Tork

I thought I’d do a little picture story of our outdoor/indoor girl.   Tork and her two siblings, shown in the flower pot below, were abandoned by their mother.  She was the survivor, even though she was the runt. My heart went out to her, and DH felt sorry for her too.  I started feeding her and even gave her some herbs, don’t remember which kind, to help her along and she did well.

Looking into the scullery, hoping she’ll be let in.

Life is rough.

Keeping warm.

Between DH’s feet. Notice she has wiggled her way indoors. 

Here she is drinking out of this chicken planter, that holds water. We always get a kick out of seeing her do this.

This photo below was taken tonight. She got up on my lap, kneaded for awhile, then climbed up on my chest and plopped herself down.  I asked DH to take this picture. So here she and I are in our ‘at home look’. She kneads for quite awhile sometimes, and ends up slobbering as she does so. She is sitting in my lap here at the computer as I write, kneading away.

In awhile, she’ll go out into the ‘ca-trium’ where she sleeps at night.  It’s the screened room off the back of our cottage.

She is a sweetie pie, don’t we all think that about our fur babies?

That’s it for now.  Hope you all have a nice evening/morning and enjoy all your many blessings.

Bread machine Oatmeal Bread recipe link

For Rebecca and any others interested, here is the link below for the recipe.

Oatmeal Bread recipe

Zone 10 ~ s.e. FL

Bread baked while I gardened

Good morning Folks,

It is hot and humid and raining. I got a loaf of oatmeal bread going in the bread machine a few minutes after 7 this morning and then headed out to mow and do some other work in the shed garden area. Three hours later I was done outside, and came in to the delicious aroma of baking bread. Aaaahhhh.

DH mowed the back area and also did some trimming and I was grateful for his help. I love mowing, etc. and have always done it. The last couple of years I’ve been learning to ask DH for his help, especially with heavy things or things that are just too much for me to handle.

We got all done just in time as it is now raining and I believe we are to have rain every day for the next couple of weeks.

Here is the loaf of bread and the picture below is of some refrigerator fig perserves I made yesterday afternoon. Fresh Mission figs were on sale yesterday so we bought 2 containers worth. I’ve not bought them like this before, so had to look up recipes and found out that they have a very short shelf life so made the preserves and tonight we’re going to have Chicken breast with Balsamic Fresh Fig Sauce.

The fig preserves were easy. A little key lime juice, sugar, and Chinese 5 spice powder and let them cook til tender. Yummy.

This is Hamelia paten or Firebush blooming over the arbor. It is at least 10’ tall. I got a cutting of this and rooted it at least 15 years ago. I see them everywhere cut into short hedges, have never seen one growing like mine is.

Here it is from inside the secret garden. Part of the shrubbery on the left that is lower is also some of this same plant. It has grown up and over the arbor/grotto area. Butterflies, bees and hummingbirds love this.

I’m inside the ‘ca-trium’ (this is where our outdoor feline girl Tork sleeps at night), looking out at the secret garden. Last night it was pleasant out so I went out and laid on the swing we have back there and gently swung and relaxed. I’ve work to be done in the secret garden, but all in good time. The white flowering shrub you see is one of the Dwarf Orchid trees in a terra cotta pot.

Crossvine flowers.

Plumbago

Looking out the driveway’s small gate at the morning traffic.

Here is my shed’s garden as seen from the driveway. You can see a bit into the secret garden through the lattice gate.

Here is a rooted cutting of my Maman Cochet climbing rose. It is sitting just outside the scullery window so I could see the blooms. I love this rose and it’s scent is wonderful

Guess that’s it for now. I will close with the following verse that I randomly opened up to this morning.

How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand.

Psalms 139:17-18

X-rated action on a passion vine flower

When I took this picture I didn’t think of them being on the ‘passion’ flower.  That didn’t happen until I downloaded the picture and looked at it in my art program.

I don’t know what kind of bugs they are. They’re too big to be ‘love bugs’.

Here they are.  They almost look like part of the flower.

I went out this morning to do some weeding and ended up spending about three hours. When I came in I saw that the real feel temp with the humidity index, was between 101 – 103. There was a nice breeze though, so that probably helped.  Although I was sweating buckets.

Yesterday.

Today.

We’re going to put pavers back here that we found not that long ago and I’ll post more pictures as this area develops and the Gypsy Wagon gets more work done on it too. Painting of the wood siding, tin roof on top of the tar papered plywood.

The ‘secret garden’ is through the arched grotto area, and then to the right.  We just got the two plastic chairs curbside across the street when the latest renters moved out.  The mailbox is our old one. I keep some garden tools in there.

Yesterday.

Today.

I’ve still more to do here,like weed wack the outer edge on the left, and clean up all the weeds left lying on the sidewalk.

I am glad that we are heading into September.  This has been the worst summer, or maybe it’s just because I’m getting older, but I could hardly stand working outside at all. It felt good working outside today and I look forward to the cooler weather, as the best time for our gardens down here in FL is coming up.

Hope you all have a great week.  I hope everyone who had some of Irene’s weather, is safe, with minimal to no damages.

FlowerLady

***

"Sometimes I wonder what I'm a-gonna do
'Cause there ain't no cure for the summertime blues."
Eddie Cochran 

Embarrassing Gardens

This morning I decided to show you all how my gardens are looking at this time. After a summer of no energy and no ambition with all the heat and humidity, then a LOT of rain, weeds, and rapid growth have turned it all into a jungle.

After Irene’s passing us yesterday afternoon to the east of us, we still have winds this morning, and I noticed a hint of fall in the air. Just a hint mind you as we’ve still the month of September to go through, which will still be hot and humid. I was itching to get out and work some, but I’m working at my job again today and don’t feel like getting into garden mode.

I’m embarrassed to show these pics, but it is what it is. I do look forward to working in these areas soon.

Some of you may just want to pass this post up, as it is NOT full of pretty flowers.

Although, this first shot I couldn’t resist. A cluster of the Vanda Miss Joaquim “Agnes”.

Now for the embarrassing stuff.

The first picture is of the back garden. Yikes.

This is the garden that is west of the picket fence garden area, and as you can see where I hang out the laundry also. They Gypsy Wagon work has been on hold also.

My shed garden’s path is almost non-existent. I started the other day then rain happened and I didn’t finish.

This is the path that goes across the front inside the hedgerow. The gate to the street is on the right side. Orchids are hanging out into the path, along with other vining material.

What an overgrown mess this all is. Sheesh.

Instead of feeling overwhelmed by all this, I’m actually looking forward to tackling it all and getting it back into some semblance of gardens.

I hope you all will still come back to visit after seeing this disgusting bit of disarray.

***

"What dreadful hot weather we have!
It keeps me in a continual state of inelegance."
Jane Austen