tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8696009488327344872024-02-19T08:59:51.653-06:00 Life in a canned hamLiving and loving the desert life.The Queen Jesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03613469797513739495noreply@blogger.comBlogger1661125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869600948832734487.post-31433537356698573812022-06-06T20:28:00.002-05:002022-06-06T20:28:18.396-05:00Garden Overview<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWoj2GTjNCBCB20xqOQ7W7k7DD4s12onoeqssn9aWb9PxcXikBHXBGeRdZc8-3hrUfBAwoU3yVZ_enisX1LNibT56vEJLrpm_iaDhHqmR8sTkglsdYk18ot-KfduWqBkC_U0n6AGzzgNbMOLLtbmM2S-vQAFdFkpM8Y4deIfprgHrnVMZEgvRcn4nj/s640/clematis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWoj2GTjNCBCB20xqOQ7W7k7DD4s12onoeqssn9aWb9PxcXikBHXBGeRdZc8-3hrUfBAwoU3yVZ_enisX1LNibT56vEJLrpm_iaDhHqmR8sTkglsdYk18ot-KfduWqBkC_U0n6AGzzgNbMOLLtbmM2S-vQAFdFkpM8Y4deIfprgHrnVMZEgvRcn4nj/w300-h400/clematis.jpg" width="300" /></a></div> <span style="font-size: large;">I had a request to show more of the gardens in their entirety, so the following photos will attempt to do so.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Okay, I still had to show a couple of closeups as well.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0rxHAEZ2eOVeETohIQu_MAHz5G_xVLtyqrSi-E8_TpolXq2zXax6-hZ1c6Re1_uRZ9NkiXDt-d83R7lcdTbLZSEqxIDmvo3rt2cXM_CmB3vb5u2ZqSNPnA141VspKScxPI6x-RisCR7EobRt4XYbTBmCWmzsR4lHw_m9N2j9rOKihGu-Mftr2hs7O/s640/IMG_1058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0rxHAEZ2eOVeETohIQu_MAHz5G_xVLtyqrSi-E8_TpolXq2zXax6-hZ1c6Re1_uRZ9NkiXDt-d83R7lcdTbLZSEqxIDmvo3rt2cXM_CmB3vb5u2ZqSNPnA141VspKScxPI6x-RisCR7EobRt4XYbTBmCWmzsR4lHw_m9N2j9rOKihGu-Mftr2hs7O/w300-h400/IMG_1058.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">This is the entrance from the back side of the garden. This trellis matches the one on the other side of the lot.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">That dark mass in the beginning that is swallowing the stepping stones are black scallop ajuga and let's just say they are spreading really well.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I'm going to be moving a bunch of it to the left between my neighbor and myself as the grass doesn't grow there anyway.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkenodTQ7DM2cSsX_dVc_YU4hxFRtiL28yFc1cdFysTAkGUPEgpCvOtqxqJIjZN6bvcQF11Hjz8xJ1MNQauyfJN6G9KZD7IXlOy6QuMDWW2XE4xTeca9zJZm51wVoPVvvEAP58SZdgKXk4MtLzekEJsbNbahcj7X_aPJDsAXsuJKxElbMLJnOmJBXN/s640/IMG_1060.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkenodTQ7DM2cSsX_dVc_YU4hxFRtiL28yFc1cdFysTAkGUPEgpCvOtqxqJIjZN6bvcQF11Hjz8xJ1MNQauyfJN6G9KZD7IXlOy6QuMDWW2XE4xTeca9zJZm51wVoPVvvEAP58SZdgKXk4MtLzekEJsbNbahcj7X_aPJDsAXsuJKxElbMLJnOmJBXN/w400-h300/IMG_1060.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">This view shows the trellis and the shed next to it.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I added moss roses in front of the raised bed because...you guessed it...the grass doesn't grow well there.</span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6GXZO48ONK1LtQMj6su8BrNfYwyGEwEdWdZZL8NXypUUlf4AzPFQc5IpghdiKjlSOBSaxNKrYsP6yM3MPmw1tEsoQSla76wNYEC_trSZ4ke96tbxUzpINeqEHzzVMPA029ooyybArybxiylBidnhlQh_h8WRd3wiqx0hMsnQ-HVFLAx6bJlX2LGkc/s640/IMG_1061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6GXZO48ONK1LtQMj6su8BrNfYwyGEwEdWdZZL8NXypUUlf4AzPFQc5IpghdiKjlSOBSaxNKrYsP6yM3MPmw1tEsoQSla76wNYEC_trSZ4ke96tbxUzpINeqEHzzVMPA029ooyybArybxiylBidnhlQh_h8WRd3wiqx0hMsnQ-HVFLAx6bJlX2LGkc/w480-h640/IMG_1061.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This is in front of the shed and next to the driveway and was the first part of the garden I'd started.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The hostas here are bigger because they are older. I've also added pulmanaria and ground cover.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">There were some coral bells and coleus in there but the baby bunnies seem to have claimed them.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The photo below is the central part of the garden, again with lots of hostas. This is where the trellises begin and will be covered with vines eventually, if the bunnies leave them alone.</span><br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb8MoN1NZmYIT25b-rXHJCvG7KI-PdOyZkpsl9L7cr2Ho-a_zxLCCyKJTdtj_BUCg_chMfdDS4jK8J4IVeEHqMkugQceMUlElpPJ-yh3Bg5ep9mb8jHfYooU58ocIaOCabB8Hgc9VVxYzfxstcZ1gTS074-yFJA_HUvLCjfaPs7kQ9U6JnY_VumQ6Z/s640/IMG_1062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb8MoN1NZmYIT25b-rXHJCvG7KI-PdOyZkpsl9L7cr2Ho-a_zxLCCyKJTdtj_BUCg_chMfdDS4jK8J4IVeEHqMkugQceMUlElpPJ-yh3Bg5ep9mb8jHfYooU58ocIaOCabB8Hgc9VVxYzfxstcZ1gTS074-yFJA_HUvLCjfaPs7kQ9U6JnY_VumQ6Z/w640-h480/IMG_1062.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is the entrance from the other side of the lot. It's still primarily hostas but adding in some ferns, lilies, coral bells and other plants that tolerate a bit more sun.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1nUGMX0CsSLqt9E-5FFm6WWw9_8f52IPzmIc1dn81leqllCMDPMGjAhJHPZL0HODncO5EgzT08I61VYJ97OQMrxFor4g4wREk3i4F9WfC1HVvL8tN4dzQ1CpdYHIjtw-SkprwLM7a575uVmRXZ0O0P4tQAAyCEyoOQFMJRYTVvoJ16FvYRvgUec4i/s640/IMG_1063.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1nUGMX0CsSLqt9E-5FFm6WWw9_8f52IPzmIc1dn81leqllCMDPMGjAhJHPZL0HODncO5EgzT08I61VYJ97OQMrxFor4g4wREk3i4F9WfC1HVvL8tN4dzQ1CpdYHIjtw-SkprwLM7a575uVmRXZ0O0P4tQAAyCEyoOQFMJRYTVvoJ16FvYRvgUec4i/w480-h640/IMG_1063.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><p>This is the entrance from the neighbor's lot, where guests are welcomed by the welcome sign and the lady in red. Lots of hostas and ferns. The back of the cat cage has clematis planted on it. They're doing much better this year and I'm hoping there's enough sun for some blooms.</p></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfileifU4nYQDIDgbmYJLJ6TQhhNc6SWkvHCe0Ph6D6WziY5nCGeUqFyp1cT_IyGnWXIntSuKl7O2Ld7kTV1xlN4cUk8YH1slMru4h0fc49sQAF0z1GhodOzHbIk-trBN4WiSsxV_W320ldkcPriNem49LeNNJ385kWXkNb6pb6HtxfILMKJwPlrK7/s640/IMG_1064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfileifU4nYQDIDgbmYJLJ6TQhhNc6SWkvHCe0Ph6D6WziY5nCGeUqFyp1cT_IyGnWXIntSuKl7O2Ld7kTV1xlN4cUk8YH1slMru4h0fc49sQAF0z1GhodOzHbIk-trBN4WiSsxV_W320ldkcPriNem49LeNNJ385kWXkNb6pb6HtxfILMKJwPlrK7/w640-h480/IMG_1064.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">The photo below is kind of a side angle view to show the bulk of the hosta garden. I like doing a mix of hostas with different colors and textures. This area has some dead nettle and brunnera as well because it's much shadier.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOWcVUzYU-pNA_m_7f3r_f_piOBaXCm9lRfC8sbHpUScEIEupsVkCtthWRF-uqU0W5aMeqMim09U9RMUJQH0mc2UFjNPikoJTX3uvqtdrW2HWo8oVebgdjYbsoq8rzLQa9iCvaUOgtBgFc03pIlA0gUIREsHnL4KWUN66_-UyOW0crVg-mubZqFS2u/s640/IMG_1065.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOWcVUzYU-pNA_m_7f3r_f_piOBaXCm9lRfC8sbHpUScEIEupsVkCtthWRF-uqU0W5aMeqMim09U9RMUJQH0mc2UFjNPikoJTX3uvqtdrW2HWo8oVebgdjYbsoq8rzLQa9iCvaUOgtBgFc03pIlA0gUIREsHnL4KWUN66_-UyOW0crVg-mubZqFS2u/w480-h640/IMG_1065.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWh0cN9Cop2CQg13Rmjv6n5SelLG7Jw6R_af5Og7QT5qZLEpf9cqfVFpu6cNVdpu7B-FikwcLJFr7ecmDzzYo46_vt5kiil-LSs1taL97lffWbRc6hLfqNtVNXZPEYb08QHtyRUa1Wi4zc4ZMRcsJNiPS-PGrqfMk4fSTTuAwDVD2cdRPiNS_LyKqY/s640/Josephine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWh0cN9Cop2CQg13Rmjv6n5SelLG7Jw6R_af5Og7QT5qZLEpf9cqfVFpu6cNVdpu7B-FikwcLJFr7ecmDzzYo46_vt5kiil-LSs1taL97lffWbRc6hLfqNtVNXZPEYb08QHtyRUa1Wi4zc4ZMRcsJNiPS-PGrqfMk4fSTTuAwDVD2cdRPiNS_LyKqY/w300-h400/Josephine.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Ok, one last close up shot of the clematis on the side of the shed. This is Josephine and she's just starting to bloom.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The blooms are so big and showy and remind me of water lilies.</span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Long Live the Queen</span></p>The Queen Jesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03613469797513739495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869600948832734487.post-36739560217402484562022-06-04T16:43:00.001-05:002022-06-04T16:43:21.944-05:00Spring blooms<p><span style="font-size: large;">The gardens are starting to look good this year as they mature and have filled in. The groundcover (ajuga or bugleweed) is getting thick and I love the color when it blooms.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg4R7JTBiXiltMtnY1tgBmwuZOzGvRh5Q0mlg5tRLkGlRd-cN6tbx_bxg0AvlP96qV3JsXaPAj1Uw6cHhlLZESY3FqOsDgnKRpSzEScPxnk3sGtOTPMXCxH1uNp4TbYKEA5GC_LjXv_gEjyztMF2NWAF1T0kyFV0L0bCegWAdsB3hIYXue4DH653_E/s4051/ajuga%20May%202022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1970" data-original-width="4051" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg4R7JTBiXiltMtnY1tgBmwuZOzGvRh5Q0mlg5tRLkGlRd-cN6tbx_bxg0AvlP96qV3JsXaPAj1Uw6cHhlLZESY3FqOsDgnKRpSzEScPxnk3sGtOTPMXCxH1uNp4TbYKEA5GC_LjXv_gEjyztMF2NWAF1T0kyFV0L0bCegWAdsB3hIYXue4DH653_E/w640-h312/ajuga%20May%202022.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0svGXAkKiRUAAa89RK05ef_5n275o3UkGtB6d9p4LO7vfKDlNNu5oqhMpEYkEQbkGxM_V5uyqTNa99crZPekKMTWj8s8sLsBPSuJVKoqOpyOajUi2S_KbrggqEP6WbQ3qriK5ohd-kSO0o_2FiISoMNKFOyI5IH2_4ECQ_BJciuSRxKrtcX6IXrkY/s2495/clematis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2495" data-original-width="2410" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0svGXAkKiRUAAa89RK05ef_5n275o3UkGtB6d9p4LO7vfKDlNNu5oqhMpEYkEQbkGxM_V5uyqTNa99crZPekKMTWj8s8sLsBPSuJVKoqOpyOajUi2S_KbrggqEP6WbQ3qriK5ohd-kSO0o_2FiISoMNKFOyI5IH2_4ECQ_BJciuSRxKrtcX6IXrkY/s320/clematis.jpg" width="309" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">One of my favorite things are the vines, especially the clematis, which I have everywhere. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This one isn't fully open yet, but will be soon. It's called Josephine.</span></p><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv6o-bpCEmn-T37jBzlZ1G4E6DcQ-dkGtuQqwnROBN9RE3sxZ0kqO7tXlLWNXepfWvCoCuwij9A627wSOVZ7q5A921nBgy9wrf9dJPb0uGBT0OKYiYi1Ni6GfUQMr33PfQkXnmUYIk3e7cx1CdQz1CpzR2L8alnHbn7tfICrduEJ92-ZKipoBf_1sH/s5184/heuchera%20and%20fern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5184" data-original-width="3456" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv6o-bpCEmn-T37jBzlZ1G4E6DcQ-dkGtuQqwnROBN9RE3sxZ0kqO7tXlLWNXepfWvCoCuwij9A627wSOVZ7q5A921nBgy9wrf9dJPb0uGBT0OKYiYi1Ni6GfUQMr33PfQkXnmUYIk3e7cx1CdQz1CpzR2L8alnHbn7tfICrduEJ92-ZKipoBf_1sH/w266-h400/heuchera%20and%20fern.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">I love the combinations of colors and textures, like this heuchera (coral bells) and the ghost fern.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">This is in the back area and gets a fair amount of sun, but the ferns seem to do just fine.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We have a very shady lot with five trees, so mostly I grow hostas and things that enjoy the shade.</span></p><p><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhyWJ8v9ZovmheUAySJiT8X3pp15kEArJ2DxSt3tOuuf0Px0ZcTGFTa4DblKbYQuirBoZ8Ba-rR3QShp0-w7mvXlJWFNTnpJ_lBHhlZzUIz45zp3bM2993oADJOgnEjapRLv26KAFJDZeIGawtwBUagh3rmBILQSPVoKIud7Vi4W1tzrUYcb9bJUJy/s4357/columbine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2637" data-original-width="4357" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhyWJ8v9ZovmheUAySJiT8X3pp15kEArJ2DxSt3tOuuf0Px0ZcTGFTa4DblKbYQuirBoZ8Ba-rR3QShp0-w7mvXlJWFNTnpJ_lBHhlZzUIz45zp3bM2993oADJOgnEjapRLv26KAFJDZeIGawtwBUagh3rmBILQSPVoKIud7Vi4W1tzrUYcb9bJUJy/w400-h243/columbine.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It wouldn't be June without columbines.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This one is starting to naturalize so hopefully I'll have a nice clump of them eventually.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwOz1nuLKs195Tu1Lyh167Xoz_f9ioCNjEEKRgLTrejqziBEj7Y3nS2HPHy0bZ-U-auYWtywNanUX0dEdWFmTtJrPs_sLkgmADqcdPACeOGg-Y2DJrl0BZVs4sR8ZRgemcOL7zCnqfyY3TNi1VM7vrJNjt7Wd_zMQyncSGCmP0rFdZiYAvh6C_CwU6/s5184/daisies.CR2" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwOz1nuLKs195Tu1Lyh167Xoz_f9ioCNjEEKRgLTrejqziBEj7Y3nS2HPHy0bZ-U-auYWtywNanUX0dEdWFmTtJrPs_sLkgmADqcdPACeOGg-Y2DJrl0BZVs4sR8ZRgemcOL7zCnqfyY3TNi1VM7vrJNjt7Wd_zMQyncSGCmP0rFdZiYAvh6C_CwU6/w400-h266/daisies.CR2" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">Another summer favorite is daisies. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This is a nice clumping variety, not like the ones I had in Wisconsin that took over the empty lot next door. It did look stunning, however.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This is a combination of a Japanese painted fern and a heuchera. The gold groundcover is lysimachia nummularia (moneywort) and the silvery one in the back is lamium (dead nettle ).</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj17f1mC7YcoJuYoHlHYyt86m_BHw-Q4Z5FwNTppoxmFzPHybPCAOw-a0ueWxbcGzXjAhLletbOyLfOdP4G00X1FCNBb3pzbmMwen6LHkHcNsZhXyQ-WUe6X80jBatWfLAm8F-_5MCxH09bC9LTGF7Gxi7E0VA1Eu5pGY6FwghnyY6SHAcEuCBb-mIA/s4266/ferns%20in%20front%20garden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2641" data-original-width="4266" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj17f1mC7YcoJuYoHlHYyt86m_BHw-Q4Z5FwNTppoxmFzPHybPCAOw-a0ueWxbcGzXjAhLletbOyLfOdP4G00X1FCNBb3pzbmMwen6LHkHcNsZhXyQ-WUe6X80jBatWfLAm8F-_5MCxH09bC9LTGF7Gxi7E0VA1Eu5pGY6FwghnyY6SHAcEuCBb-mIA/w640-h396/ferns%20in%20front%20garden.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Well, that's been my tour for the day. My granddaughter has given me the use of her camera which makes it much easier to share these photos with you.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Long Live the Queen of the Garden<br /><br /></span></p><p><br /></p><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>The Queen Jesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03613469797513739495noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869600948832734487.post-27633710886660103262022-05-22T20:47:00.003-05:002022-05-22T20:47:28.641-05:00Karaoke<p> <span style="font-size: large;">I love karaoke I recently met a man who does it professionally and met with my friend Rick and I to show us his program. It looks so much better than what we're using and I was overjoyed when I learned that he lived near me in Minnesota and could work with me over the summer months.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP-L3zp8BsiRVnEkLQLzOJocknyf0hZMHlB5iM49ZWM5D7_duArD1_NvhHW0lUsD8jjzO8eRyOW1OJSYQaPKbGoQhBf7TDh6MO1ze2SBdaW_l84-tHlnxvAJjbR1IhJMD0KRXKGVhF-F6MLWy1TVdQmE92VZcO_2zchca9Hk5dTakIoBbRV32mLsc4/s640/bar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP-L3zp8BsiRVnEkLQLzOJocknyf0hZMHlB5iM49ZWM5D7_duArD1_NvhHW0lUsD8jjzO8eRyOW1OJSYQaPKbGoQhBf7TDh6MO1ze2SBdaW_l84-tHlnxvAJjbR1IhJMD0KRXKGVhF-F6MLWy1TVdQmE92VZcO_2zchca9Hk5dTakIoBbRV32mLsc4/w200-h150/bar.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">So the arrangement was made to come to the bar where he works on a Sunday to see how he operates this program. <br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Now, anyone who knows me knows that I don't generally have much of a night life. I tend to turn into a pumpkin shortly after the 5:00 news and crash early. So to accomplish this meeting I needed to take a long nap in the afternoon and then go the the bar at 8:00...at night. </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Cyn6_aIaXRgzfNI20s0gvj5vXoZJVNuJRhMpb-_GgRpQtkt-60ngLeRiLNG1jhvK3ykB7yHO7kMmZOWi2Zf-Aghat-BAwYI5NLZ19scLL22NA0RuGU22ZOvHFq0MRF6U0V-y7v7yDtAweQb3dk_C1jWyNwDarkWTvxpfkm2jxB6YC3oSLbRR4k-E/s640/me%20in%20bar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Cyn6_aIaXRgzfNI20s0gvj5vXoZJVNuJRhMpb-_GgRpQtkt-60ngLeRiLNG1jhvK3ykB7yHO7kMmZOWi2Zf-Aghat-BAwYI5NLZ19scLL22NA0RuGU22ZOvHFq0MRF6U0V-y7v7yDtAweQb3dk_C1jWyNwDarkWTvxpfkm2jxB6YC3oSLbRR4k-E/w480-h640/me%20in%20bar.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I can't believe I'm really doing this!</td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: large;">I arrived early and had some incredible Rueben rolls while I waited for him to show up.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghe8_SQMdpqK5d3GSMEN9PqBW_iXjy3VQEhQqvwAJH-oq_BZglFXK7gnOfFoQdVY4TMyujtHZiSjmST-LIXo1rri7PlLXj6D-Sfr1MfAicr8U6mrnUtdEcDbYeAWFR2ntXKjtoyn6a7-tjYwq7leul-9hW2PuIaGM5niu88dg1CY3A_Dd67oRXylqo/s640/reuben%20rolls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="361" data-original-width="640" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghe8_SQMdpqK5d3GSMEN9PqBW_iXjy3VQEhQqvwAJH-oq_BZglFXK7gnOfFoQdVY4TMyujtHZiSjmST-LIXo1rri7PlLXj6D-Sfr1MfAicr8U6mrnUtdEcDbYeAWFR2ntXKjtoyn6a7-tjYwq7leul-9hW2PuIaGM5niu88dg1CY3A_Dd67oRXylqo/w640-h362/reuben%20rolls.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><p>I met some interesting people there. First was Vera and her daughter who were the loudest cheerers and made every singer feel like a rock star.</p></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrX_AWxABZRL13f6JwJlKhtR2ufhMn6wRP081ChLZEQ8dp3LVRubUwNUWcKvhlSndBvXeRwhv7e72_tXsd3F3Qp6LKE0bEhjQ4U4391t-IwxtkxTD2s1FEN6Y3wSErCfSvgH0Yk7TLw8juQiXhPR96fge6X5M_qTYrsRvEWAU1dj5obu5xBrE_HGgG/s640/Vera%20and%20daughter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrX_AWxABZRL13f6JwJlKhtR2ufhMn6wRP081ChLZEQ8dp3LVRubUwNUWcKvhlSndBvXeRwhv7e72_tXsd3F3Qp6LKE0bEhjQ4U4391t-IwxtkxTD2s1FEN6Y3wSErCfSvgH0Yk7TLw8juQiXhPR96fge6X5M_qTYrsRvEWAU1dj5obu5xBrE_HGgG/w640-h480/Vera%20and%20daughter.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNXLaVxZXnGDkeOUgA6NnhyuxwAwsk9K41p4O2AI00tcyEDP4Cvwqgk9OIiWRT9HFqqtOpUy0XfxARdVHN-Ko0nXZqM5wmHJpHTA3gCbquckK6qAsVxXBIvbpwhsvUW0HZFZfUVf6XVIwjsL58qT9AMAS09oTpyKIQGnFkd584272m3m32Oz5Gzfqp/s640/Steve%20Chucknorris.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNXLaVxZXnGDkeOUgA6NnhyuxwAwsk9K41p4O2AI00tcyEDP4Cvwqgk9OIiWRT9HFqqtOpUy0XfxARdVHN-Ko0nXZqM5wmHJpHTA3gCbquckK6qAsVxXBIvbpwhsvUW0HZFZfUVf6XVIwjsL58qT9AMAS09oTpyKIQGnFkd584272m3m32Oz5Gzfqp/s320/Steve%20Chucknorris.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Then there was Steve Chuck-Norris, who apparently dresses all the time like this and had a name change in honor of Chuck Norris.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">I met Gallagher, who is actually a good singer and published an album that I listened to on You-Tube on the way home. It had a Seals & Croft vibe that I enjoyed. He's talking to Neil in the photo below.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZVlfWLm1cNZZWNwXz0feFREUfbDbLY3k6_Y-KkIH07_xTKD5M4KZA39wfLAeUoGenloNbsN1w3wgG1n6dysKDF0diOkaYuGUCqecH7ysMaBJmsryYpkt7xOrkf2Fm5ZVTkM9RM8rxJEE8TqrjFw79Fjzur_RGuvk7ivIwSLttiKMcaimpCOqjddP-/s640/Neil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZVlfWLm1cNZZWNwXz0feFREUfbDbLY3k6_Y-KkIH07_xTKD5M4KZA39wfLAeUoGenloNbsN1w3wgG1n6dysKDF0diOkaYuGUCqecH7ysMaBJmsryYpkt7xOrkf2Fm5ZVTkM9RM8rxJEE8TqrjFw79Fjzur_RGuvk7ivIwSLttiKMcaimpCOqjddP-/w640-h480/Neil.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />That's Neil, the kind man who is willing to train me on this program. He's so patient and might help me set up a karaoke night in my park when I feel ready so I can practice running it.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4zJ0u8LhPNjzHX-Ijj3_d4vxaDkNwJ631e_SYdC3KOSfQNFMWBIWCHK4wx7YvXWuQywGsAZqIDxdhVjAwrdGXwY73Mwy0wTCNxPPe-tpX79G7XKKSLaCs1QdINd8IqejyusQN-LhoXOhwIKURaEr1utqJcqpmALrl6XVbtAI1EXnbkhn5xKWoI-Qu/s640/moon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4zJ0u8LhPNjzHX-Ijj3_d4vxaDkNwJ631e_SYdC3KOSfQNFMWBIWCHK4wx7YvXWuQywGsAZqIDxdhVjAwrdGXwY73Mwy0wTCNxPPe-tpX79G7XKKSLaCs1QdINd8IqejyusQN-LhoXOhwIKURaEr1utqJcqpmALrl6XVbtAI1EXnbkhn5xKWoI-Qu/s320/moon.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We stopped karaoke and all stood outside to watch the eclipse of the moon.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">One of the singers naturally sang "the total eclipse of the moon" to honor the occasion.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMDiZvk5VlJMkOzjChLqsKDxJ4yewvNj9mORfn2-1Mj06cZqOiUwb-an-kTmB2NgLepwsH_wuxft0NmVxQhe1C_UDmHNjiPN1L24mo-M3Hw6JjXo2ItqNPsbSNsLJOA30oqCZZAfPE_nFFfH2Ntwr_D6FoR812C7h4OOX3WTpc2_gXLL6FegAPVCAo/s640/sign%20in%20bathroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMDiZvk5VlJMkOzjChLqsKDxJ4yewvNj9mORfn2-1Mj06cZqOiUwb-an-kTmB2NgLepwsH_wuxft0NmVxQhe1C_UDmHNjiPN1L24mo-M3Hw6JjXo2ItqNPsbSNsLJOA30oqCZZAfPE_nFFfH2Ntwr_D6FoR812C7h4OOX3WTpc2_gXLL6FegAPVCAo/s320/sign%20in%20bathroom.jpg" width="240" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Loved the sign in the bathroom. </span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It was a pretty magical evening. There might be something to this nightlife after all.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Long Live the Bar Hopping Karaoke Singing Queen</span></p>The Queen Jesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03613469797513739495noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869600948832734487.post-46322690635689236792022-05-14T17:42:00.000-05:002022-05-14T17:51:55.165-05:00Water Water Everywhere<p><br /></p><p> <span style="font-size: large;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg37dAFKWRcKqqxk0zyTTJBxFrTC8tT8Z_ldMn4qA1qq11w7dPjFfb2lbOszuxCISUClt23aQrRAo-SNh84A35svHlQj9rXKY2GGFpWgoPlH_QdVyf9mSMljvStY6prCGCMbBRUwxUn0nr0gG7HBY-Jo6s4SjwWSfoOKpT9r7nUqWib1NktYMO7BuZ/s640/IMG_0934%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg37dAFKWRcKqqxk0zyTTJBxFrTC8tT8Z_ldMn4qA1qq11w7dPjFfb2lbOszuxCISUClt23aQrRAo-SNh84A35svHlQj9rXKY2GGFpWgoPlH_QdVyf9mSMljvStY6prCGCMbBRUwxUn0nr0gG7HBY-Jo6s4SjwWSfoOKpT9r7nUqWib1NktYMO7BuZ/w480-h640/IMG_0934%20(1).jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I guess when you live on the Mississippi River you have to expect these things, but it's the first time I've ever seen it like this. </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Last year the river was so low everyone was wishing for more rain. </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Be careful what you wish for.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2KXlaR72y0gPSLFGm-JkNewVUxnYFUeZa0CH44U_TIMLhGo3cN3nbOIQX69J8uu5KSxqofuuCe3bsj5Wyv_sZ-WnwnHXM08ujirnnCzD6FG6MVKS2KIBmuwi3O-aYcmMFxOgG7bEMQakp82IJp3wujF9JXpd0TkFP_PDc66Quwc33tTQe7L1mST4t/s640/IMG_0942.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2KXlaR72y0gPSLFGm-JkNewVUxnYFUeZa0CH44U_TIMLhGo3cN3nbOIQX69J8uu5KSxqofuuCe3bsj5Wyv_sZ-WnwnHXM08ujirnnCzD6FG6MVKS2KIBmuwi3O-aYcmMFxOgG7bEMQakp82IJp3wujF9JXpd0TkFP_PDc66Quwc33tTQe7L1mST4t/w640-h480/IMG_0942.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieReXUAfoFlXOBqkgyX0Hdrfnh0_jd5CQo4ql_7hp5iBq47oWlC51PH871XH63P-ugOJWHGR2u07FuN3FIozgcxhcMTCJNXCRsauyKch2bQ8b4puMGXDBUrVrOaceJBS0OO1a2n9ehyJY-xGgmamlWcp1ifuM86zz58RFemqK-GbxwaatkktWqJp1p/s640/IMG_0952.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieReXUAfoFlXOBqkgyX0Hdrfnh0_jd5CQo4ql_7hp5iBq47oWlC51PH871XH63P-ugOJWHGR2u07FuN3FIozgcxhcMTCJNXCRsauyKch2bQ8b4puMGXDBUrVrOaceJBS0OO1a2n9ehyJY-xGgmamlWcp1ifuM86zz58RFemqK-GbxwaatkktWqJp1p/w640-h480/IMG_0952.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtqmHJ9i-PqLWH3CVPAFGeOxNPDP4rrM113dILD8dMqzLjALYdAUdw2MXt2TLbzAk1PUnSJ5ks1P08VDx9OTPHnVO8iWEpBPNyXd5y1VqX_OoEdSzOSYRo0U4fEaPXZujNMCYCfPHrBUEDV4cJfDsCqzCa9fI8ErOnUgmukFBV0okGDfwalvLr8B9X/s640/IMG_0953.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtqmHJ9i-PqLWH3CVPAFGeOxNPDP4rrM113dILD8dMqzLjALYdAUdw2MXt2TLbzAk1PUnSJ5ks1P08VDx9OTPHnVO8iWEpBPNyXd5y1VqX_OoEdSzOSYRo0U4fEaPXZujNMCYCfPHrBUEDV4cJfDsCqzCa9fI8ErOnUgmukFBV0okGDfwalvLr8B9X/w640-h480/IMG_0953.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>Our trailer is on the higher side and we're fine, but those in the lower levels had to get moved out. We're hoping the river will crest soon and not come up any higher.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">We just had a 50th wedding celebration in this cabana two weeks ago. There was a trailer there at the time.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjShpwhx8dYc0Kwi5kG7q25exwNlNTqP1m-avsyNIbTUCMaq0K4jlpnrPCw-Eyvq9mpLGBR8T5Or0yvg3RWEhdTrXEZmRd6vD_lc_KJ_XMdqw55kThpyxPGuG-bLhseyoZVv7CTNsg4A5qgMoH_va9jdtBqJmuvcUGS57vw2r8LUbxzARyAVwnuaD3C/s640/IMG_0944.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjShpwhx8dYc0Kwi5kG7q25exwNlNTqP1m-avsyNIbTUCMaq0K4jlpnrPCw-Eyvq9mpLGBR8T5Or0yvg3RWEhdTrXEZmRd6vD_lc_KJ_XMdqw55kThpyxPGuG-bLhseyoZVv7CTNsg4A5qgMoH_va9jdtBqJmuvcUGS57vw2r8LUbxzARyAVwnuaD3C/w640-h480/IMG_0944.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">This one didn't get out on time and we're hoping the river bank doesn't shift or it may go sideways and float down the river.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOP-OGJZGR78w2BOLNczlRiMoNrRiGlru2Y22OcpW93Q8FsvNiae4bSXVWySaa-vO5VE1TTpfdFC4_h_odsseGPkDpfh7TxjAToMTVODjUb2ygK-aILriiU9uiK2Lt-uaydut5jlaZZKTTZdg68WbS-RjtzBn-AQH-ciToKRBKOMV6X6hQCyj7KcVI/s640/IMG_0943.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOP-OGJZGR78w2BOLNczlRiMoNrRiGlru2Y22OcpW93Q8FsvNiae4bSXVWySaa-vO5VE1TTpfdFC4_h_odsseGPkDpfh7TxjAToMTVODjUb2ygK-aILriiU9uiK2Lt-uaydut5jlaZZKTTZdg68WbS-RjtzBn-AQH-ciToKRBKOMV6X6hQCyj7KcVI/w640-h480/IMG_0943.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">You can see people have been trying to stack things up to protect them.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1lz_KJwfmcOySLycxQP8jf5_vU8bwaChcs9jpWQtyMHr3_YGRkre84185GcBjQrhrFapaXuaeomegnY89L47IrXfkF3AQlC3LBS2fodLlXnuN4k5ryLHH8usUTFF92FophwaUU77dMRKhmMJDsTfcPLxOE4Qs4SazgqxJc6SaluXuQ2Ewdl4tRyhe/s640/IMG_0950.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1lz_KJwfmcOySLycxQP8jf5_vU8bwaChcs9jpWQtyMHr3_YGRkre84185GcBjQrhrFapaXuaeomegnY89L47IrXfkF3AQlC3LBS2fodLlXnuN4k5ryLHH8usUTFF92FophwaUU77dMRKhmMJDsTfcPLxOE4Qs4SazgqxJc6SaluXuQ2Ewdl4tRyhe/w640-h480/IMG_0950.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRQRJeniGrrun1JG14eXI9e_CVlRMorcUKtpV8qh1n-AbAFRdM3nhl-e37AAT_h1gDst4ktkZh6bgP7V1II_tfTUBGnKVW2u6LrPTf7A61t-FuWx1O-Ls49IA_3G2qzMKNn4w6hnNSWCHrLBhe4DcEAE4Jg2rOCDWAd7f4tIxWqEPVe50ufquVb9vj/s640/IMG_0951.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRQRJeniGrrun1JG14eXI9e_CVlRMorcUKtpV8qh1n-AbAFRdM3nhl-e37AAT_h1gDst4ktkZh6bgP7V1II_tfTUBGnKVW2u6LrPTf7A61t-FuWx1O-Ls49IA_3G2qzMKNn4w6hnNSWCHrLBhe4DcEAE4Jg2rOCDWAd7f4tIxWqEPVe50ufquVb9vj/w640-h480/IMG_0951.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIzeEAZBFNV_mPnTtkUDu5BbTau0CDNbgVg646uxPTkIl6Dk_LL3mdBsWCIt9nxSZ4e1Sr-l1AIJn6UWVGv5udu9LUFyf3uMtBFTg45U9SMx_KVgIiBqPUJwUzph5fl9E0AdfiQ6M_19renqIlhESugonddaN6JmccJ_MGGY_6nan_k6lalVjZIiga/s640/chairs%20stacked.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIzeEAZBFNV_mPnTtkUDu5BbTau0CDNbgVg646uxPTkIl6Dk_LL3mdBsWCIt9nxSZ4e1Sr-l1AIJn6UWVGv5udu9LUFyf3uMtBFTg45U9SMx_KVgIiBqPUJwUzph5fl9E0AdfiQ6M_19renqIlhESugonddaN6JmccJ_MGGY_6nan_k6lalVjZIiga/w480-h640/chairs%20stacked.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJH7o16F8L5_KtSnrB-tIHt5zKc14p_2IQ2zDT6TMjZElhQcvKFPRFbugbkyOCECDIdf_K9fO3oZg_w0Se5bkPcQjLQXPInFmGgBpzdIBes67xlQGsOs45erMJO7hwwQn0T9akXtLL51OYZR3qili_wUd6rE-vXD2qFw_3L_Hys8QaR2lq16ThPcn4/s640/men%20working.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="481" data-original-width="640" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJH7o16F8L5_KtSnrB-tIHt5zKc14p_2IQ2zDT6TMjZElhQcvKFPRFbugbkyOCECDIdf_K9fO3oZg_w0Se5bkPcQjLQXPInFmGgBpzdIBes67xlQGsOs45erMJO7hwwQn0T9akXtLL51OYZR3qili_wUd6rE-vXD2qFw_3L_Hys8QaR2lq16ThPcn4/s320/men%20working.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">We have a group of hard working men here who haul out the trailers and here they're cutting the power to the affected areas.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">As you can see, they are being supervised. Those supervisors look younger every year.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Good thing. I wonder if that cord is plugged in to something.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh91RsST53hxY0Up1Ax1f-LDCz1kl9OHc4gFvr474kqIAXTke7FOer6obxDIkQCDZKwhwiwH4U1Ki6xj9jjwujdTBjjjqmeqaQDutoEK8sw52JA_U7P3hpakQ6OOQ2yots8zSO-PZF4yBoecUPdGXeycUtItmPlLg7uqX5OQ-fY4LJ3xTPAPMKRTFI8/s640/IMG_0954.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="547" data-original-width="640" height="548" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh91RsST53hxY0Up1Ax1f-LDCz1kl9OHc4gFvr474kqIAXTke7FOer6obxDIkQCDZKwhwiwH4U1Ki6xj9jjwujdTBjjjqmeqaQDutoEK8sw52JA_U7P3hpakQ6OOQ2yots8zSO-PZF4yBoecUPdGXeycUtItmPlLg7uqX5OQ-fY4LJ3xTPAPMKRTFI8/w640-h548/IMG_0954.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>Dean and Karen Ternus live here and they haven't yet arrived.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmDBza0ra1eT35spDfBrKVx0uXhDJWPhpq63QSwJUv9beSMFUsaZyf9AAYkbkQcAcFYT1mzKRif4n2AqPq3CHBCpc2Tv5TuPo1w4JDpWxSu7ZYjhiads3m__3AnXR0-5BjKFAOCH0l13ZcDrdd8dH75nUuIs63g-NDtbpEv1-omzH29fQmEMFBllkR/s640/IMG_0945.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="640" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmDBza0ra1eT35spDfBrKVx0uXhDJWPhpq63QSwJUv9beSMFUsaZyf9AAYkbkQcAcFYT1mzKRif4n2AqPq3CHBCpc2Tv5TuPo1w4JDpWxSu7ZYjhiads3m__3AnXR0-5BjKFAOCH0l13ZcDrdd8dH75nUuIs63g-NDtbpEv1-omzH29fQmEMFBllkR/w640-h400/IMG_0945.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>You might want to take a few days before you arrive, since the road to your area is closed right now. </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">You have become an island.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVrqELtydvxE_u_tNreth5qJr3LCnkwgdMK0L-mhMpe2v98ehu-1OXkMuRIUoJYuEFjXrE5acPpSzXCJkBAZHJW-jvG1aqi7YL4d2IQy_VjCtnuA2WW3_Mro3KQJ1FIsDhZ79FqaLyoxDMf_UnZkrAeDtjceoffVEEINqxZjbLSycvtdvABZITKCAH/s640/road%20closed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVrqELtydvxE_u_tNreth5qJr3LCnkwgdMK0L-mhMpe2v98ehu-1OXkMuRIUoJYuEFjXrE5acPpSzXCJkBAZHJW-jvG1aqi7YL4d2IQy_VjCtnuA2WW3_Mro3KQJ1FIsDhZ79FqaLyoxDMf_UnZkrAeDtjceoffVEEINqxZjbLSycvtdvABZITKCAH/w640-h480/road%20closed.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">People here take it in stride and here's a couple out for a kayak ride and gliding past the bench that normally is on the edge of the water.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZk5NnxurfpcuStT5Son6-qgV5LGr54Tw92woKftVnoW7wuJEHIa_Zvn8q69Y0r8bCpvKv0IGFcz93HWhU-6-gevc3YlXiS1Ya5lPfz0c_TYun7sH7uUXaBUS6jM2RnQLT-BlFqsca6971C0Tv3V-KuwwYJSpNsiPbWze1SIVoXxY3OWUAUjKmek0u/s640/kayaks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZk5NnxurfpcuStT5Son6-qgV5LGr54Tw92woKftVnoW7wuJEHIa_Zvn8q69Y0r8bCpvKv0IGFcz93HWhU-6-gevc3YlXiS1Ya5lPfz0c_TYun7sH7uUXaBUS6jM2RnQLT-BlFqsca6971C0Tv3V-KuwwYJSpNsiPbWze1SIVoXxY3OWUAUjKmek0u/w640-h480/kayaks.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Long Live the Water Queen</span></p>The Queen Jesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03613469797513739495noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869600948832734487.post-11720773403739544012022-05-14T17:11:00.000-05:002022-05-14T17:11:24.303-05:00Now We're Cooking!<p> <span style="font-size: large;">While at Target picking up stuff that we needed for the RV, I came across a sale on all the grilling stuff. We haven't grilled for years and suddenly I had a desire for grilled food, so I picked up a small gas grill and a bunch of accessories and a storage box to put them in.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO-8G72O_rIhV6WKzFKsLK5pFXJPMqSr-o7kWyV6svCvYGwBHWDjlWahMK8JjLiQRig8Wz888JcjqNcfy27mVaGcFeBmyyaFS3_ZE6ZC6yg-zdaGouIQ0xxCkl4XDEGoNjbuEQE6pQdVvJguk91k_6_bW6ygp3kNLvWaPpguTlxJHD-LxMk-HHJ0Vk/s640/grill%20station.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO-8G72O_rIhV6WKzFKsLK5pFXJPMqSr-o7kWyV6svCvYGwBHWDjlWahMK8JjLiQRig8Wz888JcjqNcfy27mVaGcFeBmyyaFS3_ZE6ZC6yg-zdaGouIQ0xxCkl4XDEGoNjbuEQE6pQdVvJguk91k_6_bW6ygp3kNLvWaPpguTlxJHD-LxMk-HHJ0Vk/w200-h150/grill%20station.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">When I got home I rearranged the outdoor seating to make space for a table to set it on and went to work assembling the grill. I have no idea how to do this, but I'm sure Left Brain will be able to adapt from charcoal to gas once it's set up.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSu6sslv3Hd1WpLghjnLqi5WT3aLJX21l4wNMpDJiysMOEnDG2Xan6Rx-z44Hk7aDbxQ7sLB2MmkvZU74XFh3O_TOQkMR0szXhSLCi0a-ZfMDOlU-pabPH9AXTu2hBvk6OuCJ505OO7L7nStzngZrXF7WhoW02gJI1f4fv9szKYxdxPzLQ36FkDk02/s640/new%20seating%20area%20May%202022.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSu6sslv3Hd1WpLghjnLqi5WT3aLJX21l4wNMpDJiysMOEnDG2Xan6Rx-z44Hk7aDbxQ7sLB2MmkvZU74XFh3O_TOQkMR0szXhSLCi0a-ZfMDOlU-pabPH9AXTu2hBvk6OuCJ505OO7L7nStzngZrXF7WhoW02gJI1f4fv9szKYxdxPzLQ36FkDk02/s320/new%20seating%20area%20May%202022.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">I put up the ivy behind the benches and installed the white wooden door and rack to make the entry way a little more attractive. It's always fun to dig out my pretties and set them around the yard.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Then I decided the new seating area needed a rug, so another visit to Target and voila...it's complete.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI4RjXRcIxj2AlIwTRzDm9C3IY0kXD1-G4ekZk9tBtygjNxwyvD9b8ne66hzxx3foegELDgVA4Wvwr18FfARCAhxD4cSLDFw-aWHyYM3F9EvG6-fHo4Vta7ihgB8VIyllVd2l7Hm8726OdFXHqMl8aBjB8EkXbC5EUAsRO8arS4E8Ubx9HE3Q_mMpB/s640/new%20wire%20trellis%20May%202022.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI4RjXRcIxj2AlIwTRzDm9C3IY0kXD1-G4ekZk9tBtygjNxwyvD9b8ne66hzxx3foegELDgVA4Wvwr18FfARCAhxD4cSLDFw-aWHyYM3F9EvG6-fHo4Vta7ihgB8VIyllVd2l7Hm8726OdFXHqMl8aBjB8EkXbC5EUAsRO8arS4E8Ubx9HE3Q_mMpB/w200-h150/new%20wire%20trellis%20May%202022.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">I decided I didn't care for the white trellis I had between these two trees so I removed them and installed five black wire trellis in their place. These will hold up much better to the winter snow and wind.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3yT6Fm068nFJ9ccOK62SlFsRupIFHHaW_Dwv-J-Sv7vSmOMJjNXdfIH89GNgrCg-UupGs2f67XuE4fVexYmEzh7GVik7MYuiojvMO3iyXTJucLVmXadmv0JcUCi3YlXWh3qds0Kr2zgBS7o5jW1vqGe9hQDHYFU9Dqx_jZrn1FpvdU_R_znlF4kmi/s640/tarp%20over%20cat%20cage.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="469" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3yT6Fm068nFJ9ccOK62SlFsRupIFHHaW_Dwv-J-Sv7vSmOMJjNXdfIH89GNgrCg-UupGs2f67XuE4fVexYmEzh7GVik7MYuiojvMO3iyXTJucLVmXadmv0JcUCi3YlXWh3qds0Kr2zgBS7o5jW1vqGe9hQDHYFU9Dqx_jZrn1FpvdU_R_znlF4kmi/s320/tarp%20over%20cat%20cage.jpg" width="235" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The cat cage got a good cleaning and I added a welcome mat at the<br /> bottom, a rug on the second level and a drying mat on the top so their little paws are more comfortable. It's all about their comfort. Also the landings are old and disgusting looking, so this is a little upgrade. I purchased a tarp to put on over it when it rains to keep everything dry and will use it when we are gone over the winter to protect it.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Bit by bit things are coming together and pretty soon I can think about actually playing and finding my pickleball people. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Long Live the Queen of the Grill</span></p>The Queen Jesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03613469797513739495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869600948832734487.post-31820852468738803102022-05-13T14:50:00.000-05:002022-05-13T14:50:01.529-05:00Always Have a Plan B<p><span style="font-size: large;">Left Brain wanted to go for a convertible ride today so I suggested we stop at Linda's Café first for lunch as I was craving a Rueben and fries and they make the <i>best</i> Rueben!</span> <span style="font-size: large;"> It's usually so busy there so I was pleased to see lots of parking spots. Maybe they're closed? Nope, the sign was flashing OPEN. However, the sign on the door said they were closing at noon today. Bummer.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Off to Plan B. There's a little hole in the wall bar in Dayton that is said to have excellent burgers that we've wanted to try so we headed out in that direction. It was just a little greasy spoon with a very limited menu and we both got the burger & fries basket. OMG! These are wonderful burgers! Half a pound of hamburger hand patted from the Osseo Meat Market, a local market nearby.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYpX6-WXlzSEQ-wBJktqS05cGpD8dGJ98Cw0uJUG-p7GWComjNOmtYmYSwODBi58Yk4lye0i8-iKtZE_9AQjJv3u7uOa_RliRq5hhRH5HI2Rk1H38k7T7tuTQ7fXwfc_H2E2HRluOv5Wc8p7sv2JYkpo0FvGYAz5hWDADNBMiAt8bUqR_OpAfNZNLi/s640/Dayton%20Bar%20and%20Grill.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="378" data-original-width="640" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYpX6-WXlzSEQ-wBJktqS05cGpD8dGJ98Cw0uJUG-p7GWComjNOmtYmYSwODBi58Yk4lye0i8-iKtZE_9AQjJv3u7uOa_RliRq5hhRH5HI2Rk1H38k7T7tuTQ7fXwfc_H2E2HRluOv5Wc8p7sv2JYkpo0FvGYAz5hWDADNBMiAt8bUqR_OpAfNZNLi/w640-h378/Dayton%20Bar%20and%20Grill.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>It was a perfect day for a drive through the countryside and we were amazed at all the construction. Lots of single family homes at just under a cool million going up. It seems ridiculous to me to have these huge houses for a single family, unless they have a dozen kids but most families have only one or two. Who can afford these? Course, this from an old woman who lives in a shoe, er...trailer. We've gotten so used to having small digs that I wouldn't know what to do with all that space.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Even with a tiny space it's amazing how much stuff a person collects. When the rain hits my plan is to take things out of the closet & cupboards and see what's in there, 'cause I can't remember.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Long Live the Queen of Plan B...and sometimes C</span></p>The Queen Jesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03613469797513739495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869600948832734487.post-44672374971796698582022-05-09T14:43:00.002-05:002022-05-09T14:43:27.622-05:00Stormy Weather<p> <span style="font-size: large;">We woke this morning to the gentle sound of rain pattering against the windows. Such a peaceful sound...for a while.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Then the winds came up, the sky turned dark and the tree tops were whipping back and forth. Did I mention we have five trees on our property?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I was concerned about our awning so Left Brain brought it in for a while and then things started to settle down. Nope. Not over yet, now we have rain with a mixture of hail. I was starting to get a bit worried and wondering where does one go for safety in a trailer?</span></p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiGzaufziN6kfEsmGtW6fmX91i0VynriPSsM71shvJ9Kg-TsfMxwAZBzBBhau33OWiz8owrzGZNx-BDBfEIid4jJyQBodViB-yOT9lStL7GjmJOMTuf2BagYqVBNqjCThvAxrH5_FeFoOlq9LTb3gKGEjJiApuGM6QS-T4ufdjZNI6trrow3GuQZr-/s2048/slide%20damage%20from%20storm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1153" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiGzaufziN6kfEsmGtW6fmX91i0VynriPSsM71shvJ9Kg-TsfMxwAZBzBBhau33OWiz8owrzGZNx-BDBfEIid4jJyQBodViB-yOT9lStL7GjmJOMTuf2BagYqVBNqjCThvAxrH5_FeFoOlq9LTb3gKGEjJiApuGM6QS-T4ufdjZNI6trrow3GuQZr-/s320/slide%20damage%20from%20storm.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the inside view of the damage</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;">Then the wind abated, the rain stopped and the sky got lighter again. We fared very well, but this home owner didn't do as well. The tree that fell pushed in their slide.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Here are some shots of the other tree that came down, luckily it landed right between two sheds.</span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsXoW1gWjCGez1uLi9Xwi94_og1ycy7pL1TfvEx73FOmucs3_GhQOps9UTvAc1q8RFttkUFlv5HrwmUssq6bD-5PIA9dAAOrPgNmYNlotjP-bFOywJbOn74qaYbijsnm1t8N4lTl4UUrFidvSJ1Qc6PtXt1YpsoL3RJQrhCfnMxBYD9b_dcbdYe0hw/s4000/tree%20fallen%20MRAI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsXoW1gWjCGez1uLi9Xwi94_og1ycy7pL1TfvEx73FOmucs3_GhQOps9UTvAc1q8RFttkUFlv5HrwmUssq6bD-5PIA9dAAOrPgNmYNlotjP-bFOywJbOn74qaYbijsnm1t8N4lTl4UUrFidvSJ1Qc6PtXt1YpsoL3RJQrhCfnMxBYD9b_dcbdYe0hw/w640-h480/tree%20fallen%20MRAI.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This one landed right between the two sheds with no damage at all</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYilSboVBxu4OgWOQGqrF_CLqWy8FWPHSS-aNbggW5Zb_meyqXUczIX-0NAJx-t9a6boXggch9ikowekiWd-VH-G4mRgfr1H7ZFFQzB6Ou66GUUcH-fVvTWUqqBl5soPRUbSPri48PI7T9iEkex6yQphd48QFxBkbn7sNWSFPNftTMMUlPYjbU-bFi/s3264/tree%20MRAI%20being%20held%20up%20-%20Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYilSboVBxu4OgWOQGqrF_CLqWy8FWPHSS-aNbggW5Zb_meyqXUczIX-0NAJx-t9a6boXggch9ikowekiWd-VH-G4mRgfr1H7ZFFQzB6Ou66GUUcH-fVvTWUqqBl5soPRUbSPri48PI7T9iEkex6yQphd48QFxBkbn7sNWSFPNftTMMUlPYjbU-bFi/w480-h640/tree%20MRAI%20being%20held%20up%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They tied the tree to the truck to pull it off the trailer.<br />You can see how it pushed in the slide. Ouch.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmeqk6YNzjWxgz9W9k9ta3bEgbcuqlwcQLPyEzyBwOhsaLuDPb2coPdaxBMjf2ku1QGFDbWqbhEZEvFflIhRtPrHe0ConcM80ZvxrfDizVfJORjsMQM2OiAW9qlSaOLXPlouL-23vF6ANkkXlnjOzjF3dGA2zwmFoyHsfg_KikFzCSUUzky-8qsQLj/s4000/tree%20roots%20-%20Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmeqk6YNzjWxgz9W9k9ta3bEgbcuqlwcQLPyEzyBwOhsaLuDPb2coPdaxBMjf2ku1QGFDbWqbhEZEvFflIhRtPrHe0ConcM80ZvxrfDizVfJORjsMQM2OiAW9qlSaOLXPlouL-23vF6ANkkXlnjOzjF3dGA2zwmFoyHsfg_KikFzCSUUzky-8qsQLj/w640-h480/tree%20roots%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This shows the back of the tree that landed between the two sheds</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Long Live the Queen of Breaking Wind</span></p>The Queen Jesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03613469797513739495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869600948832734487.post-50857666748594361082022-05-07T17:27:00.001-05:002022-05-07T17:27:45.394-05:00It's For the Birds<p></p> <span style="font-size: large;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz4P91F9dx-jHuVmcPXYlsbXMqOVESk5HdJot82YpIFjlf9tEvG3SCUbBGnGXknS43VgQsNfpZ2jL-Gq4AGRKowqrcOof529MP4irDMPmsVP5EEKqlsC0zKxfFpG5Ro1lDZji8PoK3DTUKfFICiJGSZO73Fx9tWB8Ty4Anob0mabKEEXVx5bcyCyRZ/s640/lady%20in%20red.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz4P91F9dx-jHuVmcPXYlsbXMqOVESk5HdJot82YpIFjlf9tEvG3SCUbBGnGXknS43VgQsNfpZ2jL-Gq4AGRKowqrcOof529MP4irDMPmsVP5EEKqlsC0zKxfFpG5Ro1lDZji8PoK3DTUKfFICiJGSZO73Fx9tWB8Ty4Anob0mabKEEXVx5bcyCyRZ/s320/lady%20in%20red.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lady in red stands guard near the kitty condo</td></tr></tbody></table>After a couple days of raking leaves the yard is cleaned up and<br /> plants are starting to poke through the soil. The weather is still cool but perfect for outdoor work.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">One of the first things I did was hang up all my bird feeders only to have a neighbor tell me we're not supposed to do that because of the Avian Flu. Darn it! I love feeding the birds and it's one of the best parts of coming to Minnesota.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">But before I could get them taken down we had a visit from the pileated woodpecker. I've never had one so close before. They are so big!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh54ZAxoSb875U-xp5uWTxuJw37l_ravQKJBIviZiC4ZzakRSltqaiaDoX1piIj76d_rYiVTYEi0hZc4t339q2sIFA6buNq4-5vdw9tMIu3uY-7UYra64Sywz4FMnLIrFtyWurnvH9DwxybWT_9ygVaM-tvZQwIe3ymtUjaTPA4mnm95eeQKq49cNPY/s640/IMG_0907.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="494" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh54ZAxoSb875U-xp5uWTxuJw37l_ravQKJBIviZiC4ZzakRSltqaiaDoX1piIj76d_rYiVTYEi0hZc4t339q2sIFA6buNq4-5vdw9tMIu3uY-7UYra64Sywz4FMnLIrFtyWurnvH9DwxybWT_9ygVaM-tvZQwIe3ymtUjaTPA4mnm95eeQKq49cNPY/w154-h200/IMG_0907.jpg" width="154" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">So all the bird feeders have been washed, cleaned with a bleach/water solution and stored away. Hopefully we can set them up again in June. It's embarrassing when the bird feeders are cleaner than my house right now, but I can work on the inside when the rain comes.</span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdBA-QEDChlJphrH6m_OWlwpgbEdfSgkzkOO9pHj1j93HF5rKB04rSPHh-zD5fItAQA5e44-WRerdGoZezMCw10pc3q6BfN5iEGC7EYaRrhIiUiVoUPJ9Q4AZ8Lh7xAV3eiI8wdzKU3N04klY7kS19AJT_yxBO1feUuvimgfKDSMGE6EakCM6O0sdg/s640/yellow%20heuchera%20May%207%202022.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdBA-QEDChlJphrH6m_OWlwpgbEdfSgkzkOO9pHj1j93HF5rKB04rSPHh-zD5fItAQA5e44-WRerdGoZezMCw10pc3q6BfN5iEGC7EYaRrhIiUiVoUPJ9Q4AZ8Lh7xAV3eiI8wdzKU3N04klY7kS19AJT_yxBO1feUuvimgfKDSMGE6EakCM6O0sdg/w200-h150/yellow%20heuchera%20May%207%202022.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">There's one bright spot in the garden, one of the heuchera is up. It seems the yellow ones pop up first. It's not much but sure is good to see a sign of spring.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtDdK-_mkeS5Fh6VNkiie1z87lo_KPc-XrcuGzrZG6v-3MNWkQ3_gunlwjYsyhB7KdBmjqiJhdwPjOVnq2-2rubm74rDnJEw-0YPPjMIYBJU38Ev7jDJK5sGsXG_8C5PBorhhnuS6VLNs1i2sDQOBsM1VVBjPjY6CEhf3dUInZojLqtXCT_Zu0VqOi/s372/coyote.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="237" data-original-width="372" height="127" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtDdK-_mkeS5Fh6VNkiie1z87lo_KPc-XrcuGzrZG6v-3MNWkQ3_gunlwjYsyhB7KdBmjqiJhdwPjOVnq2-2rubm74rDnJEw-0YPPjMIYBJU38Ev7jDJK5sGsXG_8C5PBorhhnuS6VLNs1i2sDQOBsM1VVBjPjY6CEhf3dUInZojLqtXCT_Zu0VqOi/w200-h127/coyote.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Someone in the campground snapped a shot of this coyote going through the park. I guess we'll have them where ever we go.</span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We're enjoying nice weather right now and the rain is coming sometime tonight. Then it should get much warmer, but nothing like<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFNq4GtkWnlybRpYeCTOCUAua7xozB9UenFgvQ2PjsrA32ptdwVi9mM7Vu-uXPn8AekwZb7WZNpgMeEIAkhjt2Z7ez_-Jt2cBPBfyiEZMDp7ORpbkkgoiflwue_srCZ2_jj_NuIcserEivkakuHgww8JoU-vSxgTTFupvl8gwxZ-uCaAjAjNFzKJ6P/s640/rocks%20or%20thong.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="501" data-original-width="640" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFNq4GtkWnlybRpYeCTOCUAua7xozB9UenFgvQ2PjsrA32ptdwVi9mM7Vu-uXPn8AekwZb7WZNpgMeEIAkhjt2Z7ez_-Jt2cBPBfyiEZMDp7ORpbkkgoiflwue_srCZ2_jj_NuIcserEivkakuHgww8JoU-vSxgTTFupvl8gwxZ-uCaAjAjNFzKJ6P/w200-h157/rocks%20or%20thong.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Okay, it's actually a groundcover <br />growing between two rocks.<br />Like I'd show you my bodacious<br />booty in a thong...get real.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /> my friends who are still in Arizona. Once the weather gets really warm I can rock my new thong!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Long Live the Queen of Birds<br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p></div>The Queen Jesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03613469797513739495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869600948832734487.post-89586899426483978832022-05-06T21:25:00.001-05:002022-05-06T21:25:18.518-05:00The Mice Won<p> <span style="font-size: medium;">After washing every kitchen utensil I own I set it on the stove to dry overnight. I took a much needed shower and went to park my tired tookus in my recliner to relax. As I was bringing my soft fleece blanket up to surround my aching body a bunch of stuff shook out of it. OMG! It was white rice and little brown mouse turds. Ewwh. After shaking it out outside I dumped it into the laundry and took Left Brain's blanket, since he's always too warm anyway.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">One more vacuuming job to get rid of that mess and then settled in to read until bedtime.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Now for the best part of the day, climbing into a nice bed with clean sheets and WTF! There's something in here. Kitty litter? No, we just got here. Wood ticks? No, I'm sure that's not it. Yech! Mouse turds? While silently screaming in my head I swiped the unknown particles from my bed and went back out to the recliner to read until my heart started to beat normally again.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The bed felt smooth and clean and in the morning I could see that it was more rice and while I couldn't see any little mouse turds, I'm sure they were in there. The mice had the last laugh that day. Left Brain later found a nest (thankfully not occupied) in the glove box of his car. I haven't had the courage to look in mine yet.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Oh the joys of living in a campground.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwFaU6lV7Jji58PagMWvEKrwfbMfBXuLaGtWmqEF4vDSdHgDBl4ZsEtjlGBB6Ul49-HuBiOQ3rHX__ZcjS76Z8a2XtSh6OeWBYqB09KHBXqaHxmAFESfwGHWPhJNxuv333YCd1y63ljETVPTIk_r-OhEKB1XR7gGuwAFj7kJBuqKkCUyHhj1uTuA2M/s4032/20210131_162545.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwFaU6lV7Jji58PagMWvEKrwfbMfBXuLaGtWmqEF4vDSdHgDBl4ZsEtjlGBB6Ul49-HuBiOQ3rHX__ZcjS76Z8a2XtSh6OeWBYqB09KHBXqaHxmAFESfwGHWPhJNxuv333YCd1y63ljETVPTIk_r-OhEKB1XR7gGuwAFj7kJBuqKkCUyHhj1uTuA2M/s320/20210131_162545.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mouse? What mouse?</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></p>The Queen Jesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03613469797513739495noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869600948832734487.post-35870827640860270762022-05-03T18:18:00.003-05:002022-05-03T18:20:17.229-05:00Migrating to the North<p> We took care of last minute details, packed up and then Paul Stack gave us a ride to Mesa Gateway for our flight to Minnesota. Everything went pretty well until it was time to take Gracie out of the carrier to be walked through the human scanner. They need to run the carrier through the scanner for the other belongings and that would kill her. She exited the carrier like a bronco coming out of the gate and it was quickly decided that she was too wild and they would do a private screening for her. George, or course, being the gentlemen he is was no problem. Once he was back in his carrier I got to go into the private room with Gracie. They took the carrier to be scanned and she walked around on top of the metal table, thinking it looked like the vets exam table and where was her good kitty treat?</p><p>We were assisted up the outdoor ramp to the plane with the assistance of nice young men who push everybody in a wheelchair up the steps. They allowed me to use the walker to get George and two other bags up the steep slope. The attendants were awesome and grabbed the cat carrier as well as the heavy bag with the electronics for me. I guess being old has its perks.</p><p>The lady doing the announcements was a hoot. She took what is normally a boring reminder of all the safety rules and made it fun. She stressed that all the bags must be on the floor. "I know you all want to show off that nice Gucci bag, but we know it's fake...cause you're flying Allegiant" "Be sure to kick your bag firmly under the seat, unless it contains a child or an animal. "Please don't put gum on the tray tables...your neighbor's hair will work very nicely". "We have a first time flyer today....and he's 98 years old!" Much applause and then "let's hear it for our pilot!" " If there's anything you can do that will make our flight more comfortable, please let us know" "If you have any special requests, please write them on a $100 bill and hand it to the attendant".</p><p>The flight went smoothly and we landed in St Cloud about 9:30PM. Stephanie & Ted had delivered the car earlier to the airport, complete with the requested litter box and litter. We loaded up and headed to the motel in Big Lake for the night, which is about halfway to our trailer. The cats examined every square inch of the room and I was pleased to see the bed had complete barriers so they couldn't hide underneath it. Makes it much easier to catch them when it's time to get back in the carrier.</p><p>In the morning we backtracked a couple miles to get a McDonald's breakfast to prepare us for the "set up". There was a house key with the car key, so that made it easier to get in. Pete grabbed the key to the shed and we started dragging out the electric cords and water hoses. Once we had electricity I went to work inside opening the slides. We were greeted with a puddle in the living room and the carpet on that slide was soaking wet. No water damage visible on the roof or walls, so not sure what happened there. We had to push the steps over just a tad to get the other slide to open and now it was time to bring the cats inside.</p><p>Pete worked on getting the water hooked up and had to deal with a leaky connection while I worked inside. My first thing was to look for evidence of mice, even though I had all kinds of rodent repellant out everywhere. It didn't take long to find signs they were partying in our absence. I removed all the silverware the kitchen implements to be washed and cleaned out the drawers. </p><p>Now it was time for the dreaded shopping trip. I took off to Cub to avoid all the construction the other direction and filled up my cart with $380 worth of food. Yikes. But when you are setting up you're basically starting from scratch. Got this hauled in and put away and jumped into the shower for a much needed cleaning and put on my nice warm jammies. </p><p>My last action was to set up the area around my chair, get everything plugged in and ready. I'm in the home stretch now! Then I picked up the blanket on my chair only to have a lot of rice and mouse poop scatter all over my nice clean floor. I can't repeat the words that spewed out of my mouth...words a lady shouldn't say. Course, I ain't no lady.</p><p>After vacuuming up the mess and shaking out the blanket to be put into the laundry.</p><p>Some things worked well. Our new Verizon 5G internet box works lovely and all is good.</p><p>I thought that I had a mouse and mouse pad up here, so I didn't bring mine from home. Ironically, now after getting rid of mouse droppings I need to go buy a mouse.</p><p>Tomorrow is another day and the weather is good working weather, so I'll start to tackle the yard and removing a lot of leaves, washing outdoor furniture and setting up bird feeders. It's one way to get my steps in. My focus is to get everything done this week so I can start in playing pickleball next week.</p><p>We're all pretty tired but happy to be in our Minnesota home.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2oSncHQ39VLdLqtpEV2d8Cu7QhxpCOE3Sl78nuI_esv27rvhaHxKOfyyla68uV4ty_n4dq1AFKRDVNuq4_mgsXzQ35PhUhzlglDnEEeMKkg2Jfm3rbqQ5A7sDgXmzqVLXc8SATCQ8adyQFVJeosFBFDWR_F-_2iTjw7xlhhse0UOWrRND6lKub205/s640/IMG_0899.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2oSncHQ39VLdLqtpEV2d8Cu7QhxpCOE3Sl78nuI_esv27rvhaHxKOfyyla68uV4ty_n4dq1AFKRDVNuq4_mgsXzQ35PhUhzlglDnEEeMKkg2Jfm3rbqQ5A7sDgXmzqVLXc8SATCQ8adyQFVJeosFBFDWR_F-_2iTjw7xlhhse0UOWrRND6lKub205/s320/IMG_0899.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv_csJYt_Sg6QaFGBthM33JV6IKFSpncB9PXfOtmfQ_KwF5pVour8py5uIphawh4unkHn1VBD34qzpd1fo-z8WZvqFYSsOysgbusE8ZLJlH5iiDT7AZJdpnWlrV-NfZSriut7w6_BOphmlx2OwN2rNqFVx-eFsgZJcPmfeTOyIx1GwV6etmEMMogT3/s640/IMG_0897.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="523" data-original-width="640" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv_csJYt_Sg6QaFGBthM33JV6IKFSpncB9PXfOtmfQ_KwF5pVour8py5uIphawh4unkHn1VBD34qzpd1fo-z8WZvqFYSsOysgbusE8ZLJlH5iiDT7AZJdpnWlrV-NfZSriut7w6_BOphmlx2OwN2rNqFVx-eFsgZJcPmfeTOyIx1GwV6etmEMMogT3/s320/IMG_0897.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>The Queen Jesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03613469797513739495noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869600948832734487.post-25184914886523884172020-08-24T15:37:00.001-05:002020-08-24T15:37:52.355-05:00New adventures in Minnesota<p> <span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">The other day we were heading out of the park when a voice from down by the river called for help. The man who was mowing apparently got a bit too close to the edge of the river bank and he and his mower both went in. He was not hurt, just embarrassed, which is why there are no photos of this. I couldn't resist telling him that I thought he may have flooded the motor.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Left Brain and I made a human chain of sorts to pull out the mower and the man was able to crawl his way up the bank. Left Brain did the pulling and I acted as ballast. I knew that extra weight would come in handy someday. If I was a thin little thing he'd still be stuck down there...or all of us might be in that river.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Today was the scheduled delivery of our new Sleep Number bed so we spent the morning preparing for that. The crew showed up on the early end of the 11 - 2 delivery time we were given, which was great. We put the cats out in the cat kennel so they were safe during the process of dragging out the king sized mattress and replacing it with the queen sized bed.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">The king size bed was just too big in there. The first bed they brought in and started to install was actually a king sized one. Oooops. But they had a queen one with them. Whew.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Since we have a lift bed for storage we needed to dismantle the upper part of the platform that goes over the outside storage and </span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">drill two holes to insert the hoses</span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"> . Left Brain took care of the drilling and I followed behind with the small </span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">vacuum.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">We were just getting to the part of learning the bed and setting up the app on our phones to operate it when the tree trimmer showed up. They were doing the other street earlier, but now were at our doorstep...literally. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">We ran outside to grab the cats and lock them in the bathroom to avoid the loud noises and falling branches. This involved Gracie getting her foot caught in the door as she tried to escape while I was putting George in, and George escaping for a brief minute but soon they were contained. I'm getting too old for this much excitement.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">After getting all the instructions on how to operate the bed, they sleep number guys left and we were able to watch the tree trimmer for a bit. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYSNXEC9jqZI2AHAFVi8Zne5FNaVKcaS3ODxQmhPga4aYYGqHPcWyhpPO-j7Qjm7diXj803CwDk82cRuS8RL2GdDyJu6ewAfoK3XTakkAsANssgxeuOd55nAoMjZ_HpRGkYgZtNCsmDSM/s2048/tree+trimming.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYSNXEC9jqZI2AHAFVi8Zne5FNaVKcaS3ODxQmhPga4aYYGqHPcWyhpPO-j7Qjm7diXj803CwDk82cRuS8RL2GdDyJu6ewAfoK3XTakkAsANssgxeuOd55nAoMjZ_HpRGkYgZtNCsmDSM/s640/tree+trimming.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ9t7CCxstqWn_ueJVTGXw6Lzed6SB5afMbckFhzI28_rTuFmU8MJx4A5Kqgh83yTOsY1CNW-xLCCHeqf_otYirWXZkBNRs_rz2NE1FEqCSXfyaMeH4onWNRu9IEElf_8v8hmC9tWSH2w/s2048/man+in+trees.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ9t7CCxstqWn_ueJVTGXw6Lzed6SB5afMbckFhzI28_rTuFmU8MJx4A5Kqgh83yTOsY1CNW-xLCCHeqf_otYirWXZkBNRs_rz2NE1FEqCSXfyaMeH4onWNRu9IEElf_8v8hmC9tWSH2w/s640/man+in+trees.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Then it was time to pick up branches and sticks in the yard to haul away. The big ones stay by the side of the road and will go into the wood chipper later when that crew comes by.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">After they departed, we had some corn on the cob for lunch and Left Brain went to get the skill saw to cut the platform on the bed down to fit the new mattress. I again followed with the vacuum to clean up. I know it "sucks", but somebody has to do it.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Now we have a sleep number bed AND space to walk around the bed. The king size bed pushed up against the end tables and it was a bugger to make the bed. It fits so much nicer in our little house and it opened up another few precious inches in which to store things...always a plus. It was a busy day.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHamqlWFnkrrmNGaFsGKCyzNMYhED_njt4d4FtVp_R7K3gE2uc90QIe25gMS39liB0qRHJrj9WgSxwZ6Es1jFYPLTpFuYnlnStgiUwngzYhOENdbp4FoN0JBotKZ9BJikxBoUYpc-l57s/s2048/new+bed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHamqlWFnkrrmNGaFsGKCyzNMYhED_njt4d4FtVp_R7K3gE2uc90QIe25gMS39liB0qRHJrj9WgSxwZ6Es1jFYPLTpFuYnlnStgiUwngzYhOENdbp4FoN0JBotKZ9BJikxBoUYpc-l57s/s640/new+bed.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">When Left Brain brought back the mail later that day I had my written confirmation that my Covid 19 test was negative. I had been having a lot of weird symptoms for about a week when I decided it was time to do the drive through testing. It's a weird sensation having a small brush pushed waaaaay up your nose. Not painful, just uncomfortable. It makes your eyes water and provoked sneezing, but it was quick and not too bad. It felt good to be sure since we had a couple in the park with it and now two more are quarantined after finding out their granddaughter has it.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">We're both looking forward to a shower this afternoon and testing out that new bed!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Long Live the Queen</span></p><p><br /></p>The Queen Jesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03613469797513739495noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869600948832734487.post-2301245544070417162020-08-06T17:15:00.004-05:002020-08-06T17:16:14.076-05:00Sunflowers = Smiles<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Today I met up with a friend to see the fields of sunflowers. It took a few phone calls to realize I'd turned the wrong way and was at the wrong sunflower field. Yes, there are several of them. But this one was spectacular.</span><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiEvQ5JovjZXkdg-l7HB4d-Tex4LjgnPJ-KPnyEZXlLwN1VrkD2wHf6xDyrqBcktJJPkyC2r8oNjMIr9INGuQQ0W92KVW4Rdk_gEoV69CrCe1ib1Ao8UjZ9dyBX-sCvgAo2XhfrbTCPr0/s720/sunflower+shoot+with+Jan+Aug+2020+%25289%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiEvQ5JovjZXkdg-l7HB4d-Tex4LjgnPJ-KPnyEZXlLwN1VrkD2wHf6xDyrqBcktJJPkyC2r8oNjMIr9INGuQQ0W92KVW4Rdk_gEoV69CrCe1ib1Ao8UjZ9dyBX-sCvgAo2XhfrbTCPr0/s640/sunflower+shoot+with+Jan+Aug+2020+%25289%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Johnny Fish and his family have been planting sunflower fields in the north metro for five plus years. This year he's planted 10 fields, all with with different bloom times.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQ_JLQIOozKLGHfBLO4e2MViixiKPIQD3CpvQ8Q2TJMKgK-Gdc6txpoJuvf_UJex7Yjq_1pLHtKlu5ew5tnqhGb4Fln9RfyNLG0BWA3PjwrRfrnNs2POePGCZkIYn7LNlfvuTHjRc0Lw/s542/sunflower+shoot+with+Jan+Aug+2020+%252819%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="362" data-original-width="542" height="453" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQ_JLQIOozKLGHfBLO4e2MViixiKPIQD3CpvQ8Q2TJMKgK-Gdc6txpoJuvf_UJex7Yjq_1pLHtKlu5ew5tnqhGb4Fln9RfyNLG0BWA3PjwrRfrnNs2POePGCZkIYn7LNlfvuTHjRc0Lw/w678-h453/sunflower+shoot+with+Jan+Aug+2020+%252819%2529.JPG" width="678" /></a></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">The Fish family does this simply to provide hope of spreading positivity. This is a true labor of love an is a most welcome diversion during these troubled times.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibAp5B1_mIc6tDj8oSBWvve_KG4inJILqcJTEf_yiqcdbikkYXdkYsKGfyoNoMLJG4lrpOCUDhApMwyT0NC96GiRIXrkUUGG8sV7pIXLR-rKo8IGuwjUbLLwuPnqe0kdxjmd5BFU85WX0/s720/sunflower+shoot+with+Jan+Aug+2020+%252820%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibAp5B1_mIc6tDj8oSBWvve_KG4inJILqcJTEf_yiqcdbikkYXdkYsKGfyoNoMLJG4lrpOCUDhApMwyT0NC96GiRIXrkUUGG8sV7pIXLR-rKo8IGuwjUbLLwuPnqe0kdxjmd5BFU85WX0/s640/sunflower+shoot+with+Jan+Aug+2020+%252820%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">There were paths through the fields, which frightened me as it appeared to be similar to a maze; something my granddaughters delighted in tormenting me by watching me get totally lost. But Jan has a good sense of direction and we returned unscathed.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo5Kw_1JNTKNRWwQcN_pfcmFwC0-ZmCIV5aSgnP_2EjaLka63TNP-ISk7mGEg7qDR1Vro1SXsGEHBxQj-MkAY7rH-oZpuLswkI4nrvqquJtP9chsACqgZ2RlJiEyApo-DF7VeCAU7fvBM/s720/sunflower+shoot+with+Jan+Aug+2020+%252825%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo5Kw_1JNTKNRWwQcN_pfcmFwC0-ZmCIV5aSgnP_2EjaLka63TNP-ISk7mGEg7qDR1Vro1SXsGEHBxQj-MkAY7rH-oZpuLswkI4nrvqquJtP9chsACqgZ2RlJiEyApo-DF7VeCAU7fvBM/s640/sunflower+shoot+with+Jan+Aug+2020+%252825%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">All the sunflowers face the same direction. Well, there's always that one that doesn't take direction well.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiERGfu86LXJ8d5w69Zs1SRjysQgYC97ujQEUiplw7lLCmNFgZqzexf9vtthy2jqf0PyTf6eod27n0XVw0DWNJjJvGjPJxRkWLWlAdCTywOTwtbtS4RibGvfm3bzAyRpGT_KtsasrrSvTU/s700/sunflower+shoot+with+Jan+Aug+2020+%252818%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="264" data-original-width="700" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiERGfu86LXJ8d5w69Zs1SRjysQgYC97ujQEUiplw7lLCmNFgZqzexf9vtthy2jqf0PyTf6eod27n0XVw0DWNJjJvGjPJxRkWLWlAdCTywOTwtbtS4RibGvfm3bzAyRpGT_KtsasrrSvTU/s640/sunflower+shoot+with+Jan+Aug+2020+%252818%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">We found a tractor parked in the middle of the fields and my friend Jan couldn't help but to take it for a spin.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8jlyf6pvzPZt9RX1mmDkqC5j0mUWlEhbYSacT0wYy0Tr4b0xBhXlDWFl9faChujMSG9QzBZqfYAxZquNTk1A10f7BUkfyHqryBCbzkFjAD1ibxj8Ucqge2VpP9M5z7qtbnomGBtLGX1g/s720/sunflower+shoot+with+Jan+Aug+2020+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8jlyf6pvzPZt9RX1mmDkqC5j0mUWlEhbYSacT0wYy0Tr4b0xBhXlDWFl9faChujMSG9QzBZqfYAxZquNTk1A10f7BUkfyHqryBCbzkFjAD1ibxj8Ucqge2VpP9M5z7qtbnomGBtLGX1g/s640/sunflower+shoot+with+Jan+Aug+2020+%25281%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">She brought along a glass ball and at first I was expecting her to transform into a gypsy and read my future, but it was for a photo op. </span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidhly1CzYf7B8i1EYncWDNPrbIpTR6u0fYqfmAtV_OsADQh3Niskeg0eOr7JdWdJqlfkKmJRELS3rM2T4fa8tBxOOyP43298Uk040iH7M5n8jxklGbdzmhvZ_RZXC6di1vzLP_4Dy6tEY/s290/sunflower+shoot+with+Jan+Aug+2020+%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="214" data-original-width="290" height="419" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidhly1CzYf7B8i1EYncWDNPrbIpTR6u0fYqfmAtV_OsADQh3Niskeg0eOr7JdWdJqlfkKmJRELS3rM2T4fa8tBxOOyP43298Uk040iH7M5n8jxklGbdzmhvZ_RZXC6di1vzLP_4Dy6tEY/w568-h419/sunflower+shoot+with+Jan+Aug+2020+%25284%2529.JPG" width="568" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">The images are concave and upside down and pretty cool.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsMfWNskqrFlylSErAH8w79GGgavbF2gibAmm2rOg32Qy4oY3o1HZboH3sB3_pFX8iemcNXxJtMvi3fSy-tI3p8ewsTqvS67C8cWCG7tWg0uELaADoNjpflwQYFeREILfoUIzSbDGS3Eg/s720/sunflower+shoot+with+Jan+Aug+2020+%252813%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsMfWNskqrFlylSErAH8w79GGgavbF2gibAmm2rOg32Qy4oY3o1HZboH3sB3_pFX8iemcNXxJtMvi3fSy-tI3p8ewsTqvS67C8cWCG7tWg0uELaADoNjpflwQYFeREILfoUIzSbDGS3Eg/s640/sunflower+shoot+with+Jan+Aug+2020+%252813%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">There were even some red sunflowers.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMIwh8re5M0QeOSFqqeBmc2HCPcj3WilJ9OtfGSTF79P6fu5bjfDzXnyi2ETLaBd_8tj7m-IAeSJj5NHuR2Q8uDrBTlP6rtcuuu4i-sOgj0Zv-nm8Tm_VyVbCcPyHFA2oiGht8wtYznWY/s450/sunflower+shoot+with+Jan+Aug+2020+%252814%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="413" height="563" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMIwh8re5M0QeOSFqqeBmc2HCPcj3WilJ9OtfGSTF79P6fu5bjfDzXnyi2ETLaBd_8tj7m-IAeSJj5NHuR2Q8uDrBTlP6rtcuuu4i-sOgj0Zv-nm8Tm_VyVbCcPyHFA2oiGht8wtYznWY/w516-h563/sunflower+shoot+with+Jan+Aug+2020+%252814%2529.JPG" width="516" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">There was a lovely farm across the street and a piece of antique farm equipment.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxnEHsv1j6DibhKnej4mxOx82n02KFpFilE-o9kxH3If93ydoJltMIvZqBamW7cqS0wGUGLQFbg8kZgSDaQhSnRhdniJk-upTya7GRT5KurhaOz-oFKkWnSqx8mo5ApO9e6YvwUhFRrJM/s720/sunflower+shoot+with+Jan+Aug+2020+%25286%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxnEHsv1j6DibhKnej4mxOx82n02KFpFilE-o9kxH3If93ydoJltMIvZqBamW7cqS0wGUGLQFbg8kZgSDaQhSnRhdniJk-upTya7GRT5KurhaOz-oFKkWnSqx8mo5ApO9e6YvwUhFRrJM/s640/sunflower+shoot+with+Jan+Aug+2020+%25286%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiYcVkgGZ4hEAtwAAA9bixv3HsT7ODlKj82boUU56cn4-Zk8HvzXAvSGoeLn87asgWmLPeaLjn_QlJoPaCixHx03PPH7mUtMpTpT3nEJVpyogd730Ox5hHZ-ZbhnVvsY-zts_sDkFtNe0/s519/sunflower+shoot+with+Jan+Aug+2020+%25288%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="519" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiYcVkgGZ4hEAtwAAA9bixv3HsT7ODlKj82boUU56cn4-Zk8HvzXAvSGoeLn87asgWmLPeaLjn_QlJoPaCixHx03PPH7mUtMpTpT3nEJVpyogd730Ox5hHZ-ZbhnVvsY-zts_sDkFtNe0/w649-h375/sunflower+shoot+with+Jan+Aug+2020+%25288%2529.JPG" width="649" /></a></div></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">All in all it was a nice way to spend time with a friend.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Long Live the Queen</span></div>The Queen Jesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03613469797513739495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869600948832734487.post-15128014928226694302020-08-04T20:08:00.007-05:002020-08-04T20:08:46.628-05:00Evolution of the cat habitat <span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;">For years we used the tent and tunnel system for the cats to spend time outdoors.</span><div><font face="georgia, times new roman, serif" size="4"><br /></font>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_vahBIAwz-4BMCQIGY9kZHyRrt7OwClFQdR55sW6-iZFpnVeeze2cLHz6U3K_WPAVunRDJUEFOnyVjcyu9b16P87g2LBf6lACJm2LaEEMhd-XKKLClbC8TXvq4zkpnlnyD3RgFALb8Tk/s1600/side+yard+%25282%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_vahBIAwz-4BMCQIGY9kZHyRrt7OwClFQdR55sW6-iZFpnVeeze2cLHz6U3K_WPAVunRDJUEFOnyVjcyu9b16P87g2LBf6lACJm2LaEEMhd-XKKLClbC8TXvq4zkpnlnyD3RgFALb8Tk/w400-h266/side+yard+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw4wzwMjo3jgBe-7KVOzcbTrfaV_vLUYD7iHpMrdphyfxAnkjSMmV6DU922qtnOjq6Ib73YJSc7RSXTcc5SBoOLsfTnUADsbIq9TE8ivVWWsIc7GaYlCWmKnqjUMlH1KeFwe1y_PXbuqw/s1600/back+of+cat+tent.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw4wzwMjo3jgBe-7KVOzcbTrfaV_vLUYD7iHpMrdphyfxAnkjSMmV6DU922qtnOjq6Ib73YJSc7RSXTcc5SBoOLsfTnUADsbIq9TE8ivVWWsIc7GaYlCWmKnqjUMlH1KeFwe1y_PXbuqw/w400-h300/back+of+cat+tent.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLwoLUHkstj2MdeTh-gvfy6HD4bwjQYdvbqLQ85Cet8oqg5Ns3qZX4utq3jGN8WfLyLFZW1PrqPaosJ2Mch-wfKul1zd8YlIq3dRz5qOF9Vym_JkO_nTvN-85v8L3WwcmflTVooUcTLQw/s1600/side+yard.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLwoLUHkstj2MdeTh-gvfy6HD4bwjQYdvbqLQ85Cet8oqg5Ns3qZX4utq3jGN8WfLyLFZW1PrqPaosJ2Mch-wfKul1zd8YlIq3dRz5qOF9Vym_JkO_nTvN-85v8L3WwcmflTVooUcTLQw/w400-h300/side+yard.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJn542IX8jk-wLOMtaUBPQQsE2TgoCuGU_ejgi9FHMoQbKzn-DG1qYRJFB0S0ne9TyETpgh_vnmJt9zBXWSpdktQdTXPxIlSUjv9Pmplc4mCL6rU7rkIoVsVWooMK8s2g5_ITlObEMffY/s1600/cat+tent.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJn542IX8jk-wLOMtaUBPQQsE2TgoCuGU_ejgi9FHMoQbKzn-DG1qYRJFB0S0ne9TyETpgh_vnmJt9zBXWSpdktQdTXPxIlSUjv9Pmplc4mCL6rU7rkIoVsVWooMK8s2g5_ITlObEMffY/w400-h300/cat+tent.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiatYdZ4dCPTDxPzGAzJlcAQkRwRBVs8VFDYv77BxxU5PcgYnucwxBia76YYlBF0JigMoZcropv6M-WQBHukjsBrO_fJtEGzEohdz_tV2lPL0oLDgAitKpp1-l3RCbcGX518omeMovP4gA/s1600/cat+tent2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiatYdZ4dCPTDxPzGAzJlcAQkRwRBVs8VFDYv77BxxU5PcgYnucwxBia76YYlBF0JigMoZcropv6M-WQBHukjsBrO_fJtEGzEohdz_tV2lPL0oLDgAitKpp1-l3RCbcGX518omeMovP4gA/w400-h300/cat+tent2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;">It worked for a number of years, but eventually the mesh wore out and I couldn't find the product any more.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;">So it was time to go to plan B. Enter the <strike>dog</strike> cat kennel.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6MuprtqpUbaIgDfYQnQKec0OuqrcsZv4grU-sNYfSD8F1VWqZ_G8o7nuNIY1FcNWEa1YEBopmAD4p9lKIc9KDxMnavJWbYCpl2Kx4jUuRnRTuSLF94_fS2oUPtOVAZ1QXZgK7GNbZXRE/s681/cat+kennel.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="681" data-original-width="455" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6MuprtqpUbaIgDfYQnQKec0OuqrcsZv4grU-sNYfSD8F1VWqZ_G8o7nuNIY1FcNWEa1YEBopmAD4p9lKIc9KDxMnavJWbYCpl2Kx4jUuRnRTuSLF94_fS2oUPtOVAZ1QXZgK7GNbZXRE/s640/cat+kennel.JPG" /></a></div></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVsDjE0zcR-REPitkWiJkCjSej5vsdlsIoeeiMeRrEPAPH4R-HVkhTSB3wqifTterM-GBoX4VeQsJQNEx8rI3gZEksH6ZH7V3xjZDgwcen4UzT3qT3IXI1ASVI1OCVQNJWGsV6naLFufQ/s1600/cats+in+kennel.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="371" data-original-width="354" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVsDjE0zcR-REPitkWiJkCjSej5vsdlsIoeeiMeRrEPAPH4R-HVkhTSB3wqifTterM-GBoX4VeQsJQNEx8rI3gZEksH6ZH7V3xjZDgwcen4UzT3qT3IXI1ASVI1OCVQNJWGsV6naLFufQ/w381-h400/cats+in+kennel.JPG" width="381" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But officer, we can explain!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;">I feel much safer with them securely behind bars and it's also fun to grow the clematis on it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;">Long Live the Queen </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>The Queen Jesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03613469797513739495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869600948832734487.post-49563658608909022942020-08-03T16:41:00.002-05:002020-08-03T16:42:10.870-05:00Changing up the garden<font size="5">Since the garden was basically done I figured I'd change it up. It's what I do.</font><div><font size="5"><br /></font></div><div><font size="5">First I added edgers to the existing garden. This involved moving the cat condo forward, thus creating a larger space behind it for large hostas...yeah!</font></div><div><font size="5"><br /></font></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcOcIxOtP0xn0IO61LfZeuhsJWCgvlq2JTm5gpdWZlGk16vcQHj2DSVctdoQaW7OI0ezy9hqRV5a78yXLziBB19vKHhx9ky5kPcVgyqSBIqvW6WbADsZS1S6TQqcjkBXf4bLCylmNFvkc/s2048/behind+cat+cage+July+2020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcOcIxOtP0xn0IO61LfZeuhsJWCgvlq2JTm5gpdWZlGk16vcQHj2DSVctdoQaW7OI0ezy9hqRV5a78yXLziBB19vKHhx9ky5kPcVgyqSBIqvW6WbADsZS1S6TQqcjkBXf4bLCylmNFvkc/w500-h375/behind+cat+cage+July+2020.jpg" width="500" /></a></div></div><div><font size="5"><br /></font></div><div><font size="5">I decided that the central part of the garden really looked blah and should be much more spectacular so I decided to revamp it by creating a berm.</font></div><div><font size="5"><br /></font></div><div><font size="5">All the plants in this area were pulled out and stored while I dumped 25 bags of topsoil in place to create a little height and provide good soil. Then plants were replanted and my favorite hostas were pulled from other areas to be added to my new specimen garden.</font></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieXa6P5Db7PtGGC7Q13dJIhODR67FIlH-lmmQwgEQ1r6OBRyPWUOq6tCUBVBNFITMvOMCNc8HSG2BiG4jPJsQW96wrqr3wTp3n4bLJpDiXSoqdUrlQtIdl_oFsevHT2B3euWkDZpzSZ_o/s2048/berm+July+2020.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieXa6P5Db7PtGGC7Q13dJIhODR67FIlH-lmmQwgEQ1r6OBRyPWUOq6tCUBVBNFITMvOMCNc8HSG2BiG4jPJsQW96wrqr3wTp3n4bLJpDiXSoqdUrlQtIdl_oFsevHT2B3euWkDZpzSZ_o/w625-h469/berm+July+2020.jpg" width="625" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's the new area with a slight rise and edgers<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><font face="inherit" size="5"> </font></div><div><font face="inherit" size="5"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Now we'll take a little stroll through the garden.</font></div><div><font face="inherit" size="5"><br /></font></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-NbbIt1WvlkRrfeQfZHCAqZGQz3jUjjeuYdaP8MNRUqHEyVm_RN3qd_7vwGHgfvy6LoAKJBnWRZeRNBL2QvxKviVCmB8Nv2Yn7eefKGtBg2RrySdSjhEhoRhrAVcYIwziB3JctRakM9U/s2048/Curly+Fries+hosta+July+2020.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-NbbIt1WvlkRrfeQfZHCAqZGQz3jUjjeuYdaP8MNRUqHEyVm_RN3qd_7vwGHgfvy6LoAKJBnWRZeRNBL2QvxKviVCmB8Nv2Yn7eefKGtBg2RrySdSjhEhoRhrAVcYIwziB3JctRakM9U/w300-h400/Curly+Fries+hosta+July+2020.jpg" title="Curly Fries hosta" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Curly Fries hosta<br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZMmPJ23YzbB_DFs44ZRvqxCyTf_hu3iUHv-5WmMIWEfGK9HurLtw3upIsVQVA_BFCQ3HxL8aGEckge3rmOC45_1f3H3JL9c2d4P9_OPx6KRTnvRw8HL51pjqx4_nA7QaKLUSbdGtr3FE/w300-h400/Empress+Wu+July+2020.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Empress Wu hosta in front of the red dress form. It's one of the largest hostas, but she's still a baby...give her time.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJNysRVTXVxucwVbqG6m4tady6Go2sTEzZcRaY8_aDZd22qtinzu3_qXbyTyPrf-OYto2hfN3WR4_6mUwj-KlVVWxuqA_u-OLCUTK9RnAFo73qL8mpL4ZZQsy3fHqc33eHhXu_hrTPymw/s2048/Engleman+ivy+July+2020.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJNysRVTXVxucwVbqG6m4tady6Go2sTEzZcRaY8_aDZd22qtinzu3_qXbyTyPrf-OYto2hfN3WR4_6mUwj-KlVVWxuqA_u-OLCUTK9RnAFo73qL8mpL4ZZQsy3fHqc33eHhXu_hrTPymw/w300-h400/Engleman+ivy+July+2020.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Engleman Ivy on the trellis - talk about instant gratification!<br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvxh6aJ0JGqdSv5U1kiaQO315ihLCkM_wdFbIiVz8zDZMY8aJy3_04JhVs8LrQPmPzpXnHt5-lvOp9drABDQSBayTXEDUZ7L0UMZZqE5orEujMOg1cWSh_mbauIdbhPyBnmEr72jZQt4k/s2048/hosta2+July+2020.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvxh6aJ0JGqdSv5U1kiaQO315ihLCkM_wdFbIiVz8zDZMY8aJy3_04JhVs8LrQPmPzpXnHt5-lvOp9drABDQSBayTXEDUZ7L0UMZZqE5orEujMOg1cWSh_mbauIdbhPyBnmEr72jZQt4k/w240-h320/hosta2+July+2020.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paul's Glory<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh50KM7Qb6U-nzynICUuCE4WCqkRaBP7N7KbSTuHGdOKZumsTMbq9qLyHgRaL5VaC7Ub04dCaiiWLL_Lcxjz1Blq4BfhiEcwgEptRhnVajpiEtB2aY4X2RowACx9-yzP4YK8a-gQhV4a-w/s2048/hosta3+July+2020.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh50KM7Qb6U-nzynICUuCE4WCqkRaBP7N7KbSTuHGdOKZumsTMbq9qLyHgRaL5VaC7Ub04dCaiiWLL_Lcxjz1Blq4BfhiEcwgEptRhnVajpiEtB2aY4X2RowACx9-yzP4YK8a-gQhV4a-w/w300-h400/hosta3+July+2020.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXszA6Mw8P8rV5KrKIAjg6-VqsxOZau6JSSf8FIpjSdZppJtAgN85qnNCpkZL_mofp_5FD95y3Vq6VlaNTLEo_vM9e-W7TfVNjHannSmEbqLgZRRGHLDwxrPhXx8vU3s8n4nVZBjs9LXs/w300-h400/hosta4+July+2020.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Forbidden Fruit hosta - gotta love the name<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizzImYA4GZYjnP7a-XabMeXIde2adGRx5g_VCspa6JhBYFwCytn5VdAOb_kYjsvlXPKBiBZ_Rnuqi0QyqpjJOeXivnbYNcAtwpFF5uxWFJ1TiadhKh0pt6LPH2MKCQZCS56wIms8v2EDk/s2048/hosta+July+2020.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizzImYA4GZYjnP7a-XabMeXIde2adGRx5g_VCspa6JhBYFwCytn5VdAOb_kYjsvlXPKBiBZ_Rnuqi0QyqpjJOeXivnbYNcAtwpFF5uxWFJ1TiadhKh0pt6LPH2MKCQZCS56wIms8v2EDk/w300-h400/hosta+July+2020.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhogID1wUiRVbNSgEUf7wtZ5-lV2j1svH8YJWudcQKeU0Qv8l3iwpviOSVQ03-CbEIdWbE2LeoPcRZc-9xKML9aU1CcgKvCHri3MqVBQxg-_y3u472WkytKSE8drDOReC6cIEH-6sXdDOA/w300-h400/Jurasic+park+hosta+July+2020.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />Jurassic Park hosta - so he gets a little dinosaur by him</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiISCBjtim92MOgwSjWTHEiaNONKARy-PM2LQ5OhCkfPaoyxVfydKGzipW0vS3fJVZapbGDoP3PhtNXxjTOFop_6gsMUt5yyO_0M5nDf2YEuLoZua3GivDhVVjwPFTYiQm31cfrDmYSQBM/s2048/komodo+dragon+July+2020.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiISCBjtim92MOgwSjWTHEiaNONKARy-PM2LQ5OhCkfPaoyxVfydKGzipW0vS3fJVZapbGDoP3PhtNXxjTOFop_6gsMUt5yyO_0M5nDf2YEuLoZua3GivDhVVjwPFTYiQm31cfrDmYSQBM/w300-h400/komodo+dragon+July+2020.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Komodo Dragon hosta - so he gets a dragon<br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdb_W6BEIQ1IjCo4PWlvqms9r87dGbwnZ2yUwDKuKFZJkByydmhfNS35ZSailH5QlAl5ywZKgma1OiKpQlD8zBe7uRXKbUVOCafK3SyeyUHFc5Nl5gmmGCdLmo6uBdhD-QMTdDWi-MDlo/s2048/praying+hands+hosta+July+2020.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdb_W6BEIQ1IjCo4PWlvqms9r87dGbwnZ2yUwDKuKFZJkByydmhfNS35ZSailH5QlAl5ywZKgma1OiKpQlD8zBe7uRXKbUVOCafK3SyeyUHFc5Nl5gmmGCdLmo6uBdhD-QMTdDWi-MDlo/w300-h400/praying+hands+hosta+July+2020.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Praying hands hosta<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM2O-t7RB7in6zSFiBCZEmQO2fSTiRijgP-ykOO5qjcROQmrHjH4Xz0yjLNZ44SsEfT3YK61s-10WNSDKCCUjUpyKIuHld33K30fWLCpdsSVB1_xE7yPEBdkE4bsELNTBA3JWZBta0Lpc/s2048/Rainforest+sunrise+hosta+July+2020.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM2O-t7RB7in6zSFiBCZEmQO2fSTiRijgP-ykOO5qjcROQmrHjH4Xz0yjLNZ44SsEfT3YK61s-10WNSDKCCUjUpyKIuHld33K30fWLCpdsSVB1_xE7yPEBdkE4bsELNTBA3JWZBta0Lpc/w300-h400/Rainforest+sunrise+hosta+July+2020.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of my favorites - Rainforest Sunrise hosta<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjexf9HzYH_-xYTUgVJ06J2eX-WHMK6kT_JlRwRXpRUH4hmsEqqhLyiOdQdZLWLh00VatJBEEXnzE0hbPZzn2GwIUavxWGzyi0sAGcrHr29NGCpLnm16mHn-X6BJ-bX4vvpEoJrDTKYJdM/w300-h400/astilbe+July+2020.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A cute little astilbe<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIrB6tXuPpWEr7z8Vlhoccerz-6KcUT4NpLsgEgzuGpfe-6MYmWRsvh08CMWBoLEJVnXw4zixpRo4OgVNVzUnhkm9kmqV811w0jSCo4k8SNkQJUensh_zM7VfeqymYQDxF7D-Prp2W33M/w300-h400/coreopsis+July+2020.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This heuchera had such an unusual yellow bloom I just couldn't resist it.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Long Live the Queen<br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><font size="5">Long Live the Queen</font></div>The Queen Jesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03613469797513739495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869600948832734487.post-71038601058207273702020-07-29T17:46:00.001-05:002020-07-29T17:46:56.696-05:00Evolution of the shed <span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;">After writing up the blog about the garden expansion it made me realize how much the shed has changed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;">The shed started out sitting on the little deck area. Left Brain added a little raised garden on the side and I have tried various things to make it attractive.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjobUQ2cC-RnDh2hnJyp7QDzYmHzFttgu_QhvP0Frr2ARVesXjcM0naQOjq1FJggOxkujTSXDfvABT2lBkwngVBgTt5e-Jdk-UqydL0OVd5TtKyJVMDgtK1FrhlE2Nv6wR7P54AZtlSjkU/s1600/back+of+shed.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjobUQ2cC-RnDh2hnJyp7QDzYmHzFttgu_QhvP0Frr2ARVesXjcM0naQOjq1FJggOxkujTSXDfvABT2lBkwngVBgTt5e-Jdk-UqydL0OVd5TtKyJVMDgtK1FrhlE2Nv6wR7P54AZtlSjkU/s640/back+of+shed.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;">I added a little sign about it being a private dock and set up a flower stand. Better, but still pretty boring.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeLnKPJ_3j5F5d9ne203OT9Vn-Q8AXtcXFO2adslWIb4pdCZKrG9T7dp2c4Ela7bRGISgbwPQeXO7PF9ZJnMGyTbLP7_sQIE_zIEBI3-toHqeIclTyBc06gF07ZoLMtjpKDVRfzNPXJf8/s1600/back+of+shed.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="465" height="604" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeLnKPJ_3j5F5d9ne203OT9Vn-Q8AXtcXFO2adslWIb4pdCZKrG9T7dp2c4Ela7bRGISgbwPQeXO7PF9ZJnMGyTbLP7_sQIE_zIEBI3-toHqeIclTyBc06gF07ZoLMtjpKDVRfzNPXJf8/s640/back+of+shed.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi95p_qtmDWNzF3zJSY1V5Hj26N_vLJWuz4wQixTC-CHFsYMwF3JMCzDW4uereRptms9akzn7gKcesfqBafhFZpln48T9o1njOkxL5SjOqzefIh30qtFqQXLWPG_NKxel9IJnbXIQDpTp8/s1600/sign+on+back+of+shed.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="395" data-original-width="353" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi95p_qtmDWNzF3zJSY1V5Hj26N_vLJWuz4wQixTC-CHFsYMwF3JMCzDW4uereRptms9akzn7gKcesfqBafhFZpln48T9o1njOkxL5SjOqzefIh30qtFqQXLWPG_NKxel9IJnbXIQDpTp8/s320/sign+on+back+of+shed.JPG" width="285" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;">The following June 2019 Left Brain made it into a raised garden and I added the bright blue door for a pop or color and this funky sink. Having good soil finally made it a joy to plant. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjla8AUThTtM9eJhUdusuShtJMZM6edOlBA19McojFmSKUpahJnU6JTBAULDCS3H1iib5GjTIcE9PIgGTQwiDewcozjp3vSKOvqJHN8GURVdalF74g5e12Cn_XnjR5KEzbDqN9W-Gl4YE/s1600/back+of+shed+%25282%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjla8AUThTtM9eJhUdusuShtJMZM6edOlBA19McojFmSKUpahJnU6JTBAULDCS3H1iib5GjTIcE9PIgGTQwiDewcozjp3vSKOvqJHN8GURVdalF74g5e12Cn_XnjR5KEzbDqN9W-Gl4YE/s640/back+of+shed+%25282%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;">Long Live the Queen</span>The Queen Jesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03613469797513739495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869600948832734487.post-61922726481776695732020-07-29T17:45:00.001-05:002020-07-29T17:45:17.908-05:00Gardening In Far Places<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;">One of my latest gardening adventure was at the home of my friend and adopted daughter, Christy. </span><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;">My daughter Stephanie and I joined with her to create a more invited entry garden to her townhouse.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;">We met in the morning to have some breakfast. I attempted the recipe I saw on Facebook, an egg bake in a bundt pan. They show the photo of the dish while in the pan and now I know why. This is what it looked like when we pried it out of the pan. I guess I needed to grease it better.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;">But the girls liked it anyway.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQtgOY6brdIHuRpW86MBG3OEWxtU-9ZjIkC5HOGX099RJoYVb-mU9h_bMas1bzUZ2KwCyqtCNz5zbfZLqX3rmRJBvD8mAorFA0ZSeLYZ5J2htyjU-CWpVh_Yvc9f7yE5XRi0eAi3SP6k/s1600/bundt+breakfast.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQtgOY6brdIHuRpW86MBG3OEWxtU-9ZjIkC5HOGX099RJoYVb-mU9h_bMas1bzUZ2KwCyqtCNz5zbfZLqX3rmRJBvD8mAorFA0ZSeLYZ5J2htyjU-CWpVh_Yvc9f7yE5XRi0eAi3SP6k/s640/bundt+breakfast.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;">First we removed the weeds and assessed the soil and then it was time to dig in!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;">It was fun to watch the girls working away and knowing I was able to pass down my love of gardening to another generation.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTWDi6dyNP9qsVNRoPAxfy6vdOW_XLpFCvQ0cEcZHzRrf9MMcvS31VSt1fOIZubkUBW-rv09_zGn9JzUVh2i1WgygmZb4RvijSFMWfRQiXdS2dUKq2IyiZZ6V2SDqrSedaZcql2m01w9w/s1600/gardening2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTWDi6dyNP9qsVNRoPAxfy6vdOW_XLpFCvQ0cEcZHzRrf9MMcvS31VSt1fOIZubkUBW-rv09_zGn9JzUVh2i1WgygmZb4RvijSFMWfRQiXdS2dUKq2IyiZZ6V2SDqrSedaZcql2m01w9w/s640/gardening2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaBWOggsajHNOh6drYeh16h9YqKUwehreZYviG6Ojd2Zkh7XN2qwzK9YUfki1ZgzIfIabYzwLCQ-_rFA3ZArCv60znpkHZeUEq0NHhf3BKq1Q2onL2lvfcoKQ4XSSkFf0bbI9zpdaw8vo/s1600/girls+planting.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaBWOggsajHNOh6drYeh16h9YqKUwehreZYviG6Ojd2Zkh7XN2qwzK9YUfki1ZgzIfIabYzwLCQ-_rFA3ZArCv60znpkHZeUEq0NHhf3BKq1Q2onL2lvfcoKQ4XSSkFf0bbI9zpdaw8vo/s640/girls+planting.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;">Stephanie had rescued the variegated hostas from a waste dump and we used them to create this hosta garden. They should bounce back once they recover from transplant shock and be just fine. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyDKXhUPMo4U3MpjlOrnqWOP5Uz8-nnzDKxgewqNTWp3MH2YWcYpz47_1sGPNm7bt7Ww9jqINvUt02KYsVTtSQ4C5y3WaRwah75iK5AxYd-yjP1OX0z5_1phHNBWUvx5TK-RtOcVWiujU/s1600/Christy+hosta+garden.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyDKXhUPMo4U3MpjlOrnqWOP5Uz8-nnzDKxgewqNTWp3MH2YWcYpz47_1sGPNm7bt7Ww9jqINvUt02KYsVTtSQ4C5y3WaRwah75iK5AxYd-yjP1OX0z5_1phHNBWUvx5TK-RtOcVWiujU/s640/Christy+hosta+garden.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;">Here is the before and after photo.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh131N652VkDj3En61E5qv5yccM8Fua0nH-Ud8qtaOMB2Lfp-CEUImcT36mSD3UijLKsgoX5VUY83TapUttzQ-LIBv7ybB_SP1wTTFjLZqx1LnG8kF0En_NDZE1nJoSuaep1pJHbLRozQA/s1600/Christy+before+and+after.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh131N652VkDj3En61E5qv5yccM8Fua0nH-Ud8qtaOMB2Lfp-CEUImcT36mSD3UijLKsgoX5VUY83TapUttzQ-LIBv7ybB_SP1wTTFjLZqx1LnG8kF0En_NDZE1nJoSuaep1pJHbLRozQA/s640/Christy+before+and+after.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;">Long Live the Queen</span>The Queen Jesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03613469797513739495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869600948832734487.post-65241475277173408692020-07-29T17:38:00.001-05:002020-07-29T17:38:12.477-05:00Gardening Outside My Yard <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Since my gardens are getting full I've expanded into other areas...with their approval.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">My neighbor wanted to do something around her tree as the roots make it hard to mow. So I discussed the option of a rock garden to fit into the woodland feel of our park.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">She ordered two tons of rock and we went to work.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHtbfHkDxuQIkDbnWuP9YmX3RRCPtedl1-MdUmdGf07IP8gu3NYAkh3THJUuiM-G3zvQA8O1HClPSAbAOTIce_jKd_VoFYI7Z-UbTKlvL51KXp6QcPpqJTjbT9lh4ej0jqAKs8u0QF_8g/s1600/rocks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHtbfHkDxuQIkDbnWuP9YmX3RRCPtedl1-MdUmdGf07IP8gu3NYAkh3THJUuiM-G3zvQA8O1HClPSAbAOTIce_jKd_VoFYI7Z-UbTKlvL51KXp6QcPpqJTjbT9lh4ej0jqAKs8u0QF_8g/s640/rocks.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">First we circled the tree and then started adding lots and lots of good topsoil.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQLauI099oJziWHhELKfmdEPm3_-hPCcMotautKxS9n3uF8Ef_5qcjQwFo9A9bV6d8CQ_ie3VjOcOd2V9brssPyUAciIbgYHfkrEld0iSlI5ixoFe35NH1OF2HkBOA-a7Rru-ZysUTCWU/s1600/rock+outline.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQLauI099oJziWHhELKfmdEPm3_-hPCcMotautKxS9n3uF8Ef_5qcjQwFo9A9bV6d8CQ_ie3VjOcOd2V9brssPyUAciIbgYHfkrEld0iSlI5ixoFe35NH1OF2HkBOA-a7Rru-ZysUTCWU/s640/rock+outline.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Then we filled in with plants and the fun began.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRaPj64etoTBPPWexZahNhIdaPM5JVlZU1a1H-obef4XZEyt9_WVT8Q5YUwwbqbkoMW8tr0psvI4PefIq1y-3L9IFr4F4OpcNyu4qRbBwPyaCZ3lhdPceC-bnd36SZot1evRDR6zYWywo/s1600/almost+done.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRaPj64etoTBPPWexZahNhIdaPM5JVlZU1a1H-obef4XZEyt9_WVT8Q5YUwwbqbkoMW8tr0psvI4PefIq1y-3L9IFr4F4OpcNyu4qRbBwPyaCZ3lhdPceC-bnd36SZot1evRDR6zYWywo/s640/almost+done.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">It's nice to have dirty friends to play with.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilyFwcHrWhiNQZ1ufZbXhC_rehYtBspSGaeXkL0np7ESXs1cg-9j8RXDNy8AQPGOvSTMsCdkxR242S10NpORTPz0j2VXycntGWDDfHPtbRDqDBd8l5VnZn20jOfrHGFmYr9EgtV9HSU84/s1600/sweaty+gardeners.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilyFwcHrWhiNQZ1ufZbXhC_rehYtBspSGaeXkL0np7ESXs1cg-9j8RXDNy8AQPGOvSTMsCdkxR242S10NpORTPz0j2VXycntGWDDfHPtbRDqDBd8l5VnZn20jOfrHGFmYr9EgtV9HSU84/s640/sweaty+gardeners.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Long Live the Queen</span>The Queen Jesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03613469797513739495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869600948832734487.post-31944971013806811572020-07-11T17:42:00.000-05:002020-07-11T17:42:24.735-05:00A Tale of Two Arbors<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">After extending the garden by the shed I wanted to add another arbor so there was a beginning and ending to my garden path.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">This lovely white arbor caught my eye and it looked so pretty I ordered it without giving it a lot of thought. Twitchy impulse fingers.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0EZRtg3coBkgSfo9nHAuXSvACNV2yAJasXfP6z3m2G1EF4mE9wUw_kgiZIEuFPL0dmA-uo0FmHeKU-XhURNqUymvsL6xG3EL1_gtVTJs9l0S2NN2qgbwQOhFJlF9q3nF7ZvnIhqIBlL8/s1600/arbor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0EZRtg3coBkgSfo9nHAuXSvACNV2yAJasXfP6z3m2G1EF4mE9wUw_kgiZIEuFPL0dmA-uo0FmHeKU-XhURNqUymvsL6xG3EL1_gtVTJs9l0S2NN2qgbwQOhFJlF9q3nF7ZvnIhqIBlL8/s640/arbor.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The assembly was absolutely awful and took forever using a lot of tools, glue and several creative curse words.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Once it was up it just didn't suit my garden. Too white and the materials were not well-suited to growing vines, which is the whole idea. Thankfully my daughter was wanting such a thing for the side of her house and took it off my hands.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The second one is exactly like the one at the other side of the yard and works much better. Plus it was much nicer to assemble. Thank you Menards!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJwsbYX4F8L_Rqx8sGA4n3S_SuSAA5UTZQzh3Pps-99F7u5j1k_0uwzMsLsyzXfQ70rOTzabOx1fyOE4yNZT-V3tzM3W1lVy1ePz0a42ZL0Zg8nKXYDQ1ANhOHMKRnYgmCVp6_1S9pQZQ/s1600/new+arbor+by+shed.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="460" data-original-width="454" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJwsbYX4F8L_Rqx8sGA4n3S_SuSAA5UTZQzh3Pps-99F7u5j1k_0uwzMsLsyzXfQ70rOTzabOx1fyOE4yNZT-V3tzM3W1lVy1ePz0a42ZL0Zg8nKXYDQ1ANhOHMKRnYgmCVp6_1S9pQZQ/s640/new+arbor+by+shed.JPG" width="630" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I planted a Virginia creeper that has variegated leaves on one side, hoping to cover it quickly. I want to add some clematis next year also. I transplanted the red climbing rose to the other side which will give it more sun.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Long Live the Queen</span>The Queen Jesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03613469797513739495noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869600948832734487.post-56375194804780739102020-06-19T17:44:00.001-05:002020-06-19T17:44:52.497-05:00Garden addition<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I've been doing a lot of digging lately and in this blog I'll share the latest garden development.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">It's been fun looking back at the progression of the gardens. Unfortunately I don't have any photos of the yard when we first bought the place. It was all quack grass, creeping charlie and bare patches of dirt. Some would say it was ugly ...I saw a blank canvas. This first photo is from May 2018 when we added the raised bed on the side of the shed. The back is still just with the decking.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC5GmMq60PfVF3cfPdxwmtyA1e6LOVyBuhLBU9DxByR71NWem9IS-cUzjcm2vlWaYqNrf5zy-RquNdWJdaY7GEEjuCWN2IRCWdgmrua2npAPHhyphenhyphenjDL0XaGKy2CwY5PbF_D3Yw_ZNdbov8/s1600/back+of+shed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC5GmMq60PfVF3cfPdxwmtyA1e6LOVyBuhLBU9DxByR71NWem9IS-cUzjcm2vlWaYqNrf5zy-RquNdWJdaY7GEEjuCWN2IRCWdgmrua2npAPHhyphenhyphenjDL0XaGKy2CwY5PbF_D3Yw_ZNdbov8/s640/back+of+shed.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">The initial garden was just around the tree. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPPwyuQ9ZT8eiFwoh2Y5KzquAXaXhCb7lV_DF1BY86AO5191M1wwpUct4cEwFX9C0SrDKL73nWB5SDYgqrRuZq4ok0Bpjj7xbqOZfaamHWk95jjhCVwAZaeCQ-rEZbf0-xX5NqvTqIiHo/s1600/first+garden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPPwyuQ9ZT8eiFwoh2Y5KzquAXaXhCb7lV_DF1BY86AO5191M1wwpUct4cEwFX9C0SrDKL73nWB5SDYgqrRuZq4ok0Bpjj7xbqOZfaamHWk95jjhCVwAZaeCQ-rEZbf0-xX5NqvTqIiHo/s640/first+garden.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">This got expanded in 2019.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwMG17DhXCDgiKzc4sgm-6WcZqyTlLzC-Umcx8PLxneRev5WmUCqqIlxuyffVAZDYvKiiOB5Gi3FMWQ72GVgndLIXFXB-Y12YUFahT2uTmrWE8pYk6t5Z3iRiGps7Y9Li20a_eZbC4z1s/s1600/side+garden.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="539" data-original-width="411" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwMG17DhXCDgiKzc4sgm-6WcZqyTlLzC-Umcx8PLxneRev5WmUCqqIlxuyffVAZDYvKiiOB5Gi3FMWQ72GVgndLIXFXB-Y12YUFahT2uTmrWE8pYk6t5Z3iRiGps7Y9Li20a_eZbC4z1s/s640/side+garden.JPG" width="488" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Later on I added a secondary garden island figuring he could mow between them. Keep a visual record of that "grassy" area on the side of the shed.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ32nB88RDGsBURov_EqNNO4x_ydVyi1qOm3rTdSjHB14SIbuq4_iiOxEHzaSSvBhjMSK01wrOCEeevHsbTbWLhO3-H3HPophPNhFUviSG-UZsKMeLLrdE2YqfSLMxoHhYAmq1mzglMG8/s1600/adding+second+garden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ32nB88RDGsBURov_EqNNO4x_ydVyi1qOm3rTdSjHB14SIbuq4_iiOxEHzaSSvBhjMSK01wrOCEeevHsbTbWLhO3-H3HPophPNhFUviSG-UZsKMeLLrdE2YqfSLMxoHhYAmq1mzglMG8/s640/adding+second+garden.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo5O3vSxMfxVvGc8W9O0PBQIwMmfq4oUgnGDNIJifjv8whWZ5aky3zuZD0xIiW8DvVbA2BmEpy0eugE2ZBS6X-hYwMkAHaLhhti9eM4BEX57tzT1Dtc-is4nUU3V-6Kn3VunmULww9ko8/s1600/side+garden+extension.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo5O3vSxMfxVvGc8W9O0PBQIwMmfq4oUgnGDNIJifjv8whWZ5aky3zuZD0xIiW8DvVbA2BmEpy0eugE2ZBS6X-hYwMkAHaLhhti9eM4BEX57tzT1Dtc-is4nUU3V-6Kn3VunmULww9ko8/s640/side+garden+extension.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">He recently asked if I could combine them because it was difficult mowing between them. So I connected the two gardens and added pavers to create a path. I didn't think to photo that development. I added pavers to create a little strolling lane through the garden.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaEIPvYY-Zuhv9lNMJJVajZv37wrK5_5COH8tHJ06xM6xU9DVLKrPwZy3WFrgOtFO4-dVLlxb_osHv1bpDg0W6UhSvpuQYdKWew-5v4c6bK5Uk_FVrBcY42MvquEh2Nt8PCgk6GHK9xP4/s1600/pavers+added+to+side+garden.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaEIPvYY-Zuhv9lNMJJVajZv37wrK5_5COH8tHJ06xM6xU9DVLKrPwZy3WFrgOtFO4-dVLlxb_osHv1bpDg0W6UhSvpuQYdKWew-5v4c6bK5Uk_FVrBcY42MvquEh2Nt8PCgk6GHK9xP4/s640/pavers+added+to+side+garden.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Then I asked if I could extend this combined garden up to the shed. Permission granted and the shovel came out. On Thursday at 9 am the area from the mailbox to the end of the shed was just grass. See the photo above if you need to. I started digging that up to prepare the area. Then I went to buy pavers and bark mulch. I grabbed lunch for us on the way home for a quick meal and then went to 101 Market for top soil and a few starter plants.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I dug in the five (40 lb) bags of top soil into the existing ground and placed the pavers. Got the plants planted and laid down the bark mulch. Watered everything in and cleaned off the pavers. It was 3:30 pm when I put everything away and went into shower. Garden in a day.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMJRVHlqkeKUEth6qWPjzcWcixz1imePfQqFc5-dGpLrU9T2Hyby8D_qeDz8A6XIRPWr8td4FZCMrarVycsnKtUEaPHKrCybftMx7gjmDVzK2JBzA6b-ayACxhV363JrdFkVbICDjYfAY/s1600/garden+path.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="411" data-original-width="563" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMJRVHlqkeKUEth6qWPjzcWcixz1imePfQqFc5-dGpLrU9T2Hyby8D_qeDz8A6XIRPWr8td4FZCMrarVycsnKtUEaPHKrCybftMx7gjmDVzK2JBzA6b-ayACxhV363JrdFkVbICDjYfAY/s640/garden+path.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">It's not completely done yet. I ordered an arbor to place at the start of the path and will add some clematis if I can find the ones I want, otherwise that will have to wait until next year. The bird bath may have to go due to space constraints.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Long Live the Queen of Gardening</span>The Queen Jesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03613469797513739495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869600948832734487.post-42121352347017743312020-06-18T15:49:00.000-05:002020-06-18T15:49:33.650-05:00What's Blooming Now? <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">It's early June and some of the plants are just starting to show their buds.</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The rose on the side of the shed is doing wonderful and I hope it time it covers the trellis</span><br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd_Sx_qKYifA1DSZOstUcSzacZG3DBddH9XaIGAMsZrY62ob_XYHFwGRxrdCv5LujyTx-uJMc1puzKWlO0dB6YntGqtUYeXQ55ignWiCpfQd2DcxGYvjw85lP7KRBruFSUFXAnSqZ73lA/s1600/rose+on+shed+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="396" data-original-width="484" height="522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd_Sx_qKYifA1DSZOstUcSzacZG3DBddH9XaIGAMsZrY62ob_XYHFwGRxrdCv5LujyTx-uJMc1puzKWlO0dB6YntGqtUYeXQ55ignWiCpfQd2DcxGYvjw85lP7KRBruFSUFXAnSqZ73lA/s640/rose+on+shed+%25281%2529.JPG" width="640"></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5AND53wDAEERfwNS6QIW25pK_eOILVsHq6ufaqwQdfc-yvbPT-XnEI1PaQLzOhhbO6qB1Qdmf7M6r67ErPJnWKjF1Ke0GSMb648bd7HS1UuANRnmTon8k_tbJiSZ8DF8eu1VjfiNRfa0/s1600/rose+on+shed+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="678" data-original-width="383" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5AND53wDAEERfwNS6QIW25pK_eOILVsHq6ufaqwQdfc-yvbPT-XnEI1PaQLzOhhbO6qB1Qdmf7M6r67ErPJnWKjF1Ke0GSMb648bd7HS1UuANRnmTon8k_tbJiSZ8DF8eu1VjfiNRfa0/s640/rose+on+shed+%25282%2529.JPG" width="360"></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">This is the back of the shed.</span><br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWmb_n_0lDMAcvC0-PXR3QKASOgvQTJZZ14UlgWf6tTAkkOFfUlamJeoAS8kg4gbTsSGTHN2BwK11U5KkqqOzzUQ5aFi4YSESUzfEETKvAte6xz4Qa2j2Vm-TwGsoQCGHwzbOcJ2xnRN0/s1600/back+of+shed.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="701" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWmb_n_0lDMAcvC0-PXR3QKASOgvQTJZZ14UlgWf6tTAkkOFfUlamJeoAS8kg4gbTsSGTHN2BwK11U5KkqqOzzUQ5aFi4YSESUzfEETKvAte6xz4Qa2j2Vm-TwGsoQCGHwzbOcJ2xnRN0/s640/back+of+shed.JPG" width="640"></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Here are the Asiatic lilies.</span><br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvmfAZbeNq2ZogOEAkWLQ1yd9X0sM54ihNVc4YmTEJr1GGn-m1ttGGsoWbQNm792XnRfu1ZppdcSff2nQ196L7knil4B101UHhsWePJUg6tbHO0hLCtf_VApVowiCcvRPrnkw105Qg4xI/s1600/Asiatic+lilies+pink+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="451" data-original-width="538" height="536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvmfAZbeNq2ZogOEAkWLQ1yd9X0sM54ihNVc4YmTEJr1GGn-m1ttGGsoWbQNm792XnRfu1ZppdcSff2nQ196L7knil4B101UHhsWePJUg6tbHO0hLCtf_VApVowiCcvRPrnkw105Qg4xI/s640/Asiatic+lilies+pink+%25281%2529.JPG" width="640"></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkxJik0AZjqWCU5bsHin3G09HWe7mlYsrCrZkRCcR2e0iOi-1qfcFoZHZ_y58TVjO3ttyocbsxuDxlIHFWVG7WGsu9Brit7xKbjtZ5M1FhhKGI89wHsjn3J7wRvUN9n9t8nW7OUvSkgYI/s1600/Asiatic+lilies+pink+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="434" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkxJik0AZjqWCU5bsHin3G09HWe7mlYsrCrZkRCcR2e0iOi-1qfcFoZHZ_y58TVjO3ttyocbsxuDxlIHFWVG7WGsu9Brit7xKbjtZ5M1FhhKGI89wHsjn3J7wRvUN9n9t8nW7OUvSkgYI/s640/Asiatic+lilies+pink+%25283%2529.JPG" width="482"></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">There are three clematis on these trellises but they are so tiny you can hardly see them. However one produced a huge purple flower that I couldn't resist sharing.</span><br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFrIW0M_G2ATPLLz_Hm2fpYC7RtfIu3p43UfKPgNT__Srjob5KuwToaoafZH7lpM5y_5T54KwO9XAU8zkxjx1oHQjazVvqXXjKgz6galI8y2_AaKw4WWTAqNmtqQpHfVOpdFOHkGcmIR0/s1600/trellis+%2526+new+clematis.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFrIW0M_G2ATPLLz_Hm2fpYC7RtfIu3p43UfKPgNT__Srjob5KuwToaoafZH7lpM5y_5T54KwO9XAU8zkxjx1oHQjazVvqXXjKgz6galI8y2_AaKw4WWTAqNmtqQpHfVOpdFOHkGcmIR0/s640/trellis+%2526+new+clematis.JPG" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If you look closely you can see the purple bloom on the right side. The plant is only a few inches tall.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv4nYquDEhVLkVUgFxW9w5nSOa_jPNTy4w7rkGQpx6rMGerIpyaKEcoPDnFA-CitGmL0wxG9bcXDsyM0bWOM7qdfeXuVBklwERgI_SpB2hVcLYrDjXyrq38wFkNCR0HdXLMKCwvxysmQ0/s1600/clematis+purple.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="479" data-original-width="627" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv4nYquDEhVLkVUgFxW9w5nSOa_jPNTy4w7rkGQpx6rMGerIpyaKEcoPDnFA-CitGmL0wxG9bcXDsyM0bWOM7qdfeXuVBklwERgI_SpB2hVcLYrDjXyrq38wFkNCR0HdXLMKCwvxysmQ0/s640/clematis+purple.JPG" width="640"></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Even the cactus my friend Larry gave me has new growth.</span><br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6JCDEGOlCIgxE0LkplF9a4cnL7iuoKMt8quUVmlHyEpDVD2GiO7t_L14FXySK7-CmZAnBv6pZ1xTDQBsP23hoqaB_KtOqczMerF01hUoiAfifemZJopVYYWjBP2j4VPnBbA-6NIkDN1U/s1600/cactus.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="381" data-original-width="621" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6JCDEGOlCIgxE0LkplF9a4cnL7iuoKMt8quUVmlHyEpDVD2GiO7t_L14FXySK7-CmZAnBv6pZ1xTDQBsP23hoqaB_KtOqczMerF01hUoiAfifemZJopVYYWjBP2j4VPnBbA-6NIkDN1U/s640/cactus.JPG" width="640"></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">These little pavement roses are starting to bloom as well.</span><br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQHWlXlMMwNgyNCNUv5tEmGdVIemxyLNZyHRRRSzjTOq36abgbqmOtLqTRKD61HYsuoq2jMbLwCAAFAf-Hv-KEUFKYloMqNh70R7YrZzimbfSMhQB4IbIFipTO8_J3w-d01GZmWhS6IDc/s1600/pavement+rose+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="342" data-original-width="405" height="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQHWlXlMMwNgyNCNUv5tEmGdVIemxyLNZyHRRRSzjTOq36abgbqmOtLqTRKD61HYsuoq2jMbLwCAAFAf-Hv-KEUFKYloMqNh70R7YrZzimbfSMhQB4IbIFipTO8_J3w-d01GZmWhS6IDc/s640/pavement+rose+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640"></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">It's fun watching things blooming at different times.</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Long Live the Queen</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span id="goog_1196182878"></span><span id="goog_1196182879"></span><br></span>The Queen Jesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03613469797513739495noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869600948832734487.post-55267027583575316522020-06-14T21:17:00.000-05:002020-06-14T21:17:55.692-05:00Fairies Abound <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">We had fairies living with us in Wisconsin and they seemed to have found me again.</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">This is where they live most of the time, in this little cabin in our little woods.</span><br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6D-Ugb9quhhjQC_AzZKerYyeYM7QLufJP6vwfF05OBA1OdLLOfhHlnn8SX94CBRWIyXGbRt_jUIY-o3yYvTkZTEr843JHS0I-Ujfxd4UjRnUL-88xLiAGBMnthblQGVGW1wwgm4aDxpc/s1600/fairy+house.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6D-Ugb9quhhjQC_AzZKerYyeYM7QLufJP6vwfF05OBA1OdLLOfhHlnn8SX94CBRWIyXGbRt_jUIY-o3yYvTkZTEr843JHS0I-Ujfxd4UjRnUL-88xLiAGBMnthblQGVGW1wwgm4aDxpc/s640/fairy+house.JPG" width="640"></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I don't always see them, but sometimes I hear them laughing, so I know they're there.</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Apparently they are like humans and like to get away from it all once in a while because I discovered their campground on the other side of my garden. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">It's not very far away, but sometimes you just have to get out of the house.</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Ooops. Clotheslines are not allowed in the park, so I'm going to have to ask them to dry their wings inside. No photo as it seemed like an invasion of their privacy.</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Long Live the Queen</span>The Queen Jesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03613469797513739495noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869600948832734487.post-77888635194324574052020-06-13T21:49:00.000-05:002020-06-13T21:49:13.810-05:00Garden Expansion <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Left Brain mentioned that he would like to have me plant the area between the two gardens as it's hard to mow in there.</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I don't know if he meant for me to take it as far as I did, but I saw a green light for more garden space and went with it. I interpreted it as stripping all the sod up to the shed, so that's how I spent my day on Friday. Nothing a couple of Aleve won't take care of.</span><br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5MDOd19bHJ9nBLe6DetbPxMfwFjfERlVUTnZrO8sl31VibFQ298GukpqEjWvA0dWJN3OVo4dHMWQXKHhRb67zRMhbPtInY5QrLkANOWLWDpZtcTMGCc93eNoDovUDGkozDFjwXBC3uYs/s1600/pavers+in+back+garden.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5MDOd19bHJ9nBLe6DetbPxMfwFjfERlVUTnZrO8sl31VibFQ298GukpqEjWvA0dWJN3OVo4dHMWQXKHhRb67zRMhbPtInY5QrLkANOWLWDpZtcTMGCc93eNoDovUDGkozDFjwXBC3uYs/s640/pavers+in+back+garden.JPG" width="640"></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Since I had so much fun putting in the first pavers (note the sarcasm), I decided to add them here also. Hmm, I might have to order another arbor for this side of the garden.</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">This will look really nice when the additional plants are added and the ground cover fills in. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Long Live the Queen</span>The Queen Jesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03613469797513739495noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869600948832734487.post-42227100176001882020-06-12T16:04:00.002-05:002020-06-12T16:04:33.719-05:00The Cat Kennel Gets an Upgrade <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I'm loving the new catio in our yard, possibly more than the cats are.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh78lYszq5qZtiMXde3bV1VdBhycoDCSyhHtQd_UZU3mSv0Lcskd7qjt87BWXxmYu3TVv8DGDpk_xTMFULGJjcNt3wBvyuf6zmQlND516urQOOQbHuaOfABEtlf984ffbIdG_oTFWLb2Ag/s1600/cat+kennel.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="681" data-original-width="455" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh78lYszq5qZtiMXde3bV1VdBhycoDCSyhHtQd_UZU3mSv0Lcskd7qjt87BWXxmYu3TVv8DGDpk_xTMFULGJjcNt3wBvyuf6zmQlND516urQOOQbHuaOfABEtlf984ffbIdG_oTFWLb2Ag/s640/cat+kennel.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">It will look really lovely when the vines are develop and start blooming.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I have one tall shelf so they can get way up there, and a second shelf to allow them easier access.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">There is a pop-up cube on the bottom shelf for when George feels nervous and needs to hide.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">And the water dish is on the bottom shelf of the other side.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The second shelf has a red "Jacks" to add a touch of whimsy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">What other kennel do you know that has metal art and stained glass? I mean, this is a very upscale cat cage!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">There are four pavers inside by the door so Gracie can roll about on the concrete where it's cleaner. I hate it when she does it by the RV as there's so much dirt and she gets filthy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I planted oat grass in a prime location so they have a little salad bar to enjoy in addition to the regular grass.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Long Live the Queen</span>The Queen Jesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03613469797513739495noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869600948832734487.post-31724331142243243252020-06-05T21:19:00.002-05:002020-06-05T21:27:43.387-05:00Love Your Neighbor<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">It's only three words, but so hard to do. We have a person in our neighborhood that has some challenges and makes it very difficult indeed.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggd94jIbJKFz5RT8PaQousbY3hLHO8E4lDVpdPurXjLSNQ75y6CstOBU1pNuGbq49UPnJnIjp7LiHrtUDAHAttg0jx0a0F-PwmPV9l3WuzorYdSqsnZ7nrdMeo9CAWD19RMKYqDVZCaKY/s1600/anger-clipart-angry-man-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="494" data-original-width="728" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggd94jIbJKFz5RT8PaQousbY3hLHO8E4lDVpdPurXjLSNQ75y6CstOBU1pNuGbq49UPnJnIjp7LiHrtUDAHAttg0jx0a0F-PwmPV9l3WuzorYdSqsnZ7nrdMeo9CAWD19RMKYqDVZCaKY/s320/anger-clipart-angry-man-10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">He's on medication that makes him go a bit crazy and he doesn't always make good decisions. Many of the women in the park are fearful of him due to his bizarre behavior, such as spraying the hose on the side of their house in the wee hours of the morning.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">When he introduced himself to me he was very nice and my theory is always to be nice to those who are nice to me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Last night I asked Pete to mute the TV so I could ascertain if what I was hearing were gunshots. It sounded like a low caliber, but still. Then there were several in a row. Gunshots within hearing distance always is scary to me, especially since we had once lived near a man who committed suicide in his RV. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">It turns out this guy was throwing firecrackers at the geese to keep them from his yard. We live on the banks of the Mississippi so to me this is a given if your house is right on the river. Seemed like those that complain about the noise of the airplanes when they buy a house next to the airport. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Tonight I asked him to mute the TV so I could make out what was going on as I could hear loud voices. Yup, a fight was about to break out and I watched the next door neighbor get into it with him with some shoving.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Left Brain is on the Rules Committee, so he ran out the door to intervene . He's a very patient man and a good person to diffuse the situation. I didn't see any kind of weapon.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Our park is an HOA and the board has been dealing with the issue of this man for some time. It may come to having to revoke his membership, which means he can only come on the property to sell his property. That scares me because of the volatile nature, but we'll take it day by day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Ok, the police just pulled up. That should quiet things down a bit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Long Live the Peace Loving Queen</span>The Queen Jesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03613469797513739495noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-869600948832734487.post-36506304778788452872020-05-29T17:36:00.001-05:002020-05-29T17:36:36.475-05:00Home Again<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I've actually been back in Minnesota now for a while but have been too busy to write anything.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">There's always a flurry of activity getting groceries, remembering where things are and settling in. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Since the cat tent had a hole chewed through the corner (either by Gracie or some rodent), it was time to replace it. However, it seems they don't make them any more. So we went to plan B. We found a nice <strike>dog</strike> cat kennel at Menards and set it up. Then I secured some plastic shelving with cable ties to provide a variety of heights to enjoy. Finally a confinement where I don't worry about them escaping. Added bonus: another place to plant vines!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjFthQN8SR7wsbA31iS-2f2j7E95qECUG-F2_ZVYAplodtU4LBNe5rUTMx4agiYG9YBVY71YU23LvPWheIgAEsrVrrf5NaxccxyMKGLijYrnKs-4Cre3WSpDc-N_wEYH-SynY3RaWQRp0/s1600/kennel+from+back+and+side.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="669" data-original-width="447" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjFthQN8SR7wsbA31iS-2f2j7E95qECUG-F2_ZVYAplodtU4LBNe5rUTMx4agiYG9YBVY71YU23LvPWheIgAEsrVrrf5NaxccxyMKGLijYrnKs-4Cre3WSpDc-N_wEYH-SynY3RaWQRp0/s640/kennel+from+back+and+side.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The next project was to redo the cat cage that they access from the window. Once that was done and up on cement blocks I washed it out good and it was ready to go.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">And then it was time to get busy with the garden! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">This has been where the bulk of my time has gone since my return. I wanted to amend the soil and create a small berm so the first thing was to get some good black dirt. We did this by purchasing ten 40 lb bags of top soil from the local nursery. Left Brain helped me by picking them up in the golf cart and placing the bags around the yard for me to apply.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Then I put down 15 bags of bark mulch to protect the new plants I'd purchased and spruce up the appearance. I can't go into any kind of garden center without bringing back a few plants to plant. I was thrilled to find some dwarf goats beard and an astaboides tabularis.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMZVkwIyiLRibyb3GGpROvueMN_SdUsKzAfcqnqHQoP79DXcfUllpLT5OSSat-6q7sZ7YWzwsM9Je2U97xZbNCMLxzdrrRFFL5oNdPbxzR-EcbDcjzYhotsgwZyHAgmxizvE3UWDQKXQI/s1600/dwarf+goatsbeard.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="353" data-original-width="499" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMZVkwIyiLRibyb3GGpROvueMN_SdUsKzAfcqnqHQoP79DXcfUllpLT5OSSat-6q7sZ7YWzwsM9Je2U97xZbNCMLxzdrrRFFL5oNdPbxzR-EcbDcjzYhotsgwZyHAgmxizvE3UWDQKXQI/s640/dwarf+goatsbeard.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">dwarf goats beard</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIjxKSo-BtPE1FoeBhNVhyphenhyphenSBzTICEGqmWUMjSBru24-gk3hsgyt5AO7K-O6r3HqSsPyCv3pK_Ucmgym2pWc20zA6EPnEl3oQ-_2oWXXEc1Va6rBkyI3BE-wWDkOs7TzVNYxbw2LrhBx4o/s1600/astaboudis+tabularis.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="478" data-original-width="355" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIjxKSo-BtPE1FoeBhNVhyphenhyphenSBzTICEGqmWUMjSBru24-gk3hsgyt5AO7K-O6r3HqSsPyCv3pK_Ucmgym2pWc20zA6EPnEl3oQ-_2oWXXEc1Va6rBkyI3BE-wWDkOs7TzVNYxbw2LrhBx4o/s640/astaboudis+tabularis.JPG" width="474" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my new baby astaboides tabularis</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAOcKzuF_GB4LRPKijuQ5aC3olr1Tc7D8MRnRykUGjP92U1NpLLm-kJir7M_ZGBFi1MZ-cXh57q6paKTUpOhSsmYkouF0qNSfxl_rZUT1gkwsC5i_t70AwmOG1Rk_dkVCwR8hKTwU93fg/s1600/me+with+AT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="684" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAOcKzuF_GB4LRPKijuQ5aC3olr1Tc7D8MRnRykUGjP92U1NpLLm-kJir7M_ZGBFi1MZ-cXh57q6paKTUpOhSsmYkouF0qNSfxl_rZUT1gkwsC5i_t70AwmOG1Rk_dkVCwR8hKTwU93fg/s640/me+with+AT.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is what a full grown one looks like. I had it in my garden in Wisconsin.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Much of the garden art and trellises needed a fresh coat of paint so out came my drop cloth and spray paint. Things sure dried faster in Arizona. The air is very humid here and alive with mosquitoes.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik4AkWbIkbGn6oxYSV55GTcA2FhbbkNGHHeEVDwTantd9M_zPguaeKf66QBbRljwp00cCUhMPzIVSO9OCbgsQnhQzOgK-ep4tLc8X6b1hlSBtPLI96NnFjPZN8hYSvISn8_rXMlI7u-Mc/s1600/red+dress+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="361" data-original-width="518" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik4AkWbIkbGn6oxYSV55GTcA2FhbbkNGHHeEVDwTantd9M_zPguaeKf66QBbRljwp00cCUhMPzIVSO9OCbgsQnhQzOgK-ep4tLc8X6b1hlSBtPLI96NnFjPZN8hYSvISn8_rXMlI7u-Mc/s640/red+dress+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8LI-fAtFRbHUIkAl9j3wTfH9is13lqoAFZnKE84guSHqPAWQM8ZlQAKUSgt6HP9c1WrtS4LgDl3uz2NvAweNDrycWQ-Y710letfgMs4LEMtSJhEShn5OwXZt80p94UtlOyp5OLwvURZg/s1600/red+dress.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="433" data-original-width="174" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8LI-fAtFRbHUIkAl9j3wTfH9is13lqoAFZnKE84guSHqPAWQM8ZlQAKUSgt6HP9c1WrtS4LgDl3uz2NvAweNDrycWQ-Y710letfgMs4LEMtSJhEShn5OwXZt80p94UtlOyp5OLwvURZg/s640/red+dress.JPG" width="256" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">After those were in place I decided I wanted to add some rocks to the main area of the garden for visual interest. So the next morning it was off to my favorite spot for rocks 25 miles away. They have a huge pile of small boulders that you collect and put into a plastic tub as a sort of measurement. </span><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;">I love being able to pick out my favorites as well as crawling around the rock pile. </span><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;">Then you pick them all up a second time to put into the car.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCzZhj0Lpe4yR6iheD7KhUnynlTJea3VY4vpXoLYHEKz6mHuDHYnICwEsHb0DqFQK9ViWkgyKCj0Ti9Ihi7GNH0UfViV_0_BfFAdk0OD5TSKfCR34a1Zl04NiCLwX26L0Uis5TAOkvaZ8/s1600/rocks+added.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="393" data-original-width="617" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCzZhj0Lpe4yR6iheD7KhUnynlTJea3VY4vpXoLYHEKz6mHuDHYnICwEsHb0DqFQK9ViWkgyKCj0Ti9Ihi7GNH0UfViV_0_BfFAdk0OD5TSKfCR34a1Zl04NiCLwX26L0Uis5TAOkvaZ8/s640/rocks+added.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's not much, but makes it a little more interesting.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">On the way home I stopped at another garden center and found a couple of new hostas and several other plants that called out to me. One was the Komodo Dragon, a hosta that has the potential to get huge. I couldn't find the Empress Wu that I wanted. Then I realized there was yet another garden center nearby so I headed over there as well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">My last stop was at Lowe's on the way home to pick up 15 concrete patio pavers to make a path to the new kennel and one through the archway into our yard. I had to move many of the rocks ...again...to create space for them in the back of the van. Okay, these are getting heavy now.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I grabbed McDonalds on the way home so I could be done with lunch and get right to work in the yard. I unloaded the rocks first. You get to handle these puppies multiple times before you're done. I arranged them into groups according to size and started creating my "rock garden" area. I incorporated the new plants into this space and rearranged the bark mulch over them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">That was fun, but now it was time to sink the patio blocks into the ground. This is not so much fun as there are tree roots everywhere and to accomplish this I needed a serrated knife, shovel, trowel and pruners. At least I didn't need the ax this time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Finally all of them were in place and I had two extra to put inside the kennel as Gracie likes to roll on concrete. It's all about the cats happiness.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">By now I'm running out of steam. I'd been on the go since 9:00 am and it's now about 3:00 pm. My Fit-bit happily buzzed to let me know I'd reached my 10,000 steps a while back. But there was still a couple things to do.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I had to water in the new plants and clean up the pavers, gather all the trash and put the sod I'd dug out in the back of the golf cart to be taken to the compost area. I wasn't having fun any more, now it's become work, but I can't stand to leave the yard a mess. The house yes...but not the garden.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Finally I was ready to peel off the filthy jeans and shirt and take a shower to scrub off the dirt. In Wisconsin I would just done this on my back steps as we lived out in the boonies. Here a little more decorum is required. As we sat down to watch the news I let Left Brain know there was no supper tonight, I was too tired to eat. Maybe if I kept doing this every day I'd lose the weight I'd like to shed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Long Live the Queen</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>The Queen Jesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03613469797513739495noreply@blogger.com2