Tag Archives: garden

What’s Happening…

Lots of changes here at the Acres last week…

Remember last year when I moved my “office” upstairs and was so happy to have a room of my own?  Remember how just as I finished dragging all my books and such up there, I re-injured my piriformis and went through weeks of incapacitating pain, necessitating no stairs?  Then Winter came and we hunkered down in front of the fireplace so we moved the “office” stuff back downstairs?  So I tired of that and moved everything around again and didn’t like it?  Well, I fixed the whole problem with a sweet little desk from the consignment shop.  When I first looked at it, I thought it seemed shabby, then realized it would match my decor completely.

In the meantime, I was still struggling with the computer connection.

I bought (and returned) 2 modems before I picked up one from WOW so that if it went wrong they couldn’t blame that for the problem, which I was now convinced was outside on the line.  Sure enough, their modem was in and out, also, so within a week, a service dude came out.  He replaced an old piece of equipment on the line that they no longer used, fixed something that was cracked, put in a new splitter, and arranged for another guy to come out Tuesday just to check the tippy-top of the poles so make sure no squirrels have been chewing on them.   After months -months!- of frustration, thinking it was something I did, I’m so relieved to have the problem diagnosed as not-me, and especially that it is fixed..!

Did you watch the funerals of Aretha and John McCain?

Rev. Al Sharpton speaks during Aretha Franklin’s funeral at Greater Grace Temple on August 31, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Angela Weiss / AFP) (Photo credit should read ANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty Images)

Both were such Great Church…wonderful sermons and liturgies, Fantastic music.  I hope that the message underlying the ceremonies, especially of Senator McCain’s, is resonating in the hearts of All.  It was such a contrast to the Circus that came to town with the person who was absent from the funerals…

Seriously, thousands of people follow these rallies,  setting up their wares out front like the fall festival.  Only the lovers are allowed near, and carrying a sign or wearing a tee shirt or hat with a message that disagrees with him or his policies is all it takes for you to be denied access and relegated to a spot a couple of blocks away. If you were carrying my sign, “We are All One” you would have to go to the protester section, even though the message is not Anti- and you Definitely weren’t allowed inside…  So the advance people (like the one that did not allow a reporter to take pictures of the police dragging away a peaceful protester), the groupies, and the local (and state) pols are the only ones allowed up close.  This is despite the fact that when he visited before as a candidate, there was only one arrest…after this lady was asked to go the protester section and she mooned the cops as she left…

picture from 2016

While she doesn’t express my exact sentiments either, I was appalled to see that people right here in my hometown chanted “lock her up” — geez, did you get the memo that she lost?   Even worse, national news outlets asked many of the people who were allowed to be around the venue about John McCain and many of them responded that he was no hero !!   This is why I am a recluse…

Recently we had a lady from our homeowners insurance come out and do some sort of inspection of our property.  On Friday a letter arrived informing us that we have to 1) get a locking ladder for our un-fenced pool; 2) have our fireplace insert inspected.

We were planning on waiting until Spring to put up the rest of the fencing around the pool, but decided to go ahead and finish it now since the locking ladder is dumb and expensive.  We made an appointment for the chimney sweep, but Burt and the boys can’t be here for a couple of weeks…

before

I’m excited about the gate, of course, but we had planned to run off in the trailer next week and now that’s on hold.  Probably okay, as the hothot days continue to demand constant attention to my plants…

Tomorrow is my son’s 37th birthday and I’m going to bake some cupcakes tonight for frosting tomorrow when his girls spend the day with us.  Shh…it’s a surprise.

Peace

 

 

The Garden is Back !!

I was only going to put out some more green beans, but I didn’t have very many left, so I set out for the co-op to purchase some.  Whilst there, I was romanced by the green growing in 6-packs out front…enticed by the oregon sugar pod pea-seeds inside and gave up without a fight.  I bought a half-pound of blue lake bush beans, an 1/8 lb of the peas, 6 each of broccoli, cauliflower, and kale, along with 6 swiss chard for pretty.  I put the peas around cages, something new for me, and planted 3 12-foot rows of beans along with a small bed of beets and radishes.  I’ll get the spinach in later, maybe…

 

 

I got them all in the ground just in time for a full day of rain !!   Yes, you read that correctly:  it rained All Day on Thursday!!  What treat it was to have the high temperature only 69 and enough water to green everything up again.  We are back to summer now and the moisture is all sweat, but I’m okay with that, too.  So are the plants.

Speaking of treats, Trump is visiting our burg this week.  I am in a quandary…should I leave town and put up the force-field around the Acres so no residual cooties can seep in?  Should I get out my Great sign and join the local protesters?  Should I get some press credentials for The News and try to meet Bob Acosta?  I’m kinda leaning toward the latter, but still considering options…   Ideas?  I have heard that there are “outside” groups that will be protesting, and I admit I’m a little scared that our local Trumpers will get nasty with them.  This area is Wayyy Trumpy, I must tell you, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the local churches have their services there so they can get close to their Idol.  However, our local felons love him also, and much prefer the 2nd amendment to the first…  Still, Bob Acosta…

We took a walk down the path to the Thoughtful spot this morning.  It’s always changing down there…trees and limbs fall willy-nilly, landing where they will, and each morning the sunshine dapples the leaves…

The Thoughtful Spot

Peace

 

 

Weekly Report

One of the cardinal rules of blogging, if you want to keep a sustained readership, is to post with regularity.  So here we are, one week since my last check-in.  Hi, howya doin?

I was Wrong when I said Spring had Really arrived last week.  Just last night we had Another Frost…   It’s okay, though, because this really is it.  Tonight the lows are in the mid-40’s and then the lows rise into the 50s — highs up to 80!

All this garden talk goes over on my gardening blog, and I hope you’re not too bored with pictures of plants and beds of dirt.  It is an obsession this time of year, I admit.

Olivia and Samantha came over Saturday to play with us while their M&D saw the new Avengers movie.  We played croquet (the only game I rule) and walked in the woods, picking wildflowers and making wishes before we blew the dandelion puffs away.  I didn’t take any pictures, dang it.  Here’s one from our visit to B&N the other day…

This morning we visited the Antique and Collectible Show at the 4H, soaking up the sun, murmuring at the high prices.  I did get some $1 containers, the light styrofoam-like things, nothing antique.   We came away with some ideas, too.

 

The next few weeks are busy, especially The First Saturday in May — KY Derby Day #144.  Olivia has a piano concert at 2pm that day, and if the weather stays nice Casey and I will head over to Ellis to watch the Run for the Roses.  Don’t forget it’s also Cinco de Mayo… decisions, decisions…  Margaritas? Mint Juleps?  …or both…

Olivia turns 10 on the 9th and has a birthday party on the 12th, Mothers Day is the 13th.  In between, we’ll get the gardens planted, finally.

I’ve been studying the horses for the Derby, and I’ll let you know my conclusions in time to make a bet.

Peace

Week-end Wrap-up

On Saturday evening we spent some time at Boo-at-the-Zoo, trick-or-treating with the Jrs. …

Taking advantage of the beautiful week-end weather, we sneaked in some gardening.  We trimmed and pruned, moved some things around,  and  the 2016 gardens are officially put away for the year.  Lessons have been learned, notes have been noted, and like anyone who gardens, we’re full of plans for next year.

We’ve been to the Smokies dozens of times, and have always wanted to camp inside the Park, but the idea of no electricity or water leaves me cold and thirsty…get it?  Haha.  We bought a generator to keep me in style, but they only allow generators from 8am to 8pm, so we’ve been doing a number of experiments to check our battery usage.  Casey is obsessed.  I’ve politely listened and nodded as he explained the amperages and voltages, using hydrometers and just how much the furnace draws when it kicks on and on…and on…

I am excited about the trip, though.  We’ll be staying in Smokemont Campground, something different for us.  We’ve stayed on the Cherokee, NC  side of the Park before, but more often we are on the Peaceful Side in Townsend, TN.  Cades Cove Campground was full, so we welcomed the change.  Look out Bears!   Stand back, Elk!  So far, the weather looks like it will be great too…

The week ahead is full of babysitting, meeting up with friends, and getting ready to go.

Peace, Out.