Ponds are just work, and whatever aesthetic they provide is not worth it. No ponds. (We have 5 - two decor and three gone wild.)
Transplanting lupines is not a good idea. As soon as I started to dig it up, it gave up its will to live and collapsed. These things grow wild in the Cascades, perhaps they are also not for me.
Believe it or not it looks even worse now, I think it's a goner.
The slugs and snails are eating the slug and snail bait just as fast as they're eating my plants. My lettuce is disappearing faster than growing, with happily dying slugs all around. No tulips this year either, no irises, all eaten by something.
I planted 50 bean plants and exactly 5 are growing. This is a victory because I will have at least one meal!
This rhodie survived us trying to dig it up to build the barn where it grows. We gave up, and lost some space. It prevails gloriously in purple every May.
I learn from my mistakes. I threw out all my expired vegetable seeds today, and I do not buy plants I have no success with twice!
My new solar lights are blue and purple, and really put on a show at night. As much as I hate fake animals/characters in gardens, I love colorful lights year-round.
That is exactly where Baasha used to sleep.
I had a revelation today regarding washing my windows. Since everything has been covered in yellow pollen dust, and I believe that time is over now (?) I decided to wash my windows with my car washing tools. I hosed them off, used the long-handled soft bristled brush on the glass and the window sills (that were DISGUSTING) then rinsed and used a squeegee. I estimate it took me 1/4 the time it normally takes with glass cleaner, paper towels, and microfiber cloths! *happy dance* I loathe cleaning windows but in Germany it's a thing. I got my black belt today.
I bought these dianthu s last year when my sister visited, and although they're annuals, they came back!
I couldn't figure out why I couldn't order Glyphosate from Amazon today, so I looked and looked and if I'm correct, you cannot buy Glyphosate anymore in Germany. You'll get cancer and die. *pfft* So what am I gonna kill weeds with? (I can still get Dicamba, thank God, it's what I use most of all.)
Horsey related, I bought 13kg of Mag's favorite snacks (with molasses, oh my) and my animals have become pests. If I have one in my pocket, I am followed around, as close as they can get to me without being rude, and Mag even reaches out and touches me gently, begging. It's cute but annoying, so these 13kg are going to be shared with my friends Seli and Ani, and mostly used on rides as rewards under saddle (for standing still, and walking politely >1meter behind me).
My passport arrived in the mail today so I'm good to cross International borders again for the next 10 years. I still dream of seeing Alaska, Israel and Morocco.
I found an interesting riding rain coat recently - made by Horseware - but I'm not sure about it. I contacted them because it's not clear to me if it's made for riding (does it open up to allow you to sit o a saddle?).
They got back to me that it does, and I told them they need to make that clear in their website. Also, pics of models wearing it while walking dogs makes customers doubt it's actually a riding coat. Seriously, people. I asked for a coupon for a blog review and was declined, so I'm asking if any of you have experience with Horseware's line of rain clothing, which they cleverly call "HW H20." I'm not sure I want a coat that goes down to my knees though - all I need is mid-thigh. And the specs they provide for its waterproof-ness are not convincing.
Next week is Pfingsten holiday (Pentecost) and that means I get my man all week, except he's grading German SATs. Monday Ani said she wants to take me up on my offer to have our first horsey picnic. I thought she didn't care, so I'm really excited. I can pack quite a picnic on my horse! It's perfect timing cuz next month the horse flies arrive, and stay till August. Every day I go outside and work without horseflies biting me is a pleasure. So we need our picnic now.
I asked TP (fancy arena lady) to go for a trail ride with me for the first time ever on her Arabian Dakhin. She said yes but I'm doubtful. Why have we never done this before? I assume it's cuz she doesn't trail ride. So we'll see.
I brought this back from America and included it in my Ivar's clam chowder copycat recipe. I just found this patriotic message interesting and different. Canned shrimp/clams do not exist in Germany.
Just couldn't end it with shrimp: )
This bridle/reins set is now on Ebay cuz I'm done with Zilco, how white fades to yellow. I hope to find an alternative biothane that does not change color. I'd hate to be trapped to black forever.
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4 comments:
Contact American Trail Gear about white beta biothane--or maybe the glow-belt that looks mostly white in daylight but glows a dim green in the dark!
Plants: What soil amendments are you using for your vegetables? My garden gets stall cleanings dumped on it all winter, and then all that stuff is turned under (I use a shovel, not a roto-tiller) and burned before planting. I'm not riding much this year, so I've been able to ahead of the weeds pulling them by hand/long-handled hoe. We don't use weed killer, slug bait, or chemical fertilizer--too dangerous with dogs around. Your rhododendron is glorious. I'm not much for flowering plants, most of our landscape plants are survivors from the previous owners. :-)
I've sadly had very little luck with lupine either. Trying one more time. Last time we were in Alaska it was blooming wild everywhere. Just beautiful. When I worked at greenhouse we sold dianthus as an annual as well. Though it is a perennial in some areas.
Sorry to hear that you are plagued by horseflies over there. Even in dry west Texas, we had a plague last year of biblical proportions. Smart-pacs sells an expensive horse fly trap, may try it this year.
Last year no insecticide or repellent would keep them off. In desperation, I mixed ovitrol flea & tick spray with windex and sprayed the flies one by one on the horse, then they would drop to the ground and you stomp them!
Several times I killed 100 in an hour by hand. They targeted my old grey mare who has thin skin-poor thing was covered in red streaks. They didn’t seem to bother the chestnut Peruvian with thick hide, or the Blue roan mustang with thick hide. I hate those blood-sucking devils with a passion. They are almost as bad as our blood-sucking IRS over here!
Aarene, none. Oops, is that important?
Camryn, isn't it gorgeous, blooming wild!?!!!
Sidesaddle, OMG, really. They targeted a grey horse over darker ones? Cuz I asked today, cuz I thought darker horses got eaten more.
I don't know if you read my blog last year but the horseflies love my car, and they come flying into my enclosed house entryway when I open the door (next to the car). I then smack them dead, cuz in my house, they have no power over me. It's awesome. I killed 20 in one session! There are no ticks, fireants or horseflies where I come from. Just lots of natural disasters, which I prefer.
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