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| Our backyard March 2020 |
Our backyard is a bit overgrown. We used to use it a lot when the kids were here... but now we basically have given it over to wildlife... which is actually very entertaining.
And our Bay leaf tree in the back is doing beautifully. I need to pick and dry some bay leaves soon.
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| Bay leaf tree |
And the Spearmint in the front looks wonderful too. I love the smell of mint... and DH uses it in his sweet tea.
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| Mint |
We don't have flowers, but we do have a lot of greenery... so I thought I'd share some with you. I had to make the pictures very large to actually see the leaves well... hope that works OK on your computers. Let me know if it doesn't.
Today is Saturday and day 12 on our 'shelter at home'. I haven't gone anywhere outside the house except to walk around the neighborhood. DH goes off to his radiation every morning and grandson went out on a grocery run for us yesterday. He was gloved and masked. Still can't find Lysol or Clorox disinfecting wipes, but otherwise, we're fine.
I tried my best to handle the groceries carefully, either wiping them down, spraying, or washing in the sink. One can only do so much.
Made another chicken (that's 9 new additions - the flock is growing!). I also started on a crochet project and am thinking about making a few little clay foxes... (maybe).
Oh, and I saw or heard that if you're making face masks, that vacuum cleaner bags were good. I checked my bags and the ones I have are 'odor fighting hypo-allergenic charcoal filter bags' for sensitivities to odors and dust. Would these make good face masks? Would it be safe to breathe through charcoal filter bags? I only have a few, but thought I'd give it a try if this was a safe alternative. Anyone know?
Closing this with this poster I found on Pinterest. Isn't this the most calming space?
Love this!
Hugs,
Rian
I guess, I could say I have many secret places. Some for me alone, some I share with kitty, and others for Bud and me. But, I'll never tell where. It's our secret. This is only day three for our county...I've been out each day for an hour, walking. One place was more crowded 'cause everyone had the same idea. I cut my walk short.
ReplyDeleteLove seeing your luscious garden! It's beautiful. You could sit out a chair & have that as YOUR secret garden!
This is true. I could just sit out back with the cats. Used to do that a lot until West Nile became a problem. But I'm thinking that possibly mosquitoes haven't been too bad, so I could try doing that again.
DeleteEverything is so green in your back yard. Of course I know you have an entirely different climate than we do, but here, the ground still is mostly frozen and the trees are only just barely starting to bud. I'm walking the neighbourhood in the mornings, and often at lunch time too, before I have to get to work (from home), and I'm looking forward to seeing actual blooms. I did spy a few crocuses up this morning and if I'd been later in the day, they would have been open. Things are coming up, we just need some sunshine and warmer temps for them to really take off.
ReplyDeleteOkay, I've not heard of making masks from vacuum cleaner bags, but necessity is the mother of invention and all that. I suppose they're more effective than nothing.
I had popped into a nearby grocery store this morning, just after 8AM, and a young man (maybe 30-ish) was getting groceries wearing both a black mask and a plexi-glass (?) face shield. I thought he might be a health-care worker, because who has access to that kind of shield? I was envious, actually. I feel woefully unprotected and don't want to be anywhere near people at this time. I will say that shopping at that smaller nearby store is better than going to the larger one that's only slightly further away. And today they had frozen veggies, the freezer section was fully stocked. I grabbed a couple of bags right away!
Take care, both you and your husband (and all your family) and have fun adding to your flock. :-)
Stay well!
Kim
Thanks, Kim. Everything is green here... and lots of blooms (just not in our yard). I hope you get more sun and more spring-like weather soon! We see face masks around here, but I haven't seen any of those plexi-glass shields except on health care workers on TV.
DeleteI'm not sure the masks we use or make are very effective - but at least it feels like we're doing something. Take care!
Oh I love the greenery! We're getting a wee bit of spring weather today and I think I might have spotted a pair of robins but they flew away too quickly for me to be sure.
ReplyDeleteTake care and stay well!
Hope your spring continues to show. It's so pretty that it's hard to believe we're in the middle of a Pandemic. You take care and stay well too.
DeleteI like your overgrown backyard. It looks just about perfect to my eyes. And let me know if you do a crochet project how it turns out! Can one ever have too many cheeky chickens? :-)
ReplyDeleteHi DJan! Hope you are staying home and staying well. Actually the secret place reminded me of your patio that you pictured on one of your blogs... maybe not as much greenery, but still...
DeleteAs for too many Cheeky Chickens - apparently not. It's funny as I was making 2 more this morning and as I put in their little eyes, I always say, "Hello there! Now you can see me... Welcome to the world! " (I know, I'm strange)
I like the sound of the foxes, look forward to seeing them. Keep safe.
ReplyDeleteBriony
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Ok, Briony, all I needed was a little encouragement. So foxes it is! I have made a few in the past, sold some, gave some away... probably time to make a few more. I just have to keep them away from my Cheeky Chickens.
DeleteOoh, ooh, foxes are my favorite animals. Can't wait to see your versions. My whole yard is beginning to look like your overgrown back yard. My mower is in the shop and it won't quit raining here. May soon need a gun bearer to go out:)) Kidding I think.
ReplyDeleteI know overgrown is not 'fashionable', but when everything is so green, it really does look pretty. And in our yard with the high grass you occasionally see a black feral head pop up... look like miniature black panthers on the hunt. And I will start to work on the foxes this week.
DeleteGiving your backyard over to wildlife sounds wonderful. I am getting a lot of nature therapy while we go through the isolation. I have a very special place to spend time and that is the woodlot. Peaceful and serene. I still have my little clay fox from you sitting in my cupboard. Cutest thing. :-) Stay safe and stay well, Rian.
ReplyDeleteHi Deb! I expect you're in your new house now... not the mouse house? I might have missed the move somehow. If you get a chance, I would love to see more pics of it. I do see your kitchen on your Sunday post... and the cat in the basket on the counter.
DeleteAnd that's right! You have one of my foxes... getting ready to make a few more... just have to keep them away from my Cheeky Chickens!
WE can only work on things and protection as best we can and then NOT worry.
ReplyDelete"Not worry"... yes, easy so say... and not so easy to do. But keeping busy does help.
DeleteTake care, Tabor!
I didn't know where bay leaves come from!
ReplyDeleteJoanne, my friend and I bought little bay trees many years ago. Hers didn't survive and we never knew why. But I can keep her supplied in bay leaves because ours did beautifully. We use them a lot to season our food.
DeleteI saved that secret place picture. Thanks for sharing some beauty.
ReplyDeleteYou are very welcome, Olga. Do take care and stay well.
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