Garden Explosion!

Just a few snaps from our Garden today...

Peony 

We only have one

But

It is going crazy with blooms!

It was supposed to be 

a very productive week 

in the Garden last week...

But the Wildfire Smoke situation

 was way beyond what my system could take.

I got this done last Monday

As you can see

We are building up beds as we go

with our cardboard acting as weed block

or as it appeared to be

very fun toys 

for the baby foxes to rip up

& drag all over

and I wouldn't have it any different...

The Summer Wine Nine Bark came into its own this year

Took a few years

but

worth the wait.

Humming Bird Loving the Irises

we love them too!

Cranesbill Geranium

Has become a full shrub for us here...

and 3 others have popped up for us in not so far off spots....

Free plants 

Thank Goodness!!!

There are other regions of garden bed building here

The process is going way too slow for me

especially not being able to be out in it last week...

We have propagations of plants from cuttings that are doing well...

There are some nice bits of colorful 

vertical interest...

And

We finally got our Mailbox!

after 7yrs

installed and functional

&

Giving me more thoughts on Landscaping for 

minimal

Low maintenance

scenarios around it...

Evergreen Groundcovers anyone...???

Anyway

Life is happening at lightspeed over here...

Posts may be intermittent while a few wrinkles 

get ironed out

lots of decisions that require

full attention and time.

Wish us luck!

x~J 

 

The Woods Have Come Alive (with Baby Foxes!)

 

What a surprise this week!!!

We have Babies!

These wee ones

are using our yard as a training/playground

sent an email to all the neighbors

to keep an eye out

Just in case they happen to pop down to the road etc...

So far they have stayed up near and behind the house

They are a painfully adorable thing to watch from the kitchen

whist I am making my Three Beverages to go with

my breks...

More about them later...

The false Lilly of The Valley is blooming...

So are the Lady Slippers...

Some grand stramash...

Spotted on one of my walks 

on the road...

If I weren't so Germ Minded...

I might have 

Maybe...

picked these up...

Back to the yard tho...

The Bittersweet was already leafy

and 

ready to conquer...

So, I suited up

put the tape to catch the ticks

around me ankles

and got stuck in...

3 hours of cutting

and

4 fifteen minute breaks later

90% done...

all of the harder woody stems

and

the bits that had climbed the trees I cut out

I can definitely

consider this a win...

next step is the weed block fabric

gravel

and stone for the new 

backyard patio...

plan is to have a nice place to sit

gather

eat

fire pit

lounge

and just rest ones eyes

from all of the wild foliage...

because 

unless you already knew this

nature will creep in 

unless you give it 

boundaries

&

We are 

all about the 

boundaries!

One of the plants I hope to add to the garden

that the new patio will look down into...

there will be a fountain as well...

Cannot wait!!!

We are going hunting for stone this week...

One of my Top of the Driveway patio views

while

taking the breaks

I really do understand 

now

why so many gardens have seating areas

like

lil rooms

here and there

why would you ever need more than one 

lil area to sit in?

Because gardening is so physically 

taxing

you need to sit

not only to 

enjoy

bit

to contemplate 

the space 

&

what to do next...

while you are in the building 

or maintanence

phase

you need 

to rest

take in the view

prevent injury

so you can keep gardening!

(and buying or propogating more plants!)

lol

Anyway

back to Fox Pups! 

Catching the big bugs that fly around the front porch light...

So adorable

Two nights in a row so far

They are just so small

Such lil hunters

This morning watching them

stalk each other

and

go after butterflies

it's like a 

Disney movie 

for Pete's sake!

Anyone grow up with

the movie

The Fox & The Hound

yeah I'm just living 

my dream here!

They were

Eating the wild strawberries

that I refuse to mow or pull

they multiply every year

along with the blueberries 

and 

raspberries

I bet they would love a few apple trees as well...

And just when we thought 

that the 

horrible amounts of ticks

this year 

with the cool Spring

that we 

are having

was turning us off

from living in the woods

These wee ones show up

and

make us fall in love 

with where we live 

all over again.

Hope you are all well

and finding 

your moments

and

things 

that make you 

fall in love

with 

your life again

x~J aka Painter LeFay

Blogmas???

VLOGMAS

Blogmas???

 Is that a thing? Like VLOGMAS? But blogs? Hmmmm… 

IMA DAY LATE THEN!!! lol

Anyway…

Scenes of Christmas past…

I was thinking of sorting through some decorations yesterday to start the festive month off… BUT

We had quite the storm the night before…

Lil concrete bunny 

Heavy but tossed to the ground!

I had to put the wreath the right way around… 

Where’s the pic of the wrong way tho…? 

Maybe the wind blew it down the other end of the blog…?

Flipped pot.

Tossed pot.

Had to move the bike

The bike that no one wants

Who has a twin 

Living in our cellar…

Oh the carnage!

Nature placed.

Holy Hell!

How much of this can I take!

Here it is!

You know what they say about 

A wreath facing the wrong way…

Log holder cover

Gone walkies.

Another pot done.

Two new leaning trees 

For me to chop on!

Do you see 

Twig trellis and arborvitae 

Reaching for each other 

In their moments of distress!

Don’t blow that ikea lantern!

It’s been in the family since 2016!

The lounge chair had it coming.

Always lazing about.

Spiffed.

Right as rain…

Maybe this lil one needs accompaniment?

Across the street there were several leaner trees 

All caught up in the trees next to them…

See!

The men with the biggest chainsaws came out in service!

To cut the smallest of trees, that could have killed somebody 

As they drove down the street.

Luckily no one was hurt…

And the crew that had just come through the week before to preemptively trim the dead standing just feet from these

Murder weapons…

 I guess maybe they weren’t wearing their glasses that day.

Right.

Lol

Funny but not.

Sorry 

But 

Not.

Oh well.

That’s all fodder for the whatever right…???

Let’s end on a Xmas note. 

Omg, Charli Girl from 2014!!!

No grey in her muzzle…

Ack! So cute.

Kk, so I’m rushing off to get some Christmas in our decor.

Deck the halls and presents for pretty girls, etc…

May your fire burn bright my friends!

x~J

Ps~ VLOGMAS has begun on my channel d’Youtube.

EEK! WHAT HAPPENED TO JUNE?!?!!!

oh haiiiiii!

we have been busy

& 

I have no idea where 

the whole month of june went!

heres some stuff that 

went on

& 

bloomed

&

changed!

potting bench!

video on the vlog

omg

I forgot the ramshackle shed looked like that!

I am crafting a better tool corral 

I will master the pile of useful things!

it almost looks intentional!

we built a new fire pit!

we built a lamp post planter!

I ate a popsicle!

outside!

in the sun!

the astilbe bloomed like crazy!

trying to set up a climbing rose situation

thanks to nantucket 

for the inspo!

the gifted smoke bush

it survived being in shock from its move

the leaves are poking through all over

and doubling in size by the day!

yay!!!

refining our lighting for night time yard fun

teehee!

while I can sneak it in

paint paint paint!!!

one coat down 

& 

trim caulk and second coat to go!

did someone mention PAINT

saving a couple of bucks for now

bronze & black knobs!

FTW

starting to explore the other half

of our property

& things are getting interesting!

early may!

& 

last year to now!

not everything survived to thrive

but

some new things popped up

that I wasn't aware were there

yay

and I promise that I won't let the time pass so long

and far between post next time

weeeeeeeeeee

kk

bye for now

check out The Worlds Worst Garden Vlog through my YouTube

may your days be filled with 

making things and ease of passage 

from one endeavor to

the next!

XOXO

~JM