These two are from Friday after work. I topped up the pond, and disturbed a new friend. He’s a Southern leopard frog, so I named him Cletus.

It’s too bad it’s so late in the season, because with a little more time, the gaillardia in Sarah-Flah’s garden would make me a flower.

Now, this morning! I was lazy and got a late start, but I did get out the table saw (thank Christ for that table saw!) and built one bird roost hoce.

Perches are staggered so the guys on the bottom don’t get pooped on so much.

The “plans” (using the term loosely) had weird measurements, so I adjusted them. I thought the perches were too short, but they’re glued in, and birds weigh nothing, so it’s fine that they connect on only one side.

My patio “wood shop”. My Workmate came in really handy for making the first attachment (side to back).

Almost done!

Side swings open for cleaning.

Entrance hole is low because heat rises, and this is for winter warmth.

I sealed the joints with silicone, and also glued them.

In non-bird news, my spicebush is the prettiest bright yellow.

After it got dark, I decided that since birds are wary of entering dark, unfamiliar spaces, my hoce needed a window. I had Lexan (Bayer…Makrolan?), but the only non-wood jigsaw blade I have is dull, so cutting a 3″ square neatly was impossible. Birds won’t care, but I do, so it might get a frame. It’s sealed with silicone.

Inside, I made a X on the window so birds know it’s not an exit. It’s sealed with silicone on the inside, too. The birds officially have better windows than our house.

I went out and got a piece of insulation to put on the floor and block potential draughts from coming in under the swing-away wall. I think I’ll probably just put a little straw or sheep’s wool over it. Dunno. Shiny side is down because birds don’t like shiny.

Random comfy Onje.