The Coffee House

[terri33 4]

Interesting timing on this post. A neighbor just gave me an oriole feeder and was telling me to use hummingbird nectar and grape jelly. I have never seen an oriole in my yard. It will be interesting to see if they suddenly show up! Any tips for keeping ants and yellow jackets away from the jelly?

Saw my fist hummingbird of the season today. Crappy cell phone pic but his red marking still glows!

View attachment 296559

Love seeing that gorgeous Ruby-throat!

The orioles have been going nuts at the nectar feeder! I have several - assuming they remembered from last year.

It's fine to use hummingbird nectar - but it's best to mix it from powder so you can make it stronger. I got curious watching a male jump over to the nut-cake I have hanging next to the nectar feeder. He crawled all over it but never nibbled.

After a little reading, I learned they actually like suet - and there's a brand that adds orange bits to it so I ordered some and will hang that next to the nectar.

I'm going to delay the grape jelly as long as possible - the other birds also love it, and yes the bees will swarm around and get territorial at times.

 

[snowbear114 46]

For the foodies in here.

Bryan and Michael Voltaggio have a steak house at MGM National Harbor (Maryland just south of DC). They have a "House Guest" series where another chef is invited to join them cooking for one night. Latet this month, Chef Tobias Dorzon will be the guest. Chef Dorzon has a restaurant in Hyattsville, MD (The Voltaggio brothers are from Frederick, MD). Chef Dorzon was shot 11 times during a robbery in 2024.

The tickets are $150 US each. They sold out in under one minute.

 

[terri33 4]

For the foodies in here.

Bryan and Michael Voltaggio have a steak house at MGM National Harbor (Maryland just south of DC). They have a "House Guest" series where another chef is invited to join them cooking for one night. Latet this month, Chef Tobias Dorzon will be the guest. Chef Dorzon has a restaurant in Hyattsville, MD (The Voltaggio brothers are from Frederick, MD). Chef Dorzon was shot 11 times during a robbery in 2024.

The tickets are $150 US each. They sold out in underone minute.

Well, I'd like to see the episode! I didn't know the Bros.V shared a restaurant.

Not surprised it sold out. I don’t think I've heard of Chef Dorzon, but it sounds like he's lucky to be alive.

 

[snowbear114 46]

I don't think it's going to be on TV, just something they are doing. Joe Sasto is scheduled for July.

They opened the joint place a few years ago. We lived 15 minutes from National Harbor but never had a chance (or money) to go.

 

[snowbear114 46]

No photos; they were gone by the time I got the camera. We saw a hummingbird at the rhododendron yesterday, and the Baltimore Oriole is back. I've read the only hummers we have are ruby-throated, but I didn't get that good of a look. I'm keeping a lookout with the camera close by.

 

[SquarePeg36 7]

No photos; they were gone by the time I got the camera. We saw a hummingbird at the rhododendron yesterday, and the Baltimore Oriole is back. I've read the only hummers we have are ruby-throated, but I didn't get that good of a look. I'm keeping a lookout with the camera close by.

Yes, here in New England we only get the ruby throated hummingbirds but the distinctive ruby coloring is only on the males. The females are not as colorful.
Female

Male

 

[snowbear114 46]

Thanks, Square Peg. Beautiful shots.

Rain, today. I still may venture out, but I ant to get the fishing gear organized and in one place.

Lazy Lobster put some peanuts on the deck rail. Surprisingly, no squirrels have come up but crows, a cardinal, and a blue jay have. The Oriole was just on the hibiscus tree but flew off before I could focus. Maybe he'll come back.

 

[snowbear114 46]

Visitors on the deck.


DSC_6033.jpg by Snowbear Photography, on Flickr

 

[jeffashman9]

Hey ho, Campers! Life has been a blur for me. One thing after another culminating in a bad head cold earlier this week, no doubt brought to the house by my Dear School Nurse.

I've only gotten one planter done out back so far, with red and white petunias, white vinca, and a red pentas. I saw a hummingbird hovering around the pentas, so I know that will be a popular destination once it fills out. Out front I put in two planters, which is on the east side of the house, shaded by trees during the day, each with a mojito elephant ear and a halcyon hosta, and two more planters with white and green and red and green caladiums. I'm considering putting in two more planters, each with a black beauty elephant ear, which grow to a pretty large size.

On another note, what do call a group of 8 Hobbits? A Hobbyte... ya, ya, I know the way out...

 

[SquarePeg36 7]

Visitors on the deck.


DSC_6033.jpg by Snowbear Photography, on Flickr

Keep feeding those crows, they’ll start bringing you trinkets. They can recognize faces and have good memories.

 

[snowbear114 46]

Keep feeding those crows, they’ll start bringing you trinkets. They can recognize faces and have good memories.

Dad had one as a pet when he was a kid. Learned to speak a few words.

Zoe brought us a present yesterday evening. She's a decent mouser even in her old age.

 

[snowbear114 46]

The Jeep "Go Topless Day" is tomorrow and it's supposed to be sunny and warm. The truck has a hard top with removable "Freedom Panels" (think T-top without the center frame) which I'll pull off in the morning. I've unbolted the doors and disconnected the wires but leaving them on to keep critters out. If it isn't raining when I get up, and it's still predicted to be sunny I'll pull off the doors and stash them in the cargo trailer, put on the doors-off side mirrors, and put the panels in the bed. I'll put the flags on the back when I get to the convoy meet-up spot; we won't be going that fast.

One down, three to go (last year)!

 

[snowbear114 46]

The Jeep "Go Topless Day" is done. It got pretty chilly running up I-95 at the posted 70 and 75 mph (112.6 & 120.7 kph) with no doors and no roof over me! Unfortunately the windshield took a stone hit so now I'm getting the fourth windshield in five years. It's a Jeep thing.

The event was fun; good to see people I haven't seen over the winter. Our club had 8 Jeeps. The last notice I saw was 80 registered though it looked like a few more. I ended up getting too much sun but I drank a lot of water and laid down for a while when I got home.


I made a few new friends.

 

[terri33 4]

Unfortunately the windshield took a stone hit so now I'm getting the fourth windshield in five years. It's a Jeep thing.

Gah, that's a PITA! I'm glad you're zen about it. Driving on any highway is a bit risky for these random hits.

It's actually HOT around here today: 86°F and we're being promised 90°F tomorrow.

About freaking time. I'm being cautious about starting the A/C right now, though. It's going to be back in the 70sF within a few days, and I like having the windows open instead.

In related news, warmer weather means it was finally time to get the Morning Glory seedlings into the ground.

They're very happy.

Hope everyone is having a good weekend!

 

[SquarePeg36 7]

Hosers! Happy almost summer. 100° here today. Yuck! Yesterday was just as awful. Thunderstorm came through about 530 yesterday afternoon and cooled everything off to a nice comfy 75°. Hoping for the same relief today.

The pup is not happy about the lack of walks these past two days but this is way too hot for me to be outside. I’m currently hiding in my house enjoying some Netflix. Once the sun goes down we’ll get our walk.