A big, fat bumblebee obligingly stopped long enough for me to get several pictures.
I love bumblebees.
We mowed a heck of a lot yesterday. Not that this is a contest, but I mowed more than Don. That’s only because I started out mowing the corral – without telling him I’d started – and then moved on to the front lawn. Then he joined me and we tag teamed the rest of the lawn and the Secret Garden. We still have to do the back forty but that was enough for the day. Good exercise, satisfying, and a lot of work!
We had lots of rain and thunderstorms later in the day, so we got it done just in time. More rain today and maybe a bit more rain tomorrow.
Came inside, showered, checked for ticks, had some lunch and worked a bit on the puzzle.
Then, a nap in my chair.
I finally did something I’d been thinking about for a long time. I moved the old piece of picket fence from its former position leaning against the shed to the area right outside the kitchen door. We used to have a short section of chicken wire fence there, but we took it down. So there was nothing coming out from the side of the house and connecting to our old gate. It bugged me.
I leaned it up against the fence posts that supported the gate and ran the idea by Don. He loved it.
When I realized it was going to rain and storm, I attached it to the posts with wire.
I’m pleased with the result. Now, the connection of fence to house to gate looks intentional. We have a proper enclosure outside the kitchen door. Such a simple thing and an idea I’ve had for a while. I’m glad it’s done.
I’d love nothing more than to have a picket fence along the edge of the corral so that the memorial garden and chicken wire fence garden backed up to the pickets. But fencing is expensive. This little section is chippy and weathered, as is the gate (which we found on the property,) as is the door frame, which needs to be repainted. I think it suits the look of our place. But I do have to repaint that door frame sometime soon.
I’m enjoying Elizabeth George’s The Punishment She Deserves. I read a big chunk of it this morning. I’m also reading Quiet (the book about Introverts.)
And we’re watching the new season of Stranger Things, after having finished The Bridge (our second time watching that series, which is one of the finest I’ve ever seen.)
Okay. Time to go.
Stay safe.
Happy Thursday.
love all that … the picket fence+old gate combination, you letting an idea grow until ready and then making it happen. good job!
glad you’re enjoying some books (i don’t understand how anyone can read more than one book at a time!). and some rain. and lots of mowing.
we could use rain here, especially as temperatures climb again. and just because i love it (rain, not the heat).
slow start here. am grateful for that and even moreso to be able to spend time with members of my family. miss and love them all so much.
will also today be taking lots of things to an organization that distributes food, clothing and household goods to people with much greater needs than i’ve ever had. am grateful to be able to do that. i am not minimalistic, but will appreciate the soon-to-be-empty space where those things were.
and having time to sort through all my stuff. :)
hope you are all having a good day, that your back and don’s shoulder are healed and everyone is safe and well.
hugs from iowa,
kathy
One is fiction and one is nonfiction. So I can pick either up depending on my mood.
Thanks so much, Kathy!
Stay safe.
Is the chicken wire to keep critters out of your garden? Just curious! Good thing you and Don can share the mowing! It sounds like a lot!
Chicken wire used to surround our entire ‘corral’ which is where our dogs would take care of business and play. It kept them safe. Eventually, we took down most of it because the tree guys needed access to the back of our lot. The part that remains is behind some garden beds and I use it to keep animals out and to train the morning glories and moonflowers that I plant there.
Stay safe, Ellen.
Maybe you mentioned it before but I missed it.
Why do you call it the back forty?
How much land is back there?
Just because it’s up a hill and in the back of our property – we’re not up there that often – and it’s also where the woods are. Don’t take us literally.
There’s probably a half an acre or so. But beyond that is our neighbor’s meadow which is at least 3 acres.
Stay safe, Linda.
Your picket fence looks lovely, I prefer outdoor items to look weathered. I haven’t watched any of Stranger Things although I know it has good reviews. Apparently this latest series has sent one of my favourite songs to the top of the charts – Running up that Hill by Kate Bush, released in 1985.
Speaking of hills, the one I can see from my lounge window has a 125 feet tower on top, built in 1852 commemorating Sir Robert Peel the founder of the modern police force who was a local boy. There will a beacon lit at 9:45 this evening for the Platinum Jubilee. It’s a local landmark and can be seen for miles.
It’s also an extra public holiday today and it’s not raining!
Happy Thursday
That will be a powerful salute to the Queen, Dee Dee. Enjoy your holiday today.
Stay safe.
We are watching The Bridge (Swedish version) on Netflix (DVD), very good. Our daughter watched the Mexican version of FX and the stories are very similar. That story was between Texas and Mexico!
Several countries copied the original and did their own versions, but the Swedish/Danish version is by far the best. Superlative acting, beautifully written and directed. Enjoy, Mary.
Stay safe.
I’m also watching Stranger Things. It was so far between the series I am having a hard time remembering what happened before. Luckily I am watching it with my son and his wife who have younger minds than mine. I just finished Bosch the Legacy. I just started on five seasons of Bosch. Have you watched either of these?
I don’t watch the Bosch series because I’ve been reading those books since he first started writing them and I have an image of Bosch in my mind and I don’t anyone to mess with that.
Stay safe, Olivia.
I understand what you’re saying. The actor is not the Bosch I have in my mind. The story lines are good though and I’m enjoying the series.
xo
How often do you have to mow? I like that you and Don trade off. There is nothing better than a just mowed lawn. Are you liking the book Quiet? Sounds like one I need to read. Love the picket fence! I am thinking that when you paint the door frame, you might just paint the fence. That would be me!
Take care!
Deb
In the spring, we mow once a week, sometimes more.
No, I’m not interested in painting the fence. I like it weathered and worn!
Stay safe, Deb.
Oh I meant I would want to paint it! When I have a paint brush in my hand, I tend to look around and see what else I can paint. Only because I love to paint.
I have a small one like that in my yard and it is all weathered too! Bill keeps saying we need to paint it. Put it on my to do list.
xo
The fence looks terrific there! Well done — not a hard fix and a very good one!
Have a wonderful day.
Easy, peasy!
Stay safe, Jeanie.
One can never have too much weathered picket fencing, I believe. I don’t know how many years the pickets were here, before us, at the beach shack, but “weathered” was an understatement. It was in an odd place for us, so we moved it, gave it a quick whitewash, and are still loving it after several years, replacing pickets when needed. Thinking about adding some for our furry mama, who’s coming soon. ♥
I agree. I love weathered fencing!
Stay safe, Shanna.
Shanna is right…you can’t have enough white picket fencing. Our neighbors have a chain link fence that now is so overgrown with wildflowers and bushes you don’t even realize it’s there.
Lovely bee pics! Not familiar with the plant that the bee is feasting on… can you tell me please?
Enjoy your day! ;)
I can’t remember the name of it! If I do remember, I’ll let you know Donnamae.
Stay safe.
I believe it’s one of the Salvias in the Mint family.
Mint plants have square stems, and you can see that this plant has square stems.
There are over 1000 species of Salvia, and I wouldn’t attempt to guess which specific species this may be. Hybrids occur naturally which makes identification to species sometimes difficult.
Yes. But it has a name, darn it! I just have to find my info on that plant.
Thanks, Amy.
Stay safe.
Love the fence with that cute gate!
Also The Bridge was one of my very favorite series. Sooooo good😍
Thanks so much, Stacy.
Stay safe.