Landscaped

Indy, patiently waiting to how the flower beds off.

Mom said I could take you on a tour of our front and back yard since the guys were here on Wednesday. o I patiently waited at the fence to the back yard until she was ready to go.



She talked to the man who mows our grass about reseeding the back yard, or as I call it, my bathroom. She asked them to mulch the flower beds and reseed the back yard. 

Mowed front yard and cleaned-up flower bed.

When she and Dad got home she thought the Shoemakers Elves were there. Three guys were busily working. They had edged the front flower bed, pulled out the major weeds and were spreading mulch. 

Front flower bed . . all trimmed out and mulched.

Flower bed by Leona's house.

In the backyard . . WOW . . . they were pulling weeds in the bed next to Leona's house and cutting back all of the dead stalks on the peonies and rose bushes on the opposite side of the yard.



Man, talk about a good feeling, having clean flowerbeds and grass seed spread in the backyard. They over-seeded the backyard, because of all the shade. Then Gene took some extra grass seed we had and spread it out.

This flower bed had Daylilies in it last year.
We dug them up to plant in Indiana last fall . . .
as you can see, we never made it to Indiana.
We hope they will survive until we get there.

Before the "elves" got there,
I transplanted some daylilies from the front flower bed to this one.
There are some ground cover plants in there too.

This is the REAL Daylily bed.
A Year ago June we dug a bunch of them up and took them to family in Indiana.
I am amazed how many came up this year.
Sad part was the Daffodils in the front of the bed didn't bloom.

This is our Flowering Plum tree.
We don't eat the fruit,
which looks more like big cherries.
But the squirrels and birds LOVE them.

See why the back yard is so shaded?
This is our Flowering Plum.
Last year we had it trimmed back to, hopefully, let more sun into the yard.

Would you look at all those Grape Hyacinths growing?
And the yellow Tulips. They really multiplied this past year.

Can you say "Where's the grass?"
With luck there may be some there in a month or two.
But at least we have Tulips and Grape Hyacinths growing.
Soon, I am hoping, the Lilac bush in the far right corner
and the neighbor's Lilac behind the fence will be blooming.

My FAVORITE elf sowing some more seeds in the backyard.
That "dead vine" in the front
will bloom into a miniature rose bush entwined with a Clemantis.

Now, the wait to see if we do get a backyard this year.

Surgery D-Day +11

I can't remember which day this week when one of the volunteers in the Art Department stopped by. I said, "Sure Gene would like to make something.

So she got out a coffee filter, folded it, cut some shapes out of it and  then Gene dobbed some water color paints on it. When she unfolded it it looked to cool.

Then she got out this MASSIVE filter (no idea how huge the pot would need to be for that filter), she let me cut the holes in it (hospital policy, patients can't use the scissors). It ended up looking like Gene was doing some major drugs from the 1960's - 1970's. Once they dried, the nurses hug them in his window (which faces East.)

I brought him the balloon today. I told him it was about time I came in not empty handed . . then laughed when I told him, "I figured you were worth $0.97. And, it doesn't say Happy Valentines Day so I'm not early."

Same old same old . . . YEAH!

Only hi-light of today is he may get to come home sometime next week. His surgeon gets back on Monday. Dr Sukhni and Dr Reddy both have said that they are sure Dr Kukar will want another CATScan when he gets back on Monday to see what the "pools of Pancreatic Fluid" look like after 2 weeks with 2 drains and almost 1 week with the 3rd drain.

Both Dr Sukhni and Dr Reddy  explained why he can't go past clear liquids yet. If he has anything that has any fat in it his Pancreas will rev up production of Pancreatic Fluid. If this happens, then he will have more liquid in his abdomen that has to be drained out. Once Dr Kukar feels that the Pancreas has healed, or they decide what to do if it doesn't healed, then he will start on Full Liquids (which will include some soups) and then we will go from there.

We asked if he will need any physical therapy once he gets home. Both a therapist we know who works there and Dr Sukhni said that with him being able to walk as well as he is he won't need any.

Hubby's Poor Body

We had planned on being moved next week . . 1st Week of November. I mean we bought the house in Indiana the 1st week of Sept and thought that two months would be enough time to get ready and move.

NOT ! ! ! !

The hubby's body has decided to play with him. It started in July with some abdominal pains. Nothing much, I figured it was ulcers because he was so stressed over the move.

It got worse the beginning of Sept when we got back from Indiana. FINALLY, he decided to go to the doctor . . well, the physician's assistant in our doctor's office.

She sent him for an ultrasound . . . which led to an MCRP (MRI specifically looking at the gall bladder, pancreas and liver. This led to yesterday . . an ERCP (a scope sent through the throat to the area that needs looked at) as an outpatient at Kenmore Mercy.

His bile duct was extremely dilated so they had to cut it to get the gall stone out that was lodge in the duct. They put a stent in the duct to keep it the size they wanted.  

Then they checked out the rest of the small and large intestine. You will NEVER believe what they found . . . the small sticker that's found on fresh fruit and veggies . . . they took it out too :)

The night before the procedure we had sandwiches and I sliced an apple (using one of those apple corers you push through the apple) and gave the husband 2 slices . . he has lost 30 - 40 pounds since all of this started so any food he takes in is a small amount.

How he didn't taste or feel the sticker is beyond me. One friend said, "I always take them off when I wash fruit and veggies." Well, I never remember to do this . . . so the husband aid he isn't eating any fruit I give him if I'm going to try to plug him up with stickers.   LOLOL

Next on his "to do" list is with the opthamologist. He had a detached retina in his right eye before we moved here. It was almost completely detached so it had to be lasered back in place and he has to keep up with retina doctors checking it out several times a year to make sure it is still holding and healthy.

So now, the lens that he got when he had his cataract in the left eye removed is getting all cloudy, which is normal. But with one bad eye and one going cloudy he doesn't have much of a change to see. Once that is done, a call to the realtor and moving company is in order.

Outside . . . July and August

The weather has been anything but perfect for gardening this year. 

Our tomatoes have been close to death several time, but the few tomatoes we have gotten have been dense and delicious.

However, we have had some BEAUTIFUL flowers.

The Daylillies have been SPECTACULAR!

These are my Martha Washington Geraniums

that I plated in dog and cat food bags.

They looked real good here

then the blazing hot weather took it's tole.

They haven't died, 

but they haven't bloomed for a couple of weeks either.

We didn't even plant the Moss Rose this year. 

It came up voluntarily from what we planted last year.

SInce it LOVES hot, dry weather it has bloomed wonderfully.

And I wish I knew what these lavender flower are.

The husband has liked them but I was kind of "iffy."

They reminded me of a Sedum plant which I didn't care for.

But last summer he bought 4 plants.

This shows how well they came back this year

and the Moss Rose was planted NO WHERE

near them, but you can see it is growing in them.

And, the clover is blooming yellow.

I truly like clover. Wish I had it all over the yard.

This is the front bed, looking down from the porch.

The area around the pedestal and the

pink/lavender Mallow is now bare.

I think a neighborhood animal has been sleeping in this area,

it is so flat.

But that's fine. Everyone needs a place to sleep.

This planter is on the front porch.

I think it likes the hot, dry weather too.

It is doing great.

Next to the Daylillies are the cucumbers.

I thihnk each cucumber we have picked

has been close to a foot long.

The yellow roses have done well

as have the wild Morning Glory vine

that seem to be everywhere this summer.

The husband checking out his garden.

Indy surveying her "kingdon."

Looks like she has found something in her yard.

Guess not so it's time to relax.

Notice the paint on the porch deck?

We had all the wood on the porch painted.

It really look good.

I call the porch a "baby poop" green.

Others call it a "slip pea soup" green.

The sample looked like it had a little more brown in it

but, oh well. 

It looks clean and freshly painted 

so we are more than happy.

Easter 2014

From Maundy Thursday through today

this song is continually on my mind.

I not only love the words

but the memories of singing this in church,

on Easter morning,

bring back such happy memories

that I had to share it with all of you.

It is a beautiful Easter Sunday,
here in Western New York.
The sky is a beautiful blue
and the clouds that are in the sky
are light and airy.
A beautiful day to go outside
and see what flowers
Easter has brought to us.

The daffodils have opened
 to celebrate HIS rising from the grave.

Today is also the husband's birthday.

It may not look like much here
but this is my Pasque (also called Passion) Flower.
It looks dormant and then on Easter,
no matter the time it occurs in the spring,
the flowers will start opening.
It may be hard to see but,
on the upper left of the plant,
there is one but ready to bloom.

Two sets of daffodils and a couple of hyacinths
in our poor front bed.

Documentation so,
later on this summer,
I can compare pre and post
"garden remake."

Indy checking out the sites up the street.

Indy is such a happy dog when she is outside
checking out her "turf."

See how pretty it is today.
Reminds me of the Easters
I remember growing up . . . 
warm enough for one's
Easter finery.
Days like today do signify 
that God has truly blessed us
by allowing us to see a new spring
and the beginning of the Earth
renewing itself.

Abby and the Hubby

The hubby didn't have a good night last night,

nor has he had a great day today.

Not really sure what happened last night to ruin his sleep

but it kept on today.

We went to Plantasia,

the local spring flower and garden show.

Normally, it takes two or three hours

 to walk around the buildings at the fair grounds

and see everything.

Today, we were finished in an hour.

Guess this will be our last year.

Only one booth had any bulbs 

that can't be bought in a store

available,

and they weren't that interesting.

We did, however, find two Christmas gifts.

I saw these metal, soldered, fish for the garden.

The fish are on poles

and stand about 3 feet tall.

We first saw them at the Home Show

and I was hoping he would be at the Garden show.

We bought the only two he had.

One is for my fisherman brother

and the other for his fisherman daughter.

They would be hard to wrap,

so we will take them home this summer 

so they will have them to enjoy

AND save us on mailing.

I took these pix this evening.

The  husband is a napper.

Abby LOVES to climb on him

which drives him nuts.

Me, she will climb on my chest

and lie down on top of my boobs.

I could sit like that for hours.

Anyway,

here is the "photo story".

Checking to see if Daddy is going to respond to her walking on him.

Let's see if he will wake up if I walk from this side.

So far, so good !

Ah, yes . . the perfect place to knead my feet . . his belly!

My Hubby, The Sports Celebrity

A month or so ago we got a new paper boy . . . well, really a paper man.  He is gray haired but I had no idea how old he  actually was.


Today, I as at the back of the drive way by the back gate with Indy, who was on "potty detail" and Gene was at the front of the driveway. I hear a,"Mr. Tooke? Mr. Tooke? Gene?"


I turned around to see Gene talking to the paper "boy." Both were laughing. I heard something about "celebrity" but didn't know what it was about.


Indy and I ended up on the front porch . .me on the swing with crochet yarn and hook . . . she standing by the gate, looking up and down the street barking at, and wagging her tail, at any human or animal he sees.


When the hubby come up with us, he has, what Mom would call, a "shit ass grin" on his face. Dad had that look, my brother has it, the hubby has it and I have seen it on  lot of other men's faces so I am sure all of you know that look.


So, "Okay, husband, what' so funny."


Here's the story:
The paper "boy" told the husband that he had our name on his collection tickets as "The Sport Celebrity." He remembers the husband from HIGH SCHOOL when he played football and baseball. He went to another high school who played the local team. He said they called the husband the "Little Bull" for the way he would just run through anything like a bull.


Then he tells him he remembered him from baseball. As they talked, hubby discovered the paper "boy" is 2 years older than him. He asked hubs how the rest of his high school football career went. 


Poor hubby . . . he broke his ankle at the end of that game . . . didn't know it, walked home from the high school with no problem . . .gt out of bed the next day and fell flat on his face . . . couldn't use that leg for any support at all. He ended up with a cast and crutches for the remainder of the school year . . . well, maybe a couple weeks without them.


So now, I tell the husband that I live with a star and that he better not get a big head about because I am younger and would have to "take him out."


BWA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA


Signed,
This All Happened 50 Years ago (+/-)
(13,331) 

PS: Don't forget, tonight is the end of signing up for my Give-Away. If you haven't signed up today, do it now. Just click anywhere on this paragraph and you will be taken to it.

Out for a Sunday Drive

I knew I forgot something yesterday

. . .

I wanted to write about the drive we took yesterday.

I thought we were just going on a "cigarette run" for the husband

but we left the bank going in the wrong direction.

Asked where we were going . .

found out we were going for "a drive."

This is a Joseph's Coat Climbing Rose

Notice how the flowers look like they are different colors?

In the life of the "flowers"

they will go through color changes

a bud . . .

 Three different stages of the actual bloom.

 And here is the info tag
in case you think it is something you would like.

Basically,

I do not like roses.

They look to "perfect"

and have absolutely no smell.

I have read

that they have lost their smell

]through genetically trying for that

"perfect" specimen.

BUT,

I do like the Joseph's Coat.

I will buy them

without even seeing a bloom.

And,

I LOVE roses

that smell like

"powder rooms."

When we lived in Logan,

we planted a HUGE BLOOMING

climbing pink rose

right outside our bathroom window.

(Can't stand a bathroom with the windows down in the summer

and since our window opened onto our neighbors driveway

some camouflage was needed.)

This rose had the BEST smell.

reminded me of that talcum powder

that was so prevalent when I was growing up.

Clean,

fresh

and comforting.

I have jet to find another one like that

BUT,

I did find something interesting

plus it smells great.

This is the Don Juan Climbing Rose.

It's blooms are so dark

they almost look black.

Their smell . . .

ah, yes, their smell.

It is just delicious.

To hard to describe,

but reminds me of the

smell of roses when I was growing up.

You know,

back in the horse and buggy days

before botanists started messing with plants.

This is the plant.

Don't the blooms look almost black?

 Not a great bud picture
but there are four of them just waiting to open.

Again,
the actual bloom is 100 times prettier than this.

Finally,

this is the tag you look for if you want one.

Last but not least,

a Russian Hollyhock

and a Columbine.

This is the hollyhock.

If the picture on the tag is correct

it will be a single,

old fashioned

yellow.

This is the
Columbine Garden.
The one on the right is the new one.

 Close up of the older columbine
Somehow, there are two different colors
coming up together.
Must have gotten two different plants in the same pot
when this one was bought.

Newest Columbine.

I HAD

to post close-ups

of all three of the blooms we have this year.

This is the older blue and white

that grows from the base of the pink one.

The pink columbine

that

TOWERS over it's blue siblings.

This year's blue purchase.
I think it is more purple than blue . . .
hope it stays that way.

And what

a productive

drive it was.

Signed,

Lover of the Joseph's Coat Rose

(9509)