From the first of July until last night, we've had several rain storms that have really refreshed and replenished the yard and gardens. Andy and I have enjoyed sitting on the front porch and watching the rain fall through the trees. Water comes out of one of the gutters and falls like a fountain on some rocks below that corner of the house. As we watched last night, we both came up with ideas of how to place a small water feature at that corner of the house that would catch the water and be used as a bird bath in addition to a kinetic water feature.
Andy is finishing up on installing a wheelchair ramp for access to the New Mexico bedroom.
The grasshoppers this year are voracious. They eat everything down to the nub, and I'm really tired of it. They have nearly destroyed one of our wysteria, several basil plants, hardy hibiscus, and okra. They don't seem to get on the thai basil or cucumber vines. I won't say what I'm doing to get rid of them, but it's somewhat organic. The only trouble with using organic is that I have to reapply about every other day.
Since I've been "well", I've really enjoyed working out in the yard. I got so far behind in raking up leaves and pulling crabgrass while I was incapacitated this past spring. I think just about the time I get the garden beds cleaned out, it will be fall again and the leaves will start falling again. Oh well.
I had a visit from two good friends earlier this month. Jana works in a flower show/garden center and gave me lots of ideas -- too many to implement right a way but lots of wish lists! Sandi seemed to enjoying walking around and see all that was blooming. I have some "manicured" areas and some wild areas on the property. It rained most of the weekend they were here, but we did get some pleasant time to be outside. We drank coffee on the front porch and enjoyed the breeze and the singing birds.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
HOT SUMMER !!
We've already had several days of temperatures in the high 90's and even 100 degrees, but this week it is cooler -- lows in the 60's (mornings) and highs in the upper 80's. We were hoping for rain this week but it looks like it all went south of us -- Drew said it flooded in some places in Dallas.
Once the New Mexico room was finished, Andy replaced the front door and raised the ceiling a little so that it would accomodate a transom above the door. Then he replaced the floor tile in the entry way, and put in a mosaic of our logo -- we are both pleased with the way it all turned out. The additional lighting and different tile really opened up the entryway and made it look bigger.
We are still working on getting grass to grow in the front and back yards, but overall the yard and gardens are coming along. Lots of things are blooming and the view from the front porch is lovely. Andy is starting on the handicap-accessible ramp leading to the New Mexico room, and when that is finished I can start landscaping on the south end of the house. We've enjoyed sitting on the patio off of the New Mexico room in the late afternoon and evenings. Last night the owls were very active -- it sounded like there were several out in the woods, hooting. Andy has also put up a bat house in a tree on the south side of the house.
I spent all of last weekend working in the yard, pulling weeds and raking up leaves and transplanting flowers -- the first time I've been able to do that in months. I finally got an answer to my medical problems and am on the mend, am feeling good and am so glad to be able to get back to doing the everyday things that need to be done and the things I enjoy doing, like working in the garden. I wonder how long it will be before I get tired of drinking a glass of wine, now that I "have to" have a glass a day!?!
We are looking forward to guests coming in July and in August, and we're trying to lure friends to come visit in September, before the rush of Cheese Festival, class reunion, Dr. Barrett's 90th birthday celebration, and all the other activities that come with October.
Once the New Mexico room was finished, Andy replaced the front door and raised the ceiling a little so that it would accomodate a transom above the door. Then he replaced the floor tile in the entry way, and put in a mosaic of our logo -- we are both pleased with the way it all turned out. The additional lighting and different tile really opened up the entryway and made it look bigger.
We are still working on getting grass to grow in the front and back yards, but overall the yard and gardens are coming along. Lots of things are blooming and the view from the front porch is lovely. Andy is starting on the handicap-accessible ramp leading to the New Mexico room, and when that is finished I can start landscaping on the south end of the house. We've enjoyed sitting on the patio off of the New Mexico room in the late afternoon and evenings. Last night the owls were very active -- it sounded like there were several out in the woods, hooting. Andy has also put up a bat house in a tree on the south side of the house.
I spent all of last weekend working in the yard, pulling weeds and raking up leaves and transplanting flowers -- the first time I've been able to do that in months. I finally got an answer to my medical problems and am on the mend, am feeling good and am so glad to be able to get back to doing the everyday things that need to be done and the things I enjoy doing, like working in the garden. I wonder how long it will be before I get tired of drinking a glass of wine, now that I "have to" have a glass a day!?!
We are looking forward to guests coming in July and in August, and we're trying to lure friends to come visit in September, before the rush of Cheese Festival, class reunion, Dr. Barrett's 90th birthday celebration, and all the other activities that come with October.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
LOTS OF ACTIVITY!!!
It is a HOT summer already! We've had a few days in the 90's already.
Andy finished the New Mexico room and we began unpacking things to decorate the room. We have lots of New Mexico "stuff". He also replaced the front door and raised the ceiling to make the entryway brighter. We had the entire house open and ready for a busy Memorial Day weekend. All three rooms were rented on Friday and on Saturday nights, thanks to the Watonga Alumni Reunion being held that weekend. We met new people and made new friends. The weather was perfect. The gardens are in bloom and I enjoyed walking through them in spite of my illness. Then, on Tuesday, we provided a breakfast for a group of ladies from church and we talked "gardening". Next week we are hosting a reception for our state representative, Mike Sanders, and looking forward to meeting many more people from the area.
Andy finished the New Mexico room and we began unpacking things to decorate the room. We have lots of New Mexico "stuff". He also replaced the front door and raised the ceiling to make the entryway brighter. We had the entire house open and ready for a busy Memorial Day weekend. All three rooms were rented on Friday and on Saturday nights, thanks to the Watonga Alumni Reunion being held that weekend. We met new people and made new friends. The weather was perfect. The gardens are in bloom and I enjoyed walking through them in spite of my illness. Then, on Tuesday, we provided a breakfast for a group of ladies from church and we talked "gardening". Next week we are hosting a reception for our state representative, Mike Sanders, and looking forward to meeting many more people from the area.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
CINCO DE MAYO CELEBRATION
We are hosting a simple Cinco De Mayo "happy hour" at Friday, May 7, at 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM at the RETREAT. Anyone who is in the neighborhood and would like to stop by, come on by. You can wear your sombreros and/or serapes (or not!) and enjoy some margaritas, pico de gallo, and whatever else we have on hand. No RSVP needed, but if you have questions and want to call, we can be reached at (580) 623-4269 or cell phone (214) 763-3823.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
IS ANYONE READING THIS?!?!?!?
It is finally spring here in NW Oklahoma.
They say that the average date for the last freeze here is April 10-15. Last week we didn't have any freezing temperatures, and so I am hopeful we are finally going to get spring weather. The temperatures last week were very pleasant. Even though it was pretty windy, we had some nice days.
Last week the redbuds broke out in color, the daffodils and jonquils were blooming, and then the creeping phlox bloomed and gave us a blanket of color at ground level. The vinca is blooming and spreading and the varigated vinca is coming up where I transplanted sprigs last year. Tulips given to me by Jana also bloomed. The henbit's green leaves look like the ground is green, and underneath that the grass is starting to green up. Andy has had to mow twice already!
Yesterday, a walk around the property showed me that one of our japanese red leaf maples survived and is putting on leaves. The ajuga has put out spikes of purple flowers. The columbine has buds that should open in the next few days, and I even saw a new baby columbine coming up. I saw mouse ear coreopsis getting ready to put on blooms. The rose of sharon is putting on leaves. I saw two buds on the irises in Marjorie's garden.
I started a new bed at the level of the front row of trees, that will be seen from the road when I get flowering shrubs and plants in it. So far I've only put a row of monkey grass as a border and a lantana at each end. . . .
We hunted for mushrooms on Saturday of Easter weekend, as we had heard from some locals that they had found mushrooms, and the weather conditions were right. Since no one will share their hunting grounds, we had to fend for ourselves and just go tromping through the woods. I got pretty scratched up, but it was a fun outing. We went to two different locations on the South Canadian River. The first trip was a bust, and on the second outing I spied one (1) single mushroom! Unfortunately, the area we were in looked like it had been overrun by armadillo or wild pig, and we didn't find any more mushrooms. But one of our friends from church was generous enough to share their mushroom bounty with us, so we had some morels for Easter dinner. Thanks, Dee and Kevin! Andy went hunting again with a couple of guys the weekend after Easter, but they weren't successful in finding any. Now the season is over, I am told. But I might still go out to our gully and look one last time.
With mushroom hunting season also comes the beginning of snake season -- but the critters are still moving slow, I am told. We just have to be aware and careful when in the woods. I have my trusty stick by the door, to grab when I go out hiking.
They say that the average date for the last freeze here is April 10-15. Last week we didn't have any freezing temperatures, and so I am hopeful we are finally going to get spring weather. The temperatures last week were very pleasant. Even though it was pretty windy, we had some nice days.
Last week the redbuds broke out in color, the daffodils and jonquils were blooming, and then the creeping phlox bloomed and gave us a blanket of color at ground level. The vinca is blooming and spreading and the varigated vinca is coming up where I transplanted sprigs last year. Tulips given to me by Jana also bloomed. The henbit's green leaves look like the ground is green, and underneath that the grass is starting to green up. Andy has had to mow twice already!
Yesterday, a walk around the property showed me that one of our japanese red leaf maples survived and is putting on leaves. The ajuga has put out spikes of purple flowers. The columbine has buds that should open in the next few days, and I even saw a new baby columbine coming up. I saw mouse ear coreopsis getting ready to put on blooms. The rose of sharon is putting on leaves. I saw two buds on the irises in Marjorie's garden.
I started a new bed at the level of the front row of trees, that will be seen from the road when I get flowering shrubs and plants in it. So far I've only put a row of monkey grass as a border and a lantana at each end. . . .
We hunted for mushrooms on Saturday of Easter weekend, as we had heard from some locals that they had found mushrooms, and the weather conditions were right. Since no one will share their hunting grounds, we had to fend for ourselves and just go tromping through the woods. I got pretty scratched up, but it was a fun outing. We went to two different locations on the South Canadian River. The first trip was a bust, and on the second outing I spied one (1) single mushroom! Unfortunately, the area we were in looked like it had been overrun by armadillo or wild pig, and we didn't find any more mushrooms. But one of our friends from church was generous enough to share their mushroom bounty with us, so we had some morels for Easter dinner. Thanks, Dee and Kevin! Andy went hunting again with a couple of guys the weekend after Easter, but they weren't successful in finding any. Now the season is over, I am told. But I might still go out to our gully and look one last time.
With mushroom hunting season also comes the beginning of snake season -- but the critters are still moving slow, I am told. We just have to be aware and careful when in the woods. I have my trusty stick by the door, to grab when I go out hiking.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
A NEW PLAY
Andy is working on the sets at the local Theatre for a new children's play that will be staged in mid-April. Rehearsals are underway and, being on the theatre board, I will be busy for the next couple of weeks helping get things set up.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
PLEASE SEND COMMENTS TO ME !!!
I'd love to know who is reading my blog, so anyone reading this is requested to Click on "COMMENT" at the bottom of this entry and send me your comment -- even if it is just "read it" and your name.
Our B&B is filling up quickly with reservations for the summer! We have some weekends booked for July and August, so April and May would be a good time for our friends from Dallas to come visit. The New Mexico room should be finished and furnished sometime in April. Both the Texas Room and the Oklahoma room are rented through March and possibly into April. We have some very nice guests with us right now. We hope they are here long enough to get to see the beauty of the grounds this spring, and enjoy sitting on the deck in nice weather.
Even though it is over 60 degrees today, there is snow in the forecast for this coming weekend. Fortunately, it isn't going to stay cold and the snowfall is only expected to be "flurries", so by Monday we should be back to nice weather.
Andy and I have strolled around the property and made plans for spring trimming, path clearing, and flower planting in strategic spots. I am excited to see some of the early blooming perennials starting to put on new growth: three varieties of coreopsis, coneflower, purple columbine, and shasta daisy are looking healthy. Irises and daylillies are sprouting. The quince and currant are about to "pop". Sadly, the forsythia we planted last spring isn't looking too good, though it does have some live branches. I can see that one of the japanese red-leaf maples we planted survived the winter but I can't tell if the second one did -- I should be able to see signs of life on that one by mid-April.
I planted potatoes, lettuces, cilantro, and spinach last weekend, and parsley is already growing from seed planted at the end of last season. I also planted some seeds for tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant and put them in a covered shelf unit that will hopefully have the effect of a hothouse. I have to rake up lots of leaves now that the days are getting warmer and the sun is out. I haven't see any signs of bluebonnets yet, but am still hopeful -- maybe this next little wave of moisture will help them to germinate.
Our B&B is filling up quickly with reservations for the summer! We have some weekends booked for July and August, so April and May would be a good time for our friends from Dallas to come visit. The New Mexico room should be finished and furnished sometime in April. Both the Texas Room and the Oklahoma room are rented through March and possibly into April. We have some very nice guests with us right now. We hope they are here long enough to get to see the beauty of the grounds this spring, and enjoy sitting on the deck in nice weather.
Even though it is over 60 degrees today, there is snow in the forecast for this coming weekend. Fortunately, it isn't going to stay cold and the snowfall is only expected to be "flurries", so by Monday we should be back to nice weather.
Andy and I have strolled around the property and made plans for spring trimming, path clearing, and flower planting in strategic spots. I am excited to see some of the early blooming perennials starting to put on new growth: three varieties of coreopsis, coneflower, purple columbine, and shasta daisy are looking healthy. Irises and daylillies are sprouting. The quince and currant are about to "pop". Sadly, the forsythia we planted last spring isn't looking too good, though it does have some live branches. I can see that one of the japanese red-leaf maples we planted survived the winter but I can't tell if the second one did -- I should be able to see signs of life on that one by mid-April.
I planted potatoes, lettuces, cilantro, and spinach last weekend, and parsley is already growing from seed planted at the end of last season. I also planted some seeds for tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant and put them in a covered shelf unit that will hopefully have the effect of a hothouse. I have to rake up lots of leaves now that the days are getting warmer and the sun is out. I haven't see any signs of bluebonnets yet, but am still hopeful -- maybe this next little wave of moisture will help them to germinate.
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