Rainbarrels Update

With the purchase of new gutters we decided to add more rainbarrels and after the last rain
we will be adding more in the up coming year.  With us being behind in rain fall, every drop
counts as we keep our yard green.  Why do you ask, it's an investment and less pests!!  It also
keeps your property cooler and green is in!!  Better for the environment......we walk the talk!!

The front decorative rainbarrel that feeds the upper garden in the front.

West side or the house, which are new will feed the south hosta bed 

and where we will need to add a couple more barrels.  We had the 

company we hired to add the extra down spouts due to the issues of 

ponding to the west of water that was an issue to clean out.  Just to 

heavy with the fir needles and pine cones. 

Northwest rainbarrels that feed the north hosta bed.

South side of the house these feed the strawberry and over flow gardens
where you will find our kiwis growing.

                                                                                                                                                               

 West side of the shed, this one will also feed the north side of the house.

East side of the shed, we opted for gutters on the shed this time around
to cut the erosion problem.  The hose hooked to this will drain back into
the yard once the barrel is full.

Northeast rainbarrel, with hoses to water the east side of the
driveway.

Rainbarrels for each greenhouse we keep.  Yes, the reason we keep them
in there is not only to water but if one looses power the warm water also
keeps the house warm.

I clean the barrels twice a year spring and fall to keep the water clean and
the gunk from the neighboring trees out.  We are up to 18 at the current count.
Yes, it's illegal to have them according to the laws on the books but ya know
those County Commissioners that have seen them in the past were totally impressed!!

karma's Kolumbines 2019

Several folks have asked for photos of our columbines.   So here they are!!

Stitching Projects

In January of this year I was told to spend more time inside for medical reasons.   I had several cross stitch projects saved so I started stitching again.  I started with Africa and mid way DH found another
project that he wanted for work.  I'm now back to working on Africa!!  Ya know it's been nice staying
inside during the heat of the day.

Africa per the kit.

 Africa with my artistic touch.

For VPD's conference room










In search for my next project.

Again We Have To Clean Up Our Yard!

Some of you know how nice our property is kept, we view our property as our
investment!!  But our neighbors have no clue!   Let me put it this way, if you go
to a nursery and see weeds, bugs, dead rodents and poorly kept property do you
stop and buy plants there??   Or even going to a garage sale and see the
property full of junk, unmowed or even a toilet in the front yard do you stop?

We have had many folks stop to tour our yard and when the neighboring trees drop
their junk in our yard, do you honestly think we want to show it off??   If we do we
explain what it takes to keep the property nice for everyone to tour.

Then there is the holidays and you want your property to look nice for your visitors but
yet again your yard gets trashed!!   Today our yard was mowed and picked up, which we
have had to do for over a week due to the neighbor's to the north have maples and right now
they are dropping their seeds.

These photos were taken this evening, it just took a few seconds for our yard to become a mess!!

Here is what our yard should look like, I spent the past 24 hours working to get our
yard looking nice for Mother's Day!

I hope you have a Happy Mother's Day, you know what I'll be doing on Sunday.  Yep,
cleaning up the yard again.    If you noticed the plastic on the veggie garden bed, we have to
keep that covered or it would be covered in fir needles.  Also the east side is covered by
fir needles and we have to vac that up weekly so our dog can use her area.  We have to keep
her out of certain areas due to the sap that comes out of the trees.   Let me tell you these trees haven't had proper care since they were planted.  No regular watering and no regular trimming or wind sailing.  For the past few years our yard is covered with fir needles which makes it hard to garden.
Since our neighbor do not care for their yards we are now forced to use chemicals.  They don't have grass but weeds.  This year I have dug up more dandelions and thistle than I have ever had in the past 30 years.   I am constantly on the roof blowing off the mess to save our roof from having to be cleaned.   So much for our property values.....did I mention the toilet in our neighbor's yard??

I believe one person put it nicely at one of our garage sales,  "Your property is a breath of fresh air!  What is wrong with your neighbors?  You would be welcome in our area!"

I spend more of my time cleaning up our yard than I do enjoying our beautiful yard.


Yes our neighbors know about their trees as they have gotten letters about them!

Here it is after June 15th and we are still picking up Maple seeds and starting to pull the fir and maple seeds that have sprouted.  Plus pulling the dandelions and thistle that have sprouted.