Rhizomes and Tubers and Pips, Oh, My!

 There is a large-ish section by the driveway that has flowers growing there that I have wanted to thin.  The plants came in very crowded and I had no way of knowing when the last time they were thinned.  My plan was to do the section with the irises, daylilies, and lily-of-the-valley.  I haven't measured, but I'd guess around an eight by three or four foot section between the driveway, roses, wall, and shed.  I have managed to pull just about everything out of a section from the roses that is about two feet or so wide to the wall.  Things were VERY rootbound.  I'm thrilled that I got this much done and have decided that this section is enough for this year.  Here are some things I am happy about concerning the thinning:

• I learned a bit about rhizomes, tubers, and pips.  The rhizomes are parts of the irises and can be partially uncovered from the soil.  The daylillies have tubers that look vaguely like carrots.  The lily-of-the-valley have pips and they have so many roots that grow from them and tangle together.
• I set a limit as to how far to go with thinning.  I did this before becoming completely overwhelmed.  
• Once I set that limit as to how much to thin, I realized that if I totally mess up this thinning process, all is not lost, there is still the rest of the section that is overrun with rhizomes and tubers and pips, oh, my!

Rhizomes... and at least one pip.

Tubers

The cleared section.

Other things I am happy about today:

• Yesterday the case for my phone arrived and I put it on the phone.  Today after working in the dirt of the garden and being outside a bunch it was dirty.  It was the coolest thing to be able to take the phone in its case and rinse it off to remove the debri.  Waterproof phone case, yay!
• Plans are under way to invite people into our SCA household.  I hope they say yes.
• Turkeys in the yard!

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Currently reading: The Backyard Homestead Seasonal Planner, by Ann Larkin Hansen.


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

The Walk

 This morning some friends and I participated in the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention walk.  This was the third one of these since a dear friend died by suicide.  The cause is good, the reasons behind it are not.  I am very appreciative to the people who donated.  After I had a nice visit with my friend, Amy.  Some other parts of the day that I am happy for include:

• Many people showed up for the walk and the pre-walk ceremony.  

I need to work on taking group selfies.

• Amy and I went for another walk in the afternoon to get our step count in.  Foliage is still spotty, but it is making an appearance.

• I noticed this pretty flower in a wild part of the yard.  ⬇⬇  Lens thunks it is white campion but I don't agree.  For one thing, it is a very light pink color.  I'm pretty sure I saw it last year as well.  Too bad I can't remember what I thought it was then!  

• I tried to thin more of one of the flower garden.  Earlier in the week I pulled out some of the lily-of-the-valleys.  I was hoping to pull some of the iris out, but they didn't want to come.  I got quite a lot more of the lily-of-the-valley pips to transplant.

Before I started today.

After, the bag has the lily-of-the -valley pips.

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Currently reading: The Backyard Homestead Seasonal Planner, by Ann Larkin Hansen.

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

Minecraft

 For most people who work full-time, a forty hour work week is the norm.  My week is usually thirty hours scheduled.  Last week and this week my hours were closer to that forty hour mark and I am really tired.  The team I worked with was complimented and told we did a good job of keeping up and working together.  Other happy things for today:

• I actually got a small nap after work.
• Minecraft.  If you are a regular reader you know that Friday is Minecraft day.  My friend, TF, and I try to play every Friday night.  On rare occasions other family members join in, but it is usually just the two of us.  Recently there was an update which means that we might start a new world soon-that depends on the other players.  Anyhow, we are learning new things in this world, where we know the surroundings better.  Tonight, we were trying to build a 4-way rail intersection such as in this video.  We find ourselves frustrated with the videos and from that frustration comes laughter and how we could do it better.  We probably don't know enough about the game, but we could critique the people that do.  That they make things in ideal surroundings (creative mode with endless supplies) and we don't (monsters and we have to mine for resources) is just one small critique.  Ideas can be fun.

Here is our track in progress.
It is mostly done, but I was falling asleep.

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Currently reading: The Backyard Homestead Seasonal Planner, by Ann Larkin Hansen.

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

Innergize Day

Leaving for work tonight the moon appeared to be moving across a small section of sky. It wasn't, of course, there were clouds moving quickly that lent that appearance to my first quick glance upward. My initial thought was movie time lapse. Other happy things for today:

• During lunch after work, we had family time and watched Star Trek Deep Space 9. Zed is still not working as he heals from last week’s surgery. There were some curveballs that Gideon didn’t expect in this episode. I’m not sure what was going on when they originally aired, but we have reached the part of the series where I didn’t watch much and there are gaps for me too.  This one, I knew was going to happen, but I missed the episode when it did.
• There are spots of foliage out back. I hope to get out there more often so the paths will become more prominent.

• On the phone today with TF we were discussing that we should have some time on our schedule for self care or something similar.  Apparently today is a day for something like that, Innergize Day.  
• The new phone has three different camera options.  The following three pictures were taken from about the same distance and I just changed the settings.  I'm liking this option.

Aster.

• A statue appeared at the entryway to the garden. A pelican statue and surprise gift from Keziah. In the SCA, a Pelican is a high ranking service award and I have that award.

☮

Currently reading: The Backyard Homestead Seasonal Planner, by Ann Larkin Hansen.

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

Happy Autumn!

 It had been my intention to work outside today.  Mother Nature decided it was their turn to work outside and is busy watering the earth.  It looks like there will be off and on showers until Friday at which time it will just rain.  Since it is the first day of Autumn, I think the rain somehow seems fitting.  Other things I am happy for today:       

• One of the people at work complimented on my ability to do the job.  It is always good to hear stuff like that.
• Other than work, not much happened today so the pets in my life are the other happy things.

Aesop with his collar.

Winston napping.

Nanni moving around so the
camera wouldn't focus on her.

• One more thing... Imagine looking into a dark room with a child reading a book under the covers with a flashlight.  There is a glow from the light that is mottled from the blanket but everything else is dark.  That is how I am describing the moon that I saw heading to work this morning.

☮

Currently reading: The Backyard Homestead Seasonal Planner, by Ann Larkin Hansen.

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

New Phone

After a long morning at work I met the family at a mall to buy new cell phones and change our service provider. It can never go easy. The lady who worked with us was nice and in the end, we have our phones and they are shiny and pretty. I am happy with the smartphone, once I have re-signed into all the things I am sure I will be even more happy with it. Other happy things for today:

• Heading out the door this morning the mostly full moon was lovely and lit my path to the car.

• My new glasses were in and I picked them up. The best part is that I think they will stay on my face better than the old ones! My prescription didn’t change much, but the lenses are much clearer than the scuffed up older ones.

Not a good picture of me...
First photo with the new phone and new glasses.

• This may be a weird happy thing, but I am using it anyway.  Aesop was neutered today.  He is still rather sedated and not very happy.  When he is all healed up I will be a little more comfortable about him meeting with other dogs.

☮

Currently reading: The Backyard Homestead Seasonal Planner, by Ann Larkin Hansen.

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

Order

With many things there is an order of operations.  That was forgotten by me until I had another raised garden bed put together.  What should have happened before putting together the raised beds was for me to create the place where they are going to go.  I still put together more of the raised beds, but they are not at all complete. 

A pile of boxes on the first raised bed I put together.

Together, but not really complete.

Less boxes...
Always a good thing.

 I am happy with my plans for the raised beds, hopefully the execution of the plans will go well.  Other happy things for today:

• Part of preparing the spot for the raised beds is to remove the Egyptian walking onions.  I pulled a bunch out and I am storing them on the porch until the bed is prepared. 
• Since I had out the tools for pulling up plants, I pulled up some of the lily-of-the-valleys that are overcrowded.  Ideally, most of what is in that area will be pulled out and thinned before the end of the month.  At least I have it started.
• Aesop and I had a nice walk this morning on the road and through the property.  Thankfully I didn't fall this time!    

The sun is coming up.

He moved...

• Sometimes snippets are overheard.  The context is unknown, but I heard Zed stay, "Let's be realistic, we're pretty cool parents."
• I remembered to get the SD card from the wildlife camera.  Unfortunately, it went through the wash.  Fortunately, I had already downloaded the video.  I may buy a new card tomorrow.
• Bee.

☮

Currently reading: The Backyard Homestead Seasonal Planner, by Ann Larkin Hansen.


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