I don't have a clue

as to what this plant is. I don't remember planting anything in this spot, but I've been watering quite a bit to try to keep my cherry tree alive.

Whatever this is, it should be blooming tomorrow. It appears to have five buds or petals. The foliage is a small licorice mint that volunteered.

I know - one of the pictures is pretty blurry...I moved the camera just before it took.





Stay tuned for the solution to the mystery :)

Ahhhhhh

Wonderfule rain! We had a much needed shower last Monday and another good one this afternoon. It's been horribly hot and dry here for the last two months.







The shower came too late for these plants; I'd given up watering some areas.


The little cat, Pumpkin, had another emergency trip to the vet Tuesday. Turns out she has a double ear infection - poor thing. She's feeling much better now though and on the mend.

I finally finished my kitchen table makeover. It started out as unfinished wood several years ago. Then I stained it a cedar color and wasn't happy with it. Then I painted it green and did a little faux finish on it. I lived with that for a few years till I decided to try jumping on the "white" bandwagon. I was not happy with the results at all. So about a month ago I took the table outside and started sanding the top with my sander. My intention was to sand it all the way down to wood and then stain it again, but a happy accident happened along the way.

There were some areas where the old green paint showed through and even some little bits of white. I really liked the way it was starting to look so didn't take off all the paint from the previous attempts at making the table look the way I wanted.



Then I decided to paint the bib and legs solid black. I really like the way it turned out and it keeps the theme of the beige, black, white and bronze in my kitchen.






I would love to paint the chairs black but will leave them natural for now. I'll also be painting the aqua table white (I think, but may paint it black). All my kitchen cabinets are white and I don't want too much black in there...but I might change my mind about that later.

I saw some pretty tan chair cushions at Kohl's recently, but they were $15 each. I think I'll just cover the existing cushions to get a similar look for a lot less.

I started another chair makeover this afternoon but had to stop due to lack of supplies. I'll share the makeover in a day or two. And I've brought my autumn crow wall hanging out and am working on that as well. It's almost ready for the binding. It feels great to get back to a "normal" life after being in limbo for so long!

It's time for me to hit the hay so I wake up on time tomorrow. It's going to be another intense week at work (I'm loving it btw).

Have a great day tomorrow!

Inflation

Last year I ordered a case (24 packets) of Hain's Vegetarian beef flavored gravy from Amazon.com. It cost $24.95.



Yesterday I ordered another case of the same thing and it now costs $36.90!!! That's a 50% price increase in one year!!!!

Patio Improvements

Today has been another super hot day here in central NC; tomorrow is supposed to be worse. It's very scary that it's so hot and with no rain, everything living is suffering.

I've taken care of the animals and watered my containers, determined not to stay outside till dark tonight. I visited a new blog today (more on that later)and have been even more inspired to start painting again. I'm tired of spending all my time trying to keep the plants alive against so many competitors, but I'm straying from the subject.

Here are a few pictures of my patio I snapped this evening. Things aren't in the best shape due to weather and water, but I am enjoying this space. This first picture is the new grouping I created using what I had and adding one new pot that I got in trade for labor. The tall, thin pot in the center is my new one.


Left side of patio...




Right side of patio...I'm having to fill that hummer feeder every five days due to the dryness around here.


The fairy planter Alissa and I made last year - it's gotten a little out of control and the fairies get lost in there now!

I went back to Big Bloomers (Gail's nursery) Sunday and purchased a hanging basket and a few more plants to make a large container garden.





A beautiful double impatiens from Gail's nursery...


Here is my loyal Princess. Check out those pretty teeth she just had cleaned last week to the tune of $320 (not including pre-op bloodwork). I'm just glad I can take care of her the way she deserves.


In retrospect, I wish I hadn't tried to create so many large gardens 10 years ago. I should have let most of the land go wild and just created a small front and back yard. But...hind sight is 20-20! And I was 10 years younger then with a lot more energy and dreams of having even more animals than I do now! Crazy...

Voles

There is an epidemic of voles on my property this year! I've had them before and they caused minimal damage here and there. But this year there must be hundreds of them tunneling around all over the place.

Every day there are new tunnels and I have large areas of dry dirt from where they've eaten the roots of the "grass".

(Image courtesy of Google search)

And they ruined some areas of the flower beds nearly destroying some of the plants. It's so bad, that there are tiny sink holes all over the place. When I water the soil gets wet enough that the deer sink when they do their evening dining.

A woman I know who happens to be a landscaper, recommended that I buy some of these - mole movers. She swears they actually work. I've installed two in the front yard and need a couple more. It will take two weeks before I can see results (according to the info on the box).


Between lack of rain, voles and deer I was just about ready to give up on the garden completely this year. Then I visited my friend Gail a couple of weeks ago and was reinspired. Her patio area is so beautiful; she has lots of container gardens. So that's the way I've decided to go with my small patio. I've rearranged the few containers that I do have and added one new container. I've got the same amount of filtered light as she does so I know I have the right conditions. I'll take pictures tomorrow to show what I've done so far. Nothing big or fancy, but I like it a lot so far.

My limelight hydrangea out front is growing really well. The blossoms are smaller this year but I guess that's from lack of water. So far, so good with surviving the deer. Of course, I've just jinxed myself by saying that.


Alissa and I made a pair of giant flip flops to decorate the entrance to my property. I had a couple of scraps of exterior plywood so cut them out and she painted them. We've decided to make cut outs for each season. We had made pumpkins a few years ago and didn't make any others, but now that she's older she has lots of ideas.


This is week #10 in my new job and I'm finally starting to feel like I belong there. It's nice to be able to start moving ahead with projects and needs that have been on hold for over two years. Of course, most of my checks are going to the vets for one animal or another, but that's another story...

I hope you all have a great day tomorrow and survive this horrible heat that most of the country is suffering with!

I Knew That Would Happen

I started this post a week ago but had issues transferring photos from the camera to the computer....

So I finally got my sink project completed a week ago Friday evening, with the help of a neighbor.

The picture I posted previously had the new sink top laying on top of the old vanity that I couldn't remove. The hole had to be cut bigger for the new sink to drop in place, so off it came and with a lot of patience, I was able to cut the hole big enough for a perfect fit. I was so happy, and it's gorgeous if I do say so myself.

But the plumbing portion was an issue. I am now very familiar with crimp rings and crimper tools. I've purchased and exchanged these expensive crimp tools twice now.

I managed to get the new faucet connected but because the sink was now 1 1/2" higher, the drain pipe wouldn't connect to the 'S' trap. Long story short, I was able to find an extender - an easy fix. I had to change the water valves so that I could connect the new faucet tubes. Then came the crimp rings. I needed two to complete the job and got one on without a hitch. By now it's Thursday night and - I forgot to mention - I didn't have any running water for two days at this point. I had to turn off the water main to change out the valves. And because I couldn't get them connected to the existing intake lines, had to keep the water off.

I know I'm jumping around with this story.

So Thursday night I had one more crimp ring to put into place that my neighbor was lucky enough to have on hand. That was good - I only needed one. Wrong. Don't you know that little ring slid right down the intake tube and under the sink cabinet. Was I mad??? Let's just say I felt like I could have sawed down a very large tree with a hand saw I was so ticked off!

Friday meant another trip to Lowes to buy more crimp rings. I called my neighbor and asked him if he would put the final ring in place. He told me he had messed up plenty of times with these things and that I shouldn't feel bad (and he's a plumber!).

Finally, everything was finished and my new sink had running water. I didn't mention that I actually took a "shower" with less than two gallons of water I got from the yard pump by bucket loads. I felt like I was camping but with A/C.

Here's the new sink completely installed (with running water). I am very pleased with it!

Here's a close up of the tiles...


Alissa spent the day with me this Wednesday. I had to take off for an A/C repair and it worked out that I could keep her. I had promised her we'd do more arts and crafts and because it was so hot outside, I decided to pull out the scrapbook I started for her several years ago. I haven't touched it in over a year and it was fun to work on it with her. I have now introduced her to the world of scrapbooking and she likes it. She designed this page all by herself and I didn't do very much on it at all except for the writing. We're going to continue working on it together and make more memories as we go.



Last weekend we made some big wood flip-flop cut outs to decorate the yard for summer with. I forgot to take a picture of them but will tomorrow. They turned out really cute!

Now that I have my camera working again, I can start taking pictures again and get current with all that's going on around here!

Have a good day tomorrow and try to stay cool!

It's Another OJ Simpson Trial

I can't believe Casey Anthony has been found not guilty on all charges for the death of her innocent two year old child.

Absolutely disgusting.

Happy 4th of July

The sink is installed! But the plumbing is not...

Hope you had a great day. God Bless the USA!!!

Not Yet

Well, these projects always turn into a bigger deal than you plan for - at least for me anyway.

For the life of me I couldn't get the existing counter top removed from the cabinet. The sink was easy to get out and I thought of just sawing the top off, but had already spent hours and was quite frustrated. I almost gave up and returned the solid top for another drop in, but it would still leave me with a big mess to fix.

Then I couldn't get the intake tubes disconnected because they had copper clamps on them. Finally I got my handy Dremmel out and sawed through the rings and used all my strength to disconnect the intake tubes apart.

Here's part of the mess I made dragging in everything from a sledge hammer to the drill to try to take apart the old stuff. What you can't see is the drill and more tools!


The solution to not getting the countertop removed?? I just plopped the new sink right over the existing top.

It fits - just barely, but it has created another problem. The drain pipe is now exactly 1 1/2" too short to connect to the S pipe. And....the two intake tubes have male ends and the tubes they connect to are male. So, I have my new sink in place but not in working order yet. I have to make a Home Depot run tomorrow to get parts to make it work. Hopefully it will be an easy fix. But isn't she pretty??? I just love it! It looks so much bigger but it's actually the same size as the old one. And it will be so easy to clean :)

I really wanted to get this project finished today but I refuse to drive anywhere. I was on the road all day yesterday going to the Farmer's Market and getting chicken food and pet supplies. I never did get to the grocery store and don't have all the ingredients to make delicious meals with the fresh produce but am making do. Even if I need stuff, I'm keeping the car off the road one day a week for the environment's sake.

In the mean time I'm taking care of other chores that I've put off for ages. I've replaced a non-working smoke detector and am painting and installing toe molding in the den. I mean - I've only had it for three years....

Weekend Project

Yippee - a three day weekend!

I've had a home improvement project on my priority list for quite some time and I can finally tackle it today. I would say 98% of these projects are as a result of keeping animals in the house.

See the hole in the sink...the little one that isn't supposed to be there? (Yes I know there is cat hair too; Smudge likes to play in the sink)


It' from this innocent looking character - Smudge.


He likes to lay up on top of the tall cabinet that is right beside the sink. I used to have a pretty painted tile on an easel up there and he knocked it off. Wouldn't you know, the tile fell pointed end down directly onto the sink. This happened months ago and the hole has since fractured in four directions, which is just so lovely to look at on a daily basis.

At first I was going to get an exact replacement but decided to go with a solid surface unit. It was only $84 and a little sink was more than half that, and since I use this bathroom a lot I decided to upgrade a bit. Besides, I had attempted to paint the counter top; didn't like it and tried to remove the paint which completely ruined it. Of course, I couldn't put the worn and crappy faucet back onto the new sink, so I bought a new faucet as well. Not the one I wanted - geez are they expensive! Crazy... I bought a simple fixture that was about $42. I tend to take the practical path with most things.

So as soon as I got home last night, I started removing the tiles that surround the sink. The new sink has a built in backsplash, so I had no choice. Unfortunately, the new backsplash isn't as tall and I have a real mess to cover up in a creative way. I have a few ideas though.

Here's what I did last night - there is no graceful way to remove tiles from drywall.


I can't wait to get the new unit installed. The hard part for me will be connecting the faucet. I hate messing with plumbing. But first I'm going to the State Farmers Market and buy some yummy veggies. I haven't had my first tomato sandwich yet!

I hope you enjoy the holiday weekend!

Nothing Against White But...

It's just not for me.

I've tried to join the white bandwagon, but it just doesn't work for me. Not to say that I don't enjoy visiting all the blogs that have beautiful photos of white homes - chippy or not. They all look so calm and soothing.

But folks - I live with too many animals and can't keep up with all the mess they make. White shows every little thing - especially their fur!

This little table was a beautiful dark brown when I bought it. I painted it white last year. I only put one coat on it and was never happy with the way it was looking. But...I lived with it for a while and really tried to like it.


So much for that experiment - I ruined a perfectly beautiful table. Live and learn.

But now look at it! So simple - so pretty!


In my quest for a simpler life with far fewer possessions, tan and black with white accents really appeals to me these days when it comes to decorating some parts of the house. It's the color combo I'm using in my kitchen and am very happy with it. It's clean and sharp and updated. While I'll never redo my den, which is perfect in every way, I am moving towards a more streamlined look around here.

We had a terrific rain a while ago, so I won't have to spend all evening watering the plants and animals. Boy, did we need it!

Just Stuff

Hello bloggie friends,

Are all of you as hot and dry as we are here? Oh, it's horribly dry here and even the weeds have turned brown and crunchy.

I am spending most of my 'at home' hours tending to plants and animals in one way or another.

Blair had a spa day a couple of weeks ago and I managed to get a picture of her. She's such a great dog.


There have been two animal emergencies since the little goat babies were debudded.

Lily punctured her foot, which meant anti-biotics and betadine soaks for 10 days. She's fine now and a major infection was averted.

Last Friday little Pumpkin - the long haired kitty that appeared at Laura's last fall - had a major health incident. Laura discovered her laying in blood so I rushed her to the vet. Long story short, she had a horrible UTI, high blood pressure, a retinal bleed out (gross) and a seizure. All symptons are being treated by me here and she has dramatically improved. She was blind for a few days but has some vision now. What a scare - not to mention expensive and not budgeted for!

Pumpkin last year....


I took Princess in for her annual and she was given a clean bill of health. She's such a tough little dog. Remember it's only been a year since she had surgery for thyroid cancer. So now she can have her dental, which is long overdue.

So I'm literally working for the animals and while I'm barely on my feet financially, I'm glad I can help them. But enough is enough and I'd like to start building my savings from zero to something....and begin moving ahead with my priority list of projects and purchases that have been put on hold for over two years.

Because the pasture is so dry, I've been letting the little goat family wander through my 'yard' when I'm outside (have to watch them so they don't get into too much trouble). Well, I don't mind if they do a little pruning but when they came up on the porch and gobbled my pretty mini fuschia in two seconds, I wasn't happy.

Lola pruning a crepe myrtle...



All joined in....


Little rascals came up on the porch to check out the foliage there...



My poor mini fuschia - it was so pretty....



The weekend is here and I'm pooped from a busy week at work. It's hot and miserable outside, and once I get a little watering and barn cleaning done, I'm staying inside. I've got the A/C turned up pretty high to conserve energy (hope you are too), but it's still way better than the outside temps. I really want to make a little set of coasters for Laura and Alissa - and a couple for me. Plus, I've promised to make a princess and castle painting for Alissa last summer, so really need to get that project completed! She's growing up so fast and won't want it by the time I get it finished!!

Till next time...

Fizz Update

Poor little Fizz-Man just wasn't rebounding from his debudding. Yesterday I stopped by the vet's and she gave me some pain medicine for him - three days worth. He's had two injections now, and seems to be feeling better.

I should have asked for pain meds when I picked him up. He has suffered for over three days. I will definitely ask for medication when he goes in for his neutering in a couple of months.

The Goat Family Goes To The Vet

I got more than a couple of strange looks by passers by as I was driving up the highway with four goats in the back of my car.

It was time to get the babies de-budded. I hated to do it, but have read that even the nicest pet can hurt you with those horns.

Little Fizz's horns had grown huge already and I couldn't put it off any longer. The good thing though, is that all the goats were checked by the vet, checked for parasites, had their shots and got their hooves trimmed professionally. Next time I can do it if I can find somebody to hold them for me.

Bindi and Fizz are doing great, although Fizz looks horrible.







It was a very stressful ordeal for Lily. She is such a good little mama to her babies - always right beside them.

Fizz makes me hurt just to look at his little head. The vet said there would be some swelling, but the bandage can come off tomorrow, if he doesn't work it off by himself tonight.

Little Lola was great and such a super little pet goat. She didn't seem to be phased by any of it.

Mama and babies back home



***

I couldn't upload pictures last evening so am updating this today. Little Fizz is pitiful and I know he hurts. This morning when I opened the barn, he lagged behind the others with his head and tail down. When I reached out to pet him, he shyed away from me. Same thing with the second try. When I tried to remove his bandages, he cried and ran into the barn. It broke my heart when he hid behind a bale of hay and cried again when I reached for him.

Oh, I felt horrible and was so upset.

When the vet called me today, I told her about it and she said I could give him two baby aspirins crushed in some molasses. Well, I couldn't get him to touch it, but it's still out there for whoever wants to lick the spoon.

His little forehead is so swollen.



Bless his little heart.

I Miss Blog Hopping

I've barely logged onto my computer since getting my new job. It's late and I'm ready for bed and decided to do a little virtual visiting.

I sure have missed seeing all the pretty blogs. You gals sure do post some pretty pictures!

Luna Moth Assemblage

I've been wanting to craft for ages but just haven't made time for it. I was gone on a business trip to San Jose all week and came home very tired, so today was spent doing some quiet things - along with a lot of laundry.

Laura found a beautiful Luna moth and wanted to frame it (it was already dead). I had some shadow box frames left from other projects and put a little assemblage together for her. I could have added some trinkets and such, but I'm into a more minimalist approach to decorating these days. Nature is perfectly beautiful all by itself and doesn't need a bunch of stuff distracting from it. I did tweak the nest a little more after I took these pictures, so that it wasn't so squished looking. I think it turned out beautiful.






I hope you have a great Memorial Day weekend. God bless the USA and all the brave people who serve in the military! Some troops from the 82nd Airborne shared one of my flights back yesterday. I spoked to some of them and told them to stay safe. I was proud to share the sardine can that we flew back in.

Gardening and "Wild" Life!

Hello blogger friends! Goodness how time flies.

My new job is going really well. I have so much to learn and am glued to the computer about 98% of the time so the last thing I want to do when I get home is log on here. The days fly by and I don't even have time to think about the afternoon drowsies I usually get.

This is the time of year that I can't keep up with the mowing and weeding. The weather has been perfect for all things to grow. The Forest Pansy Redbud tree I planted to commemorate Ginny's birth has grown and was really pretty earlier in the spring. I don't think I got a picture of it before the blossoms faded. I just love these trees!


My pink dogwood that Erin gave me is growing too and had such pretty blossoms on it this year.



My little vegetable garden has turned into a small jungle and I have blossoms on the plants. I can't wait for the first tomato!!

I've been enjoying fresh lettuce that I'm growing in old nursery pots by the driveway. It won't last much longer now with hot weather approaching.





There is a lot of territorial behavior going on with birds protecting their nests with eggs in them. Mr. and Mrs. Purple Finch have made a nice little home in my Boston Fern on the porch.

I haven't seen the baby deer yet - all the mamas seem to still be in hiding but it won't be long before they start appearing.

We have a new visitor in the area. There was a noise that was driving me nuts last weekend and then I heard on the news that the 13 year cicada had emerged. They arrived last week and will be here for about four weeks and won't return for 13 years! They look almost alien-like to me with their huge red eyes.





There must be millions of them but I've only seen a handful in the yard at this point.

Yesterday was rainy so I actually stayed inside and cleaned my bedroom. And do you remember this jacket I made for my mom?

I don't think I told you that it turned out too small for her, so I tore the whole thing apart and made it larger. I sewed all afternoon and evening yesterday and it's almost finished (again). What a job!!!

I hope you are all well and have a good day/week. I'll be outside most of today cleaning the barn. Between 13 chickens and 4 goats, there is a lot of pooper scooping going on around here!