The Little Tree and Other Things

This maple tree is about six years old. I bought it at the end of the season for just a few dollars. The little nursery here in town was selling out all of their shrubs and trees before closing for the winter.I saw this little "Charlie Brown Tree" just a stick in a bucket....and thought that I would bring it home and try to keep it small by trimming it often.Well, I did this for a few years and then two years ago, I decided to just let it go. It's supposed to be a smaller maple tree and one whose foliage turns red in the fall. The picture is from last year. I was happy that I had stopped trimming it and the tree responded like I knew it would. This year is a different story. It isn't quite as pretty as in this picture. The leaves aren't all red, but a mixture of browns and reds. It was healthy all through the summer and the leaves were full and green. There is a lot of new growth on it. Will it be red once again next year? I'm wondering how different trees are affected by drought. This area gets no water other than rainfall. Maybe too dry for this little one? We'll see next year when it comes alive once again. 

I started some chicken soup yesterday. I got the recipe from the Pioneer Woman's blog. It looks like more of a stew than a soup.Check out her blog on my sidebar and see all the wonderful soup recipes she has there. We love soup and have it often. I like to have containers of soup in my freezer to pull out when we are hungry for it. Chicken soup for a cold....I have a cold right now and this will taste good today.

My bulbs came in the mail a couple of days ago. I ordered smaller Alliums. This is a rainbow mix of shorter Alliums. I intend to put them in front of my new birdbath. Now, I have this little friend (chipmunk) that visits most everyday. He watches me as I garden and follows me around the house. I hope he isn't watching when I plant these tiny bulbs. They are just his size and maybe a tasty treat. Speaking of chipmunks...my friend Elizabeth has one inside her house. He put his little pile of sunflower seeds in her underwear drawer. I haven't heard if they caught him yet. Well, my bulbs will have to wait till I feel better. I still have a lot of time.

The sun is out, but it is still chilly. The heat went on this morning and it felt good. Joe is off to his doctor and I want to get that soup finished. Just as I was preparing the chicken yesterday, I heard about the salmonella scare with chicken nearby. The brand isn't the one I bought, but it sure makes you loose your appetite.  I don't think it will be lost for long...not after smelling it cooking all morning.What is it with our country and the food supply? Why so many scares with poultry, fish, salad greens?  I can hardly look at a bag of salad greens now...especially my beloved spinach. I think twice before ordering a salad in a restaurant. Fish is just as bad. When you hear how foreign countries raise fish...it gives you pause. I don't order Tilapia anymore after hearing how it is raised. We both search labels so that we don't buy food stuffs from China. I guess we should grow our own food in our own backyard and not demand things that have to be brought in from foreign lands.I really got off subject this morning, but when I have to use bleach to clean my counter tops ...it does make me think.

Balisha