Wonderful weather here

The most wonderful thing happened this morning. I laid in bed anticipating another day of yard work, after breakfast, coffee and bird-watching. Much to my surprise, and joy, when I opened my blinds to see the backyard it was raining! Yeah - I'm saved. I was so tired last night after doing-in almost two weeks worth of grass in the back yard that I could barely move. So, I took my towel, coffee and cereal out under the eaves, dried off a chair, and proceeded to watch the birds. All of the time my mind was on blogging and poetry. So, I think this will be a pretty long offering.

Update on the R-Ranch and the Butterfly Garden. I worked hard on it, raking out all of the winter leaves and old mulch, tying down the spent foliage on the daffodils, mourning the loss of a pink coneflower and the deer-eaten red tulips, putting in new plants and herbs and renewing the mini-nugget mulch for the season. Here is a picture as it was a couple of days before I left.

Update on the Spelling Bee - I did not win. I could have won had I not gotten cocky. I was third because I did not take the time to review the letters that had already rolled off my "smart" tongue - "pleur" for pleurisy. I left out the "i" and clearly pronounced "sy". I am still mad at myself. I should have won. I could have won. I would have had more attention, bragging rights and things to mess up my schedule. I did not feel a sense of relief; I was not embarrassed, only piqued at my "cockiness." We were not even into the difficult word list yet. And - I've had pleurisy. It hurts. This is the only way I would ever want to have it again - in a Spelling Bee. I learned a lesson. I liked the venue, and I do want to do it again. The winner and runner-up had to have been 15 years older than I. However, I did get a $20 Borders gift card. There is a book I have been wanting, so I feel fine about that.

Speaking of books, did you know that at the Dollar Store you can buy books for one dollar? They are the left-overs from Wal-Mart, etc. That's where I got the last Dunning book I read. Forgot to tell you that. Why pay more? Then I remembered the Library, where I pay nothing. Oh, well - so much for economy.

About poetry. I had a poem forming in my mind right before I came inside for a refill on my coffee. It was once again about rain and worms. I just love the way that worms come out in the rain. This was sparked by the sight of a bird flying by with a worm in it's beak. I'll give it some more thought.

The Garden - vegetable part. We delayed our recent trip to Georgia so that we could plant the seedlings I had grown. When I returned the other day I could see very little progress, and practically nothing that even the rabbit would have eaten. There is some tiny lettuce. My neighbor, Henry, has big bunches of stuff. I am tempted... It looks as if I will be getting plants from the highschool horticulture class to put in - at least the tomatoe, peppers and beans. I do have onions coming up. The good news is about water. Before I left I bought two 60-gallon rain barrels and got one hooked up to the down spout from the garage gutter system. The other is right below the downspout from the house and doesn't require a direct hook-up. Both were full so I was able to 1) hook up a hose and soaker hose and water the quite dry-looking vegetables (or non-vegetables), and 2) I was able to fill the watering can from the other and water the deck plants. I do feel a sense of accomplishment and feel quite "green". Today's rain will refill the barrels and there will be rain everyday for the next 10 days, according to the forcast. Next green project will be the solar power for the garage - in the green category.

The Garden - flower part. I have huge weeds with stickers on them. Part of the work today was to dig them out. Actually, it will be easier to remove them from the wet ground, so God did me a favor. The Shasta Daisy foliage must have tripled in size during the time I was away. I always wanted Shasta Daisies. I am thrilled about this. The peonies are getting big buds on them; I always wanted to have peonies as well. And-to my surprise and joy, when I returned I saw that the next door neighbor has a lilac tree that hangs into my yard. I love Lilacs. These are some of the redeeming factors about the house (I'm working on feeling more positive about it). I drove over to York for the Spelling Bee, and the whole area is blooming with every color of lilac, and I saw more pink dogwoods than ever down South. Another of my goals is to have a pink dogwood in my yard. I'm just waiting to determine the right spot for it. All the blooms make a big mess - like the double cherry in my front yard, but it is really a beautiful place. I can't wait until my new perennials are ready to put in the ground. They are currently being nurtured at the local highschool by the horticulture students.

Since it is raining, I cannot hang out laundry - which is a need. Back to the dryer. I will be able to work inside the garage, clearing away more dust, rearranging, hauling lumber up-stairs, and getting the stairway ready to paint. That is my goal before Jay returns from his latest trip - that and stripping the wallpaper from the upstairs bathroom and painting it. Thank God for rain.

Not flying girl

I could have gone to fly today but I chose not to. I am 1) recuperating from the construction of the compost bin, 2) too blitzed from not enough sleep, and 3) watching the Master's. Since it is the first tournament of the golf season I will be able to follow the players for the rest of the season better. I am not a golfer. I am, however, a fan of those who are good at it. I don't much care for anyone else who plays. It is an emotional sport to watch and I'm sure, to play. So much history, and it is so international in nature. Speaking of nature, the winds are gusting to 30 mph at Augusta, and providing a challenge beyond what is already a tense day of play. But enough about that.

I was out late last night after retrieving my husband from the airport. Usually I just drive around until he appears at the curb, but last night I parked and went into our "international airport." His bag was lost between Boston and Chicago, so it got later and later. Then I still couldn't sleep. So I was up at 4:30 a.m. reading and trying to nap after I finished my latest book. It is by John Dunning, called 2 o'clock eastern wartime. Dunning wrote the Bookman's Wake and Booked to Die, two books I enjoyed very much and learned so much while reading about first editions, etc. Well worth reading. This latest book is not an easy read, but worth sticking with. It is about radio in 1942, with a murder or two thrown in. Intriguing.

The compost bin was a lesson. I got pallets from Ace Hardware and l-brackets that were too short and screws that were too long. It is cobbled together and standing tall, however. If I write an eHow article about it it will be how not to build a compost bin. I believe it will work just fine, especially since I sat outside and cut a pile of old vines I had pulled into 3-4 inch pieces to use as a base. It seems one must have a base of little canes like that so there is good drainage down and an easy path for the little critters to crawl up from the ground. I have some stuff to pour in - microbes and such, that will help get it started. That will be tomorrow.

We will have the Mantis tiller all serviced and ready to roll tomorrow as well, and I bought an electric lawn mower online this morning and picked it up at Lowe's. I bought hostas for under my big tree by the back door (where the laundry was supposed to go) and will plant green and white caladiums in two wooden planters I already have. A plan is coming together. So, I have direction for the week. Call the "Got junk?" people and get quotes and have the upstairs room over the garage and basement cleaned out. The the domino effect can happen. The cabinet is painted - not totally to my satisfaction. It will be a galloping horse. As soon as it is really dry I can rearrange my breakfast room. Check-a-marka. Have a great day.