Sun After Rain

There are numerous iris dotted about the dooryard in clumps.  I have wondered if all would blossom in the classic dark purple with lighter "falls."  The first to open [out by the clothesline] unfolded deep burgandy petals, still dewey.  Today there are two, fully open, and one in gingery shades ready to show off in a day or so. Anyone who remembers the woman who lived here for many years has mentioned her love of flowers. I like to imagine that she spent hours with a plant catalog making her selections. Perhaps the iris were ordered as an un-named mixed "collection."

Another look at the burgandy iris. I moved a clump of iris last Sunday in the rain, transplanting them to my new strip of flower bed.  They were in a bit of a planting that seemed awkwardly placed near the track that leads to the barns. They took the move well and one is budded.  The same weedy tangle presented a hollyhock.  I dug it up as well, though knowing that hollyhocks resent being uprooted and asked to re-establish. Sure enough, it sulked and flopped.  I pruned off the limp leaves and it is obligingly putting up new growth from the center.

One of the inherited peonies which promises to be pink.  Maybe the old variety Sarah Bernhardt?

Surely this one will be bright red!  This is the clump which J. unwittingly ran over with his truck while I screamed from the sidelines.

This little clump of feathers was lying on the wet grass near the  crab apple tree.  I didn't see a dead bird, though surely this is an unhealthy amount of feathers to lose and still fly away?

The clemetis continues to bloom all in a tumble at the bottom of the trellis. It wants tieing up so it can grow up the wires. That task is on the "to-do" list.

So many things "want done" all at once that I know a daily frustration at my own lack of efficiency.  J. has done wonders. The flooring is down in living room, dining area, hall, and master bedroom.  Together we finished the painting of the kitchen and dining room before he installed the kitchen cabinets. The accent wall in the living room was painted first of all.

I tackled the painting of the woodwork in the bedroom on Tuesday while J. finished the edges of the floor.

Oh dear.  The folding closet doors look nice as does the main door.  Even the baseboards look good, although "cutting in" along the edges with a highly contrasting paint color is a nightmare.

I set to work on the window casings and the cunning little interior shutters yesterday. I knew the shutters wouldn't be easy.  Several hours later I had to concede that it wasn't going well. Painting old window sashes is never as nice as finishing new ones.  Charlie the Cat [who isn't bright] jumped on a freshly painted window sill. The louvers of the shutters dripped and dribbled paint.  I developed a kink in my neck and aching shoulders and felt rather like throwing a tantrum. [Which would have taken more energy than I possessed!]

I woke this morning and cautiously peered at the paint--which is called "Cinnamon Swirl." It is meant to be a buffy-peachy color.  Some of the time it is.  With the eastern sun pouring in I managed to convince myself that it looks more like an over ripe cantalope--or maybe a melting orange popsicle.

I creaked out of bed and tip-toed to the kitchen, aching in every bone.

J. emerged when the scent of fresh coffee drifted down the hall.

I began to moan about the shutters. I took my mug of coffee and two heated back warmers and crippled to my lair in the corner of the loveseat.

J. remained non-committal re the shutters, but announced that "we" needed to "go see about fencing."

He furthermore decided we should go to the Lowes in Glasgow, KY rather than the one in Campbellsville where we have been buying supplies.

I believe the man has decided that it is judicious to remove both of us from the scene of our labors and take an "outing" every few days.

I grumbled a bit about going--shouldn't I stay home and GET SOMETHING DONE?

I went along--and the sunshine on green fields, the shrubbery and flowers in bloom in every dooryard were beautiful to see. [Although I do think that azaleas in screeching colors are a bit much!]

Having nothing to do while J. made his price comparisions on various fencing materials I wandered into the adjoining garden center.

I usually am not excited about the quality or variety of plants in such places, but found a good display of perennials in good condition--and on sale!

When J. reappeared I had loaded a cart with pots of nepeta [Walkers' Low] a dark red aquilegia and a bi-colored one in scarlet and honey yellow, several Cheddar Pinks, a red dianthus.

Before dark this evening all had been tucked into the ground, as well as several plants which had been languishing on the side porch while rain made it too muddy to plant.

The matter of the wretched shutters remains.  The problem of creaky old bones is here to stay.

But--the flower border is beginning to be a reality.

Planting and Pruning

One of the sales areas at Anna's Garden in Russell Springs, KY.

J. decided he needed a break from flooring for a few hours yesterday, so we headed to Russell Springs to buy perennials for my flower border.  My work mates and friends at the quilt shop in Wyoming had presented me with a card and gift of money designated for my new garden.  Needless to say, I spent that and then some!

J. wandered about in the vegetable hot house while I chose my flowers.  He couldn't resist bringing home 6 tomato plants even though it is still a bit possible for some cold weather. I was pleased to note that in addition to the standard tomato varieties some heirloom plants such as "Brandywine" are available.  Another year I will contrive to start my own tomatoes, peppers and melons---there are so many delicious things to grow which aren't available in garden centers.

The plants were all healthy and vigorous. I was a bit disappointed that only the most common perennials were offered, but they will create a good framework for the garden.

It was nearly dark last evening when I noticed that the clemetis had opened its buds. Not having grown one in New England I didn't know when to anticipate bloom. The flowers are creamy white with delicate green veining. More have opened since I took the photo this morning. The existing  trellis is rather makeshift, but it works and there is considerable new growth which needs to be gently tied up and encouraged to run up the wire.

I spent several hours last evening pruning and again this afternoon. Honeysuckle vine has nearly strangled everything it can get at. I have clipped, pulled, unwound and unraveled it from the nandina, from the spicey flowering shrubs and from a shrub whose name I don't yet know.  I read up on the proper pruning of nandina, and fear that I rather hacked at it, but it was desparately out of bounds.

I came in at teatime and collapsed with a favorite old English novel, struggled up to make a sort of supper and then went out in the dusk to gather my branches and bits and drag them to the burn area.

I used the heavy long-handled loppers, working above my head a good deal of the time and am definitely ready for bed.

The kitchen cabinetry and range are to be delivered tomorrow. The next few days should see a bedlam of boxes and displaced items.

I can't tear off the old kitchen wallpaper and finish applying the fresh pale yellow paint, until the old cabinets have been pulled out. J. can't put down the dining area floor until the new kitchen cabinets have found their rightful places.

J. tore up the ancient linoleum in the old laundry area this morning. The particle board beneath  was as disgusting as expected and will have to be replaced with fresh OSB.

He worked at the flooring for awhile, then retreated to the garden to mulch his little fruit trees and berry canes.

We are making progress even as we make messes.

All comments from the cheering section are greatly appreciated!

Old, But Still Working!

The "old mare", grey locks swinging in my face as I set out 75 strawberry plants this morning.  Thankfully, I didn't have to dig the holes for the plants.

This is good loamy soil, almost completely stone free.

J. having wielded the shovel, has been roaring about the yard on the lawn mower.

I need to get back out to plant three roses and some lily bulbs.

It would be nice if, after such strenuous labor, we came in and a good lunch had miraculously appeared.

The new kitchen cabinetry and range are due for delivery on Friday, so sometime next week should see the kitchen unpacked and sorted and normal meals resumed.

Old Grey Mare

J. slicing up lengths of carpet and backing ready to start laying down the pre-finished hardwood laminate we chose for flooring.  The living room has been in total disruption which distresses the cats. Bumbling about in the dark is not a good idea just now--unless one wants to walk smack into a stray bookcase or trip over a displaced chair.

J. no sooner started on the flooring project than we realized that frantic bird noises were issuing from the "column" at the end of the side porch.  A phoebe was determined to build a nest there in spite of my having made discouraging swipes with a broom.

Idiot bird fell down inside the hollow pillar.  J. jacked up the porch roof, removed the plate that partially covered the top of the column and the bird hastily exited.  It hasn't been back to resume nest building.

Meanwhile J. is tsk-tsking over the lack of sturdiness in the so-called column. The other end of the porch is supported by masonry.

Paint sample cards fascinate me and I collect them by the handful from building supply places.  So many tints and shades of every possible color--and such imaginative names.

I'm in process of painting the kitchen/dining area in the one labeled "homey cream."

J. painted an accent wall in the living room in the Laura Ashley Russet # 6.  [I was meant to be painting it, but he decided to "cut in" the edge of the ceiling for me, then I think he was enjoying spreading the color.]

The one quart we bought didn't cover the entire wall, so back to Lowes on Sunday for another qt.

J. took an alternate route to drive there [Campbellsville, the next town] and we enjoyed the beautiful spring scenery.

The order of nursery stock was delivered just after lunch today.

Paint rollers and flooring tools were set aside and we spent several hours in the garden.

My job was to sort the fruit trees and berry canes by varieties, lay them out by the appropriate holes and then hold the scrawny things in place while J. tenderly shoveled dirt around them.

This was overseen by Pebbles.  J. moved her pasture up past the old apple trees and set the electric fence to take in the lean-to portion of the nearer barn.

Pebbles stomped back and forth fussing for a good part of the day.  We think she is missing hob-nobbing over the fence with the cattle who are pastured on the adjoining farm. She is now too far removed from them to have neighborly chats.

As I have urged myself to keep up with the "things to do" list, as I have realized that I can no longer manage to paint spaces that are above my head, cannot in fact, get as much accomplished as I once did, I've found myself humming an old ditty.  Doleful words set to a jigging sort of tune.

The old grey mare she ain't what she used to be,

Ain't what she used to be,

Ain't what she used to be.

The old grey mare she ain't what she used to be, many long years ago.

It goes on--but you get the picture!

All fruit trees planted;  about six dozen berry canes in.

J. "turned" the space I requested for shrub roses and perennials and several extra strips for tomatoes and such.  In the morning we'll put in strawberry plants and my red "knock-out" roses.

 Meanwhile I creak and groan--and try not to recall that I decided in a moment of enthusiasm to paint all the bedroom woodwork in a lovely color called "Cinnamon Swirl."  The gallon of paint awaits my pleasure.