Henry Fonda - I Feel Ya'

Yesterday - I invaded every muscle in my body.  Trying to get out of bed this morning can - easily - be compared with Henry Fonda trying to get out of that John boat in the movie “ On Golden Pond “ - which I dearly love to watch whenever I get the chance!

I had so many pots - of every imaginable size - filled with dirt - and dead plants.  I forced myself up and over hills and dales - from the barn to the front yard - around this way - and that way - with a wheelbarrow.

Dwayne had to help me with the big pots like this one.  I’d carry them to the front yard and dump the old dirt and spread it over weak areas in the yard.  The big pot ( above ) has Dill, a Yellow Bell Pepper plant and Eggplant plant growing in it now!  The smaller one has a Kolanchoe plant.

Yesterday was - also - my mother’s birthday.  You’ll have to ask her which one.  I know better.  * snicker*  For me - it’s another one of those moments when you become angry about living so far away.

And although the list of outside projects is - neverending - everything in this world had to just back off - long enough for me to send her some Birthday greetings over the Internet before giving her a phone call.

I sent Internet greetings because I was afraid her card I sent through snail mail may not reach her on time.

To be honest - I consider that long list of projects very helpful.  Staying busy helps keep me from sinking to a very dark and lonely place when it comes to the subject of family.

It’s all I can do.  You can never control what other people in this world may say or do.  Choices they make can break your heart - tremendously.

Out of respect for them - as well as yourself - you come up with ‘ projects ‘ to keep you from allowing the pain to destroy you.  You hang on to love in your heart for them.  And - you move on.

This old wheel barrow was in a pile of broken cement down in a gulley on our property.  I was determined to plant something in this treasure.  I just love it!  Ta!  It's not the one I used for hauling pots.  That tire - I dunno.  It could be older than me.  Flatter than a stale beer - and about one summer short of crumbling from dry rot.

For now - we’re attempting to grow some Spinach.  It’s too late to plant spinach in our garden.  But this side of the house receives shade around 2pm.  I’m hoping that will keep it from bolting a little longer.

I’ll be planting Pansies in the fall.  They’ll winter over and double up for next spring.  Hubby says it won't make it beyond two seasons of this use.  I say - " Watch me ! "

Now - this little puppy - a bit of a disappointment.  We thought it was a shrub rose that the previous owners left behind.  Dwayne discovered this spindly branch of it while mowing last year.

This year - it began blooming.  And the truth is more than obvious.  This was not left behind by the previous owners.

This is - Wild Rose!  And I have been fairly warned to ‘keep it up properly’ by the man of this house.

And this - was discovered after doing more clearing!  I have no idea what it is - yet.  We know that neglect from the previous owners and - the now former neighbor - kept these treasures from receiving proper sunlight that was needed.  I will be snatching them up and giving them a better home!

This is a bloom from our Thornless ‘Navaho’ Blackberry Bushes.  ( I don't think they know they misspelled Navajo.. )  Pretty, huh!  And much larger than the blooms on the wild ones.  These blooms are at least 2 inches wide.

While I was dumping and reloading pots - My Hubby was busy finishing the front porch staircase.

All that’s left to do now is get it sealed.

Man - what a difference!  And it'll make it so much easier to get the rock up on the basement walls.  I repotted my Rosemary Topiary into a larger pot.  We’re gonna move it up to the corner of the landing.

I planted ‘Hawaiian Luau’ Miniature Petunias in that pot setting on the former post pier.  We’re gonna pull the railroad ties out - period.  And then - we’ll extend a flower bed coming out past the new posts.

Well - I have more pots to dump and reload.  And we have a terrible storm system heading our way.  Time to get out there and work all the soreness out!