One Day At a Time

I've been spending hours cutting down saplings. 

I decided today to work on a couple of the garden beds. 

This is what they look like, and I don't blame 

the renters. 

You see, not everyone is a gardener.  They did 

grow some peppers in that far back bed, 

but the rest became overgrown. 

That high grass is in between the beds.  

This was after about ten minutes of digging and pulling.  You see, 

Keith and I built these beds 

according to the book Lasagna Gardening.  

We put paper down, then dirt mixed with manure. 

Every growing season, I dug through them and replenished the dirt. 

Most of these weeds began to come right out. 

My hard and fast rule is "don't overdo it".  

I'm almost four years older than before. 

However, I did a second bed.  Yes, I still have to clean them up, 

but I took the choppers and cut down the high grass around them, and 

started digging at the dandelions. I am going to have to have 

Brandon, the young man cutting the place, do some weedeating. 

Then I trudged across the yard, carrying all the pulled plants, 

because I have no way to get my cart out there. 

Still figuring that out. 

I tried to cut the high grass around the two beds (with the big cutters).  I figure it will 

take at least six bags of Miracle Gro dirt and a bag each of 

manure before the beds are ready to plant anything. 

I'm not going to garden extensively this year... but it will be 

nice to have a couple of beds for tomatoes. 

This, however, is the current state of the pasture.  Nice hay, huh? 

I can't even get in the gate. 

The dogs and I can't get down to check the status of the fence until 

I can find someone who can cut it. 

Lots of saplings to cut!

How I miss not having a truck. 

Here's the little pond I have shown you so many times.  It has decent water in it now. 

We have not been going back and forth on gravel in an effort to preserve the 

new car. 

I decided to do it today. 

The cow herd is doing well, too! 

Oh, and by the way... this has started, too! 

These Last Few Days

I usually go to the Ag after I drop Keith off at dialysis on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays. 

Friday morning, the geese were back.  The Renaissance Festival is right next 

door to us, and for six weeks after Labor Day, we have a cannon booming as they 

open and close.  The wild animals don't like it.  I don't like it. 

The geese have been away, so I was glad to see these four on Friday. 

This guy was back at the vet on Friday afternoon.  He has a badly infected ear (his right) and 

eye infection in both eyes, so we are treating both. 

He is doing okay, but we may have to get more ear meds. 

You know I love the Beatles.  I went with a good friend on Saturday night to see the Liverpool Legends at the Topeka Performing Arts Center.  Keith and I have been to several concerts there, it is a wonderful small venue.  Louise Harrison, the 85 year old sister of George Harrison, manages this group, and they have a residency in Branson.  They also sponsor a program to keep music alive in high schools, and they work with master classes with local schools in each town where they sing. 

Hayden High School was the high school for Topeka, and the band played the orchestral parts to numerous Beatle's hits in the second half.  It was wonderful. 

A snippet of "Revolution" without the band, sorry: 

We drove home through a terrible rainstorm, and it was heart-in-the-throat time. 

The jelly feeder had water in it from the rain, but look whom I saw 

drinking from it! 

I actually saw this for two days running, but.... temps are dropping here, 

and today there was a lone hummingbird left. 

On the way to the park Sunday afternoon, we saw this little guy with a big burden. 

Remember our llamas? 

Some new neighbors have moved into the neighborhood, about 12 of them! 

Uh Huh. 

It was raining when I passed the bluffs on Sunday morning on the way to church. 

I missed the most beautiful shot... an egret was winging it's way through the canyon of the creek, and I could not get the camera up before it went around the bend.   

You see the leaves are beginning to change. 

Sunday's sunset almost hurt to watch. 

Yellow and blue always go well together! 

The dogs resign themselves when I jump out of the car.

There goes Big Daddy into the pond. 

And my favorite calf. 

I think this is probably The Last One. 

I'll be surprised if I see him tomorrow. 

This one will be around for a while. 

Summer is Still Around

The show goes on! 

These beautiful squash and pumpkins were at the grocery tonight... but it was nearly 100 degrees out. 

Think fall, everyone! 

Someone was hungry for Chinese food tonight, and managed to get a third of 

his plate down .  This is an accomplishment!  

See that cow on the left? 

I was afraid she had become stuck in the mud.  I went slowly up the road when I came back by.... she was not.  Look how low she is, though! 

squirrel

There is a heron in the middle of this picture, take my word for it. 

This is making me feel better and better. 

Stranger Creek is running really high because of all the recent rains. 

I love these little guys! 

And these little guys! 

And this big guy! 

Weekend Pictures

Half-a-Weekend Pictures 

Keith and I got out and about today, first time in a while that we actually were able to 

go for a drive together.  

We have a big week of dialysis and doctor's appointments coming up, so 

it was fun to just drive around "like the old days".  We even went 

by the old house, just to make sure our renters were still there. 

(they were). 

So, some pictures... 

Gardens are all fading now... it's the end of August. 

I don't know what this foamy flower is, but I'm going to find out and plant it next year. 

It literally is like foam! 

Cannas are fading. 

But gomphrenas plow on... 

The basil is more subdued but still beautiful... 

Zinnia "Zahara" is also coming here next year. 

Even the dried flower heads are striking! 

I think my own patio garden is so interesting.  Those marigolds have become TREES. 

They are only blooming on the ends. 

The balsam on the right has carried on from ten year old seeds, I don't want to lose it. 

It has formed many seed pods.  

Also, see the planter with the "million bells" in the foreground?  If you will 

look at the right hand side, you will see that the marigolds have dropped

into that planter (which sat almost under the marigold barrel) and are now 

growing in it.  I guess we are going to have some late marigolds. 

So check this out.... this is the tiny planter the sunflower grew in earlier this summer. 

Marigolds also dropped down into IT, and are growing.  Do you see what else is growing in it? 

ANOTHER TOMATO. 

We are currently buried in tomatoes. 

I'm leaving it. 

Tomorrow I am making my last batch of pickles, and then the cuke plants come out.

In April, the maintenance manager at the Ag Hall bought two commercial turkeys, not 

really knowing about turkeys.  They are now too big to get out the pophole, and are trapped inside. They are my special babies, I call them Twilight and Starlight.  They have plenty of room to move around, but no important sunlight.  At least, I don't THINK they can get out anymore. 

I always have help when doing chores. 

A blue ribbon for the cutest calf in Leavenworth County! 

This is my favorite little pasture pond, almost dry. 

We got a little rain last night, but not much. 

The prettiest girl in the world, with the Maybelline Eyes. 

Our Lilly Ann.