motherbored's Blog
motherbored's Blog
Last Post 12 hours Ago
Jul 8, 2008 | 10:22 AM PST
The other day, Mike spotted a yellow racer in the corner of the greenhouse, under some planter pots. Yesterday, he stood guard, so I could get some potting soil and some neat toys I'd forgotten I had. This a.m. I was watering over by the picnic table, that I use as my planting table, now, and guess what?! That durned snake had moved down there! Snakes are sneaky, aren't they? I ran in to tell Mike and when we got back, the sneaky snake had left. Hmph! I think Mike thinks I'm seeing things ;-) Here's the unoccupied greeenhouse, as it was left, when the snake showed up:
Here's where the snake was lying, when I spotted him; I was bent over, turning off the lower faucet, so we were very close to one another. Had this been 20 years ago, I would still be airborne, but I just yelled and went in to fetch Mike to come and see the snake; it was so big around, that, judging from his girth, he had to be about 2'-3'.
Jul 7, 2008 | 7:58 AM PST
Every morning, when I let Coco and Sarah out of the kennel, they tear up this hill and come back about ten minutes later, exhausted, and crash on the floor. I closed the gate, yesterday, to no avail; these two Houdini's found egress and took off again. I worry, because I don't know if there is anything there that they can hurt, but I'm afraid of the rattlers, so I'll have to wait until winter, to go investigate. I do know we have a mountain lion, coyotes, racoons, and a bobcat there, but those would hurt the dogs. As they say in Ireland, "Wurra, wurra, wurra."
It took eight years to get this shade garden, but it's not doing so well, now, as Mike had to cut down a branch, on the big oak next to it, as it was threatening to come through our roof. There is more sun being let in, now, so I really have to be on the ball and keep everyone watered.
Every afternoon, I go to the sewing house porch and spray water on the roses and watch the butterflies come and drink; what a dreamy way to spend an afternoon, hmmm?
And where would this blog be, if there wasn't a picture of the girls' corn?
The girls are staying with their cousin in the Bay Area, for the week; they will be back here next Sunday, with their cousin, for a week at Mimi's and Poppy's; looking forward to it.
Jul 2, 2008 | 11:59 AM PST
Mike had to take Alyssa to her orthodontist, as her wire was coming loose, so that left me and Micaela to entertain ourselves. We started by watering Momma's Garden, then Micaela started climbing an oak tree, so I asked her to wait, while I went in for the camera. As I was coming out of the house, with the camera, I found a terrified 7-year-old, crying. I finally found out that a huge beatle had chased her out of her tree, so we went to investigate. I don't know what kind it was, but it was easily 4" long; I helped it back into the tree, after I tried to take its picture. I got the picture, but it's hard to make out details, but here's the pix.'
After we watered the rest of the gardens and cleaned the birdbaths, we went to the sewing house and started a quilt for Micaela's little half brother. After that, we went out to the pines and she started her climb.
About half way up she discovered pitch (that's what I call it) on her hand; she wanted to know why her aunt Sophia calls it sap and I don't know the difference; anyone out there want to help me?
At about this time I came down with a really bad case of stupid, so I suggested we go clean the sap/pitch off our hands and go swimming and she agreed; we really had a fun day together and she is an amazingly old soul and has her thoughts in order, for a 7-year-old.
Goliath and Sarah waiting patiently for their kid to come down from the tree.
Jun 29, 2008 | 3:06 PM PST
I just finished handwatering our jupiters; we have three kinds, around the pool. Mike has them on drip, but I don't like drip, so I'm going to put in a mister-type on the existing drip hose. Speaking of misters, here's Sarah with her's.
When I arrived at church, today, I found a fallen pine cone that was still green and had a part of the tree in it, so, I brought it home and gave it a home; I hope it will grow, although I have my doubts, but I'd rather try and fail than not try at all. I also planted as many of those 10-cent seed packets as I could, but still have a bunch left. I checked the vine starts that I had, for my son-in-law, and they all appear not to be doing anything, so I threw them by the place that I took over, as my potting place ;-) Watch, I'll bet some of them take off and grow like crazy and I'll have a regular jungle there. Anyone have advice on how to divide the Lily of the Nile? I never throw anything away and I have these neat bird-bath thingies that I have to put out, now; one is a plastic sitz-bath from the hospital, and the other is a plastic bed pan, from the same place; wonder if the birds will mind? ;-)
Jun 29, 2008 | 7:31 AM PST
I rearranged the computer room, took off the software from the Olympus manufacturer and got the pictures up. If you care to see them, they are in my photos under Life at Mimi's. This morning is starting off beautifully, with a cool breeze. There is a nursery, up here, and I've been there twice, but there don't seem to be any clerks, to speak of. I'm hoping to find a place to buy Italian cypress' to plant along our fence, so I don't have to look at the dead oaks our new neighbor felled... or is that fell? Heck, just getting words out, correct or incorrect, is a chore for me ;-) I just went out to take a picture of the late oaks. I spotted Lilies of the Nile in bloom, sooo, I sort of got sidetracked; does that ever happen to you?
Before oaks were pushed over
After oaks were pushed down
Girls' corn 6/29/08
I've been trying to look for something good that has come of the demise of the oaks and all I can think of is, with the dead oaks laying there, I can't see what is rapidly becoming a junkyard... see? There's always a bright side ;-)
This area is where I was gardening, after the surgery, and I like it so well, I'm keeping it; anyone wants to eat on a picnic table will have to go to the pool deck; this is MINE!!
Jun 21, 2008 | 6:40 AM PST
The girls will be home from LA, this afternoon; sure have missed them. We'll be taking Sarah home, for the weekend, then she'll join her "sisters" up here for the rest of their vacation.
Here's the girls corn; they are going to really be excited, when they see how much it's grown. The beat-up truck, you see in the background is Mike's pride and joy. He bought it from a friend, about 10 years ago, and it's still going.
The herb garden is growing well; when I hose down the walk, the black oil seeds go in and are growing all over the place.
Here's Sarah, waiting to be let out of the kennel; she and Coco are kept here, at night, because we're not sure if Sarah would have the good sense to come home by herself. Well, I'd better get out there and see what they're barking at... probably our new neighbors.
