Fruit of Labor

 The garden, as it were, is being used as a fenced area for the dog to be off leash instead of, you know, a garden.  There are still a few things growing there, but most of what I had wanted to grow didn't, or was eaten by other animals once planted.  Unfortunately, I stopped doing much in the way of gardening.  Frustration over the groundhogs and getting a job are my excuses.  Last week I even forgot to water most of the indoor plants.  I noticed that there were still a few blueberries on the bush to be picked so I decided it was time.  The blueberry bush and some of the strawberry plants are not in the main garden, I planted them where there were once flowers by the driveway.  I also covered them with netting and put in drip water irrigation.  They are relatively safe.  Still, I left them alone too.  Today I got out and picked blueberries from my bush for the second time this year. 

Not many, I know.
The bush suffered from the drought last year.
I'm thrilled that it is producing at all. 

Other things I am happy for today:

• I didn't just pick blueberries.  I was going to get under the netting, pick blueberries, and close it back up.  Instead I started pulling weeds.  

This is a mostly before photo of the area.

After.  Outside of the netting still needs a lot of work.

I sat next to this basket to try to get some scale.
It is full of the weeds I pulled.

• In the process of pulling the weeds I uncovered the strawberry plants.  Some of them are trying to produce more fruit!  There are also many runners so I will need to get those planted soon too. 

• I had planted marigolds around the strawberries.  One survived and should bloom soon.

Marigold.

• Someone at work noticed that I have been there for more than thirty days.  When I was hired, my badge was on a red lanyard which was supposed to go away after thirty days.  The hook on the red lanyard gave up a few weeks ago and I have been keeping my badge in my back pocket.  Now I have one that clips onto the vest with a retractable cord.  Snazzy.

Yes, I wear a bright and reflective safety vest.

☮

Currently reading: Backpacking A Hedonist’s Guide, by Rick Greenspan and Hal Kahn.  

Thank you for being part of my happy things. Stay safe.

Day Two WIth a Dog

 Yesterday -K had a branch fall on the car with her, her husband and their dog in it.  So very thankful and happy that they are all alright!  Their car needs work, but the live ones are all okay.

Other things I am happy for today:

• It was a long, difficult day between myself and Aesop, the dog.  The rest of the family had a birthday party to attend and that left all the dog care for me during a good part of the day.  We made it through though and are better for the experience. 
• I did leave for a short time, leaving Aesop in the crate.  We have friends that are downsizing this week, complete with a dumpster.  I picked up some things from their place to store until the yard sale in a few weeks.  It was good to be able to help in this small way.
• The garden, which never really got planted because of the groundhog, has become a bit of a play area for Aesop.  Maybe the groundhog will move out.                                                                                     

Zed is feeding Aesop a treat.

• The sunset.

• The stars were beautiful tonight.

☮

Currently reading: Backpacking A Hedonist’s Guide, by Rick Greenspan and Hal Kahn.

Thank you for being part of my happy things. Stay safe.

Embracing the Groundhog...Haha!

 Researching ways to get rid of a groundhog I had a sort of revelation.  I'm letting these animals get the best of me.  Today I have decided that my best plan of action is to embrace the groundhog.  I do not mean literally.  Even the figurative meaning is off a bit.  This year the garden is not going to produce much, again.  Part of the reason is the woodchuck/groundhog family.  Part of the reason is that I started with a bang but ran into things along the way that have derailed my efforts.  My hope is to concentrate on getting the fence where I want it to be to help keep out as many critters as I can while making the garden a place they might not want to be.  I also hope to do more prep work and research about the soil and other conditions and rent a tiller to get rid of some of the weeds.  If I can find a way to plant the things I have already started and keep them protected from the critters that want to eat them, I will.  My mindset needs to shift though.  Anyway, here are other happy things from today:

• Keziah has been helping some friends clean out their storage unit.  In the process, she has brought home a few things.

I'm not sure how long it has been there, but 
I noticed this statue by some of the wild sweet William.

• The bindweed and grapes are holding each other.

I really like the bindweed flower.
They are in the same family as morning glories
which I also like.

• The SCA household that I am a part of had a gathering today.  Six of us were able to attend.  It was so wonderful to see these friends.  I arrived early enough to walk with Anastasia and be greeted by her cat.  One of the friends we haven't seen in a few years and that helped to make the day even more special.  It was really fun getting to catch up with, and hug, this group of people.  I wish I had remembered to take a photo of us.

☮

Currently reading: The Backyard Homestead, by Carleen Madigan.

Thank you for reading, stay safe.

Blossoms

 It looks like the holiday weekend will be wet.  This is good for what plants are out there.  For those following along with my woodchuck/groundhog problem, there is one less zinnia today.  

One of the zinnia I planted is gone, the other is a bit trampled.

Yesterday I spread crushed red pepper around them and in some other areas of the garden.  It is quite possible that what I used wasn't spicy enough or the critters just don't care.  It is also possible that they are suffering somewhere now because of it.  A third possibility is that the rain has diluted any ill effect that the crushed pepper may have had.  If the weather cooperates on Sunday, I will try to get some more protection for the things I still want to plant in the ground.  Happy things for today are:

• Waking up super early and being productive!  I cleaned a bunch of the kitchen and did laundry.
• Earlier in the week I transplanted the pumpkin into pots from the little seed starter it was in.  Today two of them have flowers!

Two pumpkin blossoms.

• Friday is Minecraft night!

☮

Currently reading: The Backyard Homestead, by Carleen Madigan.

    --I am hoping to finish this book by the end of the month.  It takes a long while reading small parts every day.

Thanks for the check in!  Stay safe.

Happy July!

 It had been my intention to work tomorrow and get some extra time in.  Yesterday and today I was given the opportunity to leave early and I took it.  Saturday Keziah and I have our first in-person SCA event in over a year because of the pandemic.  Since extra work is an option, I decided to be awake for the event and not tired from working the day before.  Tomorrow is payday and it appears the money is in the bank.  Yay!  Other things I am happy for today:

• Special thanks to Reader --K who suggested spreading the crushed pepper to help discourage the woodchucks/groundhogs.  I don't know if it has worked yet, but I feel good having taken this action.  
• To test the pepper, I planted two more of the zinnia plants.  They are getting very root bound so need to be planted somewhere.  If they survive the night, I might plant a few more tomorrow.

And so the ground is sprinkled with red pepper confetti.

• It has only been since last weekend, but it feels much longer, since I sat down with the family for dinner.  Zed cooked up some salmon and it came out perfectly!  Every once in a while it is okay not to sleep, right?

☮

Currently reading: The Backyard Homestead, by Carleen Madigan.

Thanks for reading, stay safe.

Juneteenth

 The preparations I have been trying to do for starting the new job have not been going as well as I had hoped.  I know it will all be fine, but I also know I should have tried harder to sleep today.  Most of the day was very restful, and that was good.  I just didn't sleep.  Other things I am happy for today:

• Getting out for a walk with my friend, Amy.  She has been off visiting her daughter's family in Virginia.  
• There were two woodchucks in the garden today.  The happy part of this is that I learned more places that the fence needs to be more fortified.  Where this little critter is, did not seem to be one of them.

Woodchuck/groundhog.

• Lens helped me identify a butterfly on the vetch.

Silver-spotted Skipper.

• The milkweed that I let grow in the yard (shh, don't tell the lawn/weed police) is blooming.  This, as well as the butterfly weed in the front of the house, are supposed to attract monarch butterflies.  

Common milkweed.

☮

Currently reading: The Backyard Homestead, by Carleen Madigan.

Thank you for reading, stay safe.