Memorial Dogwoods

I planted the 2nd dogwood this morning.  Dug a hole, pulled the grass and weeds out of the soil that would go back around. We put some of Mom's ashes and Mama Marie's ashes along with a turtle, a crystal and a wooden Polish decorated egg.  Then Miracle Grow dirt for trees and shrubs.  Replaced soil around and topped by mulch.  Secured the tree with guy lines.  With the wind we get through here the lines will help ensure that the trees don't get tossed around before their roots take hold.  We hope.

I have been hit with the gardening bug and somewhat dragging Jackie along with me. LOL  I keep finding fascinating plants.  We do agree on the basic design of the front yard and we'll work a little bit at a time to get it done.  We're starting late this year so we're going to focus on getting the yard up to speed (nothing fancy like a manicured lawn or golf course turf but cut, weeded and edged) and work on the basic garden.

The rain stopped work for the day here.  More tomorrow if we can beat the rain again.

one rose bush and the vertical flower pots with flowers

Yard Work

We planted one of the dogwoods today in the front yard.  We spread some of Mom and Mama Marie's ashes in the hole before adding the enriched dirt and filling in.  The small dogwood is staked and well watered.

Jackie tackled the yard with the riding lawn mower while I chopped up brush and branches and tossing them out of the way on the side yard. 

Tomorrow we'll tackle the other tree and tilling up the garden area.  I also need to weed whack where she couldn't mow.

She likes her new toy

 Bitty Blake inspecting my work

Drainage Issues/Retaining Walls

Another project almost done. Bad drainage behind the retaining wall built out of railroad ties decades ago (slightly shifting foundation of house). We will build a cinderblock fence in front of the railroad ties. Until then we had the idea to use some of the old gutters that were just taken down and make a run-off drain. Lots of digging, hacksawing some iron spikes, putting the gutters in place and then putting dirt back around the gutters. The length is over 30 feet. Note the spikes sticking out from one of the ties.

Oh, did I mention it's almost 90F here today and this is the South. I'm accustomed to CA heat, I still haven't adapted yet to the southern humidity.

 trench dug behind the railroad ties, note the down slope of the railroad ties and ground, made it much easier to put in a drainage system.

note the spikes, hacksaw and sledge hammer

Stoned Cats

Our cats getting stoned on catnip on cardboard scratchers

the orange tabby cat is Deacon
the gray and white is Grady
the fluffy one is Alice

Opie the possum

Last night Jackie heard hissing/screeching outside the screened porch last night looked out and saw a small possum on the step.  She went to get a flashlight and figured he'd be gone, that his mama would come and get him.  Nope.  No sign of Mom or brothers or sisters.  It was wet and a little colder than usual and she picked him up and he snuggled right into her robe.

I looked for mama possum and didn't see a sign of her anywhere. 

We hit the internet for basic ideas of how to care for the little guy.  He spent the night in a rabbit cage with some fleece to get him warm and bedding I had bought for the mice.  This morning i found him clinging to the wire hissing like crazy.  Jackie woke up and he settled into her robe once again.  He doesn't seem injured or dehydrated.

A woman who rehabs little ones gave us some advice but said she already has 20 in her care and she's up in Athens, Ga - a pretty good drive from us.  I hit the internet again and found a woman who does rehab in our county and she can take Junior tomorrow.  He's cute as hell and it's tempting to keep him but we've enough with cats, a dog and two mice.

Just call us the Dolittle sisters!

One Project Done

The boards I worked up for doors to a bookcase in my room that I did about 2 years ago are finally being utilized as doors.  I took a thin piece of plywood, cut it in half. Stenciled a pattern, drilled holes in the pattern and wood-burned lines on the pattern.

I attached trim, hinges and knobs.  Didn't turn out too bad.

 In progress.  You can see the wood burned lines and the drilled holes that lend an almost Moroccan feel to the doors.

 In progress - one door up. You can see how the shelves look without the doors somewhat

Finished. Yay! A finished project

It begins.....

This is the Crete myrtle that Lynn bought in memory of Mom.  It survived the sub-zero weather!  We wrapped plastic around the base, put a tomato cage over the bush and covered that with an old blanket.  As you can see, I've got a lot of clearing to do in the garden area.  The up and down temps have set everything on a growing frenzy.

I took an old pallet, spray painted it and hung flowers on it using cable ties.  Interesting look I think

I also did some weed whacking, cutting old limbs to a manageable size and clearing some brush. And a trip to the store and thrift store.

= Ow