In the Gardens and Around the House

Have you ever had one of those days where you have to go somewhere, or get something done, in addition to somehow manage accomplishing all of your housework? Every single day this week has been like that for me! From running a stray dog to the Humane Society one day, giving piano lessons the next, taking another dog to the clinic-breaking down and getting home at lunch time- the following day, and then picking the dog up from the clinic the next day; it's been "just one of those weeks"! I'm so glad that today is Friday and I've been using to catch up on all of those things that "didn't happen" because of all the running around!

"Isn't the way that these cumulus clouds are sandwiched between the flat clouds neat?"
We have had several nice days that alternate between rainy to cool and cloudy. Gardening is wonderful on these cool cloudy days!

"Okry"
It is very common to hear okra referred to "okry" by the "old timers" around here!
The Okra plants that Daddy had planted early this summer are now bearing fruit! We had given up hope on having any this year as it just wasn't growing. The rain that we have received over the past month or so must has really helped these plants. We've had fried okra already and boy was it good!
The plants are waist high and the okra itself can get huge!

"The New Walkway"
My own garden has been doing wonderfully lately. I finished the walkway and I have started on the never ending task of pulling weeds and trimming bushes. I planted my pansy seeds and I have begun the process of getting the lavender and poppy bed ready for the fall scattering of seeds.

"Wildlife in the Garden"
It's not a common thing for me to find lizards in my garden but this little guy was really enjoying the caladiums one day. It was so interesting to see him jump from one leaf to another.

"Velvet Queen Sunflowers"
The late crop of sunflowers are blooming in full force! Their colors are so cheerful and I love how their heads droop down.

Moving on to the "around the house news"; Lila has taken to perching herself on top of the dirt pile all day long (upper left hand corner). I'm not sure if she is using the dirt to keep herself cool or if she's trying to send me a message about Maggie!

"Not the normal exercise for cow face to impose upon herself"
Sayre has a mining operation going on on top of the dirt pile- that's what all the logs and rocks are about- and as I was examining them yesterday I heard the sound of hoof beats. Imagine my heart rate as Moo Cow came charging up the dirt pile directly at me... watching seven hundred pounds come straight at you is not exactly something that I want to see everyday, so as she paused to sniff the dog bowls I charged the gate which was kind-of-sort-of nearby! Upon further observation I deduced that she was just "feelin' frisky" or maybe the flies were getting to her. Either way, I don't trust an animal that is allot larger than I am and is not easily scared away by me.

"Our most "Prized Possession""
This is an honest to goodness outhouse that sits out on the edge of the field. It's a "double seater" and I think it would make a good potting shed or a nice place to keep livestock accoutrement's.

"New Fabric"
I found this fabric at Hobby Lobby and I'm agonizing over what I should make out of it. I originally was going to make a skirt but then I thought of making an apron.

"Close Up"
The skirt pattern I love has not only side seams but also front and back seams, so I don't think that the stripe would line up at the front and back seams. What do you think? Would it look to odd?

It would make a cute apron...

" To be Read"
These books are what I'm reading at the moment. "How to raise Horses" is being read because most of us talk about getting a horse (and because Daddy bought it for me to read!), "How to Be You Dog's Best Friend" is being read because I'm trying to teach Maggie some good manners, and "Cobwebs and Cables" is being read because it's next of "my Lamplighter to read list"!