Halloween

I visited AJ at school for the Halloween costume parade and party. He was dressed as Iron Man.

 

 In the classroom they had a party and made skeleton figures from their names. I got to meet his teacher, Mr. Dugan. AJ attends Beverly School this year.

 

The interesting thing about Halloween this year is that because it was cold, windy and rainy the city of Toledo (and many outlaying areas) postponed trick or treating until Sunday night. I do not remember that ever happening when I was a child. I can remember wearing winter coats under costumes and splashing through puddles. Times change!

 

 

 

 

 

Lots of new pictures

The island garden is "sleeping" now waiting for spring to see how well we have done. The final phases were to finish planting and then to spread leaf mulch over everything. This form of gardening is called lasagna gardening because you build it in layers. No need to kill the grass or till the soil. Much easier on the back. It is recommended that a trench is dug to outline the bed and prevent the grass roots from entering next year. Steve was my trencher. Going around the neighborhood collecting piles of mown grass clippings and shredded leaves this time of year  is easy. It almost feels like stealing when everyone has them all piled up and sitting there  waiting for the taking. I have been driving around with a garbage can in the back of the Jeep and pick up a load whenever I see one. This picture shows the beginning of the mulching process. I still hadn't planted the native grasses here either.

 

 

This is just another view or the mulching and below is with the grasses planted. I am trying to take several views of the garden to help remind me next spring how things are suppose to look.

Finally we have here the trench and most of the leaf mulch in place. As Steve dug out the trench we decided that the West side needed to be a little rounder so the bed got just a little bigger. Space for a few more plants next spring. 

  How beautiful the fall colors are this year so the last picture is just out the back yard. We never tire of the view. 

 

 The Three year garden process is that in year one the garden sleeps.  Year Two it creeps, and in year three it leaps with full glory. 

 

 

 

Time for a little Fall Gardening

My garden mentor Kathy is leaving Perrysburg so the concept of creating an island garden in our front circle became a more immediate job. Kathy and I brainstormed some designs,
picked some plants, and began the process. Project started Friday October 25, 2013.

 

 

 

                                  Phase One was to outline the circle with some bricks

and plant 2 dwarf Butterfly Bushes

Phase Two

Adjust outline and begin placing plants.

Dig lots of holes

15 Garnet Sedums

8 Walkers Low Catmint

 5 Pink Guara

OMG!!! Its October

It seems like time is a commodity that I have little control of lately. I am not sure what I am accomplishing but the days and weeks just fly by. Golf season is winding down although I still hope to have a few good rounds this year. We played Sunday and although a bit windy it was fun. Jessica and Mike continue to do well in their perspective areas. Jessica still loves Boston and Mike loves Bowling Green now. Or at least he loves living on his own. Friends have told me they are having some problems with blogspot so before I write a lengthy update I will attempt to post this with a promise to add more later if everything goes through.

Time flies when you are having Summer

Just taking a minute to check in because I have been busy again and it is a month since I posted. My swallows have all left the nest. Actually 6 of the 7 baby birds fledged and one apparently died in the the nest. After several days of no activity I opened the house to clean it and there was one dead swallow baby. Not sure if the mother finally abandon him or if something else got into the house and killed him. The bird houses are all clean and waiting for a second nesting but as of this writing that seems doubtful.The gardening is taking precidence over birding now. I have beautiful flowers and lots of veggies growing. The tomatoes are just starting to ripen and I am so looking forward to that first BLT with a home grown tomato.

Special Olympic golf has begun and Mike and I again will be trying our luck at capturing a gold medal. Mike celebrated his work anniversary date and is begining his fifth year on the job. Way to go Mike.

Jessica has been the traveller this summer with work and vacation taking her to all parts of the world. She and a girlfriend planned an Alaskan cruise and from there Jessica took a work trip to Singapore. She has decided that a 12 hour time change is sufficient cause for jet lag. She still loves Boston and now that she is back hopes to spend a little more time there.

AJ is taking the junior golf clinics at Belmont this summer and he is developing quite a good swing. He loves hitting balls on the range and into the pond when the range is closed. Sorry friends but I will be out walking the eighteenth pond more frequently this summer and you will not be getting your balls back. Fortunately AJ feels much the same as I do on these walks. We call it our easter egg hunt with the prize being more golfballs to hit futher into the pond.

Hope this video turns out. It is very short but cute. The ball goes about 60 yards now.

The busy season... Summer

My weekly posting goal is over but I am still committed to publishing. Since the travel schedule has finally slowed down the golf schedule had picked up. There are the regular Wednesday ladies game and couples on Sundays and it seems someone always needs a fourth on Tuesdays or Thursdays. Even though we can play pretty quickly at Belmont it is still a 3-4 hour round of golf plus lunch sometimes so it takes a big chink of time. I love it though so I just need to figure out how to sandwich in the regular tasks such as laundry and cooking and house cleaning. And now with the addition of gardening there really isn't ever any downtime. I could spend all day in the yard putzing around.

Bird update is that we had 7 swallow eggs that have hatched but haven't left the nest yet. I am still feeding bluebirds but do not have a nesting pair in either of my houses. The bluebirds are fun to watch as they feed the new babies.

                                      Daddy bluebird with 3 meal worms ready to feed the babies

                         Two babies in the feeding cup and one babies with dad on top of the feeder

                                                             Babies in the bird bath