Sunday, July 20, 2014

Lazy Weekend

Life has been busy lately.  Trying to make the most out of summer can be exhausting.  :-)  So we have been just hanging out, our older son came to visit yesterday and we just chatted away.  Today I went out for a walk in the garden to see how everything is doing.  Our huge stems of Stargazer Lilies have begun to bloom from the bottom up.  


It's cloudy today and that's just fine.. we've had too high of temperatures lately and this feels good.  Doors and windows open and it's only 66 deg. out.  :-)


We had something sad happen yesterday.  Our hens stick their head out of their safe enclosure to nibble on the green grass outside the pen... and something, and I think it was probably one of the skunks that live in our woodshed.. grabbed it by the head and tried to pull it and killed my dear Betsy Ross, the Ameracauna who laid aqua eggs.  ::sigh::  Dayle is going to line all around the edge of the pen with a finer grade wire so they can't stick their heads out.  Dang predators.  RIP Betsy Ross.


While we were at Coastal Farm and Garden shop the other day we picked up a couple of hanging baskets of cherry tomatoes.  Whoever is in charge of their garden area is incompetent and they baskets were shriveled up.  We got them for a good prices and Dayle is keeping them watered.  


It looks like a used car lot around here.. :-)



The blackberries are beginning to ripen.. I ate this one after I took the photo and ::cringe:: it was sour!  


The Lantana (3 color varieties) continues to be an eye pleaser.


The pastel one.. love love.  I think these colors would make a wonderful crocheted project!


I have a miniature rose from last summer.. during our early summer weather it was all bushy and green.. then we had the freezing weather and then the heat spells and it wasn't looking good at all.  It's coming back now with 2 little flowers.. hope it does ok.


I love how hydrangeas last so long.. a great flower, don't you think?


Dayle's geraniums that he's babied and wintered over for years and years are having their best year as it's been warm and sunny for a long time now.



Had to show you how the "Nodding Violet" aka Streptocarpella keeps on blooming.  The leaves are fuzzy and succulent like an African Violet.


Our Hummingbird population has quadrupled from the 2 that wintered over here.  The local ones are not happy with the intruders and they squawk and chitter at each other and chase each other away.  Dayle hung up a new feeder today with bee guards - so they have two.  We might hang another one up too.


A pretty bi-colored geranium.


The Tuberous Begonia is blooming.. another of D's "babies".



He also wintered over this Begonia Boliviensis "Bonfire" - we were both pretty amazed it made it through and has done so well!  He puts a shelf on the landing down to the basement where there is a glass door and put them all on the shelf and doesn't even water them and they winter over.  Amazing.


Bright red geranium.


The deck needs some tidying up.. but not today.  


Today is Kristi's 32nd birthday today!  Travis got her a melamine set of dishes with VW buses all around the rim!


Her sister gave her the bus shaped toiletry bag and Travis also got her a set of silverware with buses on the handles and I gave her the metal bus sculpture with a surfboard, cooler and float ring on the top.  She was a happy girl!



I offered to bake Kristi a birthday cake, but she said with how hot it's been they'd pick up a cake when they went to town last evening.  Travis picked this one out and oh.my.goodness.. it was tasty.


We're all going out to Chinese dinner to celebrate further.  Right now Dayle is washing and waxing our trailer for our trip to Waldo Lake so it's ready to go in 2 weeks.  I've been working on the lists in preparation to the shopping right before we leave.  :-)

How was your weekend?  ((hugs)), Teresa :-) 

25 comments:

  1. Loved your walk but was so sad to hear of your dear chooks demise. How sad you must have felt. Happy Birthday dear Kristi x

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  2. Lovely post. Beautiful flowers. I so love seeing all your lovely plants and flowers. Happy B-Day to your DIL! ((hugs)) to you sweet friend.

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  3. Just beautiful Teresa! Happy Birthday to your DIL. Love her VW bus, I noticed right off the bat, and then the great VW accessaries. I love Chinese, I'll meet you there, xoRobin

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  4. Your flowers all look amazing. There are a lot of good ideas for crochet color combos. So sorry about your hen. No matter what you have there is a predator who will go after it. Smart idea to reinforce the hen's pen with smaller mesh fencing. That should keep them safer. That birthday cake looks delish. Right now I could eat a good portion and spend the rest of the evening feeling guilty, lol. I joined Weight Watchers 8 weeks ago and have lost just over 11 lbs. I have lost 25 lbs. since my husband passed away last year. I just don't cook like I use to. I am not strict with myself, and every now and again I allow myself a day where I eat what I want. Hope you have a good week.
    (((HUGS((( Susanne :)

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  5. Beautiful flowers, all of them! I especially love those blue/purple hydrangeas. They are just gorgeous. Happy b-day to Kristi, and what a fun b-day gift. Enjoy your Chinese. We just had BLTs for supper. Slow weekend here. Absolutely nothing going on. Cap doesn't feel like going out anywhere yet, but he's itching to mow the lawn so he must feel better. Ha-ha. I have to threaten him to keep him from actually doing it. He says he's doing it tomorrow no matter what I say. Enjoy that cooler weather too We're back to triple digits in the forecast.

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  6. Your garden grows beautifully. Love those that wintered over. We have a DESERT Bloom that I ignore all winter. THen I put it out in summer and its going gangbusters again this year. :)
    bonus!
    That cake looks amazing , what fun gifts for the VW van lover

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  7. Oh my word, those flowers are stunning. Happy Birthday to Kristi! That's a classic vehicle she's got. :)

    I'm so sorry to hear about your hen - poor thing.

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  8. Beautiful flowers! I am going to try to winter over the geraniums. Never did that before. Happy birthday Kristi. It looks like you had a great day with family. Poor little Betsy Ross! RIP little girl.

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  9. Beautiful, beautiful flowers Teresa. I'm always in awe of just how pretty your farm is. Poor Betsy Ross. Darn skunk anyway. I'm glad that clever Dayle already has a solution. Gosh I love all of the bus goodies Kristi got today. HaPpY BiRtHdAy to Kristi! The cake looks wonderful. Of course being chocolate how could it be anything else. See you soon my friend. Mandy has an offer on the house!!!!
    Let's hope it all goes through this time. :-)
    Blessings,
    Betsy

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  10. You have the most magnificent garden and happy birthday to Kristi, what neat presents she got ☺
    I have a new computer, and Acer aspire and loving using it ☺

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  11. Happy Birthday, Kristi! So glad you are having a fun celebration :)

    Teresa and Dayle your flowers are gorgeous! Thanks for letting us admire them.

    I am so sorry about Betsy Ross :(

    Have been doing research for my coming trips, too, and my back is feeling better. Yea! I hope to swim tomorrow. xx

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  12. A truly delightful garden and indeed blog, Some beautiful presants for the birthday girl.

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  13. Poor Betsy Rose...RIP indeed. Your flowers look beautiful Teresa. A belated happy birthday to Kristi what fab VW camper van themed pressies she received. Happy week to you, my girlies are on their way up for a couple of days as T is working away for a couple of days :0) xx

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  14. Your flowers are lovely! I've been thinking about trying to overwinter my geraniums and wonder if they need a lot of light?

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  15. My hanging baskets are loving this summer as well.
    After being in Redmond this weekend, I was very happy to come back to our side of the mountain with 70' weather. The whole morning chill factor helps me face the heat later.
    Sorry about dear chickie - out here, the coyotes are rampaging.
    Have your usual fun at Waldo Lake.

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  16. How pretty your flowers are all looking, so colourful and growing so beautifully! I'm so sorry to hear about poor Betsy Ross, that is very sad news......
    Happy belated birthday to Kristi.....loved seeing her fab presents :) and that birthday cake did look yummy!
    Wishing you a happy restful week, Teresa.
    Helen xox

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  17. Happy (slightly belated) Birthday to your daughter-in-law! I had no idea that skunks kill chickens. I am SO sorry for your loss and happy that the chicks home will soon be skunk proof! We have skunks out here too--they are not a welcome visitor.
    Beautiful hummingbird, stargazer lily (love those) and pastel lantana! Very nice!
    Blessings,
    Aimee

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  18. Happy birthday to Kristie! I hope she's having a great day. Your flowers are all so beautiful and look at that tomato! Wow. I had to laugh about the used car lot, but they're all such nice cars! I'm assuming the VW bus is Kristie's? Lucky girl. I think they seem like fun. I hope you have a wonderful time at the lake. :)

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  19. Oh, Teresa you do have a lovely garden. I especially loved the colors of the mini rose and your hydrangeas. They are too beautiful.

    I'm with you about the heat we've been having. Yesterday was so comfortable. Could do with many more of those days. As you can tell - I do not do well in the summer heat.

    Happy Belated B-day Kristi - you sure made out this year! I used to have a 1962 rag top VW. The kind you had to push open like a Roman shade. Loved that car. Oh and what a yummy looking cake. Did you save me a piece...ha ha

    I'm so very sorry to hear about Betsy Ross, may she rest in peace.

    I meant to say something the other day about the bracelets you've been making. They are lovely & so pretty. Hope to see more beaded items in your posts.

    Take care - Lacy

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  20. I thanks this was a very nice weekend ... And happy, happy birthday to kristi. As always I love your flowers and your pictures.

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  21. Oh thanks a lot for these pictures so beautiful ! Love the hydrangeas and gearaniums too... and the big cake !!!! Miaaaaammmm ! Have a nice day !!

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  22. Sorry to hear about Betsy Ross :(

    Your garden is such a riot of colour!

    That cake looks totally scrummy, my tummy is starting to rumble...

    Helenxx

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  23. Your garden is looking gorgeous Teresa and you photograph it so well. Always love your photos. Happy birthday to Kristi - hope she had a wonderful day. Sorry to hear about your sad loss of Betsy Rose - so sad. xox

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  24. Oh poor Betsy Ross! How horrible for her. I did not know skunks could do that. Love all your flowers, so gorgeous. Our flowers have had it with the heat and humidity. The weeds are thriving however.
    Looks like Kristi was appropriately adored just as she should be.
    Hugs to you,
    Meredith

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  25. Hi Teresa

    Sorry to hear about Betsy :( Hope Dayle has skunk proofed their house now.

    I absolutely love Kristies birthday presents, me and J want a campervan although it's a slightly unrealistic dream for us right now. What cool stuff :-) And that cake!!

    x

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