Finding Flowers

As I left home this morning I remembered to take buggy up on the side lawn to get a shot of my sunflower. The soil came from my daughter and her compost pile is under a bird feeder. There is another one started by the Mother's Day plant she put together for me. I hope it grows tall like the one up back!

Here I go down the road to check on the mullein that is growing its bud stalk. There is something special about this plant. (especially the leaves!) Do research and see what you can find! This is what I have known since I was young: Many tribes employed the use of mullein leaf tea for coughs, colds and rheumatism. They considered it to be analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic and expectorant. The astringent and demulcent properties of the leaf tea were found useful in cases of diarrhea. Civil war soldiers, cowboys and Indians all used the soft leaves for toilet paper!   Mature plants can grow 5—10 ft. in height!

As I travel I see many types of farm equipment at rest. It's early in the day. 

The first thing I see is that the little blue spruce tree is again being taken over with the wild sweet pea! It is a pathetic looking tree all bare and surely dying before they overcome it each year.

AND....They are everywhere alongside the dirt roads!

I came across a rose bush with very small blooms. Colorful and quaint!

The Bindweed is everywhere!

And there are wild roadside bright orange lilies without the stripe on the petals.

The elderberry bushes are full. Soon there will be tons of berries for jellies and juices!

I have no clue as to whether this is a misplaced peony plant but there are many small blooms hiding in the weeds along the edge of the road.

Even though my buggy is very quiet, I still haven't seen any critters except one dead snake! Maybe I should venture further!

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Visitors and Manips

I had a friend and his lady stop by and we had a great visit. They rode in on his 1983 Beemer and we had a wonderful time getting to know each other a bit. She is a real sweetheart. He has been here before and he wanted to show her the cabin and the area as she is from Canada.

I have been working on a log photo that a friend from NY sent me and my visitor had just what I was looking for -  a dancer graphic for the log's interior. 

I created a picture of her and then the log creation. Really I should have started this earlier in life. It is fun to do!

Well the cut-down tree left a nice start for my imagintion!

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What do you think? Do I need to be sent to LaLa Land?

Ready for More

I love it when there is activity on the lake. With the 4th of July weekend coming soon, I'm sure there will be much more and that is a good thing! My neighbors took a boat ride the other evening. There are about 4 or 5 vessels here like this one. They are all battery-run. Quiet.

Last evening my grandson and his partner were able to launch the old boat and the battery has been charging since early Spring so I knew they would have a nice trip out. They caught some bass (threw them back as is the current 'rule' here) and she even caught one that they have never hooked before — a Rock Bass. They are small. For more information please click on the link below.

Rock Bass Info.

I took my buggy to a yard sale at the neighboring lake and bought this table. The legs fold under for storage! The seller was accommodating by delivering it later that day. It will be really nice on the porch when we picnic and I can also put my feet up when I sit on the swing and read! $10.00 well spent.

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Learning Along the Trip

Another buggy ride! The daisies and common ditch lilies are the flower of the week today!

Next I went to see the huge Catalpa tree that grows at a home at the neighboring lake. WOW! It sure is impressive. In my picture I see a bear, do you?

The homeowner told me he will clean up his porch and lawn with a leaf blower. He also gave me a fallen blossom to inspect so I did a closeup shot of it. How beautiful and delicate it is!

(I laid it on the black buggy seat to get the above image!)

And now the mystery plant. It is NOT asparagus and after a lot of research I cannot yet identify it. Perhaps after the buds open (IF they do??) I will give it a name.

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Transformation

From my original very childish computer drawing to a stained glass chicken. The process is fun and the options are overwhelming!

Cluck!

Can you see me now??

This is yellow hawkweed...

Homesteading, My Version

Today I planted the spearmint clippings that I have been rooting in glasses of water in the window for about two weeks. That was E-Z-E! I like to add fresh leaves to my tea.

I used my vintage tool to dig and spread because I'm afraid to toddle up the ramp and into the shed to get trowels that I know are there.

Then I proceeded to decant the chive vinegar that has been sitting in the dark cupboard for over two weeks. I used a plastic strainer with a funnel to put it in the small tall glass bottle and found a cork to fit. It is good to have for salad dressings and several other dishes. 

It is satisfying to watch the ferns, that my mother had planted so many years ago, grow. They sure are pretty. The hosta is also doing very well.

I'm finished with my projects and a little porch sitting is now in order. Please tap on image to view larger.