Garden Update

Those darn deer have been at it already!!

They topped a couple tomato plants - of course that is partly my fault because I have not had the time to put the cages in the ground that would have protected that. Notice the cages in now!!

They are also eating the peas - which were very sparce to start with....I will be lucky to harvest a handful.

Over the years I have tried many things to keep the deer away ---human hair, blood, coyote piss (at $18 a bottle!), Irish Spring soap, used kitty litter, cayenne pepper, and a concoction that started with eggs, vinegar and ended up so VILE that the neighbors were ready to press charges ----nothing seems to keep those deer away!!!!!!!!


So, in a breeze, my garden looks quite scary!!!! But not scary enough in the dark of night to frighten off those darn deer!!!!!!!!!!!!

Flowers and Veggies

My gardens look nice and all was growing well until last night and the rabbits got to violets and violas and impatiens..........

I have peas, tomatoes, beans, peppers and carrots in the vegatable garden in my back yard. There are blossoms on some of the tomato plants.
After I planted the peas and tomatoes we had five inches of rain and the peas are sparce. I'll plant more beans when they are done.
I do have a fence around this garden because the deer like to feast here. They eat the tomato plants when they reach good height - especially when I spray them with pepper spray - taco night!!!!

The little perennial garden in the front is now two years old and doing well. In previous years I have had chicken wire around it, but was told that mature plants would not need the protection.

The rabbits got into a little side area by the garage - ate the beautiful miniature violets to the ground, the violas that outlined the area and some of the impatiens..........those little buggers!!!!!!! I will get the chicken wire out - and the pepper spray, dried blood, animal repellent powder, cayenne pepper, and whatever else I can come up with!!

John takes care of the grass and I keep trying with the flowers..........

East Lansing Art Fair

Saturday May 19 Alexander, Allison and I went to the East Lansing Art Fair. We attended a concert by Gemini - folk singing brothers. Many years ago Ashley went to some of their concerts when they were in Lansing area - I have original records from them!!!!! Alexander and Allison have listened to the tape I made off those records in my car. They are an entertaining group - guitar, fiddle, mandolin, harmonica, bones, pennywhistle, spoons and slide whistle are some of the instruments they play. Many of their songs have signs to go with====always a hit with the young crowd.


We also saw lots of neat artwork. They enjoyed seeing colored pottery, fabric dolls, bright tye-dyed clothing, glass beads, and the funky earring place where I got a pair of frog and fish earrings.
The kids each got a wooden toy - a booth that was a real hit - the decision of which toy was a hard one!!!! Allison got a "Flap Jack" - squeeze the sticks and the little wooden guy does wild gymnastics. Alexander got a "Spindle Top" - having a handle, it was easy to produce a LONG spin with the top.

These lucky children had both sets of "great" here for dinner.......... They are so fortunate to have them and it was good to be together. Alexander is such a good help with dinner - clearing the table and presenting dessert to all. Allison worked with John on clean up after everyone left.

We so enjoy being a part of these kids' lives and love every minute we have with them. It is so interesting to see them grow and develop into inquisitive, warm and loving children.

Sauder Village Quilt Show

WOW!!!!! That's me in front of my award winning quilt at Sauder Village!!!!

My Hexagons won First Place in the Wall Hanging, Hand Quilted division. I am happy!!!

Ruth drove Phyllis, Daisy and me there for the day. We ate at the Barn, saw the show, visited the quilt store (spent too much), saw the new filly and baby lambs, had ice cream, purchased $4.50 quilt racks and picked up our quilts that were in the show......a full day. Cindy won an Honorable Mention for a wall hanging.

I got home and John helped my hang the quilt in the dining room.......what an accent piece!!!!! Then we had "Dave's Get Laid Grilled Chicken Breasts" for dinner.............and the Sunday Kuhlman manhattan.........I'm feeling nothing right now........just hanging loose..........waiting for.................

Work this week - Owosso and the Library.....

Signs of Spring

Finally.....Springtime is here.

The flowering tree at the front of the house is blooming!!! It smells heavenly. I even spotted some bees buzzing around.


My daffodils are almost done blooming. Little violets and spring beauties are all over the place, and my perennials are coming up good - the rabbits have not found them.....yet!!!! Last year I had chicken wire around my flowers in the
front yard - it was not beautiful, but the flowers were!!!!


The peas that were planted palm sunday are coming up and John helped put the fence around the garden on Sunday. I really try to keep the critters out. I will be planting tomatoes and peppers soon. Alexander will want carrots and Allison is in charge of beans - to be planted the next time they are in town.

I have been driving to Hastings to work last week and this - the farmers are out plowing their fields and there are also what looks like fields of dandelions!!!! The maple trees are really budding out - that pretty spring green color. Tulips are blooming in many front yards. All the beauty makes the drive easy.

Sure signs of spring!!

Ricky Tims Seminar

Ricky Tims Seminar in Grand Rapids was GREAT!!

There were about 200 people at the seminar held at the Western Michigan Conference Center in downtown Grand Rapids. I went with Carol Schon, Phyllis O'Connor and Louise Mueller. We had to get up VERY early Friday morning (5 am!) to get there and stayed at the Mellentine Motel on Friday night. There were over 20 from the Lansing area - the rest from all over Michigan.

Ricky gives directions for many of his techniques for piecing, quilting and finishing. You get a notebook with lots of pictures and tips. He demonstrates for all with the aide of computer technology - 3 big screens so all can see. You don't bring a sewing machine -just take notes for later.

Of course, he sells his wonderful hand dyed fabrics and other items. We are waiting for the new t-shirts to be available - they will say the quilters excuse - "I cain't..... I'm busy" - a phrase we all practiced at the seminar that we will be using as we try the new techniques that we learned.

Friday evening Ricky had a concert for us. He is a talented musician who has made 5 CD's - which of course you could purchase at the seminar!! He plays the piano and also shared the new native america flute that he has - with a fantastic carrying case!

I have even more ideas floating in my head now for new quilts........

Easter Morning

The Easter Bunny led Alexander and Allison on a scavenger hunt to find their baskets. They went everywhere from the Lucky Charms box to the DVD player to Mango's poop box to the Sparty that sings---- up and down the stairs.

The baskets were hidden in a closet under the stairs.

When John went out to get the paper, he discovered eggs all over the front lawn. The kids got those after breakfast when they got dressed. They didn't want the neighbors seeing them in their pj's!!

Great Grandma and Great Grandpa Thomas and their parents came in the afternoon for dinner.

We had a wonderful week with the kids and look forward to having them again when their school is out.