We use this filled with water on both sides. Then we easily bathe the 4 dogs, let it dry, and put the one side of the ‘butterfly’ inside the other to store. It’s about 3-feet wide. The umbrella comes with it, too. I think that it was about $40.00 and I ordered it online last year. We even use it in cold weather in the Garden Room, which has a marble floor.
Mother’s Day 2012
This year I decided to take it easy for Mother’s Day. I guess that is what Mothers should do but many years I have much to do. The weather this year was just wonderful at near 80 degrees and very little wind. We gave the 4 dogs baths then they got their first brushing.
For their baths, we have a Little Tykes pool and umbrella that I got last year. Since the corgis are dwarves with short legs, it is really easy for them to step in over the edges vs. the regular kiddie pool that we had before. I don’t have to lift them like the bath tub indoors either. Great idea that I had!
After all of this, I went to the Cabin and the Lost Lake in Camp Rest-A-While. My daughter and son-in-law came and we enjoyed the weather. I would have been one of the best Mother’s Days except when one of the dogs, Corky, escaped the gate and ran around bothering 2 of the other dogs. Then he got into a fight with his half-sister and both cut their faces. No stitches needed but they have sores now. All that after a nice bath and relaxation.
Still, it was a nice day. Glenn and I had a hoagie on the deck for dinner instead of going out to eat (and waiting in all those lines at restaurants) or eating in the kitchen. It was just so nice on the deck by the Lost Lake with all the flowers open for May.
The past few weeks of warmer than usual temperatures have had the country wondering. Here on the East Coast we had near 80 degrees the past two days. We had to make the most of the weather and had a nice BBQ in the fire pit this afternoon.
I took these with my cell phone so they are not the best quality but you can see our fire going and glowing! When the wood (maple) fire died down to cooking quality, I put on the chicken with the BBQ sauce, potatoes (in the coals of the wood) and the onions in the frying pan. I just had a taste for the fried onions, which I have not had in a couple of years.
When this chicken was done, I put that on top of the fried onions, added the remaining sauce from the foil, and put the pan on the table on the deck. I retrieved the potatoes from the coals- nice and brown- and then put the coffee pot on.
One of my camp cooking books has how to make Cowboy coffee and it is just great. In the black enamel pot I put the water (no basket inside pot) and the right amount of coffee and boil. When it’s ready I put a cup of cold water in the top and that makes the grinds go to the bottom!
Glenn brought out a nice salad and we had dinner on the deck at The Lost Lake in Camp-Rest-A-While. He loved it and so did I. It does take a bit of practice as cooking over firewood is different than a grill of charcoal or gas. There is no temperature regulation.
The books that I have are very good and helped me to learn many things. I have to do the camp baking yet but I won’t be using the heavy cast iron pots. They are just too heavy for me to lift. The next thing that I’d like to cook, using my 5-in-one enamel pot, is steamed clams, corn on the cob… well, I’ll take a picture. I cook all that in layers in one pot!
It’s still March and the corn is not planted in the veggie plots yet but we’ll get there. Tomorrow it will be 56 degrees high…it is back to normal spring temperatures for the coming week. We are to get much needed rain for 2 days and that will help the peas, carrots, and radishes grow.
At least I feel satisfied that we took advantage of the weather- oh! What fun! I forgot to take a picture of the food on the table…next time.
We have a 10 x 10 foot brick patio hidden near the lot-line in the rear of the gardens. There are several magnolias in this area. The 2 here ae cvs. Of the Southern Magnolia. They are ‘Bracken’s Brown Beauty’ and named as such for the indumentum (brown fuzz under they leaves).
I cut branches at Christmas time to make floral arrangements, wreaths, and to set around on tables. We also have the Southern Magnolia and another cv. Edith Bogue. ’Edith Bogue’ is hardy to northern NJ-zone 6. I am not as fond of that cv. As I am of ‘Bracken’s Brown Beauty’.
They all are evergreen and do well here in zone 7a; we are at the top limit of this zone. Magnolias need well-drained soil, like the rhododendron family, so we have them planted at a higher level in the gardens. Their rounded, dark green leaves provide a great contrast to the white pine, bluish-green needles.
Youcan also see in this picture the reddish oak leaf hydrangea to the left. This is an “architectual” plant. Its leaf shape is interesting and they are large. The fall color is just perfect to set off the other plants.
In the spring, this view changes drastically. The eye focuses on the deciduous azaleas on the right.
GARDEN-
Here it is, the “Spring of 2012″ in February. We have such warm weather that the plants don’t know it is still winter. Glenn cut some daffodils for the table last week. I plan to get going slowly so that I don’t have too much pain from all the work at once. The 4 dogs want to be outside and I don’t blame them. It is hard for me some days to do that but I am trying to adhere more to the Arthritis Foundations idea,”Keep moving!” and Michelle Obama’s slogan, “Get moving.”
HOME-
We are making huge progress in reorganizing our house from all the stuff we had to bring in after moving things form Mom’s house. Much has been donated, given to relatives and friends, and stored in huge tubs in the basement. At least we can go through things more at our leisure now rather than have to spend all of our time on this project. Along with that, we are starting to feel more relaxed recently with the garage cleaned and much back to ‘normal’ in routines.
PETS-
Our 4 dogs have gone through much last year but so far this year, we are just doing the ‘old age’ things for them. this means more supplements, medicines, and trips to the vet’s but NO surgeries or major issues yet. Mr. Eskimo’s cancer blood test recently came out great. We love them all and they are like children to us. They do make us relaxed and comfy-especially when it’s cold.
WHAT ELSE?
Faith. My faith is still strong and gets me though each day. without God in my life, I could not make it with the pain, frustration that is with me daily. As many of you know, I have to use a walker now, as well as, a cane. I can’t do what I want and go where I want many times. BUT- I forge on! I thank God daily for what I DO have and He gives me the strength to do what I can.
Our Pastor retired last June (2011) and I found not having him here was hard. I had no one to really talk to with regards to many things in life. BUT- I am happy for him and his wife as they are beginning a new life in Christ with new work to do!
By putting my mind on others, the pain is not so noticeable. I am doing this year MORE with some new things. I’ve joined groups and get blogs and communicate with others on things that interest me, for people who need to hear about the Love of God through Christ, and for people who truly need the compassion that I can give with Christ’s love.
Though this is keeping me busier than I thought, I feel good about talking more with others. This year the concerns that I have are many and so my Prayer List is MUCH longer.
That’s the news for now. I’m going to add some pictures here so you can see some of the beautiful things we have been blessed with…when I can get them to attach!
12“Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; 13and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster. 14Who knows whether he will not turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him, a grain offering and a drink offering for the Lord your God?
