Equal to the task

I got off to a rough start this morning. First of all, I slept until 6am, not a good sign. Totally threw off my routine and didn’t give me enough time to get my foot flexed before it was time to walk. I try to stay to a schedule with my walk because of the heat. When the weatherman says it is going to be 98-100 he means we are going to START the day at 75-80 so if we want to do anything outside, we had better do it early. I try to heed that advice and be headed down the driveway no later than seven.

I wasn’t quite “equal to the task” this morning, but shuffled down and back anyway. Not much to see and the wind was blowing so I knew I wouldn’t even attempt any insect photos. I came back to the yard a little “down and out”, but was revived by the sight of this lovely althea blossom. Thanks to my friend Judy for the gift of this last year!

Also pleased to see, and SMELL, the first gardenia blooms! I love them so much and always bring some in for the table and counters.

 

I worked in the garden for about thirty minutes after my walk. New blossoms on the peppers and eggplant. Two tiny banana peppers growing bigger each day. The tomatoes have stabilized after transplanting. Everything that I planted from seed is up and showing. I picked three radishes. Yes, I’m letting my lettuce go to seed. I love to see it bloom and the insects like it.

BTW, I had a wonderful visit with mom’s sister, Aunt Betty, yesterday. (My dad also has a sister named Betty, but she lives in CA.) We visited the Center Hill cemetery near Kenefic so I could take some photos for Find A Grave . The little cemetery is very well kept and there is a small church building on the property. Then we had a delightful lunch that included squash and beans fresh from the garden. Obviously some of my relatives are better gardeners than yours truly!! After lunch we visited with the horses. Betty also owns the llama that I’ve photographed several times.

 

Aunt Betty has a martin house and I had almost forgotten how wonderful the sound of martins can be. We had a house at our old garden, but left it there since the birds were established. I want to get a new one now!

While I was cooking dinner last night a mockingbird came to visit. I took these photos from the kitchen’s sliding glass door. Then a scissortail landed on the fence. You have to wonder about someone who is alternately cooking and taking bird photos. Strange woman…

  

Hope you have a wonderful day! I’m going to paint a little wooden fairy house for my garden. I have a history of disappointing my garden fairies, and I am determined to make amends. My little niece Jocelyn says that if I’m nice to my garden fairies and create a good home for them, they will bring me gifts. Well, I put the first house in a low place and it flooded. A stray dog got the second one, and my garden fairies have been camping out in a hollow tree for about three months! No wonder they don’t bring me gifts! Today I will create a worthy home for them!!

Be equal to the task at hand…even if you struggle a bit.   

Comments

[Katrina]

If you are getting up before 6, you are making your own coffee while you are here...

[Megan]

I forgot about scissor tails! So much has fallen out of usage in my brain. My children will LOVE birdwatching at your house.

Can't wait to show Jocelyn your fairy house email in the morning.

Your flowers are beautiful! We're just watching our first rose buds start to unfurl. Clematis, honeysuckle, peonies. Yep, it's "spring" here in June.