What's Going On Here......

What type of veggie gardens do you have? Typical single row planting? wide row? raised bed? square foot gardening? We started 30+ years ago with the single row, then went to wide row planting. But I have always wanted to try raised bed, intensive gardening, so now is the time, as I am not able to do all that hoeing and tilling and weeding anymore. (Well, I could, but why??)

So ..... what is all this?

"This" is what all goes into three 4' x 8' garden beds. The "dirt" will be a mixture of Topsoil, Custom mix, dehydrated Cow manure, and lime.

I started by getting nine 2" x 12's eight feet long and having three of them cut in half giving me six ends and six sides, so the beds will be 4' wide, 8' long and 12" high, making them nice and deep for root crops. I treated the boards (3 coats) with a mix of turp, parafin, and linseed oil, a mixture suggested in a gardening book.

I laid out my garden to have 3' path between beds and around the perimeter, enough to get my wheelbarrow around.

I laid down cardboard from my moving boxes under each bed and 10-yr landscape material for the walkways. The cardboard will prevent weeds for a time and will have about 10" garden mix on top. The pathways will be covered with a layer of mulch.

I also purchased the fencing and posts for around the garden as my yard is full of bunnies who would just love all I could provide them to eat.

Miss Izzy also came out to supervise the job and keep me company.

After working for a while, I took a break to sit and watch the bees coming and going. They sure are building up strong. I so enjoy watching them and hearing their busy buzzing sounds. Now back to work....

The first bed is up by means of lengths of rebar pounded into the ground to hold the boards in place, then its on to the next bed.

I got 2 done today and then it was time for lunch.

The next one will have to wait till tomorrow, as I needed to run into town, for some other supplies, and later to a funeral home for visitation of my niece's stepmom. I picked up my SIL and after the funeral home visit we had a nice dinner together at a small local home-style restaurant.

It was a good day. When I got home I saw my rose-breasted grosbeaks at the feeder. I am glad they are still hanging around. Love seeing all the birds that come in my yard. They seem to make it so peaceful-feeling. I think just knowing how God takes care of them reminds me He cares so very much for us, the human race, who were made in His image.

Back at it in the morning. You all take care and be good to each other, even to the guy who cuts you off in traffic :)

Other happenings

This all happened several days ago but just now getting time to post it.

I awoke to see these cheery finches on my feeder the other morning. There have also been purple and house finches that have made their presence known.

Since the trees have begun to display their leaves, the scenery has changed quite a bit. I have discovered that the 2 trees just several feet away from the deck are Crimson Maple.

The forget-me-nots are showing off, as well as a flower that produces paper-thin "silver-dollars" in the late summer.

Deep bluish-purple columbines, as well as pale pink ones are in their prime here.

The Honeysuckle bush has opened its blossoms

and the rhododendrons are in full bloom.

I have had some trees delivered and planted; two three-trunked River Birch,

and two Alaska Weeping Cedar; one near the little pond, and one at the end of the perennial flower garden. I just love the form of these trees! Of course they look a little dreary from just having been planted, but they will soon perk up.

I almost totally redid the bed in front of the walk bridge, adding lavendar, chives and thyme plant as well as another phylox. Weeding, and cutting the dead vines from the clematis helped a great deal.

My daughter Gwen and SIL Rick came over and moved my big Arizona rock into the circular flowerbed for me, That thing weighs a ton! Then I put togther a metal birdbath I had had for some time, but never used, and set it in behind the rock. I planted Pansies, and Lobelia in that bed. Thyme will also be added to drape over the edges.

I hug two ferns on the front entry and hope I can keep them alive. If not, I will make a different choice next year. Rick laid the 16"sq forms after I had dug the plants and moved the rocks in front of the stupe. Then we set the step I had had made at the lumber company. I wanted to make the entry usable. Now a coat of fresh paint on the door trim and my screen/storm door can be hung.

It has been a very busy but fruitful day. Froggy and I think its time for a rest!

Have a blessed day! and thanks for stopping by!

Land-Snorkeling, and new painting

Happy week-end to you all!

First I want to tell you I finished my first painting since arriving in Pennsylvania and it is posted on my painting blog. You can view it by clicking on my little painter girl on the side-bar.

Also I bet you are wondering what land-snorkeling is. Well, it is going out checking for neat places to set up and paint, or to take photos so you can paint later in the studio. I feel like I struck it rich the other day when I was out to the Erie NWR just a few miles west of where I live. I came across some awesome scenes!

This is an area for wood duck nesting as well as other birds. It is a swampy area between the road and those trees in the back.

Just a neat little part of the reserve I found as I was driving in. Some of the lily pads looked like they were going to begin to flower (if thats what you call what they do)

Here is a part of the larger wetlands area. There are 2 Canadian geese swimming away from me.

Another shot of the expanse of the wetlands reserve.

A while later this single goose was gonking and coming closer. One on the other side of the road was answering. Soon I got to see him lift off and was fortunate to capture this with my camera.

I took a break and took Izzy for a short walk on the hiking trail and when we returned these 2 geese families were coming up to and on the bank. I just love seeing the baby goslings!

We left that area and headed away but wandered down this other side road. I was rewarded for my efforts, as here I found a painting gold-mine, so the speak. I am not posting the actual pictures of the area as I will be going back there soon, weather cooperating, to paint there and I want it to be a surprise. I absolutely fell in love with this area!

We spent about 3 hrs there at the reserve, and when leaving took another back road home. Again It was a very rewarding trip as I came across these beautiful PA country scenes.

Holstein cows peacefully grazing.....

......living at this beautiful farm.

And last but not least the 2 big, strong, gorgeous draft horses.

It was an awesome day. See? I AM at a work camp.......

camping in the country and working on paintings!

Dried-bean and Rice Burgers

Yes that's right.... good for you and good tastin'. My cousin who has been through chemo told me about this recipe. Meat no longer tastes good to her so this supplies part of her protein. I thought it interesting and decided I'd like to try some. I used dried red beans cooked, 3/4 cup. I also used a rice pilaf mix for more flavor, also 3/4 cup cooked. Mash beans and add rice, mash a little more but not completely, so there is some texture to it. Stir in 1/2 c flavored bread crumbs (I used Italian) also added about 1 T Italian seasoning, some chopped dried onion and salt and pepper to taste.

Form this into 4 good-sized patties...


and fry in a skillet prepared with pan spray. I froze the rest of the patties as there is only myself to feed.





It made a nice-sized patty and was very tasty! Well thats one way to cut down on consumption of red meat. Make a tossed salad with it and you have a nice meal!
You all take care now, ya hear??

New Home -Part 2

I am back with more photos!

From the back side of the garage going toward the back yard, there are numerous beautiful pines. You can see my little red barn way in the back.

Here it is from the east end.

and the little red chicken coop on the west side of the barn. I am strongly leaning toward getting some guineas or ducks later on as the out-buildings are in really good condition, but i have traveling I want to do yet.

These are the trees in front of the barns and have birdhouses mounted all over in and near them.

Now this .......... ahem...... is my bee-hive! I did have a run-in with them the other day but thankfully no swelling out of the ordinary.. just pain :)

That is why the brick to hold the lid on in high winds, is still on the ground. I had no suit on and had to make a departure. But I'll be putting a new hive body on top tomorrow and taking the feeder and old blue section off. That one is there just to keep the feeder from getting knocked over.

Back up toward the garage are 2 huge oak trees surrounded by Lily of the Valley and a couple other bits of ground cover..... and under which sets a cement bench

and a pile of mulch for in the beds and around small trees and bushes. I wonder which will get used the most in the next couple weeks.....

Now before I go I must show you my frog pond. I just love my little frog pond! Has 3 frogs in it that I have distinguished one from the other so far. I need to study up on that to know the best care for it. I'd like to put some Koi in as well.

Here you can see on of the frogs with just it eyes out of the water. I suppose he is wondering if it is safe to come up for a sunning.

He decided to chance it and is sitting in his favorite spot on the little plant. He is the bigger older one.

Well, I've alot to work on I know, but it will keep me healthy I hope. I just do what I can each day. Next post will be about my raised bed garden(s).

Ya'll take care and happy traveling. I'll be quite busy here for a while..... but then I can just pretend I am at one of those camping worker places where you have a hand in things of nature, cuz thats what I'll be doing! Oh yeh, got lots of plans.

Just to keep things in perspective, I wrote a good reminder for myself on the front page of my plan-book,

"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but the cousel of the Lord will stand".

Prov. 19:21

Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire - and Happy Mayday!

Well.... not really. I just have gotten busy with life; but I did say I would post some pictures soon and it has been what? a whole month or more??

Anyway, Happy Mayday to you all! As I cannot leave a basket of flowers on each of your front doors, this will have to do :) Are you ready to take a walk with me?

Daughter Tina says my 'hen and chicks' looks like fireworks on the 4th of July. There will be plenty of starts for anyone who would want some!

Ok, near the bay window are 2 Flowering Almond bushes with a cement bench in between. However I did not share a photo of the bench as I got too close with the mower yesterday and knocked it down, I will have to wait for a couple strong sons-in-law to set it back up.

Close-up of the flowering almond......

The lilac bush, which is many years old, managed to put out a few blossoms so I could see what color it is....

I am not sure what this little bush is, but its pretty little trumpet-like blossoms add a touch of interest to the front yard.

These Johnny-Jump-ups seem to have jumped out of the flowerbed along the front of the house and will have to be moved so I dont run over them.


The flower beds all have birdhouses built into them and the cowbirds (who have such melodious song) have nested in them.


Beautiful little perenial flowers are in bloom....

as well as a Bleeding Hearts near the base of one birdhouse pole.

I love this groundcover whose leaves turn a beautiful mauve color, and set off by the Forget-Me-Nots in back.

Opps! looks like Lilac wants to show off a little more.

On to the garage...... which also has a raised flowerbed around it, and more birdhouses.

I haven't any idea yet what all these flowers are....

and it goes all along the back side of the garage with White Primroses and Hostas, which is kinda boring to me, so i will probably make some changes here.

Well, thats it for today! Next time, part 2 "the back yard". Stay tuned and Happy 1st of May to you all!