Bunches Of Stuff

Since I haven't blogged in a few days, I've got a few things to catch up on.

It all started Tuesday after work. I went into town to get a replacement end for one of my garden hoses. I've had those hoses for at least 15 years, and hadn't used them in ages. For a while there, I didn't even know where they were.

 But, with my renewed interest in gardening, I dug them out and hooked them up. There was a problem, though. Somehow, in the period of their idleness, one of the hose ends got smushed. We tried to reround it with a pair of needlenose, but it just wasn't good enough. I'd try to water my garden, but would end up having as much water spraying back into my face as onto the flowers, so I figured it was time to replace the end.

You know you live a thrilling life when the highlight of your week is replacing the end of your garden hose.

Male

5/8"

Try to contain your excitement.

Well, since I was already in town, I decided to go on to Wal-mart and get the rest of the marigolds we needed to plant amongst the tomatoes. 

And I had a few left over to put into my flower bed.

Speaking of my flower beds, it's getting mighty busy in there.  Even some of my little perennials are coming up.

In order to better deal with my impatience--having discovered that shouting "Grow faster, darnit!" does little to produce the desired effect--I've decided to rework the front flower bed, too. 

I want to spread my Hosta out a little.  Eventually I want to have it all across the front of the house, since not much else will grow there.

And I want to do something with my Lily-of-the-Valleys, since they haven't been doing so well.
 

They were doing great before I moved this new house in, and moved the plants.  I think it might be just a little low where I have them now, and I think if I built that bed up a little, and improved the drainage, they might just pick up a bit.

So there I was in Wal-Mart buying marigolds

Inchworm, inchworm, measuring the marigolds... (you were singing it, too.  You know you were.)

 and I saw that they had gotten some more of the border I'd wanted in the first place. 

It was kind of high, so I only got one box.  I'll use it across the front of the bed, and I have some leftovers from the other stuff I got to do the sides.

I got some more dirt to help build the bed up.

And I got one of these.

I've always wanted one of these.  They look dangerous...

See, I figured that once I got all the plants dug up, the soil would be pretty well turned.  Well enough to make the big tiller unnecessary.  This will do to finish breaking up the soil and mixing the Miracle Grow into it. 

Being my normal, impatient self, I couldn't wait to try it out.  It works surprisingly well. 

Anyway...

I had promised to cross stitch a New Orleans Saints thingy for a charity auction to benefit St. Jude's Children's Research hospital.  Well, I went to Wal-mart a while back to get the stuff to do it with, and they didn't have any DMC floss.  I waited and waited, and they never put any out.  I finally broke down and ordered some from Herrschner's. 

Wouldn't you know it, the very next time I was in Wal-mart, they had the floss out.  I bought one skein of each to get started. 

So I guess I need to get started...

Jesse has this thing.  He likes to lick my end table.  When I was growing up and figuring out what I wanted to do with my life, the scenario in which I say, "Stop licking my end table"  never entered the picture.  But now I say it regularly.  You never know where life is going to take you. 

Just thought you needed to know that.