A Little of This... A Little of That

We had simple plans for our anniversary last week. Just a nice meal out at a favorite restaurant .
Father's Day weekend was spent here at home with guests. Joe's Aunt traveled from her home in Florida to N. Carolina to pick up her daughter. They both left early the next morning and arrived here at 7:30 that evening.When they got here I think that they were exhausted. We visited for a while and Joe drove them over to see the Grotto at night. They hadn't seen it before and went looking for Joe's uncle's name on the pavers. They really liked it and asked so many questions about it. Bedtime was next and then in the morning, I made a big breakfast and we all went to Church. Another look at the Grotto with more questions about who some of the family members were. Joe's son arrived just in time to have a quick visit and then they had to leave for the rest of their trip...to Wisconsin.Dan stayed for a while and then left.We went out for dinner again... at a little restaurant in town.  Is this interesting to anyone...I always wonder if what I write is boring. It'll get better.
Monday found me up to my elbows in daisies and other things that needed cutting down. I worked around the house...fertilizing as I went. I use the Miracle Grow attachment for the hose now. It works well and is easier than mixing it as I go. My flowers seem to do well too. It seems that the warm weather just got here and so many things have bloomed already. Earlier than usual would you say? I went to the nursery to buy a couple of plants for Tim's garden. I have started to plant mostly annuals, but wanted a few perennials too. I didn't take time to clean up very much. The nursery is a little one here in town and it has a tiny building where you pay for the plants. They know me there, so I always feel like I can just run in as I am. You put your life in danger there...wooden planks are the pathways, hoses all over the ground, narrow aisles, stone paths....you name it ..a minefield for the elderly, but I can just run in and be out of there in a matter of minutes.
Yesterday found me visiting a neighbor up the road. She has a peaceful, beautiful wooded property. She has built a bog and a pond in the back. It is so natural looking...you'd never know that it was not the real thing. The plants surrounding are abundant and lovely. She is waging a war with a Heron right now. He comes and fishes in her pond and scares her Koi to death. She and her hubby were in the process of sinking a container for them to hide in, when the Heron comes around. There are paths that the deer follow to come to her yard.  She is an artist who works with copper and she makes cement birdbaths and feeders using  huge leaves from the garden as her forms. I bought a couple of things from her and then she gave me a couple of forget me not
plants. It's always fun to visit her and see what she is up to. Her gardens are so different than mine...she deals with woods and shade, while I have almost full sun. We agreed that it is harder for her to garden in what looks like a haphazard way...than to plant in a more structured way...with one plant then another in a more formal setting.
As I look out the window...I see the bird feeder swinging. Now a squirrel jumped up. Then the Cardinal came and scolded him. He paid no mind to the bird, but went on eating sunflower seeds. My wreath on the front porch has debris hanging from it. I recognize the debris...long strings of raffia and pieces of string. I was sitting out in the yard, working on a wreath and had some extra raffia cut off...put it in the garden next to the house along with pieces of string from tying up plants. Some bird found that little pile and decided to use it to build a nest with. Must be a robin to handle long pieces like that. I keep taking them down from the wreath...we sit right under that wreath and love our porch. Mr and Mrs Bird will have to understand.
Joe is off to the big city and I have some of the day to myself. Guess what I started doing? I'm taking a break from cleaning the stove...now why didn't I just sit on the porch with a book? A nice morning for that. Got an email from a friend saying that she had a hot fudge sundae for supper last night. We agreed that there were healthy elements in that meal...so I just had a little scoop of butter pecan with choc. sauce You know what they say, "When the cat's away.....
Balisha :)