Yours truly can’t say “outdoor living” because there’s a publication by that name (if my memory serves me correctly). But I speculate I can continue to talk about LOR(raine)-DOOR. True story: I spend more time in the yard than I spend inside my trailer home!! I love my garden!!

My RV site is out-of-sight. Personally, I think the “bottle flag” is so pretty the whole wide world should see it. WWW (whole wide world) starting with the traffic on Care Center Drive!! Election Day less than seventy-two hours away. The Polling Place is just across the street in the CARE multi-purpose room.

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There seems to be no end to the variety of garden “stuff” I have hidden in the tarp shelter. The three-leg wire “gizmo” provides the opportunity to display one each, red, white, and blue vase.

Simultaneous to spray painting glass vases (see postscript on Try, try again), I refreshed two shabby planters.  ~~ At our noon meal, it was announced our resident, Helen, will be “home” tomorrow. She broke her hip a couple of months ago and has been in the hospital, and convalescent home. I’ve been tending her plants and always planned to transplant the Coleus prior to return. This afternoon, I had to scramble to complete the project.

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The Coleus needed a major trimming!! If they were mine, two-thirds of that growth would be cut off!! With Helen’s permission, I’ll “butch” them later. Perhaps the clippings will root, and I’ll prepare planters (for give away or for sale at Thrift ‘n Gift).

Postscript, Saturday, November 5, 2016, 10:00 AM: Plant project completed.

Three mosquito plants were trimmed and staked. They should be in larger planters but I’ll check with Helen first. Likewise, two Lily plants (with a name I can’t remember) need attention. 

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Postscript, Monday, November 7, 2016: Damned if I do, damned if I don’t!!

I’ve lost count of the number of people who have asked me “Did you take Helen’s plants?” I answer in the affirmative and hear “Where are they?” My answer: “On her deck.” Then: “Where is the Amaryllis?” Helen’s concerned (“obsessing” according to our Facility Director) over a plant and planter I never saw. Honestly, if the plant had been there, I would have nurtured it also!! I’m not looking for “thanks” but no comment, or reference, to the eight plants I took care of for two months. “Making a mountain out of a mole hill”?! I’m very sad!!

The following is a blog message previously “under construction” and this is the appropriate time to publish it (imho).

“Curiosity killed the cat, satisfaction brought it back.” In early September, I began the foster care of three Coleus plants. Those… are not my choice for a garden. I want flowers to attract Hummingbirds and Butterflies. I spent time on the Internet looking for information because I’d hate to kill the plants. Colorful Coleus plants for indoors or outdoors. and Three Tips for Spectacular Coleus Color are just two of many…. First bit of necessary data: Sunshine or shade? I’m questioning whether they’re at the right location on my patio. During research, I appreciated the comment about “pinching” top and sides to create a fuller plant. I’ve wondered if I could do that because these three are quite tall and slender. My desire: Send the plants back to their owner bold and beautiful. Their owner, my neighbor, another CARE resident, fell and broke her hip; she’s recuperating in a local convalescent home.

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Truthfully, I was weary of all the tropical plants on my patio. I spent several hours “redeeming” the area. The Coleus were moved… and with twenty-twenty hindsight, I should have trimmed and transplanted at that time.

Figuratively speaking “I stubbed my toe.”  This message is a day late!!

Voting was Tuesday, November 2nd, 2004. Everything was packed (and the moving van was already en route); I was ready to move from California to Ohio. However, I lingered so I could vote–and then started the two-thousand-two-hundred mile trip from Lancaster to Brookville.

If you haven’t noticed, I like to go back a year (or two) and see what I was doing on that date. I’ve “planned” to do this “twelve years later” blog message BUT the beautiful weather kept me outdoors. “One track mind”: My “yarden” and (more recently) bottle mania!!

“Eighteen bottles of beer on the porch, eighteen bottles of beer.” (Reminds me of a song.)

The beer never entered my home; it was handed over to friends moments after I took the picture. They will return the empty bottles and I’ll (eventually) put them on a bottle tree. The two friends laughed and said “You are one unusual lady!!” (I receive that as a compliment.)

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Maybe I should stick to gardening?? I’m a failure as I attempt to paint the inside of clear glass vases. Several friends, and acquaintances, told me this was the simple way to get colors of my choice. The two neon green look good in that picture but the color drained to the bottom–and so unattractive I’ll never display them. Remember the old saying “If at first you don’t succeed, try try again”? I’ll keep “trying”!!

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Postscript, Friday, November 4, 2016: There is no substitute for colored glass!!

Trying to paint glass vases unsatisfactory (in my humble opinion).

The “façade” received a makeover this morning. Lots of work; lots of exercise!! Frequently, the approach to my door is cluttered (albeit garden). I’d like to have everything “picture perfect’!! A gorgeous day, weather-wise!!