Can You Test Sanity With a Thermometer?

I was going to suggest taking my temperature, but I'm not sure it would be a proper test of my current state of sanity.

FYI: Today is Wednesday, November 28. It was 40 degrees (Real Feel about 30 degrees) with a good breeze.

I bought 16 large concrete block "caps" today and hauled them to the south side of our house. For two hours I reworked one little "grass bed" back there. This small bed is supposed to help prevent soil erosion and grow grass. It is doing a pretty fair job with both, actually.

The new caps are beneath the blocks. Another view... it does have a small problem with grass on the east side...The second bed, east of the first, is not so fortunate. It's holding its own with regard to erosion, but it doesn't receive enough sunlight to grow grass. I was hopeful when I created it.

Notice the nice pile of clay soil?

Reworking the first bed means that I lifted the colored blocks the bed was edged with, dug a little deeper, laid a row of the "caps," and topped them with the colored concrete blocks. (I like their looks better.) Due to a 2:00 P.M. appointment, I ran out of time to do the same work on the second bed. So, I just laid the "caps" on top of those blocks and will wait until Spring to reverse them.

These are some of the trees (foreground) that shade the SE part of the house and yard.

Before coming home, at 4:00, I located a place that still had bagged dirt for sale, so I purchased three bags of peat. I sprinkled 1/2 of one bag on the reworked bed and mixed the other 2 1/2 bags with the good old clay soil that we have in the remaining easterly bed.

Now all I have to do is to quickly plant 45 muscari (grape hyacinths). I guess I'll have to wait until tomorrow. It is now dark. Not due to shade... ;-)

Then I can anticipate Spring! (and revamping the remaining little "grass bed.") Anyone want to help?

Okay! It's Cold and I'm Being Wimpy!

Family left around 9:00 a.m. Hubby blew leaves off the front yard. He said it is "Nice" outdoors. I decided, "Okay. I'm going to mix birdfood." Into an empty tub, I poured a mixture of sunflower hearts, safflower seeds, a mix of little tiny seeds, and cracked corn. I filled our nice 3-story feeder in the front yard. Then I made another mix for future use. My hands were feeling quite cold by then, so I went in and grabbed my camera...

The yet unidentified bush, brandishing buds for Spring!

This is the backyard birdbath. At one time, the rabbit (on the left) had ears and a tail. The bird, center figure, used to have a round head and a bill. Are there critters out there needing a daily dose of resin?

Could be "Plantimus Knownotimus" or "Plantimus Plasticus." ;-)

There's still a bit of snow residing here and there.

These are the remainder of the late anemone blossoms.

On the back porch steps...

I didn't hear the doorbell, did you?

Three Thanksgiving Recipes

I know none of these Thanksgiving posts have a thing to do with my garden... but (stretching a bit), they have to do with Someone's garden! ;-) Now, I'll get back to the yard. It's about time.

In the meantime, these are recipes for the Cranberry/Pumpkin Bread, Cranberry/Pumpkin Muffins and Cran-Yogurt Muffins we've enjoyed these past few days. Click Here.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We have such bounty, and we are thankful.
I've been having a lot of fun in the kitchen these past few days!

I baked two apple pies (can you tell I ran out of standard pie pans?),four pumpkin pies and three mini cranberry pies.

Three pumpkin pies and one apple pie went to church for
tomorrow's community Thanksgiving meal.

At our home, there will be 4 adults and 2 young children.
Surely the rest of the pies and other goodies and trimmings will be enough!

You might like to have a close-up of those little cranberry pies (click here).
I will post the recipe, with others, after Thanksgiving.

May you and I, each of us, celebrate the
many ways we have been blessed.
And may tomorrow's Thanksgiving Day be the beginning of a year-long recognition.

Getting Ready for Thanksgiving

Subtitle: Warming the Kitchen and Whetting the Appetite
(Perhaps this has nothing to do with gardening,
but it has everything to do with the gardener!) ;-)
I know I have a lot of cleaning to do. I made a rather dull attempt today... cleaned 3 toilets, made a bed, and vacuumed a bedroom.
But, this evening... I was in a baking mood!
The photo below shows the aftermath.
Here's "the rest of the story!"

For What Are You Most Thankful?

I wonder if you would help me make a list?

For what are you most thankful?
Leave a comment and list three items.
I'll add mine on the comment page, as well. I want to give the matter a bit more thought.
Although, I'll probably include family and tender moments.
This is my daughter and her daughter (my granddaughter!).

Doing Justice

I was premature in posting the photo of the red Thanksgiving cactus. This picture was take about a minute ago. And it's still not completely open. But it's looking so much better, isn't it?