I Love Beards
Bearded Iris – that is. Nothing like the first one of the season.
Updates from June, 2014 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts
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Noreen
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Noreen
Timeless Favorites
A very inviting hideaway for birds that need a great home.
Next door Jan and I trade thoughts and ideas across the white picket fence. It could be solutions to city projects or which plant needs to be added to our gardens. We both have had some garden challenges due to squirrels that love to get into the freshly turned-over dirt. Do they have a regard for the fact that we turned over the dirt to plant a beautiful flower? Not so much. We keep trying and I think in the end we persevere as we know where to get more plants. Bare spots are not very desirable.
This morning I had to grab a photo of Jan’s Columbines that just encase the area on the East side of her home. The combination of the Columbines and the wonderful woodland birdhouse just make it a remarkable site to enjoy. Jan has shared seeds from these favorites and this morning when I walked to the east gardens I did see that in the future our yard will enjoy these timeless favorites.
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Noreen
We Have It All Right Now
• Huge detour of Minnesota Highway 60 . . . 24/7 . . . all traffic is going past our home for several months. Reminder: Do not plan on backing out of the driveway without looking, looking, looking.
• Neighbors huge Cottonwood tree is shedding cotton like crazy. Reminder: Don’t breathe through your mouth.
• It’s the worst first day of mosquitoes. Reminder: Garden while wearing clothing that is buttoned to the hilt.
The blessing is that all of the above mentioned items are not permanent situations.
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Noreen
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Noreen
Those Were the Days
Days when I was in grade school Dad would take us fishing. Sunny days with a pail of worms and cane pools that were longer than could be handed readily. Days when I was in grade school my sister and I would walk the oat fields pulling mustard and weed plants from the crop. Sunny days with no gloves and no hats. Days when my sister and I would be stacking alfalfa bales five high on the hay racks as the acres were harvested three times a year. Sunny breezy days that brought sore backs and sore knees as we bounced the bales off of the knees to get them stacked higher. These are just a smattering of days that have made sweet memories of my childhood.
Those were the days that now bring me to regularly visit the dermatologist in Mankato doing checks and balances for skin cancer. My family in the 1940s and 1950s had never heard of sunscreen. I do remember some sunburns when I was much younger that hurt so much that sleep was impossible. In my youth, I don’t remember anyone wearing sunglasses in the bright sun. I do remember getting too much sun off of the reflection of a lake while fishing that made my eyes hurt when I tried to sleep.
So life goes. Every action has a reaction and I am very thankful that there are checks and balances to safe guard me . . . as long as I care enough to seek them out.
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Noreen
In the Nick of Time
I took a photo of the Bridal Wreath yesterday right
before the rains began. After a pounding of 1.5 inches of
rain I knew I had gotten the photo in the nick of time. -
Noreen
My Mama Always Said . . .
Our home getting a much needed bath.
My mama always said Saturdays were for cleaning house. My sister Elvera will sometimes call to visit and she will ask “Well, are you done yet with your Saturday housework?” Silly lady.
Today was literally a Saturday for cleaning the house. We do have a gravel street to the south of us and the street to the west of us is a heavily used concrete
street. In the late fall of 2013 and even through the winter there is no end to what is thrust into the air from traffic. Dennis has been a faithful house washer over the years. It’s not as if he is doing it because he likes playing in the water. Our home just shines after he gives it a bath.It seems as if the spring of the year beacons us outside and we don’t mind keeping our home and yard up to snuff. Stauffer Ave is the sweetest place.
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Noreen
It’s Not About MPG
Fern Peonies soaking up the early morning sunlight.
This morning I was up at six as hubby Dennis had to do a road trip of supplies for his nephew’s concrete business. Of course it was coffee cup in hand as I headed out to the east garden to do a field check. You never know what will change from day to day. It has become a habit to slip my camera into my robe pocket. Again, you never know what you will run across to photograph.
The sunlight on the Fern Peonies was stellar. I do know that I will have to move these beauties come August. The Maple shrub in this little pod has become large enough that it is giving too much shade for these sun-loving plants. I was greeted by a hoard of mosquitoes before I ever hit my destination. I persevered long enough for a photo op, but knew my plan for the day that had included working in the flower bed east of the house was not going to pan out. There is no way to apply bug spray in all the areas that bugs find to bite.
I decided to take a small road trip. The number of miles per gallon is not always on the top of my list of priorities. My days of being on the road during the work schedule is history. I will say today my road trip brought me more blessings than I could have obtained if someone else filled my car with fuel for . . . the entire year. It just takes the single thought when one has to go from plan A to plan B and then act on it. Thank you Lord for the memories of this day.
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Noreen
It Sneaked Up
A morning of being outside with warm temps and low humidity was great. My first time at using an electric hedge trimmer. It sure went faster than the old garden shears. That tool may stay on the garage wall hereafter. What did surprise me was having a nap sneak up on me while sitting on the back patio. A breeze and happy birds chirping made for a very wonderful short nap. The best part is that so far . . . no bugs to speak of.
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Noreen
Grrr!
I happen to have the most even-tempered hubby anyone could ask for. But!! While mowing the yards today his rider mower began smoking like an Indian sending signals. The look of exasperation could not be missed. The mower is off to the Fleet and Farm for a diagnosis. Thankfully, neighbor Bob gave Dennis a loaner and the mowing was able to be finished. We have been mowing once a week for the last four weeks. Both Dennis and I are amazed how tall it was today just, waiting to get a trim. This may be a long season of mowing. On the plus side, the acre always looks fantastic when it has been groomed. Life on Stauffer: ya gotta love it.
