Shirley's World: June 2015

Monday, June 22, 2015

Monday Daybook for June 22nd

For Today: June 22, 2015

Outside My Window: Bright sunshine and my front gardens that are like a jungle from all the rain.

I Am Thinking: I need to do more weeding out there when it cools off.

I Am Thankful: That my septic tanks were cleaned out this morning and that's done for another 2-3 years.

In The Kitchen: There's some dirty dishes in the sink that need to go in the dishwasher and there's one lone brownie left in the pan that is calling my name!!

I Am Wearing: Black running pants, a white T and a long sleeve shirt over top to keep the sun and mosquitoes off me!

I Am Creating: A budget that can include getting a new phone!

I Am Going: No where today because I have to wait for a salt delivery for my water softner system.

I Am Reading: "A Field of Red" by Greg Enslen on my Kindle app. It's a mystery. Good so far but I've only read a couple chapters.

I Am Hoping: That I can find my niche! (For YouTube and Periscope)

I Am Looking Forward To: Going to the Apple Store to get my new iPhone 6 and also get some questions answered about some iPad problems since the new upgrade.

I Am Hearing: The air conditioner.

Around the House: The dogs are telling me they want to be outside but my chickens are out in the yard so they have to wait!

In My Garden: I planted my new raised garden yesterday after getting some garden dirt delivered. Also a friend helped me do some mulching with the pine bark nuggets that were also delivered.

In this new bed I planted: Another row of green beans, a row of beets, some bib lettuce, chives and dill and plants of sweet potatoes, a couple cantaloupe, sweet banana peppers and acorn squash. There was a nice rain right after I planted so that was good.

I Am Pondering: If I should broadcast on Periscope. It's live! Kind of scary! No editing!! I need a niche though. What should I talk about?????

One Of My Favorite Things: My Atlas Nitrate garden gloves. They fit like skin so you can feel things and they protect your hands. Best I've ever had. I wrote about them here: http://shirleys-world.blogspot.com/2013/10/my-favorite-garden-gloves.html

Quote of the Day:

A Few Plans For The Week: Maybe going to the Apple Store Tues. or Wed., foot reflexology on Thurs. Hopefully get to the barn to ride at least once this week! That's about it except for gardening and taking care of my animals which is everyday.

Photos To Share:

Have a nice week everyone.

Linking up with Simple Woman's Daybook at:

http://thesimplewoman.blogspot.com/

Shirley

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

The Swing

I've always had a swing.

My dad built this one for us when we were little.

When I moved to this house in the country, one of the first things I had my husband do

was to make a swing and hang it on the perfect big branch of one of the huge oak trees

in the back yard.

It was for me.

It was long before I knew I would have grandchildren.

I sat and swung on it often. I still do.

It is there every fall and the squirrels sit on it and eat there nuts.

And it's there all winter.

Then my grandkids got big enough to play on it.

The kids are a little bigger now, 6 and 8 and they still want to swing. "Push me, push me"!!

But it's here and always will be. The seat has been replaced only once but it's in good shape.

Do you remember this poem?

I do!

Let me know if you had a swing.

When I was in grade school, my best friend, Midgie, had a next door neighbor that had the best swing. It was hung way up high so you could really get going and go tremendously high!

It's a wonder someone wasn't killed!

Of course when you're young, you don't think like that.

But,

If my mother had only known!

Yikes!!

Shirley

Monday, June 15, 2015

Monday Daybook for June 15th

For Today: June 15, 2015

Outside My Window: It is pouring rain and it's almost dusk.

I Am Thinking: I have to go and close my chickens pop door on their coop because I'm sure they've already gone to roost.

I Am Thankful: That my daughter got to work safely driving in the pouring rain.

In The Kitchen: There are still dishes in the sink and I've got to unload the dishwasher.

I Am Wearing: A gray t-shirt and dark blue jeans and sneakers.

I Am Creating: This blog.

I Am Going: To stay in the rest of the evening.

I Am Reading: "The Joy of Keeping Chickens", one of my many reference books about chickens.

I Am Hoping: That my sister can find a way to come for a nice long visit.

I Am Looking Forward To: Going for a massage on Thursday.

I Am Hearing: The TV on out in the family room.

Around the House: Are dirty floors from the dogs with all this rain! Cleaning girls come tomorrow.

In My Garden: Everything is growing like crazy because of all the rain. (Of course that includes weeds too!)

One of My Favorite Things: My Keurig coffee maker!!!

Quote of the Day: The biggest lie I tell myself is "I don't need to write that down, I'll remember it"!!

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: Cleaners tomorrow, and meeting a friend in town at noon, maybe I'll try the water fitness class at the rec. center on Wednesday, Thursday is massage day : )), going to the barn to see the horses on Friday or Saturday.

A Photo To Share:

I'm linking up with Simple Woman's Daybook

Have a wonderful week.

Shirley

Friday, June 12, 2015

Winter Damage

I was surprised to notice that I've lost over half of my smoke bush tree in the back area.

Last winter was too hard on it.

(It was fine last summer!)

This was a couple years ago.

Now

I can't remove it because that is the tree my grandkids love to climb on!

Here they are when they were younger.

Maybe if we trim the dead growth way back, it will grow some new??

Well. I can hope.

I just hate losing any tree.

Shirley

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

I Used To Have a Garden

Yes, 8 or 9 years ago and for about 5 years before that, I had a garden to behold!

Here it is just waiting to be planted.

Of course I had a nice Troybilt rototiller to help me.

I did it all mostly by myself.

Beautiful right?

I had enough vegetables for everyone!!!

I slowly realized that:

#1. I didn't need one that big.

#2. I was getting too old to do that all by myself!

I didn't have any garden for a couple years when Jack was sick and it quickly all grew over in weeds.

Sad.

But, the past couple years I have had a small 4X8 ft raised bed that my brother-in-law built for me.

I plant it with just a few things.

My handyman, Kerry has built me another one that I have to fill with dirt yet.

Here is my little garden today.

It's flourishing but could use a little rain.

I love to garden. I think it is such a miracle that you plant seeds in the dirt and they give you food!

Such healthy eating because mine are all organic and I use no poisonous sprays or fertilizers.

My chickens are banned from this area or there'd be nothing left.

I'm just hoping the deer let it alone.

I've been lucky so far!

I think they know the dogs are around.

They just don't know the dogs can't get to the garden!!

I found some old photos of when I was a gardening maniac!

They were taken with an old camera.

That's about 13-14 years ago!

Herb garden

I wonder where my overalls went??

Hope you gardeners out there enjoy this.

Shirley

Monday, June 8, 2015

Photo Collage from the Past Week

Spent some time at the barn on Saturday.

That's a long time riding buddy of ours, William and his mare, Blue.

And as you see, poor Echo has his fly mask all turned around!!

And around the homestead . . .

We have to enjoy this wonderful weather when we can. It seems shorter every year!!

Shirley

Linking up with Lavender Cottage for Mosaic Monday:
http://www.lavendercottagegardening.com/

Take a look at all the beautiful collages!

Monday Daybook for June 8th

Gee, it's been a whole week since I've posted!!

For Today: Monday June 8th.

Outside My Window: It is clouding up. It's supposed to rain today. I see my front gardens are bursting!

I Am Thinking: I've got to list some more things on eBay today.

I Am Thankful: That my physical went well this morning. However I have a big bruise where they drew blood!!

In My Kitchen: My island is full! I've really got to clean that off!!

I Am Wearing: Jeans, a mint colored T-shirt and sneakers.

I Am Creating: This blog! I NEED to create some door decorations! I missed spring altogether!

I Am Going: Nowhere else today. I've already been to the doctor, Starbucks for breakfast and Walmart!

I Am Reading: Nothing at the moment except other blogs which I love to do.

I Am Hoping: For a nice gentle rain for the gardens.

I Am Looking Forward To: Talking to a Financial Advisor at Chase on Wednesday. (I think!!)

I Am Hearing: My two dogs running around trying to find me.

Around the House: It's basically quiet. Except for the dogs.

I Am Pondering: About how much it will cost to have a load of topsoil delivered for my raised garden beds. I wish I knew someone with an open bed truck that liked to shovel!!)

One of My Favorite Things: Sitting outside with a cup of tea or coffee just watching my chickens. (Free entertainment)

Quote of the Day: "Inside every older person is a younger person wondering what the hell happened!!!!"

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: Make some egg salad, make some peach cobbler! (I have such a taste for that.), see financial advisor Wednesday, weeding in the gardens whenever, daily sweeping of dog hair, get to the barn hopefully a couple times, and foot reflexology on Friday (Awwwwww).

Photos From My Week:

I am linking this to:

http://thesimplewoman.blogspot.com/

Have a great Monday.

Shirley

Monday, June 1, 2015

Monday Day Book, June 1st

For Today: June 1, 2015

Outside My Window: Gloomy, cloudy day, chilly and misty.

I Am Thinking: Should I put my first Vlog public on YouTube? I did it a couple days ago and made it private so only my daughter and sister could see and critique!

I Am Thankful: That I'm getting my hair cut tomorrow, it's driving me crazy.

In the Kitchen: Lights are on but nothing's happening.

I am Wearing: Sweat pants, long sleeve shirt and a fleece top and of course my garden clogs. I'm telling you, it's chilly here today!

I Am Creating: This post.

I Am Going: To the post office to mail out my things I sold on eBay the past couple days. Also the bank, to draw out the money to fill my budget envelopes because it's the 1st of the month and I get to start over : ))

I Am Reading: Nothing at the moment. I think I may stop by the library today too. (Which seems dumb, as I have a library of my own full of books I haven't read!! But I like audio books!)

I Am Hoping: The weather warms up as I'm getting my short summer haircut tomorrow!

I Am Looking Forward To: My handyman coming tomorrow to build me another raised garden bed.

I Am Hearing: A small plane going over the house. Over wise quietness!

I Am Learning: More about budgeting my money from Dave Ramsey's books and radio program.

I Am Pondering: About doing that YouTube Vlog.

One of My Favorite Things: That first drink of hot coffee in the morning.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: June budget, getting another garden box to fill with dirt and plant, haircut, selling coins on eBay, helping my daughter do a video in her studio on Wednesday, massage and reflexology this week (heaven!), getting out to the barn to see my horses!!

A Peek Into This Past Week: