mysteryluvr54's Blog

I did some trimming and cleaning out of more bushes on Friday and to my surprise I wasn't that sore this time.  I just have 2 more Burning Bushes left to trim and I'm finished for this year.  J Whew!  Then just a little pruning here and there till fall. 

Spent Saturday and Sunday morning trying to take pictures of the creatures that come to feast and hang around in our yard.  I'm having trouble with the digital camera and getting it to focus and holding it still enough to get a clear shot.  I need to find the instruction manual and read up on it.  Both mornings as I went to sit out on the porch and drink my coffee I was greeted by the bunny.  Don't know if it was the same bunny or not.   I'd like to get out there at night to gets some pics of the creatures of the night. . . raccoons, possums and a skunk that creep around.

I see that something is eating the lower leaves of my green pepper plant.  Rabbits maybe??  Didn't have enought chicken wire to go around the pepper plants, so I hope they don't get completely eaten and destroyed.  Have to keep on eye on them. 

Yesterday afternoon I got the bug to find a recipe for baking bread using fresh herbs. (most call for dried and yes I know I can substitute)  I found "Bread Machine Fresh Herb Bread" on bettycrocker.com.  I was able to use my sage, basil, oregano, thyme and parsley.  It smelled wonderful and I hoped that it tasted as good.  It rose way over the pan and I had to push it back in a couple of times.  It baked well and fell just a bit in the center.  My husband, son and I thought it was a success. 

Today I made toasted ham n cheese sandwiches with lettuce (not from the garden, yet).  When my son realized I had used the herbs that were growing on the porch he freaked.  I had to explain to him where food original comes from before hitting the aisle of a grocery store.  Sad and I know we've visited living history farms/villages on vacations, but maybe he was too little.  He did come up with the suggestion of toasting it with olive oil, garlic and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.  I think adding some diced tomato would be good, too. 

I was happy to send my walking partner home with a bag of mixings for a salad.  We picked some lettuce, radishes and spinach from my garden (too bad the carrots aren't ready yet) and tossed in some herbs from my pots.  She was very pleased and it may give her the bug to get a garden planted in her yard, something she has thought about for years, but just never mustered the energy to do. 

No to upload some more pictures and I really need to get some reading done to get my free t-shirt from the library summer reading program before the deadline.  Ah, how time flies when your having fun!

Started my morning off by clipping pictures out of my magazines (Organic Gardening & Better Homes and Gardens)  for an art project (summer collage) for the tots art classes I teach.   Once sufficiently caffinated, I tackled the bushes on the south side of the house that were in the shade and along the back (west) side of the house finishing up with the raspberry bushes on the north side.  There are a few more bushes that are in the sun (91 degrees today) that I need to trim and all then the trimming will be done for the summer.  I usually cut the bushes way back around this time so they don't get too overgrown.  I like to keep things fairly small. 

I think I've pulled every weed out of the lawn for now.   I enjoy watching the birds,  rabbits, squirrels and whatever else is  nibbling and knowing that I don't use any chemicals to harm them.   It may be a lot of work, but to me it's worth it and it make me sad to see neighbors pouring chemicals on their perfectly manicured, weed-free,  green lawns.   And we wonder why the birds & bees are disappearing.    I don't even waste our water trying to keep it green.  I let Mother Nature take it's course and it keeps on coming back year after year.   We could really use a nice rain again. 

I think something must be getting into my garden because the little carrot greens are disappearing.  Hmmm!  Could it be a wabbit?  I checked the fencing and it seemed secure.   I'll have to keep a close eye out for a critter.    Had to add 2 more strings across the row of peas for them to climb up on.   I also noticed a darker orange lilly opening, so I took a picture and added it to my album.

Just taking a break to write a few lines.  Every thing is looking good.  I'm pleased with the results of nature and my work.  I've been cutting, chopping & freezing or drying herbs from my pots.  We enjoy soups and stews in the winter. 

The garden is looking good.  Saw a rabbit last night hanging by the fence.  Shoo'd him away but I haven't been out there today to check if he figured out how to get in. 

The orange tiger lillies under the green apple tree and blooming, but the ones under the red apple tree are not.  The red tree has more shade so I assume that is delaying the blooms.  The clematis' in the front are also blooming.  They look much better this year than last.  I must remember this fall or next spring to get a trellis for them.  The blue on is climbing the gate, but the deep purple is balling up on the ground.  The little trellis that came with them broke during the winter and time got away from me. 

Weather's getting hot around here for June and we could use some rain. 

Added a picture of a "giant" moth or butterfly that is hanging around in our front yard.  I've never seen anything like it before.  My daughter tried to move it away from the sidewalk with a stick to a safer spot and it wouldn't fly.  Just hung on to the stick till she put it back down on the ground under the tree.  She was worried that the birds would get it, but I think it's too big.  It's about the size of a hand opened up.  Hard to tell by the picture.  Seeing is believing. 

Well, back to work.  I hate cleaning bathrooms!

Been really busy lately.  The garden appears to be growing well.  We've had some good rains here so I don't have to water.  Weather has been cool, too.  Everything is coming up and I need to get in and thin the carrots and lettuce.  The herbs are doing well, too.  It's so nice to just walk out the back door and pick fresh herbs for cooking.   We have now had 3 strawberries.  Woohoo!  I will also have to run some sting across the rows of peas so they can climb.  We are supposed to get strong storms tonight. 

The flowers are all doing well, too.  The hanging pots are looking so pretty.  The laguna "sky blue" is cascading down and bursting with blue flowers.  One of the climbing rose bushes is blooming well, but the leaves are turning yellow and dropping on some of it's branches.  I keep picking the up and tossing them in the garbage to prevent any contamination of the other leaves.  Hope this works.  I seem to remember that happening all last summer, too.  The other has buds and should be blooming soon. 

Hoping the weather is nice this weekend so I can trim some of the bushes in the front yard.  I like to keep them trimmed as low as possible.  This fall I must get out and trim the Burning bushes.  I've let them go too long.  They are so pretty with their red leaves in the fall and the next thing I know, winter is upon us and I forget to get out there and trim them back. 

Took some more pictures today of different things blooming.  Picked the second strawberry and shared it with my daughter.  Lost the first to a bird or something.  It was a bit sour yet.   Maybe some netting to keep the birds out is in the plans somewhere.  

We have been enjoying the fresh herbs in various dishes and sandwiches.   I've been researching how to harvest and save them.  For soups the chopping and freezing in water in ice cube trays sounds easy.   Simply just chopping and freezing for cooking may be the way I go.  I already do that for onions, green pepper, celery and parsley and it works fine for soups, stew and sauces where you really don't need crisp veggies.  

The last of the peonies which are the dark pink one have bloomed.  I'll have to get in there and trim them down & clean up to make way for the daylilies. 

Finally got some rain, but mostly quick downpours then the sun comes out.  Better than nothing. 

Tomorrows HS graduation!  Two down and one to go.