Idyll #286---Thankful for so many Idyll friends....

17 years ago

I figured I'd jump in and begin a new Idyll Tydll (now watch, someone else has just started one, too. lol).

Jamie has been here for a couple days and seems to have brought with him a stomach bug.......not nice. Carpet cleaning and extra laundry are secondary to the heart break of a little one crying because they feel lousy.

Hope all are enjoying the weekend....

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (102)

dodgerdudette
17 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Hi everyone-Another nice day here in the Napa Valley, but of course I spent it in my office...shucks. It is starting to get a bit nippy overnight(I define nippy right now as the mid-40's) but we probably won't have any frost issues for a few weeks yet.

Cindy, I am also taking time off work to clean-next week in fact! The garage is on my hit list this time, plus I hope to get the lions share of my front yard project done. I usually take at least two weeks of my vaca every year for heavy chores. I will however fly up to Portland for a few days to visit my brother-in-law and partner, so it won't be ALL work !

V-So where are you staying here in Napa ?(my son works at a hotel-be funny if you would be there !) Are you going wine tasting ?? Need some tips ?? Need an escort ? Too bad the gardens will all be over !

Eden love your squirrel-people think I'm nuts because I feed the blue jays ! I'm watching the A's-Tigers game as we speak. Rooting for A's of course (my back up team) .We got spanked last night- (however, will always have a soft spot for the Tigers for what they wrought on the Yankees !!)

Michelle-go somewhere that sells sandbags-they usually carry poly and burlap versions.

Must run--later all..
Kathy in Napa
deanneart
17 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Morning all,

Well, Im making headway with my new painting and if I put in a long day today I should be able to finish it up. Then I just have to write the instructions, get the pattern ready and get it all shipped out to the customer. I wish I could show you guys pics of this one. Its looking pretty cool. This is a very large, 18" diameter bowl, and Ive painted plums, purple grapes and yellow apples on the very wide brim.

Weather wise it looks like we are going to get three nights in a row right at freezing starting Friday night. I still have a ton of stuff to get in and Im going to have to put it all in the garage until I can deal with it. Ill be so sad to see the dahlias go because they are just wonderful right now. Every time I think Im doing pretty good I remember another section of plants that I just cant bear to let go. I just remembered my Iresine Purple Lady in the front containers. Those have been so beautiful that I do want to keep them over. If I can bring in the I. herbstii Im sure I can bring in the Purple Lady. I still have about thirty fuchsias to bring in too. Arrggh!!! Well the good news it that I dont need to buy any new fuchsias next year. LOL

Cindy and Kathy when you are done with your houses will you come here??? Im in desperate need of a major overhaul in this house but I wont be able to get to it for another week or so.

Saucy, hope Nicks surgery goes OK. ~~ So sorry about Jake having to get another cast on and the wait at the docs office. I dont know when it became SOP for doctors to think it is OK to keep patients waiting for hours for their appointments.

Eden, That squirrel is too silly. Im glad he doesnt live in my garden. LOL ~~ So Im really loving the view of your gardens out the door. Do you have any more pics?

Martie, that corn is awesome! How cool you grew that yourself. Next year you should do some pumpkins and gourds to go with it. LOL

Yeona, why thanks for the BDay wishes.

Chelone, I can never resist a feline, especially when they are tiny balls of fluff and purring. Id have been hard pressed not to take one home.

OK time to hit the brushes for the day. Have a great day everyone,
Deanne
Related Discussions
Idyll #471 Will the REAL Idyll Please Stand Up?
Q
Comments (102)
Afternoon Idyllers, I'm another one in the midst of the snowstorm. Not too bad yet, we've probably got less than an inch of very fine, powdery snow, but more to come. I'm home alone today and have everything I need, even made a trip to Whole Foods and Barnes and Noble yesterday in preparation, and I'm enjoying my solitude. My only worry is Brad driving the 25 miles to and from work and my kids out on the roads. I've been puttering around doing a job here or there and am really thinking about organizing all of our childrens books by author this afternoon. Bella takes books from the shelves, but piles them next to it for me to put back, so it wouldn't be hard to keep them organized and we'd be able to find specific books so much easier than way. I took a quick count and estimate our count to be over 400 assorted books. I've enjoyed so much looking at all of the photos on this thread. Those last ones of the beautiful garden ornaments really struck a cord with me. We have a shop near here called Detroit Garden Works with so many similar beautiful benches, fountains, urns etc. Pricey, but I love to go in there and dream. The owner lives in my town and has a beautiful garden too. She has a great blog, one of my favorites, I'll link it below. Kathy, Wondering what instructions you're following for the delphinium sowing? I used to grow them from seed but got tired of all the staking when the plants bloomed. Very labor intensive I thought and we'd always have a storm blow through just when they were beautiful that would break over the stalks no matter how well I thought I had them secured. I did the Pacific Giants and would sow the seeds, put them in the frig for 2 weeks and them put them in a dark closet until they germinated. I'd get really great results with that method. The first time I sowed them I did a whole flat and had so many plants I couldn't give them all away. Brenda, interesting that you're thinking of building a new house. How exciting for you! Though, truth be told, I always tell Brad I never want to live in a house that's younger than me. I grew up living in new houses but the architecture lover in me can't get enough of the old ones, even with all of their quirkiness. They seem to have a soul to me. We looked at an old schoolhouse that had been converted into a home not long ago. Beautiful architecture...and a great price but small and oh my, it was full of 1970's "improvements" and was in such disrepair. We decided we were too old and tired to tackle something that labor intensive, lol. I'm thinking I'm stuck here in my little house for awhile with this economy. Bright side, at least it's paid for:) Norma, I really love the coleus cuttings in the bottles on the windowsill. I'm so going to do that next year. Maybe I'll take better care of them that way too. You're Nicki looks just like my Esther. She's a character, huh? A couple more conservatory pictures for Candy. It's hard to take pictures of the inside. It's tiny in there and there's all that reflecting glass. Last year I filled it with annuals in mostly pinks and purples, a couple of cannas, one of which was Tropicana, a big Boston fern on a plant stand, and a couple of garden gnomes. I put a white wicker chair I found on the curb in one corner with a big purple pot of flowers in it. Other urns and pots on the floor in front...not sure what I'll do in there this year. Here it is at night Enough blabbering from me. Thinking of Julie and family and Woody too. Keep the pictures coming. We're going to need them! Eden
...See More
Idyll # 437 The Bee's Knees Idyll
Q
Comments (100)
Michelle, is that geranium in the foreground of the above photo the same one you gave a start of to Deanne? Very pretty; I love variEgated leaves and the shade of pink is very appealing... I'd polish my toenails that color. It's a lovely seating area, very inviting. And Polish Spirit is going to look great on those trellises! Busy for me at work, too. And I concur with Kathy that it's a reassuring thing. But the offer on your parents' home is the best news yet... bet they're some glad their kids did the white tornado thing and spiffed the joint up, huh? I'll be crossing my fingers for you. And very nice to see some shots from you, Sue. Your garden is lovely and I'm amazed at how much farther along in its development it is compared to my own. My hostas have been making a very steady move but their leaves are still in thw whorled stage, though some out back are beginning to unfurl. And the slugs are probably licking their little slug chops in gleeful anticipation... lol. If I had a lick of sense I'd serve 'em up a double shot of Sluggo. I particularly love the Cercis, they are the prettiest things. What have you planted around the base of your yellow Magnolia? Aren't Crown Imperials and Frittilaria on the preferred snacking list of the dreaded Lily Leaf Beetle, too? I've been keeping my eyes peeled for their arrival, so far none, but it's only a question of time and the little gnawed areas indicate either slug or snail damage, so a prophylactic application of diotomaceaous earth at their feet is definitely in order, too. Saucy, I laughed at the "Mongolian tree", I'd forgotten that but remembered it as soon as I read it. What have you planted beneath your's? (this is going to be the question I repeat often this season, I fear). So far, in nearly 5 years I've had exactly ONE blossom on "Butterflies" and I nearly missed it so I had no idea there was the possibility of scent... M. stellata smells wonderful; lemon-y and very delicate. I love all cats (MUCH prefer them to dogs), Kathy, but I have to say that your Ted is particularly beautiful. His color is quite similar to Polly, though her coat is broken with white accessories. His "gumdrop" has the same trim package that Vera's does... love the delicate dark outline to accent the basic color. How did he get his name? Julie, OUTSTANDING work on the newly improved entrance! I know exactly what you mean about the grousing when something like that comes up in conversation. I maintain that there is usually more time wasted on "reasons" (read: excuses) than is required to put together the basic plan and list the materials! You too, have a very inviting seating area and I find the monochromatic color palette very soothing and very pleasing. How is Tucker settling in at your house? has mayhem taken over completely? :) I had to get to the bank yesterday afternoon and decided I'd take the Huge One along. He was an excellent boy, we passed several dogs walking their humans and he didn't let out a peep at the sight of them. (I will note that he still does that when he's out with the helpmeet, hehehe). I decided, on the spur of the moment, to take him into the bank with me. There wasn't any sign prohibiting it, after all, and we do have a goodly sum of money in their establishment. ;) So, in we walked, bold as brass. I had him "Down" next to me while I filled out the slips and got all the banking business in order. Then we went to the counter where he was required to do the same thing. He was beautifully behaved and earned his cookie. One of the patrons even commented that he was very well behaved (if they only knew). After that we went to see Daddy and practice our "Sunday go to meetin' manners" in another busy place. He was a hit with several of the shoppers there, too. One woman looked at him nervously and I smiled at her and said he "just looked scarey" but was in fact very gentle. Poor thing had been bitten before and after watching him for a bit asked if she might pat him. He was a perfect gentleman and I hope he did his small part in rehabilitating the somewhat fearsome reputation of large dogs in dark colors. We played "ball" when we came home; it's a great way to burn off all the energy accumulated while practicing "good boy manners", lol. No voles or moles, though. ;) (I like that Rebel keeps a close eye on his territory, too). And that's very exciting news about the Reed stage. There is much planning and more effort that goes into a project like that and I'm sure it will be gratifying to note its progress. The practicality of the project appeals to my yankee sensibility; life is filled with ups and downs and something that brings joy to the living is the best sort of memorial. Today is the day I will conquer the world of "ladies foundations", with a stopover at a nursery on the way home. I plan to be there when they unlock the front door and make my shopping junket a "surgical strike". Now, however, I plan to tackle the dishes and kitchen clean up, toss a load of laundry in the washing machine and get this show on the road. May your day be fruitfully productive and enjoyable my friends.
...See More
Idyll #317 The Wellness Idyll
Q
Comments (101)
I started a nice long post last night but had DS home and wanting to chat , and phone call from BILs in Portland and by the time all that was over with it was time to go to sleep or pay the price today with the dreaded office grogginess So many things I want to comment on , so I will do my best, and will no doubt miss a few here and there. First I must say weve had some really enjoyable photos posted the last couple of days. Even poor Kenzie in time-out reminded me of the fleeting nature of having very small children..I felt a little wistful-for about 10 seconds ,lol ! She is a cute little thing though ! Thank you so much Michelle for posting the wonderful shots of your 06 garden. How proud you must be of itits just beautiful ! I cant imagine what I would do with that much space..A wonderful assortment of plants, thoughtfully placed, lovely vignettes , etc etc. Cynthia..yippee to vacation! Ill be in that mode in just a couple of weeks. I have already maxed out my dental insurance for the year. I fear that surgery (for the second time) is in my future again. Think Im looking at perhaps 1 implant. Hope you will post a picture of your spiral aloe sometime- I love aloes and agaves. I bought a boatload of new succulents this spring. Cindy, I need to post a pic of an area in my back garden that is so similar to your Chloe pic you posted. My lawn (whats left of it) is also a path, with various pets lounging about on it-usually that cats (I refer to it as "the savannah" ) and 10 minute mowing is it for me too. I hope to visit Heirloom Roses while in Portland-went last year but it was pouring the whole time-always a risk in the PNW, so I hope for dry weather this year. Last fall I visited Cistus on Sauvie Island-that was fun . Saucy, sorry for the troubles with the younger set. I had my share of those believe me. I look back on those times and it is hard to imagine that my 2 young adult kids are even the same people they were back then. Sometimes being caught doing stupid things can begin the turnaround. Deanne, your potential container arrangements are dynamitecant wait to see them in full glory. Some folks out here in Norcal do dig their Dahlias, but I think its a rain thing, trying to avoid rot. Chelone, dont you just love Annabelle? I wish I had room for a couple more. And as for Sweet Woodruff??? Fie on that one I say ! Ive dug up enough of that to fill a couple yard waste bins and then some, and it has figured prominently in my compost piles. Wish Id never planted it. bug ! Good vibes to Charlotte. I hope that the news is something manageable. Suzy, you have been plant shopping up a storm ! How scary for you and your DH-anything involving the aorta is certainly of a serious nature. I hope your Docs are able to find treatments that will ease him. Well, Im out of steam for now---a big wave to everyone, This is where DS spent a few days last week. Those of you who have been there will probably recognize it. Kathy in Napa
...See More
idyll #284--the bad plant idyll
Q
Comments (104)
First, Happy Birthday, Deanne, V and Ei! Hi, friends. Were finally back on-line! We lost internet and phone service on Sat. during a storm and have had several false starts getting reconnected. The good thing is that we werent distracted from our projects and got a lot done outside. Then yesterday I was forced inside by rain another good thing. So I decided to look for things to wear during my friends visit next week and wound up culling out all the worn, out of style and larger sizes that no longer fit (yeah), and reorganizing and refreshing whats left. While its not done, at least I can see whats there! Oh dear. V and Ei are having bad storms which usually means its coming our way. Waaaaaa. We just got our services restored. Hope we dont get zapped again. And I wanna get back outside again! We had horrible news this am. Our neighbors only son, 25, was found dead in the early morning hours in his car near a downtown university. The door was open and car was running. No other details. Its every parents nightmare. Our hearts just break for them. Thanks, Deanne, for that article. Your timing was perfect. My Brugs are in the garage in front of the window. Charles Grimaldi is blooming its head off. Both are on my huge to-do-for-fall list. Taryn, Hope your PI is drying up. That stuff is just miserable! We have tons of PI and PO behind the garden and I have to be ever vigilant to make sure I have gloves on when Im walking the garden. I can never resist reaching down and pulling whatever doesnt belong. Michelle, good luck on finding the perfect dress. My advice is to ask the bride what colors she would prefer that you look for (usually neutral beige, dove grey, pale rose or blue) and find one that you feel you look good in and is comfortable. Youll probably be walked down the aisle to be seated after the MOB, so your supporting role is important, too. Brenda, Im so glad your ordeal with DS is behind you. We know the stubborn as a mule well and the know it allattitude. After our DD moved to an apt., she was picked up in early am for a DUI and taken to jail. She phoned Dad in tears and asked him to bail her out. However, the local police wouldnt let us. In retrospect, a night in jail was good for her. When she was released in the am, we told her that was her one and only. Then at court, we saw the other dregs and told her if that was the company she chose to keep, she was on her own. However, the smug/smirk wasnt completely gone. She was sentenced to a yrs. probation and if she missed any appts., shed go directly to lock-up. While at the time we thot that was harsh, it was the best thing for her. She, herself, didnt want to be identified with the dregs that had to report to a PO. And it was a costly drive and a pain to go every 2 wks. to check in and be tested. Some kids are just hard-headed. Luckily, the system got her by the tail and wouldnt let go before she hurt herself. My advice just hang in there, Mom. This, too, shall pass. Congratulations, Sue. I couldnt imagine Steve Silk not loving your garden. Oh, and now you could be famous, too! I second what Mary said. Your gardens, Les and Moniques as well as Deannes are probably among the best in the NE. WAY TO GO, you guys. Deanne, Sue, Michelle, I, too, have a heck of a time convincing my friends that my internet friends arent ax murderers! I always get these skeptical looks like I have truly lost my mind! The latter may be true, but you guys are the best! Hi Jerri! Sounds like youre very, very busy with those foster kids. Glad you stopped by to say hello. ((((((Saucy))))))). Please turn to us. We love you. You cant possibly be going thru anything that one of us hasnt had to face at one time or another. With one failed-miserably marriage under my belt, followed by 29 yrs. with DH, I can say that it does take work. E-mail me and well exchange phone numbers. Id love to chat and I have free, unlimited long-distance. I also agree that you should visit your Dr. Hormones really distort ones mind. Welcome, Kathy!!! Great to have you join us! Yep, you sound like one of us already, were all mostly Type "As" and generally do most things with gusto. This is a wonderful group and Im sure youll really enjoy becoming part of it. Hello, Chelone. What wonderful words of wisdom from you. Taryn and T, great jobs on the curvy beds! Martie, congrats on your DH getting his teeth fixed. It will be an unpleasant ordeal but hell feel so much better when its behind him. As for the confessions", we all have foibles and I often suffer from foot-in-mouth disease. Whats so wonderful about this group is that we all seem to seek out the best of each other and overlook the unimportant slips that sometimes happen. Marian, Im with Sue. Id have to move if there was even the most remote chance of a snake in the house! Im freakin b/c of a mouse in the upstairs vanity! Sorry I havent commented to everyone. Just outta time. I promise to be a better idyller after I catch up on all the goings on here. Ill try to pop back in later w/pix of the front project. Thinking of everyone. TTYL, Honey
...See More
veronicastrum
17 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Just a quick weather report here from the frozen wasteland. It is snowing at this very moment. I don't mean an occassional flake here or there, where you're scratching your head wondering if you really saw snow or not. I mean flat-out, white sky filled with big swirly flakes snowing. The roof over the unheated porch has turned white. Okay, it's coming down heavy enough that the ground is even starting to turn white. It takes a lot of snow to do that in mid-October because of course the ground is still warm.

YEESH!

V.
Lara Noles
17 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Good Morning,

Feels like winter here and guess what? More rain in the forecast for today. I'm so glad I got my plants in. They definitely wouldn't survive the next couple of days. I can't wait for the weather to warm up and dry up a little so I can get out and work in the garden for a change. I've been so busy with the pots and then with the rain that I haven't done anything significant out there in the last month. Bella's unexpectedly spending the day with Aunt Jenni today so it's housework for me.

Deanne, I'd so like to see your latest work. Could you maybe email some pictures to us? I don't really have much in the way of pictures of the garden recently. It's just been to wet to take any. Maybe I'll try to get a few this weekend.

Saucy, hope Nick's surgery goes well. How sweet and caring of you to get everything all set up for his recovery. Poor Jake, getting his arm squeezed like that. I miss the stories about you and the little dog, though I imagine you don't miss him much.

Chelone, thanks for the instructions on overwintering the hydrangeas. I'm going to try that on a couple of mine. I agree it's well worth the work if I can get beautiful blooms like you did as a result. I love kittens too. I like the way that even as baby kittens they have a "cattitude".

Kathy, The peanuts we put out for Tim attract the blue jays too. I enjoy watching all of the wildlife in my garden. But then we don't have anything too destructive. The squirrels are just the garden clowns here and have never done any damage. No rabbits or deer here in the city, thank goodness. I watched the game last night too. I'm wondering how the A's are going to like playing here tomorrow night. It's going to be cold!

Speaking of cold, I just looked out the window and it's S***ing like crazy! The roofs are white. How depressing.

Woody, love your corn. I didn't realize the small ears were popping corn. I'd like to try growing some of that.

Norma, I'm always pulling peanut plants that Tim plants. I'll have to let some grow next year and see if I get peanuts.

Cindy, I love to have big chunks of time to just concentrate on cleaning with no interruptions. You can get so much accomplished like that.

Yeona, I've always enjoyed your posts and the kind and caring way you talk to everyone. You are always so good at finding and linking us to such useful information too! Thank you for being the incredible person you are and don't change!

Marie, what a cool shot of the farm. It always takes my breath away how beautiful it is there.

Still s***ing, but not sticking to the ground at least. I'm going to leave you with this picture that ds David emailed to me. It made me smile when I opened it, hope it does the same for you all, even though it's very silly.

{{gwi:183230}}

Eden
Lara Noles
17 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
V, just read your post and I'm glad I'm not the only one. Misery loves company you know!

Eden
Lara Noles
17 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Just snapped this so you all can enjoy it along with me...

{{gwi:183231}}

Eden
triple_creek
17 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
My sympathy V. If it were this time next month it would be ok but not just now.

Deanne, I have been rooting cuttings of Purple Lady in water. They are pretty easy.
N
triple_creek
17 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Ah Eden you too! I like the picture anyway. N
just_t
Original Author
17 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Snow? I'm jealous!!! Sigh........suppose to be in the mid 70's again today here. ;oP Okay, so that wasn't very nice and hopefully V likes me well enough to forgive me for teasing her so cruelly. I am always surprised at how quickly the weather changes for other areas of the country. We *e-a-s-e* somewhat slowly into the seasons, or so it seems to me, while most of your areas seem to have definite changes that happen within a short span of time. Maybe it just seems that way since I'm not seeing your weather daily. V, I hope the roads aren't treacherous for your drive to work.

This morning the farrier is coming to trim Boo's hooves. Before he arrives here, I've agreed to go hold a neighbor's horse while he (farrier) re-sets some shoes. The neighbor has an appointment in town and the horse doesn't like to allow the farrier to work on it's back feet. So, I'll go help wrestle a horse -- yeah right, like I know what to do to help make him stand still, I scold Boo soundly when he misbehaves....but I'm sure it just makes me look silly when I do it. ;o) This horse misbehaves enough that a twitch needs to be used sometimes (Norma & Deanne will know what I'm talking about more). I'll be the twitch holder along with the lead rope holder. Probably will allow the twitch handle to bonk me in the noggin.......maybe I'll start with the stern scolding talk and see if we can avoid using the twitch? Maybe the horse will be in an accomodating mood? sigh

So, speaking of noggin' bonking (bonking is not a nice slang word in some countries.....my apologies if I'm sending anyone's mind elsewhere than having your head hit). I have a black eye. Yep, a shiner. It came about by doing housework. Vacuuming in particular. Remember Eden being attacked by her vacuum last year??? Well, watch out because they are uniting around the country. Housework is hazardous! What happened---well, I was vacuuming my sewing room when a small piece of fabric fluttered to the floor. I did not allow the vacuum to suck it up, even though I could tell the vacuum really was straining to go near it to do so... I bent over to pick up the fabric piece while holding the vacuum handle and banged my eyebrow area on the edge of my sewing table. Oh howdy did that hurt!!!! I let go of the vacuum (did I really feel it push me towards the table edge?) and held my eye while doing the 'pain' dance. I was so proud of myself.......not one dirty word was uttered while doing said dance. I later kicked the kitchen island, but that is another story....

I did not know I had an impressive amount of color around my eye until my DH came home from work later that day. I noticed him looking at me more intently than normal but figured since I had been shoveling smelly chicken compost/mulch that it was just my imagination and he was just overcome by the odorous rich looking mulch I was placing all around our house and not truly directed at me. Later, while washing up before making dinner.....I saw the lovely blues and purples adorning my face. People just aren't believing me when I say that it was caused by a vacuum and table in cahoots.

Well, the coffee cup is empty and there is daylight finally so that means I need to quit boring you. :o) Oh! Happily I can relate that I've seen elk two days this week.....a 3 point bull (antlers: 2 pointy bits down at the base of each antler, called eye guards, and then 3 pointy bits branching off of each antler at the top) anyway, a 3 pt. bull was in the yard a couple nights ago and then this morning there were two big tan shapes in the yard when I let the dogs out for their morning potty. It was too dark to tell if they were bulls or cows....but they didn't run when I stood on the deck......probably my 'morning look' scared them silly and they couldn't move. :o\

Hope it is a good day............... I'll be back to shoveling chicken s***, uh chicken stuff, after the farrier leaves. I have about 6 yards left to move.....and thank you to Sue & Michelle for letting me know that curvy beds sometimes need a new visual angle and tweaking to get right.

T.
babs_clare
17 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
HIyah.

It's here. 32F : ( Anyone who has ceramic birdbaths-are you draining them?? To be safe I'm doing that today so I don't get a cracked bath. I've got pine needle heaven here-the good thing is that I made a new bed which is bare of plants right now so I'm tossing the needles on and more wood chips-the original chips were so fine that they are breaking down quickly. I was kind of disapointed to realize the tree that we had taken down will not be giving me leaves to compost anymore.

Saucy thanks for the encouragement about being out of the loop: ) I'm crawling to get to Saturday since after the last CC meet(Sat.) I'm a little more free-no more shuttling off to practices. The meet is at a lakeside park along Lake Erie where it will be wicked cold and windy. I have to dig out a thermos or two to hold hot chocolate(hmm I should fill one with java too!).

Eden-that pic of Tim(othea) is a scream! I probably *would* have screamed to find a squirrel plastered to my screen lol. I know your Timmy is tame but squirrels give me the willies-ours seem possessed and I sometimes wonder if they are planning a revolt against humans...remember The Birds? lol.

Norma-all those thirteens for your GS just have to add up to good luck: ) Does he worry about superstitions like that?

Saucy-I was cringing when you said the Dr. squeezed Jake's arm!!! Amazing that a Dr. would do that so soon like you mentioned. And that wait is just crazy.
Hoping Nick does OK with his surgery.
YOur house siding job sounds so exciting-your color choices will look great! I know exactly what you mean about wishing you could renovate with authentic siding materials...we're in that same boat-I imagine our house looked really nice--- once; )

Cindy-I can't wait to see your pics!!!

Yeona-since I read of your anxiety I've been so wanting to tell you I feel for you. I hope you are looking into a way to work through them-it's so worth it so that you can do all the things you love and be able to enjoy life. Keep in touch.

Mary!-eek snoring MEN!lol. I should have reminded you to bring the plugs...so did you snore too? lolol just kidding; )

Deanne-I paused for a moment of silence when I saw the stripped fuchsias; ) Hard to imagine the process but interesting how beneficial it has been for yours plants.
You sound like you've been working hard with the paints-will we get to see it when it's done?

Work has been so busy but the nurse says I'm on track with the clinic tasks(state immunization reports)so I guess they can't fire me now(lol).

OK time is short-off to work.

hey Drema-cool that you saw Chris at Case!

~Babs
michelle_zone4
17 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Norma, Ill take a little of your sympathy too. LOL Although, things are looking pretty decent for Saturday. Thanks for the info on Purple Lady I cut one back and potted it up, but will try the cuttings also. I felt so bad when I was cutting all these plants back, I just wanted to save all the cuttings, root them and send them out to all my friends ;o) Peanuts sound like a fun thing to grow too and what a great memory for your and Jake.

Eden, Im enjoying my own dusting of snow. LOL Your garden looks about like mine this a.m. It is a great shot, although the banana looks cold. Its supposed to be windy and cold here today too. It was 20 this a.m.
The invisible bike is a hoot.

Babs, I know what you mean about leaves. We dont have a lot of leaves here, but when I lived in town I had tons which were a nuisance since I didnt garden then. We have a lot of evergreens here. Stay warm at the CC meet.

T, you are a brave woman. Im scared just to sit on a horse. LOL Oh, no a black eye. You know how much ribbing you will get about how you got it and if DH is to blame dont you? I knew housework was hazardous.

Saucy, best wishes to Nick for a quick recovery.

Stay warm

Michelle
just_t
Original Author
17 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Something to share with you, this morning......I'm listening to it as I type this.......touched my heart this morning to read and listen to it and I thought perhaps some of you might enjoy it, also.

My best,
T.
Marian_2
17 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
38F here. We got a light shower between 7 and 9 AM, followed by a pelting of snow pellets ! All of my potted plants are in (I think) including several of those that I meant to compost. :-(
I even dug up 2 of the lovely wax begonias from the wooden planter combo, and potted them up. I am thinking of doing the same with the remaining 2. (I still have room for them) :-)
Yesterday I ruthlessly cut back all the plants in the hanging-coleus pot, except the variegated colocasia, then today I dragged the pot into the vestibule!I just may let it regrow! ( Am I a nut...or what? )

I believe, well actually... I know, I was premature with my judgement on the fall colors. They are improving day by day. The Flaming Fall Revue will be the 20th. After tonight's frost/freeze they should hit their peak very soon.

I am surprised to hear of the accumulating snow to the north of us. I had heard that Denver got snow, but that is nothing unusual.

I did go to HD Tuesday. I brought home a Physocarpus 'Diablo', a 'Julia-Jane Boxwood, A Bird's Nest Spruce, a Variegated Box-leaf Euonymus, 2 small Chrysanthemums, and a Cyclamen. All totaled...$35 worth.
What a mob of plants they have there!

I also went to Goody's and bought a mole skin jacket. It was on special at half price. I found it was too snug so took it back yesterday and exchanged it. The sale was over. I payed $14.99 plus tax, now they are back to $34 !
Has any of you had an experience with a mole skin garment?

I am disapointed to learn that the Euonymus is borderline hardy here. Maybe if I plant it in a protected spot?

Marian
michelle_zone4
17 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Norma, I have been doing some searching on the euphorbia 'Burgandy wine' in regards to overwintering. I did find this info on the copperleaf plant and they are of the same family, so I'm thinking this will probably work for the euphorbia too.

Michelle
Lara Noles
17 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
MIchelle and Norma, I'm trying to overwinter some euphorbias, burgundy wine, faded jeans, flame leaf, and diamond frost. Also a couple of acalyphas, the copperleaf one and one called ceylon. I potted mine up and cut them back and so far the ones that I've had in for a couple of weeks are doing well. Some of them I just brought in over the last few days, so we'll see. I did stick the cuttings of my e. burgundy wine back in the soil when I pruned it over the summer and they took easily.

Eden
gardenbug
17 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Potted up a dozen coleus this morning. We'll see how that goes.
There is white stuff falling from the sky, but the temperature is about 40F. The creek is high from yesterday's rains. It was ever so windy, but this is how my Fall bed looked in motion!

{{gwi:183232}}

Glad to see that Marian has a devil (Diablo) in her garden! LOL I think you'll really like it too in 2-3 years. Mine is HUGE and gets pruned back every few years.

Reading about Babs' CC meet in the freezing elements brings back mixed feelings. I loved watching swim meets, soccer and hockey games, camp activities, skating lessons, etc with our kids, but all that chauffering was a real drag. Yet, all those hours were the times when they shared things with me at odd times...and I am thankful I was there and not some bus driver. You never know when quality time is going to happen!

Chelone, kittens are too much for me...If I see a litter of them I need them ALL, not just one! Oh heck, probably puppies too. And why do we have those 2 huge rabbits in the barn? Because once they were tiny and heart stealers too.

{{gwi:183233}}

'bug
Lara Noles
17 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Oh Marie, I love the picture of you with your bunnies!

T, I warned you all that you must always keep one eye on the vacuum. They're evil creatures, lol. Hope your eye's not too bad.

It's so cold here. It's definitely a December night. I never remember having weather this bad in October. It's strange, we haven't had a hard frost yet so there's snow on roses, asters, cosmos, etc. It all looks very weird. And the m. basjoo looks so sad and droopy with it's leaves coated in snow and ice. I don't even want to look out tomorrow morning. My weather station says it's 32F right now so it will get very cold tonight. I've been in the basement working with my plants and cuttings for the last couple of hours. I counted, over 250 pots to water including the houseplants upstairs. Any bets on what the count will be come Spring, lol?

Eden
dodgerdudette
17 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Happy Thursday-
After tommorow I'm on vacation,whopeee! I am getting ready to have a can of soup for dinner- how pathetic..there's never any food left in the house on Thursday.Ironically, I am cooking a chicken breast right now for my dog. She's not to particular on how it is prepared , so it's being boiled.She is blind and diabetic , so I have to make sure she eats very consistantly and she goes thru picky stages when all she will eat is chicken or ground turkey-I have to give her insulin shots and she can't have 'em on an empty stomach. So of course I panic when she won't eat her dinner and whip up the chicken , or cook some bacon etc etc. So..my doggie is having chicken breast, I'm having cr***y canned soup, and I'm drinking a glass of extremely cheap Chilean wine -where are my priorites ???

T -thank you for convincing me that vacuuming is dangerous and a safety hazzard and I should consider never doing it again. Please let me know when you receive your first dusting injury.

Eden that kitty-bike pic is hilarious ! I like the wildlife in my garden too. I live very close to the Napa River and I especially love it when the geese fly over in formation.

Cute bunnies 'bug !

My condolences to all of you who are viewing the white suff and the temp readings in the 3-0's..I'm sure that hanging out with you all will give me more strength of character on the climate front.I am resolved not to get cocky about my weather. I grew up in LA so this Nor Cal stuff seems pretty extreme to me by comparison.In LA we had an average of 12 inches year rain, here we get 25 to 50 and up. In conclusion, I'm a wimp.

Yeona, I see you are in BC - so is that three of us in Pacific time? We get the last word !

Nite all, I'm off to eat my minestrone. jeesh.
Kathy in the Napa Valley
deanneart
17 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Evening all, well Im still not done the stupid magazine article. Arrgghh! That was a whole lot of area to cover and that bowl was bigger than I anticipated. I think there are around thirty leaves, ten plums, six apples and six clumps of grapes on the thing to paint. I should finish up the piece tomorrow and hopefully the instructions wont take more than a couple days to finish up. I consistently underestimate the amount of time these things take to do. I guess that makes me an optimist? LOL ~~ So if any of you are interested to see the finished painting why dont you fire off an email to me and Ill send you a link to a photo. I should have that by tomorrow night.

Oh nooooooo!!! Eden, V and all of you dealing with this early snow. That is just too depressing to think about. I guess that cold weather is supposed to be here tomorrow night which means Im going to have the last minute scramble to get stuff inside, yet again. Even though I promised myself that that wouldnt happen to me again this year.

Eden, 250 pots!!! I dont dare even think about counting or Ill start having panic attacks. Ill be curious how you do with the euphorbias. Ive got a nice rooted cutting of that I took from Sues plant a few weeks back and so far so good. I just hope it doesnt get too big. Id really like to find that Diamond Frost next year. ~~ That kitty photograph is a scream.

T. So sorry about the shiner. It is the truth that no one wants to believe the real explanation as to how you got a black eye. When I had mine last February I really didnt want to go out in public until it was healed. One other time I had a massive shiner with a scary amount of facial bruising and a lady at a store told me, "You really shouldnt allow him to do that to you dear!" No matter how much I protested that it was a horseback riding accident she didnt buy it. Do be careful with those vacuums! I know several of us had discipline problems with our machines last spring. ~~ So did you actually have to twitch that horse to get him shod? My guys were always good for the farrier and would stand on cross ties but my first horse was a real brat about getting onto a horse trailer.

Kathy, you are too funny that you are cooking chicken for your puppy and are having canned soup for dinner.

Marie that pic with you and the bunnies is just too cute! And your garden photo is beautiful.

Marian, wow! You really scored at HD. Im going to have to run to the other store in town and see what they have.

Babs, LOL about the moment of silence for the fuchsias. I know how you feel. It usually takes me a couple plants before I get ruthless about pruning them.

All righty, Ive got to get to bed so I can get up and do this all over again tomorrow.

Deanne

PS you all should see the Charles Grimaldi, its still blooming its head off.
Sue W (CT zone 6a)
17 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
"thirty leaves, ten plums, six apples and six clumps of grapes...and a partridge in a pear tree...lol, sorry Deanne I couldn't resist. Can you tell it's

TGIF!

Kathy, I have you beat in the crappy dinner department last night. I didn't get home from the hairdresser til' 9 (6:30 appointment). This is what happens when your hairdresser works from her home...kids, dogs, friends, neighbors...jeez, it's like Grand Central station in that place. Anyhoo, we had our annual meal of Stouffers frozen dinners. I did add a salad and my wine was a decent CA Chardonnay but it wasn't a meal to remember.

Looks like we're going to get our first frost tonight. Since Deanne is coming tomorrow to take cuttings and help me save a few plants, my workout after work is going to consist of dragging pots into the garage. Some of them are too heavy to move so the sheet method may have to do. For some reason temperature dropped suddenly this morning-probably because a cold front moved in. When I got up to let the dogs out at 5 it was 42 F. Two hours later when I was getting dressed for work I looked again and it was 36 F.

Mary, was a dreaming this morning when I saw on the news this morning that Buffalo got 19" of snow? Yikes, it's a good thing we went to Marie's last month.

In light of all these unfortunate run ins with cleaning paraphenalia lately, I decided it's not worth taking a chance and will not be cleaning for Monique, Deanne and company tomorrow. Just as well, after last night being blown, Tom made plans to go out to dinner with friends tonight. I'll push them off til at least 7:30-8:00 to give me time to get all the pots taken care of. Maybe if I get up early enough tomorrow I can get blast the bathroom real quick...lol...makes you all just want to run over for a visit, eh?

My Fairweather Gardens order came yesterday. That was quick, I just ordered the stuff at the end of last week. I got some cool plants, Abelia 'Canyon Creek', Cephalotaxus 'Korean Gold' and Leucothoe 'Dodd's Variegated'. On Sunday I may take one last nursery road trip out to eastern CT then I'll be done with plant buying for the year except for bulbs when they go on sale in November.

OK, work beckons.

Sue
Lara Noles
17 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Morning, Just a quick post from me. It's still winter here. I placed one last plant order yesterday. We keep the season going as long as possible don't we? I haven't purchased any bulbs...yet. I want to put in more snowdrops for sure and should probably start looking to see what else is out there that I NEED. Gotta run, throwing beef stew together in the crockpot for dinner and need to get that going before Bella's arrival. Have a great Friday!

Eden
gardenbug
17 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I don't believe the talk of Buffalo's weather. Here we do have white on the bridge and a dusting on the grass, but that is all melting in the sun. Buffalo is but an hour and a half away....
The low was supposed to be 35F last night, but at 7am this morning, our thermometer said 30F. So you guys to the east, think COLD! I did cover the rosemary, but didn't bring it indoors. Every day outside means a better chance of survival in my case!
Received the Thompson & Morgan seed catalogue yesterday. I really should not study it before the bulbs are planted and the cleanup finished...which is likely to be December! I am already dreading the caging of clematis and shrubs against rabbit damage.

And so, to celebrate Friday the 13th, here's how things look today:
Coleus:
{{gwi:183234}}

The veg garden and white roof:
{{gwi:183235}}

Happy today! Off to do foot exercises...again and again.
'bug
chelone
17 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Eden, how many baby squirrels did you raise? Your shot of him clearly shows the amazing capacity of their hind feet to grasp any available surface; amazing! Around here the grey ones seem to hold court, but there are some red ones, too. My dear (deceased) next door neighbor left a lovely "summer" home to a friend in his will. Sadly, the friend, a raging alcoholic, was incapable of seeing to its maintenance. It sat vacant for over 3 years. The pipes froze. Squirrels and other rodents managed to breach the walls... . I have never seen such destruction! and you certainly can't "blame" the rodents.

The story in Mum's home is not nearly so dire, but is pretty sad. Evidently, Squirrely-man accessed the house via the PVC stack that vents the bathroom! he wormed his way through the flush valve in the TOILET, chewed his way through the plastic toilet seat (which was down) and found himself utterly trapped in a fully contained, foodless environment. My brother went up to perform routine maintenance and thought the house smelled a little "dank", but chalked it up to the general mustiness of any long closed home. He found a pile of fur and perfect skeleton below a south-facing window... surrounded by maggot egg cases. Picked utterly clean. The chimney has been screened for years now, but now the two stacks are too.

I wondered if any of you were enduring the early snow I saw on the weather report... bummer. We received nearly 4" of rain the other night and yesterday was very warm (high 60s) and humid. Big rollers on the briney (broke at 6-8'), too. Today is much drier, and cooler; supposed to remain on the chilly side for the remainder of the WE. Makes me sad, I'm afraid to say... I love the colors of autum and the clear nature of the light, but there is a melancholy that creeps in with it. It wraps itself around me too stealthily. In my present circumstance I feel too easily overwhelmed, but that doesn't matter. I have to lace up my boots and keep on hikin'.

I have to get to the bank this morning to transfer CD funds to the checking account for transfer elsewhere. And then I have to make the decision whether or not to prepay the fuel oil for the winter or roll the dice and just pay as we go... .
chloehoover
17 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Happy Friday brrrrr!

I echo the refrain 250 pots!!!! Talk about extreme gardening. . . . .
Eden love the Tim photos and your garden w/ the first flurries Bet Tim would be happy to "help" you w/ the care and feeding of some of those pots too, LOL. . . .

O, Kathy congratulations I am now counting the days til the following Friday for me and then home vacation!! Your priorities are much the same as any of us who love our animals, LOL. . . .

T ouch. . . .

Deanne good luck w/ finishing your painting project. Its tough sometimes to really "focus" isnt it?

Chelone wow that was one determined suicidal squirrel! Thru the toilet pipe? wow. . . . yuck on such debris...

I didnt get a chance to upload my all "summer walk" photos of 3 days ago, but definitely wanted to share for you "tropical" addicts look at this Brug at the Smithsonian Castle Garden:

{{gwi:183236}}

Bet it's not looking that good today after temps of 32 last nite...

Happy Friday, all.

Cindy
deanneart
17 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Morning, so Mary, I know you aren't in Buffalo but how much snow do you have on the ground???

Sue, nope, no bird in this one! lOL Wait until you see it though, You'll want one for your very own. ~~ RE house, do NOT spend any time cleaning. I won't feel at home if you do and you won't be any use to us tomorrow with major injuries.

Cindy that brug is amazing.

I think I've got about a hundred things to drag into the garage tonight and I'm getting panic stricken thinking about it.

My bulb order came last week and I haven't even had time to open the box yet to see what I ordered. It was so long ago I don't really remember. NO wonder I've never been god about getting bulbs in. There is just too much to do in the fall.

OK off to the paints.
Deanne
Marian_2
17 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Our first fall frost this morning. The tops of metalic objects are white. The temp is 30F.

Tim came yesterday eve. His life has become more complicated, but hopefully it will eventually be for the good. He is between jobs. The computer job with Ark.State came to an abrupt halt. He hated that job! He is now at the home of the terminally ill friend. They requested his help with completing the construction of a large house, and also want him to build 2 cabins to go with the ones they already have. The friend's condition has accelerated, and he has hospice care, but is still trying to help with the house building. Tim thinks he has only 3-4 more weeks at the best. His wife is valantly attempting to be stoic, but broke down while she and Tim were at HD the other day. So sad.

T, your black eye would be much more impressive than my greenish forehead. :-) I tried to do a 'number' on another part of my head last night, when Tim was here. We were 'surfing' the refrigerator and I made the mistake of raising up while my head was still under the freezer door! Bam! It's not even sore today. I enjoyed your post. Sounds like the 'old you'. ;-)

Marie, your bed looks good in motion, and the bunnies with owner is great. I don't have much left outside to look bedraggled like your latest garden pic. I do dislike the odor of frozen tender vegetation.

Woody, those are pretty ears of corn. I hope they dry okay.
Many moons ago I grew them. Can't now...too many varmints.

Eden, your Tim squirrel is cute. Our wood's squirrels have never came to our house, and not even very far into our yard. Hilarious cat pic. I added it to the ones I have in my "Critter" folder. :-)

BTW, I 'did' pot up the other 2 wax begonias, and they have joined the indoor plants, along with the copper pot of Sedonia and companions, that I 'was' going to leave out!
I am sure Eden has me bested in the indoor pot numbers. I haven't counted mine, but am sure it is not that many.

Marian
chelone
17 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
De car she no work!

No click, no spark, nothin'.

Just called helpmeet to get him home by noontime. I HAVE to get to the bank before 2PM or the CD rolls automatically for another 6 mos.. My blood pressure is rising steadily. If there was a branch just north of us I could simply walk, but they closed that one as a "cost savings measure". sigh.
gardenbug
17 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Oh no! So sorry Chelone! It is a pain to be a single car family...I know!

Hard to guess on the fuel payments. Tempting to do the pay as you go route though...although I guess you do need to keep the temperatures up for your Mom.

Later,
'bug
just_t
Original Author
17 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Good morning! I'm skipping my morning walk (shouldn't), DH is home on a vacation day but will spend the day working on his van instead of vacationing, I'm heading out to babysit the twins for the day but wanted to share a couple of photos......so am resizing, editing and uploading instead of walking. Hey---any excuse to skip exercise.....'er rather "you guys are so important that I wanted to share some photos with you". :) Okay, so yes, I wanted to share some photos (finally) but I also would rather drink coffee in my jammies instead of go out and walk.

Here is the 12 yards of mulch that I've been working with (I put the wheelbarrow in the photo for a size comparison...this is the wheelbarrow with 2 flat tires--growl).

{{gwi:183237}}

Here are a couple pics of the twins...this was taken last week when I babysat them. They were 8.5 weeks old when these were taken. Aren't they little chunky boys?!

{{gwi:183238}}

I tease and call them 'chrome domes' since they lost most of their hair.....they have a rim of hair around their heads, ear height. Kind of like Friar Tuck. ;o) I just tease and say "this is what they are going to look like when they are 80 and mostly bald........

{{gwi:183239}}

and the damage caused by the malicious vacuum and sewing table:

{{gwi:183240}}

Heard on the news about Buffalo's 24" of snow and the very cold temps in Michigan, New York and surrounding areas. Hope everyone is keeping warm.....

T.
chelone
17 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Oh, OUCH! that eye must be sore, T.! And Marian's noggin... and Jake's arm. When I broke my wrist I remember telling the ER Dr. that I had a very strong and very quick left fist, too. He was great, really gentle, but the break was clean and the bones never came out of alignment. But is hurt like hell, nonetheless (enough that I thought I was going to puke in the ER and again in X-ray).

The car is just one of those stupid inconveniences that inevitably arise when you're facing a deadline. Small stuff in the big picture, but it's the little stuff that is so frustrating when so much of the activity in your daily life seems so defined, required, and you're feeling as though you're an unwilling passenger on the "bus of life". Know what I mean?

Anyway, I've joined 7 drapery panels (2/2/and 3 for 3 windows), pressed the seams open and have enjoyed the music of Georg Telemann (JS Bach's best friend). And am reminded of how much I really love my fully automated Juki machine. Vera (kitty) has "helped", Rex is getting caught up on some "shut eye", the helpmeet will be home for lunch, and I've successfully "talked myself down". I'll deal with the "ride" after I deal with the CD. ;)

That's a serious mulch pile. Having spent many an hour shovelling, yanking roots, sifting rocks over the past 16 years I well know how much work is involved. Little bit by little bit... (OK, someone post the lyrics to "High Hopes", OK?) "everyone knows an ant can't, move ona Sue's banana plants"... (yeah, I KNOW!)

Back to the "lab.". (don't throw any more of the frostbitten vegetables, OK?!)
gardeningmary
17 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Hi everyone

A quick snow update from Rochester - we only had a sprinkling, though the water in the bird bath was frozen solid this morning. Less than an hour away there was 18 inches of the nasty stuff - OMG, we were so close! I don't have winter coats out yet, let alone emergency supplies. I'll put that on my 'to do' list for the weekend. Sue - you're right, we'd never have made to to Marie's if we were leaving today as much of the Thruway is closed. I'm also mighty glad David and I are not camping this weekend either.

By the way, I don't know if I mentioned that DH was on a plane leving for business the day we left for Cub Scout camp. He told me he experienced a huge surge of guilt that he was not the one taking David, but also a huge wave of relief that he didn't have to be there LOL! As you might guess DH hates camping!

I'm hopelessly behind on the Idylls but I'll look forward to catching up at the weekend. Despite having Monday off, this turned into a killer week. A lot was accomplished at work which is good, and made up for the lack of attention to domestic chores at home. Annie had two swim meets which went well, but it takes a huge chunk out of our evening time.

I caught glimpses of pet squirrel and bunnies, corn, frosty gardens, cute babies and a very green eye! I'll enjoy them alll later. For now I need to finish some emails for work and I'm free for the weekend!!

Mary
woodyoak zone 5 southern Ont., Canada
17 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
bug I loved the picture of your fall bed in motion wonderful colors there! (The picture with the bunnies was nice/cute too)

Michelle the corn is a variety called Cutie Pops perfect name for a plant for a cute moppets garden Ive not grown it before so this is a bit of an experiment. There was a wide range of color the ones I like best had dark purple husks and the cob under the kernels is dark purple too! (Theyre the ones where the husks look almost black in the picture.) Eden I dont think all small ornamental corn is popping corn. I think a lot of them have popcorn in their breeding though, so it wouldnt hurt to try popping it if you have any. I gather it has to be quite dry before it pops properly. I have had Strawberry Popcorn, which you can pop by putting the cobs into the microwave oven (cant remember for how long) Thats fun to do so will try that approach on these ones when theyre dry enough.

Great squirrel pictures Eden and great suicidal squirrel story Chelone!

Deanne add me to the list of people whod like to see the finished picture for the article Im amazed that you can paint something like that so fast!

T ouch! That eye Isnt it funny that you can help the farrier shoe a reluctant horse without much problem, but be viciously attacked by domestic furniture and appliances?! The horse tales make me nostalgic. Nutmeg was a pussy-cat about all that sort of stuff (A British ex-jockey who part-boarded her to teach his horse-fearing wife to ride called her Big Soft) Deanne- Nutmeg was easy to load on a trailer but a friends horse wouldnt load unless there was another horse on. So, when she needed to trailer Oscar anywhere, wed load Nutmeg, load Oscar, then unload Nutmeg! Worked every time

Thats a mountain of mulch there T! Hows your back holding up? Those are definitely cute, elderly babies! Makes you wonder what a comparison of baby photos of ones grandparents would reveal about ones own elderly future! Could be scary

Chilly here today but none of the dreaded white stuff (other than frost on the roofs this morning) Im sure glad it avoided us! But the jet stream weather map has the oddest circulation pattern Ive ever seen! http://www.weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca/jet_stream/index_e.html

The Bailey (possible new dog) situation is still up in the air but she was here yesterday and so was Liam, a Border Collie we regularly provide daycare for. The two dogs had a wonderful time, chasing each other around the backyard (while Misty watched from the top of the back porch stairs and joined in the chase occasionally) The back lawn may never be the same again! And the paths have many skid marks and are no longer level! (All the dogs that visit here largely stay on the paths because we put the paths where we knew the dogs would want to run anyway) The two dogs are the same height and length but Bailey had a definite weight advantage! She clearly won the top dog title:

Queen Bailey; Prince Liam

{{gwi:183242}}

On Tuesday, I played around with ideas for what a new shed might look like. Randy is still waffling about what to do/whether to tear down and start over or not. Im waiting to hear back from a couple of people to get quotes on what it would cost to build a cedar one that would look more or less like the drawing below. Id use cedar shingles, stained a medium charcoal gray, with lighter gray trim and a darker gray door. Wed probably not build it until next spring too late to do it now. But we might do the demolition now to encourage the skunks under the current shed to move out!

Possible new shed?

{{gwi:183244}}
woodyoak zone 5 southern Ont., Canada
17 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Ignore the jet stream link - it has now straightened itself out into something that looks like its more normal winter pattern (big bulge down from Hudson's Bay...) Most of today, it looked like a giant hurricane eye over much of northern Ontario. I'd never seen anything that looked like that!
Sue W (CT zone 6a)
17 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Well, as all my co-workers said to me as they were leaving tonight, "Happy frost." It appears inevitable tonight and if not tonight, tomorrow or Sunday night. Say goodbye to the season. The temp right now is 40 F and falling. I've taken all my coleus cuttings and tossed as much as I could move into the garage. Deanne, I just covered the pot with the Cotinus with a blanket and snapped off the leader in the process. No worries though, I made a clean cut and put it in water. Your Acalphas should be OK-one is in the garage and the other is up against the house.

T, that is one heck of a shiner! Geez! We should make you a poster child for a "no vacumming" initiative. See if you can walk into a wall while dusting and we'll use that too. A clean house? Who needs it?

Woody, the new roof shingles on our shed have made a world of difference. Paint should really spruce it up. Of course I don't have a family of skunks underneath :(. One precaution we did take when the shed was moved a few years ago was to skirt it with chicken wire that extends below grade. If we did decide to replace it it at this point it would have to built from scratch because there is just no way to get a pre-fab building into our backyard anymore. Your day care dogs look to be enjoying themeselves. You'd better watch out or news of your doggie day care will get out and you may end up with a line of people at your door...lol.

Tom caught my cold and ended up cancelling our dinner plans with friends tonight. Of course the cold didn't stop him from taking the day off for a golf outing. I was relieved actually. It's been a long week and I'm tired. Imagine how much more tired I'd be if I'd cleaned for Deanne and Monique tomorrow? Not to mention battered and bruised.

So, on that note. Nite all...

Sue
deanneart
17 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Well, its official, Ive decided that Im totally, completely and utterly out of my mind. Doug helped me bring the containers in the garage and the truth is I have an oversized, double garage filled up, both bays, with GIGANTIC, HUGE, GINORMOUS, plants. I wish you all could see it. In a strange kind of way it really is pretty funny. The fuchsias are unbelievable. I knew they were big but when you put them indoors they are unreal. So I need to break out my pruners and really start hacking this stuff down. The truth be told I really, really need to let some of this stuff die! Yes, die! That way Ill have room for all those cuttings Im going to come home with tomorrow. He, he, he.

T, that shiner is unbelievable! Hope that heals up soon. ~~ The babies are just darling! Thanks for the photos.

Woody, love the doggie story! How fun to see them playing like that. Please email me and Ill send a link to the photo of the new painting. Yes, its done! Woohoo!

Mary, glad to hear you didnt get buried with snow.

Marian, I cant believe it was colder there than here last night. Too funny that you are bringing in even more plants than you were planning on. Te he! We are all hopeless you know!

Ok Ive got to get some sleep so we can get an early start to CT in the morning.

Nitey nite,
Deanne
dodgerdudette
17 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Hello everyone- it's my favorite type of Friday-the one that begins vacation ! I just hope I get everything on my to-do list done . I still will have two more weeks of vaca left this year - Guess I'll take one in Nov and one in Dec.

T that shiner looks mighty painful ! But the shed looks good ! A nice climbing rose would set it off just fine -New Dawn maybe or Aloha or Awakening...thinkin' pink or white with the grey shingles.

Deanne , I have not purchased any bulbs yet this year, and I bet I won't get anything but dutch iris when I get around to it. I had grandiose ideas of a dramatic tulip display , but think that will have to be a '07-'08 thing ...my front yard project is not far enough along for bulb planting. Once the rains come planting is a thing of the past-hard to dig holes in mud !

OK Chelone :
When trouble's found
and your feet's to the ground
theres alot to be learned
so look around..

Once there was a little old ant
Tried to move a rubber tree plant
Everyone knows an ant can't
Move a rbber tree plant

But he had hiiiiigh hopes
He had hiiiigh hopes
He had high apple pie in the
Skyyyyy hopes
So anytime your feelin' low
Stead of lettin go
Just remember that ant....
Oops there goes another rubber tree plant !

Movie was "A Hole in The Head"-Frank Sinatra , Doris Day ??
and a kid with red hair .

I must say Chelone, I so admire those who are patient enough to sew stuff ! I sewed alot when my daughter was little , but I can't even bear to do a hem anymore. You have the right idea with a little soothing Teleman ..

There is absolutely no food in this house, my grocery list for tommorow is about a mile long, the A's are going down in flames, and it's getting dark earlier every day.this is the whiney paragraph !

Kathy in the Napa Valley
michelle_zone4
17 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
We dined out tonight compliments of one of the guys that hunt on our land. Now that I am back home Im not very energetic. I should vacuum, but I think Ill pass. LOL

I may not have 250, but I am right at 100 and thats not counting the pelargoniums and fuchsias that I plant to let go dormant or the coleus cuttings that are sitting in water.

Speaking of bulbs, I did get about a 100 planted. Most were tulips with a few different alliums thrown in.
Last night I picked up a few more alliums.

Cindy, thats one impressive brug.

T, that sure is a colorful eye. I hope it heals up quick. The babies are so adorable, I would love to hold them. I got a kick out the first picture they sure dont look happy about the photo shoot. That is a mega mulch pile. I could use it. I plan to mulch some this fall, but it remains to be seen if it gets done. Thanks for the sweet link. Pretty nostalgic huh?

Marian, how nice that Tim can help out his friend and spend some time with him. If he is in the computer field, a new job shouldnt be too hard to find.

bug, nice to "see" you again.

Have fun Deanne and Sue.

Good night
Michelle
triple_creek
17 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Good morning Peeps. I didn't read yesterday as a sudden bout of "something ?" hit me about noon yesterday and I was out of it the rest of the day. I was in the middle of putting a shelving unit together for plants. Anyway decided to read this morning with my coffee as Bob is working this morning. I haven't decided if I feel totally ok or not yet. I'm hoping it was just a short lived thing. We are supposed to go to Jakes birthday party later today.

After moving a lot of plants in Wed nite the rest came through only looking slightly worse for the cold. I don't know how though as it was quite cold. I think there may have been enough of a breeze to help out. I think I will put everthing back out today and hope things stay above freezeing for another week or so.

T, thanks for photos of the babies. Are they identical? In the first photo they do look it. How do you manage two by yourself?
We had a couple of horses that needed twitching for shoeing or vet care. I hated that part. I sure do miss having horses though.
I can close my eyes and imagine the smell of the hay filled barn and the way a horse smells when you are brushing it. The wonder of riding on a crisp fall day or a fresh spring one.
Woody sounds like Nutmeg was a pretty special horse.

There was more To say, but think I will come back to it later. Need to get moving on a few things. Have a good day everyone. Norma
deanneart
17 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
A quick good morning because we have to hit the road for CT within minutes.

Norma, I so agree with you. I really miss having a horse. The smells of the barn and that incredible bond of trust you have with a good horse when riding. It is an amazing relationship. I never forgot that I was on their backs enjoying the ride because they let me be there.

Michelle and Eden, I have 130 pots in the house right now and like Michelle, that does NOT include any of the billions (ok a slight exaggeration here) of cuttings I have and am going to take today and next week when I cut back all the plants in the garage or all the pots that I'm going to store dormant in the basement. I must be a bit crazed.

Must run
Deanne
Sue W (CT zone 6a)
17 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Allrighty then, the frost bullet has been sucessfully dodged for one more night. It only got down to 34 F here. By the looks of the extended weather, if we can squeek through tonight and tomorrow night then we buy ourselves another week. I'm not far off when I say we can usually garden to November here.

You people with the hundreds of pots in the house are out of control...lol. Just about everything that comes in here for the winter will be dormant. I get excited when I find out a tender plant can be stored dormant. Maybe Deanne will take my Red Abyssinian banana home? Even if I wanted to save that, it won't fit in the house. I bought it from Brent & Becky's in the spring as a 4" potted plant for $10. It's now taller than me. Stuff like that I figure I'll just rebuy next year.

OK, off to get some things done around here before Deanne arrives. I'm hoping the temps get high enough so we can sit outside on the patio for lunch (low 60s predicted).

Enjoy the day!

Sue
Lara Noles
17 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Good Morning, Still waiting for morning coffee here. We ran out and Brad had to go out for some. Marian, Deanne and Michelle, it's nice to know I have the company of other crazy plant people here to keep me company trying to keep all of these plants going over winter. Sue, I tried to be ruthless and threw out all of the common stuff I could get again easily next. I let my red abyssianian go too. I think the coffee's here so must run. You guys have fun at Sue's today.

Eden
martieinct
17 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Realize I haven't been here since Monday so probably missed a lot of good stories, but from the pic of the vacumn-eye also know I missed my chance to say: OUCH!! Hope all injured are feeling better, soon.

CONGRATS Sue!! Your pic thread is amazing and a testament to what can be done when you think about what your doing. LOL

Need to share this because the Idylls are increasingly far-reaching:

Was in a "warm pocket" of Northern MA visiting a client who also gardens. She as lamenting that she could never get her gardens to do well in Fall until she started looking at a thread on the Web. It turns out she's a lurker (Hi, Joy!!) and was going on and on about this wonderful group of gardeners who not only share their gardening stuff but also their real-life stuff.

She said that the group has made her see that even the very vest gardeners make foibles and come out of it smiling.

Then something clicked. She looked at me, looked at my "casual" card, and screamed: You're Martie!!!! Martie from CT!!!! Wasn't sure whether to laugh or run, but stuck around and we talked plants for an hour.

The Point?: We have an influence and again, I'm honored to be a part of this group.

My gardens are completely disassembled and nurseryed plants are relegated to a small area for the winter. Tried to start placing and it just wasn't "there." Think my design brain is fried at this point. A new outlook in Spring, knowing what will be new coming in based on catalog shopping, will be a huge help.

Containers are gonzo excepting one with Woody's roses involved. Those babies are still blooming -- actually better now than earlier in the season -- and I can't bear to yank them, yet. LOL with Deanne about full garages. My newly established ghetto has overflowed into the basement and the timers will be set starting next week.

Enough ramble for now. Getting ready for Ky's B-Day dinner tonight and need to get a final head count and make some semblance of a cake. (Have I mentioned that I have an aversion to measuring so my baking leaves a lot to be desired?????:-)

See you all later.

Martie
Marian_2
17 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Eden is the winner! I counted all of the pots of plants that are indoors. There are 176 total...until I pot up the cuttings from 10 containers. :-) There are 11 pots and one cutting's container in the spare bedroom. 25 pots im my bedroom (the african violets have company), 10 pots in the vestibule, 14 pots and 5 cutting's containers in the diningroom, only one african violet in water in the kitchen, and 93 pots and 10 cutting's containers in the plant room.

The frost yesterday morning did no damage to the few tender things in our yard. This morning was a few degrees warmer, but there was frost on my car's windows when we drove out to the local store for breakfast.

Eden, I sure do get tired of tending all these plants. Before winter is over, and it is still too iffy to put them back out, I get to wondering "Why,why, do I do this?"

I am so glad that that dreadful storm in New York missed Mary's place. Mary, I didn't tell you how glad I am that you had another woman to share the room with at the camp.It sounds like it ended up being a good experience. I still admire you for going through with it.

T, you certainly beat me on the facial color. Mine is quite greenish-yellow on the left forehead. Looks jaundiced!
I need to start wearing a helmet. Last night I reared up under the corner of the kitchen counter, when I was goofing off with Trubby. No harm done to me or the counter. :-)

Our front lawn is covered with Honey locust pods, and more still on the tree. Sure wish I had known it would do that...I would have been more choosey what I planted there.
It will have to stay, because it's shade is badly needed. The one in the side yard doesn't have pods.

Whoopee! The Phal from Ei is putting up a 3rd flower stalk! And I am pretty sure the Slipper Orchid is putting on 3! Another Phal is adding a new one, also. I should be assured of lots of lovely orchids all winter.

Our forecast is improving for the next while...rain and warmer temps.But I'm not sorry that I have brought all the tender stuff in. Now I need to set out all the potted hardy plants...but where oh where will I put them!!!??? and am I up to digging the holes? I think I will put the ninebark where the old compost pile was. It was sunny enough to grow winter squash, so the shrub should do well there, and the soil should be mellow and fertile.

I am thinking there will be a fun time at Sue's today. Report all the happenings to us.

Marian
michelle_zone4
17 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Its only 41 but sunny. I have the vegetable garden almost cleaned. I plan to dig up cannas today and go around to the beds and cut back anything that died from the frost. 20 degreees the other day and its amazing how many things still look pretty good. All the annuals are gone though.
I woke up around 7 this a.m. and decided to do at least a little housecleaning.

Marian, thats exciting about the orchids. I occassionally look at them and force myself not to buy them.
Norma, I hope you are feeling well enough for the birthday party. Happy birthday to Jake!

Martie, how interesting that you met one of the "lurkers"

I really need to head back out. You should see my enormous compost pile.

Michelle
Lara Noles
17 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Baseball update...TIGERS ARE GOIN' TO THE WORLD SERIES!

Marian, let's see who has the most pots at the end of winter. My bet's on you. You're a better caretaker than I

Martie, so you met a lurker. I don't really like to think about them. It kinda freaks me out to know how many people are reading about us in secret, lol. So hi Joy, come on in and join us! Happy Birthday to Ky! I think he's about the same age as my son David who's 20?

Michelle, I'm jealous of all you got accomplished today. Brad had the day off and we took Bella and picked up some apples at the orchard, didn't pick our own this time though. Then we went to Toys R Us and let her pick out a few new toys. Grandchildren are so much fun to spoil aren't they?

Norma, hope you're feeling better and had fun at Jake's birthday. Happy Birthday to him too! How old is he now? A teenager yet?

T, those are sure some cute little old men you have there. They just couldn't be sweeter. Like Michelle, I wish I could give them a snuggle. I think the vacuum got the best of you by tag teaming with the table.

Chelone, I just raised the one baby squirrel. He was enough. Some neighbor kids brought him to me in late Sept 2003 and we had him inside until late April 2004. He lived in a ferret cage and slept in a hammock. It was interesting and fun raising him but I wouldn't want to do it again. It was also lots of work.

Time for wine night so have a good evening everybody. Can't wait to hear about all the fun that was had at the get together today. My bet's on Deanne for most containers after her visit to Sue's for cuttings today. Wonder if she came home with the red abyssinian?

Eden
gardenbug
17 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Couldn't help but think about the visit at Sue's this afternoon! I still have a message on my chalkboard in the kitchen that says Thanks from when the gang visited here. Seems like bad luck to erase it!

This morning we went to look at laminate flooring for the basement room...remember the mildew saga? Well DH and I are having a tug-o-war about fixing it up. Of course we need to! However, he thinks we don't need to use that room at all and should leave it alone. NOOOOOOOOOO! Bit by bit it must be done IMO. Anyway we both agreed on one we like, but not on when/if to get it done.

Here is how it looks without the smelly carpet, the mildewed couch, closet doors removed, books and clothing gone.
{{gwi:183245}}

And here is the area DH needs to add insulation to and replace the boards for the wainscotting.
{{gwi:183246}}
DH washed the ceiling and walls with bleach, I disinfected all the wood. The fans and dehumidifier have been going since August.

We had rain, snow, sun and rainbows today. What a mix!

Toodle-oo!
'bug
Marian_2
17 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Eden, just think of us as well-readed authors, and the internet is the library. Too bad we can't get royalities for each person that reads us!

Marie, I certainly do not envy you your decision and your job! It would surely be beyond me to tackle such. I did manage to dig a sizable hole and planted the "Devil" ...lol! The soil was as dry as a bone, even though it was in my remains of my old compost pile. I do hope the weather forecast is correct, and we get heavy rains Sunday night, Monday, and Monday night.

Marian
Sue W (CT zone 6a)
17 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
No Eden, she didn't take the banana but between my house and Monique's, she left with a milk crate full of bottles that were filled with cuttings of various plants-coleus, fuchsia, salvia, acalpha...just about every unusual tender and annual plant we had Someone is out of control...lol!

Somewhere between the garden touring, cutting party and fuchsia wintering instructions we managed to whoof down quite a bit of good food. In fact, I'm still stuffed. Monique and Les served us mulled cider, homemade clam chowder, and stuffed mushrooms for an appetizer/lite lunch. A few hours later at my house we had grilled salmon, sauteed vegetables and one of Deanne's incredible salads that include everything but the kitchen sink. For dessert, Monique baked an apple cake and served it with warm caramel pecan sauce and vanilla ice cream. Not too shabby, huh? Deanne took a few pictures. Hopefully she'll share a couple of them.

Martie, how cool that you met one of our lurkers. It really is a small world, I guess. Maybe she'll Joyn us. C'mon out Joy!

Anyway, it turned out to be a fabulous day all around. Good friends, great food, perfect fall weather and lots of garden chat. As much as I'm a bit sad to see the garden going by I'm anxious to get started on cleanup and redesign for next year. Now is the best time to either make the changes or make notes for spring while the stuff that bothers you is fresh in your mind.

Right now nothing is fresh in my mind so I guess I'll go to bed. "See" you all in the AM.

Sue
deanneart
17 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Evening all, Well, what a fabu-fabu day it was today. The fall foliage was just beautiful for the ride down with a perfect blue sky. Marvelous! Then we went to pick up Sue, drove down to Monique and Les for a light lunch that Sue has already described to you. Everything was absolutely delicious as always. Les and Monique are amazing cooks! As impressive as their garden is in summer it is even more impressive this time of the year. Even Doug, my non-gardening husband told me that he enjoyed touring their gardens today. Then we did a bit of fuchsia pruning, and taking cuttings of tender and unusual things I dont have then it was time to head to Sue and Toms for round two. Sues gardens are still amazing and impressive and her containers are incredible. I wish you could have seen that variegated abutilon. She has it in the garage and it is too tall to fit under the doors. It was also covered with flowers too. Then time to take yet more cuttings. Yea!!!! Lots and lots of new plant babies to play with over the winter. Sue has the most impressive collection of unusual tender plants Ive ever seen and now I have cuttings of them. How cool is that? After the cuttings it was time to eat again of course! LOL ~~ Tom fixed us some fantastic wild caught grilled salmon and Sue whipped up a veggie stir fry that was perfect. No doubt about it, we do eat really well. Then of course the apple cake with the pecan sauce and ice cream was out of this world.

Ok, Im beat, time to get some sleep, nite all,
Deanne
Jerri_OKC
17 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Growing Old With Dogs

When I am old...
I will wear soft gray sweatshirts...
and a bandana over my silver hair.....
and I will spend my social security checks on wine
and my dogs.
I will sit in my house on my well-worn chair and listen
to my dogs' breathing.
I will sneak out in the middle of a warm summer night
and take my dogs for a run, if my old bones will allow...
When people come to call,
I will smile and nod as I show them my dogs...
and talk of them and about them...
...the ones so beloved of the past
and the ones so beloved of today....

I will still work hard cleaning after them, mopping
and feeding them and whispering their names in a
soft loving way.

I will wear the gleaming sweat on my throat, like a
jewel and I will be an embarrassment to all...
especially my family...
who have not yet found the peace
in being free to have dogs as your best friends....

These friends who always wait, at any hour, for your footfall...
and eagerly jump to their feet out of a sound sleep, to
greet you as if you are a God.
With warm eyes full of adoring love and hope that you
will always stay,
I'll hug their big strong necks...
I'll kiss their dear sweet heads...
and whisper in their very special company....

I look in the Mirror...
and see I am getting old....
this is the kind of person I am...
and have always been.
Loving dogs is easy,
they are part of me.
Please accept me for who I am.
My dogs appreciate my presence in their lives...
they love my presence in their lives......
When I am old this will be important to me...
you will understand when you are old....

Author Unknown

Idyll #286---Thankful for so many Idyll friends....

Comments (102)

Related Discussions

just_tOriginal Author

just_tOriginal Author

just_tOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

just_t
Original Author

just_t
Original Author

just_t
Original Author