Whew - I'm tired too after running behind your husband as he chased a bat, digging the new bed, looking for Layla, doing all that cooking getting ready for the carpet-laying!! Jane, you pack more into a week than anyone!
Hi Miss Blondie! It's been a while since I've visited your blog! Sounds like you have stayed busy and productive. I love your choice of flowers...beautiful! Glad your baby was safe. Our little mini dachshund loves to burrow under our covers too but luckily never gotten lost in there, lol!~TJ
Hi Jane, good to hear from you..I've missed your journaling, and glad you've got at least one locale up & running again.
I remember when I was 14, babysitting for one of my first times, and a bat flew into my sister's apt - I ran down to the neighbor's and left the baby in the crib! They guessed it flew in through the stove exhaust pipes somehow.
I love your garden plants - wow, what a JOB, planting All 34 in one fell swoop! I bet you two were passing the Advil that night! It's going to look awesome!
Glad Layla was safe and sound. Enjoy your weekend! Rita
Oh that's a good tired:) I love creating a beautiful garden with the help of a willing husband! I know you are enjoying your lake time! Have a blessed weekend dear Jane, HUGS!
Hi Jane, the stew looks so good! I am actually starting to think of hot, cozy meals to make again after living on chicken salad, greens and veggies all summer. The story about your dog had me laughing out loud. Poor little Layla, trapped in a cozy hammock of covers while you search the property. Lol, that is the down side of tiny dogs, they get themselves caught in a crevice somewhere and you can't find them. Your garden is going to be so gorgeous! The yellow coneflowers are beautiful, I need to look for some here, and I'm sure you know that coneflowers draw butterflies, so that will be an added bonus. That's a ton of hard work though!
Hearing of your really busy time at the lake was so much fun - and seeing A out there rototilling, with you in pink jammies, doggie searching, and chasing bats etc. etc. left me giggling.
I needed cheering up as we have just lost Bob's dear mom (96) after 10 days of real sadness as she gradually faded away - it has been hard on the family. this weekend we'll fly to NH for the burial and then take a few days to relax along the cost of Maine before coming home.
Enjoy remaining Summer days - will you be in the NC mountains this Fall?
Oh Blondie, I wanted to laugh at the Layla story, but cry at the same time. I would have panicked and gone to any extreme to find that baby, and wouldn't have cared what I looked like, lol. So glad she was ok! Now, we will just have to agree to disagree on this summer/fall thing. I have been doing my best to conjure up fall, lol, but of coarse we are having temps around 115 here with our Mississippi humidity that we are so popular for. Oh, did that stew look wonderful, and the very first thing that I thought when I saw the picture was...fall. Have a great week end!
Wow Jane I was on the edge of my seat, especially the bat story. Hmm… you do keep busy! Your flowers look pretty and worth all the work. We love to eat sliced tomatoes right off the vine. We have just a few stragglers left but are enjoying them thoroughly. Have a nice weekend … I guess you are still at the lake.
First of all, I can tell why you enjoy the lakehouse all the more, with friends that you have? I wouldn't mind living close by either. Layla and Ella look absolutely adorable in the picture. And I'm so glad nothing happened to Layla for real. Bats are nasty, and dangerous because they can be rabid, so be careful and make sure you take care of that. Love the flower bed your inspired with, and I know in your able hands, you will have something close if not better. :-)
Blondie, Good friends and good food. I love the little Ella holding your dog. So sweet. You are going to have the prettiest gardens. I love the flowers you chose.Blessings for a great weekend, xoxo,Susie
LOL ALL of your posts have so much going on and are so interesting that I am never sure what to comment on but I will say in this one that you are a Mistress of Suspense...I was so worried about Layla along with you :)
There is never a dull moment in your life, Jane! Between the bat and a lost Layla I would have had a migraine...and no energy to plant all those gorgeous flowers. I think I would stay at the cottage and enjoy the new garden while the new carpet is being installed! Have a great weekend.
That's a whole lot of stuff happening at once. Can you please send hubby over? We've got a lizard roaming around our place. It was in the kitchen yesterday and I cornered it twice but hubby wasn't fast enough. Who knows where he is now ... lost in all the mess around here (the lizard, not hubby) Ha! :) The flower garden is gonna look great. We went plant shopping yesterday. Always fun! Have a great trip. Tammy
I just love the fact that you are holding on to summer! Me too. I am not ready to put up the fall decor and surrender to colder temps. Love your stories of the lake and I love your idea for your garden. Great flowers. :) Kit
Oh Jane, you are so funny. I love reading your posts. First, the bat would have scared me to death. So glad that you got it out of the house. I would have had an heart attack if I couldn't find one of my dogs. I am sure you were so scared. I am so glad that you found her, poor baby. Your flowers are so lovely - are they for your home in the city or at the Lake? Your garden is looking grand. I have gotten tomatoes, zucchini and spaghetti squash out of my little garden. Love home grown tomatoes. Have a great week. Guess you will be heading back to the Lake for Labor Day - have a wonderful time. Mary
August 24, 2014 at 1:40 PM
Anonymous said...
oh my bats in the house are something scary I remember too well!!!! I was on the edge of my chair hearing about Layla, what a little sweet heart, I'm so glad of a happy ending, the meals you had were lovely and your new flower garden will be amazing, lots of blue, I love a touch of blue in every garden,
I had to chuckle during the post. First at the sight of the bat catching incident and of you waving to the trash people in your pink jamies. Your garden is going to be absolutely beautiful…love the flowers you decided upon.
Glad little Layla was safe and sound! I can just imagine your panic as you called for her. Be careful with those bats. Hopefully you can get rid of them soon. Your garden is going to be beautiful!!! I love the flowers you chose! Looks like you thought it out and did a great job planting everything. Lookin' good!
Your flower bed will be beautiful, Jane! Love the coneflowers! Glad Layla is a-ok and like you, I will enjoy summer till it's past...really hot here but that IS summer, after all. Have a great week! Hugs, Beth
I'm sitting here dying laughing at the thought of your hubs running around with the net!! I love the picture of the garden. It's going to be gorgeous!!
First of all, the food at the beginning of your post looks and sounds amazing! What a time with the bat in the house...that would really freak me out! Your garden plants look so pretty! Mary Alice
glad layla was safe and sound - hammocked. :) we used to get bats in the old farmhouse i grew up in in wisconsin. at least once or twice a summer. eek! :)
We lived with bats in our roof space for years when we lived in the countryside in England. They are a protected species and generally cause no harm. They do, however, look quite alarming and we can totally empathise with your antics of trying to catch them. This used to be a reasonably regular event for us when our cats decided that they would like to play at night!
Your border looks as if it has all the makings of being a beautiful mix of colour and form. The Echinaceas are really wonderful and increase year on year. They may well enjoy your rocky soil as they like it to be quite well drained. Such hard work, though, preparing the ground.
It all sounds as if you are going to need a holiday to recover from the holiday. Still, that is what makes summer special. Yes, hang on to it!
Jane, sounds like you have been pretty busy. First, I am so glad Layla was ok. I can only imagine how you felt when you couldn't find her. Can't believe the bat got in the house. Glad your husband caught it. Your garden looks beautiful! I know it was a lot of work, but sooo worth it. Get some rest and enjoy the rest of your week. Maria
Hey there Jane! You've been busy! I enjoyed reading about your experience at the lake. I was holding my breath through most of it. Glad all is well. Your flower bed is going to be gorgeous. And those tomatoes! Mouth watering! Happy Week!
August 26, 2014 at 1:29 PM
[Image]A few posts ago I showed you my little handful of green beans which I grew in a container. Well, when life gives you green beans, make stew! This would be so perfect for fall but I am so not ready for that. The stores are already stocking for Halloween. I think they do that because they just have nothing else to put on those empty shelves. I'm not falling for it. My feet are firmly planted in summer and will stay that way until I see frost on the pumpkin. Anyway, the stew is a simple base of sauteed onion and pieces of chicken thighs (very juicy), some white wine, flour and chicken broth. I then added the green beans, Great Northern beans and all sorts of spices. It was so good and since it was a little chilly that day, it was perfect.
[Image]We came to the lake last Saturday (and we are still here). Our friends, Craig and Snow and their darling little girl, Ella, had been here the whole week as a little get away. Ella is infatuated with Layla, and Layla, of course, loves nothing more than to be held and adored.
[Image]Craig and Snow love to cook and actually get along while preparing meals together, unlike myself and someone else you know. They had a cheese and fruit tray ready, along with shrimp cocktail and in the picture above you can see the spread we had for dinner. Craig grilled hamburgers and barbecue chicken as well as fresh zucchini courtesy of my neighbor, Susie. And Snow made roasted potatoes and a tossed salad. It's always a big spread that leaves you moaning.
Sunday night we headed out to a new restaurant on Fish Lake. It was excellent. It's not always easy to find a good steak or tasty pasta in the wide open country so I think we'll be back to this place. We arrived back at the ranch, made a fire in the chimnea and sat back to listen to the bull frogs and look at the stars. And then Ella peeked out the patio door and said, "Aunt Jane, there's a bird in the house." I thought, okay, that's happened. I told her I would be in in a second to take care of it. And then it occurred to me..what sort of bird do you have flying around at night? "Oh, Ella...what does the bird looks like?" She replied, "It's big and black." Okay, Red Alert. The Husband ran for the fishing net and we cautiously came in. Snow and Ella were cowering on the settee while the menacing flying rodent swooped here and there. The dogs were barking at the sight of The Husband frantically running like a mad man with the fishing net, and of course the bat was swooping high and low and whizzing past our covered heads. Thankfully, after about ten minutes, The Husband was able to snag it. I wish I could say all was well, but I knew, deep in my heart of hearts, that the creepy little monster had not just swooped in through an open door. He (and his many friends and relatives, I'm sure) have a way in and a way out. Probably in the stone wall around the fireplace or perhaps in a crevice near the attic. Our house has settled and shifted so much on this marshy ground, anything is possible. Since that night we haven't been terrorized by any more, but I have to get an exterminator out. We've had them in the attic before and they just smoke them out...very humane.
[Image]As if we didn't have enough excitement that night, I awoke about 5:00 a.m. to get a glass of water. I was sort of puzzled that Layla didn't follow me to the kitchen. When I got back into bed, I felt around for her under the blankets. No sign of her. I tried to quietly call for her without waking up the house...but no Layla. I actually peeked in The Miller's room thinking maybe Ella had coaxed her in, but again, no Layla. I did get to see Craig in his boxers and I'm trying to get that image out of my mind. Finally I went outside. The doors were unlocked...typical men. They had come to bed hours after we girls. All I could think was somehow Layla had gotten out. I walked around the yard and stood in the driveway calling her name. Michiana Trash & Recycling drove by and waved. Yes, there I was in my ragged pink jammies and hair sticking up all over. I went back inside with my heart in my throat and into the bedroom to get dressed. Obviously I'd have to search, whether along the lake or down the road. North and south and east and west. By then The Husband was up and wandering around outside calling her as well. And then I heard something like a whimper...it was hard to tell since I can't hear that well, I looked towards our bed and I saw the blankets moving. I pulled the quilt off the bed and saw a lump down near the floor at the end of the bed. I pulled back the top sheet and there she was like a ladybug on it's back trying to turn over, caught between the half pulled out top sheet, a hammock of sorts. And stuck swaddled on her back! She must have just rolled off the bottom of the bed and the tucked in sheet caught her! I nearly cried in relief!
So that was my wonderful Monday morning. It then proceeded to rain 2 straight days. Comcast came out and you'll never guess why I haven't had Internet since May. I got a new laptop and apparently you are supposed to change your network and password. Oh joy. So I'm back in the game. Well except for at home...that's a whole different issue, but I'll try to keep my problems in check by locale if anything.
[Image]On Tuesday The Husband told me had been at Lowe's and had found a really pretty tree, a small one like I had been wanting for the front yard. I was surprised because he was against my idea. After hearing all about said tree, I said, "Go for it." And then he said come on along, we'll get plants for your little garden expansion. Whoa! Knock me over with a feather! I think you all know I've wanted to add on to some of my little flower beds in what I hope to be a gorgeous English garden someday. I was just waiting for Home Depot or our little nursery here in town to come down in price...like $1.99 for a 12 inch pot. Ha! Well, The Husband came through like a hero. He patiently waited while I tried to configure height, width, color, bloom time and hardiness. Only I can turn something fun and carefree into a science.
[Image]This is a terrible picture that I took of a picture I Pinned right off my computer. But this is one of the types of flower beds I'm trying to create.
[Image]You know, they actually make a spray paint that you can use to make an outline of your border with. I used plain old boat rope which we have in abundance.
[Image]It wasn't this easy. We dug and dug and dug that sod out and then rototilled. And digging holes for 34 plants (which I checked and double checked were in the right spot and spaced correctly) was a horrific job because of all the rocks we have. Tons. We filled two buckets with them. Sometimes we dropped the shovels and just used trowels to dig the stones out.
[Image]I'm sorry, I don't mean to give you the blow by blow. I'd love to just show you an after picture, or maybe a picture in 3~4 years when everything is all filled out, with a simple, "Oh yes, a little project we had fun with in '14."
These are some of the flowers. Yellow coneflowers.
[Image]Asters
[Image]Balloon flowers.
[Image]And I brought my little copper birdfeeder up! I have it hanging in a dwarf willow and I actually saw a cardinal in the tree...not at the feeder but close enough for me!! And this is right smack in the middle of the English garden so I hope all these pretty flowers attract the birds. While were planting we saw 3 different types of butterflies hovering around.
[Image]After a long, strenuous and tiring day, we had a simple dinner which included tomatoes freshly picked from neighbor, Susie's garden Just some salt and mixed pepper. Oh my!
I can barely hold my eyes open but I haven't posted for over a week. We are going home tomorrow and then we're off to Madison, Wi., bright and early Saturday morning. Then it's back to reality and trying to figure out where to put three rooms of furniture while we have the carpet put in. Maybe I should just stay here a bit longer...bats and all. ;-)
XO,
Jane
posted by Blondie's Journal at 10:15 PM on Aug 21, 2014
"FLOWER GARDENING AND ALL SORTS OF WINGED CREATURES"
31 Comments -
Whew - I'm tired too after running behind your husband as he chased a bat, digging the new bed, looking for Layla, doing all that cooking getting ready for the carpet-laying!! Jane, you pack more into a week than anyone!
August 21, 2014 at 11:01 PM
Hi Miss Blondie! It's been a while since I've visited your blog! Sounds like you have stayed busy and productive. I love your choice of flowers...beautiful! Glad your baby was safe. Our little mini dachshund loves to burrow under our covers too but luckily never gotten lost in there, lol!~TJ
August 22, 2014 at 1:36 AM
Hi Jane, good to hear from you..I've missed your journaling, and glad you've got at least one locale up & running again.
I remember when I was 14, babysitting for one of my first times, and a bat flew into my sister's apt - I ran down to the neighbor's and left the baby in the crib! They guessed it flew in through the stove exhaust pipes somehow.
I love your garden plants - wow, what a JOB, planting All 34 in one fell swoop! I bet you two were passing the Advil that night! It's going to look awesome!
Glad Layla was safe and sound. Enjoy your weekend!
Rita
August 22, 2014 at 6:22 AM
Oh that's a good tired:) I love creating a beautiful garden with the help of a willing husband! I know you are enjoying your lake time! Have a blessed weekend dear Jane, HUGS!
August 22, 2014 at 6:45 AM
Hi Jane, the stew looks so good! I am actually starting to think of hot, cozy meals to make again after living on chicken salad, greens and veggies all summer.
The story about your dog had me laughing out loud. Poor little Layla, trapped in a cozy hammock of covers while you search the property. Lol, that is the down side of tiny dogs, they get themselves caught in a crevice somewhere and you can't find them.
Your garden is going to be so gorgeous! The yellow coneflowers are beautiful, I need to look for some here, and I'm sure you know that coneflowers draw butterflies, so that will be an added bonus. That's a ton of hard work though!
August 22, 2014 at 7:33 AM
Hearing of your really busy time at the lake was so much fun - and seeing A out there rototilling, with you in pink jammies, doggie searching, and chasing bats etc. etc. left me giggling.
I needed cheering up as we have just lost Bob's dear mom (96) after 10 days of real sadness as she gradually faded away - it has been hard on the family. this weekend we'll fly to NH for the burial and then take a few days to relax along the cost of Maine before coming home.
Enjoy remaining Summer days - will you be in the NC mountains this Fall?
Love, Mary
August 22, 2014 at 7:38 AM
Poor Layla! I can see you waving to the trash men, lol.
Your garden is going to be beautiful. The flowers you chose are just perfect for an English garden.
August 22, 2014 at 9:06 AM
Oh Blondie, I wanted to laugh at the Layla story, but cry at the same time. I would have panicked and gone to any extreme to find that baby, and wouldn't have cared what I looked like, lol. So glad she was ok!
Now, we will just have to agree to disagree on this summer/fall thing. I have been doing my best to conjure up fall, lol, but of coarse we are having temps around 115 here with our Mississippi humidity that we are so popular for. Oh, did that stew look wonderful, and the very first thing that I thought when I saw the picture was...fall. Have a great week end!
August 22, 2014 at 1:19 PM
Your flower beds are gonna look fantastic!
And I don't cook well with husband either.. he is full of advice even though I have been cooking for this family for 25 years. *sigh*
August 22, 2014 at 1:25 PM
Wow Jane I was on the edge of my seat, especially the bat story. Hmm… you do keep busy! Your flowers look pretty and worth all the work. We love to eat sliced tomatoes right off the vine. We have just a few stragglers left but are enjoying them thoroughly. Have a nice weekend … I guess you are still at the lake.
August 22, 2014 at 1:52 PM
First of all, I can tell why you enjoy the lakehouse all the more, with friends that you have? I wouldn't mind living close by either. Layla and Ella look absolutely adorable in the picture. And I'm so glad nothing happened to Layla for real. Bats are nasty, and dangerous because they can be rabid, so be careful and make sure you take care of that. Love the flower bed your inspired with, and I know in your able hands, you will have something close if not better. :-)
August 22, 2014 at 2:28 PM
Blondie, Good friends and good food. I love the little Ella holding your dog. So sweet. You are going to have the prettiest gardens. I love the flowers you chose.Blessings for a great weekend, xoxo,Susie
August 22, 2014 at 5:00 PM
LOL ALL of your posts have so much going on and are so interesting that I am never sure what to comment on but I will say in this one that you are a Mistress of Suspense...I was so worried about Layla along with you :)
And I enjoyed it all, as usual :)
August 22, 2014 at 6:15 PM
There is never a dull moment in your life, Jane! Between the bat and a lost Layla I would have had a migraine...and no energy to plant all those gorgeous flowers.
I think I would stay at the cottage and enjoy the new garden while the new carpet is being installed!
Have a great weekend.
August 22, 2014 at 7:37 PM
That's a whole lot of stuff happening at once. Can you please send hubby over? We've got a lizard roaming around our place. It was in the kitchen yesterday and I cornered it twice but hubby wasn't fast enough. Who knows where he is now ... lost in all the mess around here (the lizard, not hubby) Ha! :) The flower garden is gonna look great. We went plant shopping yesterday. Always fun! Have a great trip. Tammy
August 23, 2014 at 1:19 PM
I just love the fact that you are holding on to summer! Me too. I am not ready to put up the fall decor and surrender to colder temps. Love your stories of the lake and I love your idea for your garden. Great flowers. :) Kit
August 23, 2014 at 4:14 PM
Bats! We think we might have had one in the attic, but don't know what happened to it.
Your English garden will be so beautiful!
August 24, 2014 at 9:54 AM
That garden is going to be your pride and joy, and you will look back in a few seasons and exclaim "my I didn't know it would turn out so beautiful."
Jen
August 24, 2014 at 1:08 PM
Oh Jane, you are so funny. I love reading your posts.
First, the bat would have scared me to death. So glad that you got it out of the house.
I would have had an heart attack if I couldn't find one of my dogs. I am sure you were so scared. I am so glad that you found her, poor baby.
Your flowers are so lovely - are they for your home in the city or at the Lake?
Your garden is looking grand. I have gotten tomatoes, zucchini and spaghetti squash out of my little garden. Love home grown tomatoes.
Have a great week. Guess you will be heading back to the Lake for Labor Day - have a wonderful time.
Mary
August 24, 2014 at 1:40 PM
oh my bats in the house are something scary I remember too well!!!! I was on the edge of my chair hearing about Layla, what a little sweet heart, I'm so glad of a happy ending, the meals you had were lovely and your new flower garden will be amazing, lots of blue, I love a touch of blue in every garden,
August 24, 2014 at 9:28 PM
I had to chuckle during the post. First at the sight of the bat catching incident and of you waving to the trash people in your pink jamies. Your garden is going to be absolutely beautiful…love the flowers you decided upon.
August 25, 2014 at 10:49 AM
Glad little Layla was safe and sound! I can just imagine your panic as you called for her. Be careful with those bats. Hopefully you can get rid of them soon. Your garden is going to be beautiful!!! I love the flowers you chose! Looks like you thought it out and did a great job planting everything. Lookin' good!
August 25, 2014 at 11:54 AM
Your flower bed will be beautiful, Jane! Love the coneflowers! Glad Layla is a-ok and like you, I will enjoy summer till it's past...really hot here but that IS summer, after all. Have a great week!
Hugs, Beth
August 25, 2014 at 4:01 PM
I'm sitting here dying laughing at the thought of your hubs running around with the net!! I love the picture of the garden. It's going to be gorgeous!!
August 25, 2014 at 4:27 PM
Bats...they are rather freaky.
Oh what a wonderful garden...such a lot of work! It will be worth it when you have those flowers well established.
August 25, 2014 at 5:53 PM
First of all, the food at the beginning of your post looks and sounds amazing! What a time with the bat in the house...that would really freak me out!
Your garden plants look so pretty!
Mary Alice
August 25, 2014 at 7:12 PM
hi, blondie! thanks for coming by!
glad layla was safe and sound - hammocked. :) we used to get bats in the old farmhouse i grew up in in wisconsin. at least once or twice a summer. eek! :)
August 25, 2014 at 7:33 PM
Hi Jane,
Whew! You've been busy. I'm so glad to hear about the future grandbaby.
We have seven, and the first greatone will arrive in December!
August 25, 2014 at 8:18 PM
Hello Jane,
What a fun filled time you are having!
We lived with bats in our roof space for years when we lived in the countryside in England. They are a protected species and generally cause no harm. They do, however, look quite alarming and we can totally empathise with your antics of trying to catch them. This used to be a reasonably regular event for us when our cats decided that they would like to play at night!
Your border looks as if it has all the makings of being a beautiful mix of colour and form. The Echinaceas are really wonderful and increase year on year. They may well enjoy your rocky soil as they like it to be quite well drained. Such hard work, though, preparing the ground.
It all sounds as if you are going to need a holiday to recover from the holiday. Still, that is what makes summer special. Yes, hang on to it!
August 26, 2014 at 1:29 AM
Jane, sounds like you have been pretty busy. First, I am so glad Layla was ok. I can only imagine how you felt when you couldn't find her. Can't believe the bat got in the house. Glad your husband caught it. Your garden looks beautiful! I know it was a lot of work, but sooo worth it. Get some rest and enjoy the rest of your week. Maria
August 26, 2014 at 7:28 AM
Hey there Jane! You've been busy! I enjoyed reading about your experience at the lake. I was holding my breath through most of it. Glad all is well. Your flower bed is going to be gorgeous. And those tomatoes! Mouth watering! Happy Week!
August 26, 2014 at 1:29 PM