THE JUNGLE

I love to visit my friend's home in the country.  She lives in a renovated, country, school house.   I stopped by this week to take a look at what she calls her "jungle."  Some flowers she and her husband planted, but there are also those that are volunteer. 

The fertile farmland of Tazewell and Mason counties is known as the Imperial Valley of the Midwest,  producing large amount of produce raised in sandy soil with irrigation from the Mahomet Aquifer.

 

Myrtle and Fred (I made up the names) have a beautiful garden with decorations tucked into corners and nooks and crannies.  What is a cranny?  Is it bigger than a nook or smaller than a crevice?

 

My friend rescues kitties.  This one is pretty as a picture.

 

 

 

Here is Myrtle's turtle.

 

 

 

 Gurgle, gurgle.

 

The yellow plant stand we found at Goodwill last spring.

 

Myrtle has a way of arranging things.

 

 
The steps are decorated.
 

 

 

Is it real?
It looks real.  Tweetie.

Where did she get all this stuff?  I love it!

This was my bench and it matches her house perfectly!  The $20 I got matches my wallet perfectly.

                                                                    Rural Americana.

 
 
 
 

What?  No flowers here?  You missed a spot.

 

 

Fred, hold that flower still, please.  Got it.

 

The best part of my visit was after dark.  Yes, I am always trying to take pictures just as the sun sets.  Myrtle and Fred's yard is full of solar lights.  When I left their house the solar lights began to light up like fireflies.  It is a party waiting to happen in Mason County. 

Thanks for the visit.

GARAGE SALES

The annual Springfield Road garage sale was this weekend. 

 I needed a little retail therapy, so I went.

Guess what I paid for this patio table?  Come on, take a guess.

 

 

$5.00  Can you believe it?

All it needed was a little scrubbing, and a rinse with the hose.  Look at the shine!

 

Let's eat!

Oh, and I met the nicest lady named Kelly.  She used to work for the state and drove heavy equipment.  We hit it off.  She loves rusty things and tractors.

                                 Guess what I paid for this mail box?  Come on, take a guess.

                                                                             $1.00

 

She threw the fake flowers in for free.

I love garage sales.  As long as I don't have to be the one having the garage sale.

 

Please drop me a note to my new rusty mail box:

 

Mary

c/o Rusty Nail Garden

Last House on the Left EOR  (end of road)

Pekin, IL  61554

 

PLANTING THE PIN OAK AND BIRCH TREES

My friend from work was getting rid of these cement blocks.

Well, I can always use some blocks to prop open a door, block off a hole, or for a few reps of weight lifting.  25 pounders (not quarter pounders)

 

 

Of course, the moment I leave home to pick up the tree is when they dropped off the blocks.

Sorry about that gang.  I really would have  helped you, honest.

 

So this is the little Pin Oak tree I picked up.

 

And this is the little Birch tree I picked up.

 

 

 I wish I could have planted the Pin Oak right in front of the picket fence, but the water line is there.

The Birch was chosen for this spot, because it will grow quickly and shade our sitting bench by the pond.

 

                                              See the shade!  It has already grown a foot!

This Annabelle Hydrangea should help balance the arrangement.  It will take the focus away from the pond.

This winter I have to attack the pasture.  I have a plan.  We'll talk about it later.

 

I am tired and my shovel is dull.

I know I am dull too.  Maybe I should learn some new jokes or quotes to sharpen my witt.

 

I like this quote:  Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but some abuse the privilege.

 

ANOTHER TRELLIS

 

I cam across this box in a garden shop in Door County.

It was marked down from $40 to $17. 

 

 

 

 The box was sealed with tape and stapled.  There was only a picture on the box.
I decided to take a chance on it and gave the lady my money.

 

 

At home, I opened the box. The five foot trellis has to be put together and the instructions are in English for a change.  It looks simple and the trellis is really nice pvc..  So far it is a bargain.

 

 

I put the short slats in first.

Then the 3 long slats fit into the holes in the short slats.

I tapped them into placed with the mallet.

Hm, one is too long.  What did I do wrong?

 I took the long slat out.

 

There, it goes in the middle.

I put the pointy things on top and the leg extensions on the sides.

Hm, now what is wrong?  Oh, the feet go on the other end...........it is almost dark.
I am going to get this done if it takes until midnight in the candlelight.

I DID IT!  It is now dark, once again, and we are going to Starbucks for a treat.
Nothing like a double shot to calm the nerves.

Gardening is so relaxing. 

 

DOOR COUNTY GARDENS, ETC.

Here are some shots of our trip to Door County Wisconsin.

I always get new ideas by visiting the gardens there.

 

 

 

Raised beds.

 

 

                               Jazz slept on the back seat most of the way.

                              After the show we got a hug from Kathy.

 

Leaving the auditorium we saw this on the wall.

The local second grade kids filled in the blanks.  Read the next to the last one.

 

 

The Door County Bakery

Wonderful coffee and pastry.

 

 

 Bakery Delights:

Lemon Tart

 

Cherry Danish.

 

Flowers everywhere.

 

Wandering and meandering.

                     We took this picture at night, from just the right angle. 

                                                              

 

 

                                                  Garage sale!

  

Time to hop in our buggy and go home.

 

 

450 miles to go