Fall is just around the corner, and time to harvest what we sowed. Despite having the biggest pumpkin plants I've ever seen.....no pumpkins!
Next year:
1) We don't allow the vines to get eleventy-million feet long.
2) We hand-pollinate (there didn't seem to be very many bees)
3) we cut down a tree to shed more sunlight on our garden.
We planted zucchini and cucumbers. No zucchini and only 2 cucumbers.
Next year:
#2 and #3 from above.
We planted green beans. We got about 5 meals or so out of them.
Next year;
1) We take steps to keep the deer out of the garden so they don't eat the plants.
2) We plant beans that will climb up a pole, so they don't take up so much room and they don't drag all over the ground.
We planted tomatoes. We have tons of them!!
Next year:
1) We use tomato cages
2) We don't allow the plants to grow six feet tall
Despite the problems, Hubby and I enjoyed our garden immensely. It was rather exciting to go out each day and see the progress, harvest the vegetables, and of course, eat them!
Next year we do want to try to cut down a tree that blocks much of the sunlight.....even though I am opposed to cutting down trees. This one is in the back of the yard, and doesn't contribute to the shade we enjoy when we sit in the yard.
We'd also like to enlarge the garden, and plant some other things, such as eggplant, peppers, onions and broccoli.
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Saturday, September 8, 2012
New Walkway
Our old walkway....a little tough to mow the lawn. And shoveling in the winter would probably be no treat either!
All dug up and ready to go
Of course a new "tool" was needed. Hubby's been needing a wheelbarrow.
A dirty kid is a happy kid!
Thanks to daughter Jamie for helping us haul 60 slate blocks and 10 bags of sand.
Working hard!
The level shows that the walkway is flat.
Unfortunately, it was also crooked, so 3 1/2 rows had to be removed and re-set. For some reason we thought the road at the bottom edge of the walkway would be straight.
All done!!
Well, really.....he needs to put in the other edge, fill in the edges with soil, and support the stairs. But definitely all done for tonight!
Thursday, September 6, 2012
How to Love your Grand-daughter
Now that I finally have a sewing room, I found that I love to sew just as much as I did years ago when my daughter was little and I made all kinds of outfits for her. Now that I have a grand-daughter, I've been finding good excuses to make her new clothes. (Grand-daughter #2 is still young, although I did make her one dress that I doubt she fits into yet!)
For Summer
To Start School
And now....since she saw a fancy skirt on a little girl when we went to the zoo, and said, "Memere, you can make me a skirt like that, can't you?"
Monday, September 3, 2012
Old North Bridge
Hubby and I had cause to go to Concord, MA this weekend. Some friends of ours were playing a concert at the Old Manse. The Old Manse is a house where the grandfather of Ralph Waldo Emerson lived right beside the battlefield. His family watched as the Revolutionary War began just yards from his home.
The Old Manse became the stomping ground for such luminaries as Emerson, Nathanial Hawthorne and Henry David Thoreau. It's now, of course, a museum where you can visit and hear the history of these famous Americans and see where Hawthorne and his wife etched poems to each other in the windowpanes.
Our first inclination was to bring our canoe and take a ride on the Concord River, then listen to the concert at the Old Manse. But being the old, tired and lazy couple that we are, we ditched that idea and just went to visit the Old North Bridge and hear the concert instead.
The Old Manse became the stomping ground for such luminaries as Emerson, Nathanial Hawthorne and Henry David Thoreau. It's now, of course, a museum where you can visit and hear the history of these famous Americans and see where Hawthorne and his wife etched poems to each other in the windowpanes.
Our first inclination was to bring our canoe and take a ride on the Concord River, then listen to the concert at the Old Manse. But being the old, tired and lazy couple that we are, we ditched that idea and just went to visit the Old North Bridge and hear the concert instead.
Our Friends Play Their Tunes
Betsi Mandrioli
Jon Swenson
Bob Morse
Saturday, September 1, 2012
Karen's Rules for Grocery Shopping AKA- My semi-annual rant against idiotic people
Entering the parking lot:
#1. Move your FAT BUTT along as you cross the parking lot. Strolling along and chatting on your cell phone just makes me want to hit you.
#2. Hold your children's hands in the parking lot. Letting them run around like banshees is only going to give me a heart attack.
#3. While driving down the aisle searching for a spot, stay to the RIGHT. It's just like driving.
#4. When you are crossing and are not in a crosswalk, don't give ME a dirty look when I don't stop to let you cross.
#5. Do not stop in the middle of the entrance and let your able-bodied wife, girlfriend, or whatever out of the car. It just makes me want to "accidentally" ram the back of your car.
Inside the store:
#6. When you must stand and stare at the grocery shelves while you contemplate what to buy...MOVE OVER.
#7. When I move your cart so I can get through, don't give ME a dirty look.
#8. When pushing your cart down an aisle, stay to the RIGHT. It's just like driving.
#9. If you let your children run around like banshees in the store, it's not my fault if I accidentally hit one of them with my cart.
At the register:
#10. Don't chat with the cashier. He/she cannot run the groceries over the scanner and talk at the same time.
#11. When I say I want everything in the cloth bags, I do mean EVERYTHING. Yes to the catfood. Yes to the giant package of TP. Yes to the laundry detergent.
#12. When I say no I do not want anything in little plastic bags, I do mean EVERYTHING. No to the meats. No to the ice cream. No to the Produce.
Leaving the store:
All the same parking lot rules as entering the store. In addition:
#13. Do not beep at me when I am sitting at a red light arrow and it says "No Turn on Red Arrow". Especially when I have seen 3 different people pulled over by the police for ignoring that sign.
Thank you.
#1. Move your FAT BUTT along as you cross the parking lot. Strolling along and chatting on your cell phone just makes me want to hit you.
#2. Hold your children's hands in the parking lot. Letting them run around like banshees is only going to give me a heart attack.
#3. While driving down the aisle searching for a spot, stay to the RIGHT. It's just like driving.
#4. When you are crossing and are not in a crosswalk, don't give ME a dirty look when I don't stop to let you cross.
#5. Do not stop in the middle of the entrance and let your able-bodied wife, girlfriend, or whatever out of the car. It just makes me want to "accidentally" ram the back of your car.
Inside the store:
#6. When you must stand and stare at the grocery shelves while you contemplate what to buy...MOVE OVER.
#7. When I move your cart so I can get through, don't give ME a dirty look.
#8. When pushing your cart down an aisle, stay to the RIGHT. It's just like driving.
#9. If you let your children run around like banshees in the store, it's not my fault if I accidentally hit one of them with my cart.
At the register:
#10. Don't chat with the cashier. He/she cannot run the groceries over the scanner and talk at the same time.
#11. When I say I want everything in the cloth bags, I do mean EVERYTHING. Yes to the catfood. Yes to the giant package of TP. Yes to the laundry detergent.
#12. When I say no I do not want anything in little plastic bags, I do mean EVERYTHING. No to the meats. No to the ice cream. No to the Produce.
Leaving the store:
All the same parking lot rules as entering the store. In addition:
#13. Do not beep at me when I am sitting at a red light arrow and it says "No Turn on Red Arrow". Especially when I have seen 3 different people pulled over by the police for ignoring that sign.
Thank you.
Monday, August 13, 2012
Emily Turns 5
Our wonderful little grandbaby turned 5! I can't believe she's already old enough for kindergarten. Her Mom and Dad threw her a party in their backyard. Since they have a new pool, it was a pool party!
Hubby gave her some shiny new rocks for her collection. Hubby has tons of them, and every time she comes over, she wants to take them out and sort them and play with them, so he gives her a couple to take home with her.
The new dress I made her for school. With pockets!
Jumping into the pool is fun when Mom is catching you!
Her Nana made her a mermaid cake to go along with the theme of the party.
Lots of presents!
Five candles to blow out!
Pepere enjoyed the party and one of Emily's new puppies.
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Tailgating at Tanglewood
This summer, Hubby and I did something we've both always wanted to do. We went to see the Boston Pops at Tanglewood.
For those not in the know, Tanglewood is in western Massachusetts, in the Berkshire Mountains, and is the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. It was an experience to be remembered.
Because of the price of the tickets, I bought "lawn" seats, rather than seats in the "shed". The shed is the massive structure where all the more financially endowed folks get to sit.
We'd been told that bringing a "picnic" and our own beverages was acceptable. So we packed some cheese and fruit and wine.
We found out from the innkeeper afterwards that there were over 10,000 people there. This photo is well before the place filled up.
We walked all around the grounds, saw all the other buildings, and enjoyed a little of the other musical offerings before the main program started. The view behind the grounds:
It was an amazing experience to sit back as night fell and listen to The Tanglewood Orchestra, The Boston Pops, and the Boston Symphony Orchestra, who played the 1812 Overture, complete with cannons!!
The evening was capped off with a phenomenal display of fireworks. It was a fantastic experience for both of us. It leaves us wanting to go again next summer!
For those not in the know, Tanglewood is in western Massachusetts, in the Berkshire Mountains, and is the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. It was an experience to be remembered.
Because of the price of the tickets, I bought "lawn" seats, rather than seats in the "shed". The shed is the massive structure where all the more financially endowed folks get to sit.
The only benefit is that it's under cover if it rains. We situated ourselves on the lawn right beside the shed, and we had a decent view of the orchestra.
We stayed at a lovely Bed and Breakfast about a mile away. When we asked the innkeeper why people were already congregating early in the afternoon, she informed us that we were seeing "Tanglewood on Parade" which is a special event with music and activities all afternoon. Hubby and I decided to pack our cooler and head over there earlier than planned.We'd been told that bringing a "picnic" and our own beverages was acceptable. So we packed some cheese and fruit and wine.
Red Solo Cups!!
We didn't know the proper way to tailgate at Tanglewood was to bring tables, tablecloths, wine glasses, candles, etc!!
We found out from the innkeeper afterwards that there were over 10,000 people there. This photo is well before the place filled up.
Porch Band
All ages enjoyed the show
It was an amazing experience to sit back as night fell and listen to The Tanglewood Orchestra, The Boston Pops, and the Boston Symphony Orchestra, who played the 1812 Overture, complete with cannons!!
During intermission, Hubby and I snuck into the shed area and down to the front, where Hubby drooled over the Steinway piano.
The evening was capped off with a phenomenal display of fireworks. It was a fantastic experience for both of us. It leaves us wanting to go again next summer!
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