Busy Day

But a fun one, for me, because I got to dig in the dirt for several hours. I finally have just about all of my annuals planted. I have one spot that could use something, and I would like it to be a climber. I'm thinking honeysuckle, simply because we had a vine when I was young, the smell was wonderful and it was so much fun to pull the flower off and suck out the nectar. Here's the back garden, all newly planted and ready to grow. I was thinking of putting the vine on a trellis in the middle.



Closeup of part of that garden. There's some snapdragons, some petunias, a day lily and some creeping phlox that I got from my neighbor's trash heap, where he had thrown it.



I got the mailbox garden finished.




Finished the pot garden (notice I haven't cleaned out all the leaves and seeds that came down during our big wind a few days ago).



And, put a few pots on my back steps.



While I was doing that, the young man from next door was mowing the lawn for me. He uses a big John Deere mower and, after we checked with his Dad, he mowed along the edge of the lawn, pushing back the ever invading weeds. The only problem with that is that now, with that nice strip of earth, I've got the itch to plant something there, as well. We'll see. I've kind of got my hands full with the gardens I have now. I still have two of my perennial gardens to clean out, and they're a mess, which is why there have been no pictures of them.




While I was walking around, admiring the job that the young man had done, I noticed a patch of small white flowers in the border of the woods. When I checked, I found it was woodruff. It's in a precarious position, and I think I'll ask the owner of that part of the woods if I can dig them out and transplant them into my shade garden. I have some, but I just love them, because they smell so good in the Spring.



There's also this giant thing right along the edge of my lawn. I think it's alfalfa, which wouldn't be a surprise. Those of us who have horses, with blankets and other stuff that has to be brought home to be washed, know that you frequently find alfalfa growing in the oddest places. Seeds from the hay the horses eat seem to end up everywhere.



I was pretty tired after that, so I decided to read the paper. It came in an advertising bag yesterday, and, I got a big laugh out of the product that was being advertised. I'd never heard of it before, and I just have to wonder how much marketing research was done. I mean, wouldn't you laugh if you were served some Bimbo Bread?




Or, is that just my sometimes convoluted sense of humor?

Out of My Rear Window 5/16/10

The lilacs are fading, but, the sun is shining and it is supposed to be a beautiful day. I hope I can get the rest of my annuals planted today, and still have time to try to get back into the woods.

Virginia

OK, back to normal today. I think I just needed a couple of days to adjust to my Aunt's decline. I think that what I was upset about can best be seen in the contrast of these two pictures.

I have posted this one before. This is my Aunt just three years ago, at 88.



This is my Aunt this week, at 91.



As marked as this difference is physically, it is even more of a mental decline. The Aunt of the first picture was bright, alert and informed. We would talk for hours about "cabbages and kings." The Aunt of the second picture has lost touch with reality. She lives in a fantasy world and that world is very small. I guess that I should be thankful that she still recognizes me, and that, in her fantasy world, she is very happy and content. But, I've known and loved that first Aunt for my entire life, and, impossible as it is, I want her back.

But, enough about that. I stayed with a friend of my Aunt's. A good friend, who faithfully goes to visit her every week. She finds it very painful, also, but she goes, because she knows that I can't check on her as often as I would like to, and she wants to keep an eye out on what is going on. This is the house I stayed in.



Of course, I love it because it is a home of great serenity, and because it is in the middle of woods!





My Aunt also lives in a beautiful, caring place. She and my Uncle selected it very carefully, years ago. She gets good care there, and is in very beautiful surroundings.




The trips down and back were uneventful. But, as I get older, the nine hours it takes to make the drive gets longer and longer. I was very tired when I got home. Maybe that's why, once I was home, and not on high alert any more, the sadness hit me so hard. I'm usually a very up person, so that type of thing really takes me by surprise.

Damn hard, this whole thing.

I'm Back

I actually got back yesterday. Without boring you all, the visit was very sad for me and it's taking me a while to get in the mood to blog again. I do have pictures, and will try to get something up after working at the track tomorrow.

Edited to add that I don't want you all to worry, I'm physically and even mentally fine. Just worn out from a very emotional trip.

Off to Virginia

I'm going to visit my Aunt for a few days. I'll have no access to computers during this time, but, hopefully, a story or two to tell when I get back.

Out of My Rear Window 5/9/10

It's a cold and miserable day. The temperature right now (11 AM) is 36 degrees. This morning, when I got up, there were snowflakes in the air. Oh well, I can catch up on my inside work.

Welcome Silvia-Maria

I see that I have a new follower today, so, welcome to you Silvia-Maria. I wish I spoke German so that I could read your blog http://waldviertler-filzstueberl.blogspot.com/, but I looked at all your pictures and they are lovely. Looks like you're from Austria? What are those lovely braided ropes around the evergreens? Looks like you have really beautiful sheep, and, am I reading that your horse is a Quarterhorse? LOL, the best horse I ever owned was a Hannoverian, imported from Germany, though not by me. Funny how horses cross the ocean in both directions like that. Here's a picture of her.



You know, my Grandfather came from Germany, but he would never teach any of his kids German. I wish that he had, so that I could have learned it from my Mom. Oh well, too late now. I'll certainly keep an eye on your blog, look at the pictures, and, maybe once in a while I'll ask dumb questions.