Yes, even more chicken stories.

Ninja is getting bolder and a lovely neighbor gave me chicken feed until I could figure out a source. He maintains that mealworms are like crack to chickens, and I definitely don't want to encourage addictions in anyone, but I happily started bribing her with her drug of choice. Not that she is in any way prepared to succumb to my charms yet. We are figuring out where her preferred hangouts are so I can make sure she finds feed there, and also so we can check on her multiple times a day. She even deigned to drink from a bowl of water I set out just for her. It's amazing how the littlest things make us dance for joy because the CHICKEN decides she likes something we do for her. Yup -- officially round the bend and I can't even blame Covid-19. So here she is in all her glory:

Now a non-chicken related note -- that tiered pot I spent hours on just to decide the top pot was too big -- yes, I changed it out. And though it looks wilty and sparse right now, there will be dense foliage in a few months. And though the top pot isn't nearly as pretty as the first, it serves the purpose nicely. The pretty pot has been moved to the side yard and will let the geraniums thrive once they catch hold and root. After the marigold debacle, it's nice to have a win.

Murphy's Law and Other Insights

Murphy had many laws - the most famous of which is, "If something can go wrong, it will." In my case it's more like, "If something can take far longer than it should, it will." So my grand plan of installing the - I hesitate to say art piece - main attraction in the front yard by the end of my vacation is one of those Murphy's law things. Then again, it's frustrating when there are so many projects beckoning, and one wants so badly to finish them. Many good things were accomplished, so that's satisfying, but it would have been better to get a few more items completely ticked off the old TO DO list. The other thing is my version of ADHD. As I walk around the (very extended) neighborhood, I can't help but get excited by some new garden plan or decoration. Having just discovered Pinterest, that also make for more distractions from actually working. Now, realizing that some projects were false starts and having to back-track wasted a bit of time, I don't count that as slacking off. After all, how do you know if you don't try? 

Found another couple of gardens and garden elements I really like. 

This home was mostly boring lawn and then there were these little areas that had cute vignettes. 

The next garden is almost Japanese in feel with slight terracing and plants that  have simple architectural shapes.

The last pictures are my solution to a very boring cracked footpath leading to the house. I didn't like the straight shot to the steps and wanted a sexier curve. I also wanted to use up some stray paving stones, brick and rocks I had managed to scavenge - legally and with permission from owners people. Keep it nice.