A Few Flowers

I know it is early, but I couldn’t resist.  I bought a couple of plants and planted them into several containers this morning. 

 

I planted this one in a container and put it on a table on my deck.  It was labeled SUPER TROUPER LILAC ON PURPLE DIANTHUS.

The purple flowers in these containers were labeled ALOHA KONA CALIBRACHOA.
 

The white flowers in these containers were labeled SNOW CONE CANDYTUFT

 

The flowers in this container are marigolds. (I'm sure most of you knew that)

Last night we had almost a half inch of rain.  That means I don’t have to water the trees today.  Yea!

 

Did my morning chores, then baked a dutch apple pie to take to Kevin/Renea’s for supper tonight.  Hate to say this, but I sort of cheated.  It was  Marie Callender’s pie. Sure smells good.  It tasted good also.  Had the pie with vanilla ice cream.  Yum!

 

Today I worked outside for a while.  I weeded the box with the iris.  I plan to transplant them when I get the area around the birdbath cleaned out.  I also started weeding and cleaning out the area in front of and around the box.  I ordered three azalea bushes on Saturday and I want to be ready for them when they arrive.  I also ordered a rhododendron.  Not sure where that is going yet.  While weeding something came out of the weeds.  At first I thought it was a mouse, but it turned out to be a toad.  It just sat there and watched me.

My rose-of-sharon bushes arrived today.  I guess we will plant them on Saturday or Sunday.  Kevin’s choice.  I watered my plants and baby trees and bushes.  All are doing well and showing signs of life except the dogwoods.  Not sure what is going on there.  I need to check Kevin’s garden and the trees on his property to see how they are doing.  However, I am tired and will do that tomorrow.  I am done with yard work for today.

 

I fixed myself spaghetti and garlic bread for supper.  Kevin and Renea came over and we decided on the place to stay for Bradley and Brianna’s wedding in July.  I made our reservations.  Jana and I have a room and Kevin and Renea have a room.  By that time I was ready to watch DWTS.  I think the right person was cut.  I was sorry though that the reason he could not move was physical.  Kudos to him for trying.  Then it was time for bed.

Good Night Y’all

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN ALABAMA

Another beautiful day in Alabama.  It is sunny and in the low eighties.  I actually put on a pair of shorts to work outside.  I spent the whole morning outside getting some yard work accomplished.  I picked up the sticks in my front “circle” and around my birdbath.  Next I weeded the area around the two trees we planted last year.  There is no growth on them yet.  It is kind of early in the season.  I took a few pictures of the new growth on a couple of the new trees.  I put the 300 feet of hose together that I purchased.  Then I mowed the grass; just in the circle.  I still need to weed around the birdbath.  That may have to wait for another day.  I need to take a break, and get some of my morning chores done.

Okay, so I took a break and got only a few of my morning chores done.  I finished them after supper.  Now, I quit for the day.

Good Morning!  This morning after doing my morning chores I headed for Tigertown.  My first stop was Lowes.  I needed hummingbird food and that is the only place I have found the clear food.  I bought three jars.  I also bought several plants, potting soil, and hose nozzles.  From there I went to Kroger and stocked up on quite a few items.

After arriving home I fed Penny, emptied the car, put the cold items away and had lunch.  After lunch I went outside and mowed the grass in another area, picked up sticks in that area before I mowed the grass, took a break then weeded several trees.  Came inside and took another break.  After that break I watered all the new and last year new trees and crapemyrtles.  Then I fixed supper.  After supper Kevin and I watered everything in the backyard including the garden.  Renea mowed their front grass. 

TREE UPDATE:  While watering the trees we checked them for new growth.  One of last year’s pecan trees has some new growth.  Apparently one of them made it through the drought and the freeze.  Also, two of the Hawthorn trees show signs of new growth.  The crabapple that we noticed new growth on looks even better.  That’s three out of eight that we planted in that area.

If I don’t sleep good tonight I will be surprised.  NOTE:  I slept very good!!!!

This morning I did one load of laundry and some of my morning chores.  I also did a few things I had been putting off.  After finishing I went outside and mowed the rest of my grass (front and side).  I also picked up a bunch of sticks and put them in a pile for Kevin.  I think that will be it for today.

Friday I made a trip to Walgreens and picked up my medications.  After that I went to Walmart and purchased a few items.  Came home and did my morning chores – some of them this afternoon.  I didn’t get much else accomplished today.  I think I wore myself out the last couple of days with all the outside work. 

Yesterday I hung one of my hummingbird feeders.  Today I saw my first hummingbird eating at the feeder.  Yea!  Now if the starlings would just move one and leave my regular birdfeeders alone for the rest of my “regular” birds I would be happy.

Stopped over to visit Kevin and Renea tonight.  Wanted to check and find out what Dillard found out at the doctor’s office today.  He will be having some tests run next Thursday.  Talked to Kevin about buying some new Franklin trees.  I am going to get them from a different nursery.  Hopefully, they will be bigger and do better.  I also plan to buy three azalea bushes and a rhododendron.  Renea and I would both like a couple more weeping willow trees.  Kevin said he will plant whatever we buy.

That’s it for today. 

Spring has sprung - somewhat

Okay, so Sunday was a lazy day.  Did some reading and watched some television.  However, Monday it was back to “work.”  Spent a good part of the day doing laundry and my normal morning chores. 

Today is the first day of spring, and the weather is beautiful.  Sunny and 70’s.  Also a little humid.  But, that’s Alabama.  Can’t do anything about it.  I imagine I will be turning on the air conditioning soon. 

When I took my mail to the mailbox this morning, I checked on the forsythia bushes (twigs) that we planted on Friday.  They both have at least one green leaf.   If you look closely you can see them, especially on the one.

Nothing else shows any signs of life yet.  I keep watching.  All the new growth on my hydrangeas died with the freeze we had last week.  Hoping they will come back. 

 

Dillard watered the trees, garden and plants in the backyard this afternoon.  I watered the trees in the front yard.  Renea came over while I was on the deck.  She had both Lola and Copper with her.  While we were talking, Kevin came home, and Dillard came over with his golf cart.  The four of us went to the backyard and checked the garden.  We still have only two strawberry plants, but it looks like we have one asparagus plant peeking up through the dirt.

You have to look close because the asparagus plants looks almost like a piece of grass.

Dillard's rose garden.

When Dillard was watering the new trees, he found one of the crabapples with new leaves.  Looks like maybe one of them took root.  We found a lot of deer tracks all around the new trees.

Again you have to look closely, but the leaves are there.  These two pictures are of the same tree.

While Dillard was driving around on his golf cart, he picked up a watering can from behind my shed.  He is always looking at the ground for any plants he may find growing wild.  He found three wild rose bushed (very small) by my green shed.  We marked them with flags so we don’t run over them with the mower.  I will post pictures of them when we clean the area around them.  He also found a few up near Kevin and Renea’s driveway.  I saw him mark them this morning with flags.

P.S.  I rode around with him on his golf cart while checking everything out.  Sure was different than riding with Jim.  Dillard drives at a nice speed so we could see everything.  Jim drove as fast as the cart would go and then just stop. 

After taking our tour we all headed to our respective homes.  I had to shower after working outside this afternoon.  Talked to Jana (via telephone).  She had gone to B & N and Frisch’s.  Of course, she bought a couple of books.  I then watched DWTS.  Looks like it could be a good season.  A couple of them should go right away.  Jana and I texted back and forth regarding our opinions.  Then it was on to bed.  I swear Penny can tell time.  She sure pesters me when it is bedtime until I go.  She even leads me into the bedroom 😊

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER

HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY!

This was always Jim’s favorite holiday so I definitely have to celebrate.  He had a special green outfit that he wore every year.  Yes, it was getting kind of sad looking (and small) but that didn’t stop him.  He received phone calls from friends.  It was a great day for him.  Today I am both happy and sad.  I sure do miss him.

Yesterday was the first day of MARCH MADNESS.  I only watched one game, and that was Xavier.  They won!!!!  I’m just not as into the basketball as I used to be.  I am the only one around here who likes basketball, and it just isn’t as much fun when you don’t have anyone to disagree with. 

It’s supposed to start warming up today.  If all goes well Kevin and I will be planting the rest of the trees.  Okay, it warmed up and Kevin and I planted the rest of the trees.  They included one dogwood, one red maple, two forsythia bushes, two crapemyrtles and one crapemyrtle that I had in a container in my front yard.  That crapemyrtle has some green leaves on it.  The two forsythia bushes also have some green buds.  The rest of the trees are sticks.  However, we planted and watered them.

Saturday was a lost day.  It was gloomy and rainy.  And, to top it off, I had a bout of vertigo.  I did the exercise and spent the day sitting in my recliner, and not moving.  I went to bed at 9:00 p.m., slept all night and didn’t wake up until 8:30 a.m. Sunday morning.  Sorry to say I didn’t get to Mass this weekend.  Today, Sunday, I plan to take it easy and not do much of anything.  It is sunny but windy today.

OF COURSE!

Last Wednesday and Thursday Kevin, Renea and I planted 24 “baby” trees.  I had mentioned this in my previous post.  So, of course, this week on both Tuesday night and Wednesday nights we had a freeze.  The temperatures went down into the twenties.  We did what we could to save our baby trees, the lemon trees and Dillard’s rose bushes.  Now we just have to hope that we succeeded.  It is supposed to warm up now.  I sure didn’t get anything accomplished outside so far this week.

However, I did finish my placemat that I was embroidering.  It turned out really nice, if I must say so myself 😊  I have put the other three on hold while I make some plastic canvas items for Brian and Tracy.  They have asked for four placemats, eight coasters and a napkin holder for their new camper.  I also need to make some plastic canvas coasters for Renea to replace the ones that Copper chewed.  I also plan to make several smart phone holders for me, Jana and Renea.  I am going to be busy.  I have several items to embroider for Christmas, and ornaments to make that I didn’t do last year. 

I have some genealogy information to catch up with.

 

And…..March Madness starts today. 

 

We have six more trees to plant.  Hopefully, we will get that done this weekend.  Dillard and I both ordered five rose-of-sharon bushes.  They should be arriving any day now, so we will have to get them planted.  Kevin had two strawberry plants starting to break ground.  Let’s hope that the freeze didn’t kill them.

 

Today I hope to finish my taxes.  I can’t believe I am this late getting them done.  I actually forgot about them. 

Tree Planting Time

Tonight Kevin, Renea and I planted twelve of our trees.  We planted the white dogwood (6) and the redbud (6) along the property line between Ricky’s and my backyard.  We kept them far enough from the line so we could ride the mower around the trees.  We alternated them because we thought it would look nice having the red and white alternated.  Tomorrow I will take a few pictures so you can see how small they are.

Tomorrow night we plan to plant the crape myrtle (3) in my front yard.  Then we have four Washington hawthorns and four crabapple trees.  We are going to plant them in a grouping in a corner of Kevin’s backyard.  I will take pictures of them also.  Again, they are baby trees.

Now I am done for the night.  I am going to watch some television and do some reading.  Bedtime may come early.

Wow, did I sleep good.  I was really exhausted from the tree planting.  After my morning chores I went outside and took pictures of the baby trees.  Not going to post any because you can barely see them.  I just did this to keep a record of how they grow (if at all). 

Tonight Kevin, Renea and I planted twelve more trees.  These we planted on Kevin’s side of the property.  We planted four Washington Hawthorns and four Sargent Crabapple.  We planted these next to their property line between them and Miss Anna’s.  Again, they are babies.  I will be taking pictures tomorrow, but not posting them.

After planting them, we planted the four cherry trees that Kevin bought.  He bought two bing cherries and two black cherries.  They are bigger trees because they were not part of a package deal.  They arrived yesterday so he planted them in his “orchard” area.  He also received for buying them, one red maple (free) and two forsythias (free).  We have not planted them yet.

We still have not planted the crape myrtles either.  We will be planting them on Saturday morning. 

After planting the trees, I was exhausted.  I came inside and finally ate supper.  I went to bed at nine o’clock and slept until seven when Penny woke me.  I sure slept good!

Penny woke me at four o’clock this morning.  So I got her out of the bedroom, shut the door and went back to sleep.  Next time I woke was with Penny meowing outside the bedroom door at seven o’clock.  I decided to get up.  My day has started.

We had some rain early this morning.  I will check to see how much because if it wasn’t a lot I will have to water the first trees we planted.  After breakfast I did my morning chores and paid some bills.  After lunch I took the birdseed and sprinkler cans out of the back of my car.  I filled the birdfeeders.  I then checked the rain gauge, and decided I needed to water the trees.  I will do that this evening because right now the wind is blowing really hard and I don’t want to get wet.  Next item on the agenda was taking pictures of the trees we planted last night.  I am back in the house now and will be loading the pictures onto my computer.

After supper I watered the trees we planted first.  I am now finished for the day!

Outdoor Season

It’s NASCAR season again.  Yea!  Watched the Daytona 500 last week.  Plan to watch the Atlanta Speedway race today.  Also getting ready for college basketball’s March Madness.  I seem to be the only one in the family who likes college basketball.  That’s okay!

Still working on my embroidery.  I am about ¾ finished with the first placemat.  I can’t believe how long it is taking me.  Oh well.  Then Brian called and he has asked me to do some plastic canvas items for his and Tracy’s new camper.  I haven’t done that for a while, so I am looking forward to doing some of those items. 

Watched some of the race, but left before it was over to go to Kevin and Renea’s for supper.  She fixed a pot roast with potatoes and carrots along with cornbread.  Sure was good.  Neither Ryan nor Stephanie was there.  However, her dad ate with us.  I think he is staying with them for now.  After supper I came back home, watched some television then went to bed.

This morning I was up bright and early.  After breakfast, doing my morning chores and taking my shower I went to Tigertown.  First stop was Office Depot for printer ink.  The ink for my new printer is really expensive, but the printer does a great job so I don’t complain.  Next stop was Hobby Lobby.  I went in to buy needles, but, as usual, I came out with a lot more.  That’s okay – I really needed all of it J  I then went to Kroger for a few items.  Again I bought more than was on my list.  I filled the gas tank and headed for home.  Penny and I had lunch, and I took a short break.

Kevin took the wood chipper out of my storage shed.  I bought the shed to keep items in it so Kevin wouldn’t have to put them in his attic and I could get to them easier.  However, for some reason, the wood chipper gets stored in there.  It’s okay, but I wouldn’t tell him that J  So, after my break I took several things to the shed.  Took me five trips.  It wouldn’t be so bad if I didn’t have to go up and down steps.  They wear me out!  Anyway, that’s another chore finished!  I then came inside, took another break and called Jana.

While walking back and forth from the house to the shed I stopped several times and pulled some weeds out of several containers.  I have now cleaned out four of them.  One of them has five day lilies that I planted last year starting to come up.  I am happy about that because I thought they had all died.  Looks like my irises survived also.  I plan to transplant them when I get the area around the birdbath cleaned.  I think they would do well in that area.

My free trees came today.  Since it will be a few days before they will be planted, they are in my refrigerator.  You see, Arbor Day Foundation sends “baby” trees.  That’s what they call them.  They are just little twigs.  The instructions said if you can’t plant them for two to five days that they should be kept someplace cool.  Between 35 and 45 degrees.  They suggest the refrigerator.  So, that’s where they are.  Probably won’t be planted until this weekend.  Found out that Kevin also received his free trees today.  I think we are going to plant them on Wednesday since we are supposed to have rain tomorrow.  We need to have a “meeting” to decide where to plant them.

Did a little bit of embroidery today.  Kind of ran short of time with everything else that is going on.  Oh well, tomorrow is another day.

Good Morning.  It’s a gloomy day.  We are supposed to have rain by this afternoon.  That’s good.  We really need it.  So, I am doing inside stuff today.  Mainly my laundry.  I have also worked on my genealogy for a while.  I have a list of things to do, and I am not making very good progress.  I keep getting sidetracked.  I worked on my embroidery for a while before lunch.

After lunch I went out to the shed and found a bucket to put the baby trees in tomorrow so we can plant them.  We thought we would try to catch some rain water to put them in.  While outside I weeded another container.  Also checked my hydrangea bushes.  The one looks really good.  I didn’t even have to weed that one.  I thought maybe the other one didn’t make it, but after weeding it I found some new growth.  So I guess that one survived also.

Kevin and Renea came over this evening so we could decide where to plant the baby trees.  Tomorrow evening is tree planting.

A Rough Time

It’s been a rough time for Renea and Kevin.  Renea’s mother had to be taken to the hospital by ambulance.  She is not doing well at all.  We are asking for prayers at this time.  Janet is on life support.  Not sure where all of this is going.  She can barely breathe on her own.  Also, her dad has been diagnosed with cancer, and the prognosis is not good.  Please keep him in your prayers also.

I have not accomplished a lot.  I have been taking care of the dogs when needed.  Renea’s brother, Mark, and his wife, Sandy, came down from Cincinnati.  I am not sure how long they will be here. 

Kevin had to go out of town for a few days regarding work, but now he has taken a few days off to spend with Renea and her family.  He has been trying to get a few outside chores accomplished, but it hasn’t been easy.

Meanwhile, I am still working on my embroidery.  I still have not finished the first placemat. 

I haven’t done any outside work as yet.  It has either been raining or very windy.  The wind is really cold.  I have a lot to do outside, and since I am so much better (healthier) than last year I plan to get everything accomplished.  It is almost grass mowing season, so one of my first chores will be getting all the branches picked up that have come off the trees.

Kevin and I have both ordered quite a few trees, so we need to get some of this work done because they should be arriving soon.  I think all totaled we have ordered about 25 trees.  Not all the same.  Some of them are flowering trees for the bees J

I am also in the process of getting rid of my mini blinds.  Penny likes to play with the cords, and I have heard where cats have hung themselves on the cords.  I would be devastated if that happened to her. I would feel it was my fault.  I have changed the curtains in my dining room.  The blinds are down, and I added “half” curtains across the bottom of the windows.  I never had mini blinds in the living room.  Next ones to come down will be the kitchen and bedroom.  Kitchen one isn’t necessary and neither is the bedroom.  I have room darkening curtains in the bedroom.

I was contacted by a young man who is doing the family genealogy for the Heltman family tree.  This is my mother’s mother’s side of the family.  We have been exchanging information.  I have quite a bit for that family.  He lives in Cincinnati, so I am hoping to meet with him this summer.  I may have also mentioned in one of my earlier blogs that I have been corresponding with a lady working on the Althoefer side of my family (my dad’s side).  We also plan to get together this summer.  Both of them are distant cousins.  I am finding this very exciting.  I am learning about family ties that I didn’t know I had.  WOW!