| Posted on Monday, June 06, 2005 - 11:12 pm: |   |
Well, the bugs have moved into the gardens! When we have cold, wet weather and then it gets hot, the plants are waiting hosts. Tonight it was black aphids on my viburnum. Just noticed them as our youngest was leaving after spending the day with us! Will check it again tomorrow, and perhaps give it another 'treatment'. I still haven't planted the clematis yet either. Must figure that out!
So it was lovely to have help with scraping paint off the deck and dead-heading the rhodos! Much better with good company!
Wayne's talking about making his trip up north, so I'm hoping I can get him to finish off the pressure washing, and then I can start on the outside painting whenever I want! (Do I want to??? I'd rather it was just done!)
And the salmon are running now, so I guess fishing season has started. This year I think I'll can the smoked salmon. (We have a new BBQ with a side burner, so I can do the canning outside. Wonderful!)
Much to do...
Think I'll go soak in the tub.... |
| Posted on Saturday, June 11, 2005 - 12:37 am: | |
Still cool for this time of year, and we had rain again last night.
I had a visit at Bonitoad's this morning. What a garden! She's expanded to the outside of the fence. We all knew that would happen!!
I did take some photos but haven't uploaded them yet. The garden is growing, but slowly at the moment. No doubt I will soon be complaining about the heat and having to water. We adjusted the sprinkler system to come on in the morning, but I'm not sure if early morning or evening is best for watering... When we water in the evening, it tends to cool the air (when we have 37º days...and it's coming), but I hear too that morning watering is better for the roots.
Perhaps I'll ask in another forum and see...
Have been concerned about Mom this week. Can't seem to figure out what to do with that frustration. She has double vision at the moment and has gone from frustration to fear to depression. I'm hoping it's only a side effect from meds and can be fixed. Since her fall a month ago she has had a lot to cope with. So I and my sisters are concerned. Wish we had a cure for aging... |
| Posted on Wednesday, June 15, 2005 - 02:04 am: | |
Such excitement and dread tonight. We had a tsunami warning, with the earthquake off the coast of Northern California. Our experience with a tsunami here convinced us to build a dyking system and put in a warning system. Tonight the sirens were sounding and evacuation notice was in effect. The only one in the family who would be personally affected by the notice is my sister, Boni. When I spoke to her she said she wanted to take her garden with her!! So it was quite a fright, and no doubt a huge relief to everyone to have the alert cancelled. I understand that there was a much smaller earthquake in California wine country, but also three in Alaska today, and, of course, the one in Chile.
But it was a good news day, in other ways. I didn't get clothes on the line because we had such a down pour.
Anyway, a little color for today... sweet little blossom
And this is a problem in my garden. Every year I need to take about 3/4's of all of these hostas away because they grow so well and just take over this area. They are pushing the rhodo out and crowding the delphs, the Solomen's Seal... small problem though...
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| Posted on Friday, June 17, 2005 - 03:32 am: | |
Our son is coming up one day this weekend to help his Dad under the house!! Did I mention that already! I'm so pleased. This retirement project is taking forever, and there is roofing to be done yet this year. I'm thinking that Wayne will be happier on the roof than under the house, even though he did have a bad spill and now has a fear of going up the ladder.
Anyway, I'm looking forward to company for supper! We have our friends from the lake coming as well, so it will be great fun. Perhaps we'll dig out the party crackers!
(With the favors, the hats...)
I'm hoping it's dry enough on the weekend to get into the vegetable garden to do some weeding. I had to replant, and needed to wait for everything to come up high enough to see. The Swiss Chard looks good, and it's the vegetable that I couldn't possible do without!
There have been so many changes in my life, and lots that I've taken in stride, but this last year or two I have found that coping is more difficult. The worse my pain is, and there is no cure for what I have, then the lower my self esteem goes. I don't know how to stop that. I question myself so much...even about the size of my garden and how difficult it is to keep it up. Without Wayne's help I couldn't do it. And I can't work like I used to.
I see my sister so excited about bringing new plants into her garden, even some that are somewhat zonally challenged, and she is zealous about caring for them.
I can't do that because I'm not consistent enough to keep such a close eye on them. Some days I don't make it to the garden, and will push myself to get to the pool for 3/4s of a hour to do gentle exercises, because I feel that's more important. Then I come home, do the laundry, make lunch, sit down... and seize up! Then it's hobble, hobble...
Life becomes such a chore ...
But a walk around, to look at old faithfuls, and new plants that are now blooming, to smell the old, familiar scents... is wonderful. I love the new potatoes, the chard, fresh tomatoes off the vine, and beans picked just before cooking...
And watching the birds, and the wildlife. Petting one of the cats and being rewarded with a song! Gives me a reason to enjoy the day....
I love coming to GBs and seeing what others are excited about, struggling with, living with, coping with.... I know I'm not alone. |
| Posted on Monday, June 20, 2005 - 02:27 am: | |
Weeded the vegetable garden today. I think our sons is putting ours to shame this year. Must be all that good horse manure! But he is looking after his garden better than I have so far. He was up yesterday, helping his Dad work on the foundation.
And we had friends come from dinner. My house is still upside down with all the work we're doing... but there is no sense waiting for it to be all sorted out before enjoying the company of good friends. And the food tastes the same whether we're formal or not. And we're never formal!! But it was such a good evening.
And I enjoyed the time I spent with our youngest grand girl! What an interesting character! She was teaching me French!
Here she is being a little 'reflective'. Don't often see her this way because she is usually very busy or talking.
Wayne went for a bike ride and came home to a phone call from his fishing buddy inviting him to go for a nice long boat ride tomorrow (or fishing, if they happen to catch anything). It's going to be a nice day so I'm sure he will enjoy it. Wayne's fishing buddy is in his early 90's and absolutely amazing.
I'll carry on with painting tomorrow. I think that will be my life this summer. What we did in the kitchen looks wonderful, but now that the weather is improving, I can do some outside. The garden will look so much nicer with the fence all brightened up!
So much to do!!! |
| Posted on Thursday, June 23, 2005 - 08:47 pm: | |
The battle between blooms and bugs continues! Black aphids on my viburnum has been the biggest problem, but now I'm dealing with something eating the hydrangeas and the deer that comes and nibbles on one...only one... rose in my yard. She has to go through quite a bit of the garden to get to it, but I suppose the buds are very tasty!
Our weather turned hot, then we had quite a storm, and now we're back to hot again.
I worked a little on cutting some things back today, some weeding, some dusting... And Wayne worked on the fence. We've had a flurry of activity with roofers coming to give us estimates on replacing the roof (I finally convinced Wayne to hire someone to do that. He's running out of time to get the essential work done this year, and he's heading out for two weeks next month to check on the farm and his folks. My holiday is staying here. Oh my! I will enjoy some time to myself. It's the one thing I miss now that Wayne's retired)
We need to take one trip down Island and do some dropping off and picking up with all three of our children, and I'd like to get that done before long.
Meanwhile, mornings are just as I remember them from my childhood.. with the scents and the sounds. A new day has begun....
It's sort of like when I first wake up in the morning, painfree. It doesn't last long... but it's lovely while it's there! |
| Posted on Thursday, June 30, 2005 - 03:26 am: | |
We've had a time with our internet connection. So far, without stretching the truth a tiny bit, everything has been changed from the computer to the hydro pole across the road. We had the troops at our house today!! It's been an ongoing issue since last September and we have now reached a point where we know the technicians by their first names. We're thinking about getting mugs made up!
However, it's interesting to note how concerned they are with the hydro pole and all the birds' nests. Only the bottom nest is still occupied and the starlings were mighty upset with all the activity at the pole.
So, we're hoping the problem is resolved. If it's not, the plan is now to start replacing the new stuff.
It's been a stressful week anyway.
Mom's eye troubles continue so we are more involved in her care, and it's difficult to see her health decline. It's a worry that she's in a house with so many stairs and she refuses some changes that would be easier for her. She's determined to keep doing things the same way she always has. We see that she is not very steady on her feet, but can't force a walker on her, or have help brought in. We 'play it by ear' and try to only focus on quality of life today.
Wayne is busy with his trustee work, and planning to meet with our real estate agent when he is up north. He's also concerned about his step-dad's failing health.
I guess we're in that age bracket now where our parents are dealing with health issues that are age related.
I took Solomen to the vets yesterday to have him treated for a rodent ulcer. So far 'Kuna is the only one who has had them. But I've been told that these pure breeds are susceptible. The vet treated him a little differently (long-acting antibiotics and hormones) but now he seems to have pain in his shoulder, and there's nothing we can see... or do about it.
And our neighbour died on Tuesday. Well, he used to be our neighbour.. since 1966. He was a kind little man from Holland. He was the 17th child born in the family, the last one, and smaller than the rest. He told us he only got left overs.
He was so good to us, and we missed him (me, especially) when they sold their farm and moved into an apartment in the city. He was 89, and he told Wayne the last time Wayne went to see him in the senior's facility he had then moved into, that he was ready to die. So the service is tomorrow, and I wrote up a little story about those things about John that I will remember most fondly.
Perhaps tomorrow I will put a few of them here. He was a character!!
But I'm bushed. I half weeded the vegetable garden today, so there is more to do, and maybe I'll get that done before the funeral. Then it's off to Mom's for a while to see what we can do to help and make her comfortable.
I am so pleased with how my Swiss chard is reacting to this warmer weather, and drool just at the thought of some steamed chard with a little bit of butter. I could eat it every day!
Night all |
| Posted on Sunday, July 03, 2005 - 03:51 am: | |
We went to our neighbour's funeral and the family sent us home with a beautiful bouquet of flowers. We sat them on the back seat of the car as we left the church, drove across town to my Mom's to check in on her, then home, and I put the flowers on the outside bench.... and have been sick since. I know better...
I really wish I was enjoying the garden and the weather and retirement and family and pets...everything, more. But I'm just stressed. I deal with those things that are immediately within my power to do, and rest... I seem to just fret about.
Wouldn't it be nice if every one would co-operate and work together!!
I know that will never happen with the black aphids and my viburnum, or the slugs and the hostas. Not very funny... but those things I can deal with.
I think it's not so much the mental work that exhausts me... it's the heartache.
I'm off to bed, with an old familiar book and maybe tomorrow ... |
| Posted on Sunday, July 03, 2005 - 08:00 pm: | |
Feeling much better! I spent the afternoon 'playing' in the dirt and now the vegetable garden is weeded. I usually keep it up, but this year has been so different and, with having to reseed, it just got to be too much. However, back on track!! |
| Posted on Sunday, July 03, 2005 - 11:26 pm: | |
Love this photo that our youngest grand girl took of her dad and older sister in their vegetable garden...
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| Posted on Saturday, July 09, 2005 - 12:50 am: | |
It's been a difficult week, dealing with Mom and hospital, doctors and 'the system'. I did get to Victoria for a couple of days, and visit family on the way up and down the Island (our children). Actually, some good things happened this week.
I brought home a plant from our daughter's in Victoria, and was upset with myself for completely forgetting her anniversary. Wayne and our son-in-law built a raised bed beside their back patio.
I was busy with catching up on news today, shopping, seeing Mom... but hope to take the camera out tomorrow when I walk around the gardens. We've had rain so I'm sure the weeds are growing well!
So very tired... |
| Posted on Monday, July 11, 2005 - 11:28 pm: | |
Weeded the new garden. We need to build the soil up because it is, this year anyway, a bit soggy when we get a lot of rain, and this year has been so wet. We have rain again, but are hoping for a stretch of better weather. We still don't have the field behind us hayed... and I can't imagine it's good for much more than bedding now. Tomorrow the roofers come to start on our house and they're bringing tarps. I hope it won't take long. And by the time we finish painting the fence and the house, it will look very different here. Will take a photo!
back... okay, that was fun! Purrt wanted to be in every shot! I went to take a picture of a daylily and she wrapped her tail around the stalk. The stalks are a little sticky, so I had to unwind her tail...
And I fed the birds. They were giving me such a talking to, I checked and saw they had no feed. So we're back on good terms.
But I'm ready to call it a day.
Will see Mom tomorrow afternoon for a few minutes but don't expect any news. I just need to check and make sure she's still there. And so it will go for a while...
Well, now Purrt wants back out. She is incredibly loud so I do as I'm told! |
| Posted on Tuesday, July 19, 2005 - 12:58 pm: | |
Just have a minute to pop in and out. We have grand girls here at the moment and Wayne leaves for Northern B.C. tomorrow so I'll have two little girls for company for two days. Wonderful! I haven't sized photos yet but will post a few later when I have more time.
It's still a tough go with Mom. I expected a call during the night, so we're at that point now. Somehow I think it will be a relief.
Am off to Bonitoad's this morning. My older sister has her grand girl from the Interior of the province with her so we can introduce these girls to her.
And I will see the new patio that Boni's been working on. She sounds delighted with it, and everything she does in her yard looks like it was meant to be there, so I'm kind of excited to see it.
Gotta go...! |
| Posted on Wednesday, July 20, 2005 - 03:31 am: | |
I noticed the weeds in my garden when I went to check the hydrangea tonight. There are blooms, but I still don't know what the color will be. Exciting stuff!
A tough week...
Grand girls are here...just the two youngest. They're great! We were at the lake yesterday and will go again on Thursday, if all works out. Could be they'll be there tomorrow.
Wayne leaves for Northern B.C. tomorrow morning. His step-dad just totalled the truck, out on the farm, herding cattle through tall grass. He forgot about the ditch... Thank goodness he didn't break any part of himself (I think he's 75) but is now looking at another truck. (Wayne rented a car already so he can drive himself.)
Anyway, I'm hoping to feel like spending some time in my garden when I'm on my own, getting lots of sleep, and having an opportunity to put 'everything' into perspective. I'm just feeling stressed...period, and don't want to end up focusing on something minor rather than saving my energy to deal with the real issues.
The roof is done and looks great. If I could just wiggle my nose and paint the house and fence, it would be perfect!
Instead, I will head off to bed, and hope a good night's sleep will result in a more positive attitude, on my part.
And will spend more time later this week on editing photos. That's my plan... |
| Posted on Saturday, July 23, 2005 - 03:33 am: | |
Grand girls have gone back to their dad's. The house is very quiet. They are amazing girls... did I mention that already?
Here's Rebekah, on the boat in the canal..
And Sierra at the lake....
I turned the sprinkler system on tonight because it is so dry. We had a wind come through tonight and it bent some of the branches on the Trumpet vine (Bonitoad's is already blooming!), so they have to be trimmed. And there's black aphids in the garden again. Just an ongoing battle! So, I hope to get some work done in the gardens tomorrow.
I was at my sister's tonight and took a photo of her orchid that's blooming. Wow! Will post it tomorrow. Tonight, I'm bushed. |
