| Posted on Friday, February 17, 2006 - 07:44 pm: |   |
We've had beautiful sunny but cold weather, and a surprise visit from our youngest and little apo!! So much fun!! He's growing, of course, but we are always so surprised at how quickly. Here is yesterday's photo...
It's been a really good day with lots of good news and good feelings, and it is so welcome!!
I'm afraid we're in for a little snow when this cold front moves on, because that's usually what happens. We've had it pretty good so far this winter.
And we have a few more days of sunshine. I will enjoy them! |
| Posted on Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 07:25 am: | |
We have snow in our forecast, but it's not that unusual to have some snow on our daffodils. Of course, the daffs are not blooming here yet, but getting close. Everything is greening up. My seed orders are coming in and some of the gardens are in the planning stage.
Wayne trimmed the wisteria. Oh my! But we're painting the arbor this year so the boards had to be exposed. No doubt we will have to do the same with the Trumpet vine.
I'm still looking for a boost of energy to get into the gardening. My heart is in it, but body is not!
And I have plants coming by mail as well, so the garden is going to look quite different in a few places this year. We've reached the stage where some things are just too big and need to come out. (We've been here a long, long time.)
We had a few birds come back to the feeders today. I don't know what happened, for sure, but all the little birds just disappeared. I think it might have something to do with the kestrel hanging around, and I just haven't been able to get a good photo of .. well, I think it's a female.
Couldn't sleep tonight. Too much on my mind. But I'm ready to put my head down now.
I heard a doctor speaking on television about insomnia and some of the testing that's been done to find ways of helping people sleep. He said there are a lot of people who think they have sleeping problems, but, in fact, all they have done is failed to go to bed. Hmm...
On that note, I will go to bed.
G'night all! |
| Posted on Thursday, February 23, 2006 - 07:28 am: | |
Soleil is adorable Diane..He has changed so much!I wonder if C has a Jolly Jumper?
If you have any great tips re insomnia let me know:)
Have a nice day:) |
| Posted on Sunday, February 26, 2006 - 01:31 pm: | |
We thought we would be busy shoveling snow today. Yesterday some very dry snow started coming down, and it snowed right through the night. This morning the temperature rose, and we end up with quite wet snow coming down. It's a pain to move, and it weighs everything down so much.
However, our neighbour had his snow blower all ready to go and once he finished his driveways, he showed up in ours!!
Most of our neighbours are like this and we pretty much all work together. We live just outside city limits and on two 'dead-end' roads. Most of us have been here for 20+ years.
Well, the daffodils are just about to open, and I have crocus blooms even in the lawn. This, however, is not unusual, having snow on top of them.
We're off to an Austrian diner tonight and hope that our guests will manage to make it through the snow (they live at the lake where they have a much greater snowfall).
It's a nice change to see all the ground covered. Even through the night it seemed so light out with all the white.
There will be no clothes drying on the clothes line today!! |
| Posted on Thursday, March 02, 2006 - 02:22 am: | |
My goodness, February is gone. The 'boys' turned 6 yesterday/today. They were born on February 29th, 2000.
'Kuna, the marmalade Persian, went to our daughter's for a little while, but her cat did not care for the 'invasion', so he came to live with his brother, Solomen.
'Kuna adores Wayne. Loves his voice, his hands when he rubs 'Kuna's jowls, and especially likes it when Wayne has bare feet and he can rub those toes with his face. He won't sit on Wayne, but cuddles on my lap, and then turns himself inside out when Wayne gives him attention. He 'talks' to Wayne all the time.
Solomen loves to sit on me, by my elbow ... wherever he can be close to me. He is also the most intelligent cat we have ever had.
These two and their older sister, Nibbs, are trained kind of like dogs, much to the neighbour's delight! They come when they're called and understand a lot of commands. (They also require a lot of grooming, but we started them very early and they love to be combed.)
This time of year it's almost a full-time job to keep up, and we have to groom the old farm cat, Purrt, as well. For that we should get danger pay!!
However, it's almost time to carry on with gardening. Yesterday I raked leaves in the back yard and now wish I'd taken my clippers out and cut some things back. Will have to put on my white hat and direct Wayne. The sedum actually looks very attractive now, but the new shoots are starting to come up!
Spring will be here soon!
By the way, the 'boys', as we call them, usually play nice, but once in a while we get to see the 'brotherly love'!
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| Posted on Tuesday, March 07, 2006 - 04:01 am: | |
It was a good day, Monday, March 6! Lots of positives!
And Marlene's seeds have sprouted!
I walked up the driveway for the paper tonight, late, and was amazed at how warm it is. And when I went to the computer, I noticed the motion sensor had been turned on, so I checked to see what turned the light on. It was a beautiful doe and her two fawns, grazing just outside the window. (I just hope they stick to munching grass and not any little sprouts in my flower garden!) |
| Posted on Friday, March 10, 2006 - 03:15 am: | |
I woke up to snow on the ground this morning. It was beautiful outside. By noon, the snow was gone. By late afternoon it was warm enough to let the cats out, and they were very grateful. I was thinking of gardenbuddies when I went to get the paper from the top of the driveway because there were my daffodils, blooming in the snow!
I had a nice look around in one of our local nurseries today, but only purchased two primulas and one package of seeds (Love in a Mist).
I'm really enjoying a bouquet of roses from good friends. Solomen thought he'd have a sniff too!
Solomen has an enzyme problem with his small intestine and has been 'under the weather'. I'm hoping he improves soon. We have to keep him on a very strict diet. There's always something going on! |
| Posted on Friday, March 17, 2006 - 03:09 am: | |
I managed to get a little bit of weeding done in the garden and am delighted to see my Pasque flowers. I think I am in love with the soft texture of the leaves almost more than the blooms. And the Hellebore by the woodshed is in bloom, and the flowers are huge! (no picture at this time ...)
We've had some very nice weather as well as some rather wicked stuff. And somebody accidentally cut through the fiber optic cable for our internet access, so we were in the 'dark' as far as figuring out what had gone wrong with the computer until we phoned the company. I'm guessing it was an expensive 'oops' for somebody. However, we are up and running again, and I have learned a valuable lesson about having copies of my photos, especially the photos of family.
Val sent us photos of her and Conrado and baby Soleil on Conrado's birthday. They went to Beacon Hill Park in Victoria and spent some time with the goats and kids and peacocks, and ducks, seagulls. They had a wonderful day. And Soleil talked to them all!
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| Posted on Saturday, March 25, 2006 - 10:48 pm: | |
We've been away for a little bit, and it was nice to see so many blooms. In Victoria, less than a three hour drive from here, the climate is just a little warmer so their Spring is more advanced. I was delighted to see so many beautiful flowers. Even their fruit trees are beginning to bloom. And I had a little walk around a nursery, one of my favorites. Val was carrying Soleil so we didn't stay too long, or wander too far. I did come home with this Ivory Prince Hellebore, though.
And today was so mild. I should have taken advantage of the warm temperature and worked outside for a while, but I sat with the neighbours in the sunshine and chatted instead. We enjoyed the smell of freshly cut grass and the promise of color in our gardens soon.
We actually drove through snow coming home last night but I'm hoping our next trip out of town will have no rain, no snow, no hail ... a nice dry highway would be wonderful!
Soon I'll be regretting not getting inside work finished because I'll be so busy outside. Seems to be how it goes! |
| Posted on Thursday, March 30, 2006 - 03:16 am: | |
A bird woke me up this morning. Don't know what it was, but it made the most annoying sound, over and over!
Wayne spotted woodpeckers back at the hydro pole. It is so weakened by birds nests inside the pole and I worry that Hydro will come and take it down at the 'wrong' time of the year.
While driving in town today I noticed so many daffodils in bloom and came home thinking mine would be in bloom too, but, no, not yet. Almost! I see growth everywhere, and am now thinking the Trumpet Vine in the front should come out and I'll replace it with a clematis. It is beautiful but such a pain to keep under control. And when the Trumpet Vine is blooming there are bees and ants everywhere (keeping the birds away) and then the blooms fall off onto the sidewalk and I'm sweeping twice a day. Besides that, it is a very strong vine and tends to move the trellis so I have to keep clipping. The birds love it ... but they can sit on the trellis.
Lots to do! Wish I could just wiggle my nose for some of it! I'm loving the sunshine right now, but my skin is protesting. I'm having to continually put sunscreen on, and think this is just the way things will be from now on.
Do I sound negative? My neck is sore ... I'm sitting in the computer room with the window open and I can hear a deer chewing on something. Life in the country!
My Trilliums are blooming too! Will post a photo tomorrow. We have a little grove we drive through when we go to town and back and I look every year from the Trilliums on the forest floor. I know it's Spring when I see the Skunk Cabbages..but haven't spotted the Trilliums there yet. Boni doesn't have blooms on hers yet either. Isn't it funny how things bloom? Some years my Christmastime rhodo and Jackmani clematis bloomed at the same time, and other years the rhodo would be almost finished when the clematis started. |
| Posted on Saturday, April 01, 2006 - 06:33 am: | |
Can't sleep. Nights without sleep are soooo long, so I thought I'd come browse around, listening to iTunes to help relax my mind. I can hear the rain, again, but at least there are no deer munching.
I had a good look at some of the plants I've got to put in the garden. There's a new peony and I want to make sure it goes where it's meant to stay.
So much to do. Plants to move, take out, new ones to put in and painting. No, I'm relaxing here ...
These are blooming now ...
I love the Pasques, the colors and the softness of the plant ..
And these are from Mom's. When I resized the photo and saved it for the web I realized there is a little drop of water in the photo. Perhaps it's a tear drop ...
I'm typing away and keep screwing up the play list for iTunes, so I'm going to stop, and maybe sleep. |
| Posted on Wednesday, April 05, 2006 - 02:05 am: | |
I actually worked outside today! We cut back the Trumpet Vine, but I haven't decided for sure if it's coming right down. We have to paint the top of the arbor this year ... this Spring, so it had to be cut back to the bottom of the arbor. We did the same to the wisteria arbor at the bottom of the garden.
And the vegetable garden will be different this year. Not only will it be smaller, but I'm eliminating some of the vegetables I usually grow. Time for change.
Anyway, I'm feeling better these days, and it's nice to go to bed tired from physical labour, rather than mental fatigue.
A friend of mine died on Saturday. We were neighbours for years. Pat had five children of her own, adopted one, and then became a foster mom. She was one of the most practical people I've ever known, and she was funny even when she didn't mean to be. I loved the way she would 'tsk' when she was frowning about something, and she would say things like, 'Can you just feature it!' I enjoyed the whole family so much I (with their permission, of course) used them as characters in a novel, written a few years ago now.
Had coffee with Bonitoad today and was envious of all the work she has done in her garden. She was saying that her trilliums didn't bloom this year. I don't know why not.
We have a few large jobs to do in the garden, and I guess we need to just roll up our sleeves and get on with it. Wayne cut down the large rhodo in the back, but we need to dig the roots out so I can replant. That sort of thing ...
Well, I've soaked my muscles in a nice warm bath and am heading off to bed with my latest book. I'm still trying to adjust to the time change!! |
| Posted on Sunday, April 09, 2006 - 06:40 am: | |
I think my plans for the backyard are working out well. I'm hoping that the yard will be easier to maintain once we're set up. Today Wayne continued to work on the rhodo. What a job! It must have been 25 years old, at least, and was just too large now. The smoke bush was the same. That actually belonged to our daughter, Sandy, and it so liked where it grew that it was also difficult to keep in check. So, this is the area in the back yard, as it was last June. That huge bush by the left of the deck is the rhodo crowding out the steps, and to the left of that is the smoke bush, at about 15 feet tall and both were attempting to crowd out each other.
I know the quality of the photo is not that good ... and these two are gone now, the smoke bush..
and the rhodo ... this was a tough call ...
And I don't think I'll replace the rhodo.
We're also decreasing the size of the vegetable garden and putting the rest into lawn, so Wayne can just buzz around on his lawn tractor. This part of the lawn is on the north side of the shop and it's a constant battle to keep the buttercups under control.
I'm thinking my Sharifa Asma rose may go too. It's most unlike me to get rid of any plants from the yard, but there comes a time when it's necessary to 'down size' and make things more practical. Even the new garden is seeing some serious changes once I get to it.
Change ... comes a time for everything. |
| Posted on Monday, April 17, 2006 - 05:10 pm: | |
We've had the oddest weather. On April 14th it snowed. Val and baby came for a visit and drove through snow heading back to Victoria on the 16th. It is cold out. Actually, a lot of skiers are using this late snowfall for their last trip of the season to Mount Washington ski slopes.
I was going to go out to the garden and plant a few things, but the dark clouds look pretty ominous. Even the cats keep running back into the house!
So, I ended up carrying on with cleaning the 'castle' and cleaning out closets. If I'm not planning to use the stuff I've squirrelled away, then I'll give it away. It's just that I seem to end up with more of a mess before it gets better! Oh well, must be done.
However, my mind is on the leaves under the chestnut tree that need to be raked out, and the hosta divided by the woodshed, and the day lilies from the back of the shop, and the top soil we need to add to the top part of the vegetable garden so we can turn it into lawn (we're trying to make the yard a little easier to keep up). And some things need to be tied again ... and then there's the painting to do out there .. oh my!
I so enjoyed Val's visit with little Soleil. Last night I was still hearing little noises, and I'd catch myself thinking he was waking up from his nap - when, in fact, it was Solomen sleeping in the laundry basket. Soleil wasn't here for long, but we sure miss him.
Everything is budding now and it's so nice. I think I need to avoid the peiris at the moment, though. They have a strong scent and seem to be causing some problems with my sinuses. Reminds me of my sister, Boni. She had a plant shop for a while and one of her worst allergies is mold. She has to be so careful with blooms as well, because of the pollens. But gardening is definitely her passion.
Well, it's becoming quite dark outside. I can almost feel the change in the air. No doubt we are in for a down pour and any cats still outside will come charging in!
I'm looking forward to warmer, sunny days, pulling weeds, raking... that smell of freshly mowed grass! Yes, life is good! |
| Posted on Tuesday, April 25, 2006 - 12:09 am: | |
Well, it was a very warm day! Our thermometer read 25ºC (that's 77ºF), so we were really feeling it. We've had three days now where the temperatures are climbing, and now we need to turn the sprinkler system on. I'm loving drying the clothes on the line. Smells wonderful.
Wayne managed to get all the lawns cut in one day, on his lawn tractor, and the air smells so sweet!
I'm ready to go pick up the paint and get started on all the exterior work that needs to be done (if I can just find the energy!!) We're changing the color and making it all much more practical. We have steel siding on our house, and this year the whole thing is being painted one color. The trim on the house and the fence is a bit darker. The top of both arbors will be darker yet (all sortofMartha green). And the trellis at the front, the bench and planter are Victorian red. Should be nice, calm, clean looking.
I've been enjoying a flock of Yellow-crowned Sparrows that are dining at our feeder. What smart birds! We've have so many months of just the little birds so these ones seem quite large. And the robins are huge!
It's after 9 p.m. and I have the patio door open still (the screen is closed) and it just feels so much like summer. Amazing.
Must get back to the pool tomorrow. I met my girlfriend for lunch today and we had a wonderful time lamenting our age!
She's just off for a few days with a group of her girl friends at the place on Saltspring Island. I'd love to go there this summer. Many of our provinces better known artists live there. One that I am most fond of, Carol Evans, has her studio there. Her paintings are so real you can almost smell the salt water!
Time to call it a day! |
| Posted on Friday, April 28, 2006 - 03:54 am: | |
Went down Island yesterday and took the rototiller to our son's. This year his vegetable garden is being enlarged, while ours will be downsized considerably. His family is growing, and our garden was just too much to us last year.
Anyway, I had such an interesting ride, spotting all the wild flowers in bloom. I'm hoping to get a photo of the flower on the arbutus trees. Had planned to last year and then just never stopped anywhere. And I'm a little concerned about the arbutus trees I see between here and Nanaimo. Many of then look like they're dying.
We met up with Barry and Anna Lee, had a look at the 5th wheel they are setting up on the property and then went for dinner at the Crow and Gate Pub. What an amazing place to eat, and to visit. We sat in a large room, with a fire burning in the huge fireplace, next to a window that was very low, huge. Outside was a rhodo, not in bloom, but perfect for all the birds that come to the feeder attached to the outside of the window. It was so peaceful, and the food was excellent! This is the place where they have the black swans in the pond, and the gardens are immaculate. Loved it!
After that we went to tour the new firehall where our son is Lieutenant. It is so much better than the previous building.
And today part of my nursery order arrived, so I have more 'chargees' to look after, until all danger of frost is gone. We are expecting the weather to improve considerably and will be back to warm temperatures very soon. Meanwhile, I'll put these in planters so I can bring them in at night.
Had coffee with Boni today and we talked about plants. She is gearing up for her annual plant sale (and was just tickled with the gallon pots our son gave her!!). I realized I still have Begonia bulbs coming and haven't checked on the ones I kept over the winter. Every year I have to search to find them because they are never where I think they'll be (yes, I'm the one that puts them away in a cool dark place for the winter). I've looked for them already but, once again, they are being elusive.
Well, time for bed... oh my, didn't realize how late it is! Must go swimming tomorrow. I tend to opt out if there's something else going on, and it's one of those things that is so, so good for both Wayne and me.
G'night all. |
| Posted on Saturday, April 29, 2006 - 02:06 am: | |
It feels like an 'uphill' battle with the garden today. Everything is growing so fast, particularly the weeds. But we made progress today. For some reason the back garden is so much easier to keep up. I don't know what it is. The front garden faces south so it's warmer, but just not as much fun as the back.
I potted my new plants today also, and now must keep an eye on the night time temperatures.
Am feeling so sorry for 'Kuna today, poor little guy. He is having a bit of trouble with Nibbs right now. He's frightened to come in at supper time because he knows she's lurking, just waiting to pounce. Most of the day she's fine, but I have to go pick him up and carry his shaking little body into the house so he can eat. Then he developed a weepy eye. I don't know if he scratched it or 'someone' caught him with a claw. Anyhow, I treated that. Then he was in such trouble with Wayne, who 'Kuna just adores, because he was caught jumping down from the counter. The box that the plants came in had a smell that attracted all the cats, but 'Kuna was the only one who decided to jump on the counter and check it out. Well, he was a little upset after that.
Then today, while I was working outside, I noticed that he has a sun burn on his ears. Good grief ....
Tonight we added insult to injury and gave everyone a flea treatment.
This is 'Kuna, the Marmalade persian ...
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| Posted on Wednesday, May 03, 2006 - 07:23 am: | |
Well, 'Kuna is now not well. Poor little guy. He seemed to have a little more energy last night but he's still not right. Will see how he is today and perhaps take him to the vet's. Solomen was actually sick, too, but he's fine now. I don't know what they got into, but think it was something their sensitive tummies must now avoid.
We've almost finished with the front flower gardens, but Wayne worked on bringing in top soil for the top of the vegetable garden. There's always been a distinct dip where the garden meets the lawn, and the garden space is being almost halved, so the dip had to be filled in. I only contributed spreading some manure around and raking a bit today. It was a high pain/low energy day.
And it's very cold again tonight so I brought the planters in. Not unusual.
Received another part of my nursery order today. I can only say it must have been the drugs when I had my surgeries, and that's when I placed the order, but I ended up with 17 lilies. Very unlike me to order that many. And to not remember. However, on the other hand, I am delighted with what I now have. I even wrote out the tags already because I don't want to confuse them when they're planted.
And there's more order to come. Oh my ... So far I'm really, really pleased with my choices.
Well, must try to get a little more sleep. We're meeting friends for lunch and I need to be alert. Just wish I could take a magic potion and feel better... |
| Posted on Friday, May 12, 2006 - 05:20 am: | |
I still haven't found my begonias, and they've probably sprouted. Tomorrow I'll check the top shelf of the back bedroom. After that, I'm out of ideas. The worst part is that I do this every year!! I put them in a 'safe' place and tell people around me where they are. My technique is not working ...
My niece, Stacey, has come to help with the garden work. She is so thorough and so much fun to be around. Wayne and I have done most of the large jobs, but everything needed to be gone through again, then fertilized and mulched. Stacey has edged as well, and it looks wonderful.
We've made some big changes in the back yard. Even the new garden is quite different. I want to save my azalea and one rose bush in the top of the vegetable garden space, but the rest is now lawn. There's one more clematis to move to the back of the shed. I think it will be much happier there.
And I've been working in the house too, moving bedrooms around. It was difficult to get started because it's such a big job, but I'm getting there. Even with what I've accomplished so far, there is still walls to dry wall, a ceiling to replace and wood floors to lay. I've wanted this for a long time, and Wayne and I both would like to have the changes made to the house so we're both comfortable. I'd like to reach a point where I have a place for everything (pretty much), inside and out (like a place for the things we recycle, soil, peat moss, the smokers, the bike, etc.) and everything will be functional and tidy. It means some more building and painting, but it will only have to be done once.
And then there's the painting. I think that will go on all summer too, but the top of the arbors have to be done first. We cut back the wisteria and trumpet vine. Once they start growing again we won't be able to cut them back fast enough, so that creates it's own priority.
Meanwhile life goes on. My girlfriend's husband had a heart attack last week, the day after we all met for lunch and they talked about their future plans. He has some blockages that are 95%, so he's home for only a few days now, waiting for meds to do their job, and he goes back to the hospital for four or five by-pass surgeries. The two of them are on our minds all the time, and we are so looking forward to him recuperating and carrying on with the plans they've made!
Tomorrow we will have a visit with our youngest, her husband and baby Soleil. He's growing so fast now. Says 'Yes', can push a button on the phone and put his Poppa on 'hold' and yesterday he used baby sign language to ask for milk. Wonderful!
Must go get some sleep. Lots to do tomorrow. And Boni is giving me some double hellebores! Delighted! |
| Posted on Monday, May 15, 2006 - 02:01 am: | |
What a fun weekend! We had such a good time with Soleil and his mom and poppa!! While we enjoyed the baby, his parents moved 'stuff' out of the back rooms and took out the wall separating two bedrooms!! Now it is one large room, and so much nicer. With only the two of us here, we don't need the two bedrooms and have put a new bed in the room already. It will be so much nicer. Still have to renovate the walls, ceiling and floor, but this is a good start!
And, good news, I found my begonias!! And they have started to sprout so I must get them planted tomorrow. We are expecting some really warm temperatures so I'll put the planters somewhere that they can be watered by the sprinkler system.
Am bushed and heading off for my bath.
Here's a photo of Soleil in the wagon that Lolo Wayne pulled around the yard. Soleil loved it!
He loves the outdoors! And he loves his sunglasses! He's a cool dude! |
