I hope your weather gets better soon, with no disasters in the meantime.  
I forgot to mention... The Super Walmart (or whatever they are called) that I went to last weekend had ferns for only $11 each. I didn't buy any, though. They were slightly ratty and I doubted my ability to regenerate them. LOL! |
| Flowerfreak Posted on Wednesday, June 11, 2008 - 08:47 am: |   |
It sure is a busy month. The baby shower my sisters & I had for M was Sunday. There were a bunch of people that did not show up that never RSVP’d. It was awkward b/c there are usually a lot more people there. Not only that, but M didn’t really talk to many people. I mean, I know they are not from her side of the family, but she knows some, if not most of them & could have at least talked to them more. She is very unappreciative. I won’t go on any further about it, as I will just get more angry. Speaking of angry, I was angry that I am the one who always seems to put the most time/energy into these dumb showers. Hopefully it will be the last one. My sister N just sat there while my other sister & I did the dishes left from the shower. I mean she literally just sat at the bar behind us for about 5 minutes, watching us wash dishes. I guess she got tired of that & just up & walked away, not offering to help. You wouldn’t think one would get so angry at this, but she NEVER offers to help! She is so lazy I cannot stand it.
I spent the past 2 nights after work cleaning up the landscaping at one of mom & dad’s rentals. Mom had asked me if I would do & she would paid me. I was just going to do it & not tell her (b/c I didn’t want her to pay me). I got the 2 dead bushes dug out & set out for the garbage. That alone made a big difference. I pulled all the weeds around the bed between the garages and 3 other beds. There is still a lot that could be done, but I have a lot more other work I need to do for myself & others. There was some PI, but I was trying to be careful. Not that it really mattered because I obviously picked it up somewhere earlier, as I have it on my foot/leg, arm & neck. Hopefully those are the only areas it spread to. The neck is as far as I wish to have the stuff if I am going to have it at all!
After I decided I had done enough weed pulling at the rental, I went home to hold up my new curtains I got for my front door/sidelights. I knew they would need to be shortened. I marked where I needed them to be & brought them over to ask mom if she would sew them. When I walked in her house, I asked her if she would sew them “since I pulled your weeds for you". She had a confused look on her face & then smiled & said, “Oh, so it was you!” I said, “What”? “Over there on V. The tenant called & kept telling me how good it looked & he was so happy & kept saying it looked so good & I kept thinking (What is he talking about? Dad was over there Saturday to cut the grass but that is all)”, Mom said. Deciding if I should trick her & “play dumb" or just tell her the truth, I told her yes, that is where I pulled weeds at the past 2 nights....then I asked her if she would sew my curtains for me. Lol (I figured it was a good trade—better than her trying to pay/over pay me for the work).
Now to figure out how to fit all of these other cleaning jobs in people want me to do asap. I also have the landscaping job I said I would help w/ on Sat. & then there is Father’s Day on Sunday which usually means a trip to the farm to work & clean up the property= me=landscaping...story of my life...but that is ok. Dad appreciates it. Next week will be farm cleaning for T for our family reunion that weekend. The following week I have a wedding to go to & then the next week my brother & sil’s baby is due. Whew! I almost can’t wait for July...oh, speaking of July, I guess I will have July 4th celebrations after that. Ok, how about August. I can’t wait until August! |
I'm sorry to hear that you have PI. I hope it isn't driving you crazy. One of my least favorite things is having PI and being hot at the same time. The heat seems to make the PI that much worse.  |
| Flowerfreak Posted on Wednesday, June 11, 2008 - 01:28 pm: | |
Yes, it does seem to be more irritable when it is hotter out. After posting this morning, I found more PI on my wrist. Let me tell you, I look so goofy with band-aids all over me! |
| Flowerfreak Posted on Friday, June 13, 2008 - 01:45 pm: | |
I got one cleaning job done yesterday before my game. I was also able to water just about all of the yard/plants. Only 1 bed left to water tonight, unless we get some rain. I got all the coreopsis plants deadheaded & refilled the water dish at the hummingbird feeder also (even though I have yet to see a hummer). I had a few minutes before I left for my game, so I decided to clean my foyer out a bit. I had a bag of potting soil I thought I was done with so I brought it downstairs. I went to set it down & found a (dying?)mouse. I got rid of it and looked around for signs and/or droppings, but did not find anything. I will have to look closer tonight. I am hoping it got in through the basement doors which were not pulled shut as tight as I could get them and that this is the only one that made it inside. The funny thing is, my cousin had called me to come over & catch a mouse/mice she thought she had and I had just looked for mice signs in my aunt's house after I cleaned for her yesterday. What is it with everyone seeing/claiming to see mice lately??!! This is only the 2nd time I've had a mouse in my house in 6 years or so, but of course I'd rather not have any.
My PI seems to be popping up in more & more places, which is getting very annoying. There are a couple of spots on my face. I am just hoping it clears up quickly & does not get any closer to my eyes.
I need to remember to stop by my sister's house tonight before I clean. She is giving me her sun dial & neat planter set/stand :) |
| Flowerfreak Posted on Sunday, June 15, 2008 - 05:28 pm: | |
Worked in DH's aunt's yard yesterday. She has a very pretty yard, with landscaping everywhere. She has been going through a very rough time in her life. She hasn't been able to keep up in her yard because of it. We ended up doing more work than I expected, but then again I am the idiot that opened my big mouth & told her we should build a block wall between her trees where the yard slopes & put a new flower bed there. Well, she thought it sounded like a great idea so DH did the running & got the truck loads of blocks, topsoil & mulch. I built most of the wall, trimmed all the plants/trees, dug out the edges of all the beds, deadheaded & expanded the flower bed by the mailbox. Whew. It was a long day...but still fun I guess. C was happy & I was glad. You can tell she isn't as happy these days.
I went on one of the trips to get topsoil from the nursery. While there I told DH I wanted to get C a knockout rose for her. She was telling me earlier in the day that she did not like to have roses b/c they remind her of funerals. I told her about my knockout & she said she did like those. I told DH we would get one for her & tell her that she has to think of us when she sees the rose & no longer think of funerals. I also told her that if she really did not want it, she did not have to take it, and my feelings would not be hurt. She said no, she did want it & it was going right in the middle of the new bed we just made for her. I hope she really does like it.
I worked in my yard today. I got all the coreopsis deadheaded, knockout deadheaded, weeds pulled, & planters watered. I also trimmed the flowers off of the coral bells & fixed the way a few plants were staked so they weren't drooping. I was not sure about the penstemon--whether or not to cut the flowers off since they were spent, so I just went ahead & did that anyways also.
Lesson learned with my clematis--intertwine it more on the trellis so it doesn't reach the top & just "droop over". It would have looked so much better. The 2nd clem next to the chimney looks pretty good. It is climbing up the ugly cable wire, hiding it at least. The shasta daisies are in full bloom, as is my azalea still. The purple coneflowers getting ready to open up and the bee balm shouldn't bee too far behind.
The lettuce I planted in the garden that the rabbits? ate the same day is growing back, untouched. A couple of my zinnias look like they might actually make it. |
| Flowerfreak Posted on Tuesday, June 17, 2008 - 08:54 am: | |
I didn't get much done in the yard yesterday because I forced myself to do housework I was behind on. Wow, I felt a whole lot better after I was finished! I cleaned the kitchen, guest room, bathroom, both stairs and foyer. I also got the new curtains put up on the front door/sidelights. Oh, what a difference! I moved some plants & plant stands to different locations inside. I scraped the chipped paint off the plant stand on the porch. I picked up some spray paint & sealer from Wal-Mart late last night & will paint/seal it & use it in the foyer now I think. I did pick up a begonia & planted it in the new porch planter I got from K. I stopped in Big Lots too, and saw some very neat brown wicker outdoor furniture. Oh, how I wish I had a place for it in the back. I have always wanted white wicker for the front porch. Speaking of front porch, I need to paint my swing. The stain/varnish I put on it did not even last a year. I guess it gets too much rain when the wind blows. Who knows? My front door/sidelights have done the same thing in some areas, just not as bad. I don't want to mess with staining the swing again, so I guess I will paint it. I just haven't decided on a color. I think white would be too stark. I thought about painting it a dark red/brown to look like it was still stained. I also thought about painting it a deep navy to match the back doors. I have also thought about trimming some of the porch in navy, but doubt that will happen. Ah, it's just a swing, why do I waste my time thinking on these dumb things?! I might just paint both the front door/sidelights & swing a deep cherry/brown color and forget about it.
I did manage to deadhead all of the coreopsis again, water the ferns & other pots, and cut back the dianthus. I got a lot accomplished and it took my mind off my PI for the most part. It was a pretty good evening I guess. |
You sound a bit dejected or something. If it makes you feel any better, I bet I waste way more time thinking about those sorts of things than you do. LOL. I think white would be nice because you have a classic porch, but I also think that COLOR is fun, too. (In case you haven't noticed - LOL!) I keep seeing garden gates painted in shades of blue or purple and I want one, too. And I don't even have a garden fence. LOL. Maybe someday you'll get that white wicker with some cushions and paint your swing to match the cushions. |
| Flowerfreak Posted on Monday, June 23, 2008 - 06:17 am: | |
Just angry that I spent so much time on staining & sealing it the last time! lol
lol
Yes, that is a great idea. I like the navy blue. I have a navy blue swing cushion my sister bought for me (but I can't keep it out all the time b/c animals usually find their way to it while I'm at work and at night...grrr). |
| Flowerfreak Posted on Monday, June 23, 2008 - 07:50 am: | |
Went to a small family reunion this weekend. Overall, I had a good time. I helped C & H fish for the first time. H is only 5 or 6. She sat on my lap, while we fished until around 11:30pm. She didn’t want to quit. She was having a great time. She told me it was "the best day ever". It was so cute. I got up the next morning & took her & her brother on the paddle boat & brought the fishing pole. We didn’t catch anything, but they had a great time. Aunt P brought the big inflatable water slide for all the kids to play on. They were having a blast. J was having fun splashing in the water the end of the slip n slide. He is doing so much better & seems to be learning more & communicating better. Sometimes, I think he minds better than his sister & cousins.
I got my sister to go to the little garden shop down the road from where the reunion was. I love this little nursery. It is ran by a younger couple. There is a greenhouse next to their home, not too far back from the road. There are plants out in front, in the back, etc. There is always neat things sitting outside, and I enjoy just sneaking a peak every time I drive by (which is hard to do–to just drive by without stopping)! My sister bought a vase and planter. I bought a different sedum than what I have now. It was very healthy and a pretty good size and only $5 :) I am going to put it in the cutting bed with the other sedum, for some fall interest. I am having a brain freeze, as I cannot think of the name of the one I bought. My mind is blank; this is driving me crazy. I must be getting old 
There was a black & blue salvia in a (pan used as a) pot, which had a decorative stick and another accent plant in it also, but there was no price tag. I have been wanting a black & blue salvia, but I did not see any except for that one. I guess it is a good thing they didn’t have one. I’ve been spending enough money in gasoline, I can’t afford items like I could in the past, b/c of how much driving I do, not to mention all of the other costly things that have cropped up this year.
The bee balm & yarrow in the cutting bed & old tree bed is looking really good right now. I wish I would remember to take some pictures of the yard for my reference. I haven’t taken any lately. I am really frustrated I can’t get my pictures to upload to a small enough size to post. At the reunion, my cousin had a really neat Canon digital camera she just got for her birthday. I could only imagine how much it cost. I wish I knew more about cameras. I will have to browse that GB thread I found awhile back. A lot of it was confusing, but still helpful. I think I googled it before & got some good camera info. that way. Maybe I will ask for that for my birthday 
A few weeks ago, something had dug in my front flower bed, in the corner, just behind my lillies. They dug a big whole, sort of the shape of a little pond. “It” dug enough to expose the roots of my shrub, lillies and my azalea. I put the dirt back, and sprayed some dog/cat repellent (which stinks to high heavens). That did not stop “it”. I put the dirt back once again, sprayed again & moved my big planter back to block the easiest opening “it” had to that area. Whatever “it” is/was, it had not come back for a week. Before I left for the reunion the other day, I was watering some things & here “it” had dug another area up in that bed. I also noticed the shrub next to the first hole is now dying. I wonder what is digging in there & if it is spraying or hiking it’s leg on my plants or what. I am ready to scream. I am tired of this. I just hope it is a “wild” animal & not a neighbor’s pet. There is a cat & 2 dogs that roam freely and they tend to roam freely in my yard & I constantly chase them away. It is getting real old, real quick.
I am just getting rid of the PI, and now more is spotting up all over. I really need to find out where it is coming from/what it is on that I keep touching. It could be anything; I don’t know what to do. Maybe I’ll get enough of it & I’ll finally become immune to it. (it doesn't hurt to wish)
Enough griping. It is a beautiful morning. I got up and went for a walk before I came into work & I feel good. I have to work all day, but hopefully I’ll get out for lunch & enjoy the sunshine. |
| Stormdancer Posted on Monday, June 23, 2008 - 10:45 am: | |
Hey Lisa,
Know what you mean about the PI...just got back from camping a few weeks ago and was broke out myself...what a pain that stuff can be.
Have you washed your garden tools? that stuff can leave its oils on everything that touches it...I'm not severely allergic, but do get it if exposed for long periods of time...my Aunt used to get it after touching her rake or other tools that had not been cleaned well.
Good old Ajax for dishes worked very well at drying the stuff out for me this time...I keep Tecnu by Oak n Ivy on hand for Virginia Creeper outbreaks...that stuff I'm severely allergic to...but the grease releasers in the Ajax for dishes really did a number on my outbreak, gone within a week. Must say though that the skin sure was dried out as well...lol...better than the PI though!!
As for uploading pictures...do you have Microsoft Office Picture Manager on your system? I use it to shrink my pictures to 400 x 400 so I can upload them here...just a suggestion.
Have a super morning...enjoy the sunshine
Karen |
Wow, so which is worse... the holes in your flower beds or the PI? Ugh! Well, I hope they both stop appearing soon. LOL! Don't forget, the PI could be on your doorknobs. I use Windex on mine when I suspect they've been contaminated. It could be on your steering wheel and door latches, too. I hope you find the source... I know what it's like to have PI outbreaks for an entire summer. |
For that matter, I know what it's like to get PI in the middle of winter when snow is on the ground. *sigh* |
| Flowerfreak Posted on Thursday, June 26, 2008 - 09:07 am: | |
Karen,
It is funny you mentioned Ajax. I had tried Dawn dish soap the other day when I was at work & could not stand the itch any longer. I did that twice in one day and that seemed to be a huge help. The area where I had it the worst is clearing up nicely and is about gone I did clean my garden tools. A friend of mine sent me an email & asked if I had cleaned my bed linens. I had never even thought of that. If I had the PI on my clothes & even just sat down on my bed or leaned up against it, it could even be on there. Same for my kitchen chairs, couch, etc.!
I was working in the yard a couple of nights ago and found.....poison ivy behind my daylillies, coming through from the neighbor's yard. I sprayed it right away & got away from there! lol
I had pulled some weeds in that same area a couple of weeks ago, so if the PI was not that big at the time, I may have just not seen it. At least I think I found the culprit so I feel a little relieved.
I don't think so. Oh, wait, I just looked & I do have that. I don't think I've had it on my work computer for that long though. I thought that program was my problem b/c whatever program they had on here before worked fine. I will have to try again & shrink to the 400x400 as you suggested---thank you!!
well thank you
Right now, neither. The worst is that someone has stolen a plant from my front porch steps. AAARRRRGGGHGHHHH!!!! I bough 2 begonias in 4-5" pots. The plants themselves were pretty big. I bought 2 b/c I was not sure if the planter I was going to use them in would hold 1 or 2. It only ended up holding one so I put the other one on my porch step. I set it in front of another planter, just until I decided where I was going to plant it. I went to my reunion over the weekend & came back & it was gone. Now, I don't want to blame my neighbor, but I looked at her landscaping in the front & she has 2 small ones in her front bed and one larger one (like the one I had) in one of her pots...that I never noticed she had. This is the same lazy neighbor whose grandkids leave their garbage in her yard (close to our prop. line) & after it sits there for so long, it miraculously ends up in MY yard....just like the newspaper ads this week. They were in her driveway, in the clear plastic bag for a couple of days. Now, they are sitting in the edge of MY landscape bed. I don't know how much more I can take before I go psycho on her.
Geez, I never even thought of all of these things! |
| Flowerfreak Posted on Thursday, June 26, 2008 - 09:23 am: | |
I watered all of the beds on Tuesday. I also did more deadheading on the coreopsis & daisies. The yarrow & bee balm is looking great. After I watered the yarrow, the outsides began to lie on the ground. I staked them up. My lone hollyhock is blooming. I will have to plant more of them next year. I purchased only one this year just to see how well it would do. I still haven't seen any hummers and not too many butterflies :(
I took a wire brush to the porch swing the other night, but have not painted it yet. I think I will go with white. I'll have to remember to take before/after pictures to see if I like it painted.
The daylillies are blooming. The ones in front of the magnolia have gotten much bigger each year & multiplied. I am going to have to move them, or make the bed larger. The allium are about to open up completely. This is my first year for those. I think I will like them.
My sister drove by the other day & commented on the 2 ferns at the front porch. She said she loves them & it made a world of difference. We started talking about the plants in her yard (as we always do) and she said I can have some yarrow & a couple of other plants. Yay!
I think I have decided that the rose bush I keep moving has to go. I am not one to get rid of plants, but I just don't have the right spot for it & am not happy with how it grows. I might see if my cousin,uncle or brother would like it & I could plant it for them. I want to replace it with a dwarf lilac. I am pretty sure I will like it there, but I will have to draw up a sketch in my landscape program to see for sure. |
Oh, my gosh! Some people!
Shocking! Say it isn't so!! We will have to change your logo from
[OoGBoO] \ /
to
[OoGBoO] /\
Hahaha!
(Or was I supposed to use the ? I forget. Obviously I am still [OoGBoO]^2. LOL!) |
| Stormdancer Posted on Thursday, June 26, 2008 - 11:59 am: | |
I thought about including that also, but figured you had probably done that already...ooops, sorry...don't forget your gardening gloves if you use them. I'm constantly forgetting about my own...and of course the edges of whatever you haul the debris off with...picked the stuff up under my arms one year and couldn't for the life of me figure out how...DH reminded me that I had helped tarp the dumptruck and while hanging on to the edge of the bed grabbing the tie-downs had rubbed the under side of my arm along the contaminated surface of the truck..well DUH, felt pretty foolish as I knew what was loaded in the truck...was full of brush and weeds and you guessed it...Virginia Creeper...the one thing I'm severely allergic to.
Around here, what attracts the butterflies definitely brings the hummers...they seem to adore the Mexican Petunias (invasive things here), the Aloe when its blooming, Four o'clocks, any Hibiscus and the Fire bushes...of course, the Cannas and Lillies aren't blooming as yet, so they will be around them as well. I am amazed at the way they seem drawn to the Bottle brush tree also...and lately the hummers are all over the White Shell Ginger. |
| Stormdancer Posted on Thursday, June 26, 2008 - 12:09 pm: | |
LOL...girl...you are a MUCH better person than I...she would have already had her "trash" tossed back in her yard with me ranting at the top of my lungs about keeping her trash in her own yard...and as for the plant...OMG...the urge to march over and sweetly inquire where she picked up such a nice plant, that incidentally, looks quite a bit like the one that JUST went missing from my step while I was gone...well, that would not have been a good thing I can tell you...I most probably would have been heard throughout the neighborhood ranting about the thieving yahoos that had better "pray" I never find them. Things of that nature make my blood boil and I know its just a potted plant, but it is principle...its yours, bought and paid for or grown for YOUR enjoyment, not some thieving yahoo. |
| Flowerfreak Posted on Thursday, June 26, 2008 - 01:31 pm: | |
LOL. I have never thrown or given away a live plant ever. I'll probably just move it again & not give it away.
I would never have thought of getting it from that either!
thanks for this info. I guess now would be a good time to kick myself in the butt for not planting four o'clock seeds I was given. My cutting bed would be a good place for them--I never thought of that until now. I think my hibiscus might actually bloom this year since it is getting sun now that I've taken the tree down...we'll see
LOL, I just went home for lunch & kicked the paper ads back in her yard. It just seems so childish, but I am already tired of picking everyone's garbage out of my lawn & flower beds. It is everyday & it is not just the one neighbor.
she works a different work shift & I hardly ever see the lady (thank goodness)
LOL again! I was working in the yard after I discovered it missing. My sister drove by and I raised my voice pretty good, telling her "I am sick & tired of my neighbors STEALING things from me, etc., etc." Yes, my sister was embarrassed, but I didn't really care. I have to control my temper. I keep biting my tongue, but I am ready to explode & when that happens, I will be heard for miles because I have a TON of built up anger towards a few people on my street. I keep to myself, why can't they just mind their own business & keep to themselves?!
Exactly. |
There, now that's more like it. Now I don't need to take time out from gardening to go look for a straight-jacket in your size. LOL!
That is hilarious! (BTW, isn't that what sisters are for... embarrassing? LOL!) |
