fly away. The display that came next was quite unexpected - at least 3 birds flew from nearby trees and dove right at it. A small sparrow got the prize. I think the sparrow was almost as large as the cicada. Wild. Too bad I didn't come out with the video camera this morning.
The yard is very happy - we are even getting a new sprout on our sago palm (indoors), grown from seed from our in law's house in Orlando. Enjoy the photos.
The second surprise was that when I looked at the irises, I thought I saw a fungus growing on them. On closer inspection, I saw that there was a 
I introduced the cicada to my daughter. At first she wasn't too receptive to it but once I explained that it will be singing to us in a couple of weeks, she seemed fine and even a little interested. These are part of brood XIII, a 17 year cicada that is emerging across parts of the Midwest. Chicago is getting a little nutty about them.
This one is a lot smaller than the ones I remember as a kid. With it's green coloring and red eyes, it is also more attractive than the black and gray counterparts I am used to seeing back east. I am sure, as more emerge, I'll be posting more photos. Hopefully I'll improve my close-up photography skills as well - sorry these are a little blurry.