May 2014

 

Well, another month has passed and it's hard to believe I've just celebrated the first anniversary of my retirement!!  It has been a busy year and I'm loving it!!

This May was especially busy with fun adventures enjoying the warmer weather.  Here are the highlights.

I spent A LOT of time in the gardens this month.  Once again, I think I pushed the weather a bit.  I tend to start planting the first or second warm day we have then end up pulling everything in or covering them up when Jack Frost returns.  Well, May had lots of pleasant warm days and enough moisture so those early plantings are well settled into their gardens beds.

 

My early SALAD GARDEN.

 

... and one of the salads we enjoyed from it!

 

 

 

 

The Knock-Out Roses then ...

 

 

(I really gave them a haircut this February!!  Some of these guys had gotten almost as tall as me in just 3 years!  "Back off, boys!!")

 

...and now!

 

The Vegetable Garden then ...

(Tiny Cabbages and a little spinach)

LOL!

(Tomatoes?)

(Peas and kale)


... and now!

You can see the pea vines are already blooming on either side of the cabbages.  The kale is on the far right.

Yep, those were tomatoes!  Bush green beans in the foreground.

Couldn't go to the garden without Sallie!



Here are some shots from the flower beds -



 



 

 

 

 

 

 

A special THANK YOU to Wonderful Hubby and Favorite Son for helping me with all of the mulch!! 

 

 

There were several 'capers' out and about this month.  Early in May, Precious Daughter,  Dear Mother-in-Law and our World-Traveling Cousin went on a "Kitchens in Bloom Tour" in Columbia, MO to benefit their Council on Aging.  Unfortunately, there were no pictures allowed but we saw 5 different kitchen that had been recently updated in a variety of styles.  Each of us had our favorite and it was such a fun tour, we hope to go on it again sometime! 

 

 

Later that week, several of my retired buddies and I traveled to Pike County, MO to visit Amish Country.  It was a bright and lovely day to be in the country.  The stores and people we visited were so inviting!  Oh, and the goodies we brought home! 

 

 

 

 

 

(Yes, there were six to begin with.)

 

 

You can read more about that trip HERE.

 

 

In the middle of the month, Wonderful Hubby had a meeting at the Lake of the Ozarks and I went along.  I met Sweet Sister (who lives in the area) and we shopped for the day!  It was fun to spend the day together!  Hope we can do it again VERY soon!!  On the way home, WH took me by Cranes Country Store in Williamsburg, MO.  What fun!  They've been selling Boots, Bullets, Britches and Bologna since 1899!

 

 

That weekend, several of my Master Gardener Buddies went with me to the Ste. Genevieve (MO) Garden Walk.  What a treat!!  Here are just a few photos.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Precious Daughter made me this sweet cake for Mother's Day.  Isn't it neat!! 

 

 

 

The next week, I was hostess for our local Garden Club.  One of my Master Gardener friends, presented an informative program on Bees, Butterflies and Other Pollinators.  I made shortbread cookies in the shape of butterflies and flowers, as well as blueberry muffins. 

 

 

 

 

Our Community Gardens are coming along.  We've already donated almost 50 pounds of produce to our local food pantry!  



 

 

You can keep up with all of our projects at our new website: http://lincolncountymomastergardeners.blogspot.com/  

 

 

Finally, I gave a history presentation for a friend who was recovering from surgery.  She is a quilter and has made MANY lovely pieces.  One quilt is a replica of an Underground Railroad Sampler Quilt.  She presents this program to the Fifth Graders in the school where she used to teach.  Since she was laid up, I filled in for her.  She was well prepared, which made my job easier! 

 

 

 Speaking of quilts, I finished another quilt top and hope to start quilting it soon.

 

 

 

There wasn't much time for tablescapes this month but I did one table using our wedding dishes.  Kathleen of Cuisine Kathleen challenged us to use our (or a family member's) wedding china.  We chose a Pfaltsgraff pattern 26 years ago: Remembrance.  You can read more about it here.

 

 

 

 

Here is Favorite Son standing with Wonderful Hubby and his second turkey of the spring season. 

 



 

 

Just a few extra photos, just because.

 

 

Garden Produce! 

 

 

 

 

 

Peonies

 

 

 

                        Spring storms bring hail!

 

 New chair cushions for the back porch!

 

 

Could we be seeing new neighbors soon?  This little wren's nest was built in one of my potted herbs.  She has five eggs.  I'll keep you posted! 

 

 

Thanks for stopping by.  Leave me a comment and let me know what you've been up to.

 

  Happy June!