'Tis the Season

 The weather may not be cool yet,

but when the calendar hits September,

I am ready for fall decorations.

So this past weekend in the heat and humidity,

hubby and I worked on some autumn decorations.

The neighborhood is hosting a decorating contest.

We will in no way win,

but I wanted to contribute something clean and wholesome to the darkness all around us.

We decided on trying a blend in the large pots.

mums, asters, kale, ornamental peppers, and the "tall thing"

and the browning lemon grass, pumpkins, mums, celosia, and cockscomb

A festive garland with lights above the door

and inside - the same garland with lights

When the days get shorter, we like the twinkly lights inside

From September to March we will have some sort of garland and lights around the living room window.

Room for More

The HOA gave me a good excuse for more plants!

Recently, the HOA decided to crack down on exposed trash cans.

The bilaws say that trash cans must be inside, out back, or hidden from the road.

We often keep our trash can in the garage,

but

sometimes the heat of the summer can make the trash a little intolerable.

So hubby built me a planter / screen.

The center plant is supposed to be evergreen (or yellow) - so hopefully will still look beautiful all winter.

The side plants are red day lilies.

Since hubby built it,

I could stain it to match the garage header.

And hubby made it strong enough (and heavy enough) 

to survive any B.G. storm.

I am enjoying an overcast day with not such a crazy heat index.

It was the perfect morning for yardwork.

O Where O Where Has the Little Month Gone?

 Ah!  May has disappeared.

May typically blows by in a blur.

It is usually a roller coaster of activities and emotions

and this month was no different.

May is a month that reminds me that the plan God has for me is different than that of most others.

This reminder usually comes with tears as well as a renewed trust that God is in control.

Verses of God's goodness and His trait of only doing good become more and more dear.

May also comes with a birthday.

Hubby celebrated me with two party weekends.

We shopped for flowers for the yard and the planters.

We visited a favorite local eatery and tried a new-to-us gluten-free bakery.

Of course, we enjoyed long walks to celebrate another year of life.

We have enjoyed the local WKU campus for walks

and recently enjoyed a new greenway in Clarksville, TN.

We enjoyed our first "non-family" overnight guests this month making room for 7 extras!

We may not be related by blood, but a bond in Christ can be as strong or stronger than family bonds.

We have also seen God's protection through 2 or 3 large storms complete with a tornado in at least some part in B.G.

So I have been absent online, but am still here.

I am thankful for a God who is my strength.

I am thankful for a God who protects.

I am thankful for a God who has given another year of life.

Green!

No, not money!

No, not Shamrocks!

(Though we did celebrate St. Patrick's Day with a Shamrock Shake and some Corned Beef and Cabbage)

Green as in plant life.

I can tell that I am eager for Spring when it seems to come SOOOOO slowly!

Today is the first day of Spring, but it hardly feels that way outside.

But from the inside, things are greening up and the sun makes it looks like it should be warm.

I am enjoying the view from the front room. 

I planted some purple hyacinths and yellow tulips around the cherry tree.

I will look forward to their return each year.

The creeping phlox is blooming and spreading in the front rock garden

and a few winter pansies that don't really match are enjoying the last of the cool weather.

I look forward to filling in the tree ring with SunPatiens this year.

We watched 2 or 3 homes around the neighbor that planted these beauties last year 

and they bloomed from May to October.

This spot is particularly hard because of the full sun it gets in the afternoon,

but these beauties may be up to the challenge.

After 2 weeks ...

grass is greening and slowly filling in.

And I even mowed last week!

Mums the Word

 Last week I mentioned that the front of the house just needed some mums.

They have been purchased and planted.

And in true "If you give a wife some mums ... " fashion ...

"... she'll want asters and pansies too."

The front landscape bed was just "green,"

so the pansies brighten it up between the phlox and bushes.

And the asters and pansies just brighten my morning workouts on the patio.

The blueberry bushes are still small enough to share the planter box.

When it gets just a bit cooler, 

I am sure we will add a nice pumpkin or two under the shepherd's hook.

Success

The weekend's projects were a success.

God provided beautiful weather for the task.

The patio project was begun on Wednesday with a power wash.

Then Thursday, it got a coat of stain and one coat of sealant.

Friday morning it got another coat of sealant.

Then we waited 24 hours and put it all back together.

At about the 28-hour point, a brief rain moved in -

sealant had cured well and nothing was harmed. 

The color was not as dark as I had hoped,

(in fact, to look at the before and after pictures, you really can't see the difference)

but it is a little more "finished" looking

and the patio is sealed so hopefully it will age better.

Then ...

since the tree ring went so well,

hubby used the same pavers to outline the front landscaping bed.

It went well and we are both pleased with the results.

Now, I must get off to the cleaning.

It is awfully nice to clean with the windows open this morning!

And this afternoon, I will put some mums in the hanging planters

and within the tree ring!

Bringing the Outdoor In

 The heat has broken (though not the humidity)

and I got outside to do some yard work today.

The yard is all trimmed.

And these flowers called me.

Many people believe that gardening should be practical.

Gardens should provide FOOD!

While I enjoy a fresh tomato from the garden rather than from a hothouse,

and the first spring peas,

and a carrot right from the earth,

I also enjoy beauty.

I love looking outside as I wash the dishes to see my flower garden,

the butterflies and hummingbirds it attracts,

and the finches resting on the tall flowers and feeders

or bathing in the bird bath.

God gave us so many things to enjoy.

The Best Job on Earth

 I have been blessed in marriage.

From the beginning, nearly 21 years ago,

hubby has been in full support of my being at home.

I love taking care of my home.

I love researching food and exercise and health.

I love being available for ministry opportunities.

Much has been going on around home with Spring.

There have been plants and plants and more plants.

There has been grass patching until we can overseed this fall.

There have been rock garden and perennial garden work.

There has been lawn fertilizing at least twice this spring.

There has been budgeting to pay for it all.

But the progress has been much fun

and the new learning has been enjoyable.

I hope you enjoy the pictures!

Greeting guests with a little color on the hanging plants.

And we added some creeping phlox to the rock bed.

While blooming it was quite beautiful.

We also snuck in some lavender which will smell so good in the afternoon sun.

Our new garage door ...

insulated, reinforced with struts for the severe winds, and windows so it won't be so dreary when working out or using as a second dining/living room.

There is some life in the perennial bed.

And you can see the green stripes in the lawn where we reseeded and the peat moss added a little extra fertilizer.

An extra pot of lavender - a tribute to the Pacific Northwest.

The Happy Accident

 It appears that last week was the approved week to ship plants to Bowling Green, KY.

I am only waiting on some phlox that are supposed to arrive this coming Friday.

So last week, I spent working on the perennial bed.

I had a great time in a beautiful week digging, turning, planning, planting.

I even had the company of a crew working on the neighboring house one day.

Then we had a brief storm on Friday night.

As hubby and I watched the water running through the garden like a river and pooling in random spots,

we knew that if we didn't make a change,

the little plants would die.

So Saturday, he built me a dry creek - 

a sort of canal for the water to collect in.

I replanted and think that most, if not all, of the plants now have a chance.

What a blessing that we could fill the bottom with construction debris behind the house.

We could dispose of unwanted clay behind the house.

And our little garden has quite a bit of character ...

a happy accident.

a ready source of drainage rocks 

our pile of sod and clay

We spent the rest of the day learning more about "lawn farming."

Hubby aerated a small portion,

I removed some thatch,

and we patched some bare spots.

We just enjoyed a beautiful day together appreciating the blessing of our little home and its small piece of land.

Photo (and Event) Dump

It has been a crazy "March."

They say it is in like a lion and out like a lamb.

It seems as if we are going to come in and go out like a lion.

The weather tomorrow is supposed to get "ugly."

At the beginning of the month, we had a wild storm.

We weathered it all right, but determined that our garage door was not strong enough for "Blowing Green," after it dented in during a wind gust.

It turns out our door was only rated for 20 mph winds.

A new door is on order with a wait time of 4-6 weeks.  

It will provide more insulation, protection up to 90 mph,  and the addition of windows since we use the room as extra living space much of the time (and hubby's work-from-home office.)

We were supposed to have "Donut Day" back in mid-February,

but sickness has been like a wrestling match around here.

We have gone around the ring with sinus issues and coughs for over a month.

We finally had our donut date last Saturday.

The new little shop did not disappoint.

They serve up hot mini gluten-free donuts with a choice of toppings.

We went for blueberries and cream (at least this time).

It will not be our last visit to Gus's.

After our donut date,

we built the blueberry bush planter.

Yes, we did not wait another year.

It is now in place and provides more privacy

and the promise of more greenery.

The apple trees and blueberry bushes are now planted

and we will wait for the growth and fruit in a year or two.

You can see the footers of two new houses in the background.

And just today, my serviceberry tree and lilac bush arrived.

The serviceberry is in the back right corner

and the lilac is in the back left corner.

In the front is a dead or "mostly dead" boxwood.

We took it out of the front and it was only in a bucket all winter.

It was a pretty harsh winter for a bush in a bucket.

I am hoping it has life,

but it may not make it.

Now we wait for the perennials that will fill the rest of the garden.

And there you have it - the update!

Now I have to get back to taxes.

I think this is a record of lateness - 

but the last forms finally came in last weekend.

Pretty, Private, and Practical

 As has been mentioned ...

I LOVE PLANTS!

But I have a small problem ...

because my lot is so small

and much of the "usable" space is an easement or setback,

it is hard to plant very much.

Earlier this year,

I discovered a "COLUMNAR" apple tree.

It does not grow wider than 2 feet.

Perfect for my small lot.

But again, I am not sure that I could even find a space for this little guy!

BUT ... he could be in a container!

So hubby built me some very large planters for the patio.

They will be home to the apple trees (pretty),

they will provide a sort of privacy fence from our backyard neighbors (privacy),

and they will produce fruit (practical) by the second year.

While probably not growing the "orchard" this year,

we hope next year to expand to patio blueberries and/or blackberries as well.

And hubby will again build some more planters - probably slightly shorter and not as deep.

Hubby made the planters on casters that lock so that we can move the planters depending on where we are sitting or which neighbors are outside at the same time we are.

We can also move the trees closer to the house when the Bowling Green crazy storms are threatening.

On this Thankful Thursday, I am thankful for hubby's efforts for me.

He has had a busy week of travel, but made sure to finish these before the trees shipped!

A Change in the Garden

Often when we throw outdoor parties,

folks will ask me what flowers are in my garden.

I know most of them, but often in the middle of entertaining, the names escape.

So this weekend,

I made some sweet little labels for my plants (which are fading in the summer heat).

I took used canning lids,

sprayed with leftover spray paint,

used sharpie for the names,

used old paint for the flowers,

then used some wire left from making our many wall hangings for the stakes.

I still have a few to finish,

but I was pleased with the result 

and using odds and ends was even better.

Enjoy your trip into my garden.

Killing Bugs or Seasoning Their Food

I was tickled this morning as hubby left for work.

As I inspected my garden for squash bug eggs and baby squash bugs,

I told him that I thought that my natural bug spray had diminished the number of babies and eggs.

I told him that I planned to spray again on Wednesday.

He commented, "Well, either your killing them, or you are seasoning their food!"

The bug spray is a mix of onion juice, garlic juice, cayenne, soap, oil, and baking soda.

It is a little smelly to make, but I like that it is natural and I hope to save my many pumpkins and squash this year.  It also seemed to work on the bugs on my green beans.

Only time will tell if it is a true success, but the first attempt looked promising.

Curious about the recipe?

I found it here.

Ingredients

4 Tsp baking soda

1 Tsp vegetable oil 

1 Tsp soap (such as Dr. Bronner’s)

1 to 2 tbs garlic juice 

 To make juice: 1 medium bulb (not clove) of garlic blended with 1 to 2 cups of water. Let sit a minimum of 15 minutes and strain.

1 medium onion, made into a juice concentrate as above.

1 Tbs dried cayenne pepper.

Instructions

Add all ingredients together in a bottle with a screw top and shake well to mix.

Add concentrate to a gallon of water and spray liberally. 

Repeat as often as needed to drive off or kill the squash bugs.

Help and Company

It is the end of my day.

Typically, I blog in the morning,

but there was much to do today-

much that has cried for a week or so.

My lawn and garden were crying the most loudly!

I am thankful for help in the work.

Hubby helped me weed ... and there was a lot to do.

I enjoyed the help, company, and conversation.

What a relief to see a tidy garden again.

I mowed later in the day.

Aah - fresh cut grass.

I also trimmed an unruly bush.

Then,

I longed to get some more seeds in the grounds.

I added winter squash, pumpkin, zucchini and cucumber.

I am thankful for 2 pint sized children who came to keep me company.

The 2 children visit their mommy next door,

and we were mutually glad to make each others acquaintance.

Not only did they provide pleasant chatter,

but they were a help too.

They carefully watched me work

and when they noticed me needing a tool ...

they were quick to find it.

Relief

There was a little apprehension as I hurriedly transplanted my gardens last summer.

Truly, it was not the best time to move plants.

The heat of summer along with the peak of blooming - not so great.

 

But, I breathe a sigh of relief as more and more green shows through the leaf mulch.

Many of the plants survived.

We are also enjoying these beauties in the sick room.

Next year they will greet us from an outside garden.

Higher Temps ... Longer Days ... Garden Joys

The past four days have been phenomenal spring days.

It is hard to believe that it was snowing and "slushing" last Thursday evening in the town where I teach piano lessons.

The windows have been open all day.

The air is clean and fresh.

I continue to plug away on the weekly challenges.

This week:

Clean out the cars

Clean switch plates

Clean baseboards

Clean door knobs

Clean light fixtures and ceiling fans

Find 35 more things to sell or throw out

Yesterday, I cleaned switch plates, baseboards, and door knobs during my normal weekly cleaning.

Hubby keeps the cars fairly clean, but the little red car did need a sweep after our last road trip.
So the light fixtures and ceiling fans are on the agenda for Wednesday (it is supposed to rain)

Today

Out into the garden

About a month later than normal,

but it has been an abnormal year.

Peas, carrots, beets, greens, onions ...

Breathing Deeply

Though Autumn is my favorite season,

Spring has to be a close second.

The warm air that draws me outside.

The signs of new life all around.

The end of the dead looking trees and grass.

The babies at the local sheep farm.

Of course that also brings work,

but to me it is enjoyable work.

The physical labor,

the fresh air,

the pleasure of looking at a neat yard or productive garden.

Saturday,

we spent the afternoon trimming 2 of our 3 Bradford pear trees.

It was a blessing to have the help of friends

along with a second truck with a trailer to haul limbs.

It was 4 trips to the dump to get rid of all of the branches.

From this:

 To this:

  Monday,

I spent an hour cleaning up the small branches and twigs that were left behind -

Only about 4 trash cans full.

I also weeded around the front flower bed.

Today,

I turned the garden for the first time.

I usually turn it about 3 times before I plant.

Hopefully,

the last pear tree will be trimmed Saturday,

and the garden will be started next week.