Merry Christmas!

This is not my house...

This is how I would like my house to look...

Anyways...  Merry Christmas to all!

'Til next time,

Love ya,  Jean

Happy Thanksgiving...

Happy Thanksgiving to all my family and friends...

'Til next time.  Love ya,  Jean

Flower Bouquet...

I picked some flowers from my garden today...

Yellows and greens...

Brown eyed Susans...

I added a few ferns...

And some Goldenrod...
The bees love this...

I love bringing them indoors to enjoy...

'Til next time,
Love ya,  Jean

Garden goodies...

My geraniums this summer...
I saved these from last year...

They are so pretty...

I added this lettuce to my planter to fill in the space
when the flowers were small...

Some of my tomatoes are finally ripening...
Lots more out there...
They are so delicious!

The weather is still very hot,  making it so hard to garden,  The next 5 days will be in the 90's here.

I've been staying inside a lot...
watching TV,  reading and cleaning.  Not very exciting,  for sure.  Can't wait for cooler weather to arrive!

I have been walking in the early morning for about an hour every day.  I enjoy that!  It's cool and relatively quiet.  I hook up my Ipod and off I go.  I have walked (a few weeks ago) 1,862 miles,  the length of Japan.  81,000 steps last week.  My goal is 10,000 steps a day.  I use the FitBit Flex to track my steps.  I really like it.  It's a good incentive to keep motivated and I highly recommend it.

'Til next time,  Love ya,  Jean

Summer drought...

This gardening season has been so hard!  

Record high heat and drought have really made 

gardening a challenge!

In spite of it all,  I did manage to grow some tomatoes.

They are green and will probably stay that way for a while.

You see, they don't ripen if temps are more than 90 degrees.

I am hoping that we get a break from the heat.

I am trying to be patient.

I have three tomato plants that I practically drowned--

I thought they were drooping because they needed water,

so I gave them lots.

The more I watered,  they droopier they got!

Then,  I realized that they were waterlogged!  

I stopped adding water and they have come back a little.

It remains to be seen if they will recover or not.

I have three plants in my backyard that are doing great.

So,  at least I have those!

We'll see!

Here are those plants...

Celebrity,  the best tomato that I have found!

I can't wait for the deliciousness!!!

'Til next time,  

Love ya,  Jean 

Painted Pots...

I painted this pot with chalkboard paint...

Then,  I used a chalk pen to draw the design.

I sealed it with spray sealer 

so that it would stay put!

I like it!

As you can see,  up close,  it is just a series of dots and squiggle lines.  It looks like a doily is draped over the side of the pot.  I will make more.  I really like how it came out.  I think I will use a darker grey or black next time.  

'Til next time,  

Love ya,  Jean

Just some flowers today...

Some flower pictures from my garden...

Of course,  they are much more spectacular now than when I took these pictures,  but I am too lazy to redo them.   haha  Must be my old age.

My indoor seed starting was so successful this year,  that I am still planting the stuff that I grew.  And that means getting the ground ready to put the plants in.  That is the most work!  I had to buy some compost this year as my compost that I make is not ready yet.  So,  that means hauling these heavy bags of stuff around and then having to incorporate the stuff into the existing soil.  A lot of work!  But I am driven to do this.  I don't know why,  I just have to do it!  I look at the flowers and the combinations and say to myself,  this is all worth it!   I love the flowers and I love the hard work that goes into it.  

It's supposed to be hot today,  85 degrees,  so I will start early today.  I still have some more plants to put in today.  Oh,  and I found 35 gladiolas bulbs that I bought in a weak moment a few months ago,  so now I have to figure out where to put the darn things!  Guess I better get started!

'Til next time,  Love ya,  Jean

Gardening Gloves...

I'm ready for another week of gardening...

These are the gloves that I wear
when I do my gardening.
I like the green ones the best.
The blue ones are OK,  but a looser weave
so the dirt gets through and my hands get dirty.
The green ones are a tighter weave,
so not much gets through.
I sometimes have to get the blue ones,
if the hardware store where I buy them,
is out of the green ones.
They will usually order them for me,
but then I have to go back to pick them up.
So that means another trip to the store,
so instead I'll just buy the blue ones.
The gloves do wash up pretty good...
I prewash in the sink to get the worst of the dirt out
and then I put them through the washing machine
and this gets them nice and clean and fresh.
I do not put them in the dryer!
Air dry only!
So now I will go put my clean gloves to good use.

Do you wash your gardening gloves 
or just throw them away?

'Til next time,  Love ya,  Jean

A little visitor...

I had a little visitor to my garden yesterday morning...

Then later in the day,  I saw him again about 2 feet away from me...

He/She was not afraid of me at all.

Just a baby that got separated from his Mama,  I guess.

It was only about 6 inches long.

I put a small dish of water out for the baby,  just in case it was thirsty.

I understand that possums are great grub and worm eaters.

I need to do some research.

I am hoping that it's Mama finds it!

It sure was cute!

'Til next time,

Love ya,  Jean

Hello June...

June is the best month of my garden....

You'll be seeing lots of pictures soon...

'Til next time.  Love ya,  Jean

Memorial Day 2016 ...

Thank you to all those who served our country...

Have a great time and be safe!

'Til next time,

Love ya,  Jean

Oh, Mickey!

Mickey's Sorcerer Hat
(Needs no explanation 
to Disney fanatics)

'Til next time,  Love ya,  Jean

Montage of sweetness...

I have been on a kick of making jam, 

 jelly, and syrups in the last few weeks...

(when I'm not able to work in the garden)

Mint Syrup...

Love this look...

Violet Syrup...

Strawberry Jam...

Violet Jelly...

I'm trying to make use of some of the stuff
that is growing around here.
All except the strawberry jam,
I used frozen strawberries for that.
I also used raw sugar which made it very dark red,
 instead of a strawberry color.  It tastes pretty good.  The raw sugar adds a nice brown sugar flavor to it.

I planted trays of seeds about five weeks ago.  Everything is thriving!  I can't wait to get the plants in the ground.  It is raining today,  58 degrees, and the soil is very wet.  Tomorrow it is supposed to be 90 degrees!  Talk about temperature swings!  I think Mother Nature is going through menopause!  Temperamental is what I call it!

So,  I'm hoping for some "normal" weather someday soon,
so I can get out there and get my hands dirty!
I have lots of flowers blooming now,
and lots of weeds to take care of,  too.
And plants to plant...

'Til next time,  Love ya,  Jean 

Yogurt...

I found a recipe for yogurt on the internet...

There were also a lot of videos on Youtube...

I made some years ago,  probably about 30 or more, 

and I remembered it being pretty easy and inexpensive.

So,  because I am waiting for the lousy weather to clear up,  

so I can go gardening,  

I amused myself  by making some yogurt.

I thought you might like the recipe...

YOGURT RECIPE

Ingredients:

1 quart of milk,  it can be whole,  lowfat or fat free

4 tablespoons of regular, plain yogurt, (not greek)

and it must say that it has live cultures in it

You will need a thermometer for this.

You need 2 pint jars with lids,  

I sterilized mine and kept them in the hot water

 until they were ready to use.

I actually had a third small jar ready for the extra overflow, 

as you can see in the picture.  

Just add a little yogurt to it,  probably a teaspoon or so.

Here's how to do it;  

Heat the milk to 180 degrees.

Let it cool down to 110 degrees.  Pour into your warm jars.

Add 2 tablespoons of yogurt to the milk in the jars.  

Stir and put lids on the jars.

Preheat your oven to low (as low as it will go). and then turn it off.

Place the jars on a tray and place in oven.  

Put the light on in the oven and 

let jars sit 8 hours or overnight with the light on.

Remove from oven,  (they will be pretty warm),

 and let sit on the counter until cool.

Place in fridge.

When it is thoroughly cool,  

enjoy!

Save about 4 tablespoons from your first batch to make your next batch and you will never have to buy store bought yogurt again.

I understand that the longer you let it stay in the oven,  the more tart it will be.

I like to add some sweetness to mine by adding some jam or preserves to it.

Fruit is good,  too!  And good for you!

And there you have it,  so easy and so delicious!
Give it a try!

If you have any questions,  just leave them in comments
and I will get right back to you!

'Til next time,
Love ya,  Jean

New camera and Amaryllis...

Look what I got...

My daughter got me a new camera for my birthday...
I am thrilled!
I love it!
It does all I need, and more,
and I am so excited to use it!
What a surprise this was!

This was another surprise!
A second shoot just popped up from the first amaryllis
 that I showed you a while ago...
This is the one called "Desire".
So pretty...

It has been so cold here.  Spring is having a very hard time warming up.  It is in the 40's,  maybe 50 degrees,  and still in the low 40's at night.  It is raining now and this is the third day,  The forecast is calling for another week of cold rain.  So frustrating for me, as I have so much gardening to do and it is not getting done. Give me sunshine,  please!!!  haha  I guess it'll come sooner or later.  You can't mess with Mother Nature,  she always gets her own way!  In the meantime,  I am gardening inside... starting seeds,  tending them,  and watching them grow!  My kind of fun!

'Til next time,

Love ya,  Jean

Some new baby quilts...

While I was waiting for the weather to clear up ,  

I made some more baby quilts.

The first picture is of four little quilts 

that are flannel backed.

They don't have any batting in them.  

It makes a much lighter weight quilt.

These two have batting 

and are a little heavier weight 

and more "traditional".

I love making these and it's for a good cause.  Now,  I just need to use up some of my fabric,  as my stash has grown in the last few years.  You see,  I can't resist buying fabric.  haha

Have a happy Sunday, Everyone!

'Til next time,  Love ya,  Jean

Black & White...

These are really color photos...

You can tell how dark and dreary yesterday was...

And the day before...

So,  we were lucky... 
The prediction for snow was about 11" total...
We got about 5" altogether... not too bad!

Now,  I'm waiting for it to go away!

After all,  it is April and this is not supposed to happen!

Will someone please tell Mother Nature that!

This gardener is getting restless!

'Til next time,  Love ya,  Jean

Red Lion and Snow...

Amaryllis "Red Lion"

This is the latest one to bloom!

The color is spectacular!

It has 4 flowers on it.

I just love it! 

It snowed overnight here in New England--about 2 inches.  It is stuck to all the trees, etc.,  and looks very wintery.  The forecasters say that we are in for 8 more inches tomorrow.   Now,  Folks, someone please tell them that it is April 3,  not February 3,  and that it's time for Spring to rear it's beautiful head!  It is so hard not to let myself get depressed.  At least,  I got to plant my snow peas on Friday. Oh, Hey!  Maybe that's why we have snow!!!  The temperature was 70 degrees on Friday and I enjoyed every minute of it!  Go figure!

My maple sugaring days are over for this year.  The tree dried up!  I took the tapping equipment off of it and put it away.  I'm really looking forward to next year.  Oh wait,  I'll be another year older by then.  I don't want to wish my life away.  haha  I want to savor what I have now and I'll take the rest as it comes.  So, for now...

'Til next time,  Love ya,  Jean