garden — Page 150

A Foggy Haze on Wednesday Morning

September 7, 2016 at 9:59 am by Claudia

My husband made me coffee this morning after a rather tough night for yours truly – an allergy attack that had me coughing for quite a long time. We mowed yesterday and there’s a lot of pollen floating around out there, not to mention the ragweed I found right at the end of our driveway! Do I leave it or do I pull it? Pulling it might do as much damage as leaving it, don’t you think?

This morning, in my foggy haze, this is what I saw outside the kitchen window. Keep in mind that it was shot through the window and then through the chicken wire fence:

9-7 bunnyandgoldfinch

A bunny and a goldfinch. Both were happily eating, seemingly unaware of each other. A hearty yay for two reasons: this particular bunny that I inadvertently frightened off one day is back, and I saw a goldfinch – a bird! – when all my birdie friends seem to be flying south. I also saw a bluejay this morning. That makes me happy.

I forgot to add this photo to yesterday’s recap:

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Husband playing guitar on porch.

9-7 vines

Waiting for morning glory blooms. And, maybe, just maybe, moonflower blooms. I’m doubtful about the moonflowers, but never say never. Come on guys! What if we get an early frost? I need to see some blooms!

Hanging in there and still going for the time being:

9-7 purplephlox

9-7 whitephlox

Thank goodness for phlox, which really lasts a long time!

I’m reading a bit of nonfiction at the moment, before I start a novel I have to review next Monday. After reading something as powerful and exquisitely written as A Great Reckoning by Louise Penny, I find I have to take a break for a few days. I do this partly because I want to linger on the story and world in which I was so deeply immersed. But I also do it because heading right into another novel that I have to review would be unfair. I’d be unconsciously comparing it to the Penny. I need to ‘clean the slate.’ I think I’ll be ready to start the novel tomorrow. Maybe today.

In the meantime, I’m finishing up Barbara Cook’s autobiography. She may very well be my favorite singer.

Have you seen Philomena with Judi Dench and Steve Coogan? We watched it the other night on Netflix and it was simply wonderful! Best movie we’ve seen in a long time. Beautifully acted by both Dench and Coogan.

Happy Wednesday.

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Falling Leaves, Blooming Flowers and Tasks Completed

September 1, 2016 at 9:35 am by Claudia

The first day of September brought rain during the night and a foggy, cool and wet morning. It’s as if Mother Nature said, “See? It’s now September. Prepare for Autumn. Now.”

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This is what I’m looking at this morning. Leaves on the roof, in the gutter, on the ground.

I’m not ready yet, Mother Nature. You may be. But I’m not quite there. Give me a bit more time, won’t you?

Thank goodness for the Memorial Garden. Yet again while in my pajamas (new ones, thank you very much!) I went outside to record what’s happening there.

9-1 morningglorybuds

Those are morning glory buds, my friends! Better late than never. I love morning glories and one of the pleasures of late summer/early autumn here is the chance to see their beauty. And photograph them, of course.

9-1 moonflowerleaves

On the other hand, this is the moonflower vine, which has really taken off and is climbing up the trellis and on the fence. Gorgeous, green and all over the place – but no flower buds in sight. Not a one. I planted these seeds late in the Spring, so I’m still hoping. I examine it every day. I do so hope it blooms, but even if it doesn’t, I love looking at these large, beautiful heart-shaped leaves.

9-1 rose

The roses given to me in honor of my father are still blooming! This one opened up today.

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As is the Sentimental Balloon Flower. Beautiful.

Oh yesterday, what a day! On very little sleep, I was bound and determined to finish sorting receipts, going through bank records, calculating and recording so that we could submit our deductions for 2015 today. Six hours at the desk, with a quick break here and there, while Don was downstairs calculating his deductions.

Darned if we didn’t finish! Today I’m mailing them off to our accountant. I’m sure we’ll owe money, the only question is how much. Gulp. (Doesn’t seem fair that our hard-earned and long-awaited Social Security is taxed. Boo.) But I feel a great sense of accomplishment – silly, really – because I tackled this task I detest and met my deadline. On about three hours sleep.

Last night, I slept beautifully and started the morning with some Peet’s French Roast and some Louise Penny.

I thought I had mentioned that we wanted to travel next year – I did, didn’t I? Maybe I just hadn’t mentioned where we wanted to go. I have a modest inheritance from my father. Don has always expressed a longing to visit England (we’re both Anglophiles). I’ve been there several times, but he hasn’t. On the other hand, I have never been to Paris (though he has). So I decided that I was going to use part of the inheritance so that we can take this long-dreamed-of trip.

I’m not sure when it will take place because I have coaching commitments from late December of this year through May of next year. Maybe right after that. I think my dad would be very happy indeed that he is giving us the gift of this trip.

Happy Thursday.

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Our Very Own Morning Glory

August 29, 2016 at 8:55 am by Claudia

Monday, Monday.

Now that song is playing in my head. Not a bad song to be hearing, though; I like the Mamas and the Papas.

Today? Write a post, gather tax info because I delayed doing that over the weekend due to lack of sleep, mow the lawn or at least part of it, drink coffee, read, take a walk.

I walked the trail yesterday sans Don. It was humid and hot out there, but I made myself do it because I’m determined to make this part of my daily routine and exercise surely must help one get a good night’s sleep? I hope so! Anyway, I did sleep well last night, so maybe I’m right.

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So much of the garden is slowing down, preparing for the seasonal change. It’s nice to see the Memorial Garden taking off, albeit late in the game. I’m not sure when we finally got around to planting seeds, but it wasn’t until the end of May at the very least. So the morning glories, moonflowers, and forget-me-nots are just getting to the bloom stage.

Sweet forget-me-nots.

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The sentimental balloon flower surprised me this morning – another bloom!

8-29 scoutmarker

I put Scout’s marker (a gift from Linda) between the forget-me-nots and the morning glories. She was such a joyous girl. Every morning, as I came down the stairs, she used to jump off the sofa and run over to me and, as I sat down on the bottom step, she’d nuzzle her head between my legs. She loved the dawn of each new day, that girl. She was our very own morning glory.

I’m going to order two more markers; for Winston and Riley. Next year, we’ll add even more plants to our little garden. But this is a nice start.

T-minus one day until the new Louise Penny! I cannot wait. In the meantime, I’m reading M. J. Arlidge’s newest, Little Boy Blue. It’s already been published in England and will be published here in October. I promise to review it on Just Let Me Finish This Page, but that will be closer to the publishing date. I can tell you this: as with all Alridge’s thrillers/police procedurals, this one is chilling.

Happy Monday.

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A Foggy Haze on Wednesday Morning

Falling Leaves, Blooming Flowers and Tasks Completed

Our Very Own Morning Glory

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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