I won't take a nap ...I won't take a nap ... I won't take a nap ...

I was up and awake a couple hours or more before the sunrise. I should have gone back to bed! I love these golden mornings where everything is bathed in glory.

 Yesterday I sprayed the lavender with dawn/oil/water. This morning in the good light, I noticed some black moldy stuff on the underside of the leaves and some of them were definitely dying. I whacked it down to the nubbins and made a little cyber note card with the flowers before they got the heave-ho out the window. I have dosed it again - if the plant does not improve, I'll rip the rest of it out and forget it.

 This little guy stopped momentarily, only time to take one shot. You can see how much the fig has leafed out in a little over a week.

   I thought my flowering plum was dead, but this morning I noticed a few blossoms starting to open. I went through my old pictures and yes, the pink blossoms take longer to come out. I hope it gets really pretty, but if it doesn't snap out of this straggly look though, I guess I will end up with a flowering crab and forget it.

Have a great day, night, whatever!

Busy week ahead

I suppose it goes without saying much about it - I should have thrown the Steam Buggy in the trash today, but that sneaky fellow came before I woke up.

I took this picture of a Downy in my fig before the storm and big freeze Saturday night. You could still see the tiny figs that hadn't matured and the green tips of the new growth buds - I'm pretty sure they are frozen now, it was 14 F this morning. BTW, the bird feeder was totally obliterated during the storm.

 DH bought me some of these truffles - best I've ever had! Too bad there were only 20 of them in that tube. Doubt he will buy more - seeing that I bought 4 different boxes of jellied chocolates for the holidays.

 Progress report on Tom's produce. The fruits are ripening faster now, no matter the size. The lower sun shines directly on them for about 3 hours in the afternoon, I believe that's helping. Will have another sandwich before long!

 I'm anxious for Christmas now - DH ordered me a footed planter to put in front of the window and I've ordered some Tiny Tim cherry tomato seeds. Tom will have to hurry up and finish so I can start my little 'garden' by the window. Ha Ha.

There is one little glitch in all this ordering (Dog treats, dog toys, batteries, computer battery, and garden stuff. Son says not to open anything before Christmas. He has ordered gifts for us from Amazon too! With no way to tell what he sent ... we will have to wait to open anything unless we can devise some sort of plan. So glad that my chocolate jellies came today and I tracked it - was the only thing that came today!

Doctor visit

I have a doctor's appointment today. I suppose it's about time, but I do avoid them like a plague. I don't know about you, but I am so tired of "Let's try this," only to have worse side effects than the problems. I am a bit cantankerous anymore when they say that. When my mind goes completely, I imagine I will be the old lady that no one wants to take care of in the nursing home. I'm always cold, I believe it it not just poor circulation, I think it's having cold air pumped into my lungs 24/7. I remember when I worked at the nursing home years ago, one particular old lady stole the toilet tissue from others bathrooms and stuffed it under her covers. She walked around complaining, "I'm cold, I'm cold!" I sure hope I don't end up like that.

Sparrow Hall and extension.

 I took this last week before the leaves finished falling off. If summer had held on a little longer, I would have had some ripe figs. Sigh, that would really have been pushing it. Not sure if you can see the tiny figs on it or not, would have made a nice bowlful. At least Sparrow hall has been rebuilt by nature and the birds have been enjoying it for quite some time. I'm glad I didn't have DH demolish it completely and fill it in. I do enjoy watching the visitors! (Mostly sparrows, house finches, and cardinals)

I need to get my act together - I really hate going ...

Well, I'll be!

It's common knowledge among my friends and followers that my fig trees froze out every winter except one since I planted them six years ago. I was pondering just ripping them out and putting in some flowering bushes, maybe a forsythia and maybe another hibiscus. The birds obviously like the fig trees (bushes, really) as it's their look-out spot in the yard. Okay, change of plans. I think I will let them be. I have a poke plant in with the one fig to feed the bluebirds. Bluebirds eat poke berries, they don't eat seeds.

Was very surprised to find 3 figs on one of the new stems this morning. I didn't think they would make fruit when they had to start all over! Fun surprise. Dora, Peppylady, mentioned she hadn't seen figs growing or a fig tree. I hadn't either before I put these in, so these pictures are for you, Dora! (Also anyone else who is curious.) The figs are only about half an inch across right now, they get considerably larger. (IF they don't fall off)

 A few days ago, I started some 'trimmings' or 'slips' in sand to propagate some blueberry plants and flowering almond. It's just an experiment, so no big loss if they die. I checked them this morning and they are doing just fine, I don't see any sign of wilting or dying. It gives me some hope. I want to start a few scuppernong to fill in empty spaces and maybe a couple of the concord grape, also hibiscus. If they survive, that's great, if not, no great expense has gone into it. 

I can't be outside long, that air out there is toxic when it heats up. My best time is before it gets ungodly hot, but after the humidity of the night lifts. It's a pretty short window of opportunity.

Have a great weekend, folks!

 

It's Alive!

You have to look closely, but some new leaves are almost hidden among the dead branches of Sparrow Hall. I think I see other signs of life springing up from the basement. Everything out there looks pathetic, but I will wait a bit before I get real excited. Those suckers may not be worth anything.

The bird feeder has bitten the dust - or at least the hanger has. The whole thing is trying to fall apart though and I question putting out good money for something that is only good for a year. Think I will have DH make a simple one out of scrap to hang off the hook and forget about 'Cute'

Still plagued by my allergies - ahh, spring!