| Posted on Friday, August 29, 2003 - 05:53 pm: |   |
Aug. 28/03
I didn't garden today. I went as far as the deck to watch the water bombers fly over again today. I'm waiting for them to return. (Fire on the lower Mainland today)
But I had a look at my 'black' glads. They're a lovely shade of pink! I made a note, too, that the rhodos and azaleas need fertilizing and mulching.
I'm loving the starry sky at night, but our bear is back. He tried to get through the fence again last night so I stay on the deck. He's a little too friendly and I wouldn't want him joining me on the lawn! |
| Posted on Saturday, August 30, 2003 - 10:18 pm: | |
Aug. 30/03
My week...I even had the date wrong yesterday. I woke up and wondered what day of the week it was. I really must figure out how to sleep...
I took photos today, copied them to the computer and promptly lost them. I had actually saved them to the camera..and now I need to sort.
The water bombers headed back out today and came back tonight. I thought one was 'limping' back last night because it was flying so low. They actually were doing a 'fly by' for the opening of the Salmon Festival. One of them usually drops a load of water for the spectators (6,000 gallons of water per drop!).
We're having a quiet weekend, but next weekend will be very busy. Had calls from DH and our DD, the new bride, coming with SIL for our Fall Fair weekend. Should be fun! |
| Posted on Monday, September 01, 2003 - 04:00 am: | |
Aug.31/03
Can't figure out how to attach the photo of Bonitoad's painted tiles on her back porch. It's just amazing what she and her friend, Steve, were able to do with paint! And now she plans to do the front steps too. And she transforms rocks into beautiful painted cottages, so detailed.
Must work on my latest photos later. The squash area is huge but everything around it is so dry. It looks like an oasis!
Had salmon supper from the Festival. DH bought a BBQ fillet for the company next weekend. It's cooked over an open grill and slathered with a special sauce made by a popular local fellow, who never gives out the recipe. Yum yum! |
| Posted on Wednesday, September 03, 2003 - 10:32 am: | |
Sept. 3/03
Have had busy days with cleaning out the chicken coop (that time of year. We get our wood shavings from the cabinet-making company across the road. They package it all in huge plastic bags so it's really easy for us to use. Done this for years.) Then I have to cope with the nose and chest problems for a bit. However, the hens are happy.
DH had a little problem with putting everything in the compost boxes. |
| Posted on Sunday, September 07, 2003 - 12:30 am: | |
Sept. 6/03
I've had three busy days, but the news is exciting. It's raining!!!! Of course it started coming down just as I left with family for the annual Fall Fair. It didn't dampen the spirits of anyone and I heard so many people at the fair commenting that they hoped Kelowna was getting some of this rain too. I checked Canada.com when I got home but the news hasn't been updated.
It was such fun having two of my kids here and their spouses, and the three girls! I learn something new every time I see them! It's fascinating to watch them grow.
Absolutely bushed... |
| Posted on Monday, September 08, 2003 - 11:11 pm: | |
Sept. 8/03
The weather has certainly cooled down and this system has finally reached Kelowna and other parts of the Interior. It's a welcome bit of relief. I don't remember the number of firefighters we have working in the province but the army and navy personnel are there now as well. Friends have sent us photos.
However, here we are finally a little more seasonal and I can see it in the garden. The sedum is turning quite pink, the Virginia Creeper is redder every day and the crows and Steller's Jays have moved into the neighbourhood (noisy feathered buddies) to munch on the hazelnuts and walnuts in the trees across the road. They pick them off and then fly up in the air. When they fall, they are supposed to break open, but sometimes they wait for a vehicle to run over the nut and some quick bird scoops it up. They don't, however, care for the cats being around and often chatter loudly for them to move on.
I've cut back the smoke bush, braided the onions, picked several red tomatoes (yum!) and generally tided up the front garden. I have enjoyed the yellow trumpet vine but had no idea it would produce so many blossoms this year and that they would fall off several times through the day. The vine also attracted insects and bees, and they do not particularly get along! Of course the birds stayed away because of the bees so I'm hoping that as soon as all the blooms are gone things will get back to normal. We had hummingbirds looking forward to the trumpet flowers this year, but they disappeared too.
Today was my first day back to the swimming pool since last June. It's being renovated still but it felt so good to be back and meeting up with the rest of the regulars. This year I'll join the exercise program and just do laps when my back will let me.
Another sign of Fall are the crane flies. The cats are going nuts trying to catch them, and the grasshoppers. I'm amazed at the incompatibility of nature once again. The bees also attack the crane flies, disposing of their legs and carrying off the bodies.
DH mowed the lawn and the field today and reported that we have six snakes living here now (that he can see). He makes a point of avoiding them, sometimes relocating them to a safer place.
Our neighbours south of us are camping for the week and our two males cats seem to be aware that the dog is gone. Several times today I caught them crossing the road. They have over 5 acres of land on this side to hunt and play in, not to mention the 'littler boxes', but they want to cross the road.
I drew a diagram of the gardens last night and started a plan on what needs to be moved, eliminated (gives me shivers just to think that) and what needs to be built. And I'm off to Nanaimo tomorrow, shopping. Will check out a few nurseries and see what they have for Spring bulbs. Can hardly believe it's that time already! |
| Posted on Friday, September 12, 2003 - 10:51 am: | |
Sept. 12/03
I spent yesterday pickling beets. And harvested a few more vegetables from the garden as I was picking the beets. The plan was to be finished by 5 p.m.
However, company came and she wanted to see the garden. Once I got started again, our little marmalade Persian came into the house foaming at the mouth. I thought it was funny at first. (What on earth would he have put in his mouth?)
Three hours later I had him at the vets. He was soaked from drooling and looking rather
sad, I brought home a shot to give him if he started to really foam again. Still don't know what he got into. I phoned the neighbours to see if they had sprayed with anything (not that he usually goes out of the yard), and there's nothing here they can get into.
Then, when all was done, I sat down at the computer.....and our server was down. Didn't start up again until this morning. |
| Posted on Saturday, September 13, 2003 - 11:26 pm: | |
Sept. 13/03
'Kuna is fine now, although perhaps a little more 'needy' than before. He doesn't handle upsets very well. But he recovered on his own, without a shot, so that's good. (That would have been another upset, no doubt.)
I had to make a quick trip to Nanaimo today and DH and I stopped at the Coombs Market for lunch on the way home. I'm actually from Coombs and went to school with one of the owners of the Market (famous for the goats on the roof). Our school picture is still on the wall in the dining area.
Ran out tonight and turned off the sprinklers because it was raining!!!! Wonderful!
I labelled the pickled beet jars and put them away. Glad to have that done!
Tomatoes are ripening so quickly, too!
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| Posted on Wednesday, September 17, 2003 - 12:18 am: | |
Sept. 16/03
We 'harvested' the veggie garden today and Wayne managed to turn the soil over before the rain came. He was caught on the lawn tractor in the downpour...said he was 'a little damp' (he was soaked to the skin!). I don''t usually take so much out of the garden so early here on the coast, but it was more convenient to do it this year.
Wayne's off to the farm up north. The forecast is for -2º there tonight. Flurries in Prince George...oh my.
Purrt has hurt her right shoulder, or it's arthritis. I'll keep her in the house during the night now. She's under my bed, which is a little unusual. But she's 16 years old, and a hard-working farm cat. Still eating and drinking well, enjoying life.
Things are just about to get very busy for me, starting Friday. But tonight I'm just completely bushed. Am hoping Kaveh has a good trip and sees a lot of interesting things on his way home.
Off to bed... |
| Posted on Thursday, September 18, 2003 - 11:31 pm: | |
Sept. 18/03
Busy days coming up. It's going to be a very different Autumn for me, starting tomorrow.
Today we worked on the drains around the house and started up the wood stove because it was so chilly. No wonder the sedum is darkening up so fast!
I have to make a decision about the buddlia (sp) (blue) and the rhodo (Vulcan)...which one goes. I don't know if I can move either safely..so it's going to be a tough decision.
Wayne's heading off to where the leaves have changed color already. I'm hoping he'll take a nice photo of a diamond willow for me.
Goodnight all.. |
| Posted on Thursday, September 25, 2003 - 09:27 pm: | |
Sept. 25/03
Well, I'm back, but not in very good shape. I wish we had running water at the barn for the chickens. Will have to ask our neighbour to take water out for me.
I was shocked to see that the deer have taken bites out of the tomatoes. I usually see munch marks on the swiss chard...but never tomatoes. They've enjoyed some of the hostas as well.
We're still needing rain. The weather is absolutely gorgeous. And some of the trees are changing color. (I'm looking forward to seeing the Fall colors in Eastern Canada and the U.S. next Sept.! I've wanted to do that for years.)
Tuckered out for tonight. Must do some 'catching up' tomorrow. |
| Posted on Sunday, September 28, 2003 - 09:00 pm: | |
Sept. 28/03
All the leaves are off my Virginia Creeper, but the ivy on the deck hasn't even begun to change color yet. It's never the same each year. Some years my Christmastime rhodo and jackmani clematis are blooming at the same time, and other years not.
I had a nice visit at Bonitoad's, took some photos...and promptly forgot the names of some of the flowers. Her garden has some very tranquil areas.
Must get my spring bulbs planted. No tulips for me...the deer just love them. They'll come right up to the door, but they leave everything else alone (at least in my yard). I think they target different things in the neighbourhood. |
| Posted on Wednesday, October 01, 2003 - 12:30 am: | |
October already! Today was busy, but I didn't do one thing at my house that I wanted to get done. It was the sort of day that just takes over and you go along for the ride. When I finally sat down in the evening, Sol (the cat) plunked himself on me and refused to move. He was determined to get some quality time.
And so he did. Tomorrow...is another day! We're still breaking records for high temperatures here in the valley. Today it was 24º. Yesterday we went to Nanaimo and saw the Cops for Cancer bikers. What a wonderful thing they have done, riding their bikes from one end of the Island to the other, raising money for cancer research. And they found it to be very emotional too.
I have one more batch of Coho to smoke in the smoker, and that's it for the season. It's been a wonderful summer for fishing.
My heart goes out to those in the Eastern part of Canada that took such a beating from Hurricane Hugo. |
| Posted on Sunday, October 05, 2003 - 02:04 am: | |
And then we went to Victoria, a last minute idea, to pick up a portable garage for the boat. We had a great trip down and I stocked up on Spring bulbs. Will write down the names later. Had a great lunch at the "Shoe" Pub where my oldest daughter is manager, dinner with the newly-weds and then headed home. We immediately got lost in the heavy fog. It was a strain to stay on the road. Anyway, we made it home and all is well. It's just that time of year and we're so spoiled with all the beautiful weather we've had.
I planted some of the bulbs today. We managed to get in a lot of Fall clean-up, putting outdoor furniture away, etc. But I love this time of year...a time for rest, an earthy time. I love the harvest moon, and the steady heat from a wood stove warming the house at night. |
| Posted on Sunday, October 05, 2003 - 05:46 pm: | |
I feel so much better about the garden! Managed to get the rhodos and azaleas fertilized and mulched with peat moss. And I planted the bulbs I bought at Capital Iron. I broke down and planted tulips again (the deer love them) so I'll have to cage them so they have a chance to bloom. I put in Viridiflora (apricot ) with Queen of Night. Should be very striking. Also planted Spring Time (dwarf iris...a beautiful blue) and Tuberosa. There's a Hyacinths bed and two different kinds of anemones: Lord Lieutenant (deep blue) and De Caen Blue Poppy (also deep blue). I treated myself to a Papillio amaryllis, and hope that grows well indoors for me. It's gorgeous!
We're expecting rain this week, so I've timed it right. Still have more weeding to do, but have most of the trimming done.
Today is the first cool day we've had for a long time. I've enjoyed it. Love Fall...but my body is so sore tonight. Thank goodness I don't have to cook supper tonight!! |
