Summer has started

Memorial Day always marks the start of summer in our house. The gang (B's brothers and sister and their families) come over for a cook out. This year we started a bit earlier as it is still cool in the evenings. We had a great time! A tree had fallen down the other day and one of B's brothers cut it up and we burned it... we generally wait to long to make the fire so we started early. However, it was warm outside and we didn't need it to keep warm. It did look nice. We just sat around, ate and talked. A very nice day!






With B's help, we moved the geranium planter up on the deck. After the little suckers ate the geraniums on the lower deck we were rather sure then would move on to the larger ones. So, we moved it.

It's a beautiful day out today but cool - temps were in the low 70's and it's windy. The sun is shining and yesterday's rain cleared the air. The pollen has been bad and we both are "suffering". However, it's not as bad as when we were in Jersey! The trees are shedding little seeds and I think that marks the end of the crud from the trees. Sure hope so as B has had to blow the driveway and decks every day.

Who Ate My Flowers????

You know, it really is woman against the animals!!
I'm still planting flowers and herbs. And the other day I planted some long planters on the lower deck - geraniums petunias and marigolds. And this morning.... THE GERANIUMS WERE GONE!! And I don't need CSI in here to tell me - the varmints ate them!! Grrrrrrr Well, I was upset. Now, I realize that when you think about all the problems in the world, that is no big deal - however, it was my problem and I was pissed!!! I have another planter on the drive way that also has geraniums in it and so I had to do something. B suggested checking the garage for spray to keep critters away. I found one for deer and rabbits. OK, sounds "good". I don't do this but, I had no choice. I sprayed my plants. WELL (as Jack Benny would say if you are old enough to know who he was) I can see why no self respecting critter would come near the plant. This spray is black in color and STINKS. I sprayed the plants, then came in and put the stuff away and washed my hands. Then I went into the living room and SMELLED the spray! WOW, does it stink. Let's hope no critter would come near. However, the smell is in the house. After spraying Freebreez all over I have lit several candles... and can still smell the stuff. Well, let's hope that the result is that they leave my plants alone...

Let's hope it's warmer at night

We have been getting cold temperatures at night. Above you can see my attempt to cover the "crops". For the most part, this worked.
However.....

The basil looked great when I planted it but it did get nipped with frost a few days ago.
So, I went out yesterday and again this morning with B to purchase some more.
I got more basil and also some additional herbs and flowers.
The weather has been weird... sun then rain then sun then HEAVY rain.
We were in the garden section of WalMart when the rain came down.. so I didn't get quite all I needed. We went back this morning and again got hit with rain.

The geraniums look good but I'm not so sure they will survive as the planter is on the driveway and the deer or chippies or what ever may nibble. So we shall see... But, it does look nice and when you drive down the hill, you can see this spot of the driveway.
It has really been cold... the leaves are out and we still have pollen in the air. I cleaned windows yesterday and today (not done yet) and the pollen was heavy on the screens. Windows that I did look GREAT!!!
The family will be over on Sunday for our start of the summer get together ... hope it warms up by then.

A BEAR!!

For the past two years we have been hearing "bear stories" but never have we seen one.... UNTIL TODAY!!
The bear came strolling up the road, past our house and on up the hill. B was calling me and I saw him but couldn't find the camera until he passed the house. I ran out onto the deck and he turned. He/she is up at our neighbor's driveway. After the picture the bear just continued up the hill.

And here is a close up - I cropped the picture. Well, now we have a "bear story".

What a really nice day it was today. Warm, in the low 70's. This is basil... which, as you see, has been planted and is doing FINE.

We went to Wal Mart this morning after breakfast to pick up a few things. We stopped in the seasonal department. I was really disappointed in what they had (or should I say, didn't have). The plants that had been hit by the frost were not replaced and they really had nothing. So I bought nothing. Will check out Lowes and Home Depot at the Viewmont Mall sometime.. but at this point we are on hold. I do have several geraniums and also some marigolds but that's it. So I need more flowers... and will wait until I find something that not only I like but is not too overpriced. We have the pots out an I did get a bag of potting soil so we are ready...
Most of the trees are showing their leaves and the forsythia is in bloom as are some flowering trees. This is spring in all it's glory. I have found that my allergies are much better here than in South Jersey... maybe less pine trees helps. We still have pollen but the little May bugs are lessening and now the big thing is wasps and bumblebees. I guess it's always something!

Plants out Day Warm

The deck really looks nice with the hole filled in. They did a great job on fixing the deck

And I decided to plant the tomatoes and such. Here is one plant. This year I put the tomato cages in right away. I waited too long last year.

As you can see, tomatoes are planted. Most of them are big - purchased that way. I went mostly with smaller tomatoes that produce a lot of tomatoes but small tomatoes.

And on the lower deck, I am trying beefsteak tomatoes. Now I planted no "food" plants here last year... so this is a first.
We are really happy with the way the deck looks. And, I don't want to do too much stuff - I had too much last year.
I will be planting tomorrow and need to now focus on flowers as I'm done tomatoes and herbs. It was up into the low 70's today and while we didn't get to do work out in the garden, the weather was great. We were at the library as we had sooooo much to put away. People are really cleaning out their books and donating them to the library. While that is GREAT it sure keeps us busy!

It's May Day!! YEA

It's been a busy week or so. We had the deck repaired. Many boards were soft and a few were down right rotten. Then the deck needed sanding and some other things repaired including the benches. And finally, the tree stump that stuck up in the middle of the lower deck needed to go.
It turned into a week long venture. After they completed the upper deck that wraps around the house, we hit WalMart and Home Depot for some plants. Rather than play "earth mother" this year, I'm buying the majority of my plants. But as we enjoyed the tomatoes so much last year, that was one of the first things I purchased as I wanted to get the good selection. We will have several kinds this year and I'm going to put the tomato cages in as soon as I plant. I left this go too long last year. I also got parsley, thyme, oregano, basil, sage, dill and rosemary. I also got some flowers including coleus, which I had trouble finding last year. Of course, being in the Norther Tier, we got frost the past two nights. I covered them up but as you can see in the picture above, the coleus got a bit frost bit. We went back to WalMart today to get some mulch and a great many of their plants which were outside were black from the frost. Hope that is the last of the frost! It was 27 this morning.....BRR!!

As you can see, the middle deck had boards replaced. They then sanded everything and gave it two coats of stain. Now the stain is another story. B tried several kinds before finding one we liked - others were too light or too dark or just "not right". The stain came from WalMart and when he went back to get some, they were out. By last Friday the guys had used all the stain we had and we knew we had to find some as our WalMart was not expecting a delivery in for several days. So B called around and we found 4 cans in Mt. Pocono which is not around the corner. But we took a drive there, got the 4 cans and then stopped at the Shop Rite there as we don't have one around here. Monday it rained and Tuesday, when they started on the decks they clearly were going to use up all the 4 cans and need some more. BACK TO THE PHONE. B located another 5 cans in Milford and went for a drive to get them while I remained home. When all was said and done, we had 2 cans left. We will be staining the deck railings ourselves and he is going to also stain the railroad ties we have so I'm sure we will finish it all. Today, while at our WalMart, we picked up 1 can so we are hopeful we have sufficient for the rest of the job we will do. The deck is finished and the benches and such looks great. It's nice to walk along and not zig zag to miss soft spots. This week, if the weather cooperates, I'll be planting the tomatoes and such. I mean it IS May!

And while all this was going on we had looked at Test Kitchen on the local PBS channel and they were making a "modern" Coq au Vin. Really did look good. So, I downloaded the recipe and here it is, bubbling away. I made it Monday and boy, it was good. There is a little left so we will have that tonight. I'm going to take the chicken off the bone, heat it in the sauce and serve it over mashed potatoes. Yum yum!