Looking Ahead and Not Dwelling on the Past

I'm not one who looks backward at the "good old days" I enjoy today too much and all it brings...calling today my "good old days" but this summer is one I will be glad to forget. Mainly because of the relentless heat with no rain. It will go down in history books, I'm sure, but in a couple of years I'll forget it and remember only the good that came of it. Some people remember the floods of such and such a year and the year we had the blizzard. I just don't muddle up my brain with dates and details like that. There's too much new information to put up there :) 

This was the year of change for me. I decided, before the heat, to give up the woods and just enjoy what mother nature does back there. I'm so glad that I did this. If I were maintaining it...I would be upset everyday...by the loss of plants and the withering others.... It will be interesting to see what happens next year. You see...I'm looking ahead already. I planted tomatoes in containers near a water source, didn't put any annuals in except a tub of geraniums...also near the water, only one hanging basket, bought a lightweight hose (that I don't roll up right now...it's lying across the back yard, bought clippers with an extended handle, moved a huge trellis to grow tomatoes on, put bird feeders in the same place to avoid so much walking, wearing sensible shoes while gardening...no flip flops, weeded from my trusty green chair, didn't plant at the mailbox...just left lilies there that  haven't been watered, and planted a garden where there used to be a tree using natives and the hostas that were already there. Everything has worked out so well this year and as you see in the picture above...I had a little help from my bend over helper, Audra.  I get just enough gardening to satisfy me. I do a little each day and now I know when to stop. I do have a confession to make...instead of getting down on the ground to pull  up or dig up the weeds that come in our mulch...I have used a spritz of roundup.I don't like to use this, but my knees are saved this way. All in all we have kept things going here at our house. Early morning finds me out doing some watering or early evening. We haven't watered the lawn, however. 

As I sat on my porch yesterday, watching the hummingbirds going back and forth, I was thinking already about what I might bring in to keep this winter. I was looking at the geraniums and thinking that maybe I'll put them in my Guy Wolff handmade garden pots. I am reluctant to use these outdoors, because of what they cost. I wouldn't want anything to happen to them, so I have used them indoors. I would like to have some plants in the four big pots downstairs on my table behind where I do some painting and crafting. I'll have to investigate the best way to keep geraniums. Also I've been looking at our lawn decor and thinking that a coat of paint might be called for. Maybe I'll fashion some new cushion covers  for the front porch...out of  a quilt that really has no value.The sun has faded the cushions this year...although I kind of like the shabby chic look. I'm gradually building my stockpile of books to read this winter and there's always knitting.Gathering new recipes to try in my slow cooker. Just this morning Joe asked if I was making stew today. I told him, yes and that I was trying a new recipe. He loves it the old way, but trying new recipes keeps me interested in cooking. Sometimes I can hardly wait to get out to the kitchen to experiment with recipes.If I had to cook the same old way everyday...it would be so boring and I might lose interest.  Looking ahead is what keeps me going...not dwelling on the past

Balisha