I'm in the Garden

I keep buying plants! Everyday we get more product in at HD and I find something that I cannot live without.

This is a photo of a little stove in the garden surrounded by ferns. We are finally getting some rain today, boy was that needed. Yesterday we had a quick storm come through around 3:30 PM. We were huddled in our little booth wondering if we should be in there during lightening.? Nobody came to check on us so I guess it's every man for themselves.

Can you believe it's almost the 4th already. Summer goes so fast. I got the swing hung for the grandchildren and now Josh wants a rope thing to climb. He thought the clothes line would be a great jungle gym. Hmmm?

I have done very little knitting this week. I made some curtains for the kitchen and spruced up the house because my friend Kathy came out for lunch on Tuesday. I always get motivated to get things done when someone is heading my direction. Maybe that's why we have company.

I made a chopped salad. I saute'd some chicken with a soy sauce vingerette.

Chopped up green lettuce (any greens you like), radishes, green grapes, shallots, chopped up chicken, added mandarin oranges and sliced almonds on top.

Dressing:

1/4 c. Cider Vinegar

1 tbsp. sugar

Mayo (approx. 1/4 cup) to the consistency I liked, like a vinagrette. Not real thick.

Bread sticks and Pina Colada mix with chopped ice (no liquor at this hour)

It turned out nice for a warm day. Kathy brought a fruit Tart from Byerlys. Then we headed to the stamp store "Smudges" in Chanhassen. I found the perfect stamp and paper for Ellie's birthday card.

My house does stay nice and cool. I love having the windows open and blowing through the house. However, I still get a few boxelder bugs, I woke up to one crawling across my cheek the other night - FREAKED ME OUT!

My little job with the yarn company ended. Someone bought them out. Swedish Yarn Co. I just keep looking for another rep position and sending out emails.

I'm going to a wedding tonight for some old friends. Their daughter, Katie, is getting married today. I've know her since she was 3. Should be lovely. Always good to connect with old friends.

I found the color pink for upstairs and plan to go get the rest of the paint today so I can start painting next week. My sister is arriving July 23rd. So little time.

Have a great one! Out to the garden.

June 22

What a day for a day dream.....it was that kind of day today. I love Minnesota!

I worked in the garden most of the day! This is my tea cup filled with a viola. I bought a couple tea cups today at the Antique shop in Carver to make a couple more of these. I think they are so sweet.

I pulled weeds, dumped mulch, replanted some things that were in the wrong place, made a hanging basket, planted some garlic, corralled some Daisys in a fence. and pulled more weeds. It's tough but I had to do it, it was too nice to be inside. Cally took a couple baths in the sprinkler. She doesn't like the bugs so she gets wet. Smart dog!

I came in just in time for lunch and decided to sew my lace curtains for the kitchen real quick. I have some for the dining room too but the rod is too short so it will have to wait until tomorrow. I'll show the finished product later.

I headed over to hirschfields to get paint for the upstairs. I think I got the color. Now I have to try it out and see what it looks like on the wall. I have to get it done by the end of July cuz sister is coming to visit.

Went to see Josh and Ellie on Thursday night. They were in their pjs and running outside to greet me. Ellie had on her santa fleece pjs. I thought she would roast during the night. We sat down and ready Richard Scarrey. They are so cute, they cuddle right up and before I knew it Josh was holding my hand. He is so sweet!!!

Met Dano and Jenna for dinner Friday night at Maude's. I had the Quail, which was good, but there is not much meat on those little birds. Therefore, I figured I could have dessert which was three chocolate chips cookies warmed with a glass of vanilla ice cream. Perfect. Time for bed.

Dano has moved into his house and finds it good except there are people over all the time and he likes his own time. He's hoping when school starts it won't be quite so busy. Jenna is doing great, has a mentor and is working a volunteer position right now learning how to write grants and all sorts of great stuff. She loves it and seems envigorated.

I'm still working on the afghan and Ellies dress. Haven't had time to dig out the Karabella yet. I'm so busy outside it's hard to knit. I took Cally for a walk to downtown Carver today. Such a quaint little town. It was a beautiful walk, but climbing back up the hill told me I'm out of shape, the dog was too. We were both huffing and puffing our way home.

Enjoy the summer weather

The beginning of the Elf House

Well, this is the beginning of the elf house but I have alot left to do. I wanted to glue little smooth rocks and shells all over the top, but haven't gotten that far yet. I decided Elf or gnome was better than Fairy because I wanted it to be for all the grandchildren. Plus I have some cute Elf's to felt for this house. I have more plantings to put in also but between the rain and the bugs it's difficult to do. I want a little stone path winding around the house also. I tried some sand but the dirt is covering it. I stopped by Chaska flowers gardens tonight and they rebuilt their cute fairy houses. Great ideas.

I got off at 4 PM today and it was so nice to have an extra couple hours. Went by to see the grandchildren for a bit before their bed time. Got home just in time to water plants, get bit a few times and carry in a woodtick.

I've been working on applying to several jobs lately and trying to feel better from this virus. I think I've got it licked.

Can the gas prices get any higher? I heard them compare the price of gas to a Latte and how people are having to make choices between filling the tank in the car and filling the caffeine tank in a person. It's really scary.

Off to knit - sorry this is so short.

Heh, is it August already???

Remember this cute nesting box I bought awhile back, well this is what I did with it. I think it is so cute.

I am starting to feel human again. I have today off and I'm trying to get some projects done around the house. Like, clean the bathroom, fix air conditioner so it stays in the window and the bugs stay out. Talking about bugs - are they bad or what this year??? I've had two woodticks on me and several squeeter bites, is it August already?

I had a handman company come out to look at blowing in some insulation in the basement. Upstairs was good except we are going to add floors to under the rafters so they can be used for storage, if needed. I won't need it cuz I'm purging this summer (hahaha). At any rate, I'm trying to do some things that will make it more energy efficient for next winter. Handyman already got rid of a hornets nest for me.

I've been trying out trimmers lately for the lawn and bought a gas operated one and found I could not pull the string to start it, so I took it back. I found another hand trimmer that I'd used in the past and thought that would work, but I can't even get the battery out to recharge it, so I'll be taking it back. I know I'm not strong, but really!!! How frustrating.

Talk about frustrating. Everywhere you go, doesn't matter what store, there is no CUSTOMER SERVICE ANYMORE. You cannot even find a sales person - you might catch one out of the corner of your eye but they won't give you eye contact so there you are all by yourself and left frustrated. The other frustration is at the checkout and mind you I'm doing this job for a living right now. Mostly, it's not the checkout person who is to blame. It's Corporate! They don't give these people enough training or knowledge to run the front end. A manager has to be called for everything. They are all the same. Customers get frustrated and leave, I would leave sooner than most of them if I had to deal with waiting as long as it takes to get customer service at one of these places, in fact I do leave if there is only one check out and they are having a problem. I walk out! How do these places stay in business? What is this world? Am I just an impatient old lady?

If somebody actually opened one of these places and trained their people, gave customer service, staffed it properly they would make a million. Instead they worry about how many times you use your gun rather than the scanner, pushing people to use self checkout rather than a real person, punch clock times, measuring boards, watch it so customers don't steal or cheat us, shall I go on.....

Okay, now that I have that off my chest. I'm considering repainting some of my rooms. Dan has moved his stuff out so I want to repaint that room first. The babies room needs it too and one wants PINK AND ONE WANTS BLUE, imagaine that??? I want to repaint the bathroom a lighter, softer yellow, and the kitchen a lighter, softer green. The Hallways I'll paint the same as my office and the upstairs I'll paint to match my furniture up there, probably blues/tan. It's fun to dream in color.

Speaking of the babies. Ellie called the other day (she'll be 3 in August) and said, "Nanna, We're Girrrrrllls." I said, "I know, isn't that wonderful." She figured out that her dad, josh, logan, Jack the cat and Spencer (pencer she calls him) the dog are all BOYS. She, Her mom and me are all girls. She can also recognize the names of all the grandchildren that are painted on the walls at Grandma's house, Josh is learning how to sound out the letters and connecting a name to the letter. Josh just cuddled up in my lap last week and it felt so good. I said, I can still hold you, you're not too big yet and he just grinned. They are the best.!!!

They are all heading to a wedding next weekend (Josh and Ellie are in it) so I get Logan all to myself for three days. It will be a chance for me to get to know him better without interruption. I'm planning on using this downtime (yes, downtime, he still takes naps and goes to bed at 6:00pm) to study my realestate stuff.

I may even get more knitting done. I've been working on the afghan (mohair is so itchy) and a cotton/bamboo dress for Ellie and realized today, when I ran across of Karabella, that, "I now know what I've been missing, KNITTING WITH KARABELLA." I love that yarn and I really miss it. I've been procrastinating knitting on the other two projects because they are just not fun, now I know what to do, I'll get out the Christmas sweaters I started last January and knit on those for a FIX!

Happy Gardening and Knitting!

A nice misty rain

Yes, I feel like misty rain today. I am sick again with this crud. I called the doc to see what to do next and am waiting for him to call me back. I forgot to take the amoxicillan for one day and this stuff came back with a vengence yesterday. I am very congested, which worries me a little. No appetite, which is good (like to loose a few pounds). Today I have off from work so I have a little time to rest.

I am waiting for the babies to arrive and the water softner people. Hopefully, they won't all arrive at once. I am so excited to get this softner and water purifier installed.

Work has been crazy! Very stressful, which I don't need. It's beyond me how these large corporations stay in business! I know everyone is cutting back because sales are low but we seem to be busy all day long, so I don't understand the skeleton staff.

I am anxious to get out to the yard but it's still misting so my plants will have to last awhile longer.

I cast on for Ellies pink dress front. This pattern is a little confusing so I'm just going slow.

I missed Bungee on Saturday. I got busy cleaning windows and yard work and forgot to take my medication.

Went to the Doc and got new medication and cough syrup which cost me $116. YIKES! it better work. Staying home tomorrow too.