what a happy morning

A little bit misty, cool, and quiet morning.

I need to find a place

for a table and chairs

so I can sit outside, with my coffee.

Speaking of mornings,

August came to visit this morning.

What a funny boy!

As he was eating his breakfast,

 I was in the kitchen. 

When I came back I noticed Cheerios

all over the room, with Henry frantically

trying to eat them all before any clean-up could occur.

I asked Gus what happened.

He answered,

"Henry likes Cheerios just like me."

and threw handful at Henry.

So that's why Henry is constantly by August's side.

As he built his train track

and made cars and other things with the Legos,

I mentioned that he might end up

becoming an engineer when he grew up.

He answered,

"No. I'm gonna be a BIG dinosaur when I grow up!

Pobly a T Rex!"

Although we had discussed this before,

we began to talk about Halloween costumes again.

August is going to be a 

red Lego.

He told me his dad was going to be a 

blue Lego.

His mom was going to be a

polar bear.

I guess I am going to be a 

seal.

Earlier he had told me that Papaw was

too big for a costume.

When I said,"Oh that's too bad for Papaw!"

August replied in such a sad tone, "Yes, that's too bad for Papaw!"

He really seemed sad.

But today he told me with a smile,

"Maybe a dinosaur costume would

be big enough for Papaw!"

Wow, August, that would be quite a sight!

Happy Autumn today!

Denise

chives

I love growing chives.

I love the tiny bit of spice they add to food.

I especially love them when they are blooming in the summer.

Three cheers for chives!

Denise

Worth the wait!

My thought is to dig up all of our "lawn" and plant sunflowers everywhere next year.

In the beige this summer has become, I can't tell you how much I love these flowers.
I will, for sure, plant more in the future!

sunflower thoughts on a steamy day,
Denise

it's hot, hot, hot!

Hot - it's hot everywhere in the US this week!

I won't complain about the heat -- after being so cold last winter!

This morning, as I was out watering my plants, I noticed my daisies and herbs were thriving.

I am fine with that.

Take care,

Denise

simple living

I love the idea of simple living:

composting (check)

growing some of our own food (check, although I think we can do better)

eating fresh produce and buying local (check)

being conscious of not being wasteful (check)

having one car (we have a long way to go - two cars and a truck)

reusing and sprucing up old furniture (check)

use some of my fabric stash on sewing projects (check)

After we moved in, I discovered that our property consisted of rock-hard dirt.  

I remember jumping on the shovel with all of my weight, and the shovel went nowhere.

I was pretty depressed because this yard needed a lot of work (it still does!)

Steve built me a couple of raised beds and I have been building a few, too.

He also did some research and bought me a composter for my birthday.

Now I will tell you, at the time, he was at some meeting at church
(with a bunch of women)
and they were shocked that he would buy something like that for my birthday.

He told them that was what I wanted.

They think I am weird.

But, never having been one for fancy jewelry or clothes, 

I was thrilled, I tell you, thrilled!

So, to get some yummy soil, I cook mine.

All it takes is adding crushed leaves, or a bag of sawdust
(one advantage of having a carpenter as a husband)
plus saving scraps of fruit, vegetables, and tea and coffee grounds.

Dump.

Spin.

Wait.

Yum!

Yes, my soil is rapidly improving.  

I can now easily get a shovel into the dirt.

And, plants are actually growing!

I just recently found a type of sifter that will separate the good compost from the still composting chunks.  This simple screen was $$$.

I know dear Steve has some wood and screening somewhere to make one for me.

Yes, that is what I need!

Here's to simple living!

Take care,

Denise

Sunny Sunday

The herbs are growing wildly.

The flowers are lovely.

Even the *weeds* are too pretty to mow.

Denise

The garden is ready!

Yesterday, I finished cleaning out my garden beds.

They really weren't in bad shape.

I just needed to clean out some leaves and a handful of tiny weeds.

Mostly, I added some compost that has been cooking since last fall.

This is the third year for adding compost to the spring garden,
and I am so happy with the crumbly soil I now have.

This is the first time I have actually drawn up garden plans.

As I was adding the compost, I noticed some tiny sprouts of rhubarb.  Yum!

Planting early spring seeds,
we soon hope to have some yummy peas, spinach, lettuce, and arugula.

I think I will  plant some more peas next weekend to have a later harvest.

(Won't be long until we see little pea sprouts!)

Love this time of the year!

Denise

Smiling Narcissus

 Getting rid of the old, dead plants from last fall gives this area a whole new look.

The narcissus are smiling!

Denise