So, I'm in better humor tonight!

I've been trying to keep the background picture current and take it from the same place on the back hill -- at least every Sunday night -- well I drove out there tonight and did it from the Exp not the ATV . . . I went out after supper and dusted the pumpkins and squash for bugs and critters... they (the bugs and critters) aren't too bad but I like to stay ahead of them -- they are kinda greedy and destructive -- the row to the far left is a bit crooked.... (so I need to go to the eye doctor) . . Here's closer up ... the tiller man did a nice job --- didn't wipe out a whole lot --- he went both directions -- I'll be turning vines and from now on out he'll only be able to go the long way down the rows. Up close the pumpkins are vining out well -- they get to be 15 - 20 feet...

The sun came out just in time.

OMG - Tuesday (another Monday in disguise)

UGH !!!!

UGH !!!!

UGH !!!!

OMG - it's monday .... already

is it just me but the 48 hour weekends are flying faster and faster . . .

my weekend list still has stuff on it and now i'm making the list for "this week at the office" . . . plus the normal stuff....

i never did get around to the ironing -- it'll have to be a week of wrinkles.

toodles
m

Sunday - A Day of Rest? (NOT!!!)

This diva is fast becoming pooped out. Spent the morning weeding and hoeing, turning vines in the big patch so Tiller man could go both directions -- but since the wind was whipping back just as fast --- became a battle.

Went to the office and mowed lawn and watered the blooms. Going back to the office with truck to haul away trimmings and weeds. This town is full of thistles -- thistle seed should be outlawed as bird food.

Hopefully I get to return to my sewing machine. Because Monday is fast approaching!!!!!! And then the regular shit starts all over again.

Happy Sunday
Diva

ps. don't forget mr mayo's caring bridge site --- he now has computer in room w/ wireless connection .... www.caringbridge.org/visit/donmayo ... things are going okay down there . . .

Diva's Night/Morning at the Sewing Machine

so, here is the first attempt at a handbag -- this one has a zip top and bamboo handles and since I chopped 4 inchs off of it last night it looks much better -- strips pieced to batting. the colors are really orange and hot pink with the light lime green tossed in
this was the first true sucess in this endeavor -- love the mod 60's look -- the proportions are perfect and it flew together in less than an hour -- lined in a light pink --- I forgot the closure .

So I took the same pattern and added the strip piecing -- still no closure but it's a cute little bag! The other side has different strips -- I was running out of fabric . . .

Ths was last nights success -- eyelet trim, a button closure and up and done in under a half hour -- gotta love the pink -- pink drapery fabric that I found at Joanne Fabrics and was going to cover a throw pillow...

This weeks progress

are not these some handsome looking cabbages . . . i'm guessing they'll all be ready at the same time. . . here's the "big patch" ... really, really dry here -- things are wilting with the heat of the afternoon .... hoping for a dewy night again -- keeps them going

ah, the equipment -- all equipment around here is currently "red" none of the green and yellow stuff on this acreage! even the fish house is red!

the overflow patch at Jean and Lee's house --- the canteloupe and weird stuff are planted up here -- lots of grass coming on strong -- will need to use some "magic fluid" up here . . it used to be cow pasture/pig sty in the 60's/70's so it's pretty heavy ground compared to the rest of the farm (s).

Carmel Corn and the Vacuum Cleaner

so I though I needed a treat while watching the Twins and working hard -- so I found a bag of carmel corn in the food stash -- dropped it getting it down from the shelf -- attempted to vac it up and now have plugged vac hose....

not really worth it in the end, was it?

So back the game with an ice water and a piece of sugar free gum .... the broom and dust pan with have to work on the carmel corn for today.

M

CARINGBRIDGE SITE FOR DON MAYO

OKAY -- HERE'S THE ADDRESS

WWW.CARINGBRIDGE.ORG/VISIT/DONMAYO

JEAN AND NICK SET UP THE SITE AND WELL -- IT'S A GREAT WAY TO FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON AND WHEN . . . .

DIVA

Wednesday --

Wednesday -- already, time flies. As I age, time flies.

I hopped off the ATV at the garden last night (sent Mom home on it-kinda scary as she toodled off) and spent an hour hoeing watermelons. Then realized (a) it was hot, (b) I had no water bottle and (c) I had no BUG SPRAY -- so I worked my way out to the fied road and wandered home swatting bugs the entire way. It's not that far, but .... It's a good hike from the yard -- and well further than last years 500 feet.

Back at it tonight -- need to finish and then break out the tiller and the weed killer, the grass is starting to sprout --need to knock it back now.

M

How to beat the heat . . .

1 Wear as little clothes as possible
2 Skip the morning coffee
3 A shady tree
4 A cool beverage
5 A really good book
6 A stiff breeze

only one of the above is in my future . . . but the old shack is sorta cool this morning . . . .

Marie

more clematis

it is the year of the clematis -- the blooms are the size of a salad plate . . . and tons of buds
now you know why it's called "Daisy Lane"

this particular one is growing up a shepards hook (and gets absolutely no care -- ever)

After the rain . . .

It's a good year for the clematis --- they are just gorgeous.

the little garden

don't tell the rabbits but the little garden has some fine looking cabbages -- normally we don't have a lot of luck with cabbage -- but a lot of water seems to make a difference

the potato side of the little garden (there's some gladiola's planted amid the 'taters too)

ya, the garden, the rooster house and the fish house -- it's a busy yard ---

Swedefest

So I make the trek to Bernadotte yesterday for "Swedefest." I think the last time I actually had purpose for the trek to Bernadotte was a 4H related something 40 years ago.

They (the Bernadotte Lutheran Church Congregation) have really nice picnic/bandshell/cemetary grounds -- the food was good, the music was nice and there was no bugs --- parking was entertaining -- but I managed to ditch cruise and get out of there without rolling over ---. The horse drawn carriage rides looked like fun (as did the ATV version).

Since I overslept (like 9:00am ish) and 1/2 the day was gone and it was dripping no weeding today -- or at least this morning. Headed to office to clean and work this afternoon. Might even whip out a new curtain or two --- been looking at the fabric for at least 2 months.

Toodles
M

The Weeds

2 more hours of weeds this morning...the pumpkins and squash are done -- i even found a baby squash -- and then the next hill over has just germinated and is popping out --- bizarre

tomorrow is the watermelon and canteloupe and then the 2nd hoeing is down -- ready for dusting and well some chemicals to control the weeds and bugs

m

Weeds, weeds, weeds

I've been busy pulling weeds (lambsquarters, pigweeds and canadian thistles to be precise) in the pumpkins tonight. It is their 2nd hoeing. Some of them are already starting to vine. Can't wait for the blooms --- I was hoping for blooms by the 4th of July -- I think it will be sooner.

Tomorrow night is the squash and saturday morning will be the watermelons. I worked up a Jean/Lee's in the canteloupe last night. The canteloupe finally made an appearance -- will need to till and spray up there lots of elm tree seeds sprouting. Can't be having them suck the moisture out of the already dry sand.

Tally hoe -- off to the shower with my tired aching bones.

M

The first Monarch of the Season

i don't know how to crop pictures before uploading but if you look carefully amoung the coreposis -- (yellow ones above) -- the first Monarch of the season . . was dining

the drips of last night and this morning have done in the peonies -- the fragrance is still out there however -- it's been a good year for the "smells"

here is a clematis -- quickly becoming my favorite perenial -- they bloom and bloom and dance in the breeze . . .

Off to the patch this evening -- too humid to mow at the office -- but an hour of weeding and hoeing awaits me. The stuff I planted late is starting to pop out of the ground too.....

m

Wednesday (over the hump day)

i took t's advise last night so i am ready for action today .... went to bed early and slept like a log --- hopefully she did the same.

i started my morning commute with a trip to the melon patch. i swear the plants have doubled in size since i was out there on sunday afternoon .... too much work on monday and tuesday and didn't get home until 8:00 pm (or later)



so enjoy your wednesday....

m

Another day in the Valley

the days seem to speed past and i'm just not getting enough done on my list of projects --- i'm going to "hide" in my office and knock off every item on that list today!!!!

M

Another day of work

the project is almost completed -- 2 40 yard dumpsters for the trailer itself and a bit of tidying up and we're done

the patch after the tilling -- mom's pretty red geraniums .... they are really red this year

a view from the hill looking east the rows are really starting to stand out especially the pumpkins and squash -- lots of growing to go (faster, faster, faster)

GONE!!!!!

well, by now it's gone ---- or almost gone -- the second dumpster was coming up the road -- if anyone's counting -- that's 2 to empty it out and 2 to smash and haul it away.....

Going, going, going

demolition is a mere 13 hours and counting -- pretty sorry sight these days (or the last 4 years or so) -- dead elm trees are coming down too....

hard to believe it came in 1973 -- yes, that 1973.....kinda makes me feel old!

happy friday

marie

A Dad & his tractor

so the tractor man and his tiller had a busy afternoon --- i think he really likes the tiller ... first he went the long way down the rows and then crosswise --- they're kinda close together but .... it's getting done

here's some squash -- loving the sun....

ahhhh the peony

they smell as good as they look -- these are white ones, the pink and burgundy's are just starting to open -- i would imagine with a little more sun tomorrow they will start to pop ....

The Lost is Found

the mouse is finally dead -- a long sorry tale (tail)?

found grandma's missing teeth --- an additional long sorry tale ---


life is just to bizzare for words this week.

m

OMG -- Monday's Trama

Nick got another mouse -- which I thought was a toy and it got up and ran away -- neither Joy or I have our feet on the floor today --- it (the mouse) is currently resting under 2 crocks -- heavy enough that Nick can't move them and they can't get out -- waiting for Gary/Brian to do the deed.....

The roof leaked

Grandma's teeth are missing (not sure how or why or how the Grandview Hilton manages to lose the teeth of a 97 year old resident but.... #*%#)(*)(_


only on a monday, such drama

diva m

Oh -- it's so green

so it rained and it is wonderful, now not to be too choosy -- but a little sun and heat would perk things up even more

after dropping Jean off at home I drove the field road (see above -- this was Friday night before the rain) and nary a puddle the entire 1.5 mile trek -- even the back hill was good --- it all soaked in ---- we kind of have our very own private road between the two farms -- and this year it is in really good shape -- the road grader operator uses it to get to his distinations so he grades his way to Traverse.... with it being a corn year -- the path will get entertaining as the corn gets taller -- although in this picture the right side is sweet corn and the left side is field corn so.....

happy new week

marie

Praise the Lord

it's a million $ moment

the rain

the rain

the rain

drip

drip

drip

gotta love it --- all day long

drip

drip

drip

(i'm jumping (leaping) smiling with happiness)

Patch Shots!!

okay -- looking west into the sunset --- my lovely recycled row markers which have already faded to un-readable....so it happens a view from the west looking east from the top of the hill --- me and the coolest work wheels were looking down from above!

forgot to zoom in ....

a watermelon a watermelon !!! there's hope after all

the latest edition to the dranttel family

muffy moved her brood into the "cat" house with the rest of the tribe. 1 red, 1 fuzzy black and to black/red/orange kittens, who are kinda friendly.

i have cat, chicken and grandma duty as the rest of them are off and fishing for a couple of days -- so i've been hissed at by the kittens, crowed at by chickens, pecked at (she didn't want to get off the nest) and lastly stepped in chix poo while wearing my sandals . . . at the time i didn't see the need to change shoes ... wrong again.

Camera

Diva can't find her camera -- actually I think it's at home -- just haven't look hard enough ......

After all, it's gotta be somewhere


M

Tuesday ---

yes, i'm stealing pictures from the Free Press again -- so RC's going to retire in July --- sounds like a day to "paint" St. Peter Red --- 42 years as a volunteer firefighter.

Monday

so it didn't rain (enough) -- the deck and sidewalks were dry this morning.....

the dentist was good to me .....

rain dance rain dance rain dance