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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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more randomness

Category: gardening among the rocks | Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2007 2:57 am

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Ya'd think the drywalling was done. I know I certainly did. Then the sun came out, and I find the need to sand back several areas, grump. I think I've been pushing myself too much to get it done, as I've landed with a cold or something. They never last long, but sure throw a loop in my self-imposed schedule. DH was kind enough to take care of my bunny chores, bless him.
I think I'll take up the advice I read here (from cajunbelle?) and start my seeds in flats on top of the fridge. My greenhouse just isn't warm enough yet in early March to get them going, and I haven't been able to locate the heat unit I was looking for. Besides, I turned the cabin into an oil painting studio, and it's still too cluttered to get through all that to the door into the greenhouse side. I really need to rework the door situation. And the roof. Didn't expect the corrugated plastic to degrade so much in just 10 years. But I hammered in some cross braces so it should be good for another season anyway.
Jack is still hanging in there, but he's mostly sleeping. An aspirin in a hotdog when he seems to be hurting is making him comfortable anyway. Haven't made up my mind about getting another dog, since we have plenty of other deterrents from unwelcome intruders, and vet bills really add up. Just taking it as it comes at this point.
Ive been offered a small space to put someof my artwork, and though I have mixed feelings (massive insecurity issues!) I think I'll go for it. See if that's my window.
Daylilies are poking up through the bark mulch, which gives me a much-needed spark whenever I step outside. And the bunny poo is merrily mulching away in the straw as the salts leech away, leaving me with perfect side-dressing. Is the bunny not natures perfect animal? Adorable, gentle, soft, prolific, generous, strong constitutions. Yep, I'm a bunny addict!

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A moment to breathe while the spackle dries

Category: gardening among the rocks | Posted: Mon Jan 22, 2007 4:31 am

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Impressive, I actually get to sit at the computer for a moment! Between DH finishing his degree via distance and DS doing whatever teenage boys do online I haven't had much access lately. The snow had me a tad busy keeping animal water thawed, bunny bottles melted, and even the dog's bowl in the garage froze into a mouse size skating rink. But the snow's mostly gone now, and I'll miss all the lifeforms that visited me while it was here. A huge flock of purple finches discovered my feeders and kept my scurrying to keep up with demand. The squirrels were happy to tidy up the tidbits scattered underneath. And my heart just sang (hope that isn't too sappy!) when I spotted a set of wild bunny prints in the snow on my front porch. My old dog, Jack, isn't faring too well in the cold, though. I wonder how much he's got in him, old fellow.
The job I applied for, the one that I was urged to apply for, the one that I did at the end of last school year, went to someone else. I didn't even rate an interview. So after 10 years, I have removed my name from the sub list at the elementary school. Time to move on. Hurt like the dickens when I found out about it, though. But I'm out of my slump. I've been taping and skim coating the drywall that creates an actual bedroom space over the garage, & that has me tied up quite a bit lately. Just finished texturing one side of the walls, time to tape the other side. Sigh, no rest for the weary. I've missed the Stew, hopefully I'll have a chance to surf through it all this week!
Mary, daydreaming of a warm tropical island and a nice, loose mumu...

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No, Really, I'm not antisocial!

Category: gardening among the rocks | Posted: Sun Dec 24, 2006 1:52 am

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I had so much I'd planned to do at this point in the month, but it's all been pushed aside. DH had a medical procedure done (resulting in an "everything looks good" moment, yay) then three days later, had to have an emergency appendectomy. His esophogus was damaged, so his recovery isn't going as well as I'd hope. DS started getting this really odd pain, and I thought, is appendicitis contageous or something? But then we realized that the way he holds his new guitar, he'd probably just stretched some muscles. Whew!
So despite the fact that I didn't get my ChristMas card to everyone done (perhaps I'll alter it a bit and make it a New Years card!) I'd like to wish everyone a very very blessed ChristMas!
Mary

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Why Washingtonians are bad snow-drivers

Category: gardening among the rocks | Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 12:49 am

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Some radio talk show guys were railing against how badly we Washingtonians drive in the snow. Apparently, we either go maddeningly slow or foolishly fast. Interesting thing, the people who were calling in to agree with him were comparing us with drivers in, say, Wisconsin or New York or someplace else that gets alot of snow. But that's just the issue! We don't have time to learn to be good snow drivers! The snow comes down in a big WHUMP, hangs around a day or two, then it's gone. And when it does show up, the vast majority of people who can avoid driving in it do so. So we never have to learn how to drive in it!
I guess we are in a really unusual climate here. Every Thanksgiving, I hear horror stories about people who have to drive here or back through the passes- Never gave it much thought, but yeah, the only way to get here from anywhere east of here is either through the mountain passes or go down to Oregon and catch I-5. I just hope my son stays on this side of the mountains when he moves away (IF he does. He gives us the puppydog eyes everytime we suggest selling this place)
It's been snowing lightly here all day, lovely floaty stuff. Since it's supposed to get down into the 20's F tonight, that'll all stick. Just hope the sanding trucks get out early! Tomorrow should be a good day to work on cards. I was really looking at the way snow sits on the branches today and realized my cards are all wrong. O well, in future they will be more accurate. Maybe the one I'm planning to post here will be a real Washington-ey one. Seems every "washington" painting I see has Mt Rainier in it, but I love my Black Hills better. So much more friendly looking than the big volcano poking up into the clouds, lol! Besides, great-grandaddy thought they were good enough to settle in when he came out west, so they are good enough for me, too!
O well, enough rambling for one night.

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down into the rocky depths

Category: gardening among the rocks | Posted: Sun Nov 19, 2006 1:10 am

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I'm going to transplant the 8' evergreen that's growing too close to the house. It was relatively warm today so I started on the hole- from what I recall, I need to dig it the diameter of the reach of the widest branches and a depth roughly half the height of the tree.
Don't know if anyone is interested in strange soil layers, but here's how mine is laid. There's about 5 inches of dirt, rock, and moss. Then you get to what I call "Potato Rocks"- they are about the size of a big baking potato, some quite a bit larger. These go down about a foot & a half, with a sandy soil in between. Then just when I'm about to despair of ever emptying a hole, I hit this coarse, yellowy grit with only a few potato rocks scattered through it. There's sometimes a layer of ash from the explosion of St. Helens under that, then some relatively nice, though rocky, almost-soil. That's as far as I got today, but it's a start anyhow.
I'll mix the almost-soil with composted bunny pellets to back fill around the tree. The best part of it all is that it will leave me a roughly 4' square of churned up soil in my front garden bed to put some new plantings in, woohoo! Get to spend all winter thinking of what to put there!
I pulled out the lilac shrub that came down in the last windstorm, and yipe, no wonder it hasn't looked too healthy! Something had bored through the wood, just under the soil surface. Going to have to look into exactly what it could be, so I don't lose the rest of the lilac.
Rotten, I studied all this stuff in school, but seem to have completely forgotten it, sigh.

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