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dbjc364's June 2010 Entries

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Jun 28, 2010 | 3:17 AM PST
Tag: rainny day..
and we need it.But possible severe weather with it.Thunder-hail,and flooding.Hope it just rains good all day.I bought a new pulsating sprinkler head,lov that thing.It shoots a good amount of water in less time than my other sprinklers,and has many adjustments on it.The daughter, I & Jim took a small gardening tool shopping trip after work on the way home, and picked up a gardenhose that will reach her veggie bed now, a hose holder,sprinklers, peony support ring & lawn chairs.Jim, of course went the other way to the lumber & power tool section.It didn't take us long, as we knew what was needed.Jim got the pine shelving up on the wall in the 3rd bay for me,and got 3/4 of one side of the deck done.I looked for a male Holly but didnt find one,so I picked up a "Trumpet Vine".The hummingbirds will lov that one.It grows fast,and lots of it, so I will prune to keep it in check according to how much trellis I have.I'll place it to climb the deck side.I also bought a new hose to reach my beds,& peony support rings.I hit 2 fantastic yard sales over the weekend,a little round bird house to add to my collection,which I'll give a paint job,a nice wooden tray,2 wind chimes,a weed wacker for the daughter,Landons birthday toys,thats coming up soon after the wedding. 2 nice Revereware saucepans thats been on my wish list forever ! and another red enamel saucepan.I had a box & handful full of goodies for under $15.I lov those kinds of yard sales.Just as we were packing up to head to the job- I had a customer stop even though I was closed, and she bought $12.50 of stuff from mine.Even though its a holiday coming up- the weather is suppose to be good,so I plan to open both days.Today the daughter comes over and we tackle scrubbing down the kitchen from top to bottom.Its going to rain all day anyways,so we'll need something to do.Tomorrow we'll go sample cake and pies at the local bakery to put my order in.Now thats a hard job,but somebody has to do it.We decided early on,to go with a small wedding cake and many pies instead.Can't wait for company to get here next week,as its been 4 yrs since I saw my sister.Since she just got engaged,we'll go there in 2 yrs for her wedding,and we'll be ready for a vacation by then!

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Kind of a low key day,

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Jun 26, 2010 | 3:20 AM PST
Tag: a light rain last nite..
but still managed to get something accomplished.jim was off to the big city for a training class for 1/2 the day.I decided to get the balusters stained and ready for him,along with the moulding pieces{dont know what their called},that go on the bottoms of the 4x4 posts.He didn't get home till late afternoon,by then I had the grass mowed,a friend showed up as I was getting ready to cook spegitti,and invited him to supper.Its not often we have company,so that was a pleasant change of dinner atmosphere.Jim lit the outdoor fire,and we had our first of the season!, and sat on the deck after company left till 9:30.Just a couple mosquitos,and he had just tacked up a piece of the lattice, getting it ready to install this afternoon when we get back from a job-if it doesnt rain.From the position of the deck area there's little privacy from the road for a small stretch,as the road grade is slightly higher.The fence does help,but we've always known we'll be planting some type of trees along the fenceline to add to that.So the lattice helped also, giving us an obscuring view,and everyone else coming down the street.We're leaving the sides at 4 ft, and the front at 3 ft.,to see the gardens.As I sit on the deck,to my right is the old pine tree we took down a few years ago because it was dying.As I look out at everything it still blows my mind,that once upon a time-that tree was the single only thing in this back yard.I look out and think holy-moly-we did all that in 6 yrs...We left the stump at 5 ft height,so we could make a gnome house out of it.The top is fairly flat.So my thinking cap is on,as to what we'll do to the top or the whole thing.Of course, coming out around the stump are about 6 huge roots,which makes for mowing very difficult getting between them.I mostly use the wacker.It mostly wears me out,no matter if the grass is tall or not.I want to take the grass down to barely nubs,and smother the circle with a good weed barrier fabric,and add mulch or white rocks.Thats about the only thing I know to do with it to cure that pain in the butt,other than simply taking the whole thing out-which is an option.I dont have a problem with that,actually it sounds better and better to me all the time after fighting with it all this time. We can build a gnome home anywhere here.Or maybe we can grind out all the big roots, and keep the stump.Don't mind me, I'm just type-talking out loud.I'll have to see what he says about the situation,but personally, since I'm the wacker/mower here, I dont want another season of it.I dont like high maintenence.Well,I couldn't stand it any longer, and pulled up a tiny potato! It was so cute,but not to far from the top of the soil-so yes, I will have to add and mound more dirt, and their all flowering now.Well, my friend looked at them, and something I didn't know, is the potato beetle grows from the lavae thats already in the seed potato to begin with,as he commented that I have none.I said well, I'd cover them with some type of cloth, and maybe that would help,if I get some.Then he told me that little ditty- so is that what everyone else thinks, or is he pulling my leg??Now I'm going to have to do some reading...Since I dont have any toads or frogs this year- I found a singing frog on a yard sale for a buck.Press his toe,his eyes roll, he burps, and sings"I just wanna fly"....which I think is a hoot,so he deserves a spot on the deck...lol.

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It took a little over 2 hrs to do

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Jun 25, 2010 | 2:12 AM PST
Tag: green green grass
the final staining of the deck boards,but its all done now.We put the furniture back last nite,and sat out there for a few mintues till the rain clouds rolled in.Today I work on the balusters, and front turned posts.I've added to the June Album,but it seems I really can't keep up,because by the time I've posted -everything has grown another 4 inches.I'm not complaining though,as the rain is needed,and it seems like we're getting some every other day,thats less I have to water.The potatoes are starting to flower now-somethings been in the carrot bed,the baby kits are chomping away on the dandelions so I dont think its them.Their pretty much staying near their den with Mama,and are quite happy way over on the other side of the yard.ok- everything needs a wacking,mowing,and quick weeding again.I think I need a wife.If he plans on buying the back 2 acres,I'm putting in my order now.A sunny day before us,and today I finally get to eat lunch out on the deck.I think we've got all the materials for the sides now.The strawberries are making their runners,so I'll be getting some of those planted this weekend.I'm going to plant more crops of string beans-onions-flowers in between the blueberry bushes,since the line is all tilled up for me.Time to listen to the birds for a bit this morning,and watch the groundhogs....

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The best day of this week they say,

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Jun 22, 2010 | 2:58 AM PST
Tags: one potato two potato , three potato..four...
with full sun ,small breeze, and about 72* I think the temps will bing a bit higher than that though. A Home Depot trip this afternoon for the railing stuff,so last nite we just puttered.JIm cut up some pallets for me to put the bigger items on, and putting up 2 more shelves in the 3rd bay for garage sale items.The 3rd bay has a dirt floor and I dont want anything getting wet.Our stuff is in the back, but I've got 3/4 of that bay to use.Everything got watered good last night.The items on pallets in the front of the house got rearranged again,it just wasn't right. I couldnt get to my faucet and the gas man couldnt get to the tank.We didnt do that great-only made $15 sat-$45 yesterday- but we're pretty sure it was because of the humidity and heat,as there was no traffic for this busy road.But I did sell our old fridge-so I had an empty space to fill up again at least.Whoo-Hoo! I actually have Morning Glories!! Last year they bombed out,but I have a small smattering of them.More hoses on the list for today,and we measured this time to know how many feet I need to reach the front rock garden.It'll be awhile till a rain barrel is set up nearby off the tractor shed roof for that garden.Jim calls it the "Zen Garden Area".My daughter keeps saying "whatever possessed you to get married here and have this huge barbaque?" Hey- I gave Jim the choice of the town hall or here, and he wanted a party.Its just a bigger barbaque than normal with a 4 minute ceremony thrown in thats all.I dont know what she's stressing about,its not like she's here everyday plowing thru these lists since April. I'm lucky if I get her here twice a week for a few hours each time.I don't think she's used to moving her butt so much in one day...lol. You got some other place to be I ask her-besides sitting on the couch reading a book?lol.While we were finally planting the yellow rose yesterday-she says,"how the hell are you going to take care of all this when your old and gray? My reply was I dont know,I could win the lottery and hire a yard man.And make sure he's good looking with a cute butt...how the heck should I know.Maybe doing all this I'll stay in reasonable enough shape so I can keep going long into old age like the energizer bunny.Well-the whole idea for the raised beds was lower maintenence anyways.If Jim has his way-maybe we wont be living here,but renting it out, and living a bit farther back in back of the house,not so near the road.Endless possibilities..anyways we're still working on plan A,never mind plan B for now, and just fill that hole with dirt please". The cukes have their 2 leaves and most have their third,and there are many of them.There will be cukes going crazy everywhere.Expected thundershowers wed & thursday,so everything will grow another 4 inches I'm sure. They sure lov that rain.A couple 1/2 ripe strawberries,so its a race to see who will get it first- me or the slug...

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We bombed out with potaotes last year,

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Jun 20, 2010 | 1:40 AM PST
Tag: progress is good..
but not the case this year! Last year they got blight,but I had only planted 6 of them,so it wasn't too disheartening. This year I planted 30 something,and their awesome! I hope their my best crop of veggies.The 5 yr. old blueberry bushes-first 2 rows are awesome, and loaded to the hilt.The tomatoes are growing much slower than usual,but their still ok.A thundershower for everyone this afternoon-which is fine with me. Its been hot -80's-but dry last 2 days-humidity rolls in today.Garage sale yesterday-more straightening around,cut the grass,did some watering.Jims got the steps to the deck 3/4 done,the deck itself is done,but will do a third coat of stain,after finishing up some little stuff-but before the railings go on.He got the tops of the posts cut-we can install the Sun Sail after a trip to the hardware store.The ants have calmed down-but the spiders have taken over the eves,so its spider detail this morning for Jim.They eat bad bugs,so I dont mind so much on the front of the house-but dont want them near the deck area.The Hosta are ready to bloom,and I look forward to moving them to their new bed this fall.I also look forward to finally having some hummingbird feeders up next year,which will be a treat.Mr. Bunny and the groundhogs are keeping the clover and dandelions in check.Lots to do still each day,not much time is wasted around here...oh- still no frogs or toads..

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So close

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Jun 12, 2010 | 1:42 AM PST
Tag: deck-garage sale..
to being done with the deck boards now.At 50% chance of rain this afternoon-its entirely possible to be screwing the last deck board on this morning.I'm surprised he didn't have me do the staining,as he's not crazy about that part,but he's done the whole staining thing all by himself.I think this morning I'll volunteer to stain while he does the boards though,and then it'll go faster if it does decide to rain.I took all the garbage out to the big compost pile.I've been collecting all moms veggie scraps,so now the pile gets bigger in less time.I cut all the grass yesterday to be done with it-where usually I do 1/2 at a time.Jim was late getting home last night,too late to work on the deck,but surprise! the deck furniture had arrived during the day.Brother took a quick trip down to Dad's for something,and brought it back for me.Partial assembly required of course.So while supper was cooking he started putting that together for me.Got the chairs done,but he's learned when to stop when he's too tired,so we just watched a program.He said he'd finish the tables this morning early.The painted table that I already had,matched the chairs, and the rug I bought.We'll cut a hole in the wall big enough to go in and out where the door is going.Brother can start the door anytime this coming week.The old deck that got torn off the first summer we were here was 6 yrs ago, after I fell thru a board,Jim took the sledge hammer to it.Little did I know how easy it was to replace boards and pieces,making it safe,otherwise I would insisted on leaving it till we were ready for this new one.I had Jim pick up 2 more boards for the daughters deck that they missed,with that still fresh in my mind,and I dont want that happening to anyone walking on her deck,especially the kids-even though it would probaly be an adult that would go thru.There's been a couple really bad accidents with decks this spring,but those decks were up high,and had alot of people on them,and they weren't no where near up to code.Both our decks are very low to the ground,but you can still get hurt regardless.I'm driving the son-in-law crazy about replacing the boards where needed.Well,I say, too bad,I'm pulling rank here,and I'm not going to be happy till its all done and its all ok.He didn't see my leg when it happened,and its such an inexspensive thing to do to avoid all that.I'm quite excited about putting the furniture on the deck and sitting in a chair..especially with morning coffee.I walked around and checked everything again,the spuds are 4 inches higher,well above the sides of the bed.The cukes have started popping out,all the scarlett beans have popped.I definitely have to get something in place for them to climb today,as their shooting up fast.I spent 1/2 the day helping daughter and her friend going thru a huge long walk-in closet hoeing it out.She donated if I helped out,I came home with a car packed with black trash bags full of clothes for the garage sale.I couldn't fit another bag in there.We still have another huge closet to go thru next week-which will take another day.Everything was all checked over,and all clothes in good shape,and I'll have a 2 day-99 cent sale,fill a bag for 99 cents.I know there's another full load of clothes and household stuff coming.I hope its decent weather next weekend for that,so far they say its going to be.As soon as all the staining is done that frees up a bay-so then I'll have a spot to put all this stuff.The last time I had "fill a bag sale",they went like hotcakes,thank god.Oh-by the way, I'm 51 & 1/2-someone wanted to know.I think its the naps.They keep me going,although I didnt get one yesterday...

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The smell of cut grass,,

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Jun 11, 2010 | 1:16 AM PST
Tag: another arch trellis to put somewhere..
is splendid.It did dry out good enough for me to cut it the other day,then yesterday another round of rain creeped in for about 5 hrs.I bet all the plants have grown another 4 inches,so I shall take a walk around before leaving this morning.The sun is suppose to come out today,then another possible round of rain on sunday.I think I'll get out there today for some more planting.I did end up getting 6 of the 10 blueberry bushes in,,so thats on the list this afternoon along with the yellow rose climber that hasnt made it in yet.The front bed got weeded again in the evening the other day,a cool breeze,and a well spent 2 hrs.with no bugs.The sugar baby watermelons finally popped as did the carrots.The potatoes are totally awesome.I made the mistake of chucking some spent comfrey plant debris {with root hairs}in the compost pile last fall,and out grew a huge comfrey plant,2 times the size of my others.One half is growing in the compost pile,and on the other side of the wall the other half of it is growing in the horse poop pile.Time to take some compost and work some more into the beds.The scarlett runner beans popped in the planter,so I'll have to rig up some netting for them,as they grow & climb fast.The deck is coming along,new pics in the June album,in between the rounds of rain.2 more days of working on it,and we should be to the end of the deck boards! Spent a day at the daughters with her getting her upstairs cleaned for her quests,so at least thats all done now,but have another day there,doing some odds and ends.She'll come over here this coming week,so we can hammer away at the fenceline-wacking and mowing.Today is Landons last day of school,hurray! time to have some fun!! I wonder if the Peony has bloomed yet!!

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Its not just wet,its all soaked,

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Jun 7, 2010 | 12:36 AM PST
Tag: see what else needs planting..
after 2 more days of steady rain.There was a brief interval the other day,then it just started in again.I walked around outside yesterday morning in the rain,and checked on everything,and all the veggies have done is grow another 3 inches-including the grass.All the potatoes are up over the side height of the bed,carrots are sprouting in their lines fairly straight still,,tomatoes are happy,onions are another 3 inches taller,strawberries are bigger,thrilled and flowering,garlic bulbs just keep getting bigger around,all string beans are growing nicely-another 2 inches,as is the celery.The water table must have been very low,because the yard hasn't started to pool in its usual spots yet.It could probaly rain another day or even 2,then it would,but I'm not asking for any more.I'm ready for some sun now.I'll need a good round of 2 dry days before I can cut the grass.Jim did get more boards sanded down & stained in the shed,but the deck got stalled.Today the sun reappears,so tonite he can start in again,and with tuesday off,he's hoping to get r' done and over,at least with that part.The glider cushions are outdoor cushions of course,but no deck box yet to put them in,to keep them fairly dry.So when I'm home and it rains, I'll bring them in,so I can at least sit down without getting wet.Well, I had little to do,so I started in on the living room spring cleaning.The daughter was going to help me this week with that,but I decided I needed something to do,so now its about all done.Jim wrestled the Forsynthia all by himself during a brief rain break,and got that planted saturday.When I was out walking around in the rain-I picked flowers for the vases.Next cleaning is the entry mudroom, which is small-but I'll hold off a bit.The Knipfolia and some Alliums that I planted havent appeared.I'm going to gently dig to see if the bulbs are still there or have rotted away.No critters in the gardens,but Mr. Groundhog is back this year munching on the dandelions,as is Mr. Bunny.The groundhog family disappeared 3/4 of the way thru summer last year.We were kinda bummed out,because it was nice to watch them with their kits and take pics-so I'm glad its back.Still no sign of toads or frogs this year,just alot of spiders again hanging from the house eves-yuck.I quess today,I will get outside and start planting the blueberries.I should be fairly covered in mud and grass by the time I'm done.Usually the daughter is bouncing off the walls after 2 days being cooped up with Landon when it rains,so I'll see if she wants to come over today and just hang out.She had minor surgery last week and is recouping,but still can't do the normal house stuff or yard work yet,so she's probaly starting to go bonkers from that also.Actually now that I think about it,after 2 days of rain -surgery & Landon she's probaly certifiable.lol.I still have one window box to plant up,and some empty containers I can do something with today.I'm up before the worms again,so I await daylight with anticipation..

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Finally,some wet

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Jun 4, 2010 | 1:06 AM PST
Tag: summer rains..
weather.Its rained twice,steady & long stretches both times.It was badly needed,the water table is still on the low side.I hope the newly planted seeds havent washed away.The sun reappears today,and possible showers again this weekend.The downside of course,is the decks progress is held up.The one wall that looks good in the living room,is being dismantled for the door going onto the deck.. Jim says the pine will be screwed up taking it off the wall,so I have plans to use it to make planter boxes for the deck,and shadow boxes for Landons school art that I want to hang.At least its only a short wall,and there's something that can get done when it does rain.We moved the pellet stove out of the way.That section can get spring cleaned this next week..We got the new glider together,after breaking the last bolt.Ya! Bought more food stuff for the wedding and paid for the porta pottie.I'm in touch weekly with my sisters family,who are counting down and quite excited about the trip.I plugged in the garage freezer,and start filling it today.I've removed the rose shrub from the tall grass-more like rescued it,put it in the holding bed,fed it rose food.Its not a minature,but a normal size shrub,but has struggled where it was,not growing over 8 inches,and producing only 2 fragrant white blooms.Maybe now it'll take off.I've moved Lupines before,and they were fine,but this time,they didnt do well,so I hope they bounce back.I've got the hole ready for the yellow climbing rose now,hope to get that in this weekend.I picked up another arbor to go in,I'd like to move the Clematis to the deck area in the fall or early spring.The beds all look good,and all is growing well.Maybe a peek this morning to see if the carrots are up,but I better wear my muck boots,and bring the camera with me.The rain barrels are full and overflowing now.I'm up before the worms are,so I'll have to read while I await daylight..

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There's a first for everything..

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Jun 1, 2010 | 1:48 AM PST
Tag: butterflys are arriving..
even with the kids. They came over to help us with our deck on sunday,and arrived around 9 am. Now thats a first,as they usually dont show up for anything till almost noon.Full sun & breezes,and Bill hopped on sanding down the boards for Jim to stain them. Jim got 7 boards double stained,Bills got a pile for him done to putter on this week.If the rain holds off a bit-Jim can secure down what he's got done.Missy and I pulled the sod,after Jim had tilled the blueberry line for us,we got most everything ready and out there we'll need.Rain today,and if not raining hard I may just start them anyways.We also planted one bed of cukes,peppers,self watering planters of scarlett runner beans.Watered everything,and all the string beans are up and most of the spuds.Just waiting for the carrots bed now.Wacked and mowed.Removal of the sod did us in though-but its done.A chinese take out supper,and Landon has his first T-Ball game tonite if it doesnt rain-but its suppose to,so it may get moved to another day.Jims set-up in the tractor bay-so he can work on the deck boards anyways in the cool of the shade.Can't wait for this rain to roll in,as all is so very dry..

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dbjc364's June 2010 Entries

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