Cailyn's Last Year of High School

It's weird that we're in our last year of high school.  I drive her every morning.  There are lots of giggles and some good conversations.

That same week I planted 40 tulips in my back yard.

Some of my sunflowers had gorgeous rusty middles.  I've tied them with string so I don't accidentally deadhead them.  I want to see if they reproduce rusty middles next year.

We also used our table for its intended purpose for the first time on the September long weekend.  It was a good campaign.

I bought Darth Vader as a joke for Cory's push button car a year ago.  He still uses it.  It makes me giggle.

I don't think the orange flower above is a Cosmo.  The foliage is different as is the centre.  This is a bad picture.  I should take another.  It's still blooming.

I dug up lots of garlic.  I still need to plant lots of garlic.  I have planted some and did not record where it is.  I will have surprises next spring.

I've finally started on my dining room photo wall.

I am stock piling seeds for next spring.

Billy stopped by to say hello last Sunday.  It was so beautiful that I spent the afternoon on the deck.

Johnny Jump Ups are all over my gardens.  I'm not mad about it.  These are still blooming cheerfully under my hydrangea.  

I know nothing about hydrangeas.  That didn't stop me from buying a half price one last fall.  It has little green flowers on it.  I think it's called a lime something.  Not sure.  I read something about pruning them today.  There are three types and that dictates how I prune.  I need to see if I can find a picture of the tag so I can find out which type it is.

My gardens are getting full which is exactly as intended.  I have plans for Martagons from Cheryl - she is going to ship me some this fall.  I think the only other thought I have is a grape vine.  Susan had grapes in her back yard when they lived here (the jam was marvelous) and I gave one to Rebecca C as a thank you a few years back and it looks AMAZING and had so many grapes on it when we visited a month or so ago.   A visit to Green Haven in the spring might be in order.

The Rest of August

  

 

I planted two different sunflowers in the back.  Mulon Rouge and Cherry Rose.  None of the Mulon Rouge grew.  I have two that are supposedly Cherry Rose.  It looks nothing like the picture on the package.  It is different than regular sunflowers though - the yellow is much more pastel.

 

The daylily above might be "of value".  I have forgotten.

 

Below is the daylily "burn out" (probably) and Port Alberni Tiger Lily (likely) 

 

 

We got a new clock after the one we had took a dive and we discovered just how often we used that clock.

See also a purple flower that Jeanette identified for me and I forgot. 

 

 

This picture of a lasagne is circumstantial evidence that we had guests over - Geoff & Susan as well as TJ and Sandra joined us for a lovely evening.

 

Then we went drag racing and brought our baby girl home.  See also Cailyn acting as the responsible licensed adult for one of her under-aged cousins. Snicker.

 

 

As per usual, this is a special family time.

 

Then Rebecca Riley came to visit.  Recall that I am spelling her name wrong.  There is at least one 'k' and probably and 'h' somewhere in there.  Saying goodbye was very hard.  She is doing well in BC and I'm so happy for her.

 

 

More guests!!  Most of these wonderful people reside in Nova Scotia.

Malva.  I completely forgot that I planted Malva in the back yard.  It was looking like a weed until it bloomed.

 

Cory bought me my Christmas present early.  There are approximately a gross of bulbs in those bags.  It took a while but they are all planted.

 

Jeanette brought us honey, courtesy of her boon of backyard bees.  Rebecca whipped some up into a frothy coffee confection.  It was divine.  

 

 

Cuppers with Cailyn and Jacob.  Touching grass with Cailyn at the cornmaze.  Ziplines at the cornmaze.

 

A Pauls Visit!!!

Seven out of eight Pauls (EDIT:  eight out of nine.  Numbers hate me) people dropped by for a couple nights.  It was such a fun time.  Three people took over the theatre room, two used Cailyn's room and three spent nights in the music room.  This first picture was me putting out all the breakfast options.  We spent lots of time in the back yard, went to a couple of thrift stores and took a walk.  John did his best to strike terror in my heart by casually climbing the upper deck and announcing calmly that he was going to fall.