Mid-Atlantic Gardening: Hanging in there. Part 3, 0 by billyporter

billyporter wrote:
Well, so much for being here for you Chris. It has been non-stop busy again and then I go to bed about 8:00 - 8:30 pm.

We have had the kids a lot lately with DD taking goats to the shows. 4 days and 3 nights. I barely get thru a thread and they're awake. The pancakes are cooking as I type, LOL!

We took the boys to The Swinging Bridge in Columbus Junction, a park to play and Dairy Queen to eat. We've gone bike riding around town, with Grandpa and the oldest riding bikes, and me walking with the younger on his bike. (At least I'm outside AND getting a walk in.) We do chores twice a day at their house, but we go with in the afternooons since we're not ready in the morning. This week we went to the little Country Store in Kalona, but they didn't have many toys to chose from. I was hoping for tractor ascessories. We did find one manure spreader and got it. The oldest chose a donkey on a box. When you push the corners, the head bows or it drops to it's feet. Same toy I had when I was little. He loves it :o) We also hit a park in Riverside, home of the Star Trek Fest. William Shatner played a practical joke on the town, acting like they were making a movie over there and getting the town people involved. I didn't think it was too funny, but they were all gracious about it and allowed the movie of the practical joke to be shown on TV. They also built a Casino outside of town. It's built over ''artificial'' water, since there isn't a river or lake there. That way it qualifies as a riverboat or something? I'm not a casino person and could care less. Today we're going to the Fall festival in Lone Tree, 7 miles from here. There's a parade, ping pong drop and all kinds of contestsfor the kids. We aren't in any, but will watch other kids do tractor pulls.

We've had a nice couple of days and I raked all the yellowed grass that the lawnmower (not me) threw on the sidewalk this spring. The weeds got pulled from the cracks and the worst from the sides. It was still hot in the sun and the flies and mosquitos liked the shade too :o( I deadheaded the phlox and pulled weeds from the two worst beds.

It has rained every week I think. I can't believe we are getting so much. Conesville and Atalissa, both 8 and 15 miles from us, but lower, have flooded ditches and yards. It's terrible! And it just keeps raining.

The only garden I have are eggplant and hot peppers. The cabbage is still holding on, and I'm saving it for kraut, but no green peppers. I think the pollen washed off.

Thanks Sallyg, it was a nice sentiment :o)

Stormy, what a nice picture of the Swallowtail! Now, why can't I think of the name of the flower? I love the thin petals!

Luvs, love the neat contented toad planter, and the sedum is a perfect size!

I have a big, real toad that is under the Hostas by the sidewalk. Everytime I walk down the walk she hops back in the Hostas. It cracks me up everytime and I'll bet she thinks something similar about me, LOL!

It rained yesterday just as we were done with chores at DD's. The lightning was neat and we saw some good ''down to earth'' bolts on the way home. It hadn't rained as much here, but it did rain.

Chris, I sure hope you are ok, working and just catching up on things. I know it's hard to jump back in here when you've been away for so long. I'm still praying for you.

Sunset taken from the jeep as we were going home from chores.