Thursday, March 10, 2022

This and That on Thursday

 

With the Drapes Open, New Lace Curtains

The new lace curtains are a lot more see-through than the old ones, but, that's fine with me.  I found that the drapes are harder to draw as the new sliders don't seem to slide as easily.  But, I might make two tie backs for the drapes, so I can keep them drawn closed and just tie them back when I want more light.  

Today, in the morning, I walked around the back garden as usual and picked just a handful of peapods as that was all that was ready to be picked.  Then, I planted a couple of sweet potatoes to see if they will grow.  And I took a few pictures to share.  The "stinky flower" plant (possibly Dracunculus vulgaris) is growing, but, no flower, yet:


"Stinky Flower"/Snake Lily Plant

The nectarine tree is starting to flower:


Nectarine Flowers

Since this is just the second year after planting it, I don't expect it to have many fruits; just making it through the winter without dying on me is enough!

Then, there are the two smaller agave plants that M brought for me, which we planted behind the garage, in front of the garden shed:



Smaller Agave Plants

After the garden tour, I had brunch - one of the curry puffs and an orange.

Then, I went into the garage and did a little more cleaning and organizing.  I wiped the shelves of one of the shelving units, cleaned and washed some of the items I am storing on the shelves and consolidated the items.  I didn't find many things to declutter, other than the old rice cooker, but, I now have an empty metal shelving unit!  I cleaned a couple of the shelves, but, I think I will ask M to move it outside for me to wash it down with the garden hose, tomorrow.  I am not sure if I will dismantle it and recycle it or if I will put some of the plastic bins with holiday decorations on the shelving unit.  Currently, those bins are stacked one on top of the other in a corner.

I relaxed in the evening and watched news.  Chatted with friend R for a bit.  

Dinner was leftover sausages with rice and green beans. 

Today, I am grateful for:

- A sunny day
- The garden to walk in
- Flowers on the nectarine tree 
- What I was able to accomplish in the garage
- Paper towels

Today's joyful activity was wandering around the garden, looking at what is growing, and picking a few peapods, etc.

How was your Thursday?  What are your plans for Friday?

22 comments:

  1. Your plants are looking great. The nets at the window look fresh and cool. My day will involve gardening!

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    1. Thank you, Angela. I'm looking forward to reading all about your gardening! Will you be planting out your bean seedlings?

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  2. It's a shame you will need to keep your curtails drawn as the net curtains are very pretty. Is it a privacy thing, do many people pass your home and look in or is it because the sliders don't slide easily? Tie backs are a good idea, I have them on most of my curtains. Those nectarine flowers are so pretty. That's a good idea to wash down the shelving ready for using it for storage. I must tackle some housework today, it's never ending isn't it :)

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    1. I like to keep the curtains open as it lets in a lot of light. But, the new sliders don't slide that well, for some reason, and I don't want to tug too hard in case they break! I might try spraying some lubricant and see if that helps.
      Yes, housework never ends, does it? Don't get too tired doing the work, though. Hope you have a good day and a nice weekend, too.

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  3. That's a really pretty nectarine flower. Let's hope it doesn't follow the peach tree's example and bear so many fruit that it can't support the weight.

    Well done on your continued garage clearing. It sounds like you're making steady progress. Do you have much more to do in there?

    It's raining here so I'm enjoying a leisurely day indoors. I need to rest my knee again so am aiming to do a little walking as possible. I'm filling my day with fun things x

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    1. Thank you, Eileen. I don't think there will be quite as many nectarines as peaches, but, we'll keep an eye on things to make sure that the branches don't get overloaded! M has already pruned some of the newer growth on the peach tree and, no doubt he'll be thinning out those baby peaches pretty soon!

      Yes, I've a lot more to do in the garage. I'm still inching my way along one long wall! I realize I should post pictures, but, I am too ashamed of the mess to do so! But, it is a large area - about 20' x 20'. I've stuff stacked along all the walls, with a clear area in the middle for the car!

      Glad you are taking advantage of the rainy day to rest your knee and take it easy. Hope you are planning to take it easy over the weekend, too. :)

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    2. At least you have room for your car in your garage. I have to leave mine on the drive!

      Yes, I'll be having an easy weekend too 😊

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    3. M cleaned the metal shelving unit for me, today, and swept that area. Next up is an old kitchen cabinet that I use to store some crafting supplies. There is, apparently, a leak in the garage roof and water has dripped down onto the counter and left a brown mark, which needs to be cleaned. Might also do a quick sort through of the stuff in the cabinet (mostly wreath bases, and items to be used for the wreaths).
      Glad you are planning an easy weekend, too. :) Take care.

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  4. Fruit tree flowers are so pretty. You seem to have very good luck with fruit trees, so I won't be surprised if you get a good crop of nectarines. I'm still waiting for the apple tree I planted a couple of years ago to flower. Maybe this year.

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    1. Thank you, June; I hope your apple tree will reward you with lots of flowers this spring and some fruit this summer! :) I have not tried growing apples, although neighbor S had a tree in her front yard, years ago (they cut it down, for some reason).

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  5. I never knew nectarine flowers were so gorgeous! The garage seems to be coming along. Do you think you'd prefer to have those holiday decoration bins on the shelf unit or do they seem fine where they are?
    I had coffee with my friend and DH had coffee with his group, then we made a brief trip to a store with groceries to pick up a few things before going home. It is really starting to feel like spring, warming up. but icy underfoot in places, no sap running here yet but in southern Ontario they are boiling up already.

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    1. They are very pretty, aren't they?
      I think I'd like to have the bins on the shelves, but, I don't know if they will even fit on the shelves! Also, although they are perched rather precariously on top of the larger bins, if they fall, they won't fall on the car! I think I'll clean the shelves and keep them in place until I've cleaned the rest of the garage - there are some other boxes that are sitting on the floor which might be better if lifted off the floor and onto shelves!
      Sounds like you had a very nice morning, having coffee with your friends and picking up a few groceries. Glad to hear that it is starting to feel more like spring. Soon you'll be busy with collecting and boiling the sap!

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  6. Hi Bless, I wish I had given my apricot tree some compost over the winter, I think it would have more blossoms. Maybe I will give it some, anyway. I am relaxing by the fire today. I plan to take a sauna this afternoon.

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    1. Hi Stephenie, it's probably not too late to feed your apricot tree. :) Hope you get lots of flowers and a nice crop of apricots! Sounds like you are having a lovely, relaxing day, today. :)

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  7. I'm impressed by how much cleaning and clearing you've been doing! My garage is too small to have much in it with the car, but it is old and dirty. It could really use a good scrubbing! Now my basement...oh gosh, it's full of stuff! Your lace curtains are lovely (I zoomed in!). And so are the nectarine flowers. I hope you're having a good day. Celie

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    1. Thank you, Celie. The cleaning is much over due! I had been planning to do some of it, last year, but, then, I was sidelined by the sciatica pains and I didn't feel ready to tackle any projects afterwards. I am still careful not to do more than 15-20 minutes at a time, even now, and come inside to rest the moment I start feeling even a little tired! But, I guess the time is right to get some of those long delayed cleaning projects done! I don't have a basement; the garage is where I keep stuff that others may store in the basement or attic.

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  8. I always enjoy seeing your garden photos. They cheer me up - especially today as it snowed overnight and everything is covered in a thick layer of snow again!

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    1. Glad you enjoyed the garden photos, Sharon. Oh, no! Not more snow! After you were rejoicing that the ice was melting!

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  9. Your nectarine most certainly came through the winter well! The flowers are lovely.
    So, it's the 2nd year for the nectarine and the 3rd year for the peach?

    It sounds like you are making headway in the garage. Soon you will have both of those areas (the shed and garage) all straightened out and that will feel wonderful.

    I went through some jewelry yesterday and have a big bag of jewelry to donate. All costume jewelry, nothing valuable, but fun for someone I'm sure.

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    1. Yes, the nectarine tree seems to have come through the winter and it is the 2nd year for it. The peach tree was planted in January 2019, so, it is in its 3rd year (after being planted, anyway; it was probably already 2 years old when we bought it).

      The garage is coming along nicely! I have one very messy area to clean up and that's on the schedule for this week! After that, I want to clean the corner with the holiday bins.

      Well done on sorting through the costume jewelry! My daughter and I did that with some of my stuff, last year, and I think half of it ended up in her jewelry box! LOL.

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  10. That nectarine flower is so beautiful. Something I have heard, but never tried, is spraying the curtain rails with hairspray or furniture polish to make them run easier.

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    1. Thank you, Lyssa; there are a few more flowers on the nectarine tree, this week! Thank you, too, for the tip about the hairspray/furniture polish - I don't have any hairspray, but, I might have some furniture polish (or, I can buy some).

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