Month: June 2018

Texas Heat

It is quite hot here in Texas and the humidity seems to make it worse.

My sister Sheri and I walk 3 – days a week and we start walking at about 7:15 a.m. and it’s already hot.

We are determined to get in our exercise so we will persevere and wait patiently for the cooler fall temperatures.

We found a park nearby where the squirrels are all very friendly so yesterday we took some food for them some chicken scratch corn and sunflower seeds and they were quite grateful.

I would love to photograph them but carrying my camera on a walk like this is too much. Maybe I will try my phone but I am never crazy about the pictures I take with it.

When you can add natures beauty and the wildlife to your walks, it really makes your walks even more special.

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Gladiola blooms

This year I had found 100 count gladiola bulbs in a box at Walmart for about $15.00 I bought two boxes.

We built a new bed around one of the oak trees in the backyard and made a gladiola bed.

According to the chart on the box, it was about a month past the date I should plant them. Well, I figured it was worth a try and low and behold they are now blooming.

The price was great but I did get tired of planting 200 bulbs lol. It takes a good size bed for that many flower bulbs. We built it up with a lot of dirt but they are still falling over does anyone have any suggestions? Do gladiolas always fall over because they are top heavy?

They are the most beautiful colors and color combinations of flowers I am truly enjoying them.

Flowers brighten our days and most of all make our yards more beautiful.

You are in charge of what makes you happy and for me, it’s always planting things that bloom.

Gladiola1

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Our duck friends

These two Black Bellied Whistling ducks come by every morning and every evening.

They eat some of the seed I put out and stay a little while. They never seem to mind me taking their pictures.

I changed the sign while editing just for them since they whistle instead of sing.

I love these ducks and I look for them most mornings. I need to give them names like maybe Fred and Ethel. When I talk to them they just look at me like they understand.

two ducks

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Local Auctions

I love auctions the thrill of bidding for a week and finally winning something or deciding there was something you were bidding on that went for more than you wanted to pay.

Just watch yourself because its sort of like gambling it can be quite addictive.

Go to this site Auction Site and put in your zip code and the distance you want to travel. I am sure you will find something in your area.

Last weekend I won 67 boxes of ice packs some were 8ct some were 12 ct part of them were therapeutic Polar Pack for sprains, arthritis etc. the rest were the kinds to keep medication cold or to use in a lunch box by U- Tek. They were all the flat kind. My cost was $20.00 the boxes took up the entire truck bed plus double stacking.

I won 4- 3M soap dispensers and 5 bottles of antibacterial soap for $16.00. It looks like the dispensers are worth $50.00 and the soap $23.00. We will use two outside one by the barn and greenhouse and I will share the others. I even won some extra soap for these.

A case of ZEP antibacterial soap hand cleaner for $12.00 they were quart size and there were 12 bottles.

I won the younger grandkids a set of 3 balls soccer, football and basketball they were youth size but I got them for $10.00.

A few other odds and ends but needless to say I was quite pleased with my winnings for the week. My husband, on the other hand, seems to think I am crazy because I won the ice packs. I am giving many away to family and friends but I am going to also sell some of them and make a little profit from them.

This was my third time to do this auction in the last 7 months.

Look for auctions near you sometimes you will find some really great things.

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CT Low dose lung screening

This is for anyone who is currently smoking or has ever smoked this could also be used for those who were around secondhand smoke.

I quit smoking 10 – years ago but smoked for many many years.

There are many new studies showing that a low dose CT scan can find early lung cancer as small as a grain of rice.

I had my LDCT done on Monday and I see a pulmonologist next week to explain the results to me. It was literally a 5-minute test and no tunnels that is a big plus. Our insurance paid for it at 100% so there was no out of pocket.

This American Cancer Society recommends yearly screening for lung cancer for people who are 55 – 74 years old. If you are a current smoker or a smoker who has quit in the last 15 years.  If you have a 30 pack a year smoking history.

Tell your Dr. you are interested in doing an LDCT scan. It could increase the quality of your life or possibly find early cancer.

 

 

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The Eastern Bluebirds

We have so many birds in this area of Texas but one of my favorites are the small Eastern Bluebirds.

I caught them having a pool party at the bird bath. I know these are juveniles because their blue is very limited. The adults are a lot bluer and their chest is a darker orange color.

They can splash a lot of water out of a birdbath really quick. At one time there were 4 in at a time with others zipping around waiting their turn. I even saw a few adults supervising.

I am glad I was able to sneak back into the house and grab my camera to get a few action shots.

Nature never ceases to amaze me the beauty is all around us we just need to take the time to notice it.

Bluebirdfriends3Bluebirdfriends2Bluebirdfriends1

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For the love of garlic

There are many benefits of cooking with garlic and we use a lot of it it is a very healthy thing to have in your diet.

Elephant garlic is our favorite type to grow. It makes this beautiful flower then when it dies it is time to pick the garlic. When you dig it up you will find the bulbs of cloves and seeds for the next year.

I truly love photographing these blooms, especially in macro.

Garlic

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DIY Verticle Herb Garden

Verticle gardens are amazing and a verticle herb garden is just perfect.

This would also work great for flowers if someone wanted an accent wall.

I started out wanting to use a pallet but they are too heavy to hang on a wooden fence.

My husband decided he could build me something much lighter but the same sort of concept.

I ordered the fence clips, bought the pots, painted the wood and personalized it for my sister her birthday is today.

My husband came up with the idea of staggering the clips on each row so the water did not flood out the next ones down.

Supply List:

1 x 3 x 6 – 3 pieces

2 x 2 x 8 – 1 piece

Pots clips will work on 4″ -8″ pots – 12 packs on Amazon

Pots – we used 6″ pots for this one  x 11

Accent stones if you want.

We ended up adding two more rows of clips after I took the pictures now it can hold a total of 18 pots.

I ordered more clips because now I want one or two lol.

Having the herbs on a nearby wall outside is so much more convenient.

Herbgarden2

HerbGarden1

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