garden — Page 116

April Showers

April 4, 2018 at 9:59 am by Claudia

It’s that kind of day where the lamps remain lit all day long. So was yesterday, a day in which it rained all day and into the night. I have no idea what the forecast is for today; however, looking out the window indicates gray skies and general yuck.

April showers, right?

I’m just about to finish Avid Reader, which has been a complete pleasure to read. Do I try for fiction next, or more non-fiction? I have a copy of Russian Roulette by Michael Isikoff and David Corn and I haven’t started it yet. But the contents of that book will make me angry, as they should, so I’ll have to read it in fits and starts, if only to maintain some sort of equilibrium.

This succulent has been a part of Riley’s dish garden ever since I planted it, not long after he died. Other succulents have come and gone, but this one has remained and much to my surprise, it really took off this winter. Constant new growth. I think it likes its new position at the center of the kitchen table, as well as its buddies, the monstera and the rubber plant. I do know that houseplants often thrive when placed in a group with other plants and I think that’s the case here.

Or maybe Riley is speaking to me. I hope so.

The tulips are winding down and, like all flowers, there is a beauty in every stage of life.

I’ve been nursing a sore back, brought about, I’m pretty sure, by having to sleep propped up for several days when I had the cold/flu/whatever-it-was. It’s getting better.

Gosh, I’m ready for some work outside. And I still want to paint the remaining unpainted wall in the kitchen. It’s never been the right time, but I have to do it soon before spring starts to bring in more bugs. Maybe next week.

I have a whole list of things to do outside, including cleaning up the garden beds, raking the gravel that was snowplowed onto the grass back onto the driveway, picking up falling branches, and cleaning the side of the house and the porch railings. None of those tasks excite me, but they have to be done before I can attend to the gardens.

I saw a big rabbit sitting very still yesterday afternoon. He was up in the back forty. First rabbit sighting – a good sign!

Happy Wednesday.

A Bit of Green and a Splash of Aqua

March 23, 2018 at 10:52 am by Claudia

A sign of hope and green things emerging from the ground. My early-bird day lilies, always the first to bloom, are edging their way out of the ground. Oh how I long to get out there and clean up the gardens! But I know, after over 16 years of living in the Hudson Valley, that it’s just too darned early. So I must be patient.

And frankly, I’m still too under the weather to actually do anything out there.

I looked for signs of the daffodils that are on the edge of the woods, but there aren’t any at the moment. For now, leaf mulch must be kept in place to protect the ground and the plants from any sudden freezes.

I have some tax work to do today (filing an extension) and I need to get some groceries, but it’s slow going, as I had a cough-filled night. Thankfully, I slept in, so I’m not feeling too ragged.

It’s sunny out there. Birds are singing. Hopeful signs of spring.

Sadly, I’m not in any shape to march tomorrow and I’m disappointed about that. But I’ll cheer the marchers on and watch MSNBC’s coverage.

I played around with some of my McCoy yesterday. Most of these pieces were scattered throughout the den and I suddenly thought they might make a bigger impact if I placed them on the music cabinet. Since my chair faces this cabinet, I’m enjoying this big splash of aqua. Smile-worthy.

Gosh, I love collecting.

Okay. Have to get a move on, and by ‘move’ I really mean ‘crawl.’

Happy Friday.

Stella, Plants, & Morning Glories

November 1, 2017 at 10:48 am by Claudia

I seem to be a little slow in posting lately. Sorry! But I have things to do first thing in the morning, not the least of which is waking up, and now that Don’s away, we tend to FaceTime in the morning. Anyway, better late then never!

Don and some of the cast are going on a tour of NASA today. I’m jealous.

Hard to believe, but there are times now where I take our Stella for granted. I don’t even think how wondrous it is that she is here. I guess that’s because she looks as if she belongs in this kitchen.

But she’s awfully pretty, isn’t she?

I rescued another plant – this time from our local grocery store.

This is a rubber plant, specifically the Black Prince, because the leaves are almost black. Rubber plants are members of the Ficus family. Anyway, it’s not in terrible shape, but it is overcrowded in that pot and needs to be repotted, STAT.

I only have so much space in this house for plants, so I had better cool it, especially since a couple are coming in from the porch for the winter.

I’ve been watching the World Series, off and on, but you can be sure I’ll be watching the entire game tonight. Nothing better or more exciting (to me) than a 7th game in the World Series. I have no favorite this time, so may the best team – at that moment in time – win.

It was supposed to go down to 31 degrees last night, so I covered up the porch plants, but look what I saw right outside the kitchen door this morning:

The temp must have stayed above freezing. We caught another break. The rest of the week should be a bit warmer, though I am fully aware that after I leave next week, all bets are off. In fact, I think we’re supposed to have some snow showers next week. It is November, after all. It’s also my birthday month – and it’s a big one – so I’ll be celebrating it in Chicago with Don.

Happy Wednesday.

April Showers

A Bit of Green and a Splash of Aqua

Stella, Plants, & Morning Glories

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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