Back to Work and Birds

Look what I'm doing this morning: 

Uh huh.  I just can't get anything but a blurry picture 

from my phone. 

I'm priming the trim for the old house... and tomorrow, 

I'll paint it.  All white. 

So, a little more progress. 

Keith has been busy working on the last few pieces of siding. 

He actually completed the piece in front of him... so 

now we will get Brandon back to put the two top pieces on this end, then the 

siding is finished.  

Keith will start caulking tonight... then we'll paint... then trim... 

getting ever closer! 

Our yard has become a haven for mourning doves. 

This is the top of the birdbath that fell on little Austin, 

at my friend Valerie's house, breaking her leg.  It is very heavy. 

We disposed of the plinth, and kept the top... and the birds love it. 

I clean it daily. 

We are not seeing many goldfinches, but I think that will pick up as it gets colder. 

We also are seeing few hummers now. 

I love these birds.  People make fun of them because they aren't the brightest birds in the flock... but I think they are lovely. 

Their crooning is beautiful to me. 

They get along pretty well.... even when there are ten to fourteen of them eating under the hanging feeder.  I'm going to have a good time this winter watching them! 

How 'bout those Chiefs and Royals, huh????

So Wonderful Just to be Outside

I went to see Brother Pete this morning, early.  It was 

such a pleasure to be out and about. 

These are unedited pictures, snapped from the car, of course, 

but you'll get the idea. 

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Michaele at Sprout'n Wings posted pictures last week 

of the Virginia Creeper turning red in the trees on her farm... 

but our Virginia Creeper is still green... I think this is Poison Ivy already red. 

I didn't have a place to pull over and go over and get a closer look. 

I think in one more week, we are going to have fantastic color.  I'll take the big 

camera out and try to get some pictures of it. 

It's hard to believe that it's almost October! 

Catching Up for the Weekend

This weekend has flown by! 

Yesterday, grandson Jacob helped me get the mulch spread at the old house. 

What a difference two young hands make.... he spread, and I raked.  We finished the south bed. 

We did not have time to go get the hay that I am going to spread on 

the backs of the two long flower beds.  We DID dig up 

the last vegetable bed. 

We made it a short day, because Jacob kindly agreed to be my date 

for the Fab Four at the Midland Theater in downtown 

Kansas City, Missouri. 

I ran the elevator at the Midland for four very happy years in the past, 

and worked with a great group of people there. 

I also ushered and took tickets there, so was in and 

out of the theater often for a long while. 

The new theater managers have removed the top deck of seats and made a false floored seating area 

anchored by a bar under a huge chandelier.... this floor has glass sides, and is standing room only. 

We rode up in the elevator to see it, but as Jake approached the glass side... it made me dizzy and I had to snap a picture quickly and get away from there!  That area was not in use last night.

Jacob had never been to a concert, he is thirteen, soon to be fourteen, and an eighth

grader.  His life is family and sports.  This was a good concert to start him out on... 

there were a LOT of grandchildren in the audience.... listening to all the good Beatles tunes. 

(I love this picture of him) 

The Midland is a beautiful old theater, isn't she? 

Built in 1927, it was part of the Loew's chain, but she 

has hosted live Broadway plays on tour for years, and for 

many years, the annual Nutcracker performances were here. 

Concerts, as well. 

I had been looking forward to this concert for months. 

Here's Gavin Pring and Ron McNeil as George Harrison and 

John Lennon, respectively. 

I liked the fact that the band changed up their program and did different 

numbers from the last four times they have appeared here. 

Neil Candelora filling in for Ardy Sarraf as Paul McCartney, and
MAN was he good! 

And, sorry for the blurry picture... Erik Fidel as Ringo. 

This band encourages the audience to make pictures and videos of their performances...

Jacob was on the end of the row, and I asked him to hold my camera and make some... but, 

God bless him, they are bouncing around EVERYWHERE (laughing here). 

I got very few actually in focus. 

There are four costume changes in this show. 

Back to the blur. 

Jacob took some, too... and sent them to my phone. 

So, they snuck "Kansas City" in on us, and 

the crowd went wild. 

And... I tried to load it, and Blogger couldn't do it! 

Maybe next year! 

As this was a benefit for KCPT, our local public television station... it was all for a good cause. 

Keith has put up some more siding today, and I am 

getting set up to prime and paint the trim in our garage here at the new house... so things are moving along.  Pictures to come this week. 

It was so good to have a blast from the past. 

Back to Work

A dog's life is sure hard. 

I didn't even get the pillowcase on it. 

All I have to do is say I'm going to bed, and Jester beats me 

to it every night. 

I had to run up to Fort Leavenworth to pick up prescriptions yesterday morning, 

and this arrangement was on the receptioin desk.  The lady manning the desk... it seems like 

they change every time I am there... told me that a former employee comes in regularly with seasonal decorations.  I thought these two (there was another) were nice. 

So, I ran to Leavenworth this morning to Home Depot to get mulch.  It's only the start. 

This was 15 bags. 

Mulch should really be applied at least two inches thick.  

I started parceling it on, and then I realized I was 

going to have to pour.  

Fifteen 2 cubic foot bags bearly covered 2/3 of the bed.  I still have some gaps to 

fill in, and at the back, by the bushes, I am going to put a heavy layer of straw. 

I need to save some money somewhere. 

I am going to have to dig out the bed behind this, just like I did the south beds last week. 

There is just too much mint in that bed behind this. 

There used to be at least six mum plants in this bed... and I thought this was all that is left... it is a red one. 

Then this morning, I found one tiny little plant in back of a daylilly.  

It is also going to bloom, but I can't tell what color.  I am actually going

to transplant this little one to this house. 

My assistants got VERY hot, it was 86 degrees. 

This one, too. 

I thought this was an apple on the patio.  It was huge.  

It was a walnut!

I hope you can see the thorns on this stuff.  I do not know WHAT it is, and thank 

heavens I was paying attention, because those thorns were wicked.  I dug it up and carried it by the root.  It is going into a bag and into the trash can, I don't want it around. 

I had other helpers, too. 

There were probably 15 bumblebees on the caryopteris bush next to this, and I leaned over 

by them digging and pulling weeds out... numerous times.  Not one bee bothered me, they 

went about their business. 

The plan for the rest of the day is to go back to Leavenworth to buy some 

more mulch and take it out tomorrow afternoon.  Jacob will be helping me on Saturday, which will speed things along, but I want the mulch bought before then so that I don't have to deal with the Saturday crowds.  

More pictures tomorrow. 

Fall Decorations

At the little house, I used to cram the decorations in... every season.  

More was better. 

Now, I have this huge house... and I am being restrained.  Go figure. 

In the old days, I would have crammed all three shelves full.  Restraint, Mary Ann, restraint. 

The jack o'lantern is up early, because I still don't have a lamp for that side table. 

I decided to try to use things I already had... the beautiful chocolate pot 

that my friend Mary gave me... the little gold hen, I got at an auction (in the middle)

and the little sign on the left reads "Live Within Your Harvest".  Good advice. 

The little owl on the mantel is new, but the biscuit jar, pail and flowers are not.  Neither are the two pictures (one out of sight to the right). 

These little guys greet you as you come in the door. 

And this swatch of "leaves" on the china cabinet is the only other touch of 

fall. 

Of course, we haven't made it to Halloween YET.  

(smile) 

Hope you enjoyed the tour! 

Little Things

This plane buzzed our house at least 12-15 times this morning. 

I don't know if he knew I was filming him, but he went round and round, way south 

over Basehor, and then back to us.  He turned around above our back yard.  Keith estimated he was maybe 150 feet off the ground. 

I tried to get a better picture with the Nikon... I still have not learned how to use it right. 

Closer, but not clearer!  

I'm learning, little by little. 

As I was standing waiting for him by the side of the house, I looked up to see 

a beautiful spider web. 

Thank heavens I looked before I grabbed the hummingbird feeder off the pole. 

This is the very first wasp I've seen this summer. 

I'm so glad I didn't grab the wasp. 

I left it to eat.. and I'll be very careful now. 

I have noticed in the last few days that not as many birds are eating as normal... I'm sure it's because they have abundant feed right now. 

While I was down there, I noticed that the caladiums and impatiens are finally losing their vitality... after all, it's the first day of fall! 

(from the web) 

And finally, if you can stand to watch... 

here's the plane on my little Canon coming at me... be sure to turn the sound up! 

(stick with it, the plane really DOES come into view!) 

And lastly... Keith is back in the hospital again for a couple of days... and we could sure use some extra prayers for him!  

Happy Fall! 

The Birthday Boy

Today, we celebrated Jace's third birthday. 

In our family, I have six grandkids, and on Keith's side, we have four. 

His are all very small, and Jace is the oldest. 

He had a blast at his party. 

There was a lot of bouncing going on in that bouncy house... all the kids were barefoot. 

That's Jace on the right and his best friend Eli on the left. 

He had one candle to blow out, the number 3. 

First cousin Brynn, whose birthday we will celebrate in December. 

Little brother Carson, also a December baby. 

And... meet Hayley Kay, our other September baby, 

2 weeks and 2 days old.  

Here she is with her mother Andrea, Keith's oldest daughter.  She is Brynn's little sister, and the baby of our grands on Keith's side 

I JUST made it to the game for Jax, that started at 4:30, and learned 

there that grandson Jacob has broken a finger badly in his football game on Thursday. 

Jax' team this fall is called The Crushers, and he got three nice hits that were caught twice, and he 

made it to first base once,  while the guy running to second was tagged out.  It's a little harder than tee ball, but he has a good attitude and loves to get out on the diamond.  And we love to watch him! 

Son Jim, grand Paiton Raine, and Amy, my Daughter in Law.   These games are 

such a good chance to get together and visit as a family... Amy's mom, Cheryl, was 

just out of sight below her.  

What a lovely Sunday! 

Hope yours was as good!

Saturday Night and a Tiny Rant

As if I am not worn out watching out for THESE GUYS

I have never, ever in my life, seen turtles out heading across the road in 

mid-September!!!!  Yes, I helped this little guy... and held up three cars while I did it. (It was on a gravel road on the way home from the old house, not on a highway, thank heavens) 

He was heading for a very deep ditch, too, so he got a lift up. 

And now... THESE GUYS are going back and forth across the road. (though this is our driveway) 

Yes, it's a wooly bear... and yes... it's almost black, you can hardly see the bands. 

Old wives tales say that that means we are going to have a harsh winter again. 

I am seeing scores of them, so if you see me swerving suddenly in Leavenworth County, Kansas, this is why. 

Good gravy.  

I'm going to end up being an agoraphobic at this rate. 

I thought you might be interested in seeing the roots on a few of the plants I have 

been digging out of the beds.  This is an elderberry.  They are NOT fun to dig up. 

But, as you see... I have made HUGE progress.  

This is the back side of the south bed.  See the piles of debris? 

I hauled them all away today, and built another compost heap over by the old garage that you see in this picture. 

This is how I moved them.... one load by one load.  It was 86 out and 86 percent (nearly) humidity.  It was very tiring, if I do say so. 

But, it's all finished.  I am going to rake the bed over, get the rest of the little weeds out 

of it... and then add a little dirt, and a lot of mulch. 

This dog, whom we love so much, will not let us groom her.  There must be a thousand stick tites on her. 

She is going to have to go to the vet and be sedated, because she literally will attack us if we come near her with a brush.  

Many of the bean fields around us are ready to be harvested.  

Ditto the corn. 

This year, Leavenworth County farmers are going to have a good harvest, unlike the last two when the corn and beans burned up. 

After I got all the weeds out of the south bed... I was rewarded today. 

The orange zinnias are so bright that you can barely see the phisostegia. 

Exposing the flowers also brought beautiful visitors. 

I wish I knew my butterflies, but for some reason, I think this is a moth. It's beautiful, though, isn't it! 

The pear tree that has turned. 

The pear tree that didn't bear this year, and has not turned. 

Strange. 

Keith insisted I go home after cleaning up all the debris from the two beds, he told me I was 

not looking very well.   I had started the day not feeling well, and the humidity got to me. 

In fact, I had put the dogs in the house for the last half hour I was there... they were suffering, too. 

We turned the air on for them (and us). 

Storm clouds began building, and by the time I went to church,it was 

very dark. 

When we came out at six... it was sunny again... no rain! 

Tomorrow is our grandson Jace's 3rd birthday party... we can't believe the 

little guy is already three years old!  He's even a big brother to baby Carson now. 

In the evening, we have Jaxton's third baseball game with his new team, so 

it's a full day for Grandma and Grandpa, but doing things we love to do.