Where Did Four Days Go?

I did not realize I had not posted since Tuesday! 

I just don't know where the weeks go... when you retire, you picture yourself laying around enjoying life, but I assure you, the laying around part is few and far between at our house. 

Here are some shots of the new garden bed I am building out by the patio

on the east side of the house.  Thanks to Keith, who made 

multiple trips to Home Depot to get bags of Miracle Gro dirt on sale for me. 

This bed is on the inside of the fence ... remember, we had a man 

plow the inside and outside.  We have had second thoughts about 

the outside (expense and labor) and we have decided we are going to plant 

it with pampas grass, to give some privacy to the patio.  

I had brought this somewhat-ratty paper with me from the old place.  This is 

how we layered the beds there. 

I put a layer of straw down over the paper. 

And then peat moss on top of the straw... you see it in the picture here. 

I used two huge bales of peat moss, and could have used another bag or two, to be 

truthful.  Again, money was a factor. 

Behold the first mound of Miracle Gro.  It was on sale, and those 

are only .75 cubic foot bags, I can still lift those. 

Keith is still recuperating from surgery, and 

can pull them off the truck, but that's about it. 

Here it is as I put five bags on the north end, 

since Keith had to make another trip.  I did not want the paper to 

even think of coming up. 

I was being constantly watched, as I was very near the feeding station the whole time.  I was chattered at, too. 

Here it is finished, on Thursday evening.  We have had some rain in the 

last two days, and in the next two weeks, I'm going to bring some plants from the old 

garden to live here.  I've decided on some old fashioned iris, yellow and blue, and some

monarda, and some daylillies, to start with. 

We realize we have some grass to the rear of the bed... we are going to weed-eat that and then

mulch heavily. 

This is JUST outside of the wet area in the yard.  

This coming week we are expecting more temperate weather... and I am going to start 

carrying the tomatoes out every morning, and hardening them and the peppers off on the patio table. 

Here is our little doll, Jester, on Thursday night.  He had a traumatic week... first, on Monday, we went to get nails clipped.  He stands like a champion for this, not like our pugs, who would scream and wriggle. 

Wednesday, we went back to the vet, thinking his neutering appointment was that morning, 

so no breakfast and a ride without Lilly.  He trembled so hard I thought he would die. 

Wrong day... we had to go back Thursday, and the deed was done.  

He spent a long evening, and laid around a lot on Friday morning, 

but by today, he is back to himself.  

A long week for him and for his mama. 

Our girl Lil spent the day looking for Jester, and dreaming on the 

back deck.  She was very glad to see him that night when I went to bring him home. 

Yes, she's the Queen Bee, but she has a heart. 

I'll try to get caught up tomorrow on pictures of wildlife I've taken this week...

and Keith and I actually went on a short expedition this morning, finding a very large, lone tom turkey. 

Now, I'm going to make a batch of peanut butter cookies before going to church this afternoon. 

Oh... one last picture... 

Today is April 25, can you believe it?  4 months since Christmas Day! 

Not the point.... see the black hen just visible in the nest box on the left?  I took 

this picture with my phone on the 19th.  She is still in the box, now on several eggs. 

She is a cochin gone broody!  I am rewarded with a sharp peck everytime I try to 

reach in there... so I am leaving her be.  I swore no chicks .... but we'll see what happens. 

That henspa is a good place for mama to care for little chicks.