The miracle hydrangeas, back from the dead!

I spent hours cutting back most of the dead wood, spurred on by the appearance of tiny little shoots coming out of the ground. I think that I’ve checked on them just about every day since then. And look! They’re tall and the flowers are far bigger than they were in the past. One bloom is over 10 inches across.

I’m so thrilled by this. Thanks to those of you who told me not to give up. I was ready to write it off. Boy, do I need this, to see renewal and regrowth out of seemingly nothing. It’s also so much healthier.

As we were leaving for the grocery store yesterday, I saw this great spangled frittilary on one of the coneflowers. (My favorite butterfly name.)

Just about to fully open.

It’s spectacularly beautiful out there. After an incredibly rainy spring, we’re in our first stretch of several days with no rain. We may get some storms tomorrow. I’ve noticed that both of our rivers are low. It happens every summer.

I started the new puzzle and worked on it quite a bit yesterday as I stayed true to our “Day of Rest” Sunday. The only thing I did outdoors was to get in the car to go to the grocery store with Don, and water all of my plants. The rest of the time was spent quietly.

I even slept in a bit this morning.

FYI, the starting time of the  January 6th Committee hearing tomorrow has been changed to 1 pm EST.

Can’t wait!

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

The rose on day three.

I did more work outside yesterday, running out for some more pine bark mulch before I did more and more weed pulling. Then I topped it all off with said mulch.

By that time, my back was complaining, so I began the long process of moving things to the unofficial compost pile and doing some general clean up.

The Dude, who seems to function as our own particular Buddha, is pleased.

That pine bark mulch is a bit too big, so I’ll add some shredded mulch to the mixture. But for the next few days – it’s going to rain here – this should be fine. Note to self: next year, clean up of this area in the early, early spring, then replenish the mulch. It was so overgrown there that I briefly forgot that Don had added stepping stones.

There’s more weeding to be done and lots of pruning, but Mother Nature has given me an excuse to rest up a bit before I get back to it.

We are looking forward to today’s hearing. I just read that there will be two more hearings next week. Bring ’em on!

As you well know, there have been several (now former) readers of this blog who have defended he-who-shall-not-be -named. Some comments left here were vile, as I have sadly come to expect from his supporters. Seems to go with the territory. In most cases, I blocked them. My home, my choice. What I find interesting is that before His Evilness emerged to run for President, the comments  left on this blog by these people were normal, everyday observances. Nothing in those words could have prepared me for the odious underside that emerged. The words, “wolves in sheep’s clothing” come to mind. I guess this is on my mind because I recently read a comment from one of those people on another blog and realized that I could never think of that person in the same way again.

I fear for our country, for our democracy.

Stay safe.

Happy Tuesday.