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    T Tuesday: ladybug edition

    June 30, 2025 - By 

    Last week we figured out that the large tree that shades the deck was infested with aphids…ugh… I called around locally to see if anyone sold ladybugs which are a natural predator of the aphids. What better than to use nature to control nature instead of pesticides. Unfortunately I couldn’t find any place locally so I turned to the internet to order some.

    I ordered 1500 Ladybugs. I’ve linked them in case someone is interested.

    The instructions said to release them in stages…not all at once.

    I walked around the yard releasing some in various places to give enough space and feeding grounds to establish a colony.

    I’m pleased to be finding them around…I’ve even found larvae or pupa stage ladybugs which is very encouraging.

    My garden is full and I really don’t want pests chewing it up.

    I did have a mishap while out taking photos for this post. Such a bummer!!! This mug was given to me by a student that I spent hours online with as a part of distance learning while schools were in lockdown during the pandemic.

    It was a very fitting mug for that time. Oh well…life goes on…not going to cry over spilled coffee. 😉

    I’ll leave you with Marvin going on his supervised outings to sniff for bunnies and other friends that may have happened by.

    Today has me chipping away at a to-do list as usual. I got my 4 mile walk in this morning so that feels great!

    Stop back tomorrow…I’ve got a little surprise in the works.

    T stands for Tuesday
    What are you doing today?

  • Blog

    School’s out for summer

    June 14, 2022 - By 

    I’m pretty sure I was as excited for the last day of school as the kids were this year.  It was a LONG year.

    The last couple weeks, all I could think about was getting outside and playing in the dirt. I picked this arrangement from the yard. The Irises were laying on the ground because their stems were too long and spindly. I thought that was a shame so I cut them off and gathered some greenery to fill the space.

    I also got my garden planted. I’m really late this year but I’m sure it will be fine.

    The deck box garden has radishes, carrots and herbs. I also planted a few flower seeds this morning.

    This view has green bean, wax beans and snap peas….along with a bunch of weeds…mostly grass.

    Over in this side of the shed garden I have cucumbers as well as some zucchini and summer squash that will hopefully germinate.

    I’m growing my tomatoes in pots again this year since I had really good luck last year.  I also have a couple jalapeno plants growing in this same manner. Right now all the plants are pretty small and frankly not that interesting to look at.

    Before leaving school for the last time, we had to clean out our room and the two storage rooms inside our space. None of the stuff in the storage rooms belonged to us so as items were found they were given new homes.

     

     

    Such as all the movie theatre cardboard cutouts.

    The media center was the perfect place for these gems.

    You should have seen all the kids…and adults…taking selfies and filming silly videos with the props.

    It made the lame task of cleaning out a closet so much more enjoyable. Next fall we will have brand new flooring. They are finally tearing up and replacing the old asbestos tiles. Its taking a while but eventually our 60+ year old building will reach the 21st century.

    As for me this week I’m trying to get as many things crossed off my list as I can. I have a same day surgery on Thursday that will put me out of commission for a while. Hopefully the family will remember to water the garden for me while I recuperate.

    I’m also kicking myself…I gave a journal to one of the teachers at school who is leaving to teach in another district. I totally forgot to take any photos. GAH! I love to document my creations not just for the blog but for me. Oh well not the end of the world.

    T stands for Tuesday
    What are you doing today?
  • Blog - Outdoors

    T Tuesday: garden planted edition

    May 25, 2021 - By 

    I finally got my garden planted. Seeds are in the ground, plants in pots. I still want a few herbs but that is just an after thought at this point.

    I’m growing all of my tomatoes and peppers in containers on the deck this year. I’m hoping this will help with the blight  my plants have struggled with over the past few years.

    Of course this doesn’t look like much at this point but very soon little sprouts will emerge bring me great joy!

    The interplanted radishes and carrots seem to be doing ok. This was a trick my dad used to do…carrot, radish, carrot, radish and so forth. The radishes are harvested much earlier than the carrots therefore giving them the room they need to continue to grow with having a bare row in the garden. Time will tell if this works out for me.

    Mini-me had another of her lasts…her last choir concert.

    It looked very different but it happened so I am happy for them.

    We snapped a quick picture up on stage before clearing out. I’m also sharing this photo because Mini-me donated her hair to Locks of Love again. She had 12 inches(30cm) cut off! This was her third donation.

    Yesterday was a hot one…after I got done with work, dinner and watering the garden I treated myself to a cold one.

    I’m not sure if I like this beer or not but it was wet and I was overheated so it worked!

     

    T stands for Tuesday
    Eleven days of school left…I think I can, I think I can…