On Wednesday, I mowed the largest part of the front lawn. And then I mowed the Secret Garden. And then…even though I knew I was pretty darned tired, I mowed the lilac side of the front lawn. I did take about a 10 minute break in the middle of it all. That is a lot to mow with a push mower! I felt pretty proud of myself at the age of 73! Later in the day, however, I had a big old allergic reaction. My left nostril felt tingly and I started sneezing. I must have sneezed over 30 times in the next few hours. And it came back yesterday – more tingling, more sneezing. Crazy! Everything is bursting forth all over the property, I’m allergic to grass pollen, lots of mowing = a recipe for discomfort.
Yesterday, I made one last trip to the nursery and came home with two hanging plants and some small plants for two of my vintage pots. They’ll go in the Secret Garden.
I’m only filling two pots this year. The other two vintage pots are now at the porch entrance filled with pansies. I swept the porch, filled some trash bags, and I think the porch is ready to go!
I was determined to finish the wood floor in the Beacon Hill living room, so I went up to the studio. A few hours later, it was done.
It is such finicky and messy work. But it’s what I know and prefer. I watched a video of a guy who is an amazing miniaturist. He does his floors with thin veneer strips. I can see where this might be easier, but the veneer is too perfect and that’s not what I go for, as you well know. I like imperfections and slight gaps here and there between the floorboards – just like our floors here in the cottage. I like things to look old. I will be doing this in other rooms as well. Maybe a different stain color here and there, but this is an “old” house and it should look that way.
Now I start in on the baseboards.
It’s been a busy week. Don has a gig tonight. I may sneak in some back forty mowing when he leaves. Shhh! Don’t tell him.
And I have to sow my zinnia seeds.
Stay safe.
Happy Friday.
I saw an amazing contraption the other day when I was walking in my neighborhood. One of the neighbors had a lawn mowing machine that ran on its own with no person needed – like a “Roomba” for your lawn. It was interesting to watch it go back and forth so neatly. Of course, they are expensive, though.
Have a relaxing weekend! You deserve it.
Wow! I don’t think it would do so well on our hilly and definitely quirky lawn. I bet they’re very expensive!
Stay safe, Ellen.
you’ve done a lot and with beautiful results (allergic tingling and sneezing not included)! i know that you enjoy such things, but i hope you get enough rest.
hope don’s gig is crowded and he’s pleased with that. i was fortunate to see/hear him in chicago for “escape to margaritaville”, but would sure like to hear him in person perform his own music.
need to get going. follow-up appointment about the flashes of light and floaters in my eyes. hope that goes well.
happy friday! stay safe.
kathy
Thank you so much, Kathy. I hope your appointment went well.
Stay safe.
Good morning Claudia! The floor looks absolutely fantastic! Don’t you just love running your hand over that surface? (I do this with my tile floors in the Castle dollhouse… and the herringbone floor in the Dollmaker’s Studio….. it just feels so good!) I Love the color with the wallpaper… just dark enough but not too dark. And the worn look with the different pieces of wood that took the stain a bit differently… it really adds up to a beautiful soothing combination! Great job!! I am glad you have been able to get the plants for your porch… those outdoor spaces are sooo necessary here in the north where the summer is so brief. I spend hours on my porch embroidering and reading. And I know what you mean about feeling proud of your labors at this age (I am only a year or two behind you)… I added a path of concrete pavers (35 lbs. each) to the perimeter of my back yard garden this spring…. I was so empowered by the success of this task! I had been dreaming of it for years! I absolutely love walking this new path and do it every morning! As always, I look forward to seeing more of the Beacon Hill progress. You are creating a beautiful environment from that “abandoned” house!
Good for you, Betsy! It is extremely satisfying to accomplish something like your pavers!
Thank you, as always, for your encouragement.
Stay safe.
I think the floor looks wonderful! Do take care with those allergies. I can relate so I know they can be pretty miserable!
They are extremely intense this year. I basically stayed inside yesterday and they have calmed down.
Stay safe, Jeanie.
Yard work continues here…only a few more things to do, then I can go to the nursery to buy my containers plants, hopefully next week. We are expecting a frost tonight, temp down to 29, so we’ll be madly covering up our hostas in the hope we can save them. It’s been an ordeal and this aging body is not quite up to the task as I had hoped.
Your pots look lovely. Your coleus variety is what I always get for my pine bed.
Tomorrow the family is coming over to help spread mulch….such fun. But they will make short work of it, and then we can relax…I hope.
Enjoy your weekend! ;)
Oh, these late frosts are such a worry, aren’t they?
Send your family my way, will you? I could use some help mulching.
Stay safe, Donnamae.
I really would if I could!! ;)
xo
Wow! That is a lot of mowing with a push mower. You should be proud! The floor looks amazing. I am with you on everything looking old. Never go with the new trends and I am a designer. If you want new, you have to work with somebody else. I am always looking on Facebook Marketplace for good deals. We have a big ficus tree in our backyard that needs to be pruned. Bill called someone for an estimate. He came out….$725!! I don’t think so ! So guess what we will be doing this weekend?! Take care of those allergies!
That seems like a very expensive quote, Deb! You’ll probably do a better job, anyway.
Stay safe.
I think your floor turned out awesome. What a lot of work that must have been. I got paid for my six month house sit job. I wish I could buy another blythe doll, but I’ll have to see. Money isn’t growing on any tree and I think we need a plumber at our house. I have about 4 jobs for them. And there’s the dentist. Maybe Mike is right, and I’ll just order the doll anyways.
There is always something that needs fixing. We have those challenges as well. Do you know what doll you want, Irene?
Stay safe.