The Rains Came

and we were Blessed.

Catching Up

seems to be something I'm not doing very well lately.  I did, finally in the month of June, change the top bed cover to something lighter.

I've almost finished with painting the outside of the house.  The paper wasps have delayed me.  I painted one as it emerged from a crack between wood and rock at the top of the chimney.  It fell but another followed it. I decided to stop painting until I get wasp spray. I'm allergic or I would just try and work around them.  

Between the rains and up and down the ladder, I've weeded and picked up limbs and moved rocks from the water garden so I could fit the ladder next to the house.  I've become braver and more trusting of my ladder placement judgement.  I have very few spots left to paint, just the trim.  Almost done!!!  The high spots will be done from the tractor bucket.  All with a two inch brush, too.  I'm kinda proud of my work.

It is hot and dry now.  A couple of afternoons were triple digits. Some that weren't felt that way with the humidity.  My painting follows the shade and in between I've picked cucumbers and onions, sprayed the hungry bugs with hot pepper/mint/Dawn tea, and moved things from my sister's house she sold.  Along with my regular "chores" I've stayed busy.

The old doe with a fawn thinks the garden is hers.  She likes the bean tops and the lettuce best.  The dogs were keeping her out but she convinced them to stay away the day they sniffed out her fawn.  The deer gave them a good stomping.  No one was harmed but the dogs let her graze in the garden now.

I've mentioned Pit Vipers or poisonous snakes have a smell.  Well, let me tell you something (the way Mom always started a wild story) I've been smelling something strange in our tool closet.  Told Hubby we either had a Copperhead or a skunk under the floor.  He said, Naw, the dogs would have gotten either.  They did one day...tore up jack shit as some would say.  I couldn't tell what was going on.  Had to take a piece of siding off to see under the floor.  There it was...a monster of a Cottonmouth snake.  The dogs did good.  Sad part is I think it got one of my Koi....and to think I've been moving those rocks, digging around, standing barefooted, never having my mind on a poisonous WATER snake.  Well, I'm thinking and watching now!

At night when I sit with ice packs on aching muscles and joints I try to read.  My latest book was A Parchment of Leaves by Silas House. I would like to share a line that struck a chord with me "That's all anybody can ask for, if you think about it-to have somebody love you and depend on you and take care of you when you're sick, and mourn over your casket when you die."

So, just like a letter from home, I've caught up through the times I've failed to post.

Happy Father's Day and may the rest of June be wonderful to you.

In The Garden

baby cucumbers are now visible

and growing well.

The worms have left the purple cabbage in good shape

unlike our broccoli, cauliflower, Brussel sprouts and Dutch cabbage.

I guess they taste better! Or the bugs could be racists.

The Elephant Garlic blooms.

Still harvesting green onions.

Mmm, mmm good.

Life On A Log With Liquid...L

Little creatures often go unnoticed,

The Carpenter Ant searches for the Lost

as the Granddaddy Long Legs wonders how he got so wet.

All Life is precious.

Enjoy the Little things.

My Heart Could See

what I could not capture with the camera.  After a very dry winter the ground was sad and left wanting.  March brought us greatly needed gentle rain.

Just like Dad always said there were diamonds in the grass.

If only I could have captured them .

The Dutch

and Purple Cabbage were happy and settled.

The plants held on to the drops

and bowed their heads in gratefulness.

Two Days, Four Inches, November Fifth

No words needed except Thank you

Ponds almost running over.

We are blessed.

I've Been Honored

at Poets United.  I am speechless.  Thank you, Sherry, and thank you, Poets United.
http://poetryblogroll.blogspot.com/2015/11/blog-of-week-gail-at-farm.html

I am a little "under the weather" so I will be breaking for a few days until the fog clears.  Have a blessed week.

We received two and a half inches of life giving rain over a three day period.  The trees are smiling but our ponds are low.

Wishing all of you the amount of rain you need.

Fall

with almost an inch of rain!

We are blessed.

Two Days Of Skies

Thursday the skies were blue and the trees looked like they were dressing and undressing for autumn.

Rain came Friday!!!!!

I'm sure there are many safety reasons you should not use a camera while you are driving but it has been so long without rain, I had to take a picture.  I am extremely grateful.

In My Yard

We have a promise of rain.

Sweet Williams flowers are almost gone.

a Marigold

Hibiscus seed pods 

Blackberry Lily seeds. 

Water garden needs a fall cleaning.

 The rain clouds kept their promise.

We had enough rain to make the road muddy.

We are blessed.

The Rains Came...

Blow, winds, blow!

Leafs fell because of heat and no rain.

The rain came

and kissed the plants.

Washing their feet and their faces

the plants smiled

knowing they were blessed.

It has almost been too long.