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Tag Archives: yard work

Blooms for the Blog!

Posted on May 26, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

I looked out my upstairs window a few minutes ago and got a lovely surprise:  my rhododendron is blooming!  It was not when I was outside earlier this week and I thought it was not going to.  Yay!

I love it!

I had just put on sweats and slippers, but I quickly changed the slippers for shoes and went out to take a picture.  I don’t know why I feel the need to take a picture of every bloom ever year, but I do.

It looks like there are more blooms to come.

I backed up and took another shot.  I think the rhododendron has seen better years, but I am happy to see how many flowers there are.

Definitely more blooms here.

Here is a shot from May 2017.  That was a good year.   Does that picture make this a Throwback Thursday Post?   Why not?

A little more recently.

Here is May 2021.  Not bad, but I think 2017 was better.  Still, it’s a lovely tree.  I am glad we have it.  It was already here when we moved in in 2005 (wow, that was a while ago!).

I hope to do more work in the yard, plant more flowers and some vegetables, and of course make more blog posts about it (preview of coming attractions). In the meantime,  I am happy about my rhododendrons.

 

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Still Haven’t Found the Stone

Posted on May 20, 2023 by mohawkvalleygirl

Ah coffee, that magic elixir that makes things possible.  Not all things, but many.  For example, making a Late Lame Post Friday post.  Sorry about that.

It is not a defense, but I did spend over a half hour doing strenuous yard work when I was too tired to do so.  I am tired most of the time these days.  Perhaps I need to eat more fruits and vegetables.

This was probably the best year.

This is not the current state of my rhododendron.  This was May 2017.  Perhaps it will bloom late this year.  I can only hope.  Anyways, I just wanted to throw in a picture to pep things up.

I actually felt sort of pleased with myself for getting something done out there.  It has been a couple years since I really concerned myself with the back yard, and it shows.

My session was not without a little Cindy-generated humor though.  At one point, toward the end of my session, I was carrying a bag of non-yard-waste garbage (long story) out to my garbage bin and felt a painful stone in my sneaker.  Three times I took that sneaker off, shook it, felt in it, checked my sock, and found no stone.  Three times I put my sneaker back on and felt that stone.  Finally I gave up and stomped out to the trash bin one sock foot, one sneaker foot.

That was when I decided to call it quits.  But where were my hack saw and clippers (yes, some of the growth was bad enough to require a hack saw)?  Ah, there was the hack saw, but the clippers were not to be found.  I stomped around the last area I was clipping, still one sock foot, one sneaker foot, at least five times.  No clippers.  I even grabbed a rake and spread out last year’s leaves, in case it had gotten buried.  Damn!

I had the clippers here!  I was never over there.  Or there.  It took some time to convince myself to give up.  After all, I argued, the clippers were old and quite rusty.  I could buy new clippers. I said that to myself many times as I continued to look. At last I convinced myself.

And found the clippers on the steps to my deck, next to my water bottle of water.

Sometime I make myself laugh.

 

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It’s a Blooming Blog Post!

Posted on June 8, 2021 by mohawkvalleygirl

I think I have used that title before, but I like it.

It is a hot, muggy day in the Mohawk Valley. I did not run, I did not walk. Well, I walked. Just out into my yard, to take a couple of flower pictures for a blog post.

Pretty, yes?

And still no captions. What the hell, WordPress? And yes, autocorrect, I DID want to say “hell” not “he’ll.” Sheesh!

Where was I? Ah yes, admiring my rhododendrons. It is nice I have at least one kind of flower in my backyard. I have not done my container garden nor any of the yard gardening I had planned.

My front yard is looking fairly cheery, too.

I am delighted with my peonies. They have such a lovely scent. The daisies are delightful, too, if a little out of control.

Then I backed up (carefully, because with my luck lately I might back into something and land on my ass) to get a shot of both.

I do not despair of having some semblance of a container garden. Perhaps this weekend I can work on it. Maybe I could muster some ambition to do something about it after work. No promises, but that would make a pretty good blog post

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Sad Yard, High Hopes

Posted on April 10, 2021 by mohawkvalleygirl

In lieu of my usual Lame Post Friday Post, I thought I would share the Before pictures of my back yard for a Photo Friday Post.

The shade obscures some of the brown overgrowth.

This is where there was once some semblance of a garden but last year was merely a large patch of Black-eyed Susans, chives, and a couple of things I did not plant.

I picked up that big stick at least.

The fence needs work, too.

Last fall, the son of a friend nicely patched a hole in my garage roof. He left behind some materials. I suppose it adds to the general ambiance.

And then there is my container garden, which I also did not clean up at the end of the season. What can I say? 2020 was a lousy year for me, and I did not do enough to make it any better. However, there is no point in lamenting the past. I can only move on to the future.

With that in mind, I plan my Saturday activities. More yard work? A trip to a local flower barn or greenhouse? Whatever it is, I’ll try to make a good blog post about it. As always, I hope you’ll stay tuned.

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I Wish It Was Just Dead Leaves!

Posted on April 9, 2021 by mohawkvalleygirl

Note to self: Do not allow yard waste containers to collect rainwater.

Last night, I had such a good plan. I took some pictures of my 2020-ravaged back yard (yes, I am going to blame it on the year, although we all know it was my own neglect) as “Before” shots. Then I was going to get some yard work done and make a blog post about it. I knew I could not get to a point where “After” shots would be possible, but I had hopes of making progress. So far, so good. I started raking leaves. Ah, here was one of the plastic trash cans I use for yard waste. I’ll just rake these over here and…

EEEEEE!!!!!

Most of my plastic trash cans have developed cracks and holes to let the raiwater out, but some have not. This was was over half filled with water and I THOUGHT I saw a portion of furry back floating there. EEEWWWWW! I could not even look closely enough to be sure. In addition to being a big fat baby in general, I am extremely squeamish when it comes to dead critters. I went up on the deck and peeked over the edge. EEWWW! I ran for my husband.

“HONEY! I think there’s something dead in the trash can!” Please let me be wrong, please let me be wrong!

I was not wrong. Steven came out and dumped the can. Why I felt unable to do it myself is something I cannot explain. Oh, how awful! It was stiff. It was bloated. It was NAAAAASTY! At first I could not even tell it was a squirrel.

I got a trash bag and fetched a snow shovel that was still on the deck. Why, oh why, can I not be one of those people who is unfazed by these things? Steven wielded the shovel. I held the bag. I poked the nasty thing with a stick to get it on the shovel. We got it into the bag without actually touching it. I put it in our garbage can. I was traumatized. Steven was regretting that we ever bought a house.

And here is another thing about be: Even as it was happening, I was composing this blog post in my head.

The disgusting experience had quite the detrimental effect on my motivation. However, I made an effort to get started. I filled three trash cans with leaves, including the can I had started the day before. I made a small pile of sticks which were too thick to break down easily.

I came across another container with water in it. It had a lid, but the lid had come partially ajar. I emptied this one myself, with some trepidation. It only had a little trash in it. Phew!

I made sure to put lids on all the containers I had lids for, except one whose lid was in a hard to reach spot. Well, what kind of miracles of dedication and efficiency do you want from me? Anyways, that was one of the cans with a big old crack on the side. Who knew defective trash cans could be such a comfort?

I did not feel I had made much progress. For one reason, I did not put in nearly the amount of time I had at first envisioned. What can I say? Dead rodents have that effect on me. I hope to have recovered sufficienly to have at it again tonight, but since I also hope to go running, no promises. Additionally it is supposed to be a delightful evening to sit on one’s front porch and just enjoy. I must weigh my options carfully.

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Not Just Dead Leaves!

Posted on April 7, 2021 by mohawkvalleygirl

I went for a run after work, hoping to make a Running Commentary Post. After my cool-down walk I spent a very little time cleaning some of last year’s leaves out of the front yard. Then I took a shower, fixed supper, talked to my Mom on the phone, and generally got too tired to make a blog post.

Yet here I am. But do not despair, gentle reader! This is not another whiny post about how tired I am! Instead, I exerted myself enough to go outside and take a few pictures of flowers. I do love flowers.

Obviously I did not get all the leaves.

This is the lone crocus in the front yard. However, there is more greenery, so perhaps there will be more. I went into the backyard to check on the progress of the daffodils. When I was running I saw a bunch in full bloom, so I had some hopes.

Getting there!

I figured the circuses I had seen before were over, but I was delighted to see a few more, fighting their way through the treacherous 2020 leaves.

I have great hopes for getting yard work and gardening done. Of course, I will have to spend more time at it than 10 minutes after a run. Still, one has to start somewhere. I will keep you updated on my progress. For one reason, it makes a good blog post.

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Asteroga, End Zone… Why Not on a Sunday?

Posted on September 21, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

This will be a fast Sunday Post,  largely because I have been having an enjoyable Sunday and do not feel inclined to further exersions.  Earlier this afternoon,  I met my friend Kim at Asteroga Ale House for drinks and food.

Why not have a toast on a Sunday?

Naturally I asked Kim to take a picture of me.

Kind of a cheese eating grin, isn’t it?

She thought I looked delightful.  Who am I to disagree?  I wanted a shot of the bartender.  I was quite impressed by her acumen, making sure people were seated to enjoy their respective games of interest.  She insisted I get a picture of her working, not a fun picture with a smile.

She was working hard today.

Kim and I had a fun time drinking Chardonnay and Reislimg, and eating calimari.  We went on to the End Zone Pub and Grub, where I foolishly did not take any pictures.  Perhaps I should return there for more illustrations.

In the meantime,  I hope this will count as my Wrist to Forehead Sunday Post.  I do feel inclined to swoon, dramatically posed with the back of one wrist to my forehead, because I have no further words to add.  No matter.  If something dramatic is happening nearby,  perhaps I will hear about it before my next blog post.  If not, at least I can enjoy the frisson of virtue from being above the fray.  I hope none of you will judge me for being in the prior group.

 

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Susans, Sharon, Johnny, and the Crocodile

Posted on August 10, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

Aren’t they pretty?

I went outside just now take a picture of the Brown-eyed Susans I previously mentioned as peeking over the edge of the deck.  Looking at my Media Library,  I wonder how different this shot is from others of these flowers.  However, I took several other shots before looking at my Media Library,  and I see no reason not to share them as well.

A wider shot to show volume.

The Brown-eyed Susans have really spread out since they magically appeared a year or two ago.

Who wouldn’t want an alligator in their backyard?

Full disclosure:  this could be a crocodile.  He has been in various parts of the yard.  Right now he is where he can get maximum sunlight.

Please ignore the weeds.

My Black-eyed Susans have a lot of blooms. I find them cheerful.

Also looking pretty good.

I grabbed an update on our Rose of Sharon while I was in the area.  Then I thought of our Johnny Jump-ups, which I had noticed are also looking well.

My favorites!

They have not jumped up elsewhere yet, but they have filled in the little area where I planted them.

I hope to plant more flowers next year.  Then I might have more variety in these blog posts.  In the meantime,  I feel this is a better post than my usual Wrist to Forehead Sunday.   Does anyone agree?  Discuss amongst yourselves.

 

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Few Accomplishments on Tired Tuesday

Posted on July 22, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

I did not do anything bloggable today.  I went for a short run this morning, during which my legs said, “What’s up with this?  We didn’t sign up for this!” and my breathing went, well, “puff, pant, puff.”  I went shopping for a couple of things, but not to the locally owned, distinctive stores I love (sorry, folks, sometimes I need mass produced items).  My only real accomplishments were a load of laundry and two letters.  And I fear they were short, illegible, and uninteresting.

Oh dear, now it seems I am making a whiny blog post.  Let me share one of the pictures I took this afternoon.

This may be a metaphor for my life.

This is my driveway and front walk.  I have been meaning to do something about all these weeds.  I mean something other than staring at them and shaking my head.  Yesterday, I looked up (for the second or third time), a natural spray for them and mixed up a batch.

It has vinegar, salt, and dish soap.

After first starting to pour it into a squirt bottle with holes, I located an intact squirt bottle and got to squirting.  I re-squirted again this morning, then headed out this afternoon, armed with gardening gloves, a screwdriver, and high hopes.

Which were soon dashed.  I am not sure if my weed mixture did anything at all, but it certainly was not the miracle I was hoping for.  I poked and pulled and huffed and puffed.  Soon sweat was pouring down my face and my back was aching.  I bent over, I squatted, I sat, I knelt.  I had to laugh at myself.  What a crazy old lady I must have looked like!

I persevered for a half hour, maybe a little more.  I got a lot of dirt on myself and made some amount of visible progress.  However, I did not take a picture.  Oh, OK, I will go out and take a picture now (ooh, look at me, blogging in real time).

It’s a work in progress.

You can see why I did not list this among my accomplishments for the day, especially when I mention there are a lot more cracks with weeds.  Still, I gave it a shot.  People who took care of the weeds in their walks earlier in the season, I congratulate you.  I am hoping to do better next year.  In the meantime, I hope this will do for my Tired Tuesday Post.

 

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Did I Slack?

Posted on June 28, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

Earlier this morning, I thought at least I will not have a Slacker Saturday!  Now I am not so sure.

I got up around five and immediately went running.  For one reason, it was supposed to rain.  For another reason… well, I don’t exactly remember the reasoning, bit I told myself to do it and I did it.  After a shower and some breakfast, I went to the grocery store, getting there early enough to miss the usual Saturday morning crowd.

After putting the groceries away, I went outside and once again had at my lawn.  Certain areas along the edges are getting a little put of control.  On the morning’s run, I noticed a fence almost obscured by numerous bushes and trees.  I said, “Yikes!”  So I did a bit with clippers, a hack saw, and my hands in gardening gloves.  Phew!

Not yet done with being useful, I did the dishes and wrote a few post cards.  In between these chores, I peeked at Facebook and called my Mom and Dad.  My final useful act was to drive by the post office and mail my post cards (I elected not to walk, because it was raining).  I could not extend the trip into further useful shopping, because I forgot to bring a mask.

So I have gotten a few things done, but writing an interesting blog post was not one of them.  Alas!  I can only hope to do better on Wrist to Forehead Sunday.

 

 

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