GREENHOUSE UPDATE

Today I dedicate my blog to giving an update on the progress in my greenhouse. Ok, so most of you will find this incredibly boring....but bear with me..this is a big deal to me right now....I am attempting to grow wonderful treasures for my summer gardens. This sounds so nice and poetic, so untill all hell breaks out, or a spring tornado comes by and smashes all my efforts, just humor me, ok???

So, here is what is currently in the seed beds, gently resting over heating mats. I have yellow sunrise Coneflower, Mixed colors Pansys, Viola's and Kurtis has planted up a tray of German Giant Radish's (um,,yes, radishes in the greenhouse....I know, I know, this is silly, but he did work his tail off and build this thing for me, so I have to humor him....and woulnt ya know it, his radish's are all up already) I also have seeded snail flower and prickly catepillar plant. So far everything is popping up out of the soil but the coneflower, but it takes longer to germinate.
Marsha and I also have about 6-8 varieties of lillies, peonies, calla, and other interesting things (bulbs) all potted up to get a jump on their growing time.
It is so exciting..each day I go in there it seems something new is showing...In about another week or two I can really get down to business with starting of seeds. I think at this point I have around 60 packets of seeds to start...I have it figured that if everything sprouts and needs transplanting...I need approximately 3 acres of growing room.......yes, as usual totally carried away!!! I might want to note, that in the future editions of this blog, you may see me sending a great plea for volunteers to take plants and give them homes!!!
So, I will continue with updates as they become available....Until next time....MOM

The Prickly Catepillar Plant.

This is a climbing Snail Flower

I promised I wouldn't let you down...and I'm a women of my word!!


The embarassing part is that it took a email from my sister to resolve the problem. Apparently for some reason my email was corrupted and the pictures wouldnt load, Marsha sent them to me again..and wah lah it worked!!!!

So, guess what....you get to revel in the glory of seeing Marsha and I in what we like to refer to as the "Most Memorable Moment of our Lives"! Yes, childbirth was......life changing....getting married was a real hoot...buying that first beautiful Trans Am Pontiac....well, just plain exciting.......But, meeting Roger Swain in person.........PRICELESS!! Now, if you don't find yourself in a complete state of envy...apparently you are not a gardener of our level...what we would refer to as a "Novice"....that's ok, you can work towards it, it's possible.
We had a very enlightening conversation with Roger regarding garden problems such as "Clematis Wilt" favorite tomatoe varieties and how to ammend your garden soil. I asked Roger what ever happen to Victory Garden..without missing a lick, he spoke out and said "Well, they fired us"!!!! They went ahead with the show without us, can you imagine that......I mean would you fire Big bird, Bert or Ernie and still have Sesame Street?????? Well, there wasn't much I could say, guess I would have to agree with him. Of course Marsha and I assured him we would never turn the tv to that show ever again.....yes, we are very loyal to Roger.
And there you have it.....the Chicago Flower Show highlight as promised...thank you Marsha for the email and salvaging the photos...thank you Anna for taking them, so until next time..MOM

Another copy being signed...look at me stuffing another one in my bag.....I believe Roger told us if nothing else we can sell them on Ebay for $4.00 a copy.

Please note the intensity here...I am sucking up each and every word...The conversation was regarding "Clematis Wilt" something I am embarassed to admit I have. Please note the magazine,,I believe he gave me 3 signed copies!

Now, isn't this everything I said it would be!!! Yes, this is Mr. Roger Swain...The Victory Garden....and yes he has his arms around Marsha and I.....now folks this is big!!!!

OK OK OK....I've tried everything!!! It just isnt going to work!!!

I just dont know what to say...I have tried for 4 days now to load my prized pictures of Roger Swain for all of you to enjoy (and laugh at), but it just doesn't appear that it is going to work!! I am so embarassed that after almost 30 years in the IT business (that's information technology for those of you wondering) I can't get a couple of simple photos to upload to this blogger......but have no fear, I haven't given up completely!
So, I have loaded some of my pictures (without Roger in them) for your enjoyment. Marsha and I had a wonderful time at the flower show! As I said before Josh and Anna treated us like loyalty..these kids had some good up-bringing some where.
The flowers and displays at the show were really beautiful, I tried to take some nice pictures to show that, but unfortunately really take that many..my camera got kind of heavy and I ended up sending it back to the car.
Now, as I mentioned earlier Marsha and I were treated to the wonderful honor of meeting the famous Roger Swain. Now, for those of you that don't know who that is.....well, I'm quite embarassed for you..and I would have to assume you either aren't a gardener or you are a damn poor one!! Roger was the host for years of the PBS Television show "The Victory Garden". I have very fond memories of watching him outfitted in his favorite pair of tingley boots, wading up to his thighs in a pond explaining the proper placement of pond rocks for maximum enjoyment..or kneeling down in the wet mud and grass to get the right perspective on planting some practical shrub that he would affectionately name the "plant of the week". Ah, such sweet memories..then to have actually gotten a big squeeze from him...what can I say..I was almost weak in the knees! We then pursued a quality conversation regarding the frustration of "Clematis Wilt" and Marsha jumped right in a quizzed him on his favorite tomatoe!! I believe he recommended the 'Sun gold" for flavor qualities and the "Celebrity" for profuse crop levels!! Yes, it was really enjoyable! We were just sick we didn't take the opportunity to invite him out for coffee or something...and by gosh I believe he just may of taken us up on it.
So, I'm going to continue to wrestle with these pictures, but for now..these will have to do.
Until next time....MOM

This was one of my favorite garden displays..it featured all sorts of farm implements placed around in gardens.....Hmm I wonder who has old rusted pieces of this stuff all over the farm...maybe, just maybe they could be useful!

This is the front of the house looking out to the street...lots of beautiful hardwood floors. These two are extremely tidy..note no magazines or papers laying all over......hmmm where did they learn that?

This is the front or Josh and Anna's house in Chicago. It was snowing heavily when we arrived, so I slipped out and took some pictures. Anna was in L.A. and made it home despite the snowfall. We sat around and talked till midnight while stuffing our faces with good ole fashion Chicago pizza.....ummm.

OK, maybe you think I'm just being rude....

Its not that I don't have anything to talk about on my blog....quite the contrare. I have alot to talk about, and alot of great pictures to show....but guess what, I can't get them to load to this darn blog site all of a sudden. I don't know if there is some serious problem with this program, or if It's my pictures....which doesnt really make sense.
I'v tried everything....Ive even tried loading the images to another image host (thats a web site that you can load your pictures to) but with no success.
So, here's the deal..I'm going to make one more attempt before getting just plain pi__ed. I just have to get my special pictures from the flower show loaded ..they are some real classics.
So, hold in there just another day or so and I'll see what I can do....
Until next time....MOM

Now, this is an all-out CRISIS!!

Imagine this, I'm fresh home from the Chicago Flower show, camera bursting with great shots of beautiful flowers.......and ...and....pictures of the almighty Roger Swain taking a moment of personal shots with Marsha and I...and the picture loading portion of Blogger is down!!!!! This is serious!!
So, you will have to wait until this website is repaired to see the wonderful images of the flower show!
I'm not sure quite where to start in my report of the past weekend..it was so much fun I can hardly contain myself.
My first Thank you though has to go out to Anna and Josh for the top notch accomodations that were provided. There is no way I would of swapped staying at the Hiatt for staying with Anna and Josh. I have some nice pictures of their beautiful home to post later too. Again, Thank you so much you guys..the pizza was over the top, and I am still in awe at Anna's ability to take my big explorer and shove it right down the throat of the congested downtown Chicago traffic....what a feat!!
Now, the show..although there were a couple of items I was surprised weren't accounted for.....it was very spectatular!! Marsha and I had the priveledge of meeting the one and only famous Roger Swain of the PBS series "Victory Garden" He was everything and more that we had come to expect!! I can't wait to post some pictures.....especially for my brothers..no doubt they will have an opinion.
So, I'm going to save the rest of the excitement for when I can load images....to give you the full effect. But for now, I am home and glad to be back in a calmer environment.....and less traffice....but Chicago was great fun!!
Until next time....MOM

Oh my god it's missing!!! Oops no, there it is....it's just not functioning!

I'm sorry but I'm afraid my brain has already checked out and is on the way to the Chicago Flower Show!! I'm having a hard time concentrating on anything but lush green things that are growing!!
Tonite I will spend rallying around my American Tourister Travel Bag. Lets see now......I can't forget my critical survival items....such as......1) A fan..yes, a fan. I can't sleep without the comforting humm of a good ole' Summer Breeze model 610 from Wal-mart. I'm afraid this might be something that is in the genes from a relative of mine that used to sleep with a fan running and would don a pair of goggles to keep his eyes from drying out! OK, enough of that. Now, #2) Pack my pills. God help us! I seem to have more pills these days than a well stocked pharmacy....but gonna need 'em, especially those long green ones that help my foot pain when walking alot....does anyone have a Hover-round I could borrow! 3) My better pair of Jammies. Yep, sounds like I'm going to be sleeping with my sister again....haven't done that now in about 38 years....I still remember the time I wasn't respecting the "keep your distance" rule and she gave me a hell of a slapping, so I quickly retreated back to my "side" of the bed. Kurtis, It just dawned on me why I like my "space!!!" and 4) My camera...I hope to get some nice shots to share with all of you when I return.
I am so looking forward to this trip..and seeing my wonderful niece Anna (and you too Josh) It will be nice to see their place and how Iowan's get along in the big city.
So, if I don't get around to updating this blog for awhile, you will know it is because I am having a hell of a time in Chicago... until next time....MOM

Oh, can't you just breath in the lush spring air looking at these beauties...This is a picture that was taken at last years Chicago Flower Show.......get the drift!!!

Yes, today we were as one......and as one we shall remain....untill something goes drastically wrong!

It is with great respect I read and absorb all information left for my by my loyal blog readers. I am happy to report I spent the day today bonding and becoming accustomed to my partner in pre-greenhouse preparation. I hauled with, backed cautiously and dumped repeatedly with the Mule...and we got along just splended. There was, to be honest, one intense moment when I parked it, went to get out, tripped and landed on my kiester -- quickly looking to assure no one walked around the corner and observed the grotesque exhibition....but other than that we got along quite famously. I spent the entire day cleaning out and organizing my greenhouse for intense propogation procedures commencing very shortly! I really did have a good time taking the "non-greenhouse" items, placing them in my the little mule box and delivering it to the proper place to file it ( officially known as the garbage) Im happy to report there is no longer any Bullets, tools, cast iron cookware, garbage, storage boxes, etc in the greenhouse, just essential growing supplies!
It was just beautiful out today..I actually had to take off my sweatshirt and go with a T-shirt only while working....of course Im sure that has nothing to do with my slight overweight, out of shape condition....nah!!
It was all I could do to hold off on putting seeds in dirt, watering them and waiting for the action to start.....I just about did until I went in to get some lunch and some damn radio guy came on with the 5 day forecast.....I head him mutter something about a chance of snow and lows in the 20's.....rats!! So, I have to hold off for awhile....but boy Im am ready to go!!
Tonight was spent at the Cedar County Republican Convention. Even though alot of the evening balances on the boring side...some of it really is interesting. I guess you just have to figure it to be a chance to catch up on what is going on with our State law-makers and what may be ahead in the 2008 elections. We even had a man speak that is running for President in 2008 from the Chicago area....I did notice a definate lack of any CNN cameras following him...what do you think his chances are??
So, tomorrow is Sunday...I hope its nice again..it would be nice to be outside again for the day...but according to that mouthy radio guy, doesnt sound like it. So, until next time..MOM

A CZECH riding a MULE.......

Hmmm..paints kind of a funny picture in your mind doesn't it?

So, here is the up-shot. I planned for a week (or maybe 4 months) to go get my camper yesterday......I put the day aside special, warned Kurtis of it multiple times, and actually got a verbal committment from him that we could do so..... as long as it was relatively dry and decent day........Welllllllll, then came the rain!! I really do try to be "as one" with mother nature, you know, gardening....weeding..fertilizing..etc etc...but when I need just one ounce of cooperation from the old bag..she craps on me.. or in this case dumps 2" of rain on me. I don't know, I still think we could of dragged it home in the rain, lightening and occasional gale force winds.....but Kurtis held his ground. I actually didnt even argue, since I did have some desire to enjoy the event without tracking mud and having the axels sink about 4 inches into the soft driveway we have...so until the next nice day...it remains in the quad cities.
However, it was apparently just the right kind of weather for Kurtis to take delivery on his "Mule" yesterday. That transaction came off without a hitch! When I got home from Cedar Rapids I was met at the door by an enthusiastic husband just thrilled to take me out and show me how to drive it......I stammered a bit and made note "But, But, its like raining out....." "Oh, thats ok, it will quit". So off we went. After a brief instruction on how to start it, put it in gear, back up, engage 4 wheel drive.......It was "off" we went!! The first 5 minutes were quite enjoyable..we zipped up and down the road for a mile or so (all while wiping the stinging rain drops out of my face) but suddenly we took a dive down into the lane leading to the pasture....Jess, you know the spot..where you used to sled ride down hills boasting angles only riveled by Mt. Everest!! I immediately began voicing my concern for what was about to happen....but it was too late. So much for my fear of carnival rides..make no mistake this was going to be a BIG ONE!! So, down we went...over the creek, over those great big humpy things the cattle make by walking in the same trail year after year!!!!! Remember not only is it extremely rough and steep, its raining and muddy......But unbelievably we made it. I think I may of wet myself no less than 10 times!! Kurtis was just buzzing with amazement of where we went and that we "didnt spin out one time".......he didnt bother noticing that I had just about passed out with urine soaked undies!!!! But we did make it back to the house and I know I will enjoy using it for my quiet gardening and hauling of precious cargo....from the greenhouse.
So, until next time.....MOM

Kurts newest play thing......I made it clear I don't think he should be able to use it until my camper comes home......I doubt if he listens.

It's raining....It's pouring.....the ole man is snoring.......

It's 8:30 p.m. There is a nice gentle rain coming down outside...and a few minutes ago I heard the rumble of thunder........You know what that means???? Yeah, Spring is in the air!!!!
When I came home from work this afternoon I had a couple of robins in the back yard and there are several red winged blackbirds on the telephone lines...I could of sworn I heard the sounds of a lawnmower running in the distance! It wont be long now!
The week has definately started off with a bang. Kurtis finally had his appointment at the Univ of Iowa to see Dr. Sivitz for his diabetes. It took most of the day, but I think we are off and running on a new treatment regime for him. It seems a bit depressing to me and I feel very bad for him..he has to test his blood like 6 times a day now and do insulin injections before each meal....I hope this works.
Today was Nellie Donovans funeral. She was 98 years old...and lived a good life. The church was mostly full of close relatives....she definately did her part in populating this area. I feel bad that I really know very few of my cousins. Maybe a reunion in the future would be a good idea.
Well, tomorrow we are suspose to go get my camper from Thompson and Sons RV in the quad cities. I think I have Kurtis convinced to do it, but he said it can't be muddy or rainy.....I am sitting her listening to the wind against the side of the house and I know it has been raining since about 2:00 this afternoon.. Do you ever think that mother nature has it in for you sometimes?? Damn. I don't know if I'll ever get the darn thing home. Maybe I can use the approach that wouldn't it be nice to bring it home anyway in the rain and mud, then set it up here in the lane and light the fireplace and read a good book? Hmmm, I doubt if he buys it.
Not too much more exciting...so will close for now....Until next time....MOM

(using a very squeeky voice) Guess what I saw in the garden!!!! Potato Blossoms!!

Just an inside joke..if you get it, great..if not ... never mind!!

Yep, this is going to be another weekend of very intense garden planning! After several days of searching, I finally came across the snapdragon seeds I just knew we had seen earlier. They do claim to be 4 foot high....just right for the cursed wind to flatten at the height of blooming. But, I have a plan!!! Besides, thats what gardening is all about...dreaming and imagining the beauty when in reality filthy mother nature just waits to trash it all all turns!
But, never fear..the fun is in playing the game.
I have got to do something...my Brugmansia have just about out grown my living room..I'v got to figure a way to heat my greenhouse just during the chilly hours of the evening without breaking the bank....so I continue my pursuit to resolve that problem. I have several things that desperately need to be moved from the house so they can continue to grow.
I have now managed to purchase nearly 50-60 packages of garden seeds....as usual "totally carried away" I was just over-whelmed the other day when Walmart had them for almost half price already....I hate Walmart, but boy do I get sucked in sometimes.
So, here is my weekend list of to do's:
1.) Do the Wash (yuk)
2.) Vaccumn all floors (Kurtis was suppose, but he has ratted out on me)
3.) Put together my exercise bike (I might move this to the bottom of the list)
4.) PLAN THE REST OF MY SEED PURCHASES!!!!
4.) PLAN THE REST OF MY SEED PURCHASES!!!!
5.) PLAN THE REST OF MY SEED PURCHASES!!! (do you see a trend here)

So until next time.....you can find me with my face buried in the seed catalogs......MOM

SNAPDRAGON PLUM BLOSSOM!!

Yep, here it is Snapdragon Plum Blossom..."A must have for the border in your garden...Spikes that glow like a candle...reaching a spectacular height of 4 feet!!