Been under the weather and today when I went to my back yard the roses really needed to be watered! But this beauty was there to great me! Even with all my head congestion I can smell her. It’s from David Austin’s St Alban’s rose bush. LOVE it. The little bush is loaded with buds and I can’t wait to sit out there with them in full bloom.
It’s been an odd couple of weeks. I finished painting the crown molding and other trim in all the rooms that my wonderful sister and brother-in-law painted for me while I was away playing in southern California. I’ve started painting the hallway – which is a bigger job than you might think. My hallway is over 30 feet long, then has a 8′ “L” shape. I’ve got the “L” painted with 2 coats and one of the long walls painted with 1 coat. And that took about a gallon of paint. I had to buy another gallon and I bet there will not be much left (which really is a good thing). So, for the first time in a long while all the rooms in my house are tidy. Well, maybe the kitchen needs some help since I’ve taken up candle making in addition to soap making – but hey. A little chaos is good for the soul. Right?
The garden is coming along. ALL the rose bushes I planted have taken and some even have buds and will soon have roses on them. The garden beds (the raised ones) are full of little beautiful green things peaking through. It is wonderful to see things starting to grow!
I have been having back issues (sciatica on both sides) and I’ve been going to physical therapy 3 times a week. It is helping so much its really unbelievable (at least to me).
And what does all the above have to do with anticipation? Nothing. The anticipation is coming…
Tomorrow afternoon I leave to go to my sister’s in Texas. We are going on a quilter’s weekend bus trip – going to tons of quilting shops in northern Texas. Both of us took up quilting a few years ago, and it is really fun to have a creative outlet to share. We have such different styles and tastes, but we can appreciate each other’s work. I am cautiously optimistic because it is a bus trip, and filled with a total of 53 crazy quilters. So… anticipation for sure!!
I hope you are well and are anticipating something exciting in your near future.
So things have been crazy here in the South. Returning from my vacation I had a ton of stuff waiting to do – and while I’ve tackled some of it, still got lots left to do. Been making soap – and candles, selling soap, restocking the shop that sells my stuff, working with an electrician to get new kitchen lights (and ceiling fans), a new light over the tub in the guest bathroom, and….
But finally this week things came together for me – garden wise. My lawn guy had volunteered to pick up compost in his truck (I don’t have a truck) and bring it to the house. So we tackled that on Monday. But imagine my surprise (and complete delight) when not only did he bring it to the house, he finished the last of my raised beds (my Dad did the other 5) and then loaded the topsoil and the compost into the beds! I was, and am, so happy with his help. And it turns out he’s not just a lawn man but a master gardener! How many ways can you say “happy”? So he gave me a few pointers as well.
Today I finally got the beds marked and planted. I’m going to try the square foot garden method, so we’ll see how that goes. I was worried that I hadn’t started anything in doors but the Master Gardener said I should still be ok. I do want to buy a few tomato plants (just in case) and some herbs. Also, in spite of the size I’ve run out of room so I’ve got to figure out where to plant flowers. And get containers for the mint, and….
You won’t be able to tell, but the first 2 beds are 3′ x 6′, and the other 4 are 4′ x 5′.
Most of the 10 rosebushes I planted last month are doing well, but a few either didn’t make it or are slackers! Here’s the bushes in front of my back porch. The one on the far right is having issues! The one on the far left is a red climbing rose, the rest are yellow roses (non climbing).
One of these are white and the other red. I planted them where I can see them from my craft room. The red rose is doing wonderful – the white on is just sticks.
And finally I have a grouping of 3 pink roses. Only one is doing great. One may have a chance but the third is sad. Time to contact the company!
I still have about 6 or 7 shrubs to plant so I’ll be busy for awhile still!
The first year we were in Okinawa (2004) we adopted a Siamese mix “teenage” cat (she was about a year old). The first few days she hid in the laundry room and finally when she was feeling a bit more brave she came out and hid heaven knows where. She had been abused by her previous owner(s) and we suspect that they kept her in the bathroom. The bathroom was the only place she felt safe, and she was pretty social when you would visit that room. If you sat on the potty she would rub up against your legs, let you pet her and purr and purr and purr. When you made any attempt to get up she’d run (slink) away and hide again. Shower time became interesting as she would set on the tub between the shower curtain and the clear liner watching you. When you finished she would slink away only to return to the empty bathroom, jump in the tub and lick up whatever water remained. She’s nocturnal, and while we could hear her running around during the night, she pretty much stayed hidden during the day.
We figured over time she would become more social, and she has but in her own Niko way. So imagine my surprise in 2012 when I moved into my current house and she stopped slinking and started walking and running normally! She has even jumped up on my chair and doesn’t run away when I enter a room. She even, on occasion, lets other people pet her! I think she must have been waiting all her life for this house! Here she is now, wanting her tummy rubbed. And the big bald spot on her belly (from nervous licking) is almost all gone!
It’s always good to come home. To reclaim my space and my life. To see my cats, my garden, my “things”. While I love to go, I love even more to come home. I think that is good – if I wasn’t so good to come home then it would be time to move on.
The cruise was wonderful. It was warm, the scenery fantastic. But the best part was being with my part of my family. Mom & Dad enjoyed their first cruise. My sister and brother-in-law celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary. And for the first time in years and years, my eldest daughter and I had “alone” time. 7 days of love!
Came home to cold though. Every morning I’ve awakened to frost! After sever days in the 90s to say this weather is a shock to the system is a huge understatement. But warm weather is on the way and soon I’ll be able to plant my garden.
Next week I’ll be selling my soap and body products at the Air Force Base near my home. So this week I’m getting everything ready. Yesterday I spent packaging the soap and today making body butter. More body butter tomorrow, bath bombs and fizzies on Friday. Weekend resting!
476,599
