Third Week of June

One last bud on the peony bush bloomed....

Since it didn't appear that I was having luck with

the Nebraska Canna Lilies  - earlier this

spring I purchased a Calla Lily - this is what

I have so far.

My rose bush (although looking a bit tough) -

sure had quite a few buds - 

Here is the log - with alyssum....  hubby commented

that he has never seen a plant grow so slowly....

today it was pretty hot and it looks pretty wilted - 

I may go on to Plan B - marigolds are always

hardy or a new plant I have in one of my planters - 

I will be checking out the name of that and

seeing if I can find more.

The oat field is looking grand!

The fuschia plant is still quite nice - had a bout

with caterpillars but after a good spraying

have seemed to solve that problem.

Now for the rest of the flowers on the

deck ----

Ladyslippers

June 16, 2012

the Minnesota State Flower

We Shopped....

Our special time - was lunch out and some shopping on

Main Street.

The poor little munchkin was so tired that she missed

lunch - but then opened her Birthday Surprise

outside.

Then we shopped for a new dress at the Zula store - they

have all kinds of sundresses for little ladies and grown

up ladies.  We had fun shopping there - I think we

all got new dresses!

More shopping down Main Street - a new

cooking set for her trip to the North Shore...

And many things at this store to "wish for"....

Time for a break and some nourishment for

this little shopper - some orange juice and

a sugar cookie!

Then off to the shoe store -   I sure didn't know 

that our little shopper was a shoe model!

We've Celebrated....

We have an engagement in the family - our lil' girl

is engaged.... they are such a cute couple and so good

for each other!

A big "WELCOME" to the family TJ!

And Renee celebrated her 3rd Birthday while

she was here - she will celebrate again in July.

Happy Birthday!

They Arrived....

Almost a week ago now - our precious cargo arrived

by automobile....  my sister and her family!

Little Renee now almost 3 years old has gotten

so tall - what a little lady -

They had made a stop in Branson, Missouri and 

remembered that Uncle Steve really enjoys taffy - and

she is very good at sharing.

This day was quite a blessing - it was Father's Day

and we were able to share our families even tho'

it was for a short time - 

Daughter and TJ have been able to see Renee

quite a few times this week....  

Lineman Son and His Gal - started their trek for

home late so that they could see Renee - they

will now see her again next week.

It was fun to have everybody together even though

it was only for a few minutes.

This is Renee and I ---  what a little sweetheart

she is --  

These times become more and more special as our

families grow and change.   Time to get everybody

together at the same time isn't always easy - 

Second Week of June

Our weather has been nice to warm and than back

to cool again - but the flowers are looking great!

Pansies are some of  my favorites to put 

in containers around the garden.

The peonies are open - I didn't have near the amount 

of buds I did last year (just another item to blame

on our winter - lack of snow)

I have taken a special interest (challenge) in the peonies.

The pink larger plants on the right are from my

Grandma Arvilla's house - this is their third year in

my yard - they had so many blooms last year we couldn't

count them.   The peonies on the left are hubby's great

great grandmothers and will be white when they finally

bloom - this is the second year (no blooms).

And apparently I need more challenges so after

searching and searching I was able to fine this "fern peony" -

somewhat small but hopefully healthy and hardy!

I don't even want to ponder how many years it

will take for it to bloom  ;)

The following picture is my inspiration - a beautiful

plant at one of the cemeteries (this was last

years' blooms)

Now for my Mystery Plant - I thought I had seen

this at a local nursery - I jotted down the plant

name as "Coral  Bells" -- but when I looked

it up in my book it sure doesn't look like this.  

Any ideas - hopefully my neighbor, Far Side,

is reading this week....

And please pay no attention to the weeds that you

see - with our lovely weather - I just got done weeding

and now it is time to start over again!

Dirt Baths

It had come to dirt baths - it was getting

dry again....

Thankful for the recent rain we got.

A What...

The game camera placed in the woods has only had deer

sightings... so it was time (after seeing some tracks)

to get the second camera up - pretty much just on

the edge of the yard...

Porcupine!   Well this critter must be pretty brave...

since the last porcupine seen in the yard ended

up being dropped out of the tree.... do you all

remember when Kodi ended up with a face full

of needles?  We don't want that happening again -

so beware Mr. Porcupine!

Mr Turkey was strutting his stuff down the edge

of the field....

and then one evening - 

This - the culprit who left the tracks about a week

ago...he looks as if he/she is just wandering on

through....

last year we had this bear sighting... 2011

I really was thrilled that we finally got a "great"

photo... now to see if he comes back or if this

is just his spring ritual.

May to June

May into June - these new iris' are blooming and

they are stunning - these are some of the best

deals I have in my garden.

Several plants purchased last summer at a

garage sale - they adjusted well to their

new home and bloomed this spring!

The honeysuckle vine (that is what I call 

it) is blooming - over the years it has added

decoration to the hay mover at the end 

of the driveway.... 

I have tried to get caught up on the dreaded weeding 

during these two weeks.  I have the large perennial

spot to get done and then to do some cleanup around

the hay mover.  Ughh.... probably in time to start

all over.

Today, the first day of the weekend - it was hot in the

90's - we haven't had any rain for some time - so the

sprinkler has been busy - the animals were all

laying pretty low....  quietly napping in the coolest

spots they could find.

Hither and Thither

A beautiful time of the year in Minnesota - the last few days

have been absolutely perfect - it isn't too hot but

isn't too cool - sleep time finds the window wide

open (no fan and you don't have to shut the

window in the early morning) - and the outdoors

is peaceful - the frogs may croak for a short time

but don't serenade you all night and the coyotes

have been quiet.   PERFECT!

The evenings have also been perfect for

fires in the fire ring...

The fields are full of their planted crops - here is

the oat field...

and the potato field....

It is a welcome sight having the fields back into

production and not full of weeds and gopher mounds...

this spring we had quite a flurry of gopher parts that

the dogs found out in the field.... Ugh... not to  mention

that we don't have to try and figure out how to remove

the thistle and noxious weeds as required by 

the county.

Now since this is Hither and Thither - I can jump all over

with interesting and not so interesting items....

While I was not blogging steadily I see that my "followers"

have increased - yeah - up by 4!   Welcome to my part

of the COUNTRY!

I need to clean out my emails - wowza!   Thank

goodness there isn't an EMAIL POLICE!

Have a wonderful Thursday - See ya next time

"In The Country".