I'm somewhat disappointed with my seed growing this year. I thought the cold frame would work well. But I think it's been so cold that the seedling have not been able to germinate. I should have started them in the house to germinate, then put them in the cold frame. Also I think I should have lined the area with old newspapers. I've been meaning to do this for a while to insulate the area, but just haven't got to it. So I'm way behind. I think I will have to get some plants off a friend Jack who has lots; which he grew under lights in the house.
Last year I did so well, but every night we were putting them in the garage and only bought them out on warm days and this spring has been so wet and cold. I've started more seeds in the house, but now I'm behind schedule, but I guess there's still a month to planting.
Christy
These Andromeda bushes were here when we bought our house. They blossom in the spring and the blossoms have a funny pungent smell, but they do look lovely with their graceful drop.
Christy
Today is raining and nasty, although the rain held off this morning while we were out on service. But boy was it blowing on Windswept Drive, an appropriate name.
Yesterday I finished preparing my taxes and got them in the mail. For ones living outside the USA they have to be postmarked by April 15th every year. You file Federal, State and Local Taxes. Thank goodness that's done and behind me. I always procrastinate on them.
Earlier in the week we had a couple of nice days and here you can see hubby pulling out the hedge between our house and the neighbours. The snow last year did a number on the hedge and although it runs the length of our property and the neighbours, the area that bothered me most was between the two houses. So I asked our neighbour George if we could take it out and put in a fence, just along this section and he agreed.
Now we're shopping for fence and it's not cheap. We've been round and round what to do, but I'm leaning towards putting up 6 foot posts and then linking them with wire fencing with the thought of growing clematis and other climbers up the wire. Putting brackets on the posts to hang flower baskets from. This would be the cheapest way to go. We had spoken to George about putting a privacy fence up, but I'm wondering if that would be too enclosing and block our view both ways. I think George would like a picket fence, but the ones we saw and could afford were so cheap looking. Then we thought of doing lattice, but then the price goes up. So we go round and round.
George has a picture postcard little cottage it's just darling. His wife died several years ago and he misses her terribly, and then his son died just the beginning of this year. He had lived with him for the past few years. So that was a sudden death. He died in his sleep just like his wife. Both his boys were in Vietnam and that really messed their lives up.
Mr. American Robin was a preening and a primping himself by the pond. Look how lovely he is close up. The other two birds I have to look up.
Christy
Isn't he the cutest little basket? I think he's enjoying his time spent under the garden daffodils. Another bunch of daffs, these salvaged from the ravages of torrential downpour all day.
I couldn't pass by this pretty fabric and one piece was from Colonial Williamsburg, it must be an original design from the UK. The other is Paisley, with an Indian meld. I've always loved the Paisley design. Now what to do with it?
Friday was a busy day running all day. but a satisfactory day.
When I worked at the old office location which was ten years, plus all the other office locations were in that direction, I had all my doctors, pharmacist, shops etc aligned down that corridor of roadway. Since my new office is in the totally opposite direction, I'm never out there any more.
But yesterday I had to go to the doctor's. I've had a swollen toe for over two months, but it never bothered me, until I started doing all this walking this month and of course now it's bothering me, plus I should have had it looked at. I was happy when the diagnoses was rheumatism, although I still have to go to a foot specialist. At least it was not my heart, lack of circulation etc. One is happy with a diagnosis of rheumatism when you get older. That's a sad comment on life.
From there I stopped off and visited an old friend at their place of business. They do Deep Massage Therapy. I caught her just in between patients so was able to have a little chat and made arrangements to go to a bead show together today, so that will be fun.
Off to my old grocery shop Trader Joes, where I got my favourite bread, wasabi nut mix and broccoli, it's cheaper there. Heading back I hit the Indian Gas Station, where I buy my tea. I got a 4 lb box of Pekoe Red Label Tea for $12.00, Jean you'll have to tell me how that compares to UK prices. But by buying the bulk size it saved me $1.00 per pound of tea.
Back into town and I stopped off to see Joni who's husband Al died, so very young. She misses him terribly. But we had a nice chat, commiseration on life, spiritual talk and a laugh.
Home, then off with Bob to pick up the Pathfinder, which was at the Nissan dealership for work. This was the only downer of the day $1,200 dollars, gulp.
Stopped at a thrift up that way and found a nice brand new pair of black sandals for the summer $4.00, Cabin Creek.
So a successful coordinated day.
Christy
The daffodils I picked from my garden. I must say I left the garden bare, with the snows the day before they needed to be saved and enjoyed inside on a Saturday afternoon.
I had a little change around and partial spring clean in my sitting room. I swopped each end of the room. The little Eastlake sofa is now by the front window and the gateleg table by my back window. I do like it better. Plus I set my TV on a different table.
So I got to sit down by the fire, enjoy my daffs and look at my hard work.
Christy
Yes the weather fooled us pretty good by snowing on April 1st and I was out on the Ministry all day, but good to be out. The snowflakes coming down were huge.
Christy
It's a banana muffin kind of day. Hubby made these. It's pouring of rain, cold and the need for a fire, where I am happily ensconced.
We're, that's three adults, still living on $50.00 U.S. dollars per week for food, paper goods, soaps, and toiletries. Needless to say we watch every cent. But it can be done.
I'm looking forward to my garden this year, but I'm getting a little concerned about my seeds that I potted. Only the cabbage and greens have sprouted and it's been well over ten days since I planted them. They are under a glass cold frame, but the weather has been quite cool, so probably not to much accelerated growth. Some of the seeds I planted were for the 2010 planting year and only a few 2011, so I hope that the older seeds germinate. But seeds can last for thousands of years, but I am concerned about seed viability.
If they don't germinate I'll have to dash out and buy more 2011 seeds, this is not on my agenda money wise, so let's keep positive.
Christy
I meant to write this post last week, but time flies by. Why a post on thyroid cancer. Well several things came together. I was with an old friend who was diagnosed with thyroid cancer a year ago. Just recently she mentioned one of the questions they asked and that was "Where was she when Three Mile Island had their reactor leak." This question coupled along with the terrible nuclear reactor explosions in Fukushima, Japan, and the fact that I have a thyroid problem, made me do a little research on the matter.
The tri-state area of New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania has the densest number of nuclear reactors in the States and this is reflected in the higher number of thyroid cancers in Pennsylvania than the rest of the USA.
My friend was about thirty miles away when Three Mile Island went up and was in the wind path. I missed both explosions, as when Three Mile Island went up, I was in the UK and when Chernobyl went up I was in the USA. But nuclear power plants, or as ex president Bush would say nucular plants are always letting of radiation in what they call controlled venting.
Read the complete information on the above PDFs "Geographic Variation on US Thyroid Cancer HERE"
Christy
One of the few nice days we have had this Spring and Rob manages to get out on a bike ride.
Plus a view of my back garden with cold frame and seedling planted.
Christy
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