End of June

chest and one of warped drawer bottoms

This month is flying by way too fast! Lots happening outside including a day of rain today.

A week ago my sister-in-law and I went shopping for "used stuff." We went to some lovely antique stores and some real junk stores and some things in between.  At the last store we were at, I came across a used chest that seemed just the right size to use in my kitchen. I had been contemplating getting a kitchen island and found one for about 300 dollars that was nice. Instead I decided that perhaps a chest of drawers would be just as good and a lot cheaper.. The chest needed some work- drawer bottoms were warped and the chest needed a little glue here and there and a lot of cleaning. The cleaning part took nothing but a little time and elbow grease. I took the drawers out and construction made it very easy to replace the bottoms; they just slid into a slot around the sides. So got a piece of oak and had the bottoms cut out- sanded a little and put a coat of mini-wax. Wanted it to be a bit higher and looked at numerous options when I saw our old TV cart with casters on it.. Got those off (thanks, John) and put them in the holes already on the chest legs and it's just the right height.  Rubbed the chest with some good furniture oil and replaced the wooden drawer knobs with white ceramic and voila and kitchen island for less than $100.  Took the table out of the kitchen (we never sat there) and it's now on front porch. Rearranged a lot of the kitchen today and happy with my new chest/kitchen island!

The Wytheville Chautauqua Festival ended last week. I attended several master gardener sessions as well as several nights of music and had a fun time. One night I sold T-shirts and other festival items from 4-7. Lots of nice people there and spent a couple nights with my cousins Mary Jane, and one night with John, Jim, and Mary Jane's brother, George.

John and I went on a bird walk and learned about bird songs and calls. I also went on a tree walk (in the rain- I was the only one who went) and learned lots about trees.




John and Jim went on their annual (though say it's their last) Appalachian Trail Walk. Sounded like it was quite a challenge this year and their feet were not happy with the trip. They seemed to have some fun though and met lots of nice people on the trail.  The picture is at the start of the trip - they didn't look this good when we picked them up!

In the meantime, Mother nature is making things continue to grow. Flowers, weeds and vegetables all have had growth spurts.

Daylilies, roses & sweet pea in bloom here

We've been able to eat lettuce, radishes, jalapeno peppers, and one banana pepper (another on its way). Lots of other things seems ready to produce; there are little green tomatoes, a cucumber about to grow, flowers on many other plants. We can't wait!

White Hydrangea just beginning to turn white

Garden continue to grow - no veggies there yet

We've been eating the lettuce

 



 

 

Happy Father's Day

Happy Fathers Day to all the fathers out there.  Interestingly I've just read that after Mother's Day was established, a young woman wanted to recognize her father who was a single father of six.  She started advocating for celebrating this in June. Took a while to catch on, but she was helped by the tobacco industry who thought it would help them sell tobacco products (Pipes as presents) if there were such a celebration.  Now if we want to keep our fathers for a long time, we advocate they stay away from tobacco.. Times do change.

My brother called today (after seeing nothing new on my blog) so I guess it's been awhile since I updated the blog. He really called to say he's coming to visit with his buddy, Jimmy.  I look forward to seeing them; guess I will have to go upstairs and assess the state of bedrooms earlier than I thought.

Lots of changes in the vegetation since I last posted.

I am very curious after spending a couple hours weeding in one of my peony beds. When we first started to live here, N could not stand that there was no grass in the front yard. So he got some special shade tolerant grass and babied it until we did have some grass there. This year, most of the side yard is dandelions and other green looking weeds. From afar it may look like we have grass there, but there's little to be found. So here I was in the Peony patch sitting on the weeds and pulling out luscious grass from between the peonies - shaded by the plants, not special grass, never babied. Where is the justice in that??
Oh well- the peonies are blooming extra long this year - maybe because I've been here and spent some time dead-heading. Talked to a master gardener this afternoon about a problem with the peonies and she's going to do some research. The master gardeners are at the Wytheville Chautauqua Festival every day and give presentations as well as answer questions. Today a lady gave us a pictorial tour of her incredible perennial garden and then another gentleman showed us how to make bird baths in the shape of leaves.. Pretty interesting.. I may try later in the summer.

Rock garden Roses

Lots of roses in bloom - different kinds and many grow pretty wild. I've sprayed a couple for bugs and rose diseases.. but there are really a lot, so confined this so far to those I've tamed to some degree. It has helped those a lot; they look better then ever.  Still all are pretty.


Another rock garden variety

One of the "tamed" varieties of Roses

 Nelson and Butch recently put a vent in the garden-tool shed. The generator is in the shed and if we lose electricity and it's raining, it will have to run in there and the fumes need a way to escape. The exhaust fan hasn't arrived yet, but that will be on the inside of the shed. Nelson is also hopeful that the shed will be cooler once the fan is there. He spends lots of time out there- doing little projects..

This next picture is bigger to represent the bigness of the problem I have with sweet peas. They are really pretty flowers and if only they would just grow where I'd like them, they'd be most welcome in my yard. However, they think every location is fair game and if not pulled out they hide or suffocate all the other plants.  They are just now beginning to bloom, but I've pulled out miles of them since early spring and will continue to be pulling them all summer.. Hard to get the roots out, so am sure they will be back. One nice thing is that you can cut them and they stay pretty in flower arrangements unlike many of my other flowers that are beautiful in nature but don't do well in vases.

This is the only larkspur so far in the bulb garden on the side. I used this garden last year for tomatoes and peppers but they didn't do great there and since this spring many flowers appeared, there must be a lot more bulbs than I knew.. Anyway this larkspur is in among many weeds since I have done nothing with this garden this year.. It's quite pretty and I see some similar foliage in that garden so perhaps more flowers will appear.  Nature sure has a lot of surprises for me this year.


My first lily and daylilies are now appearing.. Such beautiful flowers. 



And the vegetable garden is growing ever slowly. We had our first radish from our garden tonight along with lettuce from some neighbors. Ours is still a little small but I put it in much later than most folks.

Remember the sad little lima? Well no longer sad. See below; its friends have joined him in the garden and we now have two rows coming up. N will be happy when we start seeing flowers on them. Lots of beans coming up too - several varieties. And tomatoes are blooming. I have one plant that I started in Florida from seed that I saved from last summer after eating a really, really good tomato from one of my neighbors. She couldn't remember the variety. That plant was well along when I arrived.  It now has a few small tomatoes on it, so hopefully in a few more weeks we may have a few..  I wasn't sure how it would transplant but seems to be surviving.  Well lots more, but time for bed; so will defer!

Rainy Day

Well it's raining here today- though not as bad as at home from what I hear. It's been off and on but not a day to be outside. Watched the mixed doubles finals at French Open this morning and did a little wandering down in Marian.

 I've played tennis twice since I got here and had a good time doing it even though the hard courts are more punishing for my feet than playing in Fl.  Supposed to play in the morning - we'll see.

Last few days have been lots of work outside. A few things in my garden had disappeared, so put some new seeds down; none of them are up yet of course. But some of the seeds that I planted the first time I came up are through the ground and looking like they may produce something. There's lettuce, radishes, thyme, tarragon, parsley, dill and cilantro all peeking up to some extent.  And there are plants that we planted that are looking good - cabbage, onions, tomatoes, peppers, green beans. There are even flowers on a few tomato plants.  Poor limas - 2 rows planted, only two plants coming up so far.  New seeds have been put down for them too.  Corn is beginning to come up.  Fortunately we have lots of good neighbors/relatives whose gardens look better and have some different things, so if our cukes and squash don't do well, I expect there will be more than enough to go around..

Sad lima bean

sage starting to bloom as chives finish

Staked or caged all tomatoes and peppers

 However, I also saw a little bunny rabbit this morning, so hope he/she isn't focused on our garden.

 Lots of flowers in bloom too but none as beautiful as the array of peonies we have. Got a few roses staring and winding down on the poppies but they are magnificent that's for sure. There is one day lily that doesn't seem to know it's too early but the others are gearing up I guess.  I've done lots of weeding this week and finished the hill by the garage. Time to move elsewhere once the rain goes away.  And the grapes are beginning to show some promise

Grapes

See the little Jalapeno starting?





Radishes



Cabbage being watered




White Peonies and blue iris



Pink Peonies

Dark Pink Peonies

Back in Virginia

23 years of shirts above silent auction tables

The Memorial Day Charity Tennis Tournament was awesome. We did a lot of work but raised about $25K for the Arthritis Foundation and everyone seemed to have a good time. I was in charge of the raffle, but did lots of other minor tasks during the weekend.. Also got in three matches before my partner and I were totally out of the tournament and we had fun playing.

Then spent days going to Drs, pulling weeds, packing, taking care of last minute house things. Got the palms and other big trees trimmed - picked the wrong company to do the trimming and won't use them again. I have good friends and thus all will be well eventually (thank you, thank you Debbie) but was a harrowing last day and delayed my departure for many hours.

Finally got everything in the car and off I went. Spent first night just past Savannah. Then stopped in Charlotte to shop at Trader Joes and Whole Foods, with-in-laws list in hand. If only that was all I bought :)!  Trying out some new and very reasonably priced wines from both places.  Could have stayed much longer as there are many, many stores in Charlotte I'd like to check out.  Sister-in-law's daughter lives there now, so we are already planning a return trip - though no date associated yet.
..
I love the entry in Wythe County (county I live in)! It is such a beautiful view.

Entering County

Nearing my exit

Flag Iris

 Then all of a sudden I am back at my Va. home and am greeted by beautiful flowers. Only a few are pictures here. It rained today and some don't look so good anymore - especially the peonies, but they haven't all opened so there will be more to enjoy.










Poppies in the shade

Gigantic iris

Garden looked very dry, so the rain today is a welcome happening. Some plants have done great since I was gone. Others not so good. Beans are coming up; radishes need to be thinned, lettuce is showing its early growth, zucchini are flowering but have almost no leaves (very strange); and two of three cukes have disappeared. Basil looks like something besides humans have enjoyed.  Tomatoes and peppers have all survived.  Will assess more tomorrow and decide on what needs to be replanted.