: This is not the bog you're looking for
I managed to soak myself to the skin while watering the Japanese irises.
I managed to soak myself to the skin while watering the Japanese irises.
Cath Emery
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July 10th, 2009
July 7th, 2009
: Cat Loses Garden Privileges
I was doing my garden walk this morning when one of the young cats from next door sprang up through the phygelius in an attempt to catch something---probably a hummingbird. I don't expect him to be able to catch one, but I resent his damaging my phygelius, so I took some stakes over and staked the area he's been using.
I was doing my garden walk this morning when one of the young cats from next door sprang up through the phygelius in an attempt to catch something---probably a hummingbird. I don't expect him to be able to catch one, but I resent his damaging my phygelius, so I took some stakes over and staked the area he's been using.
July 4th, 2009
:
I know I'm not alone when I'm gardening. There are the hummingbirds, which I think have a nest in the big fir. There are those blasted doves with their incessant coo, coo; coo, coo -- get some better lyrics, birds!
Those black and yellow swallowtail butterflies. Last year there were a few praying mantis, the year before I had a little snake or two. I've seen two crickets and a frog this year.
And cats.
It used to be Spencer, using a spot under the red twig dogwood. Now the black cat has a spot there. The small stripey cat has a spot near Clematis Viola, where the autumn aster is supposed to grow. Spencer has a spot on the mound, near the phygelius, where some dirt is bare because I pulled escholzia to let the succulents planted there get some sun.
I only know because, when the first few drops of water from the hose within two feet of a cat's spot, the vegetation quivers suddenly. Once in a while, peering through the leaves, I glimpse fur.
One of our neighbors has five cats. Nearly every house has a cat, probably because otherwise nearly every house would have mice. I like cats, but five cats is too many. They are always around. I don't know if I have any critters like snakes or frogs eating insects in my garden.
There is also a raccoon in the area now. I saw him crossing the street from our side to the other, because Karen feeds her cat and Spencer outside every day. I'm not too happy about that; raccoons are wild creatures and shouldn't be encouraged to get too comfortable with human habitation for all our sakes.
Those black and yellow swallowtail butterflies. Last year there were a few praying mantis, the year before I had a little snake or two. I've seen two crickets and a frog this year.
And cats.
It used to be Spencer, using a spot under the red twig dogwood. Now the black cat has a spot there. The small stripey cat has a spot near Clematis Viola, where the autumn aster is supposed to grow. Spencer has a spot on the mound, near the phygelius, where some dirt is bare because I pulled escholzia to let the succulents planted there get some sun.
I only know because, when the first few drops of water from the hose within two feet of a cat's spot, the vegetation quivers suddenly. Once in a while, peering through the leaves, I glimpse fur.
One of our neighbors has five cats. Nearly every house has a cat, probably because otherwise nearly every house would have mice. I like cats, but five cats is too many. They are always around. I don't know if I have any critters like snakes or frogs eating insects in my garden.
There is also a raccoon in the area now. I saw him crossing the street from our side to the other, because Karen feeds her cat and Spencer outside every day. I'm not too happy about that; raccoons are wild creatures and shouldn't be encouraged to get too comfortable with human habitation for all our sakes.
June 30th, 2009
: stupid vs. not intelligent
So this morning the dog gets up, I start putting on my shoes, he kicks the back door and trots back and forth, I run to the stairs and call him --- and he runs the other way. Through the living room to the kitchen, where as it turns out he has already dribbled.
That is one of the things that makes it hard to defend afghans against their reputation for stupidity. I suspect it's somehow poor training on our part, but honestly, what kind of dog *refuses to come to the stairs or the door* when he wants to go out?
I mean, does that not sound brainless to you?
So this morning the dog gets up, I start putting on my shoes, he kicks the back door and trots back and forth, I run to the stairs and call him --- and he runs the other way. Through the living room to the kitchen, where as it turns out he has already dribbled.
That is one of the things that makes it hard to defend afghans against their reputation for stupidity. I suspect it's somehow poor training on our part, but honestly, what kind of dog *refuses to come to the stairs or the door* when he wants to go out?
I mean, does that not sound brainless to you?
June 29th, 2009
:
George went fishing yesterday. I think he enjoyed it, though he didn't bring home anything dead this time.
More daylilies bloomed.
People looked at the house next door. They were all women: one was elderly, one smoked, and one had a toddler. I heard that one asking another about "Which one did you say is poisonous?" and I glanced up with a frown, because it hit me that my foxglove by the fenceline are likely doomed if a small child moves next door. I may be selfish, but not that selfish. They also had a small dauschundish-dog that they let run loose in a really annoying way.
Really annoying.
It's moments like that that inspire me to dream up ways of gating off our entire yard like a cranky old gardener.
The other day, in a conversation that had included a mention of looking at real estate, G made a remark that I found fascinating: he said, and I am paraphrasing madly, that it might be a good idea for us to create a bed out back where I could put a division of each daylily. Apparently he, too, sometimes considers what it would be like for me to move my garden and that put this idea into his head.
Isn't that a funny thing? But it's hard for me to imagine that someone else would want to keep it the way it is: gardens are personal, and a lot of work, and it would certainly be less expensive to take bits of what I like rather than try to re-purchase it.
More daylilies bloomed.
People looked at the house next door. They were all women: one was elderly, one smoked, and one had a toddler. I heard that one asking another about "Which one did you say is poisonous?" and I glanced up with a frown, because it hit me that my foxglove by the fenceline are likely doomed if a small child moves next door. I may be selfish, but not that selfish. They also had a small dauschundish-dog that they let run loose in a really annoying way.
Really annoying.
It's moments like that that inspire me to dream up ways of gating off our entire yard like a cranky old gardener.
The other day, in a conversation that had included a mention of looking at real estate, G made a remark that I found fascinating: he said, and I am paraphrasing madly, that it might be a good idea for us to create a bed out back where I could put a division of each daylily. Apparently he, too, sometimes considers what it would be like for me to move my garden and that put this idea into his head.
Isn't that a funny thing? But it's hard for me to imagine that someone else would want to keep it the way it is: gardens are personal, and a lot of work, and it would certainly be less expensive to take bits of what I like rather than try to re-purchase it.
June 24th, 2009
: Garden
The first winter she was here, Betty Warren Woods died back to nothing.
She came back, however, and this year there are two pieces of her out there and both are going to bloom. She's not my favorite daylily: the yellow is so bright it's almost painful, and the flowers tend to melt in hot sun, and I am not a yellow-loving person in general.
But there's a certain pleasure in knowing that she made it.
Because of that, I have left a couple of clematis that sure look dead to me in their dirt and am giving them, too, a chance to make it. I haven't much confidence they will, but it can't hurt to let them have that chance.
I miss my Westerplatte with Mrs. N.
And the lesson here is --- stop gardening with the shovel all the time!
The first winter she was here, Betty Warren Woods died back to nothing.
She came back, however, and this year there are two pieces of her out there and both are going to bloom. She's not my favorite daylily: the yellow is so bright it's almost painful, and the flowers tend to melt in hot sun, and I am not a yellow-loving person in general.
But there's a certain pleasure in knowing that she made it.
Because of that, I have left a couple of clematis that sure look dead to me in their dirt and am giving them, too, a chance to make it. I haven't much confidence they will, but it can't hurt to let them have that chance.
I miss my Westerplatte with Mrs. N.
And the lesson here is --- stop gardening with the shovel all the time!
June 21st, 2009
:
I made cookies this morning (for Dad, though we got at least a third of them after his container was full). I cooked roast this afternoon. I cut up strawberries and whipped cream this evening.
Everybody's happy.
Or at least full.
Everybody's happy.
Or at least full.
June 18th, 2009
:
oh, it's not the neighbors. Mrs. B says they do it once in a long while: they're digging out the ditches. I think the guy with the shovel was disgusted by our ivy. Jagger had his *go* on so I couldn't tell him I felt the same way. Better not, perhaps.
: pollution!
A grader and two dump trucks arrived at a neighbor's this morning and the noise is completely incongruous with the riotous flowers, cool air, half-cloudy sky, and green trees of the views from my windows.
The other day I had to wash my jeans because I looked down and there was this smelly brown streak on my thigh.
Yesterday when we came in Jagger bumped my leg with his rear and guess what, same spot. It still surprises me how tall he is sometimes.
Almost done with doily Ornamental Statement. Must finish wristwarmers for self, quilt for Syb, doll clothes for Mom, sew button on shirt for G, finish Mrs Hoover's, two secret presents, and a few other things around here.
Must take dog out!
A grader and two dump trucks arrived at a neighbor's this morning and the noise is completely incongruous with the riotous flowers, cool air, half-cloudy sky, and green trees of the views from my windows.
The other day I had to wash my jeans because I looked down and there was this smelly brown streak on my thigh.
Yesterday when we came in Jagger bumped my leg with his rear and guess what, same spot. It still surprises me how tall he is sometimes.
Almost done with doily Ornamental Statement. Must finish wristwarmers for self, quilt for Syb, doll clothes for Mom, sew button on shirt for G, finish Mrs Hoover's, two secret presents, and a few other things around here.
Must take dog out!
June 15th, 2009
:
The other morning when we were out walking Jagger had his "go" on so I draped the leash over his back and let him head home. He promptly zigged across the road to a neighbor's gated driveway and stood at the person-gate waiting to be let in.
He's out in the living room kicking the French doors for attention, treats, who knows why? It's a dog thing.
He's out in the living room kicking the French doors for attention, treats, who knows why? It's a dog thing.
June 14th, 2009
: my throat feels funny
Did I mention my brother-in-law is from Texas, where a particular variety of flu has been active in the population?
I moved the pink rhody to a pot in the shade of the tree.
Now I have an empty spot in shade bed #2, which is not actually shady. I could put Little Maggie back where it was doing well. I could put some other daylily there. I could move some of the siberian meadowsweet back there. I could put a bit of the toad lily there, since it's being smothered by the meadowsweet in its own spot. Perhaps there is room for the toad lily at the back and a daylily at the front, if I move that daffodil so it doesn't get drowned.
I need to add some shade plants to grow around the rhody in the pot, I think. Just one or two spready little things. It's a big pot.
Helix should be blooming today.
Did I mention my brother-in-law is from Texas, where a particular variety of flu has been active in the population?
I moved the pink rhody to a pot in the shade of the tree.
Now I have an empty spot in shade bed #2, which is not actually shady. I could put Little Maggie back where it was doing well. I could put some other daylily there. I could move some of the siberian meadowsweet back there. I could put a bit of the toad lily there, since it's being smothered by the meadowsweet in its own spot. Perhaps there is room for the toad lily at the back and a daylily at the front, if I move that daffodil so it doesn't get drowned.
I need to add some shade plants to grow around the rhody in the pot, I think. Just one or two spready little things. It's a big pot.
Helix should be blooming today.
June 10th, 2009
: Rain
Yesterday cleared up after days of cloud cover, but the wind was blowing cold last night and sure enough, this morning we woke to rain.
I get my permanent crown on today. Having a cracked tooth was not really all that exciting after all. ..except that G was glad he took me to that appointment because I wobbled coming out into the waiting room. He's afraid I might wobble again, though this appointment is shorter, so he's taking me today, too.
Yesterday cleared up after days of cloud cover, but the wind was blowing cold last night and sure enough, this morning we woke to rain.
I get my permanent crown on today. Having a cracked tooth was not really all that exciting after all. ..except that G was glad he took me to that appointment because I wobbled coming out into the waiting room. He's afraid I might wobble again, though this appointment is shorter, so he's taking me today, too.
June 6th, 2009
: Will anyone notice the lump under the carpet?
aka, How much do I have to clean just because someone is coming for a week?
Why is the drain to the downstairs shower not draining enough to prevent a flood?
aka, How much do I have to clean just because someone is coming for a week?
Why is the drain to the downstairs shower not draining enough to prevent a flood?
June 5th, 2009
: House cleaning and a bit of run-on
I should be cleaning the bathroom downstairs, among other things.
Jagger was struck by something nasty this morning and has had gas, diarrhea, and a leak. Oh boy. Poor dog. He's not too happy about it, but it hasn't stopped from begging for second breakfast. I'm hoping he gets all this nasty mess out of his system before Dave arrives.
Rain! Yesterday's storm was rather exciting. I expect it had a bad effect on the hay season, though.
Mom and Dad forced a book on me. I returned the last ones Mom tried to get me to read because I didn't want to read about anthropomorphized cats eating birds. This one was not any more successful. I think in nearly half of it (it's short), I found one thing I thought was funny. The rest was sort of autobiographical, with a different complaint in every section. One was about how in spite of money and beauty products, her neck is still old and ugly to her. Whoopie.
Yesterday's storm of wind and rain was strong enough that Piilu was knocked over. G straightened it up for me. I thought it would take two of us, but it just took one strong one of us.
I should be cleaning the bathroom downstairs, among other things.
Jagger was struck by something nasty this morning and has had gas, diarrhea, and a leak. Oh boy. Poor dog. He's not too happy about it, but it hasn't stopped from begging for second breakfast. I'm hoping he gets all this nasty mess out of his system before Dave arrives.
Rain! Yesterday's storm was rather exciting. I expect it had a bad effect on the hay season, though.
Mom and Dad forced a book on me. I returned the last ones Mom tried to get me to read because I didn't want to read about anthropomorphized cats eating birds. This one was not any more successful. I think in nearly half of it (it's short), I found one thing I thought was funny. The rest was sort of autobiographical, with a different complaint in every section. One was about how in spite of money and beauty products, her neck is still old and ugly to her. Whoopie.
Yesterday's storm of wind and rain was strong enough that Piilu was knocked over. G straightened it up for me. I thought it would take two of us, but it just took one strong one of us.
June 4th, 2009
:
I managed some gardening while the heat was down a few notches.
Got the m-i-law to the hearing aid check - her ears are and the aids were full of wax. The aids got cleaned and little filters were replaced, but we have to make an appointment for ear cleaning.
I still haven't dug the grass out of the cerastium. I have used two of the giant feed tub pots, one for a clematis and one a nandina domestica. I'm considering using one for shade plants, specifically that hosta and some saxifrage or lily of the valley. And oh! speaking of shade plants, the bleeding heart has formed seed pods. I've never seen those before.
Got the m-i-law to the hearing aid check - her ears are and the aids were full of wax. The aids got cleaned and little filters were replaced, but we have to make an appointment for ear cleaning.
I still haven't dug the grass out of the cerastium. I have used two of the giant feed tub pots, one for a clematis and one a nandina domestica. I'm considering using one for shade plants, specifically that hosta and some saxifrage or lily of the valley. And oh! speaking of shade plants, the bleeding heart has formed seed pods. I've never seen those before.
June 3rd, 2009
: They are young and tender! Eat them, eat them!
So this morning I got up first, seeing as I'm the one who's going to suffer in the dentist's chair (we won't mention the suspicion that a filling put into that tooth last fall caused it to crack).
Jagger got up and started wandering around everywhere I wasn't, so I put my shoes on and hauled him outside for a trot (no accident with the car today, whew). Down at the end of the road, we started some little brush rabbits. Two on the field side, and one that crouched like a dead thing in the yard across the street.
Then while I was typing this, G looked out the window and said, "The black cat got a mouse!" (Yay, black cat!)
So this morning I got up first, seeing as I'm the one who's going to suffer in the dentist's chair (we won't mention the suspicion that a filling put into that tooth last fall caused it to crack).
Jagger got up and started wandering around everywhere I wasn't, so I put my shoes on and hauled him outside for a trot (no accident with the car today, whew). Down at the end of the road, we started some little brush rabbits. Two on the field side, and one that crouched like a dead thing in the yard across the street.
Then while I was typing this, G looked out the window and said, "The black cat got a mouse!" (Yay, black cat!)
June 2nd, 2009
:
Clematis photography
I cannot get a good photo of Viola - the flowers are a dark purple, almost black in some lights, but the camera insists they are very dark fuchsia or pink-purple. It might help if the flowers weren't all pointing downward, due to stem length and gravity, so that I have to shoot them with the pale sky behind them. argh!
hmm, I guess I should try cutting one and taking its picture with a different background.
Strangely, Piilu put out several flowers yesterday that are solid red.
Transition from gardening to other stuff
It's a great day for transplanting, cool and overcast and damp, but I don't feel well enough to do it after the allergy attack yesterday. Extra antihistamine always leaves me so dratted groggy. And I need to be able to breathe at the dentist's office tomorrow, and I should be housecleaning because of the relative coming at the end of the week.
Jagger went back to bed with much less fuss than usual today -- I hope his head isn't sore. He did make a little yelp when he pressed the side of his head against my knee, so he must be sore -- or he just squashed his ear wrong, I dunno.
I cannot get a good photo of Viola - the flowers are a dark purple, almost black in some lights, but the camera insists they are very dark fuchsia or pink-purple. It might help if the flowers weren't all pointing downward, due to stem length and gravity, so that I have to shoot them with the pale sky behind them. argh!
hmm, I guess I should try cutting one and taking its picture with a different background.
Strangely, Piilu put out several flowers yesterday that are solid red.
Transition from gardening to other stuff
It's a great day for transplanting, cool and overcast and damp, but I don't feel well enough to do it after the allergy attack yesterday. Extra antihistamine always leaves me so dratted groggy. And I need to be able to breathe at the dentist's office tomorrow, and I should be housecleaning because of the relative coming at the end of the week.
Jagger went back to bed with much less fuss than usual today -- I hope his head isn't sore. He did make a little yelp when he pressed the side of his head against my knee, so he must be sore -- or he just squashed his ear wrong, I dunno.
June 1st, 2009
: Dog oops
I got him out and down the first set of stairs, and then he jerked ahead and managed to go straight down and bang his head on the car (one of those nonrunning Fiats). He ended up sideways, on the ground, after making a funny noise. Scared me.
He walked ok afterward, though he did give his head a good shake as we left the driveway.
I got him out and down the first set of stairs, and then he jerked ahead and managed to go straight down and bang his head on the car (one of those nonrunning Fiats). He ended up sideways, on the ground, after making a funny noise. Scared me.
He walked ok afterward, though he did give his head a good shake as we left the driveway.
May 29th, 2009
: Dog, pt 2
G darling, you'll be happy to know you don't have to worry about the dog being constipated any more. . . . he was not-constipated through the office, over the oriental, and out into the kitchen.
G darling, you'll be happy to know you don't have to worry about the dog being constipated any more. . . . he was not-constipated through the office, over the oriental, and out into the kitchen.