Poppies are Poppin'

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June is my favorite month in the garden.

Everything is coming to bloom and the garden looks it's prettiest.

Every time it rains, things burst into bloom or seem to grow a foot!

(of course that includes weeds too but . . . )

Here are a few pics from around the yard.

I'm going to have a lot of foxglove.

One of my favorites; Indigo Blue

Won't be long before the hydrangea are in full bloom.

My little vegetable garden is taking off.

I got a new resin rain barrel but haven't put it together yet.  I mean the hoses etc.

The only thing that isn't doing so well is the little second chicken coop in the middle of the chicken yard!  The roof caved in!  I should have covered it with a tarp for the winter like my handyman told me to do!!

Here is my temporary fix till I can get some plywood.

Hope you liked my tour.

Have a good day.

Shirley

Monday's Day Book

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For Today:  May 25, 2015

Outside My Window:  It is bright cloudy.  It was sunny early this morning but we may get some rain later which the garden can use.

I Am Thinking:  I should be outside weeding every chance I get! 

I Am Thankful For:  All the military, both human and animal, that have given their life for the
freedom we enjoy in this country.

In The Kitchen:  There is nothing going on.

I Am Wearing:  A t-shirt and my black running pants.  (Even though I don't plan on running
anywhere.)  (ever!!)

I Am Creating:  A neater garden, hopefully.

I Am Going:  Nowhere that I know of today.

I Am Reading:  "The Total Money Makeover"  by Dave Ramsey (still)

I Am Hoping:  To get stronger physically, mentally and financially.

I Am Looking Forward To:  My sister coming to visit.  When IS that Sue??????

I Am Hearing:  My dog, Dexter, snoring on the couch in back of me.

Around The House:  Is clutter that I hope to get to someday!!!

I Am Pondering:  Whether to go out and weed before the rain or to put some more items on eBay
to sell.

One of my Favorite Things:  Having tea on the kitchen porch everyday that I'm home at 3 or 4pm.

A Few Plans for the Rest of the Week:  Well . . . My calendar says:  Jolene, my dog helper, is coming twice this week to walk them, they get their flea medicine put on them this week too, going to the barn to work with Echo some more, financial advisor coming on Wednesday to "advise",  foot reflexology on Thursday (heaven!), pick up a Rx and grocery shop on Friday.                                                                
A Photo To Share:  

My Miss Kim Lilac bushes are in full bloom.

Quote of the Day:

Hope you have a peaceful day.

I'm linking this to:

http://thesimplewoman.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20Simple%20Woman%27s%20Daybook

Shirley

Working with Echo

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(Warning:  This post is heavy on horsey photos!)

Yesterday Michele and I went to the barn.  No one else was there. 

 They were all at a horse show.

I wanted to work with Echo.  He's been pulling on me too much when I walk him on a line.

Of course yesterday he was good as gold.

I practiced only turning left with him, making him move out of my space like Stephanie showed me.

Here's a "few" pictures.

He remembers this.  It's the first step to have him bow.

See, he's this tall.

"Now, don't pull mommy around anymore!!"

Echo's downfall.  The dreaded polls!!

We didn't forget Preacher, he got groomed and loved on too.

There was one big horse fly bugging them today!

I'll practice more with Echo later in the week when there's more distractions.

That's when he loses all concentration on me!!!!!

Shirley

First Tea Time On the Porch This Spring

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I spent most of today gardening and doing some more weeding.  It wasn't what I had planned on doing but once I got started, I couldn't stop!

I know my back will be feeling it later.

I'll just take some Tylenol now!

I had planned on going to the barn and working with Echo more today.

He dragged me around yesterday in my lesson and I've got to get a handle on that!!!!

Since I'm not as strong as before (which has nothing to do with it), it has made me feel weak and less able to be assertive and evidently he reads that in me in about 30 seconds!

Anyway,

I'll go to the barn tomorrow.

Today I gardened!

And had tea on the porch!

It was a peaceful beautiful day.

I just had some little butter cookies since I hadn't made any goodies.

This little dish is one of my favorite antique flow blue dishes.

It's from Germany.

Flow blue is getting harder to find at a good price.

Spirit and Dexter wanted my cookies so I had to put them inside before they knocked over my little table!  They weren't pleased.

I got this little rag rug for the porch for this year.

One of my favorite little bird baths.

Unfortunately it is a perfect height for the dogs to drink from too!!

I have a few of these giant blue hostas.  I think they are the prettiest!

I brought in a few columbine this morning.

They are so pretty and are early bloomers in the spring and one of the flowers that attract the hummingbirds.

I'm linking this post with The Dedicated House for Anything Blue Friday.

http://www.thededicatedhouse.com/2015/05/anything-blue-friday-week-83.html

I hope your day was as peaceful as mine.

Shirley

What a Difference in the Garden!

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Kerry was here yesterday and worked 5 hours around my yard with me.  He is a God-send!!

My front gardens are pretty much weed free at least for a little while. 

I'm hoping I can keep up with those thistles as they start growing again! 

 (They're NEVER gone!!!)

Here is a before and after picture!!!

And . . .

The rest of the gardens improved like this too.

He also took dead climbing ivy off my back shed and trimmed a big branch off an old pear tree that was hitting the roof of the shed.

As soon as my friend with a truck can help me get some lumber, Kerry is coming back to build me another raised garden box.

(8 foot boards won't fit in my Honda Accord!)

Doing inside stuff today as the temperature outside dipped to low 50's 

which seems cold after 70's and 80's!!

Linking with:

Before and After Wednesday at:

The Dedicated House.

http://www.thededicatedhouse.com/2015/05/before-after-wednesday-week-47.html

Talk to you soon.

Shirley

Outside and Around the Garden

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I've been trying to do some weeding but oh my, the weeds have grown much faster than the flowers!

Especially those %#&@&* THISTLES!!!!!

They are my downfall!

I don't mind any other weed but them.  And there doesn't seem to be a way to get rid of them because their roots go deep then run horizontally.  So you can pull them up and they just come back.  USUALLY DOUBLE!!

 See, this is what I'm facing!

There's sweet woodruff and purple cone flowers under there someplace.

Kerry, my handyman, is coming to help me tomorrow.

I have found the best garden gloves.

I've used them for a couple years.

They fit so well and keep the prickers from getting you!

You can find them on Amazon.

After the rain, my vegetable garden seeds are popping!

The green beans and kale are first but swiss chard is close behind.

It's been quite warm, in the low 80's, so I got my chickens a treat that they love.

I went in and sat with them awhile yesterday.

Dottie hopped right up on my lap but Martha wants to be there too so the whole time Dottie is there, Martha is pecking me in the leg!!

Ouch!

Bad little girl.

Spoiled rotten!!

Only Dottie is laying.  The rest haven't laid since "the incident".

I hope they haven't given up laying forever!!!

What do you chicken people think??

It's been over a month.

I have  some sad news about my blue birds.

The 4 eggs probably hatched, I'm not sure but the nest is empty.

I think something got them.

Probably either those meany sparrows or a raccoon.

Sad : ((

I might take the old nest out now and see if they'll build again.  It's early enough in the season.

I have a couple hummingbirds but not as many as usual this year.

OK, I've got to run up to Walmart for a couple things.

See you later.

Shirley