Category Archives: gardening

May31

Roses and Spookiness

Posted on by
Standard

Happy Memorial Day. A day to reflect and remember the brave soldiers and those who gave up their lives for our freedom.



Yellow rose bush with 17 buds, originally uploaded by DianthusMoon.

Yes, and they all have bloomed except one or two. My other roses, though not as big, are blooming nicely also.

Here’s a pink one:
Deep pink rosebud
The guys are both home today. Not planning to do too much.

We decided to take a vacation to Ocean City, MD this year as Brian’s dad hasn’t been well and it’s not a plane trip away like a Carribean trip would be. Plus, the prices are better and I told Sean we can stay right on the beach if we could find a reasonably priced place. We pinpointed a place through Ex*pedia, but he has to see when he can take 3-4 days off.
Yesterday I had the entire afternoon to myself. I read, I sat a spell, I cleaned lawn furniture and I planted the last of my herbs. The bugs are coming out, so I need to buy mulch. My flowers in the front garden are much happier and productive being mulched.
Saturday I planted some perennials in my round bush edged garden where I have mainly irises. My pretty irises did not like the 4 feet of snow and only 7 out of 15 varieties made a show this spring. I then went and planted flowers in the pond garden and Brian edged it for me. It looks so much better.
I’m reading a young adult fiction by a lady also named Dianne (K. Salerni)
Sean and I were in a bookstore a few weeks ago and he saw her name on the cover and pointed out that she spells her name like I do! I then remembered she was the daughter of prominent church members and that there was an article in the paper about her writing ‘We Hear the Dead’-so I bought it. It’s based on a true story about the Fox sisters from the middle 1800s who were said to start seances. There are yet other coincidences besides our first name. In the first 30 pages of the book, there are two names of people with the same first and last names as people I know or have known. The doctor’s name is my maiden name of Knowles and they have an older brother David! Spooky. I plan to have Dianne autograph her book for my niece and I will pass it on to her in a year or so. I found Dianne on Facebook and we friended each other there.

May11

A change in the weather

Posted on by
Standard

We were enjoying the early summer like weather we had off and on until the dreaded wind decided to blow. And it blew and blew-for 3 days until it cooled it down here to 50s in the daytime and 30s and 40s at night. I held my breath in the morning when I checked what few annuals I had planted and a few looked shaky, but they seem to know it’s May and that this is just a fluke in the weather. On Saturday I was in the midst of changing out my winter to summer clothes (glad I saved a few sweaters and long pants)when I saw my patio umbrella take flight across the back yard. It was just given to us (not new) and I really like it. It was ok and I closed and tied it.
'New' umbrella
Sean had to work on Mother’s Day and Bri was feeling under the weather, so I made a yummy shrimp and roma tomato sauce for some bowtie pasta. Sean enjoyed it later. He picks out the best cards (as did his dad) and gave me a cute vase that I am using for my pencils and art supplies. Sean also took my mom and me out to dinner on Monday which was nice. I had to have terrible congestion all day into the night yesterday. I think the wind stirred up tons of pollen. Today was Bri’s terrible allergy day.
My brother is helping my mom get her bill paying in check after months of disagreements, etc. He sat down and found she wasn’t paying them at all. So now she will get them paid electronically and get an allowance. It’s a whole new world for her!
I couldn’t work outside again-I did only snip a few trees that seem to grown in my garden beds in the same exact place. I high tailed it back in as I never have a lack of anything to do here! Got my shoes changed out and most of the sweaters. It’s hard having a 50 yr old house with limited closets. I’m also going through cookbooks. Does anyone need any or have one on their wish list? Ask me and I’ll see if I have it! I am having fun trying recipes from my new Hungry Girl cookbook. Tonight we had chicken tenders dipped in a honey mustard egg mixture and then in crushed pretzels. Also made oven french fries. Both good!
We are having some cold rain fall now and tomorrow Sean is off and he may take me to Trader*Joes. May make an outing to Longwood*Gardens on Friday for their chocolate exhibit!

May7

Two tone clematis vine

Posted on by
Standard


Two tone clematis vine, originally uploaded by DianthusMoon.

Here’s the pretty vine I told you about. I’m waiting on a white and lime green one out front next.
Brian planted a new ‘Gypsy’ rose for me last night. I had it a few weeks and the poor thing started to bud in it’s packaging. The roses look so healthy this year-shiny green leaves and buds galore.
I potted up mostly pink and purple petunias on Thursday. I need a few more bags of potting soil. I shouldn’t have been lifting as I pulled something near my left arm pit over to my scar area. I finally put a piece of that sticky icy hot patch on it and it feels better.
We are getting all this wind and no rain. Still have lots to do outside and inside. My summer clothes are still in the space*bags (which don’t work that great).
Have a great Friday!

May3

Magenta clematis

Posted on by
Standard

Magenta clematis, originally uploaded by DianthusMoon.

It’s a great year for Clematis! I have two of my three vines in full bloom. Heading out to take more photos to clear my head soon. I have a few big projects under way-craft stuff sorting and changing winter to summer clothes. We don’t have enough closets in this house! And I do have too many clothes. I take pretty good care of them and they don’t wear out.
I had so much stuff jammed in the corner of my dining room (my craft ‘room’, but Sean’s room will be that area someday) that I opened a tin that I thought contained pens, etc. and inside were Cmas cookies! They were 4.5 months old, but looked perfect. I was mad at the stupidity of forgetting about food I spent an hour or more making -grrr!
So there is more drama going on in my extended family-one reason I can’t seem to think straight a lot of the time. I’m going down in a few days to see what I can do, if anything. It seems nothing ever changes as some people are never happy or are very stubborn. And they need help from the entire clan. Wish me luck!
Ah-the sun!

May1

Welcoming May

Posted on by
Standard

Today it almost hit 80 degrees, so I took my ‘flower’ money and headed to one of my favorite nurseries. Big 6 packs (sometimes more included) are only $2.99 which I think is great. I cashed in coins we save in a can and got over $70, but used some, so had about $55 which I had no problem spending. Beautiful flowers. Here’s my annual photo of me with the annuals! (I thought that was pretty funny).

I just got the bandana t-shirt at Tar*get Thursday night. Sean was off, so we went to visit my mom and went to BJs* Wholesale Club for a few goodies. We had shrimp pizza at Ber*tucci’s afterwards. I had some Cha*Cha money on my debit card (remember I answer questions as a  human search engine), so I got some things at Home*Goods-a pretty box for my paper stuff, a small seashell mirror that sits on the table and a neat hat. It’s basically pocket money and it’s a treat to have it to buy goodies once in a while.

I started to plant the pink polka plants and snapdragons last night, but it was a bit muggy and I gave up after planting a few. I didn’t buy any white flowers, so I need a few. They look neat at night.

Hoping to go to a  community yard sale later, another warm day expected.

Have a great weekend!

Apr7

A little raking

Posted on by
Standard

I felt a bit better and wanted to get some fresh air, though it was in the high 80s. Bri had cleaned out the pond for me a few days ago and since I was in the shade, I thought ‘why not’ do a little raking? Unfortunately my pond was the watery grave for two frogs, one rather large and the other a bit smaller. If I remember correctly, one or both enjoyed ‘croaking’ very loudly in the late summer and we could hear them almost every night if the window was open. I image the 4 feet of snow on top of the pond did them in. Poor things. I am ready for some new occupants now. I got the pump running after Bri got the motor part clogged. I have a few things left to do-weeding and edging, but I was glad to rake it out. I retrieved my gazing ball from the basement and Bri found the solar lights and arranged them nicely around the pond. I love the sound of running water, especially at night, it’s very soothing.
My little pond
I felt so good after eating my roast beef hoagie (sub) that I started to rake a few other places after dinner, a yucca bed near the road and my herb bed around back. My back started to complain, so I gave up for the night.
I am coughing a bit, but the nurse on the news (yep, they have a registered nurse/reporter) said today was the worse day of the year so far for allergies. I did take my allergy medicine. I guess I am using the inhaler correctly-only 3 times so far. I really think my allergies are what are driving me batty at times. Same with the guys. Bri’s been having a rough time on the Predn*isone which he is taking to try and help him get his sense of taste and smell back. He can smell and taste some things, but on the large part, he says he isn’t tasting his food and I notice he is trying to make up for it by eating crunchy or salty foods. The med is giving him a huge appetite. Only trouble with that, I need to do one of those $250+ food orders as I haven’t shopped like that for a while.
I go for a follow-up for the procedure I had on Friday. Got the explanation of benefits from the insurance and what they are allowed to allow is ridiculous. We were quoted a price for the procedure beforehand and had to give them some money that morning. Now it looks like it will be more than twice that according to the e. of benefits. They are allowed to say they used $14k in supplies! It’s ok according to the insurance lady. I was there for 2 hours and they gave me a threadbare nightgown and footies. You call them on this stuff and no one gives you a straight answer. This is so ridiculous. Wish us luck with this bill!

Oct14

Fall crops

Posted on by
Standard

About a month ago, I planted a variety of crops that like to grow in the cooler weather. Here is what I harvested on Sunday:
IMG_6226
A handful of arugula and tiny red radishes. There is a little lettuce, a sparse spinach seedling and if the beets are there, I don’t see them. I planted garlic and it’s starting to sprout in the container garden.
We may have had some frost last night, and I brought in some coleus at the last minute to save them.
Got my hair done and mom went out to dinner with us. This certain restaurant sometimes bothers me-I should know better that minestrone soup on an empty stomach is not a good idea. Unfortunately, I have had issues eating there before. Guess you have to figure out what places agree with you. Both Sean and me brought home most of our dinners.
I need to get to the grocery store-so that will be soon. My winter wardrobe is in bags all over my living room. I have my work cut out for me. I am anxious to get my sweaters and warmer clothes stored!

Oct4

Fall planting

Posted on by
Standard

Today while the guys went to visit Bri’s dad (and finally jam a large rug in my van for my mom that has been rolled up for months), I decided to plant the garlic I got from Burpee last week. I wonder if you can just buy the bulbs at the grocery store or maybe the Burpee ones are treated? Anyway, I sat at the table and pulled the cloves apart-I must have at least 30. It took no time to plant 20+ of them in the plastic upright container I use to use for a water garden. I’m wondering if I should wrap it up with something or get hay for the top? It gets cold here, but not brutal like up north more. I then checked out the ‘fall crops’ and the arugula, spinach and lettuce, mostly the first two, should be ready in a week or so! I only see a few beets (if that’s what they are) and a few radishes. Radishes always grew good for me. Maybe it got to shady out there. I may add a line of the garlic where the beets are suppose to be.
I took Mr. Cosmo Kitty for a walk. He hadn’t been out for a week or more. He really lost his nose in the garden area next to the front door, must have had a night visitor one time.
I’m getting joint trouble with my pointer fingers. I know cross stitching has to be the issue on the left-overuse all these years. The right hand isn’t complaining as much, but it’s definitely has the bumps on it like the joint on the other hand. I have been putting Icy hot on it!
We are going to get some nice weather this week coming up, but I really need to switch out the tank tops for sweaters. Hope Sean will be getting the stuff out of the attic shortly(still no job for him, even at a shoe store). Trouble with small houses with small closets-no storage. I envy my two sister-in-laws who have walk-in closets!
And I want to say how great Magic*Erasers are! Wow, took some stains right out of my sinks and scuffs off the walls.
Also-went to K*Mart and they had some cute summer things marked down to $2.99. I’m wearing the watermelon pink 3/4 length sleeve top with the hood and hand pouch as I type this. Really cute detail! I can wear about 3 different sizes, so that helps too. I buy larger if I think something may shrink in the wash. Watch for those sales!