Something old, something new, something different, something blue.  ~~  Old garden flag; new wild Jasmine blooms at the edge of the woods.  The “power wash” of the patio was different.  Bluebirds; I’m always taking pictures of the Bluebirds!!  ~~  After a brief absence, my Bluebirds are back.  “Mama Blue” is building a new nest.  I think the adolescents from the previous family are “hanging out” with Mama and Papa.  ~~  I’ve washed my patio hundreds of times.  The “power wash” really got rid of a lot of grime!!  ~~  Note the half-barrel planter ready for new summer plants.  (Click this link for details about my first half-barrel planter.)  ~~  Question: Will I have “Carolina Jasmine” climbing the windmill or will I have wild Jasmine (in Carolina) instead??  Only time will tell.  Incidentally, the Jasmine survived the transplant and seems healthy (at the windmill).

Postscript, Saturday, May 18, 2013: New plants added to planter.

Strange thoughts cross my mind in the middle of the night when I am wide awake.  I’ve had the blue “base” for some time. If we go back a couple of months (blog messages) we find it with colorful pots with non-blooming daffodils. Last night I imagined a white planter with red flowers. After the trip to the chiropractor this morning, I headed for Garden Ridge. Pots are so-o-o-o expensive!! This white urn is really (cheap!!) light-weight plastic and the least costly available. The red flowers are artificial but I plan to start red living flowers for the planter.  ~~ Memorial Day is just around the corner. Independence Day not far away.

For over a year, I’ve drooled over attractive decorative garden fountains. A few months ago I bought… but it doesn’t follow my theme of simulated wood half-barrel, and black wrought-iron. Today, at Garden Ridge, I succumbed and purchased the barrel fountain.

Below are a couple of pictures from earlier blogs.

Today was exhausting!! I continued attempting to dig red clay out of the hole. The water hadn’t soaked in after twenty-four hours; red clay soil as hard as cement!! I hauled three laborious loads to the edge of the woods. Then I hauled three loads of decayed vegetation from another location (in the woods) to fill the hole.  The Carolina Jasmine is nested in Miracle Gro planter soil. Then windmill was “wiggled” into position and vine was “teased” around a “tomato cage.” In time, I hope the Jasmine will climb the structure of the windmill.  ~~  Too much exercise!! By three o’clock I could hardly move. As I focus on this pain, I’m not thinking about another year without contact from children and grandchildren. Tomorrow is Mother’s Day.

It is cold and rainy!!  The calendar says it is “Spring” but, as the weather forecasters say, “feels more like March than May.”  We won’t see sunshine until Wednesday according to weather people (we have more women forecasters than men).  I’ve donned a stocking cap and winter coat and spent time in the yard.  Yesterday I spent time in the “community garden” area that is my **new assignment** pleasure to maintain.

Now I have even more gardening to do.  A vacated apartment “almost” next door has flowers, asparagus, black berries, etc., etc., all around the apartment.  (Previous years, he had a vegetable garden in the “community garden” area [pictured above].)  I’ll keep the plants watered and weeded–and help myself to the asparagus and berries.  The residents left Shepherd’s hooks, windmill, water fountain and a large planter with pretty blooming flowers.

Yesterday (Saturday) I moved (with my small hand truck) the large planter to the “community garden” area next to the parking lot.  (See second picture [above], far left.) The maintenance man moved the windmill to the “community garden” area.  As mentioned above, I have been assigned the task of maintaining that area.  I plan to plant Carolina Jasmine  at the bottom of the windmill so it will climb up the “Erector set” metal base.  ~~  As with my back yard, this area is a “landscaping in progress.” Much to do, much to learn; what’s the name of this plant??

Yesterday the youth here at JAARS had their annual plant sale.  They raise money for their mission trip to Haiti.   A nursery donates a hundred, or more, hanging baskets that the youth sell for $7. each or three for $20.  I took a lot of garden things–as a donation–and people could buy and the money went to the youth.  After I delivered… I hauled three hanging baskets home.  The plants are three times larger than those I have purchased at Lowe’s or Home Depot.  I’ve paid $15. and $20. for smaller… at Lowe’s or Home Depot.  ~~  I returned at noon to pick up my things that did not sell.  I bought three more hanging baskets.  Although the sale was over (at noon), because there were still people arriving… I did not take my things.  I went back about 2:00… and the remaining hanging baskets were outside, on the porch, and a donation was all they asked.  I picked up four more baskets–for the (newly acquired) Shepherd’s hooks in the community garden area–and the Carolina Jasmine.

As you can see, I keep adding more work to my schedule so not much time for RVing.  Because of the weather, I haven’t been able to get back to the T@B to do “after the trip” duties. The T@B, and KIA, need a scrubbing bath!!  Both have lots of mud on them!!  I have the scrub brushes, and garden hose accessories; I just need a warm day!!

FYI: One o’clock and official (from the web) Waxhaw, NC, temperature is 54 degrees.  Web says 90% precipitation but actually 100% in my yard!! Humidity is 94% and wind is two miles per hour.  ~~  Aren’t the yellow blooms on the Carolina Jasmine beautiful??  (Picture appropriated from the web.)  It will be a **l-o-n-g** time before ours is that beautiful because I’m starting with a plant in a half-gallon nursery pot. On-the-other-hand, I might be surprised.The half-dead Honeysuckle (planted last Fall) is growing exceedingly fast and has dozens of buds. (Ignore the “busy” background. I have no way to photograph the Honeysuckle without Pansies, Calibrachoa (Miracle Bells), sickly tomato plant (in red pot) and storage room door, etc., in the background. Further complication: There is a reflection on the patio glass doors of things behind me.  If you look closely, you can see the computer screen in the background, left side, two-thirds of the way up.) ~~ Another comment: The tomato plant was large and beautiful before I left for the Blue Ridge Rally. Large and beautiful!! It was almost dead when I returned!! It had a “globe” to slowly dispense water; it was in the indoors location it has occupied for months so plenty of light. “Enquiring [sic] minds want to know”: Like the birds, and squirrels, did the tomato plant sense that “the lady of the house” was gone??

Postscript, Sunday, May 12, 2013: One of several Honeysuckle blooms in my backyard.

After preparing the “Singing in the rain” message, I spent time reading e-mail messages. I originally had a link here to the affectionate after-rally e-mail message from our Blue Ridge Rally hostess. A friend advised me the link didn’t work.   ~~  True story: The rain stopped just briefly on Saturday night, April 27th, so we could gather for a group picture (after a delicious potluck supper). Our hostess is on extreme right in light yellow jacket.  Where’s Lorraine??

Here is Sharon’s message titled Many, Many BRR Thanks

(Hope she doesn’t mind my sharing this.)

Hey Blue Ridgers…

Now that the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Caravan has returned home and I have a minute to catch my breath, I just wanted to send you all a note of thanks.  

Thanks for the little “happies” that you gave me, for all the kind comments you made along the way, for your spirit of adventure when our campground turned into lakefront property, for your friendship spanning six rallies, for the opportunity to add new Blue Ridgers to our family, for your willingness to drive great distances to join us, for your offers to pitch in and help anywhere needed, and last but not least, the gorgeous quilt you gave me on Saturday evening.

I hope you will stay in touch throughout the year through the Yahoo Forum and/or our T@B Facebook group.  As soon as I pull individual photos together, I’ll be sending you the 2013 Directory with mailing addresses, email addresses, and photos to make your correspondence easier until we gather again.

Speaking of gathering again…I hope you will join me next Spring at the 7th Annual Blue Ridge Rally at Raccoon Holler Campground in Glendale Springs, NC.  We’ll officially kick things off on Wednesday, April 30th, but I encourage you to be an Early Bird and join us even before that if possible.  I realize it’s a year away, but I wanted to give you that information and let you know that I’ll announce to you all first (probably in October) when reservations are open and give you a jump on campsites.  

Enjoy the group photo that I’ve attached and “Peace, Love & Camping!”

Big BRR hugs to you all…Sharon  

There are two R-Pod trailers belonging to friends and family of T@B owners.  There are several T@DA owned by former T@Bbers because they wanted more space. The Airstream Bambi belongs to long-time T@B owner. I confess I’m prejudice in favor of T@Bs so I didn’t photograph the several vintage Scotty trailers at the Blue Ridge T@B Rally.  ~~ Awnings and screen rooms went up as soon as campers arrived (except for Lorraine). The storm moved in and the wind motivated T@Bbers to fold up and pack away (awnings & screen rooms). Many of us hitched-up so we wouldn’t have to hitch in the rain. Some T@Bbers had ankle-deep water at their doorstep!!

Home again after the trailer trip and rally.  More details later.

Where are my birds?  It is so strange to **NOT** have birds in the yard!!  The Bluebirds are gone; the nest is empty!!  Only a couple of squirrels.  ~~  The flowers in my yard are very attractive **BUT** not as beautiful as the flowers in the gardens at Biltmore Estate, Asheville, NC.  Soon I’ll post pictures taken at Biltmore.