A Hard Day's Work in the Heat

Monday, we worked at the old place, loading things from the shop into Keith's truck, to take to the 

consignment sale for the 21st at the Tonganoxie fairgrounds. 

While Chris and Keith loaded things into the back of Keith's truck... Nathan and his friend 

Jacob helped me in the garden.  I had to take a few breaks! 

I devoted about two hours to pulling weeds and cutting out little trees, and the boys 

brought me straw from the goat barn to mulch with. 

Here is the problem corner of the south bed... the north end of it... 

And here's my volunteer tomato in the same bed.  It has blooms on the back of it... and sorry about the shadow.  

I got most of the weeds out of this bed, and just realized I did not take a picture of the "clean" corner.  

Here is the yellow asclepias that I planted last year... there was an beautiful orange one to it's right... that I lost over the winter.  In it's place has grown this delicate pale green plant... 

You just can barely see it's pretty yellow flowers because of my SHADOW again... 

but they were very delicate.  They closed up when the sun was overhead. 

Does anyone recognize it???

Nathan and Jacob took a break after we ran to Sonic for lunch, and everyone had slushies. 

The Queen surveyed all the work.  About mid-morning, Keith had to run home for something... and he took her with him.   She will be 8 next month, and just does not need to stay out in the heat and humidity for long. 

While I sat on the porch, our resident swallows swooped past me over and over in their 

quest for bugs in the air.  They don't rest for long! 

Stella d"Oro... always a solid performer in the garden! 

We are expecting a visitation from Keith's parents from Friday until Sunday... 

along with his girls and their families on Saturday, so things are in high gear here. 

However... we have plans to work on the old house during July... and are then 

going to put it on the rental market .  I want to get the gardens in shape for the house to be shown, so 

next week, I'll start working on the vegetable beds.  

Here's our girl Lil on the deck this afternoon... she didn't stay out long in the heat! 

Christmas Eve

The last two days has been all about family. 

Well... chores, cold and family. 

If you want to know what it feels like to do 

chores in subzero weather with the wind blowing, 

please read Michaele's blog at 

Sprout N Wings yesterday, and you will understand. 

She said it more eloquently than I ever could.  (And that link will 

take you directly to the story). 

Here's the Garnett Gang, blocking the Christmas tree so you can't see it... 

friend Jay, Nathan, Hayleigh, and Chris, (Hayleigh is his girlfriend). 

Mom Sherie did not get in the picture, and I didn't realize it. 

We had a good time, only staying an hour or so because it snowed all the way down.  

It turned out we were worried for nothing, it didn't accumulate. 

We had ham and cheese sliders, chips and dip, and I took lots of cookies for them to snack on. 

Jay celebrated Christmas with us, and we were so glad to have him! 

Here's something I read about last year and did this year. 

I saved all my change... just the change I got when I was out, and it took me a 

full year to fill three jars.  I gave one to Hayleigh, Chris and Nathan... we didn't forget Jay, either, don't worry. 

It did not "cost" me anything, except to remember to put the money in the jar every so often, so I am 

going to do it again next year.  I know one jar had over forty dollars in it. 

The Intrepid Lil does not let a little snow stop her from anything. 

I go out to dump the outside water about 6:15 every evening.  I also dump the water inside the old henhouse. 

Last night, this is how I found the goats... I had my little flashlight with me. 

What I am trying to say is that it was so dark, I had to turn the flashlight on to FIND them... and then I saw where they all sleep... the two little girls curl up in the corner. 

We do have a warming light in this barn, it has hung there since Kody and Kaycee came to us in May... but we have not utilized it with these... though it got down to zero last night. 

We are thinking of using it... but we are also afraid of the little three chewing on the cord outside. 

The barn is very tight in the back, and you see they are all hunkered down back there in the back. 

It's going to be cold out tonight again, and windy, but they are in the best place. 

Then today, I ran into Jim's house, and we exchanged our gifts. Tonight they go to a big party with Amy's family... so we did ours early. 

That's Jim, little Jax, Jacob, Amy, beautiful Madison, and little sister Paiton. 

One of Paiton's gifts was a farm set, not that I'm trying to subvert her or anything. 

Lilly Ann has the right idea. 

A year ago today, we lost little Gertie Lou very suddenly, our smallest pug, and 

only three years old.  I can't believe a year has flown by. 

I hope Santa is good to all the little girls and boys tonight. 

(from Hazel the White Pug)