End Of The Season Tasks
I’d been gazing outside at all that needs to be done; those end of the season tasks that come around every year.
Yesterday I took my walker along with the garden seat out to the middle of the yard and sat down to work for a while.
Those End Of The Season Tasks:
I trimmed back the zinnias, because they were too tall and falling over. Then I realized that they’d really had their last hurrah, and started pulling them up by the roots.
I snipped off the last zinnias to bring inside to enjoy for a bit.
The tall cannas with flowers had about four stalks either falling over or already on the ground. So I trimmed those back.
All end of the season tasks. Kind of sad really. Beginning to say goodbye to your garden and “I guess I’ll see you next year.”
I sat on my garden seat and pulled at some of the monkey grass around the big rock near the cypress tree. I’d rather not have that little section of monkey grass taking up space there.
I would much rather plant something else in that spot.
It felt good to do garden work. Somehow it always calms me, and when I go inside it’s with dirt under my fingernails. But with a feeling of having taken care of things that were on my to-do list.
I have garden gloves, but I always end up taking them off. But I guess I like to feel the dirt under my hands. To feel the garden plants with my hands.
When I went inside, it was with the knowledge that I’ve now begun those end of the season tasks.
A Neighborly Chat:
Then Peggy came over and we sat on the patio and talked for a few hours.
Ivy was laying at the patio door for awhile watching us.
But Ivy wanted her mama to come in. And as soon as I did, she led me straight to her empty food bowl.
So I took care of Ivy’s needs. She gobbled too much food down and promptly threw up.
Ivy clings to me more these days. When I’ve been outside for what she considers too long, I sit and hum to relax her. To let her know I’m right there with her and everything is okay.
She’s secure in the knowledge that she’s loved. When a neighbor comes in the patio door, Ivy knows she will get a treat.
She’ll sit next to the blue and white bowl on the coffee table and wait for them to bring the treat to it.
The Mama & Nine Pups That Were Dumped:
I don’t know what’s going to happen to the nine puppies and their mama that were dumped here. There’s been talk that the apartment complex owners may set up a foster program for them.
I sure hope so, because they were taken to a place that’s virtually a kill shelter.
How could someone be so heartless as to abandon a mama and her 9 new babies next to a dumpster? And in broad daylight? They’re horrible and irresponsible people.
My Coffee Bar Has Some Updates:
I’m giving you a tease view of the newly decorated coffee bar area. If I changed up dishes in the kitchen shelves, then I also had to do something different with the coffee bar.
Accomplishments:
I like to change things up. And although I’m not as fast-footed as I used to be, I can still manage to get things done. To get things accomplished.
It’s a wonderful feeling. To know you’ve accomplished something you really wanted or needed to do.
Then it feels like everything is right with the world.
I might try to go to a garden nursery soon. One that is close to the parking lot. A small one I could get around in. Peggy said she might go with me.
Because I want to plant pansies. I haven’t planted pansies for a few years now. And I’ve missed their sweet little pixie faces.
I want to plant the pansies where I can see them from the patio door.
Peggy and John are talking about putting up their Halloween decorations.
I don’t have Halloween decor, but I know from last year that John puts on a big display. And I enjoy seeing his.
Peggy lives across the sidewalk from John and shares his love of Halloween. So there will be more of a Halloween display in our little area this year.
I will show you more of the kitchen early next week. Stay tuned!
I sure hope something can be done to save that mama dog and her puppies! It makes me ill, that someone could be so cruel! I’m glad you had such a nice day, tending your garden and visiting with your friend. I can’t wait to see the rest of your kitchen and your neighbors’ Halloween decorations. It’s a little cumbersome to set up all my Halloween decorations. I have a lot of them, and my grandkids aren’t here often enough to justify the effort. I will usually put up a few in the house, for us to enjoy, but I mostly concentrate on outside, so the neighborhood kids can enjoy them. Your little Ivy is such a sweetheart. She loves her mama, and I know the feeling is mutual. What did you decide to do about your bathroom grab bars?
We always have so much yard clean-up to do in fall and spring. Our potted veggies are just about done, so time to dump those big planters (we will compost) and clean the pots out and store them back in the garage. I will soon be starting to cut down certain perennials and sow grass seed in bare areas. The herb garden in the back of the house is an unsightly mess. I’m going to have Brian dig out the mint (I planted that in the ground many years ago instead of in pots – big mistake) and as for the other herbs, I don’t know if we’ll replant those elsewhere or what. I wish we had some kind of raised bed. The last fall yard chore to be done will be to dump the potted perennials and clean all those pots out and store in the garage. Brian’s big fall job is always cleaning out the gutters from all the fallen leaves. We are surrounded by so many trees that he has to do that job about 4x in the fall.
You have given me a good reminder to get my balcony and front door ready for fall. Today since I was washing clothes I decided to take out some in my closet that are tired looking. I also needed the hangers. You do sound happy in your community.
I am.
It seems your current complex provides a greater sense of community. It’s a wonderful thing to sit on a porch with a friendly neighbor and talk about life.
Yes, and to see other patios as well with neighbors coming outside.
Oh, Ivy is so sweet! So glad you have nice neighbors who stop to visit. It lifts your spirits to spend some time talking to friends. Have a good weekend everyone!
Yes, it is wonderful!
A wonderful way to spend your day! Tasks accomplished and a visit with a neighbor/friend. All sounds blissful.
It is. I know you’re hurting over losing Cooper, Darlene. I’m thinking about you.
Yes, I am hurting very much over my sweet Cooper. I know that you understand, and I appreciate that you’re thinking about me.
Garden clean-up chores, don’t get me started! The weather has cooled down, the humidity has dropped and I have been invigorated. So nice to sleep for the past several days with windows open at night under a comforter! Thursday and yesterday I spent cutting down and then chopping up two spruce shrubs that had been growing on either side of my front stoop (it’s only 4′ x 6′ so I usually don’t call it a porch). I then rearranged the planters out front, changed the location of the shepherd’s hooks and added lanterns with battery operated candles on timers. They are now set to turn on at sundown and light up for 4 hours. It looks different but also still familiar because the planters are the same, and now the front door light and the mail box are no longer being overtaken by one of the spruces. The front stoop is breathing once again. The garden beds have been slowly getting cleaned, but we may have another month left of warm weather because of how much the climate here has changed, so nothing is being cut down/pulled out yet other than the spent stalks of the irises and day lilies. The front lawn needs to be cut but I’m feeling lazy today, it’s beautiful out, 72, a nice breeze, and dew point below 50, I’m in Heaven! I am sitting in my Shezebo stitching up giant tears in the mosquito net curtains. They are 7 years old and worn out, but they still have some life in them through the end of October. I will roll them up and stash them away for “just in case” and thus, sitting for the past 2 plus hours stitching up the long tears in the netting at the bottom. I bought new netting to put up next spring. Some critter or other must have wandered into the Shezebo and couldn’t figure how to get out, even though there are zippered openings on all 4 sides and I left them open at the bottom at least a foot. I have probably another hour of stitching the long rips in the netting before I’m finished. I am being entertained though, a couple of blue jays have been taking turns bathing in one of the bird baths that I can see out of my Shezebo. The large red-headed woodpecker has also returned!
Jan, you always sound so energized! You must be younger than I am. Or maybe in better physical shape. I am always amazed at all that you get done!
I am doing the same thing here in Wi….some plants are doing a last hurrah…geraniums are actually going to bloom again..we had a family reunion last weekend and some things were still pretty…my sister in law from Jenks was here…she froze up here in Wi…I am still exhausted but we are all getting older so it was worth it…leaves are falling slowly…the season is changing…time flies ..one day at a time 💕🍂🍁
Yes, one day at a time. I cherish every day of fall weather.
Brenda, sounds like everything is right with you and your life right now. It is wonderful to read your blog today, and hear the “happy” in your words. I am so glad to hear you are getting out in your garden this fall. It has been a long time coming for you, that’s for sure.
Wishing you more happy days ahead in your yard. Hope you can find the pansies. I too love their little faces, and I have many pressed in an old dictionary.
Have a nice weekend. Hugs from WI.
Oh, you have them pressed in a dictionary! That’s wonderful. I need to try that. Wonder what happened to my old dictionaries? Got lost along the way I guess.