Back at the Homestead

The kids and the garden survived our absence nicely. The weather was quite mild, so frequent watering of the yard and garden wasn't required. Other chores were left undone, such as the mowing, but that was soon remedied.


Do robins return to the same nesting spot every year? We seem to have a particularly nice spot for a nest, no matter how we try to discourage the robins from nesting here, or one robin as the case may be. :) While we were away for the Memorial Day weekend, Mrs. Robin got that nest finished and is now sitting on her eggs, flying away when we go out the back door to the yard, then hurrying back when it appears to be safe. I have very mixed feelings about the annual nesting of robins. I dislike the mess, but it is lots of fun to watch the nest once the babies hatch and especially fun to witness them leaving the nest!


This morning I visited my dreadfully neglected "garden" on the back of the fence and found the lavender in full glory and bees galore all over the plants! Yesterday I planted four new rose plants that I ordered from Heirloom Roses, and began repairing some of the rock path in the rose garden. Each week this spring HR has had different rose selection on sale. Since we haven't had to travel to Portland this spring, I ordered some online a few weeks ago, and again this week! I'm afraid I've acquired a rose addiction!

Also on my to do list for this week is preparing graduation cards and gifts for the grads in our family and among our friends. DS Brendan is leaving tomorrow for a week at youth camp, so gotta make sure his laundry is done and he's ready. Kirsten also has a little overnite camping fun with her girls' group Friday through Saturday.

I've recently had quite a bit of dental work done - ugh. With no insurance and a bunch of kids in braces, Gary and I have not been in to see the good doctor for years, many years. But a broken tooth landed me in the chair for a good cleaning, some fillings, and redoing an old crown. Considering how long it had been, the dentist said I didn't have a terrible amount of damage and I'd done well keeping my teeth clean. That was good to hear, but still my jaw is still sore from Monday's filling and preparation for the crown. Maybe next year it'll be DH's turn. :)

My needle has been sitting idle these last couple of weeks since my rr was mailed off. I hope to start on Heather's real soon. I also need to do the piecing on a crazy quilt piece for smocking guild. Then there's this matter of blog reading! How am I ever going to get caught up?! At one time I had the number of posts in Newsgator down to 200, but now it's up to 770. Commenting may be sparse as I get through them, but I will plow through them somehow! :)

Thanks for your many enthusiastic comments about my rr square. I'm not entirely sure yet just what I'll stitch in between the squares, perhaps a path, or a vine. Then I have to put a border around it. I'm just glad I don't have to figure all this out for quite awhile! :)