Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Update on Trial Plants
Most of the plants are doing well that I got from Nebraska. The phlox is the only one that is lagging in its growth - at least 2 of the 3 are kind of spindly.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Summer is Here
I've started my summer list of books. Though I've been reading through the year it's seems appropriate to make a list of the books I read in the summer.
Just finished another Maisie Dobbs novel by Jacqueline Winspear. It's a mystery series that takes place in England in the years after World War I. A friend in my book club recommended the series to me and this is the fourth one I've read though the previous one was out of order. Unlike some authors that have a hard time updating the new reader to a series if it isn't read from the start, Winspear does a good job weaving in the information about the protagonist without overburdening you with old facts. Overall they are good quick reads.
Just finished another Maisie Dobbs novel by Jacqueline Winspear. It's a mystery series that takes place in England in the years after World War I. A friend in my book club recommended the series to me and this is the fourth one I've read though the previous one was out of order. Unlike some authors that have a hard time updating the new reader to a series if it isn't read from the start, Winspear does a good job weaving in the information about the protagonist without overburdening you with old facts. Overall they are good quick reads.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Retirement
It is official. I am retired after being in the education profession for the last 20 some years, 17 of which were counted toward my retirement from the school system. All in all I've put in 37 years if you calculate from when I graduated from college. My "stay at home mom" years I include as employment even though I wasn't paid. Now I'm retired with me as the boss, me to decide what I do or don't do.
On this first day, I didn't sleep in because the weather is incredibly hot. I have the sprinkler going on the garden and will be moving it around before the heat starts in. I have garden tasks to do which I enjoy, a good book to read when it gets too hot to work outside, and my first volunteer job which I agreed to do with retirement in mind back in February: editing the community newsletter.
When summer vacation would start in the past I would mentally count off the days until I had to return to school. This morning I started that count and then realized not necessary anymore. As Dan says "It's all summer vacation now."
On this first day, I didn't sleep in because the weather is incredibly hot. I have the sprinkler going on the garden and will be moving it around before the heat starts in. I have garden tasks to do which I enjoy, a good book to read when it gets too hot to work outside, and my first volunteer job which I agreed to do with retirement in mind back in February: editing the community newsletter.
When summer vacation would start in the past I would mentally count off the days until I had to return to school. This morning I started that count and then realized not necessary anymore. As Dan says "It's all summer vacation now."
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Monday, June 21, 2010
New Faces for the First Day of Summer
Easter Lilies
A new day lily. I planted this last year and can't remember if it bloomed or its name.
Another new one. It did bloom for bloom day but its so beautiful I had to show it off again.
One of my favorites that came to me from my old house by way of my Dad who had it growing at his house and gave me a division to plant here. This one grows outside Dan's study window.
Blooming parsley.
Purple coneflowers that the ground hog seems to love. I had to increase the height of the chicken wire enclosure because the ground hog had eaten the leaves and I didn't want it to get the flowers next.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Friday, June 18, 2010
Countdown
3 days to go!!!
Last Friday!
Last full day of school!
Last school spirit day!
Last day with classes of students! No more math classes!
Last Friday!
Last full day of school!
Last school spirit day!
Last day with classes of students! No more math classes!
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Monday, June 14, 2010
Sunday, June 13, 2010
June Bloom Day
Just a few of the blooms in my garden. It's weeding and mulching time but as I'm still working that is consigned to the weekends. I hope to get more accomplished this weekend. Check back here on other days for future views of my garden.
You can see other blooms at May Dreams Gardens
Harvest Monday
The last of the snow peas. Some of these needed to be shelled.
I know it was early to pull these onions. Some of them got knocked over by the peas so I knocked over the rest of them. I pulled them because I needed the room to plant peppers and eggplant. I have more onions still growing in another bed.
See other harvests at Daphne's Dandelions
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Retirement Gift
I received this lovely child angel as a retirement gift from my school last night. Right now it's on the hearth but later this summer after I've weeded and mulched it will go into the perennial garden as a reminder of the angels I taught in my career.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Day Lily Time
We've been through Iris time and Foxglove time, now it's Day Lily time in the garden.
Weeding and mulching awaits me this weekend.