Aunt Sweetie

Today I said good-bye to Aunt Sweetie, aka Juanita, in the nursing home in Jerseyville.  I thanked her for the wonderful memories that she gave me and for teaching me to cook.  When I looked into her eyes and told her that I loved her, she looked at me and blinked her beautiful blue eyes.  I think she understood.

Aunt Sweetie and Uncle Glenn had a dairy farm in southern Illinois.  During the summer, my family would pack up our sleeping bags and clothes, and stay on the farm to help out.  I was just a whisper of a girl, barely  big enough to climb up onto the hay wagon, yet I remember everyone pitching in to load the big rectangular bales from the ground to the bed.  Somewhere in the back of my memory there's a story about a snake in the hay, and someone being very frightened (not me) but I can't quite remember all of it.

There is no scent that brings back the memories quite like the smell of fresh cow manure.  I was barefoot most of the time, so I didn't mind if I ended up stepping into an oozing, odoriferous pile of poo.  A quick squirt of the garden hose, or wading at the edge of the pond, would have my feet cleaned in no time.

My brother Randy and I would go down to the pasture in the early evenings to herd the cows back to the milking barn.  I had absolutely no fear of the huge beasts.  Each one had a name lovingly given by Aunt Sweetie, and each had a unique personality given to them by God.  Who could be afraid of such wonderful animals?

After the cows were allowed into the milking barn, we would slide the wood plank over that held their heads in place, allowing them to comfortably munch on food while we took care of business at their other end.  We each had a bucket with bleach water and an old rag, and would wipe down the teats of the cows.  Then sssssssssssssllllllllllllluuuuuuuuuurppppppppppp the milking machine "fingers" would suction onto each teat.  I can hear the milk machine now, draining as much milk from each cow as possible.  When they finished, we would "strip" the cows, or use our hands to coax whatever milk was left from them.  Occasionally the dog (what was his name?) or barn cats would get a squirt in the mouth as well.

Milking took place in the very early mornings and again in the evenings.  In between times, Aunt Sweetie taught me how to cook.  I believe Malt-O-Meal was my first masterpiece.  Soon after I conquered cake mixes.

We would spend hours sitting in a circle in the shade as we shucked corn.  To this day, I haven't found an ear nearly as sweet as those from my childhood.

In the evenings we would sit around the gigantic kitchen table and play the card game Spoons.  The laugher was never-ending.  Aunt Sweetie's peals would ring out the loudest and heartiest.

I won't remember Aunt Sweetie as she was today, an emancipated almost unrecognizable person.  Instead, I will always think of her riding her unicycle, bouncing around like crazy on the pogo stick (note to self::  buy pogo stick at Toys R Us), singing "Mona Lisa" as she's milking Seven, or dipping flour from the huge silver tin that she kept in the walk-in pantry in that beautiful old house.

Thank you, Aunt Sweetie, for the memories and life skills.  You are an angel on Earth.

Christmas Cactus Made Easy

I'm a no-fuss kind of gardener with an even less-fuss kind of life.  Therefore I try to make everything easier, including coaxing my Christmas cactus into bloom.

As summer nights turn cooler with the promise of autumn just around the corner, set your cactus outside.  Pick a relatively protected place (mine sits on a north-facing porch) so that the  plant doesn't sunburn.  Be sure to place your container out of reach of hungry rabbits who believe that your cactus is his buffet.  Water the container only when the soil is completely dry.  I use a weak Miracle Grow solution every-other watering.

Before cold weather sets in, you will see buds forming.  Check the plant, soil, and container well for creepy-crawlies that would love to join you in your abode, and then take the plant back into the house.  Be sure to set it in indirect sunlight, away from the furnace ducts.  Remember that over-watering is the cactus plant's biggest enemy!

If all else fails, buy a plant each year from the local "mart" type store, or, better yet, from your florist or greenhouse.  Consider the purchase as you doing your part to stimulate the economy.  (That's what I tell myself every time that I buy a new plant.  How can hubby be angry with me if I'm just being a good citizen?)

Happy gardening!

shel

At Long Last....

I have formally entered the 21st century by ditching the dial-up service that I have had for nearly 12 years, and obtaining high speed Internet. Blogging will be much easier when pictures will load in less than 15 minutes!

Last year's vegetable garden was a Guinea pig gone wild....I experimented with different planting techniques that were, quite frankly, a pain in the butt.

I used two bales of hay to plant tomatoes and green peppers. After treatment of the bales, I planted directly into the decomposing bales. Unfortunately, our extremely dry summer meant more watering than usual (the bales dried out quickly in the wind). The weight of the tomato plants pulled the wire cages over, which uprooted them. The cage was stuck into the bale instead of the ground so it didn't have a good, stable base. The green peppers limped along, producing small bitter fruit by the end of autumn. In a nutshell, I wasn't pleased with the hay bale planting. Perhaps I should have used something to hold the bales together rather than just the bands they came with.

I also planted directly into a gigantic bag of potting soil. The tomato plant and pepper plant did surprisingly well in this environment. The roots of the plants stayed moist longer, as the plastic bag held in the water. My tomato cage did an excellent job of holding up its occupant. Sadly, the roots of the tomato plant grew so aggressively that the entire bag was filled with roots by mid-season.

The tomatoes planted directly in the ground limped along. Even after I mulched well, the plants did not thrive due to lack of moisture and poor (clay based) soil.

My container tomato also was a disappointment, but I believe the variety that I purchased is to blame. The tomatoes never had that "home grown" taste.

This year I intend to try another method to grow my beloved tomatoes. I have a multitude of Tidy Cat big plastic containers. I will trim the rim off of the lid with my heavy craft scissors, drop the lid down into the contain so that it rests on five empty (and cleaned) cans, and use Miracle Grow potting soil to fill the container 3/4 full. There will be a few holes drilled into the bottom of the container for drainage. I also plan on using the containers for zucchini, peppers, and egg plant. The leftover straw from last year will be piled around the containers to help keep the soil cool when temperatures soar during the summer months.

Look for pictures in the future! I plan on keeping a more thorough journal of my garden success or failure with the kitty litter plantings.

shel

Your Hungry Lawn...Fertilization Schedule for Illinois

A lush green lawn is the goal of most homeowners, including my lawn-jockey brother-in-law, who's grass is akin to green velvet. Not only is the emerald area beautiful, it is also healthy. Healthy soil equals healthy grass equals fewer weeds and, in the long run, less effort to maintain.

In central Illinois, we are instructed to use the following schedule for fertilization (not applying weed killer) to our lawn. This schedule is written directed by how many times per year you decide to fertilize:

September 1 - If money is tight, this is the most important fertilizer application of the year. Cooler weather insures that the Kentucky Blue Grass is growing rapidly, allowing the roots to become healthy and robust.

May 1 and September 1 - If you can fertilize only twice per year, this is the schedule to follow. Feeding the lawn in the early spring while it is still cool and the grass is rapidly growing insures it will have the energy to make it through the upcoming hot spells of summer.

May 1, September 1, and Late October - Three fertilizations per year may sound like overkill, but it is strongly suggested that the lawn gets one last boost of energy to keep the roots healthy and happy over the winter. During mild winters grass may continue to remain green.

May 1, June 15, September 1, and Late October - The June 15 suggested feeding is the least important of all, but gives your grass the extra boost to keep it healthy during the dormant hot summers.

Remember that all of these dates are approximate but try to stick to the schedule as much as possible. During mild autumns, I have been known to fertilize as late as Thanksgiving. If the spring has been hot and dry, avoid the June feeding.

Most importantly, more is not better! Applying too much fertilizer will burn your grass, leaving big holes in the yard that weed seeds will find for sure.

May your grass be healthy and happy.

shel

Water Garden Bliss

My sister Shannon, the beautiful, intelligent, successful one, is also blessed with a green thumb. Her gardens are amazing, and rightfully so. Shan spends many, many hours each week with her scissors and gloves, trimming, dead-heading, and cleaning up the gardens.

The steaming hot days of central Illinois have taken their toll on regular gardens, but Shannon's water garden has thrived. The splash of the waterfall is music to tired ears.

Thank you, Shannon, for sharing your beauty with me.

shel

Pain, Pain, Go Away

I can't believe it...all year long I have looked forward to the Women in the Outdoors event that was held this past weekend, sponsored by the DeWitt County Longbeards. I couldn't go! On Wednesday my upper left leg ached, like someone had taken a meat mallet to it while I was sleeping. I went to the chiropractor, Dr. Allen, who popped my back and massaged the mass of muscles that were tied in knots above my left hip. The pain spread to my right leg, then down to the bottom half of both legs. Luckily I had some pain pills that have knocked me out and kept me sane. I went back to Dr. Allen late Friday afternoon and he has decided that, instead of having a messed up spine, the pain in my legs is caused by an infection. Unfortunately my family doctor can't see me until tomorrow afternoon, so I'm stuck with this.

My niece Erin suggested that the shingles that I had in my left eye last month could have somehow traveled to other parts of my body. My left eye is still much smaller than my right, so I suppose that is always possible. I wonder how the doctor checks for that.

At any rate, I'm sorry that I missed out on the Women in the Outdoors event, and have been unable to help my parents. Tomorrow is another day, however....I'll feel better then.

shel

Women in the Outdoors Event

Last year I was invited to have an adventure by attending the Women In The Outdoors event at Jim Edgar State Park/Panther Creek in Illinois. It was a BLAST!

This year the DeWitt County Longbeards Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation will host their 9th annual event on Saturday, July 23, 2011 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in rural Elkhart, IL. There are a variety of classes offered over a four-session day. Classes includes Birds, Butterflies & Bugs, Duck Decoy Carving, Gun Safety, Dutch Oven Cooking, Nature Walk with Plant ID, Self Defense, Trap Shooting (beginning class in the morning, intermediate and advanced class in the afternoon), Nature Crafts, Beginner's Macrame, Canning & Preserving, Outdoor Survival (one I need to take!), Fly Fishing, Basic Handgun, and Dealing with Nuisance Animals. A fabulous lunch will be served, as well as snacks and drinks. There will be a raffle, door prizes, and a silent auction and the option to purchase gifts. The memories and friendships made will be priceless!

The fee of $45 (for nonmembers...$20 for members) includes admission to the day's events, lunch & refreshments, a one year subscription to Turkey Country magazine (a high quality publication) and use of equipment and supplies.

If you would like more information on this event, or would like to donate items for the day, please contact me ASAP. Registration deadline is July 18, 2011.

Join me...we'll have a blast!

shel

Companion Planting: Clematis in Weeping Cherry

My grandmother, one of the world's greatest gardeners, never ceased to amaze me. When I was a little tyke she introduced me to sensitive plants, a fern-like annual that folded its "hands" in prayer when it was touched. It was like magic. After she & grandpa moved into town (I'll never forget the orchard at the country house) grandma had to really cut down on her growing adventures. Space was at a minimum.

One day I noticed a young tree blooming with tiny bright red miniature trumped-shaped flowers. That's the day that grandma introduced me to companion planting....putting two or more plants together for the benefit or beautification of all. Grandma had planted a cardinal climber vine (also known as a cypress vine) on a tree that had already lost its spring blooms and was otherwise just a boring stick with green leaves. Ingenious!

I have inherited my grandma's green thumb to a degree. The deer have eaten the apple tree saplings, the strawberry bed is now history, and I have weeds galore. I'm definitely not to the standards of my grandma, but I do try.

I have taken a page from grandma's book and planted a clematis next to my weeping cherry. The cherry is nine years old, and in partial shade. It has a tendency to lose most of its leaves and looks rather bare by the middle of June, so the clematis helps to bring excitement to the otherwise dreary plant. Hopefully the clematis will fill out even more in the next few years and I will have an umbrella of blooms to liven the garden.

I hope you try planting a climbing, vining flower with a small tree. Keep in mind that wisteria, as much as I love it, will strangle a tree. Ivy, creeping Jenny and euonymous will take over not only the tree but the entire garden and yard surrounding it.

Happy experimenting,

shel

Alternative Vegetable Gardening Experiment: Straw Bale vs. Potting Soil Bag vs. In-Ground Planting

I live in an area that is cursed with clay; the heavy, worthless rock-hard tan rubbish that isn’t fit for much of anything. Therefore I must purchase plants that are tolerant of poor growing conditions or amend the heck out of the beds.

This year I decided to try alternative methods to grow my vegetables. As an experiment, I planted tomatoes and green peppers in two prepared straw bales, a large bag of potting soil, and directly into the ground. My goal is to provide the same amount of water, fertilizer and sunshine to each specimen to see which will be the healthiest, generate the largest quantity of tomatoes/peppers, and give me the best flavor of produce.

For the straw bales, I followed a 10-day recipe to “cure” the bale prior to planting. It went something like this:

How to Grow a Straw Bale Garden

By Kent Rogers

Www.nicholasgardennursery.com/strawbales.htm

www.county.ces.uga.edu/chatham/hay_bales.htm

www.co.clay.mn.us/Dept/Extension/ExAPHydr.htm

Day 1-3 Water bales thoroughly and keep them wet.

Days 4-6 Sprinkle the bales with ½ c. of ammonium nitrate (32-0-0) per bale per day, and water in well.

Days 7-9 Cut back to ¼ c. of ammonium nitrate per bale per day and continue to water in well.

Day 10 No more ammonium nitrate. Add 1 c. of 10-10-10 fertilizer per bale and water in well.

Day 11 Transplant your plants into the bales. Use a spatula to make a crack in the bale for each plant.

I should have used a tarp over the bales to retain the moisture, but I didn’t think about it at the time. Instead I ran the sprinkler twice a day, two hours per session. The bales were soaked. Unfortunately, when I planted them I followed the suggestion and used a spatula. Later on, when I had to replace a green pepper that a bird had snipped off, I used a small shovel to make the hole. It was much easier to put the replacement plant’s root ball into the hole.

One of the greenhouses in Bloomington (I believe it was Owen’s) had a straw bale planted by their door. They had apparently scooped out enough straw to put in a shovel full of soil. After seeing that, I came home and forced soil around the root area of my plants. I think they perked up after that.

The mosquitoes LOVE to hang around in the bales. As soon as I bring out my watering can, which always contains a weak Miracle Grow concoction, the mosquitoes swarm up and attack me.

I have placed tomato cages around my plants. Only time will tell if the straw bale is sturdy enough to hold the cages in place.

For the potting soil planting, I used the biggest bag of high quality soil that I could find. Schultz moisture control is a potting soil that I use for container and basket plantings, so I felt confident that it was the right choice for direct planting. I used a piece or rebar to punch about a dozen holes through both layers of bag, allowing good water drainage. Next I cut an “X” near each end of the bag. I folded the ends under and planted the tomato plant in one hole and bell pepper plant in the other. I immediately added a small tomato cage, which I placed directly through the bag of soil. I pressed hard enough so that it was buried into the ground underneath by about 2”.

I did not use my Mantis tiller on the garden this year. Instead, I dug holes directly into the ground. They were big enough to bury the entire stem of the tomato plant, up to the first set of leaves. Roots will grow out the entire length of the stem, allowing the tomato to have a sturdy grip when the top is heavy with fruit. I always place tomato cages immediately over the plants. This avoids the possibility of future damage to stems or branches when the plants have become unmanageable.

Within days, a bird had snipped off one of the bell peppers that I had planted in the straw bale, and a deer or rabbit (both have voracious appetites, and both are prevalent in my country garden) had eaten off all of the plants that were in the ground.

I have purchased a six pack of small tomato plants and a one-quart size Early Girl to plant into the ground with hopes that the deer and rabbits will steer clear.

Every year I soak three to four page sections of newspaper in water, then layer them onto the garden between the rows. When I am short of newspaper I use corrugated cardboard pieces to block weeds. Rows that contain small plants, such as onions, are covered in cypress mulch. These preventative measures are not necessarily pretty to look at, but they do an excellent job of keeping out weeds and retaining moisture. PREEN also does a great job of stifling the sprouting of any weed seeds that may be present. Unfortunately, PREEN is not selective, and it will also stop radish, turnip, zucchini, and other seeds from sprouting, as well.

I originally planted my rag-tag garden on May 16, 2011. In the following weeks the only plant that has thrived has been the tomato that was placed in the bag of Schultz soil. Only time will tell how the rest of the experimental garden will grow. I’ll keep you posted.

Happy gardening,

shel

Baltimore Oriole Visitor

This post goes along with the last blog that I made regarding birds that visit my feeders. I had focused so much on the feeder in front that I had been ignoring the back feeder...big mistake! There were two male (and one female) Baltimore Orioles at the hummingbird feeder, as well as Indigo Buntings, goldfinches, rose breasted gross beaks, and more at the regular feeder. The sun room is only about 5' from the feeding station so I can get beautiful, clear close-up pictures.

Take the time to install a feeder and use QUALITY bird food (like Fruit and Nut mix.) You won't regret the beauty and joy that it will bring to your life.

Enjoy!

shel

Bird Feeder Guests

I have to admit it...I'm spoiled by my birds. Every day they grace my presence with their beauty. I am a bit of a seed snob. Never, ever would I purchase the packaged bird food that has the little round seeds (millet, possibly?) Long ago I read in a birding book that the bird food containing a specific seed was a waste of money because 1.) the birds don't like the 'filler' seed that is in there, 2.) the seeds get kicked to the ground and sprout very quickly, causing a MAJOR weed problem, and 3.) starlings and other "junk" birds are attracted to such seeds, and they wipe out a feeder in a matter of minutes and bully away the "good" birds!

With that in mind, I buy the fruit and nut mixture. It costs about $8 per bag but there is no waste involved and it draws in spectacular birds. Yesterday I had four male rose breasted grossbeaks and at least one female grossbeak, probably six different goldfinch, and a pair of brilliant blue Indigo Buntings. A downy woodpecker also visited the feeder, as well as a handful of wrens. I have also seen flickers, nuthatches, black capped chickadees, and even a red headed woodpecker come to the feeder.

If the birds are messy (or if I spill while I'm filling it) mourning doves help clean up the mess. It's fun to watch the resident chipmunks try to chase off the doves so that they have enjoy the feast, too.

In a nutshell (so to speak) the quality of birds that you attract is determined by the quality of food that is offered for the birds in your area, either permanently or on their migration path. Don't miss the opportunity to enjoy nature's beauty...run out to the store and buy the mixture that has peanuts, sunflower kernels, sunflower seeds, safflower, pistachios, hulled pumpkin seed, and dried raisins and cranberries. You won't regret it.

Happy birding!

shel

Mower Washer Invention and the Man Behind It

I am honored to cyberknow (will I see this word in Webster’s Dictionary in the next few years?) a resourceful gentleman that possesses intelligence, imagination, common sense, talented hands, and an armory of power tools at his disposal.

Ken Bryden o f Vancouver, Canada is always brainstorming how to “build a better mousetrap.” He has created bubblers and filters for his water garden to assist in water clarity, built exquisite furniture from downed trees, and constructed an ingenious device that should be in every lawn jockey’s shed.

Ken has unselfishly sent instructions on how to build his contraption used to clean the freshly mown grass from the underside of the deck of your mower.

Per Ken:

1. “Build the “mower wash” wide enough to accommodate your rotary mower, with wood on either side and end to keep the mower from rolling off. It shows the hose on top of the cross piece but it is safer to have it under that cross piece. This way the sprinkler head can’t hit the blade.
2. Start the mower.
3. Turn on the water and in a minute, all the cut grass is washed from the underside of the deck.

This way the underside of the deck doesn’t get plugged and doesn’t rust out.
DON’T USE IT ON ELECTRIC MOWERS! ZAP!!”

Thank you, Ken, for sharing your invention. A clean lawnmower is an essential factor for a perfect lawn!

(I have very clever mice that have invaded my home over the long, cold winter months…how about a better mousetrap?)

shel

Hydrangea Horror and New Way to Grow Veggies

Last night we had heavy winds and rain that caused a huge oak to come crashing down. Fortunately, it missed the house. Unfortunately, it chose my three-year-old 'Limelight' hydrangea to cushion its fall. The upper branches also knocked down part of the leather leaf viburnum, bent my copper arch fence out of shape, and crushed the daylilies, iris, Lenten rose, daffodils, and hollyhocks that were braving the cold weather.

On the upside, I will have plenty of firewood for the fire pit. There's nothing better than ribeyes cooked over an oak flame.

Tomorrow I will sharpen my clippers and start trimming away the badly damaged plants. Hopefully the roots of the perennials still have enough "umph" in them to send out more leaves, the hydrangea will come back even fuller than before, and the viburnum will fill back in on the damaged side. It will be interesting to see how things develop in the spring.

I didn't get the chance to add soil amendments to the vegetable garden last fall (I haven't even cleaned it off yet!) so I have decided to try a new approach this year. I plan on purchasing the largest bags of potting soil available. I will leave the bag relatively intact; I'll use a screw driver to punch some holes through the bag to allow for drainage, cut X's in the top, and plant my zucchini, cucumbers, and green peppers directly in the bags. Newspapers will be placed in water then layered between the bags to create rows. I'll use cedar mulch (that's what I have on hand) over the top of the bags to help hold in the water.

I also plan on planting three straw bales this year. I've been reading up on how to "age" them (it takes 10 days) so that you plant directly into the middle of the rotting hay. All of the tomato plants, which have extensive root systems, will go into the hay bales rather than the soil bags.

In the fall I can cut the bags and bales open and distribute their contents onto the garden. It will help to enrich the soil for the 2012 garden.

Years ago I learned to use bags of mulch to plant impatiens. I put six impatiens per bag, watered daily, and used Miracle Grow every week. The impatiens flourished in the improvised planters, filling out so completely that you couldn't tell that they were in a bag. Try it for yourself...I think you'll be extremely pleased with the results!

shel

Clutter out of Kindness OR Why My House is Messy

I have an inordinate amount of love and admiration for my 57-year-old sister Shannon. At 50, I still have high hopes that I can grow up to be more like her. She is beautiful, intelligent, successful, highly respected and loved by her patients and peers, and extremely adventurous.

There is one major difference between my beloved sister and myself that I wouldn't trade for all of the tea in China (and I love my tea!)

Shannon is a clean, clutter-free freak, almost to the point of being a minimalist. Everything is in its place at all times. I’ve never seen such a clear kitchen counter. Her home is like a beautiful hotel.

My house, on the other hand, is organized chaos. Oxymoron, I know, but it’s true. After Shannon, Mom, Dad and I returned from our month-long trip to Alabama, I took a closer look at my own house. I became aware, for the first time in our 10+ years of living here, that my house is tumultuous because I’m a giver, NOT because I’m a slob.

Consider the evidence:

 I collect the tabs from pop cans, soups, and so on to donate to the Ronald McDonald House in Springfield. My grandson was a micro-premie, and I utilized their facility before and after he was born. I try to show my appreciation for their services by making monetary donations and picking up tabs wherever I can find them. Thanks to my parents, sorority sisters and garden club friends for helping me.
 Max drinks approximately 14 cans of diet soda per day. (Ridiculous, right? It’s going to kill him but he won’t stop. It’s bad for the grocery budget, too.) We save the cans for recycling. The money that we bring in from recycling will go to Brianna, my beautiful, intelligent great-niece that will be taking a class trip to Spain.
 Box Tops for Education and Campbell’s Soup labels go into an antique pitcher on the counter top. (Mom saves hers to give to me, as well.) Every few months I will trim up the labels, sort them into Zip-Loc bags, and send them to school with Bryan. I don’t understand how anyone can maliciously throw away this money for our schools. Is it laziness?
 There is a considerate woman in our town that has organized a clothes closet for Junior High kids in need. While most of my clothes are “old lady” styles (according to my daughter and nieces) I do have some stuff that the kids will be able to wear. Jeans, sweatshirts, nice T-shirts, and a jean jacket (they never go out of style) are in a bag and ready to be delivered.
 I’ve lost 55 lbs. Recently and have gone down a few sizes. My “old lady” clothes are getting cleaned, packed, and delivered to Encore, a resale shop in town that hires the mentally and physically handicapped. I do this in honor of my brother Randy who was blind and mentally challenged. Why throw something away when someone else can get use from it?
 There are a few things for Freecycle, a not-for-profit group of Internet folks that share their items as well as their needs. Usually I don’t offer items on the site (Freecycle.org, part of the Yahoo groups), but if I see that someone posts that they need a particular item, I contact them.
 DOVE, a domestic violence program for the abused, holds a garage sale during their biannual garden walk. There’s a stack of freshly washed decorative flowerpots, a triple-heart grapevine wreath, and other garden-related tidbits packed in a box. In the next few days I’ll have to drop it off at Wilma’s house.
 Mom receives about 12 subscriptions each month. After she finishes reading the magazines, she passes them on to me. My daughter and I read them; I tear off the address labels, and then drop them off at the nursing home. Birds and Blooms, Time, Newsweek, Star, National Geographic, Better Homes and Gardens, and many more give the elderly and their guests something to enjoy. I hope they recycle them when they are done!
 Times have been tough for my daughter and her family so I have a tendency to purchase extra groceries when they are on sale and share them with her. I delivered some goodies this morning. Gabe was thrilled with the Pop-Tarts.
 As an ex-employee of Community Action, I know that there is need for extra food in many households in our area. They also receive my surplus groceries (Totino’s Pizzas were on sale for 74 cents a while back, so I filled the freezer.) I ask for extra IGA paper grocery bags and save them, as well as plastic bags from the local Mart store, for the girls to pack groceries from the food pantry for those in need. It helps the environment as well as helping the indigent. Unfortunately, it also fills up my sunroom.
 In a few years my grandson Gabe will be attending the local preschool. They collect used ink cartridges and old cell phones to help fund projects. There’s also a book in the bag that I had gotten from a garage sale for the teacher. It gives ideas on bulletin board designs, games, and learning activities that I think Mrs. Miller will enjoy.
 I have a bag of goodies for mom and dad sitting in the closet. When I see them on Sunday I’ll bring it to them. There’s a bag of diabetic candy for their very helpful neighbor Jerry, some paperwork that I need them to sign, and a few other odds and ends. If I get to the bread store I’ll also pick up a few of the thin buns for them.
 I have a bag of stuff for Erin’s house. It holds pink paper cups that she can use for Lari’s birthday party this weekend as well as Jaden’s toothbrush and toothpaste that he left her last weekend.
 In May I will be leading the Garden Club in making gazing globes out of bowling balls. There’s four big balls rolling around in the van and stacks of chipped dishes on the countertop, waiting to go through the dishwasher. I’ll still need to pick up the grout and other supplies to do the balls, print out directions for everyone to follow along, and collect the other two bowling balls that are currently residing in my gardens. I’m also the hostess for the night so bake up a bunch of goodies and make a fruit platter for nibbling. I think I’ll also take a bottle of red wine and some lemonade as the beverages. More clutter, I know.
 Alana is getting married in October and has planned a Halloween-theme wedding. Her old bedroom is filled with totes, boxes and bags of after-season sales of Halloween outfits (for the people that want to get dressed up for the costume reception), hundreds of skulls and other decorations, clear crystal candle and votive holders, and various designs of clear glass candy jars. There will be a Candy Bar where guests can fill their bags with dozens of different types of confections. The kids will love it. (Some day that room will be a guest room/office/craft room.)
 Easter will be held here. I have cut WAY back on the amount of eggs that I fill and hide, but they still take up lots of room.
 With three, almost four, grandsons, I have enough toys to sink a ship. Added to that is the high chair, two black children’s chairs for the dining room table, two child-size rocking chairs, and countless other baby-minded items and furniture. The kids have a blast and old Grandma here doesn’t mind cleaning up after them…for now.
 I currently have dial-up Internet service, but have high hopes of someday finding affordable high speed Internet. At that time I will sell many of my garage sale finds on E-bay. In the meantime they are stacked, along with Alana’s wedding goodies, in her old bedroom.
 The sunroom leaks like a sieve. It’s raining even as I type, so there are five large Rubbermaid containers catching the water that drips in. It’s supposed to rain for most of this next week so walking through the room will be a challenge.
 There are three cats and two Siberian huskies that live in the house. Need I say more?
 My husband is a slob, a real Jack Kluggman type of guy. (Wasn’t he the messy one from The Odd Couple?) Even though I am considered a housewife, I get very, very tired of pick up after him.

I realize the last few items that I have listed are things that don’t really match the rest of the excuses for my clutter. I can give more of the boys’ toys to Encore to help save room, give up on my E-bay wish and donate the collections, find new homes for the expensive and time-consuming animals (okay, I couldn’t really do that), teach my husband how to clean up after himself (tried to for years), and stop spending money on extra groceries and stuff for other people so that I can afford to have the roof leak fixed, therefore eliminating the whole Rubbermaid mess during rainy season… but I just can’t.

Instead, I will continue to deliver as much as I can to everyone that I can, ignore the piles of “stuff” that will all eventually go to a new home, and frantically hide boxes and bags in my bedroom (and close the door tightly) each time guests come over…. especially my wonderful and clutter-free sister Shannon.

Remember, there is need in this world. Please do your share to help. Oh, and if you have any spare time, I could use a hand with deliveries!

shel

2011 New Plant Introductions

Each year I look forward to the announcement of the new plants that will be introduced for that gardening season. I have never been disappointed in the wide variety of perennials, annuals, vegetables, or trees/shrubs that have been offered. This year was no exception. Here are a few of the most interesting introductions.

Echinacea 'Guava Ice' - I love echniacea, and the interesting color combination sounds too good to pass up. This flower is advertised as having enormous double orangish-pink (or guava colored) blooms.

Echinacea 'Hot Summer' - This cone flower opens yellowish-orange, matures to a deep orange, and then, as it peaks, turns deep red. Very interesting.

Calibrachoa 'Blackberry Punch' - This tiny petunia is very dramatic with its coloring...deep violet-purple edges surround inky black centers which make the yellow eye jump.

Petunia 'Phantom' - This petunia is toted as having black flowers with a perfect yellow star shape in the center. It could be interested when planted in a basket with 'Blackberry Punch'.

Hosta 'Cherry Tomato' - I am a lover of hosta, with over 200 varieties residing happily in my shade-filled yard. This hosta is a mini with long, narrow lance-like leaves. They are yellow to creamy white with green, and have red on the lower part of the petiole and up the back.

Peony 'Bartzella' - 10 years ago I planted my first tree peony and I've never looked back. If you've never planted one, DO IT NOW. You won't regret the amazing flowers. 'Bartzilla' is a cross between the regular garden-variety herbacious peony and tree peopny. The gigantic flower is bright yellow and has a sweet/spicy scent. The bloom of this plant has the qualities of a tree peony; the leaves are those of the herbacious variety.

Crabtree 'Ruby Tears' - Weeping trees hold a special place in my heart. Combine the weeping form of this small tree along with the pink blooms and dark red fruit that stays on well into winter, and you definitely have a winning specimen tree for the garden.

For more new plant introductions, go to Goodsearch.com, enter the charity of your choice, then search "2011 new plant introductions." You'll not only get a ton of information, you'll also be giving free money to your favorite charity!

shel

Electricity, My Love

Electricity, oh Electricity, how much I love you!

You never know just how dependent you are on something until you have to do without it. Yesterday our electricity was out for approximately seven hours thanks to the blizzard that central Illinois was blessed with.

Bryan woke up, crying hysterically, at 4:10 a.m. It was blacker than black in the house and I ran into the walls on more than on occasion as I stumbled down the hallway to get to him. I never would have imagined that it was able to be this dark. Usually I walk around the house at night without turning on the lights. I go to the bathroom three or four times a night, get up and get a drink, or check on the stove (did I remember to turn that burner off?) at least once.

I did a quick head count and figured out exactly WHY it is so light in here at night. (I never realized it was light until I had to do without these helpers!) The telephone has two red lights that stay on, the computer screen has a dash light and the monitor has one as well. The glow of the clock radio and the clock on the oven add to the illumination. There is also a pole light at the end of our long, long driveway that actually has enough power to shine into the dorm window above the door and through the gaps in the vertical blinds.

I couldn't heat anything up in the microwave or on the stove, nor could I safely open the refrigerator or freezer doors. The furnace wouldn't work, and I couldn't flush the toilets because I have well water, and the pump wouldn't work.

I never realized how important a part that electricity played in my life. Like many people, I took something that is important to me for granted.

Electricity, I am so glad that you are once again part of my life. Please don't leave me again.

Stay warm, everyone.

shel

Home Grown Tomatoes or My Love of the Beef Master

Here it is, near the end of January (and awfully close to the beginning of winter) and I have a craving that can't be appeased. I desperately want to go out the sliding doors, across the deck, through the gate and over to my rather small and unruly garden so that I can pick a tomato. I wouldn't bother to wash it; instead, I would wipe it quickly across my t-shirt and take a big, messy bite.

My favorite garden tomato is the Beef Master. This tomato has the kind of face that only a mother (or tomato freak like me) could love; uneven and creased, often with tomato pieces protruding like a Jimmy Durante nose. These extremely heavy fruits are chalk-full of meat, making it a great variety capable of fulfilling a multitude of tasks.

I've used Beef Masters (aka Beefmaster, one word) to eat straight from the garden, on a BLT, diced and mixed with olive oil, mozzarella chunks, onions and basil, and made into juice. It's fabulous made into sauce to be frozen, grilled between a slice of garlic bread and provolone cheese, or cut daisy-like and filled with cottage cheese.

The downfalls of this variety? It's susceptible to disease, which can be somewhat controlled by rotating your crop, practicing good garden hygiene (clean up all dropped leaves and fruits) and watering at root level. The enormous fruits also have a tendency to weigh down the fragile plant branches, causing them to split or break. I use a good support system for each plant to help dodge that potentially fatal bullet.

Yes, I have a love-affair with my garden tomatoes. I eagerly away summer so that I can have a true garden delight. I'm not about to cheat with those mushy, mealy store-bought Jezebels!

shel

Happy (Gardening) New Year

Oh, it's that time of year again. I've done as much as I can with my houseplants (have you ever heard of killing houseplants with kindness? I have the tendency to do that!) and am now chomping at the bit to get my hands in the good old earth. Luckily I have a few seed and plant catalogs to look through so that I can keep my sanity.

Every year I flip through the pages, scanning the pretty pictures but not reading names or descriptions. Then I go back through the catalog and read each word, circling the items that I think I'd like to order. My third time through the catalog is a reality check...I draw a line through the items that I really SHOULDN'T order (I'm in zone 5b, but there are some zone 6 plants I yearn for!) My fourth, but probably not last, time through the catalog I will actually fill out the order form. Money is tight, so I know that I can't REALLY order everything from each magazine. Instead I stick the order form to the refrigerator and hope that my husband will take the hint and order the goodies for me. (It never happens.)

Today I received my Gardening How-To magazine. It has an article entitled "New Varieties 2011" (go to www.gardeningclub.com for more information.) Hydrangea macrophylia 'Fantasia' is one shrub that I absolutely MUST have. The first big plus is that this shrub blooms on both old and new wood, much like the Endless Summer series. Each cluster of flowers is covered with a variety of colors ranging from light pint to apricot-mauve. The picture shows a close-up of a bloom that looks almost striped with the different colors...just beautiful.

There are two interesting new annuals for 2011. Calibrachoa Superbells Blackberry Punch, which has vibrant magenta flowers with almost-black throats is a must-have. It will look great planted in a hanging basket with another new introduction, Petunia Black Velvet/Black Cat (Ball Seed.) This full-sized petunia shimmer with a deep almost black color. The mounding habit of this petunia combined with the trailing Blackberry Punch would be stunning.

It's only 45 minutes until 2011. I still have time to salivate over the new coneflower introductions and welcome in the new year. I hope you all have a safe and wonderful night. Dream well...spring will be here before we know it.

shel

Up since 5 a.m. assembling platters of cookies and candy. Today will continue to be a busy day with running, shopping for last minute gifts and food, and delivering the Xmas platters. Don't get me wrong...I'm not complaining. I absolutely love the business of Christmas.

At this time of year the people in the stores and on the streets seem much more friendly and compassionate. I love that I can say "hello" to folks as they linger with me in the toy aisle, and a conversation ensues regarding the child for whom we're shopping.

My wish is that it could be more like Christmas all year long...the caring and sharing are amazing. With that in mind, please remember to smile at your sales associates, stay off of your cell phone while you're paying for something, be friendly toward your fellow shoppers, and be generous with your donations of commercial items, money and, especially time.

Merry Christmas, my cyber readers. God bless.

shel

Catching Up

It has been way too long since I have blogged. I need to make it a regular part of my routine once again. Perhaps that would calm my mind.

K-Mart was a big disappointment today. Mom got a pair of house slippers for dad and the price rang up higher. Unfortunately, I didn't think about it until after mom had already used her debit card. The sales lady ran back to check the sale price and when she returned she said "No, the $7.49 price is just for boys' Route 66 house slippers." I went back to the shoe section with her and showed her the sale sign, and she agreed; yep, the slippers were on sale. She took me up to guest services and told the very busy lady there that the shoes were on sale, and that mom needed a refund. The woman was rather snotty and argued the point. We waited and waited, but she woman kept telling everyone that she was too busy to help them, so we finally left. K-Mart service sucks. This isn't the first time that we have had a problem with incorrect pricing, either.

Bryan's Christmas program was last night. Chester-East Lincoln School did a wonderful CHRISTMAS show (not a generic holiday show, as is politically correct now.) They sang and did some acting, and many of them, including Bryan, did a little nose picking. At least his didn't go into his mouth! One of the songs that they sang was about Martha Stewart. It was hysterical! I suggested that Jessie send it in to Martha, but she's reluctant. (Yes, I'm a Martha fan.)

Tonight was Jaden's Christmas program. It was short, sweet, and to the point; not to mention adorable! The preschool kids were fabulous. After the program we had cookies and punch and visited. It was a very enjoyable evening. This program, too, celebrated Christmas and was not just a winter program.

It's 12:43 a.m. and I still can't get to sleep. Time to have a cup of hot chocolate with a shot; perhaps that will calm my mind.

Sleep well, my cyber friends. Dream of the magical time yet to come.

shel