Saturday, April 25, 2015

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.  








10 comments:

  1. Those peanut butter cookies do sound good. I can almost smell them baking. Creating new flower beds is hard work but it will eventually pay off. I like the idea of the decorative grass for privacy. How exciting that you may have some chicks there. Hope you have a wonderful Saturday! I'm babysitting for 3 of my grands later on so it'll be pretty busy here.

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  2. Glad Jester is home and recovering. The Mighty Dachshund yowls at the very sight of a nail clipper. I know that I've trimmed a couple nails too short in the past, but she was that way sibce we first got her. I suspect that she was let go and then over-trimmed as a pup.

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  3. If you lived closer...or if you want to talk a trip to PA, I'd have a lot of perennials for you to put in the new beds!

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  4. Your garden area is perfect! What does it mean to harden the tomatoe plants?
    So glad Jester is back to feeling ok.
    Fun photos you always share.. You and Keith put a lot of work into that garden!
    love
    tweedles

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  5. Poor Jester--glad the big day is over! Chicks are cute for such a short period of time, but I want to see pictures of them :)

    I do miss gardening and love to hear about your gardens. Enjoy everything that blooms in the spring.

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  6. Busy, busy is what you are!
    Glad Jester made it through his appointment.

    Hope Keith is doing well.

    M :)

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  7. i'm so glad jasper is feeling well. it's cute that lilly missed him because i seem to remember a time when she was less than thrilled with him?

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  8. I remembered all the hard work you did on the raised beds at the farm. Can't believe you are doing it again. Actually yes I can. Gardening is too important to say it's too much work. I love the idea of planting privacy plants. Aren't you glad dogs get over stuff so quickly?

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  9. That flower bed looks great, you have already put so much work into it...wow...we are also so glad jes is feeling better. stella rose and momma

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  10. You'll be growing things like crazy in that bed.

    Jester is a sweetie. Glad his boy appt. went well.

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