As Our Life Goes On

There are some outside maintenance projects that have been started that will need to be finished before the cold weather arrives. The garage doors will have to be painted and the interceptor drains will have to be cleared of vegetation. Some gravel may have to be added to the top of the drain which keeps the ground water away from the back of the house. Optional work will include moving of some of the perennials from my flower garden into other areas. There is never a lack of things to do.  The fungal growth above is larger around than a very large dinner plate and about 5 or 6 inches high. The little white spots on the mushrooms are little larva that feast on this growth. They will soon turn the fungus into a slimy brown goo. 

Last Fall I pruned this hydrangea shrub so that it looked like a crooked little stick standing in the garden. I don't know exactly what I was thinking at the time but it seems that the shrub did not do well last year and maybe I secretly did not care whether it grew back this year or not. It was quite a surprise to see the numerous large flowers on the bush. Some branches seem to be on the verge of breaking under the weight of the blooms.  There are some small ash trees near the hill at the back of the property and they have been infested by the Emerald Ash borer. The D shaped exit wounds in the bark are good evidence as to why the small trees are dying. These smaller trees are under the canopy of a huge tall, perhaps 80 feet or so, double trunk ash tree. The tree has a huge girth and two huge trunks extending from the bottom. It imparts a great deal of shade to the yard behind the big barn. It saddens me to see this huge tree dying back bit by bit. The D shaped holes made...

As I walked through the paths that are cut through the meadow areas in our yard I could not help but notice that there are a number of fallen leaves. Some are very brightly colored. The maples are just starting to get some colored leaves on the tips of some branches and the wild cherry trees have entire branches of pretty elongated red leaves. Summer is still here but Fall is not far off. 

This has to be one of the worst years for pollen spreading through the air. Our sneezing, running noses and congestion seems unending and difficult to combat. We will have to enjoy the beauty of these flowers as they grow outside. They make a beautiful bouquet combined with some Queen  Anne's lace but the allergies rule out having them in the house. The beautiful purple flowered ironweed grows very tall and their blossoms do not seem to last very long. There is abundant goldenrod this year. The excessive rainfall has caused these pretty yellow flowers to grow exceedingly tall. The Summit County Health Dept. dropped a brochure at the house that told how to control our annoying mosquito population. We already empty our birdbath regularly as described in the info packet. I wonder if they understood that there are many acres of wetlands and woods just behind our house and wooded areas on either side and across from our house. 

Please just let me rest In a big field of daisies I'll just rest a while It's a very happy place  Just to visit and reflect -Caroline

There are a still a few great businesses that are run by individuals. Their services may be difficult to find so you have to search a bit to find the old timers that still are into running their businesses as they choose. When we called this business,  Electric Motor Repair, we had no doubts about what service it offered. We have used this establishment before for various electrical repairs. The business, located near Nelsons Ledges, Ohio, has been in operating since 1937. The proprietor  told us that it would be OK to bring our motor to him this afternoon but he might be out in the hay field. He said to just tag the motor with our name and phone number and put it into the basket in front of the door.   The starter motor needed some repair before it could be put on our old Yazoo mower. The rope start is not going to be an option any more. Last week that rope kicked back and hit my husband's hand turning the entire back of his hand black and blue. Fortunately th...

I walk quickly through our garden at any time of day. The mosquitoes are so numerous that it seems impossible to spend much time in the yard no matter what time of day it is. As I type this blog I see one of the tiny bloodsuckers flying about the room. It is no doubt waiting for me to quit moving when I fall asleep tonight so that it can drink as long as it wants to. Our city was supposed to start spraying for these pests because West Nile has been found in some of the little pests. It does not seem that they have sprayed in our area. 

It seems like such a short time ago that our oldest granddaughter helped her grandpa plant a maple tree in our yard. The tree is now very tall and produces beautifully colored leaves in the Fall. Our granddaughter has graduated from Georgia State and will start her first year as a teacher this month. How did that time go away so quickly?  Both of our granddaughters have helped plant trees in our yard and both trees are very large now. We think of the trees as being special trees and refer to them as the trees that they planted rather than the type of tree that they are. 

Wrens are nesting in a house at the other end of the garden near the iron bench. They won't tolerate my presence so there is no sitting there. They scold me even as I travel down the brick path to go through the gate in the fence.  There are many kinds of beautiful daisies blooming at this time including a very tall flower.  I usually don't like to hear people say "mom had one" but my mom had the beautiful tall yellow flowers in her garden as long as I could remember. She had a large flower garden with a circle of double flowered daffodils that appeared every Spring. She called this her "magic circle".  The tall yellow flowers grew near one edge her colorful garden. I am happy to have these flowers as a reminder of my childhood. They make me happy. See bloom below. 

I had considered bringing a couple of my house plants in from the breezeway. Then I noticed a white area with tiny iridescent bead-like reddish round things clustered next to the patch of white. The picture above greatly magnifies the size of the tiny lady beetles that had just hatched out of the egg mass. These could be the Asian lady bugs which can infest homes as they overwinter. I like the traditional red lady bugs with the black spots. Actually I'm not sure what these are. Without magnification they were very tiny. 

It was a cooler bright morning and we needed to go to Summit Racing to pick up a gas tank for the Suburban. Lovely weather, not much traffic and good company made it an easy trip. There were only a few people in the store as it was still early. Things went well until we got to the pick up counter.  An older man was standing there waiting and not only was about 8" of his butt crack showing. His underwear was visible and his stomach hung over the pants in the front. If the pants would have been much lower much more would have been visible. He seemed oblivious to this exposure so it has to be assumed that he runs around like this most of the time.  Though it was pretty gross we could not wipe the smiles off of our faces as we stood in line behind him. We had to look the other way to keep from laughing so what kind of people does that make us? 

I don't like hot weather. When the temperatures hover above 80 degrees my brain shuts down. It is very difficult to muddle through the most basic of household chores. The single large capacity window air conditioner that we have seemed to keep it somewhat tolerable in the house but it quit working a couple of days ago. Our brick house holds the heat and as the temperatures outside started to rise above 90 degrees it got more and more uncomfortable inside of our house. The upstairs temperature got extremely hot.  Fortunately a friend had given us an air conditioner a number of years ago that he no longer needed. The upright slider size units are a bit more unusual than the traditional window air conditioners. We were happy to accept this gift and now it was time to use it.  With a little help from our son and his wife we had the house cooling off again. 

This big toad was in our garage but we opted to put it out near to the garden. It would be too easy to roll over this large animal. My husband's high school class is planning a reunion which may take place later in the Summer or early Fall. His class has a reunion every 5 years. My own high school class has not had a reunion in many years. I can only remember the 20th reunion of my class having taken place.  The talk of his reunion brought up a sad memory. About 5 years ago I got a phone call from a classmate that I had not seen in many years. He talked about the possibility of having a small get together of local classmates rather than a huge reunion. I liked the thought but we did not act on that. We talked as if we were close neighbors who see each other every day rather than long lost friends who had not seen each other for a long time. He talked about the classmates that he had seen or knew about and I did the same. An hour or so went by quickly.  We grew...

Our Little Flower Garden Rumbling in the Swamp A low rumbling was coming from the swamp at the bottom of the big hill on the West side of the yard. I descended the steep hill to investigate. It was the deepest frog voice that I had ever heard from this area. I imagine a "super frog" with a sound that causes vibrations in the water around it as it makes the deep roaring sound. The voices of the other frogs chime in but they sound pale and wispy compared to the sound of the bull frog. I am unable to see the frog.  The vegetation around this wetlands area is so thick and tall that it is impossible to see beyond the very edges of the area. The button bushes have rallied from being frozen at the tips in the spring and are starting to form blooms. Tall weeds with little violet color clusters are blooming further from the shore. Little yellow flowers hug the ground around the edges.  I am thankful for the gifts of sight and sound and the ability to enjoy t...

Japanese Beetles Iridescent colorful They eat my flowers -Caroline

Thinking that taking a pill before being around the animals  at our friends farm to help alleviate my allergies seemed like a good idea. I wonder though if it would have been worse if I had not taken the pill. The violent sneezing started halfway through the visit and the dripping nose did not stop for a day or so. My eyes were stuck shut with a  sticky crusted goo on the day after the party at the farm. The good times had with friends always overshadows the allergic problems that the large assortment of cats, dogs and farm animals might cause. I'm back to normal and ready for more parties. 

Yesterday was a great day for the annual covered dish garden party at our friends farm. The temperature was perfect and the insects did not seem to be evident in any great numbers. An abundance of food filled the kitchen table.The buffet in the great room of her over 200 year old farmhouse was overflowing with home made pies, cakes,  cookies and other yummy deserts. The miniature donkeys seemed uninterested in the large gathering of people. Some friends that we had not seen for a while were there and a great time was had by all. 

This is the first mullein plant that we have observed in the vicinity of the Pennsylvania camp. It is growing next to the cornfield that is just in back of the trailer. The yellow flowers have not yet opened on the spike-like stalk of this biennial plant. We don't plan on using the plant as a treatment for any illness but it is said to have many uses as a cure or remedy for many ailments. 

There are no perfect flowers in my garden. It would not be as interesting to me if they were all perfectly formed. I find that the variations and imperfections are quite beautiful. Insects are welcome to dine here as you might guess from the flower petals. Differences in people is what makes them more interesting. If a person would claim to be perfect I probably would not want to be their friend. 

It did not matter that the insect may have crawled over the succulent black raspberry that is missing from the one stem in the picture. I wanted to nab it before some other animal or bird did. We cut down a larger berry patch not too long ago because it became unruly but there are scattered bushes around the edges of the property. I actually found a half dozen ripe black raspberries and perhaps just as many of the tiny wild blueberries on the way around the yard. They were yummy and there really were not enough to bring back to the house. The reddish berry in the picture may be ripe by tomorrow. A walk around the perimeter will certainly be in order. 

After lunch I hurried over to the wild blueberry bush that is behind the big barn. There were only 4 ripe berries to be seen. Yesterday there were 5 that were ripe enough to eat. None of these made it to the house. They were savored on the spot without the benefit of clean hands or pre-washing the fruits.  There are plenty of green berries on the bush so maybe there will be enough to sprinkle on cereal or ice cream later in the week.  A large rock was transported from the pine tree woods on the East side of our property to my new moss garden. The red color of the rock is a nice contrast to the green moss that it sits on. The very wet weather that we are having is actually helping the newly transplanted moss to survive.  Several different types of daisies have started to bloom in the flower garden.  The yard is soggy and full of puddles but it is being mowed today. It is sometimes difficult to get through the very wet areas but it would be worse if th...

Waiting for insects Sitting very still until Unwary prey lands -Caroline

It is rare for friends to use our front steps and front door to come into our house. Our friends use the breezeway door that enters into the kitchen. There has never been a path or any kind of walk to the front door so it could be assumed that the previous owners did not use the front door much either. We seldom have time to sit during the day and if we do it is on the covered breezeway so that the mosquitoes will not bother us. The steps had been constructed more that 30 years ago and they are used to load wood for the wood burner onto the porch. The treated wood had split and deteriorated to the point that they were unsafe. Mr. Fixit is removing the wood from the top of the risers in this picture. 

Flower Unfurling  Opening, showing beauty Pretty golden bloom -Caroline

I have always liked to listen to the thunder and watch the cooling rains fall. The storm that went through here late this afternoon was just what we needed. The temperatures dropped about 20 degrees and our neighborhood  and others are refreshed and clean. The trees and grass were in great need of water and enough fell to do some good.  The cool air after a rain has a great smell. It will be a great night for sleeping. 

A toad has taken up residence in the hole in which a chipmunk recently lived. We just haven't seen that chipmunk in a while so we assume that this toad knows whether or not it is in any danger from the little striped  rodent. This hole has been in the moss garden for quite some time and has been used mostly by chipmunks. The moss has died around the hole so it may be that the little rodent used it as a bathroom area or may indeed have cleared the area for better vision. We are happy to see the toad as there seems to be an abundance of mosquitoes after the recent rains. This area is just outside of the front door of the breezeway so it is easy to watch the comings and goings of the toad. It quickly disappears into the depths if we get to close. 

The recent rains have brought on a bumper crop of the large mushrooms that grow under our pine trees. They have a plate sized top and many have already tipped over under the weight. The fungus begins as a small nub forcing itself up through the leaves and litter and then it forms a tight cap that is somewhat textured. The cap smooths out and grows very large in diameter.  Not sure what has been nibbling on these. Small holes in the surface shows where they are being eaten. 

The gate is open Your welcome to come in and Walk through the garden Sit on the bench and listen The birds are singing their songs -Caroline

Friend Jim had just been to a military show so he stopped by for a short visit yesterday. This International M24 vehicle was used by the USMC and Navy during WWII in the Pacific theater as a light weapons carrier. It has a couple of uncomfortable looking fold down wooden bench seats in the back and bucket type seats in the front. The impressive size of the big Jeep style truck seemed to make the other cars in the driveway seem small. 

We are fortunate to have a relative here for an extended Summer visit. He is helping install new brake lines in the vintage Plymouth Gran Fury that we recently purchased. The cool overcast morning is just right for doing this work.  

This busy bumblebee type of bee is a bit blurry because it would not sit still. It buzzed so quickly from flower to flower and shrub to shrub that it was difficult to get a picture of it at all. This is one of the other pollinators that has replaced the honeybees in our area. The shrubs next to the driveway are beautiful when they are in bloom. They were pruned last year and they have a profusion of the tiny deep rose colored flowers this year. 

It has been a while since we have seen any honeybees at all in our yard. There are other types of bees and insects that are attracted to the pollen however. The spindly legged insect on this flower seems to have pollen adhering to many parts of its body. These pretty purple flowers seem to have taken over parts of my little flower garden. Some are being moved to different areas around the yard. 

I took an evening walk down over the hill on the West side of our property to the swampy area. The recent rains had  replaced some of the water in the wet area. Frogs croaked happily and some splashed into the water as I passed by. The hike up the other side of the hill along the property line revealed large patches of poison ivy on the ground and massive vines of the toxic plant growing up the sides of the large sugar maple trees. I was very careful to avoid the sides of the trail. It may be time to institute an eradication program in order to eliminate some of these plants. 

The Rue Plant in My Garden How many times have we heard that expression "You'll Rue the Day"? It may be a saying that is a bit overused. The Rue plant has beautiful blue-green leaves and a small yellow flower. It is supposed to have medicinal uses but it is not for the casual user and it could be toxic. Any form of the plant should be used under a doctor's care only.  Rue means to deeply regret, be bitter, feel guilty, be angry and depressed. I think it is better not to even think of being any those things. 

The parched ground in our yard and garden has received over 2 inches of rain since last night. This was badly needed rain. There is flooding in many places in the city however. It seems like it has been feast or famine regarding the amounts of precipitation that have fallen in area this year. The perennial daisies that a friend gave me yesterday have perked up and they look wonderful. The chives, shown above,  seemed to thrive even though it has been dry.  It is still raining but a good soaker is just what we needed. 

We are so happy that our new twin great-granddaughters have entered this world safely. They join their older brother and a host of relatives in blended families.  They enter into a world that is constantly changing and more dangerous then it was when we grew up. They will have many challenges and perhaps they will be instruments of betterment and change. 

It seems that there is seldom time to relax at camp. The lawn has to be cut and cleaning a maintenance is always a concern. The old pine trees that were planted years ago have declined through age and disease. Unfortunately many have died and will have to be cut down. Dead branches from these trees cover the ground and they must be picked up before mowing can take place. A friend had used the trailer last week and I was elated to find the inside very clean and neat.  It looked better than it did when we last left it. When the mowing was finished we sat on the picnic table to enjoy our lunch and reflect on our times at camp and listen to the sounds from the woods around us. 

Beware the outhouse Interesting to look at Danger if you sit -Caroline

The East side of the moss garden is almost covered with moss that was gathered from other parts of the yard. Small flowering perennial plants are planted randomly through the moss. The plants were selected for their non-aggressive spreading style.  There are several different varieties of moss that vary in color. The edge of the has garden has medium sized square shaped stones. Larger rocks are inside of the border. A bird bath sits on some rocks near the edge for easy maintenance. The birdbath is the only water feature in the yard aside from the wetlands at the bottom of the hill. 

This large and very fat toad is quite welcome to stay around our yard. It is possible for a toad to eat 10,000 or more insects during a Summer season according to Ask.com. This toad looks as if it has eaten very well recently. It is resting on the wet cement in front of our breezeway after a rain. The blossom and seed fallout from the red Japanese maple and other trees surround the toad.

The tulip poplars are really full of the beautiful blossoms. Soon the colorful petals will drift to earth and seed pods will form. If we could do a re-do of where we placed trees around the house we certainly would have not planted many of the trees where they stand now.  The leaves on the tulip poplar are very large and a bit more difficult to blow away with the blower. These trees are now huge and so they will stay where they are. The red Japanese maple was here when we moved. This is a very messy tree from Spring to Fall. Bushels of the tiny blossoms have fallen from the tree and soon the seed pods will whirl their way to the ground. Then in the Fall the many leaves in the tree will fall onto the cement pad in front of the breezeway and clog the gutters just like the blossoms and seeds have done.   The flowering crab apples next to the driveway litter the drive with blossoms, leaves and the gushy little fruits. Again, none of the trees can be moved so we will ha...