Up Date On TheCourt Yard

April/2013

Now -  Lots of greenery, because the annuals that lost most of their blooms from the heavy rain we had a couple of times, crazy temps when Spring could not make up its mind if it wanted to stick around or not, and having to replant some begonias, there is not a big show of blooms.  They just don't want to recover like they should have.

June/2013

Think I had said I had all boston ferns this year, but then realized there are 2 kimberly queens, and 3 boston ferns.

Yes - the geranium is setting on a stack of chairs.  Reason - I move it and the pot of petunias where they get the most sun during the day, hoping they will bloom more.

Not a great job on the pictures, but was trying to avoid getting the bluish  spots caused from reflection on the lens - I notice I did not succeed on some.

Linking up with "Mosaic Monday"
                           "Outdoor Wednesday"

Have a great week!
Glenda

So What Was On Your Agenda Today ?

On a walk recently, I went to see if there was any sign of the hydrangea bush coming back - no such luck.   A neighbor has 2 small bushes with blue blooms and they are beautiful.  The neighborhood brats  undisciplined children have picked a lot of her flowers, including several of the hydrangea blooms.  A couple of days ago I found this pretty bloom  laying on the sidewalk starting to wilt, so brought it in, immediately put in water and it perked up after a few minutes.

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Trying to take a picture thru the screen door does not work to well - ya think!

The chipmunks have been coming around again a lot lately, and I was trying to get a pic of one, but they are so skittish it is almost impossible.   They have learned to move fast around here to stay clear of the neighborhood cat population. As you can see, no chipmunk in the picture - it was gone before the shutter finished clicking.

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Watered plants and did a bit of cleanup outside, but called it quits early - starting to heat up out there.  The calendar says the first day of Summer is 6/21, but according to the weather forecast....

 *Summer has arrived*

Heat Index - 101 (as I type)
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Outside - plants watered - Check

Outside clean up nature's debris - 1/2 check (see temp above)

Half bath cleaned - Check

Clean out fridge - Check

Take out garbage and chitchat with neighbor for a few of minutes - Check 

Phone calls - 1/2 check (still some to make)   

Make grocery list - Check

Boil eggs and make tuna salad - Check

Clean glass on back doors - Check - Ahhh! Much better !

Start another box of  junk   treasures to donate - Kinda sorta a check  (at least it is a start)

Clean out/organize living room closet - No Check today (does thinking about it count ?)

Major trip to grocery today--------------   "        "        "     (see temp above)    

Catch up on some computer stuff - Will start AFTER I click "publish" and fix me something cold to drink.

Just a short ramble...
Hope everyone is having a super week!
Glenda

A Dab of This and That Ramble

Fresh cut flowers ??   A couple of stems from a butterfly bush.  Good thing I took the picture when first brought them inside, as had to put them outside the next day, as they were shedding and allergies went crazy.

Life in the courtyard :     No - the puny hosta plant did not produce a wild strawberry.....

While pulling up some odd "green stuff" in a flower bed realized most of it was wild strawberries.  Where I lived before, I had a hefty crop of them every Spring in my back yard - but this is the first sign of one here.  Guessing a bird is responsible.
As for the "puny" hosta - Have no clue what it's problem is as it flourished the first year when planted several years ago, and has only produced a tiny plant each year since.  Fertilizer/amended soil  - Nothing helped.  Actually had 2 like that, but one did not surface this Spring at all.  Never mind the oak leaves on the bottom left - that got pulled, along with many other sprouts from acorns and hickory nuts.

Speaking of Life in the Courtyard  - Think I have mentioned before the heavy rains beat down on my pots of annuals and damaged most of their blooms,  and the squirrels dug up several of my wax begonias.  Well I replanted some begonias, and fertilized the other annuals. and unfortunately not seeing a big improvement. Not sure what is going on - Any suggestions???

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A Dinner of 3's:  Sounds like something special?  Well it was not.  Busy day, and dealing with some issues I am pretty sure that were connected with a takeout order from a certain italian chain food place (won't mention any names), the day before.  Needed to eat, nothing sounded good, so scrambled up 3 eggs, made 3 pieces of skillet toast, and 3 teaspoons of daughter's homemade strawberry jam - one for each piece of toast. Some much needed protein in the eggs, but did not need the cholesterol overload, so will need to watch my intake for some time. No picture - it got devoured before I even thought about one. Was not very photogenic anyway, but did taste pretty yummy.

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Just another Dab of This and That Ramble.

What ever your plans - Have a great weekend!
Glenda

Picnic In the Woods?

Click on photos to enlarge.

A closer look -  think I will pass.....

Looks inviting, but between the swarms of mosquitoes, and not to mention the "mother to be" raccoon lounging around the area in daylight hours.  Everyone was keeping their distance from her.

Then lots of these characters were  jumping out of the trees onto the decks, tables, etc., looking for a handout every time they saw a human.

  All of them looked like they were well fed - apparently getting lots of treats.

There are paths (very steep) to walk down to the lake. Have I hiked down that steep hill to the water? Yes -  many years ago and no plans on ever doing it again.  Going down was not bad, but the climb back up - Oh My!

Linking up @ "Outdoor Wednesday"

                       "Mosaic Monday"
Have a great week!

Pretty Blues

Sharing a few pictures I took last weekend....

Click on pictures to enlarge.

Weather was perfect, however time spent outside was limited due to the over population of mosquitoes.  They would appear in swarms and no amount of spray, etc. seemed to deter them.

Linking up with "Share Your Cup Thursday"
                          "Anything Blue Friday"
                          "Mosaic Monday"
Hope everyone is having a great week!
Glenda

Blue Hydrangeas

This is a repeat posting of this mosaic of blue hydrangeas (originally posted June, 2010).

What made me dig into the archives to find this ? On a walk not long ago, I noticed the hydrangea bush which was quite large had been cut down.  The last time I noticed it, it was normal/healthy looking, and I was looking forward to its beautiful blooms again this year. Don't know the reason  it was cut down, and I am disappointed to see it gone.

Linking up with   "A Favorite Thing"
                            
Be sure and visit Claudia at "A Favorite Thing"   to see what she and the other participants have to share this week.
Glenda

Dab of This and That

I know - I have not been visiting around  the land of blog as much recently. However, as we all know - life gets busy.  Nothing in the category of blog material.   Had to play catch-up on several issues, and make plans for an upcoming event and issues involved.
Then the errand list yelled "tend to me", so off to get the car oil chg./tires rotated and car washed (finally).  Pollen was so thick on it, had to turn on windshield washer to clean it so could see where I was going. Major stock up type shopping trips, which included one  to DT, and as usual came out with a lot more than I went after, but did stock up on baggies of all sizes/types, and other assorted supplies,  post office, etc., etc....
Since my "decluttering" project has gone by the wayside for the time being, I went ahead and took what I had boxed/sacked up to GW. Glad to finally get that out of the car as have been carting it around for a while now.
Then there is the "unplanned" trip to the dentist!  $$$   %#!@# !!!   And the list goes on..........

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No decorating going on around here these days:   Have not really added any decor to this spot on the counter since Christmas, and did not want to "tax" my brain (already taxed to the hilt with more important things these days) to come up with something new and different, so just moved the faux (I tend to kill the real ones) succulents from the window sill,  and called it good.
Well - Yes!  That is some Christmas wrapped chocolate candy in the upper left corner!  I am trying to be good ya know....

Until I picked up these little gems at DT a couple of days ago - Yummy!  Says 3 servings to a box - Not sure about that as it seems to be more like 1, possibly 2 if a person has a bit of willpower.

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Update on courtyard flowers  Some of the pots of begonias I recently repaired as squirrels dug in them, had to be repaired AGAIN!   Don't know what their problem is, but really wish they would go dig else where.  As stated before, already lost a pot of oriental lilies, and now  the calla lily does not look very "spiffy", the pink seed geranium, and gerber daisy have not put out new buds, and a  pot of petunias that the heavy rain beat down has not produced any new buds.   Has really been a rough year on annuals this year - gave them all a bit of plant food and hope they will recover.
I have only a few iris left, and not one bloomed this year.  I noticed a neighbor's did not bloom either. Whats up with that?

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Yep! Just another Dab of This and That ramble.  Off to heat up some leftover BBQ,baked beans, add a little slaw and a glass of vino and call it dinner.
Hope everyone is enjoying their week.
Glenda