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We now return to our regular programming

Category: gardening among the rocks | Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 2:49 am

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OK, the cold bug is dispatched. I get them alot, but they never hang on to awfully long. So, during a sun break on Friday, I went out and yanked up one of my overgrown raspberry beds. I amended the soil with lots of good, moisture-retaining bunny poo compost, and gently bedded down two new blueberry bushes.
Raspberries out, blueberries in. Now I just need another break in the weather to go tidy up the raspberries on the other side.
I know it isn't the ideal time at all, but I discovered some bulbs I'd missed last fall. I'll poke them around just to see what happens. The crocus have been taunting me, all up and strong and healthy, but very few blooming. And the ones that are are in odd places, I suspect either a dog or another critter toted them away from their home.
Still trying to find a job. Just to help pay for my son's college expenses come fall. It's appallingly difficult to find a job that will work around my limitations, but something will come up. I've pretty well decided the whole "work from home" route is either about selling friends laundry soap or just an outright scam.
Off to feed the bunnies, there's another break in the hail!

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The strange goat/ flowery pajama connection.

Category: gardening among the rocks | Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007 11:17 pm

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My goat got out again, and again I was in the same flowery pajamas. In my own defense, I was running a low temperature and intended to stay in them all day feeling sorry for myself. But no. Lucy Belle was out again. She was very cooperative about going back in, but I had no desire to wait until after dark (again) or until it was raining (again) to put her back. So I reluctantly got into my barn clothes and HOPEFULLY fixed the escape spot. Lucy Belle seemed fully unaware of the trouble she was causing, just snuffled my ear the whole time.

See? Innocent face, eh?
Here's a very bad shot, but best I could manage, of Lucy Belle, Cecil the Gopher Stomper (named by DS) and the goat bunker I built into a Mima Mound.

Max spent the whole time huddling in fear of the scary big goats, against the back door. He's half Border Collie, ya'd think he'd be more at ease around goaties!

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flu bug

Category: gardening among the rocks | Posted: Wed Feb 14, 2007 6:35 am

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Can you believe I didn't even get outside today? I mean, other than opening the door to let Max out. DD, I'm afraid, has that flu bug that's running rampant through the schools, her temp tonight kept jumping up to 101. Had to go to the school and get her yesterday- I had scheduled to take her for her flu shot in the afternoon. But with her immune system already battling the bug, it was a little pointless. She was actually sleeping sitting in front of the tv this afternoon- not sleeping on the sofa, sleeping sitting up on the floor! Poor little muffin. So it's lots of fluids and keep an eye on the temp. Grammy is going to watch her in the morning so DH & I can go out for fancy coffee.
Gotta go find some brilliant ideas for growing lettuces. I think I'll just plant lots of lettuce and those little yellow pear-tomatos this year. I'm tired of trying to grow fancy things that just fail, and our weather pattern here has definitely changed so I don't even know what zone to call it. besides, I love tomatos!
Doggone goat got out today somehow. Ate part of a rhodie, hope she doesn't get sick. Oh yeah, that's when I went out. In my pajamas and rubber boots!
Big Valentines wishes to the Stew!

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Thinking of Spring

Category: gardening among the rocks | Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2007 1:01 am

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Here's more of Max, guess you can tell I'm rather taken with the little fellow, eh?

I was buzzed by honeybees while working out in the yard today. Didn't they read the Almanac? We're having a blizzard before the end of the month! Hmm, maybe that was Washington DC instead of Washington state. Have to double check that. My daffodils up under the bird feeders are popping up like crazy. They are naturalized, not in beds. I like things shaggy like that. On the old family homestead, there is a spot, a clearing in the middle of the cedar, fir, and blackberry, where an amazing clump of daffs come up every spring. Only the bears and bees get to see them, unless one of us remembers in time to go look at them. The house that was there has long since collapsed and returned to the earth from whence it cameth. There's a healthy crop of Morel mushrooms up there too, shhh! Grandma used to go pick them to go with dinner! A few gnarled apple trees, too, varieties that just aren't available anymore. Lots of bear evidence around those trees come fall!

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A tail tale, now with photo!

Category: gardening among the rocks | Posted: Fri Feb 09, 2007 3:58 pm

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The air was still and cold on the moonless night as my son drove himself and me through the blackness. Down winding back roads, past yellow-windowed homes to a dim parking lot, where only every second lamppost was illuminated, to save energy I suppose. And there in the quiet, a little red car. And in the little red car, a puppy. Found wandering alone and scared weeks before, no tags, no luck finding it's home. With stubby little legs and a long whip-like tail, in need of a good bathing and brushing (he'd been playing in the yard). We were just going to look, just to see. I saw the look on my son's face. That was enough. Will his long hair become a pain to keep brushed? Probably. Accidents on the carpet? Twice already. Upset my kitty? Most definitely. Welcome home, Max. When I find my camera, you will be an internet star.
OK, enough theatrical descriptions, here's Maximus Decimus Aureleas

'scuse the glowing eyes, DH offered to photoshop them out but DS is hovering around wanting to chat with babes online so I must rush

Last edited: Sat Feb 10, 2007 5:34 am

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Remodeling, and a goodbye to an old friend

Category: gardening among the rocks | Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2007 8:39 pm

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My wall is all finished, and I'm loving the space it's created. I painted up some old wood chairs and made a really nice space out in the open part, and after I get done here I'm going to work on a drawing in my "new" studio space (former closet). Should be a really good room for DS to have his friends over for band practice or whatever.
Jack was ready to go. He didn't even protest being put in the car. And for him to not eat cheese with an aspirin in it? Unheard of. The vets office was nearly empty that time of night which is good, because Jack hated being on slippery floors. They took him back right away, and I said my short goodbyes. He couldn't even muster up a tail wag, but I could see it in his cataract-glazed eyes. I think he was just wondering why we'd waited so long. The house seems so empty and lonely now- I've never had a problem with loneliness. I even seriously considered a job offer to work on an isolated island years ago, I rather like being alone to work & think. But being dogless for the first time in 18 years is a lonely thing. My cat is being extra-affectionate, I think she misses Jack too. But it's nice out today and she's out being catty. So I'm cruising craigslist for dogs, nothing promising yet. Been contacted by a couple of people wanting several hundred for purebreds, but I like muddled up mutts. DH is wondering what I want to do on Valentines day- think I'll have him drive me to the pound to check out the possibilities there, though I'm wondering if it wouldn't be best to just focus on the other things that vie for my attention...

Last edited: Thu Feb 08, 2007 9:43 pm

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