Another end to this thing called winter is fast approaching and while the fall and early winter were relatively mild, the end has been fierce with its gusting winds and frigid air. Those who read my blog regularly know that February is my least favorite month, but it is there so there you go! There are things in life that must be dealt with and deal with it we shall!
According to the knowledgeable meteorologist, we are to have a pollen burst (whatever that is) brought on by the early warm temperatures followed by the recent frigid temperatures. Every spring is a pollen burst when plagued with allergies. One can only hope that the "burst" will be fast and short!
My car is already tarnished with a coat of yellow which definitely does not accentuate the carbonite gray nor is it a welcome accessory to the matte black interior (doesn't matter if the windows are never down, the crap sneaks in through the air ducts!).
Anxious for the warming temps and visions of summer, hubby and I uncovered the pool and BAM! the frigid temps rolled in and picking those dreams right out of the air and scattering them northward! As much as I would love a thick blanket of snow, it is too close to Spring for me to welcome it with bated breathe and open arms.
I trimmed the dead protective leaves of my banana tree right before this perilous weather and sit here wondering if those lovely green leaves will make a comeback giving my little feathered friends a perch when the weather does warm. Most of the fruit trees and flowering shrubs bloomed only to freeze in these devilish temps leaving it iffy if there will be pears or plums this year with few if any azaleas.
Yes, I am tired of soups and breads (potato, broccoli and cheese, cabbage and sausage, chili, vegetable, taco) I crave grilled chicken, steak, salmon and even burgers with a fresh salad on the side!
I am ready to say goodbye to winter and "Hello" Spring! Thanks for visiting and remember to
Keep Smilin!
Showing posts with label pollen. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pollen. Show all posts
Friday, March 17, 2017
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Wow!
I witnessed a wonderful light show put on by our heavenly Father. It was such a sight! The sound effects were outstanding and intimidating. The lights went out just as the performance started enabling us to get the full benefit of the show without distraction. The little ones were a bit frightened and had to have some extra attention, but while hubby slept through it all I watched as the show was exhibited through each and every window.
I am sorry for all the damage done by the high winds - that is actually my least favorite thing about a storm. I can hear it but I can't see it - just the effects of its might. A full bodied storm test all my senses - sight, smell, hearing, taste and feel. Last night's storm would be considered full bodied.
The crisp bright morning displayed a washed and clean world. Even the pollen was gone even though I know it will be back.
I remember the storms of my childhood and can't remember but one or two times that I was actually awed and frightened by the storms. I cannot remember any of the magnitude that we have experienced in the last few years even though part of that may be because of the extensive media coverage now available. In the fifties and early sixties I was only aware of the damage done to my house and maybe a neighbor or two. With today's advancements in television I can see the devastation for miles around.
As with a concert, I enjoyed it while it lasted, but have no desire to see the same thing again too soon. I hope God has finished with his spring cleaning and now I will get back to mine.
Until next time . . .
Happy reading!
Belle
I am sorry for all the damage done by the high winds - that is actually my least favorite thing about a storm. I can hear it but I can't see it - just the effects of its might. A full bodied storm test all my senses - sight, smell, hearing, taste and feel. Last night's storm would be considered full bodied.
The crisp bright morning displayed a washed and clean world. Even the pollen was gone even though I know it will be back.
I remember the storms of my childhood and can't remember but one or two times that I was actually awed and frightened by the storms. I cannot remember any of the magnitude that we have experienced in the last few years even though part of that may be because of the extensive media coverage now available. In the fifties and early sixties I was only aware of the damage done to my house and maybe a neighbor or two. With today's advancements in television I can see the devastation for miles around.
As with a concert, I enjoyed it while it lasted, but have no desire to see the same thing again too soon. I hope God has finished with his spring cleaning and now I will get back to mine.
Until next time . . .
Happy reading!
Belle
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Pet Peeves
Irritating little things, tree tag blossoms are everywhere. Filled with pollen, these little tags can make a huge mess!
Wet mail caused by a leaking mailbox caused by a young man with a ball bat.
Long winded story tellers.
People who have been there and done that no matter where or what it is you are about to do.
Indecisive people - "I'm hungry", "What do you want to eat?", "It doesn't matter, you decide." , "That really isn's what I wanted.".
Wet mail caused by a leaking mailbox caused by a young man with a ball bat.
Long winded story tellers.
People who have been there and done that no matter where or what it is you are about to do.
Indecisive people - "I'm hungry", "What do you want to eat?", "It doesn't matter, you decide." , "That really isn's what I wanted.".
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Gardening - Vegetable and Fauna
Onions look great, potatoes are shooting straight up, squash and beans look terrific! According to the two or three Almanacs Dad insist we go by for planting, the first week of April will see tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers in the ground. Hope to find some healthy broccoli to add to the mix this year. I would love some limas, but I hate to shell them so they will continue to come from the grocery store.
Have you tried the Cherokee Purple tomato? A real tasty treat - meaty, acidic and full of flavor. Next to my all time favorite, the Rutger, the Purple is my favorite.
Added a Japanese Maple to my garden this week along with a Butterfly Bush. I love flowering shrubs. The banana trees came back with several additional babies along the sides. I cut the slips off before the first freeze and potted those - I managed to get seven - which grew well in my dining room this winter. Now I have several to share. I think I will leave the Sago palms in their containers this year. They do not do well at all in our cold temperatures and I don't like to keep digging them up and then replanting. I will see how they fair over the summer and decide in the fall. I have been told they do well in containers year round.
I need to move a couple of Forsythia which should be safe to do now that the blooms have dropped. Like the azalea, the Forsythia does not like to be "handled" until right after the blooms drop. I have found they refuse to bloom if you wait until summer or fall to prune or relocate, so that is another project for the weekend or the first of the week.
My Easter Lilies are very proficient this year and have multiplied several times over. The same is true of my Hostas. I read last week that after they break the ground, they can be dug,separated, and replanted. Since mine are so thick I think this will be an additional project. This to do list should get me through the week and back into planting the following week.
The pollen is so thick right now, I can't work outside too long. I am hoping for rain over the weekend to bring relief to these allergies.
Until next time . . .
Happy reading!
Belle
Have you tried the Cherokee Purple tomato? A real tasty treat - meaty, acidic and full of flavor. Next to my all time favorite, the Rutger, the Purple is my favorite.
Added a Japanese Maple to my garden this week along with a Butterfly Bush. I love flowering shrubs. The banana trees came back with several additional babies along the sides. I cut the slips off before the first freeze and potted those - I managed to get seven - which grew well in my dining room this winter. Now I have several to share. I think I will leave the Sago palms in their containers this year. They do not do well at all in our cold temperatures and I don't like to keep digging them up and then replanting. I will see how they fair over the summer and decide in the fall. I have been told they do well in containers year round.
I need to move a couple of Forsythia which should be safe to do now that the blooms have dropped. Like the azalea, the Forsythia does not like to be "handled" until right after the blooms drop. I have found they refuse to bloom if you wait until summer or fall to prune or relocate, so that is another project for the weekend or the first of the week.
My Easter Lilies are very proficient this year and have multiplied several times over. The same is true of my Hostas. I read last week that after they break the ground, they can be dug,separated, and replanted. Since mine are so thick I think this will be an additional project. This to do list should get me through the week and back into planting the following week.
The pollen is so thick right now, I can't work outside too long. I am hoping for rain over the weekend to bring relief to these allergies.
Until next time . . .
Happy reading!
Belle
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
My World in April
Only a few days left before we see whether or not or diligence has paid off and we are blessed with new chicks. The process hasn't really been that bad, but has been a little inconvenient having to turn the eggs three times a day.
Wouldn't you know it, one of our hens has gone back to brooding (sitting) on her eggs. It would have been nice if she had decided to do this 20 days ago. Anyway, that means I will be doing without her eggs for a few weeks, but I have two more hens that have started laying regularly.
Plan on getting some tomatoes and pepper plants in this weekend in between yard selling and visiting with my grandchildren. My potaoes are growing profusely and the beets, beans, squash, and lettuce are all showing their little heads and the rain scheduled for tomorrow will not only provided relief from the pollen, but also give these little guys a much needed drink. After the weekend I will put the okra in as the ground will not only be moist but warm enough for the temperamental okra seeds to sprout. I do believe those little okra seeds have a thermometer stuck in them and they refuse to take action until it reaches the ideal temperature - maybe I should put them in the incubator.
My hostas and canna lillies have started poking their beautiful green foliage through the ground and I am anxious to see how well they multiplied in their first year. I will dig them up and separate in the fall, but I usually let them rest in the first year. I do believe I managed to kill my asparagus fern by dividing this spring. Usually, an asparagus fern needs to be divided each spring by removing from the pot and cutting into four equal pie shaped and then replanting in fresh potting soil. I noticed when I divided my two pots, the roots were extremely spongy so I was unsure whether they would make it or not. I should have seen some new growth by now as it has been almost two weeks since I divided and re-potted. I may need to start over with the ferns.
In all my 50 years in dealing with plants, I have never been able to grow Aloe. I know, everyone says it is the easiest thing in the world to grow, but up until this year I could kill it by thinking about it. My dear sister gave me several plants when I requested some droppings from her Chandelier cactus (fern). A story in itself as to how she came about having this unusual, but beautiful plant, but I seemed to have left mine exposed during an early cold snap year before and wanted to start some more. Not only did sis bless me with many baby cactus, but gifted me with many, many Aloe.
I tried something different and am well pleased with the results. I took a couple of fish bowls, poured sand in the bottom to about 2 inches, adding 3-4 inches of potting soil, then watering until the potting soil is damp (not wet) once a week. The aloe has flourished in these bowls and they make a beautiful centerpiece. The fronds lift out of the bowl and spread. I added a few small animals to the bowls which has become a favorite topic of conversation.
Time for me to get a move on it. I am making some pretty halter tops and vests to go in my online shop (http://www.clairescollections.etsy.com/), but that will have to wait until after my yard sale this weekend. Keep your eyes open I may have something just for you listed soon. I hope you have a great day and thanks for stopping in!
Happy reading!
Belle
Wouldn't you know it, one of our hens has gone back to brooding (sitting) on her eggs. It would have been nice if she had decided to do this 20 days ago. Anyway, that means I will be doing without her eggs for a few weeks, but I have two more hens that have started laying regularly.
Plan on getting some tomatoes and pepper plants in this weekend in between yard selling and visiting with my grandchildren. My potaoes are growing profusely and the beets, beans, squash, and lettuce are all showing their little heads and the rain scheduled for tomorrow will not only provided relief from the pollen, but also give these little guys a much needed drink. After the weekend I will put the okra in as the ground will not only be moist but warm enough for the temperamental okra seeds to sprout. I do believe those little okra seeds have a thermometer stuck in them and they refuse to take action until it reaches the ideal temperature - maybe I should put them in the incubator.
My hostas and canna lillies have started poking their beautiful green foliage through the ground and I am anxious to see how well they multiplied in their first year. I will dig them up and separate in the fall, but I usually let them rest in the first year. I do believe I managed to kill my asparagus fern by dividing this spring. Usually, an asparagus fern needs to be divided each spring by removing from the pot and cutting into four equal pie shaped and then replanting in fresh potting soil. I noticed when I divided my two pots, the roots were extremely spongy so I was unsure whether they would make it or not. I should have seen some new growth by now as it has been almost two weeks since I divided and re-potted. I may need to start over with the ferns.
In all my 50 years in dealing with plants, I have never been able to grow Aloe. I know, everyone says it is the easiest thing in the world to grow, but up until this year I could kill it by thinking about it. My dear sister gave me several plants when I requested some droppings from her Chandelier cactus (fern). A story in itself as to how she came about having this unusual, but beautiful plant, but I seemed to have left mine exposed during an early cold snap year before and wanted to start some more. Not only did sis bless me with many baby cactus, but gifted me with many, many Aloe.
I tried something different and am well pleased with the results. I took a couple of fish bowls, poured sand in the bottom to about 2 inches, adding 3-4 inches of potting soil, then watering until the potting soil is damp (not wet) once a week. The aloe has flourished in these bowls and they make a beautiful centerpiece. The fronds lift out of the bowl and spread. I added a few small animals to the bowls which has become a favorite topic of conversation.
Time for me to get a move on it. I am making some pretty halter tops and vests to go in my online shop (http://www.clairescollections.etsy.com/), but that will have to wait until after my yard sale this weekend. Keep your eyes open I may have something just for you listed soon. I hope you have a great day and thanks for stopping in!
Happy reading!
Belle
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