Category Archives: yard

Apr4

And then a hero comes along…

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…John Wood.

John Wood-book crusader

I almost didn’t watch Oprah today. I turned it on while our girlfriend was interviewing Mr. Wood about his program to end worldwide illiteracy called Room to Read (second is linked to Oprah).

Room to Read

 A former big wig at Microsoft, Mr. Wood went to Nepal on a trip and found poor conditions in a school there-overcrowded and most of the pupils couldn’t read. He vowed to go back in a year with books and he kept his promise-I was in awe with him-got the warm fuzzies big time!  Now his org is building libraries and schools all over the world. Many people in the small communities are learning to make bricks and to build themselves! Check out the link and maybe make a $5 donation (I plan to donate something).

For two days and for a few hours,  I did garden clean up. Brian cleaned up the piles after dinner each night. I think I am wearing him out! Last night we moved the big hollyhock that was across from the front door. It broke into 3 pieces so hopefully I have three new plants. I know a tree near where we just planted it gets rust or whatever fungus it is and hollyhocks are prone to get it. We planted the hollyhocks in my iris bed. The iris have spread a little. I am hoping to give some to my mom as I have some gorgeous ones. This is reminding me to go order from the same company as I won their photo contest last year (Aug. 06) and I better use the coupon soon!

Getting my hair done late in the afternoon. I think my mom is staying over to go to the gyn with me. I could go by myself, but she wants to lend support. I have some issues, but just doing all this yardwork has made me stronger (and a bit achy) over the last few days.

Apr3

$1.98

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is how much these gorgeous roses cost….

Gorgeous and cheap

Another view
It was so nice outside today-71 and sunny. I got out the rake (the plastic one that doesn’t retract or expand-blah) and worked on a few of the gardens. Bri cleaned up the piles after dinner. I also grocery shopped and ran across the flowers above.
We had a nice dinner of fried boneless chicken breasts with an eggy kinda dijon sauce (followed a recipe) ,asparagus, stuffing and stir fried spinach-not bad!

Mar30

Venturing out

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I drove for the first time since I’ve been taking my medicine. I felt ok, not 100%, but I had to mail off 6 packages for my spring exchange. I then wanted to get some Easter cards for family. I didn’t get them all, but the creative side of my noggin is telling me to make some instead of spending $2-4 dollars on one alone. I got one for my mom that needs embellishing. I didn’t take my medicine until I got home. I don’t think it’s really helping as I don’t think I have an infection, I think it’s a lady thing. I may be hitting the road to the gyn next week.

I had the cat out today and even though we had the bagger on the mower, leaves need to be raked out of my flowerbeds. My metal expanding rake broke, so I need to go to the store near mom’s and get another. The daffodils are almost all blooming.

White daffodils almost opened

I’ve been doing stitching and making art cards to keep my mind occupied. I really want to take a nap all the time.

Sean is going to bring home pizza for dinner. It’s still Lent and I’m not in the mood for tuna or eggs. Afterwards, there is that biannual book sale in the big barn down the road that I’d love to go to as I resold a few things I bought in October for a big profit.

Have a great weekend!

Mar7

Fleeting scenes of winter

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(At least I hope so!)

Sunset for 3-7

The birds were having a feast at the feeder today. Their little tummies are big and round-golf ball size. I happened to look out the side window and saw all their little prints in the snow (thanks to Bri who also delivered our dinner). The first shot was taken out the window. There was one bird I am trying to identify-not sure if it was a Baltimore Oriole-but he had a white tummy, the sides of his tummy were reddish-orange and the rest of him was black with some white specks on his wings. Carole/Pea helped me to ID this bird as a Bay breasted warbler! I don’t think I’ve ever seen one before:
Bay breasted Warbler

Birdie footprints

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Jul31

Art cards are all the fad on eBay

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I was on tribe yesterday and on the ‘eBay freaks’ tribe specifically. A tribe member was telling us about the art cards that are selling like hotcakes there. They are mostly original art of any kind and are about 2.5″ x 3.5″ like a baseball card. I was really intrigued by them and bid and won a few featuring old fashioned children as the focal design. Really neat. I think I will start a new collection to inspire me to make and sell these. The guy on tribe says he sells ALL originals and makes about $600 a month. Now that isn’t bad. Maybe I should dust off my sketch book (I use to draw all the time). Maybe these little cards will be in my inspiration.
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Brian cleaned out the totally filthy shed today. I dropped hints all morning and he finally went out and was complaining about doing it. We even unloaded a 17 yr old window air conditioner in the same manner as we disposed of the old computer desk. We put a ‘FREE’ and works sign on it. Hope it isn’t blowing too much stinky mouse piddle air in their house. But it was free! ; )
I spray painted my wrought iron patio set’s chairs today. I asked Brian to please save the space he made from removing the a/c so I could put them in there this year. It’s not hard to paint them, but I don’t want to paint them every two years because of them being left in the elements. It totally looks better in the shed, but all the mess is in the front of it waiting for big trash pick up day which happens to be this week coming up! What do we do with all these pieces of wood? He said we can’t use them in yard projects because they aren’t treated? I tend to disagree. Can’t you prime and paint them? I’ll have to check the books I have here.
I also had a good cry from all the mess of this last week. When the screen door (it’s heavy with metal decorations in it) hit me in my arm, well that was the stick that broke the camels back. I think it helped.
BTW, get an ‘instant dark tan’ with black spray paint! My feet are tanned that way-geez.

Jul27

Saw this on Abby’s blog…

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Your Blogging Type is Kind and Harmonious
You’re an approachable blogger who tends to have many online friends.
People new to your blogging circle know they can count on you for support.
You tend to mediate fighting and drama. You set a cooperative tone.
You have a great eye for design – and your blog tends to be the best looking on the block!

What’s Your Blogging Personality?

Thanks Abby.
I feel a bit better tonight. I did lay down for 45 minutes or so. I got a package of goodies in the mail from Collectibles,Inc. and they all had to be put together. I got a little fairy birdbath (the fairy is solar powered), a duck fountain that spits water back into the pond (pictures are coming);a fountain I was going to put outside but it’s for inside-an old-fashioned hand pump that pours water into a bucket(noisy) and a few other things.