What's Happening in Your neighborhood-visit with friends #18

I hope everyone had an enjoyable long weekend in spite of what your weather conditions were.

We were blessed with lovely weather during the 3 day holiday. Highs in the upper 20's. Yesterday for the first time, we had to fire up the Air Conditioning. My plants are loving it and growing to beat the band. ^_^

I hope a doctor's appointment is on the near horizon for you Betty. Feel better soon.

Halleluja .. we have one mo*e day of SUN .. not much heat .. but SUNNY is awesome enough !!

Me oh my Betty .. the 'tingly finge*s' COULD be Ca*pal Tunnel .. as fo the othe* symptoms .. well .. one would always like to say 'flu' .. seems it's the ONE diagnostic wo*d that fits the bill.

Have called Dell and o*de*ed my new (not new) keyboa*d .. seems things a*e a mix and match of unused components these days .. and .. NOT cheap !!
The*e is a Dell sto*e he*e in TBay that will install the boa*d fo* me I looked at the online inst*uctions and thought NO WAY I'm doing it !!

May putz a*ound picking twitch today .. a neve* ending thankless task ..

Hope eve*yone is wa*m and well !!

~M~

I have to say .. DELL is AMAZING .. my new Keyboa*d a**ived via Pu*olato* within 23 hous of o*de*ing it !! Has VE*Y specific inst*uctions with it .. soooooooo .. a stab at SELF installation is going to be attemped .. but not quickly as I am so busy with 'stuff' *ight now.
The FI*ST class of ou* No*the*n Onta*io Medical School g*aduates at the end of the month .. yea*s has flown by. I am kind of involved due to my affiliation with the Nu*sing School ..
My Hospice client is HOME .. afte* all he* challenges she opted to go home to ove*see the dispe*sion of he* little suite .. she will be moving into a Senio*s complex June 1 .. kinda sad fo* he*.

Have been busy with VCA*S calls too ... must be summe* .. speaking of which .. we had ANOTHE* out*ageous thunde*sto*m ove*night !!! Shook the house .. and quite the light show as well.
Temps Wed. aft we*e ove* 27C.

How a*e ya doin Betty ? Hope you feel bette* !!!

Off and *unning

~M~

I'm so laughing "M" quite the post ..

OMG it's 80 out there (old school temps) lol then the downslide..68 Sat. and 64 Sunday..still ok though..

Know the weather hasn't been the best but lordy it must be perfect for gardens..they are thriving...

Did get to the doctor's Tuesday and some tests yesterday..waiting for cat scan appt. now..no headache..vision a little off but still have tingling in my fingers..he said my blood pressure was high and I've never had that before..joys of old age...regardless, I'm going to enjoy this weather even if it means sitting outside doing zilch..ok maybe NOT zilch lol

Got myself into trouble last night..arrived home, knew my painting class would arrive about 7pm so had 1hr. to cut backyard grass..with 10 minutes to spare I thought why not just sit, pop in hand and relax and enjoy the beauty while listening to the birds sing their songs...all of a sudden I thought, it's starting to look junky..got to make some changes...of course it really wasn't that junky but when the plants, shrubs aren't at their best and in bloom you see the art pieces vs. the flowers..so up from my chair, got the 5' lighthouse to the road and put 'free-please take me' .. today I'm thinking what shrubs could go in that area that would add to the gardens...then I see a set of chairs/table and bench in the back near my DG friendship garden and think perhaps if they were all painting red or yellow they'd look less 'junky' moral of this story...it just doesn't pay to 'sit' and 'ponder'...

"M" sorry to hear about your client having to sell (hope I got that right x*54d)

The sun is shining and the sky is blue! Havent seen that since last Sunday! Dont know the temp yet but I just saw my neighbors scraping frost from their car!
Got my little foster delivered fine on Tuesday although it was a gloomy ride - miss the little old guy, he was here for 2 months and I though he was maybe going to be here forever!

Was monitor for a CHS workshop last evening - Lets Go Shopping with a local horticulturist at a local gardening centre. Plus a 25% discount.Nice evening, picked up a few things I had not found earlier this month. But it sure was cold in there!

Plan is to work in the yard most of the day and get the rest of the perennials in the ground - maybe leave the annuals a few more days - if I plant them I will probably have to cover them up every night!

This message was edited May 21, 2009 7:05 AM

OMG frost on the windshield..surely weather has to improve for you all...has this spring been much worse than others for cold weather lasting well into end of May?

Must give you such a feeling of satisfaction finding a good home for him..guess you can't keep all of them can you...has he been placed with someone who will give you updates as to his well being?

25% discount, hate to see what I would have purchased at those rates...
was going to the lake for lunch with Suzanne but Paul has called a meeting with her so I'm on my own..think I'll eat my lunch now and take a drive to the Garden Center

Betty we always keep in touch with the adopter for the first year- lst 24 hrs, lst week ,lst month , 6th and 12th month and sporadic after that - some want to stay in touch some dont care. ( we will take dogs back without question for first 12 months)

Sun is still shining and I have about half the perennials planted!
Just have to figure out where to put all the clematis and then start work on the new hosta bed. Well maybe that will wait until next week - my back is starting to tell me I cant do much more today!

I'm glad you've been to the doctor Betty. Just in case it's something that needs looking after.

Still cleaning up beds here. Coming to the realization that I need to simplify things around here. Maybe less is more?

LOL Echoes, that a lot of words for a Gardener...you must just need a rest..lol...tomorrow you'll see things more clearly i.e. where you can dig up yet another...

Fancy, you are working far too hard...doesn't all have to get done today does it? that must make those who adopt feel more comfortable if it doesn't work out, knowing that they simply have to call and they'll be taken back..

I often wonder if someone started to garden 10 - 20 years ago and they keep cleaning the edges, taking additonal inches at a time, how much grass do they now have or is it all garden...trying to figure out how many more years before doing so will I no longer have grass to cut..lol

I am chuckling away .. Betty .. If the Wo*ld we*e made up of TWITCH G*ASS .. I have NO doubt the wo*ld would be NAKED !!!!! LoL
I myself have picked 2 wheelba**ows full of twitch .. and I am NEVE* done .. and if sod dug up to make new ga*dens is not *e used and dumped ove* the hill .. well .. I am wonde*ing how much time I have left befo*e these 10 ac*es a*e bald ...

WELllllllllllllllllllllllllllll ... tomo**ow is 'K' day .. I am taking 'Lucy Laptop' in to have he* new keyboa*d installed .. I have NO idea how long she'll be gone .. I will be using the desktop machine .. slowe* fe * su*e .. but .. it'll do in a pinch ^_^

On with VCA*S tomo**ow .. hoping fo* a quiet day

BE GOOD :-)


~M~

will finely my checkered lilys are flowered ,i love these

Very nice, diggin! I love Frillaria meleagris too. Gotta get me some more of those. ^_^

Very pretty Lilly !!! Would imagine they're 'hearty' ??

Working from the 'dinosaur computer' .. may be older .. but .. it has an "R" LoL ..

Frost abounded here this morning .. roof was white and car windshields needed scraping .. however .. it's looking like a nice bright and sunny day here ^_^

'Lucy Laptop" is on her way to the techie hospital to have her keyboard transplant .. here's hoping that that is in fact the problem !!

Hope everyone has a majorly wonderful Friday, and an awesome weekend !!
Hmmmmmmmm .. just noticed no posts from Ann for a bit .. much be gardening her heart out, or rehearsing to beat the band !!

Take care .. I LOVE RRRRrrrrrrrrrrrrrr s :-)

~M~

Morning all, dressed for a hot spring day...shouldn't have done that, overcast/cold and dreary..let's hope better weather for the weekend..good luck with the computer "M"..

Saw in Norms Garden Center which is local that they have 'stained glass' hostas on sale for $8.98..do any of you have it?

Aren't those lillies eye catching, don't think I've hear of them..must be on the lookout..

Walked the gardens and a lot of plants have flowered, think it's much too early, does that mean come July my gardens will all but be over??? sure hope not..

Usually by now I've my 'to do' weekend list made up but I must be tired, still not done..

When in Buffalo a few months ago I picked up a little birdbath that had 6 open areas for trailing plants...picked them up last night, lordy plants have gone up $3.49 each...only to come home and find I should have bought smaller trailers because now I have to put the birdbath on something in order to see them trail..lol

Went to several garden centers on my way home looking for shrubs..odd that I found most were not well looked after, all dried up, drooping so no go..still have a few more places to drop into tonight...had I not decided to remove the lighthouse from the pond area I'd not have to purchase more shrubs...never ends does it...lol..but what better place could I spend my $$$...
just might pick up a gallon of red paint and paint some yard furniture...that would about fill my weekend...

Have you all been seeing commercials re Canada Green grass seed that can even grow on rock without soil..lol..bought a bag last night along with 5 bags of topsoil..spread it on half of the area..thought the commercial was overdoing it a bit so seeded newly topsoiled area and the sand area and I'll see if it truly works...

G'morning, Betty - yes, i saw the Canada Green grass commercial, and thought immediately of my back yard! I wonder if they sell it in Calgary, yet?
Where did you buy it?
I'd prefer not to buy it online or over the phone - I'm an "Immediate purchase & have-in-hand" type of person lol
It's supposed to start growing almost immediately, right? Please let me know how it goes.
now....... if I can only get my DH's ladders sold, then I'll double the size of my tiny back yard LOL btw - he's in agreement to get them sold, so I'm not "deciding for him" LOL
Any takers? He has from 24' to 36' collapsing ladders that he used when he was doing soffit/fascia/siding and roofs. They're commercial grade........
Please help me empty my backyard so I can plant, plant, plant!!! LOL

-Susan-

I so wish you were closer Susan..I am in need of a ladder...

I bought mine at Walmart but Canadian Tire also has it...small bag was $9.98 or larger for $16.98

I'll wait a few days and if it seems to take then what I'll do is go purchase a larger bag and just scatter here and there..

Always get a kick out of adds, rarely does one live up to it's ad..we'll soon see and yes, I will let you know

Thanks much, Betty :-)
You're an absolute fount of information! Seeing as how Walmart has it, I'll get some (can't hoit!!) I'll get a large one and be "done with it!"

I may get my DH to store these ladders somewhere, safe (there's about 15 of 'em, and that's a lot of moolah's worth!).

Yummy - I'm having what has become my all-time-favourite chocolate bar - After Eight!!
I tried to find it on my way through, in Saskatchewan & Manitoba, but they don't have it yet. If you ever liked the After Eight thin mints, then you'll LOVE the chocolate bars!! yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!

-Susan

you are not helping my diet Susan...to die for...although I crave 'turks'

That sounds like the kind of grass I need right now! The dogs did major damage this winter to one side of my back yard. At some point I will go to work on it but it is not exactly a priority this year.

I found it on the Cdn Tire site, but not WalMart. It's called Canada Green Perfect Grass :-)
$16.99 for a 1.5 kg bag. Looks like that's the only size shown.
I'm gonna get some, maybe tonight! I want some green beauty in my backyard NOW!! hahahahaha
Guess my DH has some work to do tonight. Good thing today's the day for it, cuz he's in the doghouse right now LOL 'suppose he'll do about anything for me, now lol

-Susan-

Whoa .. going to have to look for that seed .. like Carol .. I have 'burned out' spot as well ..

Susan .. ladders I have .. good luck storing or selling them .. have you tried Kijijii?

My laptop is ready to go .. just have to pick it up .. had a kinda ishy VCARS call and didn't want to hang around in the city to get it today.
$30. to change it out. I think that's fair .. I sure was NOT comfortable opening up the computer and moving ribbon cables aside !! Been there, done that :-(

Hope everyone has a great weekend !!

~M~

siiiiiiiiiigh having one of those "Jonah" days........

had a tiff this am with my DH before work - I stormed out, went for breakfast at Timmies (and a hot chocolate, of course!), and bought a doz donuts for the office.
Didn't call DH all day (that'll show him!) - well, he hasn't come home, and it's 7:30....... guess he's showing ME. We never have these tiffs......... at least not where we're forced away from each other all day (at work, both of us).

To top it off, what seemed like a fantastic thing, has gone sour! We had a handbell choir @ church, until after Easter when we had to return them to the vendor. Another church has offered us their bells. It took 1 month of finagling for our insurance to Finally (today) send the paperwork saying we are insured for them!!
Now our choir is breaking up and I can't get replacements, so we're not going to be able to use them :-((
We only have them until the end of June (3 practices and 2 performances) but I can only get 3 (maybe 4) handbell ringers (plus me - I take a bell)......

I desperately need another handbell ringer.......... any takers, in Calgary?

-Susan-

Another nice sunny day here - had to make a trip south of town a bit to check out a newish dog training place as a suitable site for our next sheltie party - looks great, will have huge fully securely fenced outdoor area with agility equipment and a small indoor arena if weather is not nice.
And on the way home stopped at a greenhouse I have not visited before in a small town where the head plant lady is a friend of mine.Nice place and although she did not have what she told me she thought she had (pink Pasque flower) she did have the only two other things I wanted. ( Gaura and Dicondra) ( Except that grass!)
Worked in one of the front beds this afternoon - no planting, just cleaning out quack grass and invading grass and other unwanted things. Plant share tomorrow morning - looks like it will be a nice day, last 2 years it has been cold and raining.

Susan - have you checked out STEP? http://www.steproject.com/
Handbell music for small ensembles, some of it quite easy. It used to be by membership. Maybe there is someone in Calgary that you can borrow from. Or you can download and print a piece from the web site. If we play in June (when people are starting to scatter), we've often done a STEP piece.

I've been lurking, but haven't written anything in quite awhile. Had DGTwins for dinner and well into the evening as their dad had a flat tire when he's been out mountain biking and was later than planned to get DGS. DGD is spending the night and we have tickets for the Family Adventures concert at the National Arts Centre tomorrow (if I can manage to get to the NAC. Lots of road closures for Ottawa Race weekend.)

My hosta sale has gone well. I anticipate covering many of my costs this year as well as having at least $150 to turn over to my church towards revitalization ($2 million renovation of the 47 yr-old education wing. The sanctuary is much newer.)

I planted all my new hostas yesterday though I have a few more coming. And, sadly, I found HVX in my Mountain Snow which just unfurled yesterday. Second plant from that nursery which has developed it. But I've had it for 3 years before it ever showed any symptoms. I'll be keeping a really close eye on the others which came from there (not many, fortunately).

I added 'Holy Mouse Ears', 'Cat and Mouse', and 'Frosted Mouse Ears' to a planter with 'blue Mouse Ears' and 'Country Mouse' - all mini hostas. (I had space so I stuck a couple of others in there too, but they are mostly mice). Today, I found a smug looking wire cat at Dollerama to overlook all the mouse hostas.

Have a good night.
Ann

Very nice Ann

Stil have not decided whether I will 'plant' my mice or put them in a container - leaning to planting since I have a new bed almost ready for all those new hostas.

Nice to you all are keeping busy. Susan I thought of this posting in the Joke and humour Forum when you said your DH was in the dog house. Better take note of what Confucius says about husbands in the doghouse.

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/992006/

May you both enjoy making up your tiff.

Violaann - it's not the pieces I need, but the People.
People seem to have so much on the "go" that they don't have time for learning the Handbells, and my choir of 5 (I'm one of them - as director in front, too) just isn't going to cut it.
Some of the congregation are nervous about learning, and we have such a small church that everyone seems to be doing quadruple duty.

If only it Were just things like music, gloves or such.
We're only practicing 3 or 4 times, and playing 2 times in May/June.... ah well, time to give it up I guess. :-(

awww geeeeeze - I just posted this in the wrong posting LOL

"btw - Echos - I guess we made up - sorta, by just being together again. Men... they don't know how to say "sorry" so they pretend it didn't happen and don't know what we're talking about when we try... siiiiiiiiiiiiiigh"

Now I not only don't know my June from my July - I can't find out where I AM anymore lol - must be tired......... zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz going to sleepy-byes now.........zzzzzzzzzzzzz

Susan

Susan - we all need people, but when the people aren't there, music which requires fewer people is a good alternative.

Nice to see you post Ann .. and what a great pic of your Hosta .. mine are currently making their way through the gastric system of one of the deer .. along with my Day Lillies :-(

Susan .. I have decided that 'men' on the whole .. run on a completely different set of tracks than women do. Sometimes the tracks meet, or run along side one another comfortably .. BUT .. there are always "BRIDGES' to cross .. and OH .. that can be either exhillarating .. or just plain scary !!! Once you get to the other side things can start to get back 'on track' .. just watch out for the BRIDGES to pop up again :-)

As for the Handbells, I think Ann has a great suggestion .. 'just use different music for less people' .. sounds easy .. hope it works for you.

VCARS has had a disappointment as well .. we had a boat all signed up for the DragonBoat Festival here in July .. and .. well .. out of the 17 that signed up .. 6 have bowed out .. thing is . it's a pretty HUGE time committment, and folks THINK they can accommodate .. but .. then reality hits .. so .. looks as though we'll be cheering on the team from the OPP.

Looks like it's going to be a nice day here .. of course we still are dealing with the WIND .. however .. it has toned down significantly.
A colleagues daughter is getting married today .. I may pop by the church just to have a wee BOO of the bride .. or .. a wee 'BOO HOO' .. i always cry at weddings !!!! LoL

Enjoy your Saturday everyone


~M~

Frosty Sunday here .. or .. maybe I'll just describe it as 'heavy white dew'.

Did go to the wedding ceremony, did cry, and feel there's not quite anything else in the world that feels better than a 'happiness cry' ^_^
When my son married and my 2 grandkids were born I did the same thing ... kind of a nice feeling afterwards .. I once read it had something to do with the release of endorphins .. whatever ..

After 2.5 years of haggling with MYSELF .. I went to Canadian tire yesterday (I advise staying away from CT on a Saturday) and purchased the LAST outdoor fireplace in the store. We have a large firepit out back .. but when we go up to have a fire .. Lilly is never comfortable as she is tethered, or, someone carries her .. we did leave her in her compound once, and she looked so pathetic staring up at us I swore 'never again'
We broke it in last evening and I quite like it. If I remember I'll take a pic today.

Apparently Home Depot has a sale on Bird's Nest Spruce .. $13.00. May pop into the city and purchase a couple .. my best bud has done her total front flower beds in Silver Mound and the Bird's Nest Spruce .. looks so awesome ..
Course, I haven't clue one as to where I would put them .. but .. I like the way they look. Somehow seems like a good enough reason to buy a couple LoL

Having some folks out for a BBQ tonight .. fingers crossed the weather stays sunny with minimal wind.

Hope everyone is doing well

~M~

Mornings..hubbies you got to love them..so many times I think of the silly things I got mad at Roger for, death does things, puts perspective into what is worth arguing about...miss those days..fighting/making up...but also think of times used up,minutes of our lives that can never be recaptured..preaching here..lol..go give that hubby of your Susan a big smooch and hug, tell him it's for no reason..just felt you should...

well, it is Sunday, just finished watching Creflo Dollar and Joel Olsteen Ministries..guess they put me in the mood for preaching...

Lovely hosta's Ann..

"M" now that you made the first trip into Canadian Tire you'll be there each week..yep, I know more about what's in Canadian Tire and Home Depot than most of the employees...

Outdoor fireplace sounds wonderful..I meant to have a fire to burn the garbage in my firepit last night, but lordy I was sooo tired..about 18 loads of sod that I took up had to be rid of, did some edging and weeding..actually I spent more than 10 hours outside working..

At 8am I was at Atlas Block getting 6 16x16" red cement patio stones, formed the outline for about 13 more..going to make a checkerboard walkway..too bad they are closed today because I could finish my project...

Most of my work yesterday was enlarging flower beds..dah, how silly is that but I know me, next Saturday is the church plant sale and I'll come home with a car load (including hostas) so best be prepared...

Still more gardens to edge..does edging mean increase by 1'????

Pretty flowers starting to bloom..

Bernice, neighbor across the street made me stop working yesterday, take lilac's in hand and smell the fragrance..said I work far too much and don't enjoy what I'm helping the Lord create...

Beautriful lilacs! Mine are just barely leafing out here - my Japanese Tree Lilac which should be in full bloom has just leafed out the past two weeks!
Plant share at the Hort Society yesterday. Good crowd and every single plant disappeared! Lots of newbie gardeners without plants to share so they can buy them cheap.
Finished putting annuals in pots and put them in their places as it seems it will be nice the bext few days with no night time frost. Lots still to do in the front but next job on the list is to get the veggie garden planted - got potatoes in a couple of weeks ago.
Going off leash with the dogs this morning and doing my volunteer stint at Loughbeed House this afternoon.
I shop lots at Cdn Tire - next choice is Revy /Rona - Rarely ever Home Depot.Partly location partly preference to use Canadian owned stores, local of possible.
A couple of days ago I figured out a new (to me)trick I can do with my camera - stitching pics together for a panorama- have taken some of the front street beds - going to do all the rest and will post. Great for remembering where things are if you dont label everything

Have a bouquet of Lilacs on my kitchen table right now. They smell so nice.

Betty, your garden looks great. Love the patio blocks! You deserve to stop and smell the Lilacs.

Marilynne, your will enjoy that outdoor Fireplace. We sure enjoy ours, especially in the Spring and Fall.

We are having some nice hot weather here. Temps reached 28.8C yesterday. More of the same to come. Love it! So do my plants. ^_^

Fancyvan the hosta you posted in this form whats the name of it .I have one just like it and mine is call orange marmaliade think that how its spelt.Doze this look like it.

Oh gosh - those Lilacs!! absolutely beautiful! We have a Lilac Festival downtown on the 31st of May, but I don't see any lilacs on the trees. My 2 lilac trees (about 40ft tall!) bloom the latest in my neighbourhood. I understand that some varieties are late bloomers, and obviously mine fall in that category lol

As for handbell music - we barely had enough people to play the minimum pieces and now one of them has dropped out. I asked at the church today, because we only have the bells for 5 weeks, and got no takers.
One of our members will only play one bell, so that leaves 15 bells for 4 people. A heck of a lot of switching........ There aren't any pieces for 1 octave, and my DH is burnt out about the lack of enthusiasm the congregation is showing. They love the bells when someone else is playing them, but won't do anything themselves.
Ah - before I sound too miserable about it, I'm gonna stop!
I'll pick them up tomorrow night, but they'll just have to sit in a cupboard.

I'm going out to finish my planting - I have herbs, roses, and annuals, then I need to go to the church & finish planting theirs lol
I'm glad it didn't rain, even though it was 40% chance (60% chance it won't, right?!?! Anyway - no rain.
Looks like we MAY get a new HotTub on Thursday. The old one is good enuff, but my DH wants a new one......... go figure! I'm 60/40 for getting one, but I may change my mind & tell him we'll keep the old one LOL

Back to gardening!!

-Susan-

We had our first 30C day here in the Southern Interior. The Air Conditioner is just a buzzin'....

This is a better time in May for us to reach this temperature. In years past it would soar to 30+ degrees at the beginning of the month and fry all the new plants.