Blackberry Winter

Blackberry Winter is the last cold spell of the season. It arrives when the blackberry vines are in bloom, hence the name. (Dogwood Winter is a bit earlier, while the native dogwoods bloom.)

Tonight a strong north wind is blowing and a bit higher up on the mountain a light dusting of snow is expected. The blackberry vines are in full bloom. Tomorrow night the tender plants will need protection and the houseplants will need brought back inside.

Further north a huge winter storm is beating down on the northeastern states. I feel for those folks. I’m glad I don’t live that far north.

My order of seeds from Parks Seed Company: Black-eyed Susan Vines and hibiscus in various colors, Cherokee Purple Tomato, okra, and various peppers arrived yesterday.  After this cold spell I’ll be playing in the dirt with a passion.

This afternoon I took some pictures of what’s blooming now:

The clematis is beautiful. It was moved to this location about 4 years ago and has finally regained its former glory. My new “baby” clematis is still getting used to its location, but has blessed us with some blooms.

 

My iris are blooming, even the white one (she went on strike last year).

The Weigelia I rooted about 7 years ago is blooming. A pretty pink, but someday I want a red one.

Hopefully nothing will be nipped too badly over the next few nights. I’ll let you know if it does.

Hurray for Mild Winters

This mild winter has been fantastic. If this is “global warming” I say bring it on. I could really start liking it.

This time last year we had snow on the ground and cold temperatures. So far this year we’ve only had one dusting of snow. The daffodils are up, crocuses and flowering quince are in bloom, and signs of life renewing abound. My biggest worry is that we might get a late winter smack-down and kill everything that has so eagerly gotten a jump on Spring.

I spent yesterday afternoon scrubbing the deck in an attempt to dislodge the green mold that had flourished there for the past few months. The deck faces north and lack of sun, damp conditions, and warm weather all contributed to the icky green mold. When damp it would become extremely slick and I feared a fall.

By nightfall we were receiving a steady rain which finished rinsing the deck. Maybe all the chlorine bleach in my cleaning water will discourage regrowth for awhile.

I’m planning my garden for this year. I can’t wait to get back to digging in the dirt. Maybe I will be able to lose a few pounds once I get back to gardening and the endless trips up and down our hillside. (One can hope anyway.)

The Gardens Turned Jungle

I have no pictures to post of the sad state of affairs in my garden. I’m too ashamed and any picture right now would look like a solid mass of green foliage anyway.

Almost daily rain from thunderstorms has led to this abundant growth. A case of flu for my husband and myself has caused me to get weeks behind in pruning, mowing and cultivating. 

Never fear though. I can straighten it out with a couple of days effort. The change will surely give me instant gratification.

Now that we are almost recovered from the flu. or creeping crud, or whatever it was things should get back to normal.

I might even manage to post on the blog more frequently.

Be blessed.

Between Christmas and New Years

This week has always been a sort of week-in-limbo for me. First there’s the excitement of Christmas. After a day of recovery, my birthday creeps around yet again.

Then comes that period of anticipation of the new year ahead. It’s like we all pause and hold our breath, waiting for the new year to arrive, wishing for a better year to come with the changing of the calendar date on January first.

The residents here at Shady Hollow have been watching the slow melting process of our first white Christmas in what seems like forever. It was a beautiful Christmas Day, watching the snow fall in silent splendor. The air was hushed and still as the tiny flakes drifted downward. Simply awesome.

We were snug and warm inside the cottage. There were kitties at every window, watching the snowflakes float past. Occasionally a paw would tap the glass in an attempt to catch one. Jay Dog will not go out in snow, so papers were spread for his use and I again regretted not teaching him to use a litter box when he was a puppy.

It was a peaceful holiday for Pa and myself. We needed that.

I am spending some time in reflection of the year just past and also years further back in time as 2011 looms ever closer. Funny how you do that as you get older. Maybe I’ll post some of those reflections later this week. Some of them, at least a few, may be worth a post.

Be blessed.

Adventures in the Snow and Cold

Last Sunday, we awoke to three inches of “30% chance of snow.” No biggie, it was Sunday and we didn’t have to go anywhere. I had stocked up on necessary items the day before. I had a “feeling” that the forecast was wrong.

About midday I decided to get laundry done and with a heaping basket of dirty cloths, headed off to the laundry room in the basement.

The basement floor was covered in water! What the heck was going on? Back upstairs to tell my husband. Then, flashlight in hand, back down again to track down the leak and see what had to be done.

The good news was that none of the inside pipes were leaking.

The bad news was that the leak was outside, about a foot from the basement wall. Water from the leak was seeping through the wall and flooding the basement. It would eventually destroy the wall. I know, it happened to my neighbor a few years ago. It only took a few hours to do tremendous damage to her house.

Then I did what any red-blooded Southern woman would do. . . I called my son. While he drove the 40 miles to come help, I started digging. 

I didn’t get the whole area dug out, but I made a start. My son arrived and in short order had the water turned off, hole dug and was on his way to get what was needed for the repairs.

Meanwhile, the artic cold air was pouring into our area, and snow had started flurrying again. It was cold and things didn’t want to cooperate, but my son finally got the pipe repaired. He was half frozen and muddy from head to toe.

Of course there was still plenty of work for me, moping and getting the basement floor dry. Luckily the major part of the flooding was in my husband’s shop area and the majority of his tools were up on benches and unharmed.

I also kept an eye out for signs of a failure in the repair work. My son was worried that it may not hold, due to the cold temperatures in place while he was doing the work. So far, so good on that issue. Maybe next summer we can dig it up again and do some major replacement of water line and prevent a reoccurrence of the problem. We’ll think about that seriously.

For now I’m just thankful the damage to the contents was minimal and that no structural damage was done to the foundation of the cottage.

I’m even more thankful to have a son who will drop what he’s doing and drive 40 miles to help his mother. How wonderful is that?

Cold In The Mountains

It is COLD!!!

It isn’t even officially winter and the temperatures are plunging into the teens at night with single digit wind chills. Brrr!

We are staying warm enough. I got the insulated drapes up in the nick of time.

The bulbs are inside and the shrubs are planted. The potted shrubs are in a safe place to overwinter. I almost waited too long though and am thankful I listened to my inner voice and did those chores when I did.

Right now I can stand by the the dining room window and look out across the pond. It is obscured by foliage during summer. If the temperatures stay this low, I’ll be watching it freeze over soon. All together now. . . brrr!

If you are in the large area blanketed in cold air, please be careful and stay warm. If you’re not. . . you lucky rascal, enjoy it for you may be next.

Meanwhile, I’m staying in the cottage as much as possible. The gardens are dormant and so is the gardener.

Be Blessed!

Chores Are Done: Let It Rain!

I’m proud of myself. I actually got the cannas dug and hydrangeas planted late Sunday afternoon. Now Mother Nature is watering the hydrangeas in with a deep soaking.

We’ve had 2 inches of rain since yesterday afternoon and its supposed to continue raining all day today. My timing was perfect.

Of course, I’ll be even happier after I recover from the stiff, sore muscles I have as a result of all that digging and bulb carrying. I was more out of shape than I thought!

There is still some tidying up to do in preparation for winter: containers and pots need to be stored away for next year and leaves need to be collected for the compose pile. Those will have to wait for better weather.

The best thing to do this morning is to enjoy another cup of coffee and watch the cats nap while  listening to the rain.

Be blessed!

Looking for Deer and Planting Shrubs

Every day as I drive to work, I hope to see that beautiful deer again. I want to see him and I want to avoid hitting him if he doesn’t give me as much time to stop.

My husband and I are both spending a lot of time in the morning and evening looking across the creek into the field beyond, wanting to get a glimpse of “my” buck or the doe our neighbor saw.

We keep thinking we will see them down at the pond getting a drink. So far, no luck.

I did notice this morning how thick the frost was on the grass around the pond. That will be commonplace for the next months. Winter is roaring in.

I am running out of time to plant some hydrangeas I’ve been holding in containers since last spring. If I don’t do it today, next weekend will be my last chance. Stay turned for developments on that project.

I’ve let myself get so out of shape that I almost dread shovel work and moving those big pots. It will be a step toward getting myself back in shape though. I have to look at it from that angle.

I know I’ll be happy next year when these shrubs leaf out and bloom. They are a variegated hydrangea with blue blossoms. My plan is to plant them across the front of the cottage.

Some years ago we pulled out a row of ancient azaleas that had been in that spot since the cottage was built. Since then I have used annuals in that flower bed. I think these hydrangeas will look really nice in that spot. They will also cut the amount of work required to make it look nice. That’s a good thing, as my time to garden seems to diminish a bit more each year.

Hibiscus

July is winding down. As August approaches I can’t help but wonder if it will surpass July in the number of super hot days.

We have had some real hot ones here lately, as has most of the country. The heat has taken its toll on me and on the gardens.

My single remaining hibiscus has started blooming. I told hubby yesterday that I will be ordering more seeds and starting more this winter. I lost the others due to my neglect, I won’t do that again.

The cannas experiment (putting them in the front flower bed) has been successful. they seem to like it there.

They should be blooming soon. I can’t wait!

Earlier I wrote about my Rose of Sharon that bloomed from seed. It only had one white flower. I am happy to say that more of the seed-grown Rose of Sharon's are loaded with buds and soon will be in bloom. I’ll be sure to post when they do, with photos. I am anxious to see just what colors I may have.

The container plants are finally filling in and looking better.

I was worried, it seemed to take them forever to get going.

Have a beautiful end of July. Next time I’ll tell you about my frog encounter.

Blessed Be.

Finally: Rain

I knew that sooner or later one of those hit-or-miss thunder storms would have to pass over Shady Hollow. The law of averages had to kick in. I was beginning to wonder though.

Yesterday we had a string of storms pass over and another storm today. The grand total in our rain gauge was about 2.2 inches.

A quick check of the veggie patch this evening showed me that there will be bean picking to do in the morning. And provided I have taken enough measures to prevent blight, we may soon have some home grown tomatoes.

The flowers all look extremely happy to have had plenty of rain.

I’m just glad to see everything greening up again and not looking so wilted. No amount of watering can do as much for the plants as a good rain.

Be Blessed!

Watering Woes

Every time it gets hot and dry like it is now, I have to wonder to myself, why did I plant so much stuff?

I hate to go outside, all the plants from the oaks to the container plants are crying for water. Of course I can’t water everything. My budget isn’t set up for a water bill that large.

So the veggie patch gets a drink, the container plants and a few other plantings as well. That still leaves shrubs and daylilies thirsting for a drink.

On a walk around the gardens yesterday I noticed the ground has cracked and in areas looks like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle.

Monday I drug out a soaker hose and placed it around the tomatoes and cucumbers in the veggie patch. That helped for the plants it reached. I didn’t have enough hose, dang it! So, yesterday morning I watered the remaining plants with the garden hose and hoped for the best.

I saved my shower water and watered the cannas, shrubs, and various annuals in the front bed. I was careful not to let it get on their foliage, so that should help them out a little. I watered the container plants.

I don’t mind watering the container plants. I expect to. Carrying water to some of the others is getting hard on my back since the arthritis has taken hold. But, hey, a gardener has to do what they have to do. Right?

We may get some rain over the weekend. I think we have a 60 percent chance of a shower stopping by. I hope its a big, long shower and everything can get a good drink of water.

Until then the hoses and watering cans are getting a good workout, as is the gardener.

Watering, Cooking and Miscellaneous Stuff

I am on my last day of vacation. It has been wonderful to be at home with my husband, our little dog and the kitties.

Yesterday I had to water the gardens. From the looks of the weather forecast, I’ll be doing more of that in the next week or two. The debate now is how much recycled water to carry in buckets and how much fresh water to use (running the meter at full blast while I do)

I learned during our last drought that I could remove the washing machine hose from the drain and use rinse water to water my gardens without any ill effects. I also would close the drain in the tub and use recycled shower water to water the plants. As long as you pour the gray water on the ground and not on the foliage it works just fine.

But I am a few years older now and the prospect of carrying those heavy buckets of water is not very appealing.

Other than worrying about watering plants I’ve had some fun in the kitchen.

My sweet husband bought me a pressure cooker. I am in my late 50’s and have never had a pressure cooker before. My mom used one all the time and I loved the food she prepared with it. I’ve just always been a little afraid of them.

Saturday I cooked my first whole chicken in my new pressure cooker and was amazed at how easy it was. (Yes, even for a fumble-fingered, easily distracted person like me).

It didn’t take but 20 minutes and the chicken was fall-off-the-bone tender.

I could start liking this, especially when I want to cook something before heading off to work. Yes, this could be a good thing!

Yesterday, I tried a new recipe for cooking ribs on the grill. There is more oven time than grill time with this recipe, but that works well for me too.

Cook ribs (I used boneless beef ribs) in a covered pan with 1 cup of water and 1/2 cup liquid smoke at 350 degrees for 3 hours. Remove and place on grill at medium heat, coat with your favorite barbecue sauce. Cook for a few minutes, turn over and coat this side with sauce. Cook a very few more minutes, remove from grill and enjoy. Don’t leave on the grill too long. They are already done, and too long will dry them out. These ribs are melt in your mouth tender.

Between the chicken and ribs, there is plenty of good food at the cottage right now.

Today is my last day of vacation. I am thinking about doing the necessary chores and then settling down with a good book or two. I have so many I have started reading and left unfinished due to work and chores It would be a good day to catch up.

Yep, that sounds like a plan.

Be Blessed!!

Dry Spell

It’s dry here. The grass is turning brown and will soon be crunchy to walk on. The gardens are wilting. By midday everything looks pathetic.

I watered the veggie patch Sunday evening. I’m watering the container plants daily.  Everything else is on its own, at least for now.

During the last drought I used bath water, rinse water from my washing machine, and a rain barrel to collect water and save the gardens at Shady Hollow. It was heavy work that involved lots of 5 gallon buckets. I still have the buckets. I’m just not really wanting to lug them up and down the hillside filled with water. I will though. If I have too.

Each day as the thunder storms build, I watch and urge the clouds to head our way. Each day they go around us. They tease the gardens with a few stray raindrops as they empty the life giving rain on other gardens and farms.

Maybe today the clouds will pass over us and rain hard enough and long enough for the rain drops to make through the trees and water the gardens underneath.

In the meantime, I’m heading out to the shed to unearth my buckets.

Be Blessed!

Big Jobs: Part Two

The grass was so tall I could have had it baled as hay. Heck, it had started blooming and setting seed. The weeds in the "meadow" were also tall and mingled with young pivot hedge bushes, Asian Wintergreen vines and the ever present wild honeysuckle vines. Shady Hollow was a mess.

It was stormy yesterday afternoon, but I set to work between thunder storm threats mowing and trimming. The mowing went fine, and I managed to finish before the first thunder storm came through. Luckily we were on the South side of the storm and only got a sprinkle of rain.

Hubby had talked me into getting a gasoline powered string trimmer. I'd only used electric ones previously, so this was a new experience. The difference in cutting ability between an electric trimmer and this baby is amazing! I'm hooked.

The trimmer we bought has a blade attachment for tough to cut areas like the meadow. It made a world of difference in what I could cut. I finished the meadow just before our second thunder storm threat of the day. This one missed us as well, giving me time to take a much needed shower and hopefully wash away all the poison ivy juice that has deposited itself on my face and arms. (If I was unsuccessful there will soon be a poison ivy post).

At least I have one more "big job" out of the way for the moment. With that done, I can get back to digging and planting seeds.

Be Blessed.

Longing For Spring

I don't mean to complain to the Mother, but enough with the snow already! I'm longing for spring right now, warm breezes and new growth. I want to see a hint of green in the landscape instead of gray, brown, and white. I miss my flowers. I miss trudging up and down the hillside tending the plants. I miss shoveling dirt and compost. Shoveling snow does not have the same meaning to me. Shoveling snow is work, shoveling in my garden is a labor of love, its fun.

I want to sip my coffee and write my blog posts from the front porch or the deck. Not inside looking out as a cold wind blows snow around.

As each new morning breaks the sun rises a bit earlier and the days are getting longer. Soon winter will loosen its grip on the land. I know that. I just want it to hurry up!

Monday Morning and Back to the Grind

It's Monday, again. I had an unplanned four-day weekend due to the weather and managed to be about as lazy as one-woman can during that time. Other than normal household chores I mainly buried myself in a history book I'm reading and let the world flow by on its own.

Maybe I needed the downtime. I don't even feel guilty at not doing all those things I might have done. We had the ice storm that I had foreseen back in December. Lucky for us, the main blast hit on the other side of town. People over there had up to an inch of ice and some are still without power. Farther north, the storm reached epic proportions and made history with the amounts of snow it deposited in the mid-Atlantic states. Some of my northern friends are still digging out.

Today I'm up early. It only takes a few days for my body clock to revert to normal time vs. second shift time. That's a good thing today. I have things to do and places to go that I couldn't do last Friday.

Now that my inner voice says its safe, I have some potting soil to buy and seeds to start in my plant room. Spring is just around the corner, you know.

Be Blessed!

Hope

After 3 above average snowfalls, and below average cold weather that lasted for a longer than average length of time; I am ready for some sign of Spring. A ray of hope, just a small one will suffice.

And the Goddess said, "OK. Here you go."

"How about two?"

The daffodils and iris are working hard at making their way up through the snow, responding to the returning light and other forces only they understand.

There are more, peeking out of their fluffy blanket. I didn't want the wet shoes and cold feet that would have incurred to take their pictures. I think these are enough.

What I am really watching is the Flowering Quince. It still has it's buds folded tight. Once those cheerful blooms burst open I will know that Spring at Shady Hollow will not be far behind.

Be Blessed!

Freezing Friday

The threatened snow passed us by, but the cold air behind it arrived on schedule. Yesterday was almost balmy, with temperatures in the high 30's. This morning it is 10° and windy.

The seed catalogs are here though, and when I have a chance this weekend I may start deciding what I want to plant and where. It will make the cold much easier to take. While the landscape is barren and gray is a great time to look out and imagine the spring and summer blooms.

Maybe, just maybe, the long period of intense cold will kill off some of the slug population. Probably not. . .but I can always hope.

Cold!!!!

It is cold. I mean really COLD!!! At 10 a.m. the temperature has managed to creep up to 13 °. It was 12 ° an hour ago. Only 1 ° per hour, nope, it is NOT going to get warm today. I find myself wondering about this global warming stuff. I'd love to have a word with Al Gore this morning and say "OK big boy, explain this!"

The pine needles are drooping with the intense cold. The ground crunches when walked upon. The wind cuts bare skin like so many tiny razors. The birds are in a feeding frenzy and are becoming aggressive with each other at the feeders. The dog does not want to go out and has been seen eyeing the catbox with a thoughtful look in his eyes. He is probably wondering if it would be ok to use it if the cats aren't looking.

We still have snow on the ground from the December 18^th snow storm. It is waiting on more. Oh no! My Daddy always said snow that stayed around for 3 days was "waiting on more". Well, this has been here far longer than that. It must be waiting on a lot more. I hope not.

We are snug and warm in the cottage. We have back-up heat ready to go in the event we lose power. The plan is to stay inside as much as possible and just enjoy a lazy day. Maybe I can get some reading done on the novel I'm reading today.

Be Blessed!