cookie and flowers

Some pictures of the past week to share on this very rainy Thursday

To start 

Grand girls Cookie girl had to have a shampoo and cut last Saturday.

She loves the primping

Before

She is part sheep dog and poodle or a sheepadoodle

I managed to get the rest of the tulip bulbs planted as they all came up in the pots. 

I was surprised and just about all have blooms

around the lamp post and around the tree bed I am still working on

I picked just one hyacinth and the scent filled air downstairs

I had moved many strawberry plants to pots last year and now I see the blooms in the pots

they are doing well

See that little tiny Iris?  I found these at Walmart garden center for one dollar in pots with four and sometimes five in one pot.  They are here around lamp post and some in pots at sidewalk.

In the town of Ashland Va is this carving from the tree a stately Eagle.

Very fine piece in the front yard of the home. 

short video 

taken previous  Saturday 

Happy Saturday.  It's snowy here and 29 degrees.  Supposed to drop lower tonight.  It's pretty but so glad I got my plants in last night.

Some very little Iris I purchased along with tulips.  I put them in the planter at front on sidewalk.  

I will throw a few flower seeds in the dirt to have summer bloom and just leave the bulbs to die back where they are.

children were taken to the park by Opa in sunny weather day before the snow.

Looking forward to chive blossoms for more onion vinegar from them.  I like mixing with a little olive oil for salad along with other spices

Well, here is a short video of today so far.

~bh

 

Seed starting.

I am a little later starting seed this year.  Last year I started some in February and they were just so leggy and overgrown by the time it came for planting outside. So now a little later, except for Ranunculus flower that I started in late February 

I have not grown these before.  I do love eating these by themselves.

Ranunculus bulbs I soaked overnight in water a few weeks ago, maybe three weeks and they are really growing well.  

March 2nd about when I took this picture

I purchased from Amazon a few grow lights and they seem to help.  I ordered a shelving unit also that I put together with rollers.

Not bad at all to assemble.   I have this in downstairs spare room for right now.  I will put these out in my tiny greenhouse that is just a metal frame with plastic cover.  Works o.k. on my patio to hold the seedlings and it stays pretty warm at night after a warm day with a bag or two of sand I sometimes put at the bottom to hold it in case of high winds or gusts.  

An assortment of herbs.  Not all will do well.  I usually plant three in a pot together and keep on the patio to be cut for dishes I am making. Good to have fresh herbs.  I do dry some for the winter to have on hand.  I do see I am missing some dill and thyme not in the cells here. 

I got some of the tulip bulbs I ordered in the pots late and some daffodils.  Will see what happens with them.  I have already planted a few at the lamp post in front yard. 

This poinsettia I purchased in late November from Home Depot is still looking so good.  I can't get over how long this plant has flowered and still no sign of dropping petals yet. 

This orchid I got from the Children on Valentine's Day has been repotted.  It is still in flower, but I noticed that the roots on top or tendrils, I do not know what they are called, looked shriveled, I soaked a few minutes in water and let them drain really well and now it all looks good. 

There is a smaller one on the table behind it that I repotted also.  It had some pretty lighter flowers, but I broke them when I took the little stake out.  

An azalea that sprouted off from another in the yard I pulled up and potted a few days ago.  They always do well until I find another place for them. 

I have this dogwood the third season in this teensy pot that I really didn't think would live but it has, and it has little buds where the leaves will be.  I am going to put it in a larger pot for right now.  

“It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade.” ― Charles Dickens

 It's 70 degrees out.  Maybe Spring is coming sooner than I think. 

 This old barn in Luray Va.

Burners Lodge, Luray Va. - Pt.1

Few pictures from our get away the first week of February. 

This sign at the start of driveway on way up mountain. 

Luray in Page County Va.

Off in the distance from the driveway on start up the mountain is the circled lodge.  One and a half mile up.   Deer and Cows along the way.

I zoomed in with my camera here

Luray is where we rented a cabin, called Burners Mountain Lodge.  Very quiet and not a sound to be heard.  

From our deck to page valley below and Blue Ridge mountains in the distance.  

Made it

Back out for a little while to look around

Stove fueled by propane.  Nice to have going especially in the evenings.

Steve can be seen through window starting grill for steaks

Our steaks with salad.  Side of potatoes, mixed with red peppers and onions

Kitchen well stocked

Gangs all here

Standing on deck looking out. Not a house to be seen.

Mountain straight up behind us

Hot tub ready to go

walking around to the front under the deck.

Reflection in window of sunset, plus the one on top window.

 
The first night I was a little jumpy, I guess.  I didn't hear a sound which was good.  I was raised in the country surrounded by forest.  I guess I should be used to it.  Reading too many stories about bears lately. 

Time to turn in.   I am thinking that it's a planet I am seeing in the night sky as it is not twinkling. No lights to keep us from sleep. Pure quiet and darkness tonight.

This last picture I am not sure of the time of day I took it from our deck. Must be sunrise with the fog over the valley lifting.  I like how this one turned out almost monotone.

Drive to cabin.  My driver took his time getting there. Just taking it

all in.