What Was I Thinking?

I guess some lessons I just have to learn all over again every few years. Latest life lesson? Never put off holiday grocery shopping until the week of the holiday. Always, always get groceries at least one week before--preferably two. I went Tuesday to get everything on our Thanksgiving menu. Some dishes are going to have to be changed because I couldn't get ingredients. I told the lady as she checked my groceries, and she suggested coming back Thanksgiving morning. Not likely!

As I lugged my groceries in and started unloading and putting them away, I couldn't believe they had put my eggs on the bottom of all this!

They had put a three pound can of coffee on top of the eggs! Thankfully none of the eggs were broken. Happy Thanksgiving Ya'll!

Tucker Come Home

I have been working on a blog about Fall here in Round Rock, but have pre-empted my scheduled program to let you know that Tucker has run away. This is the third time he has done this, and I am afraid we won't find him this time. He always runs to the door along with the dogs whenever anyone comes in.

I am always reminding the girls to watch that he doesn't sneak out, but yesterday afternoon Charlotte and her friends were running in and out. I am sure he was waiting right by the door, and one of the times they were going in and out, he took his opportunity and ran. By the time I realized he was missing, he was long gone. I walked all around the neighborhood calling him, but no luck. We had a cold front come through yesterday, and temperatures dipped down into the twenties last night. I didn't sleep well worrying about little Tucker. I went to the door calling to him numerous times during the night to no avail.

This morning I put Loudon in his stroller and we walked all over the neighborhood calling for Tucker. I felt like the pied-piper of cats. We petted every cat that was out--except Tucker. The first time Tucker ran away, he was gone for three days, so I don't feel like I can give up hope yet. But something is telling me he is not coming back. I don't know if he could survive below freezing temperature. If we do get him back, I am taking him straight to the vet and having him micro-chipped. We have Bochephus micro-chipped, but I never thought about having it done to the cats because they are "supposed" to be house cats.

Tucker, where ever you may be, I hope you are warm and you find your way home. Everyone misses you.

A Break In The Weather And Moving Rocks

Rain, rain please stay

I can garden

another day

Yesterday was grey and dreary all day. I felt lethargic and heavy all day. It seemed to take so much effort to get anything done. In the evening when I took the dogs for their walk, the air was so humid and heavy. The clouds were low and full of moisture. The streets were dampish, but not wet. We got an occasional sprinkle throughout the day, but no real rain. As we walked I realized for the first time in awhile, the crickets and frogs were all singing and toads were everywhere. Where they heralding rain coming?

As the dawn came this morning, the sky was black to the northwest. It was cool but humid. By 9:00 it began to thunder, and then rain--real, lovely rain poured down from the heavens. By 9:26 it was all over. The skies and air have cleared. Ah well, back to moving rocks!

I have been hard at work building new beds and redoing old ones. My muscles and back are killing me, so I have decided I have to slow down a little. Grrrrrrrrrrr! I hate getting old! But! on the bright side--I made a new friend!

Can you see him in the picture above? I'm sure I disturbed him when I was re-doing a bed. He was so slow moving, and seemed more curious as to what I was doing than anything. He watched me for the longest time, his tiny little tongue flicking every few seconds. Eventually he slithered off into the lavender and left me alone to my work. I should have taken a before picture, but I would be embarrassed to post it! It was a hot mess because I didn't touch it all summer. I had chocolate mint growing in an adjacent bed, and of course, you know what mint does! I pulled it up, cleaned up the bed, added some compost, planted some more lavender, and topped it with mulch. I now have 10 lavender plants. I just love it! Here's what the bed looked like when I finished.

Here's a closer look:

If you are wondering why I circle all my new plants with rock, it is because of Bocephus. As soon as I turn my back, he will dig it up unless I protect them with rock. After it gets established, and he figures out it really does belong there, I can remove the rocks--but it will be a few weeks before I can do it. Below is a Mountain Laurel that I put in before I got the bed finished. I need more rock and more mulch.

Below is a bed that I have lengthened to encompass some morning glories growing on the fence row. Just since I have worked up the soil, I have morning glories sprouting up in the mulch. Unfortunately, they will have to go! I have put in three Xylosma shrubs. I am putting them and vines in along the fence row to hopefully "lose" the fence.

Chrissy is showing you the next bed. It has Daffs, Esparanza, Cilantro, Oregano, Rhubarb, Gerbera Daisies, Mums, Daylillies and an experimental peony down on the right hand corner where the rock is by itself.

Let's see, below is the Alamo Vine, Copper Canyon Daisies, Mums, Daylillies, Dafs, Verbena. I'm sure I've forgotten something! I have soooooooo much to do this fall. The next thing is to dig up the Iris in the front and divide it. A gardeners work is never done!

Can You I.D. This Bee?

Can You I.D. this bee, please?

It was buzzing around the garden last Friday night. I followed it around with my camera, and snapped this picture the moment it was still for a second. Is it a little Bumble Bee?

A Closer Look Over The Garden Gate

Come on over and look at what's blooming in the garden, and a few new goodies I got on a trip to The Natural Gardener...

This rose is still blooming it's heart out. Now that the searing heat of summer is over, the garden has taken a big sigh of relief, and is rewarding me with new growth and blossoms here and there.

Ah! Here is one of my new purchases that I am still trying to decide just the right spot. Nola (at http://alamo-north.blogspot.com/), you will appreciate this vine called Alamo Vine. It has a white morning glory blossom, so I just HAD to have it!!!

And here is a pot of Copper Canyon Daisy. I still can't decide if I like the smell or not. It is very fragrant with a kind of citrusy, pine smell to it.

Here is a closer shot of the mystery plant that I am calling Aster for now...

These mums I got on the half off wagon at Round Rock Nursery have never stopped blooming since I put them in this spring.

Here is another shot of the mystery plant with Thai peppers.

And here is a Tangerine Marigold that I just love. The color reminds me of pumpkins and Fall.

The Mexican Marigold Mint is really putting on a show now.

That's all for today. Next post I will try to get some shots of the beds I am building this Fall, and the new plants I have put in them. Let's sit down in the shade and have a glass of iced tea for now. Would you like some of my favorite tea; Perfectly Pear White Tea?

It must be Fall!

The cats are enjoying drowsing in the fresh air of an open window.

The Mexican Mint Marigold is beginning to bloom.

I'm not sure what this yellow flower is behind the Russian Sage, but I think it is a form of Aster. It blooms October every year, and gets 5 - 6 feet tall, and as you can see here, has a tendency to flop. I think it looks nice with the purple of the sage.

I am still recovering from having 30 middle schoolers invade our house yesterday. I have been cooking and baking since Friday, getting ready for them. All went well; they came, they ate, they sang, they listened to the devotional, so I guess it can be labeled a success. Libby asked me why we wanted to have it at our house. I couldn't help but laugh. I told her it wasn't that we wanted to be invaded by the church youth group, but we wanted to do it for her. I hope it makes an impression on her--that we love her, and want to do what we can to make her growing-up years fun and the best that we can for her!

Emily and I went to The Natural Gardener on Saturday. I finally used my gift certificate from my birthday that she had gotten me! I have so many lovely perennials to plant this week. I was going to start first thing this morning, but I found myself just hit with this longing to be lazy and decided to blog instead!

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday Loudon.

It's hard to believe it's been a year since we waited for hours in that cold hospital room waiting for you to arrive. It's been a year of firsts for you. We have enjoyed watching you grow and explore and discover the world around you. Life is an adventure for you and your life is a blessing to us.