Week #8 Porch Shot

Porch Shot

Hollyhocks

Mallow

Week 8 already...I planted a walking stick that got me home on a very icy road when my car couldn't one night a few years ago. It's where I want the left side of the arbor to be. The rose is already reaching out for its support. Maybe it's a climbing rose after all. Hannah is coming down for the 4th and will be here just in time for the Hollyhock bloomation. The Mallow has also decided to bloom today in all its pinkness. A little steamy sunshine always seems to bring out more flowers. I noticed that there are no honey bees around for polination and that hornets and ants seem to be doing their best at filling in. I hope the bees can make a comeback one of these years for the love of honey!

Smiling Metal Face and Mr. Blblblble

These two just seemed to belong together. They seem to enjoy each others' company. Maybe there'll be fireworks tonight? I'll be looking for faces to add to this garden wall....

Mileage Report Week #2

Another really good report - 515.2 miles from 11.279 gallons. Once again I'm really thrilled....45.677808 mpg. This is a very satisfying experiment fellow scientists!

Root Canal - Where does it hurt most?

Although the jaw is still pretty sore from 2+ hours in the chair, my wallet will be hurting a lot longer..... Still, at least it's over with and time to go on to happier things. I'm still happy about the arbor idea and have been designing in my head for the last day or so....I wonder if the tooth thing will work it's way into the design? It just might.

Last night.

Today.

Budding Gardener

Sarah's blog discusses the conversation we had yesterday about my feeling like a garden neophite after looking at her site and Black Swamp girl's.
Well, I still feel that way but in a good way. One of the problems we talked about was the fact that my yard is relatively small, and that I live in a trailer, so I worry a bit about going over the top sometimes....you know....bronze lions, pillars, fountains and the like.
I've been thinking about making an arbor where the porch shots were taken, but I was a little worried that it may too much or something, but Sarah assured me it would be ok. I had an arbor in the entryway of the house I grew up in and it just feels so inviting....
We looked at some natural arbors woven from twigs and sticks, driftwood etc....not sure what I'll do but now I think it's my next project....I'll leave the gilding off...or maybe I should just go all out and make it really fantastic....

The Kitties Profile

This is the first time I got somewhat good pictures of all my girls. They don't really like to be photographed - most likely because of the flash....but it's difficult to get any picture at all without the flash when you're indoors.....




This is Sid, the eldest cat....though only 6. She's a pretty good catcher if you throw her a ball but loses interest rather quickly. She has better concentration skills with Tuna juice. Sid is very friendly and would meow in agreement, but she only has a high pitched and barely audible meow, so you might miss it.

This is a double-decker shot of Lola and Sid. You've seen Lola before...she showed up at that same door last fall as a very small ball of fur that decided she wanted to live here...and decided not to be one of the many stray cats around here that struggle through the year. She's well cared for and well loved now, and is a constant source of amusement. Lola is a very devoted fetcher of a particulary ratty looking stuffed mouse.

This is Pakhet, the very small, but 4 year old adult cat. She is named after an Egyptian half-lion, half woman goddess who guards, rips and shreds, and balls up carpets - but no matter - Pakhet is my favorite small grey cat. She, like Moo below is also very shy except with me.....

So here's Muca (most often referred to as Moomoo). She was a bit more willing to pose for pictures when I was outside looking in. Moo is 1 year old this month and is very shy. You can't see it, but she has a small white bib. She is very vocal and seems to have to stretch more than any cat in the world....

STELLAAAAAH!

Stella can't run but she's pretty.

Trumpet vine, also loved by humming birds.

Broccoli, loved by me, leaves and all.

I waited and waited to catch a shot of the humming birds at the feeders but wasn't quick enough. Then, after snapping a couple defenseless plants, the mosquitos and some bees that are trying to make a home of my unscreened porch came and drove me indoors to the screenporch and the ballgame on the radio. Poor Stella couldn't fly so I snapped her. But heck....she's beautiful too...
I was wondering if broccoli leaves were edible and sure enough they are hardly distinguishable from kale or collards, but more bitter as they grow larger, and as an added bonus have more beta carotene than the fleurets. I had two big bowls of salad with mixed greens to try to make up for the effects of the antibiotics taken for the upcoming root canal. There's nothing quite like fresh greens from your own little garden....except maybe getting a good picture of the humming birds at your own feeder perhaps?

The broccoli will be ready to pick soon if it isn't already, and peas too. Small comforts are sometimes just enough when things don't exactly go your way aren't they? Humming birds will have to wait another day I 'spose.

Week #7 Porch Shot

It's a little damp out there but there's still a porch shot...the bee balm is getting in the way of the full view but - in a good way. Herbs seem quite content with the moisture and the peas are happily pea-ing away....ah so satisfying to be a very small farmer....heh heh heh.

Lamb's Ear

The Lamb's ear is looking sooooo large - almost large enough to support a heavy fruit. It's getting this little pineappley thing that will probably be some kind of flower, but I'll let you know if it does indeed turn into a pineapple instead. It's not that I really want my name in the paper for being (probably) the first person to get a pineapple from a Lamb's Ear, but I think I'd prefer pineapple to a silk purse say.....

Done Priming - Long List

It's 10:30 am and I've already gone to the recycling center, Lowe's for paint and screening. Now the lawn, more painting, and maybe some weedwacking. Tomorrow will be an inside day since there's rain on the way....I hope it all works out.
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Smiling Metal Face

Well....Hannah didn't know how well this would go with the mileage report when she made it in welding class.....small things mean a lot.

Mileage Report

I'm really pleased with the outcome of the experiment this week...42.743056 mpg!!!!! I could have easily gotten over 500 miles out of this tank but I wanted to be true to science and fill up at the same time of day, and I was quite excited to know the results. I noticed that my gas guage always registers higher in the afternoon when temps are higher, so I went with the same reading...That means the experiment will continue and I'll try to repeat or better the outcome. Some days are just better than others aye?

Well, There's Always the Garden

No lying - it really did turn out RED!

Flashy snap pea blossoms aye?

Arugula has bolted.

Nasturtiums being Nasturtiums as only they can.

Lola - The rice and Bonita tuna flake carpet spreader....welcome home Mommy!

I went to the dentist today thinking I'd be getting a root canal but got some antibiotics and confirmation that I need a root canal that has been scheduled for next Thursday. The interesting part came when I was informed it would cost $671 out of pocket.
When I got home there was about 3/4 cup of Batsmati rice and Bonita Tuna flakes scattered in the kitchen and hall - I'm certain it was intended to represent some kind of welcome-home-you've-had-a-bit-of-a-dissapointing-day sort of gesture. Nevertheless, after thanking the thoughtful kitty for her efforts I felt inclined to review today's garden progress rather than express my full appreciation at that moment. Just as in human life there's always something new in the garden, which is always a comfort and a reminder that all things pass. It's not always exactly what you want but as they say - It's the thought that counts aye?

Week 6 Porch Shot

Well, here it is....already week #6. I spent all of Saturday working on scraping and priming the screen porch on the other side of the house....it was very pealy...seems as though the previous owner painted it without priming it first. I got most of the priming done, but as you can see there's some left to do. The weather was not good for painting on Sunday so other projects called. I hope to finish it up sometime this week and perhaps put actual paint on it next weekend, replace the screens and perhaps replace the rotton step that I removed.

Before......

Post Scraping.....










As far as I got....

Do you know what this is?

It came up last year and I'm not sure if I should leave it or pull it up.
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What a Difference a Couple Days Make

Whew! Things are blooming and growing like crazy plants! I didn't take any photos yesterday, so the garden monitor has some breaking news.
There are so many parallels with life for all of us who garden. Plants do what they are meant to do and look beautiful doing it.
Why is it that for all our intelligence that the drive to bloom and grow eludes so many people? We too are at our best when we do what we do best. Why are we so hobbled? I told you I have a lot of questions....

Science Experiment

My father was a science teacher at West High School from 1958-1962 until he died. I know he was always interested about how things work and that he'd be amazed at how much things have changed. Me too, both because whenever we wondered about something my mother always sent us to the encyclopedia (that my father sold to make a living and to supplement his meager teacher's salary) and because I just have a lot of questions.

I came home tonight to a bill tacked to my door for the kerosene fill-up I ordered earlier this week. $1,100.78 for 220 gallons that I hope will get me through next winter. I have a very strong aversion to putting things on my charge card, but I don't think I'm alone in feeling uncertain about how ends will meet. I'm gambling that prices will not go down so.... Still, I'm grateful that I'm able to take what I hope is an advantage of being able to do this. So, for now, swallow and schedule weekly tranfers to my credit card.

The science part comes in with the not so new realization that savings have to be found somewhere between lobster and ramen noodles because neither diet works for me.....

Last night I filled my gas tank. I'm getting 36.98 mpg with my Honda Civic since I mostly drive on the highway. I decided to try a small change in my driving habits - going 60 mph instead of my usual 65-70 on the highway for this tank just to see what kind of mileage I'll get. I also shut off my car if I have to wait long for a light. By now I know the light patterns, take advantage of coasting, and try to time my approach to city lights when I do drive there.

Sarah came to the same conclusion independently this past weekend while driving to Beverly MA in her Honda Element, and was pleased to get 30mpg. So we'll be giving the results of the experiment as we go. We both have relatively long comutes, so it doesn't take that long to go through a tank of gas.

Already on my first day I noticed one unexpected benefit: I had a much calmer trip because almost everyone was passing me and I pretty much had the road to myself. On the way home tonight I noticed other people going as slow as me - or even slower....could it be a trend fellow scientists?....Happy father's day wherever you are....

Hannah's Iris

As hoped for - the yellow Iris opened today. We didn't know what color they'd be since we picked them out of a bin at the Agway. They're still pretty, but not as fierce looking as the Blue Flags. Today was a pretty good day, but a lot of running around. It reached 100 in Manchester and the sign in Nashua read 103 around 3pm. I left the AC on for the kitties (and me for when I got home) and it was just 84 compared to 90 when I got home yesterday.
I called the oil company to have my tank filled now since I have no hope that the price will go down before winter. Today the price for kerosene was 4.99.9 up from 3.79.9 I paid last December. I wonder how people are going to stay warm next winter and why we can't have just half of this heat then? I hope that having these pictures will sustain me.

First Blue Flag!

It was't open this morning but now? OPEN! They're so much more alert looking than the more domestc Iris. Probably because they're more wild and fierce.

First Rose Predicted to Be - Probably Redish

This Rose has not bloomed for the four years I've been here - until this year, so we finally get to see what color it will most likely be - red, pink or redish pink perhaps. But if I'm wrong I'll probably have to go to someone else's garden and photograph their red roses to cover my tracks. Luckily photography can sometimes fill in the grey area, also photoshop can too. This is my second favorite time (to morning) to take pictures. Maybe I'll change porch shot #6's photo time to evening.
The yellow looking mystery Iris will probably open tomorrow. It's a little sad that the focus is already off the Lupines. Sarah informed me that I misspelled (previously sp. "Lupin" in previous posts) but - I think I still got my point across aye?
The last photo I think will most likely close the book on identifying the second horticultural mystery of the day posed on Sarah's blog. I think here we see a more mature phase of the weed in question only slightly different.

Painted Hallway by Louise

OK here it is - The hallway with paint and virtuallly no damage to surrounding areas. Hannah describes my usual painting skills as like giving paintbrush to a seizure victim. Ah, to know one's limitations and still keep trying.

What I call Indian Paintbrush but....

I don't think that's correct....Maybe Sarah will straighten me out on that since Hannah has borrowed my wildflower book.
Yesterday I mowed the lawn but didn't want to mow them down. I associate them with strawberries since they always come around the same time, although I haven't found any berries. Still, there'll be blackberries later on...right around when the Queen Ann's lace comes out.

Light of good favor

This is week 5 porch shot. There was something on the lens like grease and lint I guess, but it made a sort of interestng effect that I prefer to consider a light of good favor for my gardens. The good favor extended to the house interior where I decided to finish painting the hallway that Hannah had started cutting in last week. Louise painting usually elicits frightened gasps, but in this case all turned out well, so perhaps I'm shaking off my handicap where painting is concerned.

Appease-eotomy?

My friend Sarah volunteered: When a person feels that their life is spent ignoring their own wants and wishes in order to appease others' does it not warrant an?....

Salad Eaters

Here is my daughter Hannah and Lola Tobitah in the foreground here doing her favorite helpful thing - crossword puzzle holding down.

Well, we finally had some salad from the garden last night. There was lots of Rocket(Arugula) in the mix, which always seems sort of Peanutty to me so I made a little peanutty dressing to go with.

I wished and hoped for rain really hard the last couple weeks and it continues to rain.....but that's still a good thing.

June 4th

Today was a pretty good day - busy, yet without crisis...except maybe for getting the Oompa Loompa song stuck in my head...It's usually not so much the song as not knowing the words and having to say in my head "Oompa Loompa doom-pe-de-doo, I've got another puzzle for you etc...then getting to the next line to the parts where you don't know the words. I'm always tempted to look up the words...I think it's a little compulsive since it bothers me until I do, but I haven't as yet...Sometimes I feel as though knowing will make it worse.

In other news - the water collection system has been replenished! I have two 55 gallon barrels that are now full AND 2 other 55 gallon barrels that aren't yet connected for lack of effort in hunting down spigots and the like to connect them. That would make two sets of 110 gallons...one from the shed gutter and one from the porch gutter - both visable from the shed shot and porch shot. Aah, but that's sort of boring isn't it? But it's like having water in the bank! Didn't we all laugh at the suggestion that we'd pay money for bottled water about 15 years ago?

Ready for the salad bowl

There's salad ready but the chillins haven't been here to share it. I wasn't going to plant veggies until they insisted so I feel as though they should be here for the first garden harvest. Shaw's and Market basket called twice but I said "You can't have my salad - It's for the chillins" and then hung up on them.

It rained a bit on my way home and I was hoping it would have rained in Tilton and so it had! The plants look so happy with water beaded up on them....especially the Lupins. I feel so pioneer-like praying for rain. I like having things be so basic as having rain, or having to water plants with the watering can, lugging water from the 55 gallon collection barrels...or the bathtub like Wally did last week.

Bejeweled Lupin

DIAMONDS! I told you I was rich!

Week Four Porch Shot

Well, here it is, week 4 already. It's a little darker than the rest because I took the picture in the evening....still there's always progress aye? Also, note the new lawnchair and webber grill bloom.