More rain !!

Umbrella and sad smiley face

Umbrella and stick figure

The weather (1)

The weather (2)

The weather (3)

Yes, more rain is forecast by local TV meteorologist.

I’m glad so much was accomplished between enclimate weather.

FYI: No more BIG purchases this year. (Last year: Composter, Rain Barrels, and lots of plants.) I hope to sit back and watch the plants grow.

Yesterday, a relatively inexpensive but important purchase. Eleven more cement blocks to square-off my patio. Four smaller cement blocks to place under planters. “Why now?” Because the ground is soft from recent rain storm, AND another rain storm will help to settle the blocks. Not only do I want to “make hay while the sun shines,” I want to work with the weather conditions given me. ~~ It is so delightful to work in the yard when there is little or no humidity!! (Click each picture to enlarge for better viewing.)

Cement blocks

Time and temperature at ten

The initial area

Close up of the blocks

Another view

Lots of roots

Small, but tough

Time and temperature at eleven

One down, ten to go

Another root

Three down

Time and temperature at twelve

Weight on the four corners

Next

Two more blocks

Time and temperature at two

Big root

I'll not be defeated

Six more blocks to lay

The end in sight

Little guy dislodged

Garden flag

Gardening-Mother Nature

Eleven down !!

I suspect you could care less!! However, I’m here (at ten o’clock) to report that the cement block project is completed (for now). The wind is whipping the awning; the wind chimes are “chiming”; the sky is cloudy and gray. ~~~~ I have time to shower before lunch. Enough heavy lifting for two days!!

Getting started again

Time and temperature at eight-thirty

All done

Weights on corners

Eight more later

Time and temperature at nine-forty

One track mind ?!

Good morning !!

In my humble opinion, life would be so boring if I didn’t have my yard!! Yesterday I learned something new: I identified the Northern Mockingbird. It has frequently been at the Bluebird mealworm feeder so I belatedly checked my several charts…. ~~ A variety of birds visit the feeders and almost all are welcome. “Hey Mockingbird, stay off the Bluebird feeder!!”

Time and temperature

Hummingbird

Mockingbird

Hummingbirds always welcome in my yard.

Hummingbirds always welcome in my yard.

Sunshine is glistening off the stained glass wreath hanging in the window close to where I sit at my computer. Time to position the ladder and wash the windows?!

Time to wash the windows

Stained glass wreath

Time and temperature

Added water wiggler

Bird bath and water wigglerYesterday, a man–temporarily in the RV Park–walking his dog, “discovered” my yard. He enthusiastically said “Oh what a lovely garden.” I thanked him and replied “Most people say ‘Oh, how cluttered’.” Today I set up another Shepherd’s Hook (from North Carolina) for the bird bath. The “Water Wiggler” keeps the water moving so it won’t stagnate. ~~ Nothing strenuous today: The Lord’s Day, a day of rest.

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Good afternoon” too!! Primarily, mental exercise. I’m always looking for a way to use the garden items I have accumulated. Shepherd Hooks were expensive (in North Carolina) but where to put them has been illusive. Then, in my mind’s eye, I saw how I could configure a second hook with the one installed earlier. ~~ If birds do not come to the bird bath (too close to the trailer?), I can hang wind chimes.

Scene with two Shepherd hooks

Two attached Shepherd's hooks

Clean out and base of two Shepherd's hooks

Planter covers the clean out

Saturday schedule

After a productive day–yesterday–today will be disappointingly uneventful. Finally, I’ll plant lettuce, radish, and green onion seeds. (Because I now have planter soil.) Get it done!! More rainy days predicted for next week. I love the beautiful GREEN landscape all around me!!

Garden Tower pictureRemember my plans to buy a garden tower? More than one design available. Remember my desire to enjoy home-grown veggies?? Pictures will reveal that I’m using less expensive (“cheap”) planters. Maybe next year I can buy and use the “tower” design?? (One can dream can’t one??)

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The weather was absolutely PERFECT; it was such a joy to work in the yard. When I got started… I couldn’t stop!! I used every last ounce of planter soil (three bags, $25.00). I planted everything except spinach. No soil; no planter. Then I climbed the ladder (several times) trimming dead limbs. Furthermore, I sprayed weeds with “killer.” I hate to do that (chemicals) but easier on this old lady than weed-whacking.  ~~ I made a hasty trip to the dining room for turkey dinner “to go.” I hadn’t wanted to interrupt my work to shower and dress… so slipped into the CARE Center in my work clothes. ~~ Today’s labor may be in vain?! Last year’s seed packets (too expensive to discard). The zucchini may not thrive with their roots confined to planters. One zucchini planter with organic soil and other with ordinary potting soil. I was “on a roll” and didn’t want to stop as long as I had seeds and soil. ~~ Last picture (afterthought): I’m reserving that large planter for several-year-old asparagus plants (arriving any day, from an acquaintance).

Veggie seed packages

Temperature at eight

Strawberry plant bloom

Organic soil in one of four planters

Four planters with soil

Seeds in four planters

Temperature at ten

Zucchini planter on stump

Zucchini seed packet

Zucchini with pepper and tomato

Zucchini in non-organic soil

Tommy got too hot

Strawberry plants

Blue Geraniums look good

Mosquito plant is dead

Trimmed tree limbs

Tommy recovered

A good morning's work

Saving for asparagus plants

Smiley face two thumbs up

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I finally sat down in my rocking chair–on the patio–with my camera in my lap. I watched Hummingbirds come and go (and no picture). I watched recently fledged baby Bluebirds waiting for Daddy to feed them. A Carolina Chickadee came and went (and no picture). ~~ The friend that provided the wire fence also left brand-new unopened bags of organic plant food. I’m delighted; I will definitely use that!!

Two baby Bluebirds with Papa

I love Bluebirds

Cardinal

Mockingbird

Hummingbird

Organic plant food

Smiley face very good

Time and temperature

Zombie !!

Smiley face ZombieYesterday I purchased a “sleep aid” at the health food store. It didn’t help, and I had a completely sleepless night!! Hour after hour, I watched the clock as time passed. I’m going to be a “zombie” today.

On the NBC Today Show, Matt just said “Gray hair is cool again.” Hooray!!

I anticipate another day in the yard because no humidity and temperature in the low 70’s. Originally, I signed up for a bus trip (today) to the Folk Festival at Huntsville. “Make hay while the sun shines” as the old saying goes. Lorraine’s paraphrase: Work in the yard during pleasant weather conditions. (“Summer” weather will be here any day; “Spring” didn’t happen.)

Looking good ?!

Break time (eleven o’clock); 73 degrees outdoors and 73 degrees outdoors. ~~ My only expense: Miracle Gro soft ties for $2.99. ~~ Hey, it isn’t “perfect” but I’m probably the only one that will notice?! Furthermore, the fence is old, and bent, with rusty spots. ~~ More later.

Time and temperature

Most sections are done

Hammer and rod

Add more fence later

Soft ties

Securing the fence

Secured to planter

Time and temperature

Back again; lunch with Dr. Oz (one o’clock TV program). This morning I planted Periwinkle. (Free plants, from a friend.) I passionately dislike that ugly white pipe!! I wasn’t consulted; “they” just put it there while my back was turned. (And it does not prevent water from accumulating at my site. See recent storm pictures.) So I have planned (for many months) to have “ground cover” camouflage the pipe. Time will tell.

Time and temperature

Periwinkle

Two containers of Periwinkle

Ready to seperate

Getting started

Holes four and five

Hole number six

So many rocks

Very narrow

Hopefully it will take root

Impossible to dig there

Temperature while I was digging the hole

Planted in the block

Periwinkle in the block

Still have one container

Temperature with outside thermometer

Temperature with indoor/outdoor thermometer

At 2:05, I saw my first female Hummingbird of the season–at one feeder. They arrive later than the males. I quickly retrieved the feeders and replenished with fresh nectar.

Rocking chair3:00 PM: nap time.

5:30 PM: After a nice nap in my lawn rocking chair–on the patio–I filled bird feeders, rearranged hanging baskets of flowers, and trimmed limbs on a nearby tree. Now I am so-o-o-o tired I haven’t the energy to fix supper. I didn’t sign up for meals in the dining room. I expect to sleep very well tonight!!!!

Planters in tree

Trimmed the tree

Pile of limbs

Geraniums

View from my easy chair

Temperature before six o'clock

Fence and Periwinkle

Postscript, Sat. May 2, 2015, 6:30 AM: Wonderful refreshing eight hours of sleep!! Hallelujah!!