Two Unrelated Topics

Ever hear of the book, "The $64 Tomato"?  

Well, we were headed down that path when we started erecting a fence several weeks ago.  

We put in metal posts and hung a gate. 

Then, *Bing*, a light bulb went off!  

(It was more like an alarm.)  

We were about to spend a small fortune to protect two beds.

We removed the gate, dug up the post, returned the wire and instead, bought this:  The stinkiest stuff that really works to keep varmints away.  It has saved us hundreds, and hundreds, and hundreds, and hundreds of dollars.    
I don't spray close to the veggies but rather a perimeter in the grass, outside the mulched area.  I have a fear I'm going to step in this when it's wet and track it inside my house.    
I think it's urine of dead animals.  Only kidding!  
So far, so good.  No more marauders in the middle of the night.

Now, quickly and radically changing the subject: 
Here we have Big Ole' Nasty Dog.

Now an inside dog (who goes regularly to the professional groomers) that lounges his days away on an egg crate mattress.
Which, by the way, makes the best dog bed.  Only $9.99!  Fold in half, cover in an old sheet and when the sheet gets dirty, just toss it in the laundry.

And see his dog bone by his nose?  He'll leave it there for hours, maybe the whole day.  Strange, strange dog.

He'll rouse himself up when we're watching TV... 

...he'll mosey on over to Buns...

...who will pester Smarty Girl for some affection and...

...then both will pester He Man for snuggles...

... then they'll compare petting notes...

... and bask in the realization they are loved.  

Now that's what I call two unrelated topics.

Love from Whippoorwill Road,

Bernadine

Garden Update

I have a confession to make:  I haven't weeded the garden in over a month!  Ok, maybe longer.  I've said it.  My secret is out.  

Please, please, look beyond the weeds.  

• The onions are doing great.  I usually don't wait until they're fully mature before I pluck one out for an omelet or salad.
• The lettuce is about to give me it's fifth harvest.  
• The pole beans... lots of flowers but no beans yet. I'm still waiting.  

• I've got great looking beefsteak tomatoes on the way.

• I don't know exactly what kind of peppers these are.  It's not what the picture on the label showed but I'm still happy with these.  They are mild and delicious.

• The Roma tomatoes are coming along nicely.

• The basil and lemon basil plants are doing well.  

•  The one pepper on this plant is growing beautifully.  It should be a yellow pepper.  It's still maturing.

• The yellow squash are prolific and delicious...  in eggs, casseroles, on salads, roasted, stir fried... they're wonderful.
• The zucchini has slowed it's production.  I think I crowded them.

• The string beans, that were previously vandalized by a varmint, are recuperating but the cucumbers are invading their space.  I collect the string beans.  I don't harvest them.  I collect them one by one and I'm saving each one until I can justify turning on the stove to cook them.
• Oh, and the cucumbers?  A big zero thus far.  I crowded them.

I'm so thrilled with the results.  I haven't seen bugs or worms chewing away.  Just bees.  For fertilizer, we just put a top dressing of a few bags of organic mushroom compost (thanks to a tip from Kris at http://georgiahomegarden.blogspot.com/.)  Oh, and we limed the soil when we tilled it up.  That's it.  

And on my way back to the house, I found three big piles of this.  I did what any sensible person would do:  I scooped them up and tossed them into the compost pile.
Then grabbed my 'Liquid Fence' spray (much cheaper than a wood and wire fence) and sprayed a barrier around the garden.  Note to self: wear gloves when using this next time.  Pee-Eww.

Here's a few changes I would make next season:

• Plant more zucchini and squash.  Maybe just the two of them in one of the beds.
• Plant a lot more string beans.  Rows of them.
• Give the cucumbers their own row, away from the squash.
• Plant more peppers.
• And insert the tomato cages correctly in the soil.  Yep, we put the cages upside down.  With the spikes pointed upward.  That's embarrassing.  
• Plant more onions.  They're great in almost everything.
• And use the 'Liquid Fence' a little earlier to prevent unwanted guests.
• And create three more beds.    

I hope you enjoyed my update.

Growing things to eat can be quite the healthy addiction.  

Love from Whippoorwill Road,

"Farmer Jane"

aka: Bernadine

        

The Buns Condo

We've been talking a while about building a condo in the dog crate that is Buns' home.  This week we did it.

This is his three story condo.  (In the corner of our living room.)  

He loves the very top level. 

I brought that 'Comfort' empty box from the hospital.  I thought it would make a great hiding place for him.

He plays with his toys, he does lay on his rug...

... sometimes he stands in his litter box...

...  and just munches away.

 

If you go anywhere near his condo, he begs to come out.

And we usually let him.

Have a great day.

From Whippoorwill Road,

Bernadine

The Free Yard Sale

My parents neighbors are moving to tropical Naples, Florida.

Weeks ago they had a massive yard sale.  I'm sure it was great.

I wasn't there.

But, this past Tuesday, my sisters, my daughter, my mom and I were invited over to pick up anything we wanted that was left over - FREE of charge.

Whatever we didn't want, was going to be hauled to a thrift store.  Here's a sample of what we hauled home: 

Great heart.  My wheels are turning...  where/how/when to use this?
(Or I'll probably give it to someone who really loves hearts.)

Loved the nest, the eggs, the little angel and the silhouette.  
Have no idea what to do with the angel and silhouette yet.

Brand new grill set for the husband, monogrammed linen hand towel, and a great splatterware tea kettle for Fourth of July decor, maybe?

Movies to watch.  Oh, there were lots more.  My daughter put those in her room quickly.

Cute things I will do something with for the Fourth of July, on the front porch.

The big hydrangeas?  My daughter scooped them up for her dorm room window.  

 A bag of brand new gift bags and some decent size spools of tulle.  I was just in need of gift bags of various sizes and some tulle.
No, really.  I was.

I also got some great oak rockers.  I'll show those later.
We left behind so much.  Like a sewing machine, a Martha Stewart flower press (still in the box), a video projector, a wicker table and chairs,  a cedar chest... 
But my all time favorite piece, my treasure of the day was...
...this little wooden bird.

I just love this little thing.  So rustic.  So natural.  
Beauty in the imperfection.  

Enjoying the free things in life

 on Whippoorwill Road,

Bernadine

Memorial Day

From the birth of our freedom to now,

Let us remember.

With sober remembrance 

for all those who bravely sacrificed and served,

Thank you.

Bernadine

Varmints!

This morning, look what I found!

Zucchini- half eaten:

 Cucumbers- ripped from the soil.  And eaten.

Beans: eaten.

What in the world!  A famished family of something or another must have come through and gotten their fill.

It's not deer.  No hoof prints.  It's not rabbits.  No poop.  Hmmm...  time for fencing.

In the meantime, I picked more lettuce.  This will be for lunch or dinner.

And I quickly picked the largest zucchini and squash, with a dash of basil.

C'est la vie

on Whippoorwill Road,

'Farmer Jane'

aka Bernadine