I have two posts up today. Scroll down for my book review – it’s a great book and I’m giving away a copy.
Earlier this summer, I decided to add a narrow bed in front of the dog corral. Those of you who are long-time readers know that the dog corral is made out of chicken wire fencing. It does its job, but let’s face it, it’s none too attractive. I thought adding a few plants grown from seed might add a bit of beauty to an otherwise blah area. I got this idea late in the spring, so my plants have begun to bloom only in the last few weeks. Sort of nice, this late-blooming garden.
I planted zinnia and sunflower seeds. If you read this post, you’ll remember that, instead of sunflowers, I was getting zinnias and hyacinth bean vines. Go figure.
Here is my funky little plot. You know what? It does disguise that chicken wire rather nicely.
Aren’t zinnias amazing? Big white petals, with little yellow flowers in the center.
Brenda, these are for you. I know you miss seeing your zinnias.
Each one is unique.
But wait, what do I see?
That’s no zinnia. That, my friends, is sunflower! And darned if there aren’t two of them.
We’re so excited! We’re finally going to have some sunflowers. Don keeps checking on them every day.
Thank you to everyone who keeps checking in on me. We’re doing as well as can be expected. Scout is having a very hard time, so we are spoiling her and doing everything we can to help cope with this change. I can be fine for several hours and then lose it, like I did last night. The minute I hit the pillow I started crying. It’s hard for me to drive by the animal hospital and, since it’s on the road into town, I have to. I just look away. We’re okay, though.
A reminder about Saturday’s new meme/party: A Favorite Thing. This whole idea grew out of this post, where I shared my great-grandmother’s syrup jug. That led me to ponder the idea of a weekly party where we all can share a favorite thing. It could be an antique, a vintage find, a favorite piece of furniture, a garden, an appliance, a book, a film, a CD, a tree, a place, a car- you name it. It just has to be a true favorite thing. That’s all. This will be a weekly party, taking place on Saturday. But I will put up the post on Friday night, with the links available, so that you have extra time to post if your weekend is particularly busy.
I think it will be lots of fun and goodness knows, we can all use some fun.
Happy Wednesday.
P.S. The Etsy shop is open again!
Don’t you just love zinnias? So much bang for the buck. Save that seed and you’ll have tons of them next year!
Hello, Claudia
I see these photos and wonder why I don’t have zinnias in my garden.
By the way, while reading your post on your blog’s move to a new location, you mentioned a couple of ways people could follow along. I had deleted your old location from my blogroll, given the new posts no longer appeared. However, those on Blogger have the option of adding a blog using its URL. That is, that just because people can’t “follow” you on Google Friends Connect doesn’t mean they can’t place you on their Blogroll. Happily, you are back on mine now.
This may well be old news to you, but I thought I’d pass it along in case it proves to be useful.
-Karen
During really hard times in my life I would go and cry and cry in the shower. The idea of the tears being washed away is always so comforting and healing to me. I thought some sunflowers were growing on the side of my house. and I was so excited. Turns out that they were pokeweed plants. ..very toxic . and they were growing right next to my organic veggie garden so no spraying could be used. I cut and splashed them with boiling water. Hope you take pictures of your sunflowers when they bloom and post them. I would love to see them.
Blessings, Joanne
Looking forward to the party on Saturday. I have so many favourite things, glad this will be a weekly event.
I do hope Scout feels better soon, although she will never be perfect without her buddy. Hang in there Claudia, it does get better eventually.
hugs,
Sue
Love your flowers! I had Zinnias a few years ago and they were the best flowers ever. After finally moving my Mom to GA (hopefully by Nov) I can stay home in the spring and have a garden again and plant flowers!!! Can’t wait to see the sunflowers bloom! Oh and I’ve got my favorite thing for Sat already!
hugs,Linda
I love the late bloomers. They’re so cheery and reliable. Looks like a great solution!
Your photos and flowers look so lovely, Claudia. The plantings look nice along the dog corral.
Thinking of you daily.
I LOVE ZINNIAS TOO…..AS A CHILD MY MOM WOULD PLANT A LOT OF THEM AND THEN SHE WOULD HAVE HER FAVORITE…COSMOS……..I LOVE THEM TOO. ………HANG IN THERE MY FRIEND…..IT WILL ALL COME TOGETHER SOON………RIZZI
The flowers look so pretty and do prettify the fence. I’m glad you are back to your routine.I hope Scout starts feeling back to normal-you should spoil him. That’s what he’s there for. I know he’s missing Riley too.
Dear Claudia,
Thanks for your message, -you still show up on my bloglist, but if suddenly not, I know :-)
Your garden seems so beautifully filled with Zinnias- I love them too, and have quit a lot in the garden.
But not those beautiful white ones you have. They are so lovely .
Good to read that that you are coping with your new situation, living without Reliy-
Hugs to you, Claudia.
Dorthe
How pretty your fence is!
I’m sorry that you are still feeling so sad, Claudia. It will definitely take awhile to get over your loss. I am so excited for you that you have two sunflowers. Your little garden looks so pretty in front of your fence.
Hugs,
Laura
Love your Zinnias..What a great idea for a fence..good job…When I lost my lab..I was a mess..I still can’t see “old yellow”…I still miss her..It’s been 15 years…and I have another dog but she was the best…My heart goes out to you..
I am so sorry to hear about your beloved Riley. A loss that goes deep. I feel the same way about my Toby Blyn…he is my best friend…my baby…keeper of all my secrets. My other baby (JB – JamesBondFenderMartinGibson – named by my husband) was a miniature poodle and lived to be almost 15 years old when he crossed the Rainbow Bridge…he is there with my almost 20 year old Silver Chinchilla Persian (Serengetti’s Narcissus – Cissy).
My thoughts are with you as you grieve the passing of your Riley.
Zinnias are my most favorite flower! I planted some this year…and they just make me smile! You’re still on my blogroll!
So, so sorry to hear about Riley. Made me sob because, well, you know how I am about puppies. I’ll try to get it together for this Saturday. I like the idea a lot. We are leaving this weekend on a trip to Alaska and a cruise home from Anchorage to Seattle. We are in a tizzy getting ready.
I am thinking of you. My “person” dog, Jezebel,l passed in 1995 and I still miss her. Maybe I’ll feature her in a My Favorite Thing post.
Oi, Claudia!
Recebi sua msg no meu blog e realmente percebi que não aparecem as atualizações do seu blog para mim. Ainda não descobri como fazer isso acontecer, ou se é possível, mas independentemente disso, eu leio o seu blog todos os dias. Posso dizer que partilho do seu dia a dia. Acho muito reconfortante encontrar uma pessoa como você, com opiniões, sentimentos e pensamentos parecidos com os meus. Sou um pouco tímida e não domino seu idioma, embora tente aprender, mas gosto muito deste seu espaço.
Um grande abraço,
Zilda
I love the chicken wire fence, Claudia, but then I’m a farm girl at heart. Your zinnias are beautiful! Every year I try to remember to plant zinnia seeds and every year I forget…. and then I see local gardens overflowing with those crayon box colors and could just kick myself!