Mallards

Pond update!

January 16, 2015 By // by Penelope Bianchi 11 Comments

The pond now has duck houses, plants and fish And ducks!!

This was the pond a few years ago. It was a natural pond (even though we re-dug it); it was clay soil and held the water for 17 years!

Then came the drought……over the course of 3 or 4 years; it needed more and more

supplemental water. One month the water bill for one month was

$2800.00!!! The “autoflow” was turned off!

Then the water rationing and fines! The “jig was up”

Adam even gave me 4,000 gallons of water brought by a truck to save the ducklings

who couldn’t quite fly! (for two more weeks…..) that water didn’t last for 2 days!

After it dried up; we had a liner installed; and this is how it looks today!

Liner installed; some of the iris are regrowing from bulbs; landscaping commencing!

But the ducks have staked out their houses!

they flew in the minute they delivered the 6 trucks of water to fill the pond!!

Continuing the landscaping! More pictures of the ducks! (we scared them off for a few minutes

today when we put the floating plants in!)

Pond update!Read More

Renee's Kitchen

July 2, 2012 By // by Penelope Bianchi 4 Comments

The very first time I went to Renees house; I got so excited I forgot to take pictures of the kitchen and dining area!

I thought the design was so creative and practical that it really should be shown!

So, back I went! How divine is this bicycle?! She rides it with “Bittersweet” the Yorkie in the basket!

The trumpet vine amazes me more every time I see it!

The green cabinet makes one half-wall; It seems like it was a counter in a butcher-shop or some kind of shop. The crack in the marble makes it even better!

Her French press and espresso cups are on the adjacent counter with a farmhouse sink in between. Note the green lantern and sweet chandelier!

The window with the shutters on it look out to the ocean! The outdoor dining area is straight ahead; and the most charming fireplace is in the corner.

Here is “Bittersweet ” on his bed!

On my way out; just look at the roses…..and she also has the cutest car!

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Duckling update!

May 11, 2011 By // by Penelope Bianchi 3 Comments

“Be like a duck. Calm on the surface, but always paddling like the dickens underneath.” Michael Caine.

I have not been very good about keeping duckling updates! But I have pictures to show their progress! They are 46 days old today! I have added a few images to show how they have grown over the past weeks. Ducklings are able to fly at 53 days old so it is almost time for them to move on from our pond. It is a joy each year as we hatch new babies and have the opportunity to watch them grow.

The ducklings bask in the sun along the side of the pond, a view of their duck house in the background.

And today, they are hardly recognizable as baby ducks anymore. In about a week’s time they will fly away in search of bigger and better ponds! Of course they always drop by for visits, but I don’t know if they will ever find a pond where the owner lovingly chases away hawks and other predators, or where they can nestle in the comfort of their very own duck house. But I like to think so!

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