Picnic Table

Our poor picnic table was made long, long ago when all the kids were still at home, I think. I don't recall any waterproofer being applied, but dad thinks he did it once...though not till already damaged.

We decided to cover the top with vinyl (flannel on the other side) material. I remembered my 50% off Jo-Ann's coupon, so it cost about $15, as opposed to totally replacing the wood, which was dad's idea. That would have been significantly more money and effort. I got enough fabric to cover the benches also but we are waiting for dad to bring foam scraps home from work. Might as well make it softer as well! It took about 10 minutes to attach. There have been a number of rainy days, too, and it still looks good.





And might as well eat out as long as the weather was so nice and the table could be eaten at without giving you splinters. Have you guys seen the gas grill we got last year?

Trying new things

I had to cut some lilac shoots when I covered the ground with weed block material. So, I thought I'd see if I could save any. Maybe they can go to my "living fence". :D Online, it said just plant them in dirt. Only maybe one had any roots, but a week later, all but one look still alive. I take them in in the evening and out for sun and water in the morning.

I am also trying to start some veggies from seed. There are some that are growing. It's a miracle!!

Blonde

Okay, Carolyn. Look at the haircolor, not the face.

Garden, 2009

The first two pictures are of the "Living Fence" that I have been trying to grow for about 5 years. Only the forsythia on the west edge are doing well. The rest are just barely hanging on.






This is the front garden. The bachelor buttons have spread all over. The original came back (perennial), but also spread nearby. I love these flowers, which, if you deadhead, or take off blooms when they are finished blooming, keep on coming on.










Looks like something has been eating these tulips.








Lilacs




Strawberries



This is where the raised gardens will go. They will be 8' by 4'. We will put up two this year, one that is 12' high and one that will be 14' high (for carrots, etc.
The first picture is of where I was waterproofing the boards. Dan, that is the wagon I was talking about.




If you look closely, you can see where the porch will be added upon. It has crushed limestone for its outline.

OOPS!

I have recently noticed a large spike in the number of gray hairs. I accept that I am getting older, but thought I'd mess with it a little. I meant, A LITTLE!!
If you could see me in good lighting, it would be much more dramatic. I'm, um, blonde. a lot. oops.






Oh, and I have raccoon eyes, too.

twitter

yeah, that's pretty much it.

You make me proud

Let's hear it for Susan Boyle. Let no one underestimate a middle-aged woman again. Look inside the book, don't judge by the cover.

UFO

A UFO has been spotted in the Cleveland sky. Some say it is the sun. So THAT'S what it looks like.

Birthday Greetings

I know you are all dying to know about my 29th birthday last monday. First, how can I have a 33 year old son and a 31 year old daughter?? Must be the space/time continuum. Must talk to star trek about this.

I had a lovely dinner of beef stroganoff on Tuesday. We couldn't do it on Monday because it was too late by the time I finished swimming and rescuing David, who locked himself out of the car at the Cheesecake factory. HMMMM. Of COURSE I'll pick you up. I had asked for a 7 inch chocolate mousse cheesecake, so that is what he got me. I love when husbands actually take the hint and run with it. Then I talked to Carolyn as I was driving there, and it was the GODIVA cheesecake that was so scrumptious. So I called him and asked if he could exchange it. They wouldn't take it back, which I thought but was worth the try. Boy, was it worth the try...they gave him a free slice of Godiva!! So, I got both. Yummmmmmmm.



I asked for a raised garden for my birthday, so Saturday we shopped. At the greenhouse advertising it they were $130. So we got the stuff individually at LOWE'S and for that price I am getting 3 of them, 2 that are 8 inches high and one that is 4 inches high. Today, I planted seeds in peat containers. I have never grown from seed before--I always got stuff from the nursery (or walmart) already sprouted. We will see. If they don't germinate, the nursery option is still open. I planted seeds of green beens, peas, carrots, radish, spinach, corn, kale, zuchini, and yellow squash. They also say that you can train your squash to grow up a trellis or a tomato thingie (how specific).



They say that you can grow things closer together in a raised bed. Probably because you only put GOOD soil in it.

Headaches

I hate them. People who don't get headaches don't realize how debilitating they are. My migraines had spaced out to about 1 per month. Now, today, I am having the third migraine in less than a week. Gotta stop, I tell you!! How can I celebrate Dan's birthday with a headache???

I just realized today that I did not take thyroid medicine Sat, sun and yesterday. I also stopped my guai yesterday, as I realized that the mouthwash the dentist gave me for my sore gum has mint in it--I can taste it, not that it is on the label. Mint keeps the guai from working, so why waste the guai if it isn't gonna work. Maybe these 2 factors are complicit in the migraines.

Staying alive with the capitol steps