Blog Archives
Vined and died
Posted by doggonedmysteries
The heat wave finally broke today but not without some damage. We had thunder, lightning, and heavy rain. That didn’t do the damage, on top of all that; we had strong winds whip through after the rain.
In the back corner of our yard, we have a good-sized shed. Going up the side facing the alley we had four types of vines growing up and over the roof. Two types of ivy, bittersweet, and chocolate vine had all intertwined and created a lovely mantle over the boring aluminum shed. Ferns below covered any of the lower faults.
My first trip out into the yard with Gavin after the rain stopped the wind kicked up into high gear. When I took Patty out next, I was shocked to find that in a few minutes the wind had literally peeled all the vines off the shed. A huge mass of vines were now hanging by a few tendrils that had attached to the magnolia.
All I could do was put on my work gloves, haul out the trimmers, and get to work on clean up. I filled four forty gallon trashcans with vines by the time I finished. It took me three hours to clear away the mess. It was still hot and humid when I was working.
Now if I can find someone willing to paint the shed for me…
The winds continued through the evening but not as wild as in the afternoon. By 11 tonight, we’d cooled down to a very comfortable 61 degrees. The air conditioners are off and I opened the house to welcome fresh air.
Posted in Misc, my garden, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
DH and the dogs are air-conditioned couch potatoes
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I have one empty pot sitting out on the walk. I’m trying to figure out what sort of vegetable I’d like to put in it. Sure, I could do flowers but I so love fresh veggies. Maybe I’ll pick up some beet seeds and try them in the pot. I used to grow them in my garden when I had a huge veggie garden. We’ll see.
After the rains, we had yesterday and last night, all the veggies, whether in pots or by the back fence, have doubled in size. I found it rather surprising since I’ve watered them every day. Unfortunately, two of the patty-pan squash blossoms fell off…Sigh.
The southern flow of high heat and humidity has worn DH down to a nub. He’s barely functioning after he goes outside. The air conditioners are on and running for him. Heck, even the dogs are happier inside. They’ve become air-conditioned couch potatoes already.
We are both looking forward to the cooler temperatures and lower humidity heading our way from the north. It will be nice to be able to weed the gardens without having to take a million water breaks.
Posted in Dog related, MS related, my garden, Weather related, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
The klutz was out and about again
Posted by doggonedmysteries
So there I was running the trimmer around the edges of the yard and the garden when I ever so neatly landed on my butt. Yep, the klutz was out and about again today. This time I tripped over the two bricks and the hose that extend from the filters for use while back washing the pond filter. The hose spewed a bit of water so my pants were also wet. I looked lovely.
Yes, there are bruises. I have one on my butt, and another on my arm that I have no idea how I got one there. I’m betting by tomorrow there will be more. Not to mention the stiff muscles I’ll discover that I never knew I had. I narrowly missed spraining an ankle, again. I’m ever so glad no one saw me fall it couldn’t have been pretty.
Falling once was bad enough, but not five minutes later, I almost repeated the same pratfall on the same two bricks and hose. By now, I think I hold the klutz queen crown firmly within my grasp. Next time I’m moving the bricks and hose before I begin to trim.
However, with my luck I’ll find something else to fall over. I’m taking odds on that.
Posted in Misc, My blog, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, comedy, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
How does your garden grow?
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I’m pleased to say that all the tomato plants I put in have tripled in size and the plum tomatoes have blossoms. All of the pepper plants are growing tall and are loaded with flowers. This is the first time I’ve planted dill that the danged earwigs didn’t eat it to the roots within days. I guess planting it in a pot was the secret. The fennel plant looks good too.
There’s a lovely flower blooming on the patty pan squash and there are other buds a plenty. The sugar-baby watermelon vine has quadrupled in size and I do believe that also has buds. The acorn squash, the cucumber, and the cantaloupe are growing fast no buds yet but they’ll get there.
I don’t see any change in the lemon grass but at least it’s alive. I planted half of my black elephant ears in the pond garden and half in a pot. The ones in the pot are growing faster.
All of the new iris I planted are doing well and so are the other flowers. My oriental lilies are blooming. The stargazers are getting tall and have plenty of buds. I have a ton of coreopsis even after giving a bunch away to other gardeners along with some other iris I had to split. The day lilies have started to bloom. I took some pictures but have to download them.
Posted in hobbies, my garden, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Food, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
Too hot too soon
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Wow, did it get hot today. The temperature leapt to ninety-one. If you add to that a lot of humidity, you can be sure that DH was miserable. He turned on the AC.
The pups were happy since they like the AC and they squabbled for the best place on the floor in front of the unit. Share? Are you kidding? It’s like living with perpetual three-year olds.
I like the heat so it didn’t bother me. I did some work outside and then took advantage of the heavily shaded hammock. All was fine while there was a breeze, but when that stopped, I decided it was time to retire to the house where it was cooler.
I hadn’t realized how hot it was outside until I walked into the kitchen. The cool non-humid air hit me like a tall ocean wave and felt as refreshing. However, I do hate sitting in the house all the time so I was soon back outside.
I harvested the rhubarb and took some over to G. Then I baked a rhubarb custard pie for tonight’s dessert—pure heaven. DH was more than a little delighted.
Posted in Misc, My blog, my garden, Weather related, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Dogs, Family, Fiction, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
Who hid the Aleve?
Posted by doggonedmysteries
I didn’t count how many plants I bought on Monday. I did count them today. My jaw dropped when I hit forty-four. Yikes! I planted all but six of them today. Am I an idiot? Yes, yes I am. Because not only did I did dig thirty eight holes and stuff thirty eight plants into the ground I also dug out three large Iris groups, a few coreopsis, a couple of moss roses, two sedums, and by the time I finished, I felt as if the partridge and pear tree had come along for the ride.
Why did I dig up so much of my flora? (It barely put a dent in the garden) Wednesday, I was telling G that I needed to split many of my perennials this year. I knew she couldn’t take them. G’s tiny yard is already jam packed with flowers. For a postage stamp yard, it is gorgeous. I made the comment about wishing I knew someone who’d like some flowers.
M walks her dog past our yard daily, we’ve only talked briefly, and that was about Patty who wanted to eat her dog. Patty’s greatest desire is to wipe all dogs (except her big brother Gavin) off the face of the earth. I was sure I was on this young woman’s list of people to avoid. However, she was within earshot and I saw her eyes light up. I asked her if she gardened. She grinned. G and I introduced ourselves M told us her name and that she lived on the other side of the cemetery. The three of us talked for quite a while and M and I arranged for her to come for flowers today.
Around five, the yard is shaded, the rest of the time most of the gardens are in full sun. M arrived with a shovel and bin. I gave her a list of all I had available to split. We didn’t even come close to one of each item when we had filled her car. M will be back.
I still have a ton of iris to split, bleeding hearts are running rampant among the beds, and many other flowers that have bivouacked where they don’t belong. Jackie, bring a shovel and expect to work for your flowers. I’ll supply the coffee.
I’m sore tonight—not getting any younger. Where the heck is the Aleve?
Posted in My blog, my garden, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
Masochist or avid gardener?
Posted by doggonedmysteries
You would think that after spending four days away from home, suffering from self-induced sleep deprivation, and having the dogs and DH miss me, that for a day or two at least I wouldn’t go anywhere. If you thought that, you would be wrong.
Before I left for the conference, my neighbor and I made plans to go to our favorite nursery and do some shopping for our gardens. When did we plan to go on this expedition? We planned it for noon on Monday. Yeah, I never said I was the brightest light in the harbor.
What a fool I am. Besides having to do a ton of writing, I now have extra gardening work to do this week. Can you say masochist? Truly, because I didn’t buy a few plants, I bought many plants. I’ll be digging holes and planting for two days.
However, I couldn’t resist buying two of the black bearded iris since the one I had died two years ago and I couldn’t find any afterwards. Then I saw two different variegated ones and two more in colors I couldn’t resist. Have I ever mentioned that I have a weakness for bearded iris?
I needed flowers to plant in the cement flower boxes on the front porch. I saw other flowers that I thought would look nice in the side garden—and those too went on the little garden wagon.
I was there for tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants too and I found them. Then I saw the sugar baby watermelons and cantaloupe, not to mention acorn squash and patty pans. They were a tight fit but I got them on the wagon. I almost went to get another wagon but G mentioned that DH might kill me and that her hubby would make me ride home on the car roof if I overloaded their Suburban. It was close as it was. Between us, we filled the back and had to drop down and use half of the back seat. One more plant and I would’ve been on the roof.
Posted in hobbies, My blog, my garden, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Humor, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
Wordless Wednesday
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Tomorrow I am off to the conference. Thought I leave you these pictures to enjoy in my absence. I’ll post Monday.
Posted in hobbies, My blog, my garden, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
Preparing for the vegetable garden
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Our blueberry bushes didn’t make it through this past winter. I dug them out today. The catbirds will miss them. They raided them and almost cleared them off before I could harvest them last year. After the conference, I’ll put tomato, eggplant, and pepper plants where they were.
Two pots are ready for me to plant plum tomatoes alongside the house. Another pot will hold lettuce. I may try to squeeze a few more vegetables in among the flowers in the side garden.
The rhubarb is ready for the first picking. Oh boy, I can smell the rhubarb custard pie now. The cherry tree up in the cemetery must be loaded with cherries again. I keep finding cherry pits in my garden and the waterfall. Thanks to the birds.
If you feed squirrels, I am mad at you. The danged squirrels are digging holes in my garden to hide peanuts someone is giving to them. I can’t tell you how many I’ve tossed into the garbage. If you are going to feed the tree rats, at least give them shelled peanuts. That way they’ll eat them and not bury them.
Posted in My blog, my garden, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Writer, Writing
Conference countdown and happenings in the garden
Posted by doggonedmysteries
Six days to go. We picked up the last few items for the baskets we’re donating to the Chinese auction. Two of the baskets are on my kitchen table. My conference roommate has the others at her house. I almost pity the person who wins the one basket. They’ll need someone with a strong back and a weak mind to carry it to their car. Um, Dave? Did I just hear you volunteer?
DH has his cart charged and claims he is ready to handle the dogs. I bet that by the end of the first day, the dogs will be handling him. BTs are like that. Give them an inch they’ll take a mile.
For a change of subject, there’s a very noisy wren building a nest in a little birdhouse in the yard next door. It’s hard to believe that such a loud song can come from such a tiny bird. A pair of cardinals are busy constructing a nest in the chocolate vines and ivy on my shed. It’s a good thing they waited until the frogs left. We had one attempt to climb up the vines one night. After the frog fell from about three feet up DH dubbed him George of the jungle.
Posted in My blog, my garden, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pennwriters, Pennwriters conference, Writer, Writing
We don’t need rain right now…
Posted by doggonedmysteries
We sure did get a load of rain the night before last. From what I heard, it totaled over 3 inches worth. I’m glad I thought to tie up some of my plants that would’ve flattened under a heavy downpour. I didn’t tie up the crane’s bill and it was pretty well flattened by the time the sun came out today. It’s a good thing that once it dries out it tends to rise again.
I have some candleholders that stick in the ground. I hadn’t put any candles in the cups and they were full of water when I went outside today. The ground in the back garden was downright saturated by the runoff we get from the apartment building behind us.
When I came down in the morning, the sky still threatened more rain. However, some time around four the sun came out and drove the clouds away.
Unfortunately, with all that heavy rain Goliath and two other frogs went walkabout and none of them have returned. We are now down to one bullfrog. Maybe that’s a good thing since those bullfrogs were starting go for any bird that happened to land close to them.
Posted in Misc, My blog, my garden, Weather related, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Bones, books, Books on writing, Care giving, Caregiver, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pond, Ponds, Writer, Writing
The frogs let me down
Posted by doggonedmysteries
We had a lovely day here yesterday. We hit a new high temperature record for the date. DH didn’t do so well by afternoon when it hit 87 degrees, but we expect it to be so, and make adjustments. He dresses cooler, tries not to over do it, and stays inside where, with a brick home, it’s cooler until late at night.
DH takes a daily afternoon nap. It helps him function better. This unfortunately is where he was when I was outside and almost fell off my chair with excitement. I watched a great blue heron fly over, and although glad that he didn’t stop by for a snack of Koi, I was bursting at having no one around to share my exhilaration. Even G was away and she would’ve been as thrilled as I was.
Around 7 p.m., it had cooled down to a nice 76 and DH came outside to sit by the pond for a little while. We watched robins bathe in the waterfall, goldfinches serenaded us, and a gentle breeze kept us comfortable.
However, the frogs let me down. They made a liar out of me. No one sang.
Posted in Misc, My blog, my garden, Writer, Writing
Tags: Author, Beads, Bones, books, Books on writing, Bull Terriers, Care giving, Caregiver, Coffee, Craft of writing, Dead, Disability, Doggoned, Family, Fiction, Gardening, Gardens, Home, Life, Love, MS, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Novel writing, Pond, Ponds, Writer, Writing
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