Category Archives: my garden

favorite garden pictures

I’m no sugar and spice girl.

I’m not a girly girl. I never have been, never will be. Proof of that hit me yesterday when my neighbor’s son came to the gate and told me he’d found a bunch of worms for the Koi. I let him in, we went over to the pond, and I asked him if he wanted to feed the fish. Nope, he didn’t want to handle the worms. He handed me the large plastic drink cup in which he had them contained. I giggled. I couldn’t help myself. I was trying to figure out how he’d picked up the worms without handling them.

I was always a tom boy. I started fishing as soon as I was able to hold a fishing pole. If we went fishing with Grandpa or my Father, we had to bait our own hooks. Worms don’t bother me. I remember chasing a cousin or two with a nice big night crawler.

I remember when the boys in school would try to scare me with a snake or a mouse and I didn’t scream and run. Instead, I’d squeal, “Oh, how cute! Can I hold it?” Picture their disappointed little faces.

When I came in from playing outside, much to my mother’s chagrin, I was as filthy as all the neighborhood boys were. Dad thought it was a hoot.

Have a happy and safe 4th of July!

Posted in Misc, my garden, Writer, Writing

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Evolving into a water creature

Jun 21

Posted by doggonedmysteries

I may be a Pisces but I don’t want to turn into a fish. When I woke up today, I thought I saw the beginnings of webs growing between my toes. I checked myself in the mirror for fear I may have some rudimentary gills erupting too. Is that moss covering my north side? Am I growing mold? Scifi or Darwin? You decide. All I know is, I want at least a week straight of sunny weather.

Since April, we’ve had 43 days of rain. Yes, I said 43 days of rain. It’s no wonder my yard is a swamp. When we actually do have a day of sun everybody stops, looks at the sky, and wonders if we should make a sacrifice to Ra. I forget what does the sky look like without clouds?

Farmers around here are worried that we are getting too much rain. I know if we had more sun I might have more green tomatoes on my plants but with all the rain a lot of the blossoms have dropped off the plants. I’m glad that some tomatoes had time to set, but at this sunless rate, they may never ripen.

Posted in Misc, My blog, my garden

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Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Pond, Ponds, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing

Someone stole summer

Jun 17

Posted by doggonedmysteries

It is 51 degrees outside right now and it was only in the mid 60’s today. For heaven’s sake, it’s June! Who stole the summer weather? Where has the warm weather gone? Global warming? Not here. It’s more like Global cooling. This has to be the coolest, wettest June we’ve ever had. Normally we are running our air conditioners at this time of year because it’s too hot for Dear Hubby without them.

Our electric bill should be nice without the use of the AC. But, gosh darn it I want to sit outside in the evening without the need for a light jacket or an umbrella. I like summer. I enjoy sitting out by the pond at night.

I was talking to one of my cousins the other night. He says that they are (in Upper Western NY State) having mosquito problems this year. He told me he just came into the house from the horse pasture and had to walk through clouds of over-sized bloodsuckers. I must remember to pack my mosquito repellent when I go visit them. And from the way it sounds, I’ll need the giant economy sized container.

You know you’re dating yourself when you can remember playing in the DDT spray when the mosquito sprayers came through. Yeah, it’s a wonder that our generation survived.

Posted in Misc, my garden

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Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing

Mindless Monday

Jun 15

Posted by doggonedmysteries

I think I’ve lost my mind. Sometime while I was getting the dinner dishes done, cleaning Gavin’s ears, thinking about my dentist appointment tomorrow afternoon, and trying to figure out what to post tonight, my mind wandered off by itself and hasn’t returned. I’m betting it’s going to be one of THOSE days when I wake up.

We had sun so I worked in the yard again. The ground is so wet that it made weed pulling easy. We had such a pounding rain last night that I had to tie up some of my flowers and trim others back. My Cranesbill was completely flattened and looked as though someone had placed an anvil on it. I had to trim that way back. I was glad I’d taken the time to trim back my huge baby breath plant a week ago or it would’ve been flattened too.

If it rains tomorrow, I think I’ll curl up with a good book after I get home from the dentist and relax.

Posted in Misc, My blog, my garden

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Tags: Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Pond, Ponds, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing

Commando trained weeds take over the gardens

Jun 13

Posted by doggonedmysteries

We actually had sunshine today. What a lovely change from the last several dreary, rainy days. The pups were ecstatic about being able to go for a walk, so was I for that matter. We don’t walk a long distance but we do it at a brisk pace. Both the dogs and I are panting when we finish.

After the walks, I was in the gardens weeding for hours again. Geez, I can’t get ahead of them no matter how hard I try. They must be commando trained. I get one area weeded and those darned weeds sneak over to another one and laugh at me. They can’t grow that tall in such a short time, can they?

My leather gardening gloves have holes in the finger tips I guess it’s time to buy some new ones. I can’t use those cotton ones because we have some prickery weeds that can bite through them.

After a day of weeding, I can tell I’m getting older. My knees, hands, and back ache. At least that’s the only time I feel my age.

I added some pictures to my pond and garden page today. I took them the other day in between rain storms. I hope you enjoy them.

Posted in Dog related, Misc, My blog, my garden

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Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Pond, Ponds, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing

The great robin rescue

Jun 11

Posted by doggonedmysteries

First, let me get this straight. I don’t like heights. I don’t like to climb ladders, cliffs, or tall fire towers. I occasionally will still climb trees but I feel more secure in them than I do on a ladder.

Today when I took Patty out I heard a fluttering in the top of the magnolia tree. I didn’t think anything of it. Then I took Gavin out and heard it again. This time I looked up. There, high in the tree was a robin dangling on a string from a small branch. I’m a real softy when it comes to creatures in trouble but for the life of me, I couldn’t quite figure out how I was going to save this bird. He was awful high up in the tree.

“Hmm, ladder? Oh, crap I hate ladders and Dear Hubby is asleep so I can’t ask him to stand there and hold it steady for me.”

The poor bird flapped frantically.

“Okay, I’ll get the ladder.” I dragged the step ladder off the porch and climbed up to the top. Knees shaking, hands sweating. “No way I can reach you. Now what? Broom?” Climbed down the ladder. Climbed back up the ladder. Tried the broom—not even close. “Well, crap. Maybe the long pole branch cutter.” Long, poled, very, heavy branch cutter that could easily knock me off kilter. Don’t forget I’m also a klutz. There I am with the long pole balanced against a tree branch so I can climb the dreaded ladder. The robin is still dangling and watching me with trepidation. I slowly make my way up the ladder, reach for the cutter, and haul it up. Next comes the hard part. (As if all of this wasn’t difficult enough.) I now have to extend this 8 foot long, very heavy pole with a cutter on the end up above my head and try not to hit the now panicking, wildly wing flapping robin.

My plan was to cut the small branch as near to his foot as I could. (If I didn’t over balance and fall off the ladder.) I eased the cutter closer to the crazed bird. I hooked it onto the branch and suddenly the bird was flapping downward. I hadn’t cut the branch but somehow managed to clip the string. I eased the cutter down to the ground, rested it against a low branch, and climbed off the ladder. I was glad to be on solid ground, though from the way it looked not nearly as glad as the robin. Once he caught his breath, he shot out of the yard like a red and brown arrow.

Posted in Misc, My blog, my garden

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Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing

Weeds, rain, Koi, and worms

Jun 8

Posted by doggonedmysteries

Whew. It’s a good thing we had another sunny day. When I said that all that rain made the plants happy, I should’ve said the weeds were the happiest. I spent all afternoon and most of the evening (while there was still enough light) pulling weeds. I’ve only managed to clear the garden against the back fence and the backside of the pond garden.

Unfortunately, the weather report predicts rain for tomorrow and Tuesday so all my work might’ve been for nothing. Two more rainy days and those weeds will be shooting up like sky rockets. I hate to think about the growth spurts the weeds I didn’t pull will go through.

While I pulled weeds, I found a bunch of worms and as I found them, I tossed them into the pond. My Koi were going crazy—they sure do love worms. If I take the time, they’ll take them right out of my hands. Tiki and Yang are real pigs about worms and will fight for the chance to get first grab.

Posted in My blog, my garden

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Tags: Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Fish, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Humor, Koi, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Pond, Ponds, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing

Frog songs and gardening

Jun 3

Posted by doggonedmysteries

It was such a lovely night tonight that instead of watching TV Dear Hubby and I sat out by the pond listening to our bullfrogs sing. No, they didn’t sing The Michigan Rag. Gosh darn it, we could’ve made a fortune if they had—no, wait they’d only sing for us and everyone else would think we were crazy. Think? Heck, I know we are.

I spent most of the day pulling weeds, dead heading flowers, cleaning algae off the waterfall and rocks, backwashing the filters, and cutting back overgrown plants. DH spent the morning with his mother and then rode the mower around our yard. I think I got the better part of that deal.

We have a ground cover growing near the waterfall. I spent several hours thinning it out. I have no idea what its name is. What I do know, is that it hides the wild strawberries and those, ever so devious, hummingbird vines until they are well established and difficult to remove. I thought I liked hummingbird vine, well I did actually, until I planted it in my yard. Now it is a curse. It’s invasive as hell, as difficult to control as a fresh from the wilds mustang, and a real pain in the aster to pull out.

Posted in my garden

A klutz’s guide to yard work

May 31

Posted by doggonedmysteries

Dear Hubby finally listened to me and bought a weed whacker that isn’t too heavy for me to handle. I really like this one. It is battery powered. There’s no electric cord to drag around or heavy gas tank to struggle with or refill.

Today was sunny and warm. I decided to trim around the yard and gardens. I was blithely trimming away then I stepped backwards and tripped over a couple of bricks. As I looked at the sky, I pondered. Why was I seeing the sky? Gee, the hummingbird vine on the arbor needs trimming. I hoped none of the neighbors saw me do that double deluxe flip. Maybe I could tell them I was trying some new gymnastic move. Yeah, sure. They’d believe that.

Time to take inventory. Hey feet, you okay? Yeah, we’re fine. Ankles? Still here. Legs and knees? We’re a go. Hips? Not a problem. Back? Spry as ever. Shoulders, arms, and head? Ready. Whew.

Okay, the human was fine, but how was the machinery? I stood, picked up the weed whacker, turned it on and it worked too. What a relief. I shut it off. Then I heard my neighbor yell from her bedroom window, “Glad you got up. I was ready to send my husband over to check on you.”

Rats.

Posted in Misc, my garden, Writer, Writing

7 Comments

Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing

Patty as Esther Williams

May 29

Posted by doggonedmysteries

Patty hates baths, rain, wet towels, washcloths, and squirt guns. I’ve spent hours and numerous cookies trying to coax and or trick her into the bathtub to give her a bath. Once I get her in the tub, she cringes in the corner, tucks her tail, ducks her head, and looks pitiful. You send her out in the rain and you get the same reaction. You would think you were killing her if you try to wipe her face with a wet paper towel or washcloth. That is if you can catch her because when she see’s you coming at her with one she runs, hides in the back of her crate, and plays invisible dog.

Now if only someone could explain her fascination with the pond. Why is it, that when I turn my back for a second, I’m certain to find her standing on the rock ledge readying herself for an Esther Williams swan dive? Maybe she does this to make me yell. Could it be that she thinks my blood pressure needs a boost? She’s never actually gone in. However, she occasionally takes a drink while teetering on the edge just to make me crazy.

Posted in Dog related, my garden

6 Comments

Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, comedy, Craft of writing, Crafts, Dead, Disability, Dog humor, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pet humor, Pets, Pond, Ponds, Rescue Dogs, Writer, Writing

Balance has returned to our pond

May 27

Posted by doggonedmysteries

We’ve been hoping to have breeding Koi again. A couple years back someone got into our yard, dumped a car battery in the pond, and killed all of our Koi. I was heartbroken, they were our pets, they had names, and they ate food from our hands. We had to work hard to clean out the pond, replace all the plants, snails, frogs—everything and get the pond back into balance. Some of our baby Koi had gone to friends’ ponds over the years and they very graciously gave a few back to get us going again. We also bought a few small Koi.

Late last night I took the flashlight out to the pond. A couple of weeks ago one of our Koi laid eggs and at night, shining a flashlight into the water, is the only time you can spot the fry (teensy newly hatched babies for those of you who don’t know fish terms.) Yes, we have babies. At least one that I know of and it looks like it might be yellow or white.

Proof to me that our pond is finally back to where it should be. We have nine frogs that we’ve seen, there could be more. We have eight large Koi about four or five years old and one that is small and is probably two years old. There are snails, the water lilies are blooming, and I’ve even spotted a few salamanders. Life in the pond is back to normal now if only we can keep Patty from trying to dive in there.

Posted in My books, my garden

6 Comments

Be careful what you wish for

May 7

Posted by doggonedmysteries

My gardens were looking dry over a week ago and I was hoping for a little bit of rain. I said a little rain. I didn’t mean monsoon season. We are now into our ninth day of rain. It’s been pouring all night. The yard is turning into a swamp and the Koi are thinking of going exploring. Even the frogs seem depressed with all the rain, probably because the bugs are in hiding. I don’t think they make umbrellas for flies or galoshes for beetles.

Dear Hubby mowed the grass the day before the monsoon hit and the yard looks as though it’s grown several feet. If this keeps up much longer, I’m going need a machete to get from the back door to the pond. My flowers are thrilled with all the moisture, but then so are all the weeds. The weeds are like an army of rampaging hookers attempting to take over the garden beds.

We thought we’d fixed the leak in the basement. It hadn’t leaked for over a year. However, tonight it has sprung forth anew. It looks like it’s back to the drawing board on that repair. I think Gibbs from NCIS has the right idea. Maybe I should be building a boat down there.

Posted in Misc, my garden

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Doggonedmysteries

Life as viewed from the skewed perspective of a mystery writer

Category Archives: my garden

I’m no sugar and spice girl.

Evolving into a water creature

Someone stole summer

Mindless Monday

The great robin rescue

Weeds, rain, Koi, and worms

Frog songs and gardening

A klutz’s guide to yard work

Balance has returned to our pond

Be careful what you wish for

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