Purling Oaks

Gruesome Gone

The gruesome illusion of a graveyard has been transformed to the reality of a garden.  Behold!

Much better!  White Dot is showing his feline approval.  In the bed on the left (or westmost), I've planted carrots (Caracas from Jung Seeds) in two rows planted with radishes -Cherry Belle from Jung's in Row 1 and French Breakfast from Seed Savers Exchange in Row 2.  Two rows of Red Romaine from SSE, then three lettuces - one row each of Bronze Arrowhead, Baby Oakleaf, and Red Salad Bowl (all from SSE).  I also planted nasturtium seeds:  Empress of India from Burpee's and Cherry Rose Jewel from Botancial Interests.  Obviously, this recording of planting is intended for memory enhancement purposes.  *ahem*  I also grew some plants from seed and those are getting accustomed to the cool and gray June weather on the front porch.  I'll provide details when I plant them.  I also have some seeds for climbing nasturtiums to plant, along with green (and purple!) filet beans and sugar snap peas.  Between my schedule and the rain, this garden will eventually get planted.

I should soon have some peony blooms.  Please excuse the photo--I must need to clean the lens or something.  These three peonies are growing in the box on the right in the "second" row.  I ordered a bunch of hosta, peony, and daylilies in late summer several years ago via the internet.  When they arrived, I didn't have the time or enthusiasm to plant them around the yard so I just designated that box and the one next to it as "nursery" boxes.  

I've had varying levels of success with my nursery box strategy.  The peonies are thriving as are the daylilies.  Although, once the daylilies bud, I fight with the deer for the blossoms.  Unfortunately, hunting season and daylily blooms do not coincide.   Therefore, I'll move the daylilies before they bloom this year.  Maybe I'll see what colors the blossoms are, finally.  The hostas had to compete with weeds last year but they're recovering right now with a bit of grass mulch.  Typing this post brought forth a vague memory of the hostas also suffering from deer attention, besides my inattention.  I may need to move them sooner and let them recover in the landscaping where they may have a better chance.  After the peonies bloom, I'll relocate them around the yard--maybe a month after?  I'm not sure about the timing as I traditionally add peony roots to the garden in very late summer or early fall.  Opinions, anyone?

Yesterday, I met with a new-to-me spinning group in Madison, the Fair City Spinners, and, later in the day, joined the Rio Library Quilt Guild.  Both are very nice groups of people and I learned a lot just yesterday--so much that I think my brain hurts from the learning and all the socializing.  Just one month away from daily interaction with groups of people and look what happens!  Obviously, ambiverts must have to keep their extrovert tendencies exercised or they atrophy.  Thanks to Carole for the invitations and the great conversation.

I'm spinning wool from that long-ago venture to Taos in a pretty peachy orange.  It was only one largish ball of roving.  Of course, I don't have any record of who I purchased it from.  Carrie, do you remember?

Just peeking

Happy almost end of February!  I've been absent from the blog since I've got nothing to share.  There's been drama but it isn't really mine in the most direct sense, so there you are, no blog stuff and no desire to blog around it.   I did get the crud Friday afternoon but it was fast and furious, so now I'm just tired.  

White Dot got into a big fight with the Boogie Cat last Saturday morning and had to go to the vet for stitches where his hind right leg was ripped open.  Yowza and yuckola.  He's now in second place for most *ahem* precious kitty of the house, after Fuzzle's broken-leg excitement about five years ago.   He's healing quickly and is happy to be out of his exile to a closed bedroom and paper litter.  We're working on what to do about BC encounters since that was trip number two to the vet that was BC-related.

I was able to attend my local monthly spinning group meeting last Monday -- it was fun with a lot of laughing.  I brought some crocheting rather than my wheel but they're a kind group of women and let me stay.  I helped solve a mystery of a rigid heddle loom--no biggie but it helps to know which way to point the darn thing.  0.O

I've immersed myself in the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs this weekend.  I thought it would all be re-reads but somehow I missed one of the series.  I'm glad I remedied that with a download as Bone Crossed was good.  I'm about to start River Marked before I start throwing things in my suitcase for another week of work.

Okay, that's it for now.  I hope you all have been warm, safe, and happy.  I'll stop by again...hopefully soon.

 

Friday quick notes

Just a quick note or three.......

• I found a salsa verde that I really like.  Mmmmm.
• I'm taking a break from preping/packing for our annual deer hunting venture.
• I better not take too long of a break.....
• DB Eric is in the state and ready for anything.
• I've been listening to Nathan Lowell's Trader Tales serialized podiobooks lately.  I just listened to the first episode of Full Share, which is third in the serier.  I have also purchased the first three books in electronic format.  Mr. Lowell narrates his books and is very easy to listen to.  I got the audio free via iTunes but they are also available free from another site, which I am too busy to link to.  
• I'll be in my tree tomorrow enjoying the pre-dawn, dawn, morning, mid-morning, etc.  Wish us luck.
• If I can get a signal, I'll try to post an update.
• The internets were down at my house last night but that got fixed.
• Unplugging and hitting the reset button several times does so work.
• White Dot is recovering from being his alter-ego, Fight Dot.  He's looking much better now.  
• Fighty got to visit the vet earlier this week, though.
• Mean ol' boogie cat!

Have a safe and happy hunting season all you hunters and a happy Thanksgiving.

Some Warm Pink, some cold White, and a Dot

There was a cardboard box in my mailbox when I got home yesterday.  Here's what was in that lovely box:

Here's a closer look:

And one more:

It was knit by our Cookie!  For me!!!  Thank you, Cookie.  We shall not mention whether or not there were chocolates.  

Pattern: Sweet Jazz

Yarn:  Handspun BFL from Denise

The scarf is lovely and soft and it will keep me warm and draft-free since the winter season is starting a bit early.  (See the white stuff in the first photo?)

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This is also the first snowfall for the cats this season.  White Dot was attempting a crossing of the yard when I caught him on video.  (Yes, I was having a telephone conversation with Cookie.  What?  You don't pick up your camera when you're on the 'phone?!)

 

 

The story had a happy ending--I yelled at the intruder cat who ran away.  White Dot started after him but I was able to catch up with him because of his slow progress across the snow.  :D  (He already has a face scratch that *just* missed his eye that he obtained last night.)  Cookie was long-distance witness to my crazy cat-mom duties.  Why yes, I can continue a conversation and grab a cat at the same time........

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Last night, Dan made fried scallops with garlic mashed potatoes for dinner.  Tonight, he is preparing lamb meatballs with a sauce and rice.  I love my birthday week meals.  Tomorrow is shrimp de jonge, baby peas, mandarin oranges, and carrot cake if Mom sticks to the traditional birthday menu.  It has been a low-key week since I was out of town for my birthday; although, my cousin Kim brought over some chocolate cake Tuesday.  Yum.  I made my black turtle bean soup today in preparation for deer hunting that starts next Saturday.  It is very nice to have several meals prepared in advance when you've been in a tree all day.  

Have a super weekend!

Spring blossom Saturday

Cherry blossoms will soon be seen in Wisconsin.  

Pear blossoms, as well.

And White Dot is ready for anything.  Isn't he handsome?  

It is a really beautiful day today.  I picked up a bucket of pine cones, which are excellent fire starters; worked in my herb gardens; and took a walk to take these photos (with White Dot's help).  The laundry is also being dealt with.  DH is out with the chain saw cutting up buckthorn in the woods.  It is easier to cut now before all the leaves, brush, and weeds grow high.  Tomorrow, we're planning on having a lunch date and running errands together.  Romantic, eh?  Well, yeah, it is.  We're planning time together because if we don't, before we know it we're back at work without having spent quality time together.

This lovely Spring weather means also that there are four shedding felines.  Lovely.  I could easily have a cat hair sweater if I collected and spun this stuff up.   Tick season is starting, too.  We medicate the cats for fleas and ticks but I don't have a high opinion of the med's effectiveness for ticks.  Any one know of a good tick repellent? 

 

 

Look for the ears

We should all be so lucky.  (photo taken Saturday morning)  White Dot is on the left, curled up.  Fuzzle is on the right, sprawled across the family's favorite blanket.  These blankets can be found at your favorite army surplus in colors other than camo, if camo doesn't fit your decorating scheme.  My Uncle David brought one of these nylon blankets back with him after three tours in Viet Nam.  My cousins, my brother, and I coveted the blanket and always loved being wrapped in it, in front of the television on a winter weekend.  

I attended a gun show with my father and mother in the 90's and found a similar blanket and was in heaven.  Since then, I've also found them at a surplus store in the Los Angeles area and purchased about four of them.  They are good to keep in the car since they roll up to a small pack but are valuable in case of an emergency.  They wash and dry easily.  They're soft and silky-feeling.  Love.  

 

Saturday perspective

I really have to share a few moments of the trip to the vet with our four cats for their annual visit.  It makes me laugh and as you'll read later in this post, laughter was a good thing. 

Black Dot and Blue are featured but White Dot and Fuzzle can be heard full voice, as well. They all voice their concern each time we take this trip. At the Vet, they're more quiet; just generally scared and trying not to move. Everyone is healthy although Black Dot should probably join me on WW.

As I noted in my post yesterday, the washer needed repair.  Yes, it did.  In fact, in needed enough repair to cost justify a new one.  O.O  The good thing is, the new one is installed and I can now conquer the laundry mountain. 

However, for me to use the washer, the septic system has to be able to handle the liquids flow.  And, you guessed it,  the septic system had a problem.  Late in the afternoon, Wilson discovered water/liquid on the floor of his shop and the utility room and something *ahem* had backed up into the basement shower.  But it was all fixed with a late call to the plumber, buckets, bleach, and a beer or two.

The laughter earlier in the day and finding out really good news about two friends in the evening and this morning more than balanced out what are truly minor annoyances.  Life is good.

Happy Saturday!

Happy Saturday photos

This photo makes me happy.  Blue and White Dot, geranium, my spinning wheel, a comfy chair, and a little Saturday sunshine.  Of course, there are things the photo doesn't show, which are fine, such as:

• Both cats (and their sisters) want to go outside but can't because Wilson and I are going up to the Farm in a few hours and we can't have the kitties running a muck while we're gone.
• The sunshine was only visible for about 60 seconds so far this morning.  The high temperature yesterday was 61 degrees F.  This is July?
• That's the same bobbin I started Tour de Fleece with--it is loaded up a bit more but the time allocated to spinning hasn't been too extensive. 

Speaking of Tour de Fleece/Team Crankypants.........You know the Groucho Marx scene where the phrase "Doctor, it hurts when I do this!" and Groucho says, "Then don't do that!"?  Well, I have to put my spindle on the sideline because I'm aggravating my shoulder and ribs somehow.   I'm taking action to heal up but no spindling for a while.  The wheel is still in action so I'm still cheering for Team Crankypants.  Good thing this was a no-stress event.  :D  I am happy that I've been spinning more, and that's what counts.

Our trip up to the Farm is because Dr. E is there visiting our mom.  He's only here for a short time so we're heading up this afternoon to say hello and meet with other family at the Roxie in Oshkosh for dinner.  He's back from vacationing in Europe with his two sons and will be able to tell us more about running with the bulls in Pamplona, Spain ( o.O ) as well as the other fun stuff the three of them did.

The garden is coming along despite my absence. 

Happy Saturday!

My pretties....

I came home Friday to this sight. 

I just love these flowers.  The florentine iris are beginning to bloom, just a week or so behind Joan's blooming plants.  This is the first plant to bloom and I was feeling a little Georgia O'Keeffe inspiration. 

Come here, you handsome bee, you......

We had a frost on Sunday morning but it appears the iris blooms and buds escaped any physical damage which was a happy discovery.  I may risk it and try to put my basil plants in the garden late this afternoon since I have to hit the road tomorrow morning.  Today I'm hanging around here for a two chiropractor visits, this morning and tomorrow morning.  The neck is feeling better, just a small and occasional knife feeling rather than the large and all the time knife insertion.    :D   I think trying out the local practitioner was a good thing.  So, the knitting and spinning have been on hold for a bit but I'm hoping they'll start up again soon.

We think somebody is hiding a fawn in the woods behind the house.......

She's been a frequent backyard visitor this weekend.  She's pretty with a dark blaze on her face.

White Dot has been challenging her ..........it is his yard, you know.    Just before this photo was taken, they had faced off for a bit near the stream.  Then she had enough of the little black furry creature and took off for the orchard.  My brave little cat was chasing her as she ran across the yard!!  However, when she turned around to face him, White Dot wisely headed toward the house and away from Mrs. Deer.

 

(Just ignore the septic tank, the tall "pampas" grass is still in the growing stages.)  Country life.

Happy Monday!

Hey! Would you look at that!

Not having an idea of what to blog this morning, I turned to the photo library one year ago today.  Here's what I found. 

So I looked outside.  Then I looked at my screen and then looked outside again.  I picked up my camera, went out and here's about the same view today......

I was presented with happy evidence that we are much closer to real Spring then we were one year ago.   And, despite the threat of snow tomorrow, I am thinking *Spring* and not late Winter. 

One of the nice things about living in the country is that I can go outside like this:

Of course, I couldn't stay out for hours since it was a bit chilly.  However, there wasn't anybody calling cops about some crazy lady wandering around in her robe, either. 

Today, I'm planning on making a trip into Madison for some salmon and some heavy cream to experiment with butter-making.  Maybe the car will get a real wash as well.  I tweeked a muscle or something in my back yesterday (whine!) so I'm moving a bit gingerly and looking for my ice pack.  Maybe a stop at Walgreens for a replacement will be on my list if the cupboard/freezer search isn't fruitful.  Since I did no fibery/crafty stuff this week except for my 10 minutes of spinning (sigh), I will be diving back into the virtual project basket when I get back.

Happy Saturday!