Is it really almost over?

Summer is busy. I have been away from posting to the blog over the last couple of weeks. As we continue to work on landscaping around the house I am bone tired some days.  We have hosted a few cook-outs and get-togethers, and I held my annual Camp GiGi with four of the five grandchildren, the youngest just not quite ready to join in.  My goodness how they are growing, though. 

Having the grands around is always a lot of fun. I try to allow them very little “screen time” and more outside time, but, even I have to give in to a little TV or video games during dinner prep or wind down time. My nine-year-old granddaughter became fascinated with a game show about baking, so I figured there was not much harm to that. She would watch it on her tablet on Netflix with my three-year-old granddaughter squeezed in next to her, her dark brown head nestled on the blonde’s shoulder.  We were “on” for those days.  I was anxious for husband to come in from work as, just like he was when our kids were little, he brought fun, game ideas, rough-housing, boating…we all love it when PaPa comes rolling in. 

I have totally ignored the moon garden which was big on my to-do list for this year. I mean, I did some initial things, but other projects took over my time and interest.  I so want to get in there and improve the soil, trim some tree branches to allow a little more light.  I need to figure out a way to discourage those woodland creatures from visiting. There’s lots of space up there, surely they can share. 

I surprised even myself this year and used more orange in my flowers than I have ever done.  I just obtained a really pretty orangey, coral pink azalea for use by the house.  Just waiting on a landscape timber to get her in the ground.  Since our house is a totally different color than it was before the remodeling I have discovered I really like the orange tones against the grayish green.  Let’s face it, orange is a happy color!

We are entering those dog days of August…hot, humid on some days with lazy, long afternoons. The shadows are changing in the yard and the lake activity dies down more and more each day.  Soon the school buses will be rattling down the road, stopping to pick up little ones lined up along the street in their shiny new clothes and oversized backpacks.

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More color, more color.

It seems to be a slow start to spring, doesn’t it? I mean it just won’t kick in.  Today is a good example…it is sunny but boy is it cold.  Another 10 or 15 degrees would make all the difference!

Last week, I went out looking for unique items to place in flower beds or pots.  The stores are filling up with all the usual stuff but I want the unusual. Something fun, colorful but not cheap looking.   I have spent hours on sites like Pinterest looking at ideas, saving pins, trying to locate items featured, or something close that catches my eye.  This week I begin rehab of the moon garden, starting with the soil.  I think there is one plant in that area that I can salvage, maybe two.

 

We spent several days away from home again this week to attend some events with grandchildren.  The highlights were a talent show and a six-year old’s birthday party.  I mean, it can’t get much better.  The kids are so funny, so much fun. Now, I think we will be spending several weekends at home as we finish up some projects around the house to get ready for summer, although I am sure I will squeak out a visit to grandkids even if I go alone.

 

Even though it is just now spring, talk of summer creeps into our conversations.  Summer comes fast and the “big” events require some planning! In going out and about I came across a huge display of 4^th of July decorations already, and the Easter grass isn’t even off the shelves yet!  For some reason, this doesn’t’ bother me as much as Christmas decorations shoving out Halloween costumes.  4^th of July is different for me this year, too, with a mantle and two new porches to decorate!

And speaking of mantles, I can’t tell you how much fun I had with Valentine’s Day and St. Patrick’s Day and doing just a touch of something different on the mantle.  Nothing huge, just a swap out of a couple of little things but brought me much joy.  I’m setting out a bit of Easter today.  I am sure hubs thinks I am about the silliest. So, yes,  I am starting to think about getting the screen porch finished, the deck railing, busting out 4^th of July decorations and having a yard and house full of friends and family. A girl can dream.

Today, however, I am bundling up a bit, throwing on some work gloves and heading out to work some compost into the moon garden area.  It needs help people.  I largely ignored this area last year while working on the house and I am being punished for it now.  Give me a few weeks, however, and she’ll be back! I have new pots on order, as I think to feel more success here I will have to use planters and pots, with some good potting soil, and a fun piece of garden statuary tucked away for just this spot! I moved an azalea here last year, and trusting she made it through the winter, it will be a nice, new anchor for this spot.  It is pink not white so I have decided to run with it and use a bit of pink, along with the lavender and silver already there, and declare it Lady Esmerelda’s Prime Pastel Garden and Water Respite.  Just kidding.  I just call it the moon garden, but with more color.

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