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| Front Garden in August |
The front garden in August doesn't look very interesting, does it? It's too dry and parched.
But, the newly transplanted sprengeri ferns are doing well:
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| Sprengeri Ferns |
With new growth on all of them:
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| New Growth on the Sprengeri Ferns |
And do you see what I see, coming up between the mulch that we put down between the ferns?
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| Osteospermum Seedlings! |
The osteospermum had seeded itself and removing the old plants have facilitated them growing!
Elsewhere in the garden, even the succulents are scorched:
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| Scorched Aeonium |
Once it cools down in October or so, I might dig up this clump and transplant the bigger stems.
Yesterday, Monday, I did a load of laundry in the morning (my bed sheets, etc.), cleaned the litter box, took the trash cans out, did my meal plan (which I've changed, already!), spoke on the phone with friend R, and video chatted with my daughter.
When I took my trash cans out, I saw neighbor T's daughter K pulling out of T's driveway; I waved to her and she stopped the car to chat with me through the open window. She had been over to the house to take T's trash cans out and check the mail, etc. She said her mother was settling in at the facility and was liking the routine, going down to the common dining area for meals, etc. I told K that her mother had called me on Saturday and I had spoken with her on Sunday. K said she was going to see her mother on Tuesday and again on Wednesday because she is having cable installed in T's room so she would watch her TV programs and having a landline put in, as well, to make it easier for T to call her friends (she finds it easier than her cell phone).
I didn't do any sewing on Monday because, when I went to attach the next row of patchwork pieces, I discovered that, somehow, the top edge of the quilt was two inches wider than the bottom edge! Oops! I guess I didn't piece all those 3-inch squares properly! That threw me off, completely, and I decided I needed to give it a rest.
This afternoon, I trimmed the outer grey border to try and even out the difference. I am not very happy with the end results, but, I think it won't be that noticeable. I will notice it, but, that's because I'm aware of that little mistake. Then, I trimmed all the disappearing nine-patches to make them all even and sewed them in short rows of four squares per row. The next step is to iron them out and figure out how they should be incorporated into the quilt top.
Today (Tuesday), I brought in my trash cans and took neighbor T's trash cans in for her. I spoke with cousin P this afternoon (she's the one who moved to Florida), chatted with friend R, and with aunt C, too.
Yesterday, I had leftovers for my meals - the leftover fried rice for brunch and the leftover shirataki noodles for dinner. Today, I had some toast with butter and jam for breakfast followed by a salad for lunch (eaten around 3:00 p.m.). Dinner was going to be rice and chicken curry, but, the packet of chicken curry I took out from the freezer hadn't thawed in time for dinner! I should have taken it out on Sunday! Instead, I took out one frozen hamburger patty (which, according to the instructions on the package, could be cooked frozen), cooked it in a frying pan, and had that for dinner! I didn't have hamburger buns, but, the end crusts of store bought bread make good hamburger bun substitutes for me. I boiled some frozen corn, too, to have with my hamburger and it made a filling dinner.
I am grateful for:
- Weekly trash collections
- The sprengeri ferns seem to be doing well
- Weekly trash collections
- The sprengeri ferns seem to be doing well
- Osteospermum seedlings emerging
- Phone calls and chats with family and friends
- Electricity to run the fans, power the lights, etc.
- Phone calls and chats with family and friends
- Electricity to run the fans, power the lights, etc.
Joyful activities have included playing with fabric and being in the garden.
Plans for tomorrow (Wednesday) include:
- Tending to the garden with M
- More sewing
- Dusting my bedroom
How is your week coming along? What are your plans for Wednesday?
Your ferns look nice and healthy and yay to having some seedlings from your osteospermum plants. It's a shame the sun has dried out your plants, it's much the same here in the UK, we are just not used to the extreme heat. What a shame you've made a mistake on your quilt but you should be able to rescue it, fingers crossed for you.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Eileen. I'm glad the ferns survived being transplanted and seem to be growing well. I'm also hopeful that the osteospermum seedlings will grow well. I think we are all experiencing sun burnt plants this year! I am hoping that the mistake I made in the quilt won't be too noticeable once it is completed!
DeleteI noticed that you've made your blog private. I think that was the best step to take. But, please, may I ask to be included in the list of people you will permit to read and comment on your now-private blog? I tried to access it, earlier, today, and access was denied. I think you need to send an invitation through email - I tried to email you, but, I don't have an email address for you. My email address is: blessmymess55@gmail.com
(it appears at the top of my blog, too)
Thank you, Eileen. :)
The ferns look like asparagus ferns to me. Are they the same or similar? We had one when we lived in the south that did quite well.
ReplyDeleteYes, they are also known as asparagus ferns. I also have a different type of asparagus fern, which is a vine, the leaves of which are often used in floral arrangements - I tend to refer to that plant as asparagus fern. :)
DeleteIt's good to hear that T is settling in at the home and liking the routine of life there. I wonder if she will choose to become a permanent resident?
ReplyDeleteYour garden is looking very dry but you have the pleasure of knowing the osteospurmum hasn't been defeated and the ferns are looking very healthy.
I hope you can sort out your quilt without it requiring a lot of unpicking and re-stitching. It's frustrating when that happens but I have every confidence in your ability to sort if out.
I, too, wonder if T will choose to become a permanent resident at the facility. Personally, I think she will benefit from assisted living, but, costs have to be taken into consideration, as well.
DeleteThe garden does look rather sad, doesn't it? I feel like ripping everything out and starting all over, again, but, that's not likely to happen!
I will be working on the quilt today; I think I can make it work! I'll just call it my wonky quilt! :D
Sorry Bless, I shut down my blog overnight to sleep on things and made the decision this morning to keep it going. Everyone is right not to let one person spoil it for me. Thank you so much for your kind words.
ReplyDeleteNo problem, Eileen; I'm glad you have decided to carry on blogging. I'll be over to read your latest post. Yes, time to move on! :)
DeleteYour garden is looking great considering how dry it has been. Mine will soon be ready for a good clear and tidy before autumn arrives. Xx
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jules. Yes, it is time to do some clearing and tidying in the garden! I'm hoping we'll get some rain this winter to help with the garden, but, if not, then, I might have to pull out more of the ornamentals and plant cacti!
DeleteYour ferns are a nice touch of fresh green and your little osteospermum seedlings look healthy. I'm surprised that the succulents are in bad shape as I thought they would be likely to survive well in a drought. I guess I don't know! I'm glad T is getting set up with her TV and phone and enjoying going for meals. It's hard to leave home but sometimes it can work out well. Too bad about your quilt but you seem to have it under control. I've sometimes used bread as a substitute for a bun. Recently there were only two hot dog buns left and DH had them while I had my one hot dog in a slice of bread.
ReplyDeleteWe could use some rain now, but the dry soil helped when I was pulling out milkweed this morning (too old and tough now for caterpillars to feed on but I did check each plant). It was a good day for drying the bed linen, too.
Thank you, Bushlady; I think once the ferns establish themselves (they have nodules in their roots where they collect water, which makes them drought friendly) and the osteospermum seedlings grow, that bed will look nice. It's the hot afternoon sun that scorched the succulents. They survive the drought, but, the sun burns them!
DeleteI think T is happy about the move to the facility.
The quilt is coming along, well, wonky seams and all! I've the world's best helper assisting me, as you will see. ;-)
I've eaten hot dogs wrapped up in a slice of bread, myself. It works!
Sounds like you are getting a lot of those gardening tasks crossed off your list! Maybe it will rain, one of these nights, to water your garden. :)
Parts of my garden are brown and dry, too. I need to cut back my roses and the periwinkle. This time of year is always so hard on the plants. The heat is brutal. Sorry about your quilt. That kind of stuff is frustrating.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear that your garden is getting brown and dry, too, Stephenie. I'm looking more and more into native and drought-tolerant plants. Even the drought-tolerant plants need some watering, though.
DeleteWell, the quilt might be a bit wonky, but, that is entirely due to the fact that I am using a mixture of fabrics with different weights and weaves, etc. Plus my machine piecing skills which lack accuracy! :D It won't be too noticeable in the finished quilt, I think.
Wishing you a more than a little rain for your front garden. I myself don't do much meal planning as I tend to change my mind all the time!!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Susanne; a little rain will be much appreciated! I change my mind quite a bit, too, when it comes to meals, but, having a meal plan written down is helpful. :)
DeleteYour ferns are doing very well especially considering how dry and hot it has been there. I have some ladyferns, and they like deep shade and cool. They are starting to burn out now. I think your quilt will be lovely. Any differences along sides will not show or if they do, look like you were being artistic, which you are!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Celie; I think these ferns will do well in the front (I had one in a pot out in the front for years and it did very well!) I'm sure your ladyferns look quite lovely. As for the quilt, I think it will work out, OK. I tried to straighten it a bit and I think I made it worse, but, this is something to help keep me warm in the winter and not for entering in a competition, so a little wonkiness will not matter that much! At least, that's what I am saying to myself! :D
DeleteThose ferns have made themselves right at home - they look great.
ReplyDeleteI think they will prove to be a good choice for that spot for them.
Boy those osteospermum is persistent aren't they. They want to stay in that spot :)
It's good to hear that T is happy where she is. I know that often that is not the case.
I think you are probably right about you being the only one that will notice the mistake on the quilt. Our eyes always fall on the problem when it's something we are making. I think others just take in the entire piece. I'm sure you will make it work.
Yes, the ferns look like they are settling in well. And the osteospermum are amazing plants!
DeleteI spoke with T's daughter today and I will be calling T tomorrow; she seems to be settling in well at the facility.
The quilt is coming along nicely, mistakes and all! :D I have given up trying to have everything even and straight! This will be a bit of a wonky quilt! :D
That must be so frustrating with the quilt!
ReplyDeleteYour garden is always so fascinating. I love seeing the plants that are so different from here in Yorkshire. Thank you for sharing.
I have continued with the quilt and am making adjustments as I go! Nothing is quite straight but, it is coming together to make a pleasing whole and I am happy with that!
DeleteThe garden is in a very sorry state, right now, without water and temperatures in the upper 90s and low 100s. I pulled out some more dead plants, yesterday, from the one flower bed and I think I will plant some succulents, there, too. :)