The Housing Slump

With the housing market beginning to slump, of course, I've decided that keeping my house up-to-date is more important right now that thinking about selling (no, I'm not nuts. I love this place). So, the bathroom project is moving along. There isn't much more expensive stuff I want to do once this is done. This is the bathroom that I wanted from the start and am finally getting it.

My whirlpool is being renovated. The shower head is now gone and the plumbing has been refitted to make this just a tub. The ceramic surround matches the shower. There will be an oak molding that will go around the tub to tie in the oak surround and finish the look. The raised decorative border is a very important part of this design and the single stone with a pewter rose and edges in the center is a tile we found hidden behind other stuff at a tile place where we visited. This tile is a one-of-a-kind and I thought would be perfect for my bathroom. It is in the center of the picture window that will overlook the mountain,if that window ever comes! We're now looking at about 20 days backordered. The oak trim pieces will go on early next week. Husband will be putting that on and got the adhevsive he will need from our tiler.

Once a 5x5 walk-in closet that wasn't used in 5 years, this is now a custom shower that really adds to the bathroom. Other than the plumbing fixtures, a grab bar and a glass shelf that will not be seen until you are actually in the shower, and of course, the door, it is basically finished. Some baseboard will need replaced and the painting done, but it shouldn't be long before I get to use my bathroom again.

My luxury bathroom is starting to come together. I think it's really quite nice. I can hardly wait to use that shower!! Did I tell you this will add about 125% of it's cost to the value of my home?

The Continuing Saga

Well, the bathroom remodel started off on the wrong foot. Our handyman, Meryl, caught us so off guard the first day and had my already overwhelmed husband in a total tizzy. I got home from work that day just in time to avert a potential mess. I came within a hair of throwing Meryl out of my house. But I didn't.

Three days later he was back again to work on the job he had started. I didn't have to report to work until later in the morning and had a chance to chat with him some. We discussed a few things like how he was going to approach this particular job and with that understanding, I ran off to the workplace.

He's been back several times since then to continue working on the demo of the closet that will become a shower room and we've been doing a lot better. Husband figured out that he should keep himself busy and away from Meryl who does a rather good job when he's not bothered. His demo and prep work is almost complete now. We are expecting the mason's to arrive within the next week or two when the tile comes in. We're also waiting on the picture window that will be installed over the whirlpool tub. Once everything is here, the bathroom should come together rather quickly.

The tile I picked out is a light cream with a gray swirl going through it. It has a lovely embossed taupe decorative tile that will also be used around the shower and the tub. Then there are lovely "buttons" of the same cream/gray with a nice Fleur in the taupe and a light turquoise to break up the tiles. I'm getting eight of those.

I'm planning on stealing away with one of the tiles while the mason's are installing it to select paint for the bathroom. I'll be the painter. I have some eggshell paint that is the current wall color and I will keep that for the ceiling. Even the ceiling inside the shower will get this paint. As far as the walls -- I've not yet decided. I'm thinking of something like a faux stone look for the bathroom. We're also planning on ceramic tile on the floor in the future. But that is something easily done by the homeowners. I've also see a lovely idea of stencil around the picture window and maybe the side window as well.

Since my colors in the master's suite is a cream/taupe with splashes of plumb and hunter green, I'm think a nice grape arbor stencil around the windows and mirrors would be wonderful. It will be decorated with ferns and other moisture loving plants at the picture window and the shelf that opens at the top of the shower.

I'm figuring this will take the rest of the summer. But it'll be nice when it's done. I can hardly wait. In the meantime, I'm using the spare bathroom and it's just so small compared to the master.

Garden Trees and Birds

When we first built this place, 5 years ago, it was a field of weeds and soybeans. Even the next spring, the farmer planted soybeans right up to where the builder was building my house. When it came time to grade, the builder said to wait until the farmer took down the beans. Well, he didn't take down the beans until mid December. I was furious! It was the driest, hottest and most uncomfortable summer there was and I had approximately 200 plants that needed (and I mean NEEDED) to be planted and the grading wasn't done!!!! We finally forced the builder to at least grade the front to the road so we had somewhere to start. However, he did refuse to plant grass -- too hot; too dry.

We planted eight trees. Three of them a good size and the rest very tiny. All but two were shade trees. I wanted native shade trees because that would draw in the birds and wildlife. Or, hybrid varieties of native shade trees. I planted a beech, red oak, Norway maple (OK this one isn't native but I liked the color), spruce, locust, poplar and two dogwood. That year we had chipping sparrows, red-winged blackbirds, ravens, bluebirds. The only squirrel I saw that summer was a dead one that somehow got into the soybean field that encroached all the way up to the beech and poplar trees that were planted 70 feet from the back of the house. I wanted those beans GONE!!! I saw a couple of field thrushes and our very friendly tree swallows. We learned quickly to keep the garage door shut after getting a couple of the swallows in the house, driving the cat absolutely nuts. We shouldn't forget the Hummingbirds either. They started coming around almost immediately, so for the first time I actually put out a feeder for them and could watch them. I got at least three a day.

That was 5 years ago. Today, I have exactly 55 trees in the garden, the soybeans are gone and the grass has been planted. I'm still keeping the big shade trees as close to native as possible. The woods around me have a good number of American Elm that seem to be doing OK. But the threat of Dutch Elm disease is still a very big threat. I wanted an elm, so I planted a Chinese elm -- not as pretty or majestic, but with a root system that suited the area better; deeper and more narrow than the American elm, and is much more resistant to Dutch Elm disease. I now have two nice sized red maples and I just planted a white ash, both of which are also strong trees in the woods around me.

The birds have also increased in numbers. I still have the chipping sparrows and tree swallows, blue birds and red-winged blackbirds. But this year I've seen a red-bellied woodpecker frequently checking out the oak and beech. There have been over a dozen hummingbirds that visit the feeder, house sparrows have moved in, purple finches have visited enough in large numbers to make me wonder if they are considering nesting in the garden, gold finches are nesting in the garden, Robbins and cardinals are becoming frequent visitors. A pair of mud swallows have a nest above the front door. If I leave the nest there, they will raise their young without making to much of a mess of my porch. And this morning, orioles visited, playing in the forsythia and in one of the largest of my rose bushes.

I have room for one more shade tree. I haven't decided which tree I want there so I may spend a couple of years thinking about it. But I am now working on the shrubbery, trying to plant natives that would add to the garden as well as draw in the wildlife, especially butterflies and birds. One of the plants I've found by accident is the native milkweed. It's a weed (or a wildflower since I really like this plant) with a fragrance that is heavenly. It is the only plant that the monarch butterfly will lay it's eggs on, and it's also quite pretty and tall. Two seeds ended up in a garden patch last year and I let them grow. This year, yes, they spread and I now have a patch of milkweed. Of course, I have hybrid varieties of milkweed throughout the garden as well as some native varieties that are somewhat different from the one that just grew. But the hybrids don't seem to be visited quite as much. The wild one is covered with butterflies and bees and is intensely more fragrant than the hybrids. I'm sure I'm going to have to weed it out eventually or it'll overtake the entire garden, but it is a plant that has won a place in my garden and I will keep some. I had quite a number of generations of monarch butterflies in the garden last year with just two plants. I hope I have more this year with more plants.

As my garden grows and the trees start maturing, I'm seeing more and more different varieties of birds here. I still haven't seen the larger woodpeckers that I can see in the woods, or the bluejays. But they will come, I'm sure. I have rabbits now, though I think I'd rather eat them than let them eat my plants and they will draw in foxes and other predators such as hawks. The squirrels will eventually come when the acorns and beechnuts become more plentiful. Right now I'm just enjoying the growing number of bird species and of course all the babies that are learning to fly in my back yard.

Old Friends

I found an old friend last evening and called her. We had worked together so many years ago and had celebrated each other's weddings, birth of children, divorces, family deaths and heartaches. She and her girls accompanied us and our Captain to Newfoundland swim meets and made applesauce together. After I had left Historic Strasburg Inn, our get-togethers became more spaced until we finally lost touch. I was so glad I found her. I'd been looking for her for some time but last night, trying to locate her again, I came across a name I'd not seen before. She had gotten remarried and this strange name is what led me to her. It was a stroke of luck. I spent an hour on the phone with her doing some basic catchup but we're planning on getting together once again for more indepth catching up. We haven't decided where yet, just a date. I'm looking forward to it. There's a lot to talk about. We've been through so much together and could only scratch the surface yesterday.

A Rose Show Photo Contest

My rose society had our annual rose show and this year a photography contest. It does appear the the photo contest did stimulate a good deal of interest from the general public.

We had about 4 folks who entered the contest this year. The winnings were varied, but here's mine:

Honorable Mention: X-Rated, miniature, introduced in 1993. This is a nice little rose and was exceptionally nice for me this year. (Ribbon)










Third Place: Sweet Dream, Floribunda, introduced in 1988. This surprised me as I had always thought that Sweet Dream was a miniature. I had to change the class and status of this rose in my garden. It's a sound rose, with very small miniature sized leaves and blooms that resemble the miniflora (which is where I think this rose should be classed). (Ribbon)






2nd Place: Baronne Prévost, Hybrid Perpetual introduced in 1842. A very lovely, very BIG OGR with the most beautiful fragrance. It is a bit susceptible to black spot, but with a little care is strong and disease resistant throughout the growing season. (Ribbon)







1st Place: Soroptimist International, miniflora, introduced in 1995. A splendid miniflora that can be extremely good. It hold good form longer than most other miniatures and is a very bright and cheery color. (Ribbon)

Best White: Margaret Merril, Floribunda, introduced in 1977. When this rose is good it is really good! I usually have problems with thrips with this rose, often destroying the first flush of the season. A real headache for me. Thrips has got to be the one bug I seriously hate. Margaret also has problems with black spot, but this is easily controlled. Still, she is not a maintenance free rose, but I love her. (trophy award)

Best in Show: Rosa Eglanteria, species rose, introduction actually unknown, but somewhere before or around 1500. This fabulous rose is a show stopper when it's in bloom but it's the leaves and not the flowers that actually harbor the interest. The leaves when wet smell like Granny Smith apples, especially after a rain. When I first got it from a friend who was ill and wanted a good home for it, after a rain I'd walk outside and wonder who was baking the apple pie. In winter the plant still continues to shine with beautiful orange hips which the birds enjoy and can also be used to make rose tea. (trophy award)

I've gotten a number of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th and honorable mentions, but this is the first time I'd gotten trophies. It feels good. The winning ribbons and the matching photos will go on the wall with the others. The trophy winners will be put on a different wall to stand out.

It's been a good day.

Feeling Abandoned

I grew up in a world where a silent religious war raged. Being somewhere inbetween the two waring factions, I've always felt pushed away, never really belonging to either. It is something that I've had complexes about, but I've learned to deal with them or at least surpress them.

Lately I've been feeling abandoned. At this moment, I'm not sure which feeling is actually worse, being pushed away or being abandoned. I'll figure it out. I always do, or at least manage to find a way around it.

A Huge Difference

This morning started out the same as most Sunday mornings, but as I was spraying the roses for fungus, it started to drizzle hard enough to send me inside. Later, I finished the spraying and came in just in time to help Husband.

A couple of weeks ago, we decided on which contractor we wanted to remodel the bathroom. This particular contractor came in 20% lower than the next leading, qualified contractor and even gave us more than everyone else. We checked him out thoroughly before signing any contracts. Even with all this, it appears right now that we'll have more than enough money for this project. So we decided to go and splurge on the one thing that the house desperately needed -- a ceiling fan for my office. We went to the local home improvement store and found a Hunter fan that fit the bill. It was only $100 out of the loan package, so it shouldn't interfer.

We put this fan up today. It took us a couple of hours until it was up and running but we were in need of bulbs for the light and fan pulls which is how I will be turning this thing off and on. Actually, the ceiling fans are basically left on 24x7 unless we turn them off to change the season setting and clean them.

The past couple of years, I've spent a lot less time in my office over the summer. The computer here gets so hot and if there's not enough air moving, or the A/C is on, it gets so stuffy in the room that it's hard to breath. The ceiling fan creates the air movement that is needed and helps to keep the computer cooler. It's actually pleasant working in here now.

Now that the pulls are on, the bulbs are in and the house is cleaned up from our construction, this fan looks like it's been here since day one. Being here makes a world of difference in comfort.

After the rain

Taboo, Hybrid Tea introduced in 1993 and rated a rather low to medium 7.3 by the ARS. I have to agree that this rose is more difficult to grow but the blooms (the first nice ones in 4 years) are gorgeous. This is one of the deepest reds I've seen and would rival the very tender (zone 7 and above) Francis Dubruiel. I'm hoping to keep this one a few more years and try to start own-roots from it so I could have several of these, enough to make a nice vase. Put a little baby's breath with it and you will have a most glorious vase. More than once, this rose nearly died on me. It doesn't seem to like getting moved and I've had to move it several times until I found a spot where it did well. It took three years in this spot until it started to establish but now (right now) looks strong, disease resistant and quite lovely.

It rained yesterday, starting right before I left work and continued throughout the evening. There was thunder and lightening with the rain, but it wasn't as threatening as it can get and the rain, though heavy at times, was steady and soaking. Just what we needed for this spring. You can see everything drinking it up, first to recoop what the dry weather had taken from them and now to grow and replace all leaves that have been lost in the past month. I'm expecting to see everything in the garden growing like gangbusters in the next two days. Don'tja just love it!

The weather reports have been telling us about this rain for about a week, so I made sure the systemic was put around for food and bug control. I'm thankful for it. It was badly needed.

So this morning, though the sun is out and it promises to be a hot and steamy day, the dirt is far to wet to be playing in so I will make myself busy with strawberry jam. At least one batch, maybe two. I have plenty of strawberries and many more out there screaming to be picked.

Strawberry season

I spent this evening gathering fresh strawberries out of my garden. I processed two quarts by washing them, slicing them and sugaring them for strawberry shortcakes. The rest I put in a pot to wait until I get them turned into jam.

Last year this time, I usually did them as soon as they came into the house. Of course, I worked nights then. Still, even though I did them, I was usually only half asleep. These days, I'm up early and to bed early, getting much more rest, feeling like I have a lot less day, even though it is after dark until I get to sleep. But I sleep more.

I still have to figure out how I want to do these strawberries. I'll probably wait until Saturday unless I'm feeling energetic tomorrow night. Who knows. Usually Fridays I do stay up well past the bewitching hour and do feel energetic. Maybe I'll make at least some of the jam tomorrow. I have enough strawberries to make three batches of jam. However, I'll be lucky to have enjoy sugar for two.

We love strawberries in the house. That's why I grow a patch, harvest it and make desserts and jams out of it. After the season is over this year, I will rip out the plants as they are now getting old and replace them in the spring. The process will start over again without a crop next year. We'll have plent of jam to last us until the next harvest. Fresh ones could be at a premium though. I guess we'll just have to survive on the California berries that are shipped here around March or so.

A funny thing happened on the way...

I have a photo contest coming up the 16th of June. Of course, in preparation of this, there is a lot of photographing going on around my house. The contest of roses, but I'm never one to resist a pretty shot. The other day I was out because the rose beds were in their glory. Husband caught the bug when he saw me walking around the garden and got his camera as well. Between us, we took 156 shots.
I got the camera with the most shots uploaded first, cleaned it out in preparation for the next shoot and hooked up the second camera.

Husband couldn't wait until the larger slower camera was uploaded and decided to look at the pictures already on the computer. All these 100 photos were selected as he looked at them. Then he said to me, "I'll show ya somethin'. This one is blurry so I'll delete it." He hit delete and sat there staring at the computer as each of the 100 pictures disappeared, one at a time!

"Oh," he said, "You can upload them again since I

accidently deleted them. I responded that I had already deleted them from the camera. YIKES!! There were pictures in that bunch that I really wanted for the photo contest.

After some digging, we found out where the computer stores deleted picture files and were able to restore them. I told Husband he was lucky that we found them. Otherwise....

These are a few of those pictures from the retreived deleted files. Yep, I was not happy about that incident. I told Husband to keep his hands off my computer from now on. He's always complaining anyway that I don't have my machine set up the same way he has his set up. He was lucky we found those files.

Right Now

Gruss an Aachen, rose, considered the first floribunda actually introduced 30 years before the class. This is my favorite rose. It's hardy, disease resistant and very fragrant Since it was introduced in 1909 it is often considered an antique rose.



My tall bearded Iris garden is in full bloom right now. There are nine different hybrids in this bed and soon to be more.

Today's Shots

Some favorite shots from the garden today...



Theresa Bougnet, Hybrid Rugosa, very fragrant










Baronne Provest, Hybrid Perpetual, very fragrant











Gnus Flash, Tall Bearded Iris, fragrant, rare stripped variety

















L. Candida, clematis, large dinnerplate flower, introduced in the 1890's. My favorite clematis and the only one I'll have in my garden.




























Romantic Evening, Tall Bearded Iris

Something Pretty

Barrone Provest. This is a lovely but not small Hybrid Perpetural old rose from the late 1800's. I got this plant when I visited Vintage Gardens near San Francisco and had it shipped home. The plant was one cane, quite small but bloomed well. I kept it in a pot and moved it with me where ever I went while building the house. That was in 2001. Now, the plant is an easy 6½ feet tall, just as wide. The fragrance from her hundreds of flowers wafts into my office. This plant is lovely. Not only tall, but bushy and wide and blooms quite well. Repeats well. Even though it is more disease resistant than my other Hybrid Perpetural, Frau Karl Druschki, it still wants weekly attention to keep it healthy. If you have a large spot that is crying out for a rose, this is one I would recommend. The fragrance is strong and heavenly.

A Busy Day

Today was one of the biggest Saturdays of the year for me. It started bright and early with a plant auction in the Conestoga Historical Society http://www.lancastercountyheritage.com/heritage/cwp/view.asp?a=627&q=464544 http://www.rootsweb.com/~pacahs/wagon.htm. There, almost as soon as I got there, they were auctioning off a beautiful 3" cal. Zalkova elm which I got for a whopping $45. That's easily a $350 tree in these parts. It was one of the first things to be auctioned off. That's why I got it so cheap. After that everything started going for much, much higher so it was time to go. From there I went to the Penn State Extension here in Lancaster, where they were having their annual native plant sale. I had been there in March for their symposium, now for their sale. I managed to get some native plants that are still waiting to be planted. I'll get there.

After that, there were trips to Home Depot and Lowe's to look at shower tile. Did I tell you that I'm remodeling the master bath so that there is a huge 2 person shower in there as well as my whirlpool? I am also putting a window above the tub that will look out to a million dollar view of the mountain as well as let in some really great southern natural light. I'd also like to put ceramic tile floor in there, as well as a ceramic tile surround around the tub. I want a new vanity with two bowls and a granite top. The shower wall will be lowered to about 6 feet to let in natural light and will also make for a great plant shelf up there. I don't want much. Anyway, while we were there, I also looked at the hanging baskets. I want two for the front porch and three or four for the patio pots. Of course, everything at Home Depot and Lowe's are so generic that I was disappointed. So, we ended up at my favorite little flower shop right here in Conestoga called Tudbinks where for half the price of Lowe's and Home Depot's generic pots, you get some of the most beautiful custom made hanging flower pots. Of course I got hanging pots for my porch and pots for inside my pation urns.

Finally getting home, I put the hanging pots in my decorative hangers on the porch and place the pots in the urns on the patio. It was time for a short break. Shortly, the neighbor lady came over and was wondering where I found those gorgeous purple flower pots that she saw all the way at the top of Green Hill Road. I use deep royal purple patunias and yellow patunias for my back patio and this year I've also added a little red patunias as well. The front is red geraniums with something dangly, this year is sweet potato vine and orange miniature patunias. Apparently these pots stood out so much that the neighbor lady saw them all the way up the hill on her way home.

Then I hand fertilized about 2/3's of my roses, made myself a grilled cheese sandwich and helped find the perfect spot for the 500 lb. elm. Now I am no ready to call it a day. I think I'll run a bath and turn on those jets.

Checking the Lines

This happens every so often at the power lines that run across the back of my property. It's really cool to watch these guys as they check the power lines to make sure everything is operating fine. When I'm out and they come overhead, they'll often wave. I wave back.

This fellow is sitting on a platform. He probably has a place there where he can keep whatever tools he needs to do his job.

There is another team that will fly over and this fellow stands on the sleighs to inspect the cables. I have to admit, standing on the sleighs makes me nervous. I think it would be hard to keep your balance.

Still, it's cool to watch them as they go about their business.

More Garden Pictures

Virginia Blue Bells. Very short season. Once the blooms are spent, the plant will go dormant again until next year. It does spread but very slowly. One of the most beautiful of plants. I wait for this one every year.









Tahiti daffodil. Continually a nice double daffodil year after year.








Purple Leaf Cherry blossoms. This is the start of the season for this tree. When in full bloom, you will see only flowers. The rest of the summer it has these beautiful purple leaves that turn an even brighter purple in the fall. A lovely contrast to the bronze of the red oak and the yellow of the tulip poplar.





Leopard's Bane. A short lived perennial. I thought two years ago that this plant was done. Then this year, it appear out of nowhere in a different spot than it was and growing nicely. This is such a beautiful flower.

Dalsnaugh Daffidol. One of my favorite double daffidols. This one has a tendency to be rather finicky, looking like this only when the conditions are just right.

I've been busy in the garden, as usual this time of year, weeding and cleaning up all the gardens and getting them ready for mulch. It's been harder than usual as I was changing shifts last year and had to get adjusted to that. Hence I left the garden go. I have 8 beds ready for the mulch and 5 more to go. I've also been planting the little plants I bought this spring. All the roses are pruned, shaped and fed. Now to finish the beds and get them ready for mulch. If anyone wants to volunteer to help weed, let me know.

flowers

Flowering Quince










Flowering Almond








Cleveland Pear










Any questions?

Spring

It seems that spring has finally gotten here. It's been in the mid 70s for the past two days. The daffodils are blooming, the birds are building nests and the garden work is never ending.

However, today, I was able to get some things done. I had been pruning roses for the past two weeks. I was hoping to finish them today, but some errands got in that way and I'll be finishing the last half of the last bush tomorrow. Then to fertilize the last eight , seven of which I pruned to day and the one I will finish tomorrow. Then it's time to renew my personal relationship with the hoe.

The roses I pruned today were the 5 year old miniature monsters in my front yard -- Peaches & Cream. The bushes are big, but very thick and with a lot of dead in the middle. They were able to butcher up my arms pretty good until I got the bright idea to put on my extra long gloves that would protect me up to my elbows.

This evening I decided to start my last two garments for my spring/summer wardrobe. There is a fabric store going out of business here (a bad thing), but the fabric was on sale for a decent percentage off. I went nuts in there a while back and bought about $100 of fabric for a series of garments for my spring/summer wardrobe. These last two are a matching shell and skirt. It is a lovely black/white fabric with verticle bands of lace and bands of flowers and bands of pasley. Black/white fabric seems to be in this year. It shouldn't take me long to get these done. The skirt is almost together now, after an hour of sewing it. Finishing the seams seem to take up the most time. The shell will take a little longer since it has sleeves. It'll be pretty when it's done.

Saturday, April 14, 2007 (7:31pm)

What a beautiful day today. It was surely a surprise. I was expecting it to be somewhat stormy, cold and miserable as it has been for April so far. The forsythia are in bloom and the cooler temps are allowing them to stay in bloom so much longer that warmer years. That’s a good thing. I’ve spent as much time as possible out in the garden pruning and fertilizing the roses. Oh, they aren’t done yet, but I have more than 3/4 of them done. I need a part of one more day to finish them.

I’ve been enjoying my quiet time out in the garden. It’s where I want to be. I’m not all that interested in TV and I don’t listen to the radio much. I have my sewing for the inside times and of course the house to take care of. My most company these days are the pets. Both Shalimar and Bratley have been very good kids. It concerns me that Bratley keeps getting fatter and fatter. I’ve also noticed that his new bag of dog food seems to be vanishing a little to quickly. I’m thinking that Bob is over feeding him and there’s simply nothing I can say to him to make him understand that.

As I was out fertilizing what roses were ready before the heavy rains come in tonight, I was listening to the neighbors as they gathered next door. I felt very alone just then. A very familiar feeling but also depressing. It felt so sadly normal. I felt alone, like I would always be alone.

It is forecasted to rain pretty much all of next week. That’s OK. I will be able to finish my summer wardrobe and get it in my closet, get the house cleaned and rest.

Native Flowers in bloom

Bloodroot, a native wildflower that is difficult to start. This one seemed dormant for at least two years. I simply forgot that I had planted it, or thought it died. Then, last year, it appeared out of the blue with two flowers! This year it seems much better, much larger and it has also moved from where it was last year. It is about 5 inches due east. I didn't move it. It makes me curious, though, as to where I'll find it next year. I'm just glad that it has decided to finally strut it's stuff. It is a deep shade wild flower and seems to really like it in the very moist soil up against the house with the snakeroot. The snakeroot is only now starting to poke it's lovely deep purple leave above the soil.



The rarely seen flowers of the native spice bush. This is the first time this bush has blossomed for me. Right now it's not quite waste high but will mature at 10'x10'. When a bird planted a malberry tree right beside it, I asked at the environmental center which would they move. They told me to get rid of the malberry. Difficult to transplant, this bush was given to me as a tiny stick by my friend, Sandy who has them growing in her woods. It prefers a little more shade but will get it as the tulip poplar grows.

A Story

Last weekend I had my sister, Lori and her husband over for dinner. I had gotten an order of onion sets for the garden and as usual, I was actually sent two bunches. Instead of throwing one bunch away, I had made arrangements for her to take them off my hands and get dinner in the mix. It was a nice dinner. But, as the evening wore on, we ended up in my office where I was showing her the latest prizes of fabric I had acquired at a "Going Out of Business Sale" of a local fabric store. Then the more we talked, we ended up in the bedroom closet and I tried to get her to become the owner of some blouses I had hanging that I know I may never wear again. She did try them on and they fit her perfectly. But all she would say was "I can't take these, you made them."

I made a lot of clothes over the years.

I started sewing at the ripe age of 8 for the local 4-H chapter. I started with the usual hot pads, etc. and went from there. In high school, I took a home ec. course to fill in some time. The year's project was something that could be modeled and would be graded strictly. Mom took me to Lapp's Dry Goods where I found a lovely skirt pattern and a wonderful large checked wool fabric that would make a perfect skirt. The pattern had a nice waistband, zipper and hem, but nonetheless, it was still a skirt. The teacher knew that I would wipe that pattern out in one period and decided that it was time for me to learn something new. She showed me how to make the entire skirt, from beginning to end, with the handstitch used by the pilgrims. All seams had to be perfectly straight, the zipper had to be inserted according to the directions but with an exact ¼" back stitch as were all the seams of this garmet. Ms. Zepp, my teacher, told me that my project would be graded on the same scale as all the rest and it had to be perfect. I got an "A" on the project and got to model when the school had a modeling show. Then it was put in one of the display cases, with the discription of how it was made and it's grade to be displayed for the rest of the term. I was proud of that skirt and wore it into my college years.

This blouses fit Lori and she should have taken them. I'm now making a whole bunch more. I don't need the old ones anymore.

Early Spring

The Crocus are making their annual appearance in my garden right now. Very pretty.

The Fat Lady

I've seen robins, starlings and red-winged blackbirds. The eagles are flying as well as the Canadian geese and the Snow geese. But spring isn't really here until the toads sing. They are the equivalant of the "Fat Lady".

Today was a lovely 65° and after work I went out to get some work done in the garden. Instead I mostly chatted with the neighbor. The socializing was much needed. But after we were finished, I took a can of garden depris to the compost bin and I heard in the background that noise that I've been waiting to hear. It came from the run-off pond beyond the rear of my property and I smiled. Spring had definitely sprung with the song of the toads. Or should I say, "The Fat Lady Sang."

More Migration

Besides the thousands of geese I saw overhead today, I went outside to cook dinner. Nice day, dinner outside. What can I say. Low and behold, there were the red-winged blackbirds, back from their winter roost. http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.richard-seaman.com/Wallpaper/Nature/Birds/ForestAndField/RedWingedBlackbirdCallingFromBullrush.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.richard-seaman.com/Wallpaper/Nature/Birds/ForestAndField/index.html&h=768&w=1024&sz=128&hl=en&start=2&tbnid=VJYrrEh-fqVK4M:&tbnh=113&tbnw=150&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dred%2Bwinged%2Bblackbirds%26gbv%3D2%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den

Another sure sign of spring. I am soooo ready.

Migration

A small part of the Susquehanna River at the Safe Harbor Hydro Plant in Safe Harbor, PA.

If you are into Wow! factors, the Canadian geese are flying overhead this morning, about 10,000 head strong per flock. They should continue to fly overhead in these numbers for about a week bringing with them - spring.

If you really want a thrill, be crossing the Susquehanna River this time of day, this time of year. The geese are just getting started on their day's journey and are flying in flocks 10 times this size and are really low! Millions of them. They will actually make you duck inside your car, they are so low. It is one of the more humbling sights of nature.

Last week the Snow geese went overhead. They don't fly in such large flocks, their sound is slightly different and the black tips of their wings stand out against their white bodies. The Snow geese come first in fewer numbers, then the Canadian geese.

I've noticed that the Black-eyed Juncos are much more active. My guess is, they will be leaving in the next couple of weeks for more cooler temps. We should be getting into the high 50s or low 60s by the end of the weekend. I need to start getting into the garden. It's time to transplant and prepare for the early crops.

Shalimar

I got home from work last evening and as usual, Bratley was by the door waiting to greet me. Always a nice thing. Then Shalimar came running up but she was noticably in distress. She was choking. Her inability to breath was alarming and I started screaming at Husband asking how long she had been in this condition. He came running out telling me he hadn't noticed any problems with her until now.

I called the vet wanting an immediate appointment. They offered one at 9:30 the next morning. My response was "How about NOW?" I told them I was bringing her in, she was in extreme distress and I'd be there in 20 minutes.

Shalimar has a cold which appeared to stimulate her asthma. Now, no medication for both the cold and the asthma she is doing much better. She will be on medication for the next 10 days. Hopefully this doesn't happen to often. She scared me half to death.

Another Storm Yuck.

Another winter storm. Yuck. The last one did me in and I'm not interested in doing this again. I really need someplace warm.

This Weekend

Saturday was a wonderful day for me. It was the "Mid-Winters" convention sponsored by the Penn-Jersey Rose Society. I haven't been to this convention for any number of reasons for a number of years. This year, I not only went, but entered the photo contest that they have.

It's been awhile since I'd won any photo contests so a win was really needed. And so I did! The cluster photo of Patio Pearl took 1st place in it's class. It didn't win best in show, but this award has always seemed to ellude me. Still, a 1st place was very good and I am feeling better than I have in awhile.

Today was another good day. Inbetween snow squalls, we went to the nearby Conestoga River to get some pictures and home movies. We weren't there long because it is still pretty cold, but we did get some pretty nice shots of the river and the local wildlife.

The water in the river basin was so clear you could see all the way to the bottom and it looked quite shall, though it is rather deep right here. This is the mouth of the Conestoga River where it empties into the Susquehanna River.

This little White Throated Sparrow posed sweetly for me, letting me get rather close without being anxious. He just went about his business of finding and eating food as I took pictures of him. It was almost like he knew what I was doing and approved.

Our First Measurable Snowfall

The road home.

We are getting our first measurable snowfall for 2007 just in time for Valentine's day. So far we're measuring at about 2 inches. This is supposed to turn into sleet and freezing rain as the evening deepens and the weather folks are warning about the morning travel to work.

The trip home from the job today was interesting. The city was slippy but once outside the city, the roads, though wet and covered with snow in spots weren't bad driving. Maybe that was due to the less people on the roads. It wasn't until I got into my home town that I ran into some pretty slippery roads. As I got out of the town (I live on a mountain on the southern end of town), the roads became more covered with snow and very slippery. Even in 4x4 I was being very careful. It was nasty out there!

I will wait to see what the morning brings.

My youngest granddaughter, Laura Elizabeth. She is the spitting image of her daddy.