110 IN THE SHADE

I’m sure we have all heard that expression.  Well, for the past two weeks it’s been that way here in Alabama.  At least that is what my thermometer says most days.  However, we still cut the grass and did a few other things outdoors.  We just came inside to cool off and drink a lot of water.

 

My trees and flowers are doing great.  I’ve got my weeding caught up.  Kevin planted my two crape myrtles and they look really good.  They both have blooms on them now.  The one he planted that I received from Arbor Day looks like it survived.  I also did something different with the other one I received from Arbor Day.  I bought a really large container and planted it in there. I have placed it in front of my new addition.  Of course, it’s so small you really can’t see much of it yet.  However, it does look like it has survived so far.

 

A couple of nights ago I got out of bed about 1:00 a.m. to take a couple of Tylenol and saw 3 large deer in my front yard.  They were eating the birdseed.  I didn’t know they ate birdseed.  I think they were also snacking on a few of the lower branches of my Bradford Pear trees. 

 

I haven’t seen them, but Kevin said I have a family of rabbits living under my shed.  Every once in a while I see a toad in my front garden.  I also have a mockingbird that is driving me crazy(ier). He just doesn’t shut up.  He spends a lot of time in my front yard.  I have several hummingbirds coming to the feeder.  The “bully” is allowing a few females to feed.  The funniest thing is when I pull weeds in the area of the hummingbird feeders the “bully” flies around them.  I guess he thinks I am going to take his food.

 

The coyotes are out in full force right now.  We’ve had several roaming our backyards at night.  Roscoe gets really upset when they come around.  Hunting season for coyotes is 24/7/365 around here and you do not need a license.  Since most of the neighbors have guns (including Kevin) we hear quite a bit of gunshots at night.  Hopefully, they will get enough to get rid of them.  It’s a little scary knowing they are back there.

 

The garden is starting to produce a lot of veggies.  Renea is busy freezing and canning.  The past couple of days it was potatoes and green beans.  Today she is pickling.  Which means the cucumbers are in along with onions and peppers.  Kevin is cutting grass today.  I am taking a break right now.  I’ve been going strong all morning, and this is the time of day it gets REALLY HOT!  So I am doing inside stuff until after supper.

 

 

Back on Track

I won’t go into detail about the last couple of weeks.  Let’s just say I was sick and had a major meltdown.  Spent a lot of time in bed feeling sorry for myself and angry at everyone.  Went to church this past Sunday and did a lot of praying.  Monday morning I got out of bed and declared myself better.  I am now back on track.

 

I am in the process of spring cleaning my house. I am even washing windows.  My gardens are weeded.  Most of my bushes and flowers are planted.  I bought a couple of new crape myrtles and Kevin planted them for me.   The birdfeeders have been filled.  Even the one in the back yard.  I have a lot of bluebirds.  I have not seen them eating at the feeders.  I even put out mealworms and they are not eating them.  However, the hummingbirds are drinking the feeders dry.

 

The grass needs cutting and I am hoping to get to that this weekend.  When Kevin and Renea were in Cincinnati the last time they stayed at Renea’s brother’s house.  Their neighbor gave them a hummingbird bush which Renea gave to me.  She said she didn’t need any more birds visiting her.  I transplanted it into a larger pot and then researched it on the internet and found that the bush gets rather large.  Therefore, I need to transplant it again – this time in the ground next to my deck.

 

My trees and bushes are looking good.  My lantanas are doing great!  Lots of flowers so I should have a lot of butterflies.

 

I haven’t been any help in the vegetable garden, but Kevin said it is doing great.  However, it does need to be weeded.  He told me last night that today was going to be all hands on deck to get some work done.  I’ve been up since 8:00 this morning and haven’t seen hide nor hair of either Kevin or Renea.  I guess that means plans have changed.  So, I will work on my TO DO LIST, and it is constantly growing.

 

Okay, break time is over.  That doesn’t mean I am going to get back to work.  Just means I am going to move from the computer.  Or I may sit here and watch the birds in my backyard.  There is a beautiful bluebird sitting on top of the birdfeeder.