Welcome Summer!

I spent the better part of Monday opening my pool.

I removed the cover and did all the opening prep work -

 I then added shock to the water, which made a big difference -

I dragged the cover to the driveway, spread it out to let dry.  I then swept it and used my leaf blower to blow all the crud off -

Once dry, I folded the cover, tied and move it to the garage till it's needed come the fall.

The next step will be to vacuum the entire pool to waste.  When at the proper level, I will add more shock and fire up the pump and filter, and we'll be off!

#blessed

Happy Memorial Day!

Wishing all a Happy and safe Memorial Day!

"Tater Tower" Experiment

Built myself a "tater tower" -

And planted some Yukon Gold potatoes -

Now we wait -

The premise behind this tater tower is to make it easier to 'hill' the potatoes.  More soil is added as the vine grows.  Eventually, a second row of side boards will need to be added  as the vine continues to grow upwards.  I bought and cut enough boards to add three sides, which are 10" tall.

'Hilling' produces more potatoes, as they grow off the vine, which continues to grow and get covered by adding more soil as it does.

Just an experiment to see how well it does.  At a minimum harvesting these potatoes should be SO much easier then when planted directly in the ground - too much digging.  I will simple topple the tater tower come fall and hopefully my spoils will be easy to shift through to collect!

Stay tuned!

Be Kind

 

So, I've been walking at least 2.5-miles a day now for close to two years.  Typically, I walk the same route and often see and pass the same people doing the same.  There's this one older woman that I would see a couple of times a week and we'd always exchange pleasantries in passing.  One day we stopped and introduced ourselves and chatted for a bit.  This became more of the norm, that we'd stop and chat each time we saw one another.  She's very nice and I always enjoyed our chats.

I stopped seeing her as often and then all together never seeing her.  Then on a Saturday morning about a year ago, we bumped into each other again - it was so nice to see her.  She was with her husband and their two older dogs, a pug and a golden retriever, and she introduced me to all three of them.  She then proceeded to tell me that she had been diagnosed with cancer and that the reason she wasn't walking was due to the treatments she was going through.  They were taking a toll and she didn't have the strength to get her walks in.

That was the last time I've seen her.  However, I do see her husband often when he's out walking the dog, the pug.  Sadly, they had to put the golden down earlier this year.  We always stop and chat or will walk together for a bit, and I always ask about his wife.  I saw him on my 6AM walk this morning and when I asked about his wife he told me that he's taking her for a CT scan tomorrow.  Seems she's having issues with one side of her face and having difficulty seeing out of one eye.  He told me the doctors fear the cancer has spread to her brain.

The point of this story is that we're all going through shit.  We all have struggles and challenges and you just never know.  The old adage, that if we all threw our problems into a pile, and saw what others are faced with, we'd grab ours back, is SO true.

I'm sadden by the news and hearing this turn of events put things into perspective for me.  I've been struggling myself as of late and having a tough time of things but my struggles, although valid and real, pale in comparison to the struggles of cancer.

So, 

be kind.

be thankful.

appreciate what you have

and please say a prayer for this woman.

SFrye732 Gardening Tip

I'm going to share a gardening tip of mine with you all.  I've been doing this for many years now and it seems to work.  However, I do plan to make an adjustment this gardening season.

We have a local store in my areas called Ocean State Job Lot, which carries a large variety of spices at a reduced cost.  Whenever I'm in the store, I will pick up a jar or two of some hot-type spice.  My last trip I bought Cayenne Pepper and Chili Powder.

What I typically do is sprinkle these spices on the plants and veggies that the deer, rabbit and woodchuck tend to favor.  I wet the plants first, then apply the spice so it adheres better.  Of course, if we have a rain it needs to be reapplied.  Now, I don't apply these spices if and when the plants have veggies growing, for example on my broccoli, as I don't want to taste the lingering effects.

This season I am going to use the same spices but dilute them in water, so I can spray the liquid on the plants.  I'm thinking I will get a better over all plant covering using this method.  We'll see how this method goes.

A safe and effective way to deter pesky critters versus some sort of deadly-type chemicals.

Look Both Ways Before Crossing!

Came across this painted turtle on my walk this morning.

Just about ready to start it's crawl into the roadway, which would NOT have ended well.

I safely moved and plopped the youngster into the water away from the street.  I explained the dangers, just hope it all sank in and it wasn't just me standing on the side of the road talking to myself.

Say AHHHH!

Ms. Emilie had her (4) impacted wisdom teeth removed on Tuesday.

I'm happy to report that all went well, and except for some swelling and soreness, she's doing fine.

#blessed

And SO Painful Too

💔

OH Mother Nature!

 We had a frost last night, ALAS.

Thankfully, I brought all my potted plants into the garage last night.

I covered the four pepper plants I had in the ground with flower pots and even took grass clippings and mulched them up good, hoping that would keep them safe.  However, when I uncovered them this morning it was obvious I didn't do enough to protect them.  They were doing so well too.

Thankfully, I held off on putting my tomatoes in the ground, so they were safe in the garage.  I knew better but took a chance. Too excited to get the garden started.  Looks like a lunch time trip to the local farm to pick up some more pepper plants.

I can't recall what these obnoxious weeds are but as you can see they too took a hit with the frost.  Difference is, I'm happy to see these things get whacked -

Less mowing for the town to worry about...

Perfectly Moist For Sure!

I made the above cake for my birthday, even though I have covid and can't taste a thing.

I did an excellent job, as it tastes delicious...I think!

Sad State of Affairs

I'm sure there are others that would disagree with me and that's perfectly fine, as everyone has their own opinion.  However, this is my opinion, which is based on more than just this one example.  There are others, plenty actually, but for now this one will suffice.

As you can see in the first pic, the Franklin Highway and Grounds division appears to do a pretty good job overall with the mowing and upkeep of the ball fields in town.  But really how difficult can it be to sit in an industrial mower and cut grass?  The actual proof of quality is in the details, which is SO severely lacking with this group.

First, more often than not, any trash in the way gets mowed over and it doesn't matter if it's a piece of paper, coffee cup or a kids plastic water bottle - mowed over and ripped apart and scattered.  Apparently, the operators can't be bothered to pick up the items and discard properly.  I suspect it's a lot to ask for them to stop the mower, dismount and exert some physical activity like walk and bend. 

Secondly, which is also the norm and does NOT happen with each mowing, is the lack of trimming or weed-whacking in general.  I've posted pics before where fire hydrants literally cannot be seen because the weeds have grown up around them, overgrowth along sidewalks knee high and leaning into the walkway and here in the bottom two pics, how the grass under the ball field benches are overgrown. Kids shouldn't have to use those like that! By the way, it was worse a worse a week later...

I've brought this to the attention of the Highway and Grounds division over the years but frustratingly they're always met with excuses, e.g. covid, budget issues, hard to fill positions, hard to find good help, etc., etc., etc.,.

The town of Franklin has built somewhere in the area of 400-500+ apartments here in the last 5-years, so where is all that revenue and tax dollars going to?  Services are being cut due to "budget issues", however, our taxes are NOT being cut, rather they're going up.

It's disappointing that this new America we're facing is so fucking lazy and entitled. No one seems care or want to go the extra mile or think outside the box; to do what's best.  Too busy picketing and complaining, being offended and worrying about pronouns and utter silliness. 

I took the below picture this afternoon (Thursday 5-18) on my walk.  Helps further show what I tried to explain above - 

Give it another couple 3 - 4 weeks and you won't be able to see the hydrant.  Sure hope it's not needed in an emergency.

I Got The Covid!

Happy Birthday to me!

I was given covid yesterday and boy did it hit me, WTF!

I don't recall asking for such gift, alas...

MAMMOTH - Go Big or Go Home!

I planted the entire package of sunflower seeds this past Tuesday.  I didn't realize until I started planting that these are MAMMOTH sunflowers, so I might be sorry.  They're BIG and beautiful, however, removing them at the end of the season has proven to be very difficult.  It's like trying to remove small trees, UGH.  A shovel and long handled loppers are needed but I'll worry about that come the end of the season.  For now, my fingers are crossed that they do well and grace my garden with a plethora of flowers!

Ants Anyone?!

Ants, ants and more ants; ants galore!

I believe this is what's referred to as "ant swarms".  I tend to see them quite often in the spring, which could have something to do with mating and or the making of new colonies.

I find these swarms very beneficial, as it makes killing them with and spray so much easier and literally takes out the entire swarm.

Like a scene from a horror movie -

There are too many ants as it is, so being able to kill them in bunches like this is great.

Find The Critter

Can you find the critter in the below pic?!

I came across this dude this morning on walk.  He was about the size of a half dollar coin, for those that know what a half dollar coin is and looks like, HA!  Honestly, not sure how I spotted it but all I can tell you is I saw it as clear as day as I approached!  After taking several pics, I moved it safely away from the street, as you can see it was too close.

Sadly, this time of year there is quite a bit of road kill taking place and this mornings walk proved just that.  Many of the critters go unnoticed as you scoot by in your vehicles but when walking you see so much more.  Here are a few examples from this morning - squirrel, opossum, chickadee, cardinal, several frogs, a snake and a beautiful weasel.  The weasel wasn't squashed, so I moved it out of the road an into the woods, for what it's worth.

This dude blends into the sidewalk SO well.  Guessing the warmth of the tar is too appealing for such critters.

Curb Appeal

I potted up my front stair flower pots with some beautiful Calla Lilies, and they look great!

Why Pretend

HBD31 Stephanie!

'Cause next thing you know

You're wearin' scrubs and a funny white hat

And the doctor's sayin', "How you doin' there, dad?"

And nobody's ever called you that

And you take the drive home slow

Next thing you know

It's first steps, first dates, first car

It's 11:01 wonderin' where they are

You're sayin' that Sacred Heart's too far

It's amazing how fast thirty-one years go

Next thing you know

Next thing you know

Happy Birthday Stephanie!

I'm SO proud of you and love you SO much!

Fuzzy Floating Things

It's that time of the year when the poplar and cottonwood trees release their seeds.  They're released in what looks like fluffy pieces of cotton that float in the air similar to dandelions, which also looks like it's snowing.

The picture below kinda gives you a sense to what it looks like. Annoying really and messy. It's a terrible feeling when your out and about in the yard and inadvertently swallow or snort these things, YUK!

Fortunately, the pool is still covered but in years past with the cover was removed these cotton seeds would literally coat the top of the water.  What a pain in the tuchus too, as it clogs the skimmers and taxes the pump.  When using the hand skimmer, it clogs it too and gets super heavy.

Here's a short video I took that gives you a better idea of how crazy this is a times -

Good times!

What A Wonder!

Planted my California Wonder peppers this past Sunday!

Fertilized, mulched, watered and caged!

Critters don't typically bother with peppers, at least not eating the plants.  However, the deer could tromple and the rabbits and sparrow like to take dirt bath and don't care too much about where and what they damage, so to be safe they're caged to discourage.

 

Online Order Fillers

So, what's the deal with these new in-store shoppers?  These new employees that roams the isles of the market, Walmart and so many other stores.  The ones who typically push some oversized cart while they're fulfilling online orders for the lazy.

What I've found, based on my encounters and run ins, most of these folks are rude and seem to have little regard for others.  Many seem young and sadly have no idea what common curtsey and respect are all about.  They don't know how, or perhaps choose not to, say "excuse me" or "sorry".  They don't give way to the other shoppers, often parking their oversized cart in the center of the isle or in the way of others. All too consumed with reading and checking their list.  They don't smile.  They don't say "Hi", after all are they not store employees and representatives of the business and shouldn't they too promote a friendly and welcoming environment?

It's bad enough that regular every day people are rude and inconsiderate but now add these new shoppers and carts to the mix and it makes shopping all the more difficult and chaotic.

Personally, I don't get the whole being lazy and shopping from behind a keyboard when it comes to grocery shopping.  Are people REALLY that busy, c'mon?!  I prefer to see what I'm buying and what's available, especially when it comes to fruits and vegetables and meats, I want to inspect it all first hand.  

This just adds to how disassociated and antisocial everyone is becoming.

People suck!

Annual Color Added!

I took a drive yesterday morning to my favorite local nursery and picked up a couple flats of plants - annual flowers, herbs and veggies! I will tell you, like everything else, the cost of plants have gone up this year, OUCH!  

I then spent a couple hours washing my flower pots, mixing some compost and a bag of Miracle-Gro potting soil and getting most of annuals flowers and herbs planted!

I also planted peppers, curly parsley and marigolds in the ground, in their perspective gardens. I'm gonna hold off on putting the tomatoes in just yet, maybe give it another week or two, just to be safe.

This cement planter was my mothers.  I always look forward to pulling this out in the spring and getting something planted in it.  Always brings a smile to my face, which I enjoy all spring and summer long.

One Day

Various Birds

Some random bird pics I've taken over the last couple of weeks.

There have been a lot of hawks visiting my backyard this spring and they're more than welcome.  Hoping they help themselves to some of the nuisance rodents in the yard.

Here is a Coopers Hawk perched on the pool fence.  An odd spot -

A white-breasted nuthatch who's onto me - 

A beautiful grey heron knee deep and on the hunt -

Lilac Blooms A Plenty!

My lilac trees are loaded with blooms this year; the most ever!

Ever since the rear neighbor clear cut 95% of the trees in his back yard and along our abutting property line, the lilac tress get SO much more afternoon sun, which is what they needed.

Before the cutting, there were few blooms on these bushes.

So, I suppose one good thing of having most of the trees removed.

"She's A Beauty Clark"

Bought myself a beautiful new tall 2-person outdoor dining set!

It needed to be assembled and took a couple hours but I enjoyed it, like doing a puzzle.

It was on sale and I got a terrific price!  Looks great and SO comfy too.

If you're in the neighborhood stop in and have a seat and a cold beer.