I have about half of this garden planted. This row has all the peppers and some tomato plants. Look along the wood. I put the 'name tags' by each plant for easy identification.
This row is all tomatoes. Beefsteak, cherry, celebrity, Black Krim, and Roma tomatoes. I have been having trouble with the Roma's. I have planted them twice and will need to plant again, I fear. Rabbits I think.
This row is ALL green beans...Blue Lake, bush beans. The whole row.
I planted the pickling cucumber seedlings along the fence so they can climb. The plants in front are zucchini. Not sure how this will work, but we are going to find out. Either way...I like both plants if one is to take over. Pickles and zucchini bread.
This is one of my apples. It survived the transplant. Yeah!
I also have peaches. Two trees. I see peach cobbler in my future.
You can see that my Circle is really looking nice. Sorry about the fence. I have been spending a lot of time out here lately. I have been doing a lot of praying.
Several months ago, I went in to the Dr for a check up. It started with my eye exam, then a bunch of blood tests and such, which turned into a colonoscopy, with a couple of polyps removed, and I FINALLY got the biopsy report...NO CANCER! I am so relieved!
Now...I felt like all was fine...but I NEEDED to hear it from the Dr. I try to take good care of myself so I won't get cancer, just to be clear.
The Lad's Dad passed from cancer 10 years ago this month. Which made these last 2 months hard on both of us. I am so grateful that this turned out well.
I am also 'flying solo'. I have parted ways with Farmer J, on a romantic level, but we are still friends. Who knows, but for now, friends is good.
As you can see...it has been a whirlwind of BS around here lately. I try not to use this to whine on, so I just didn't post much. I guess I felt like a duck on water...all calm and floaty on the top, and paddling like crazy under the water.
I know life can change in an instant, good or bad. But as the Lad's Dad used to say..."Who's to say what is good or bad?"
I purchased these plants at the hardware store this weekend. Future meals. Future pickles. Future hot pepper relish.
I wanted to start all these from seed. I felt it was a waste of time since I had no fence around my garden.
You see...timing is very important. The garden needs to be ready to plant before you start the seeds so when the plants are ready they can get planted right away. Otherwise the plants get 'leggy' and don't do as well.
If you don't have a fence (at least around here) you might as well not plant, either. So...now my fence is up, my dirt is turned.
Next is water...if you are going to be using a auto-water system (like I am trying to do this year).
I also had two apple trees to move from my garden to their place next to the peach trees.
The apple trees were taking up valuable real estate in my garden. Not only by the shade, but by the crab grass stealing space. I want this to be a no crab grass zone.
So...I painstakingly chop a piece of dirt, and shake out the roots. If you till it under, you just spread it around. If I had a sieve to pass the dirt through, it would be better. This will do.
These rows are ready to plant. The black pipes are there to divert the water across paths. I don't like watering things that don't need water.
These rows have since been raked out better, and I damned them up at the ends so the water doesn't run away.
Eventually, when I get all the crab grass dug out, dirt turned over, rows boarded up all the way to the ends...I will move the soaker hoses to accommodate them. I have more hoses to complete this task.
But for now...I just keep plugging away at it.
I have also planted some flowers around my circle...besides my roses.
Speaking of my roses...They sure look pretty this year. They are finally starting to recover from YEARS of rabbits feasting on them. I do wish you could smell them. They are all smelling great, too.
Remember the tarragon? That bush behind the gas can? I had that whacked off at the ground. It has sure made a come-back!
I just love Spring!
I have been plodding away at getting this area fenced off. This is a gate that I made out of PVC pipe and zip-ties.
It even has a hinge. The bricks are there to discourage anyone from trying to squeeze under.
Yesterday I completed this other gate. It is bigger in case I need a bigger opening to get equipment in. Trouble Dog was not happy that he can no longer have free reign over my garden. I, on the other hand, am completely happy. It now means I am ready to plant.
This row has been turned over and has edges that will help keep the water in the rows and not in the walkways. I have started to 'cut' the edge of the next row with the shovel so I can place edges there, too. If you don't step on the rows, there will be less disease transferred from your shoes to the plants.
This gets a row...where the dark stuff is..(manure).
This row is mostly ready. I may put retaining boards on this row. Then there is one more row up against the West fence. Five rows across. I think they are about 45 feet long.
Once I get this garden planted, I will start work on other areas to plant.
I just can't seem to stop myself.
As usual.
This garden row is about ready to plant. Raked out to have a trench to hold water.
My peach trees are in bloom.
I hope lots of blossoms makes lots of peaches. Or just a few really good peaches...this year.
See the hint of green in the lawn?
I just love Spring!
Wednesday was the first day of Spring. I took this Lady Bug as a good sign that it was here.-
Also...these peach blossoms are another sign.
Not to mention my Tarragon.
I have one bed almost ready to plant.
This picture shows we have changed out the old fence and poles for new ones. I really like how nice it looks.
Plus...Trouble Dog, here, can't jump this fence.
Alas, it is not quite done yet. The poles are in and so is PART of the fence. I have another roll of fence to put up and some gates to make. Then I can start planting.
This year I am hoping to get an automatic watering system in.
Let's just worry about the fence first.
Today was my day off...sort of. So I went to town to do a little shopping and get out of the house. So...I did my hair and put on some make-up. I then thought that I have new glasses and friends from far away had been asking for pictures. So I asked The Lad if he would help me out.
But he was more interested in this little guy. And Little Guy is just as infatuated with The Lad. It is a mutual admiration society.
He is waiting for me to get my shoes on so he can go outside.
He lives to chase the disk.
His life is so simple.
I love it.
This bush is my tarragon plant. I moved it last Spring to this spot. If you look close at the stems, they are brown. This was taken last Summer, late.
Here you can see the little bits of green poking through all the mess. I cut the old plant down about a week ago and now it has new babies.
We have had some nice days recently, so I have been working in the gardens. I have moved fence, and manure.
I took down fence from here...and
...from this garden.
I have been told that our newest family addition can only get hurt jumping these ridiculously short fences.
So I took them down.
I have a bed in the RH corner of this picture that needs dirt, or ...
...compost. So...I am also moving compost.
I have started digging up my dirt a little bit. I have onion sets I want to get in the dirt.
Yellow and white. I would like to also get some red or purple onion sets. Next to the onions is some vermiculite for my starter mix.
I also got some goodies for my tomato plants. I can hardly wait!
I turned 58 last month. I find I am moving a little slower this year. Also, I noticed there are some things I can't do any more. I don't like that too much. But...maybe it will teach me to ask for help more often.
I have a hard time to allow receiving. There is a difference between making someone help you and letting someone help you.
Either way, I will get my garden in. Early...I hope.
This is my sedem. It dies off every year. So...this is what it looks like after I break all the white sticks with brown flowers off...
You couldn't even see any new growth with all the dead stuff on there.
Yesterday I pulled up all the dead plants in my garden. This is part of the pile I made.
You can see that the dogs loved that I raked up all those yummy smells.
Even though every thing looks dead...there is more new growth when you look up close.
And as I was walking around this morning, checking out all the new growth, I noticed that the sun was shinning brightly on my Garden Angel...reminding me to have an attitude of gratitude for the life in my garden.
This is the best dog toy/treat for the money I have ever found. I took this coffee can and re-cycled it by smearing the peanut butter (about 1/4 cup) all over the inside. The Puppy systematically licks the top edge down to the bottom so he doesn't get it all over his face. When he has completed his mission, he drags it to where ever I am, in hopes I will "load" it again.
That is what he is telling me now. See how pitiful, and hungry he looks?
This is what Bad Dog wants her peanut butter put on. The clean spot is so she can hold the plate down and not get it on her foot. The ONLY place she wants peanut butter...excuse me...I need to re-load.
As I was saying...she only wants peanut butter on her tongue.
It is raining today and they don't really want to be outside. But...they NEED to be outside. So they are bored and wanting entertainment.
I on the other hand have been busy. I fixed the connection on my computer so I could access my photos...ALL...BY...MYSELF!!!
Sometimes, I even amaze me.
People who know me...know how much I try to take care of my health before it gets bad. AND...I don't like to take prescriptions.
I had my eyes checked last week, and it has caused me concern.
I follow a Woman on the internet that has a web-show twice a week. I don't catch her very often, and when I do, I seldom get to talk to her. This week was different. Colette Baron-Reid took my call.
My question was..."What do I need to pay attention to?" The first words out of her mouth were..."You need to quit eating sugar". She also said to take Omega 3's. Ask for help and take care of myself. She pulled a card for me that was "Rock Bottom". Wonderful. But...I get it. And...that relief would come in February. I could live with that.
Anyway...when the Universe gives you repeating information, it is called a cleadon. It repeats it, so you can pay attention. So...Tuesday I made a DR appointment to get checked out.
I have also quit eating sugar and most carbs...for now (I did that when the eye DR mentioned diabetes). To simply quit eating sugar is not that easy. Things turn to sugar after you eat them...so those count, too. Bummer!
Another thing caught my eye. I was watching an episode of DR Oz and his guest was a woman who said that sometimes we have food sensitivities to healthy foods that cause us to gain weight. Her book, THE PLAN, shows how to find out if and what foods you might have troubles with. It sounds like a good place to start. I am, at the very least, curious. She seems to be connecting different philosophy's. I like that.
Anyway...I will be getting her book to at least check it out. What I saw on the show seemed good. Cause, if I am having 'sugar' problems, losing weight will help.
My other concerns are...that since diabetes affects the pancreas, and my Sister died of pancreatic cancer, that might be an issue, too.
There is another woman I follow. Her name is Louise Hay. She wrote a book of positive affirmations years ago, that she connected with a persons illnesses, that made a lot of sense to me. When it concerns the pancreas, it has to do with how much sweetness you think you have in your life. I need to change that stinkin' thinkin'.
I DO have a sweet life.
I have lots of people who love me.
I am grateful for the wonderful life I have. I know it is only getting better.
AND...when I win PCH's $5000 a week for life, I will be able to spread the love! (Humor helps).
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