IN Carmel

 The morning was a little complicated, but the afternoon was easy. So here is the story.                There was a huge murder in the garden with a raccoon. I found this on my morning walk. Last Sunday Darren asked me to shorten Haven's robe.  And of course I said yes.  You heard that part.  I was going to take it back to church on Thursday but decided to wait till today knowing that I would be heading south with altar flowers for tomorrow.  One trip south sounded pretty good to me. More than once I reminded myself to get the robe in the car so I would not forget it knowing that flowers would also be on my mind.  Did I do that.  No.  Now it's about a 20-to-25-minute drive to church.  And when I got to 65th street I remembered there was NO robe in the car.  The church is at 38th street and we live at 106th street.                   ...

                                                                                An Iris from Kathy's garden. What happened today?  Not much, is the right answer.   There was the usual morning stuff with the walk around.  I found a few more seeds up in another place. I did some fluffing but not much.  Just enough to keep the weeds from growing.  A canna peaked through in the garden.                                                          It is about two inches high having quite a way to go.  There are more Cannas to come. There was a bit of tran...

 A beautiful morning to be in the garden.  A little nippy but just right with a sweatshirt. This was a fluffing morning.  In other words, a light scratching to keep the weeds mixed up.  I did a little fertilizing on the peppers who looked a little yellow.  Yes, there are yellow peppers, but the plant should be green to keep me happy. A few other things got an enriched drink but most of the things are on their own and hanging on waiting for the sun to come out tomorrow!  That includes me as well.  Things are looking pretty good in spite of what is missing...HEAT!  Next week holds some promise.        Snap dragons and Benary Zinnias are looking great.  Hang in their ladies.  Heat is on the way soon.                                                       ...

 Today was an easier day.  Why.  Because it rained this morning.  But before the rain cam I did a garden walk and everything seemed to be OK with the exception now of where the rabbits can reach.  There could be three long eared fuzzy beasts.  The third one seemed to be the smallest of the three.  So once again there was garden interest from those with four legs.  Last evening where all could see the deer sauntered down the driveway.  I thought they were nocturnal animals.  I guess not!  Once again, the challenge is to plant things they don't like.  Sweet peas, Love in a Mist and Babies Breath can be found on their menu for sure.    The rain washed all the dust for bugs away and the zinnias looks very good.  There was the dusting gig late afternoon to make everything eatable safe until the next rain.  A new row of all orange zinnias appeared.  I think the rain brought that on. Woo, woo.  Not too mu...

A gift from my neighbor last fall.  I thought they were going to be white, but I think this is even prettier. Today was the day designated to put 2025 Easter back in the box at church.  And it happened. We had a good group of Old Timers like me that knew what should happen.  And it happened early all because we were working against the 11:30 funeral time for Jim Beck.  He and Kathy were one of those long timers at North being over 50 years.  We were busy making decisions which could change knowing the next Easter is what seems a long time away.   I ended the day planting the last herb curry plant for at least today.  I love something white among all the shades of green.  There is mint here, a little tarragon although there is a whole lot more out of sight.  Hassop which makes wonderful tea.  Remember, wash me with hyssop and I shall be clean.  I'd rather drink it although it smells wonderful. I see one broccoli plant.  The...

 I'm really happy that today has run out of time.  It's been more than busy.  I'm not sure what you call that but I'm just happy it's 8:30 and the power plant that lives inside of me is blinking.  Time to recharge.                                                             The red hibiscus is starting to show up.   Most of the day was spent in the garden with the goal of getting to the finish line or as near as I could by 8:30 pm.  I'm nearer than I was with only two beds to finish.  That includes ripping out some sick bug eaten plants.  I counted the zinnia plants and there are more than 100 in the ground.  That was the case last year but today I can add that all are dusted so the chance of being bug food is very low.  I've got to stay on it until I can ...

 You have heard of the three little pigs, the three bears, and the three Billy goats gruff.  Well, today you now have heard of the three chipmunks, singing their chipmunk song with a verse saying get me to the park woods on time. It was a big three day starting in the morning with a busy afternoon added.  But in between there were other things happening.                          Sum and Substance, a Hosta I divided three times.  It's beautiful this time of year.                                                                       And oh, so big.  One of the larger Hostas.  Years ago, I told Doug if it were hailing, I expected him to protect S and S with a umbrella during the ...

 Today was a little crazy.  It was soup kitchen day and the crazy wasn't those who walked through the door.  It was all kitchen people, or should I say me.   There was breakfast.  Then cutting things from the garden for the altar tomorow.  There was a stop at Dot's for the Peony's that will be added to all the other stuff.  And then on to church first getting the flowers finished.  After that, the work started in the Community Rm. kitchen for today's noon meal. We had good workers and once again meeting the 11 O'clock deadline with folks getting a meal.  Around 10 I was moving some things in the refrigerator and a shelf came loose spilling 5 pitchers full of COLD water from my waist to the floor.  Woo, I was soaked through to my shoes with that water.  Squish was the word.  Then as we were doing the final clean up the next spill missed me but it was a good pot of coffee that needed the mop. I can't ever remember two big sp...

 What happened today?  Well, enough to make me tired.  The body seems to be working just fine but then the mind forgets what work the body did.  I would say it's hard to get everything going in the same direction.                                        Tonight I call this bed finished.  The Snapdragons were added today.   I will say first that the sun was out, and it was a joy to be outside.  I must admit that the rain has made everything look their best.  The Stella-a-Doras have so many buds they should bloom for a long time. I can almost sing June is busting out all over, but it's May for a few more days.   I moved a few things.  I thought the big pot of parsley would get more use if it were on the patio closer to where the cooking happens.  The basil is big enough to transplant.  Well, some plants...

                                                    Gorgeous Iris from the church swap a few years ago.                                                                                                          The sun appeared for no more than 5 minutes.                                                                    ...