The Tomato Bowl

It's no surprise to anyone that I'm an avid gardener.  I love gardening because I am always learning something new.  Today I am going to discuss the tomato problem.  I learned a great secret two years ago and I will share it because I hear my Aunt and Uncle are having similar challenges.

Everytime my tomatoes would ripen, the squirrels would pluck them, take one bit of them and leave them strewn throughout the yard.  Sometimes they stole them all together.  Here's a photo I found on the internet that illustrates it perfectly:

Sure, everyone wants to eat fruit with a rodent bite.

The last time this happened.  I pulled all the tomato plants, swore profusely, and ranted that I would never grow tomatoes again.  THE VERY NEXT DAY...just to add insult to injury, the squirrels stole my neighbor's tomatoes and threw them all over my yard again :(  So I didn't grow tomatoes--no big deal--until 2 years ago when my neighbor Bill told me his solution.  It was so easy!

Bill said that he puts bowls of water near his tomato plants.  He said, "The squirrels don't want the fruit as much as they want the fluid.  I never have a problem with bites or theft."

Last year I tried his solution.  And it worked!  I even put some extra bowls around the garden and the squirrels responded positively.

I wasn't really thrilled to become a bartender for rodents but I did begin to think more sympathetically.  Our summers often have weeks of dryness (for example, we are 4 inches below the normal rainfall right now).  

With fruit developing these weeks, I've placed the tomato bowls.  Each morning, as I wander through the garden,  I make sure the bowls still are full of water.

So if you have any problems with tomato thievery, you may want to try this method yourself.  Happy Gardening!

Happy Fourth of July!

Views from the Garden!

 Greetings from the cottage!  Seamus appears to have turned a corner the last day or so and I am so grateful!  It's still a long road (he'll have this condition for the rest of his life) but we are making do.  He sits on a blanket outside with me and sleeps (he sleeps A LOT when he isn't eating/drinking all the time from the steroids).  I'm finally catching up with the garden.

Black lace Elderberry Bush (more like a tree now) through the trellis.

With some foxgloves.  Some of the foxgloves got to 61.5 inches high this year!

Speaking of the trellis, we didn't put a vine on it this year, we put on 

LIGHTS!!!  With a timer that turns it on at dusk for a few hours:

Keeping a garden is a lot of work.  I'm currently changing everything due to crowding and things seeding were they doesn't belong.  I'm also providing neighbors with the overflow plants for their gardens.  This weekend should be helpful in getting things more organized.  Then maybe I can sew, be in the house a little, etc.  

Other things blooming and such:

Another Finish and Update on Seamus

We are staying close to home these days and so I've gotten some sewing in.  I just finished binding this quilt on Saturday evening.

You might remember the quilt I made for my friend and neighbor Kathy.  Her niece saw her quilt and loved it.  So when the same niece was recently diagnosed with breast cancer, I had to put a quilt together that resembled Kathy's.  I wanted it to be upbeat.

This poppy fabric seemed to fit the bill (I had none of the original poppy fabric left).

Per Kathy's request, Terri (Trotter) incorporated hearts in the quilting.

It was a fairly quiet weekend.  The heat is bothering Seamus more than ever and he is on medication around the clock.  We have a fan set-up just for him (his usual summer delight).  I don't see much change in him yet but will be speaking to the vet later this afternoon to follow-up.  If you have had a dog with copper associated chronic hepatitis, I would love to hear from you.  I'm still learning about this condition and am still emotional at times.

Thanks and have a great day!

Happy Memorial Day!

This weekend we honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice so that we all may be safe.

Prayers for the fallen and love to the families.

Hugs,

Mickie and Seamus

'Not Cancer'

"Not cancer" was the best greeting I've ever gotten from a vet.  Seamus has been diagnosed with hepatitis (the canine kind) which sometimes occurs in standard poodles.  His liver is really inflammed right now and he is on a lot of meds. 

The condition will be chronic.  He will be on some medication for the rest of his life and he will need to be monitored.  But that is certainly more preferable to liver cancer.

Seamus loves his little dog friends.

He will need rest and medication for the next week or so.  The vet thinks in about 10 days, we will see a marked improvement in his condition.  

Thank you to everyone who sent prayers and support to us.  We really appreciated all the love and support we received this past week!  Hugs and hugs, Mickie and Seamus

Prayers for Seamus, please!

Seamus has been really slowing down lately.   Bloodwork indicates that his red blood count is down and one of his liver enzymes is elevated.  He goes tomorrow for an ultrasound on his abdomen.  If you could remember him in your prayers, I would be most appreciative!  Hugs and be well!

Rainy Days

On Saturday I received a great gift from Lee Anna at Not Afraid of Color.  Check out this cool magnet!  Thank you Lee Anna!  

We are so fortunate to be getting some rain!  It looks like it will most likely be a rainy week here and I couldn't be more grateful because of my tree pollen allergy.  Also the garden needed a good soaking.  The plants have considerably perked up with the rain and are growing at a rapid rate.

The only bad thing is that Seamus is bored and restless.  We walk in between downpours.  Yesterday I picked up my Mom's dog, Greta, for a visit.  It's always an interesting ride with the two of them in the car:

I've spent most of the weekend cutting fabrics.  I have 4 quilts in the pipeline and will post more about them as they begin to take shape.  I hope you are having a spring full of beneficial weather and doggie hugs!

Monday begins a new week!

I've been working a lot in the garden these past few weeks.  We were blessed with somewhat good weather, although we desperately need rain these days.  I removed the bed from the center of this space and the photo above shows a rough draft of pavers I am going to place in the garden.  

Seamus is 9 1/2 now.  Gravel of any sort really bothers his feet (above photo was taken in 2011).  I'm not adverse to rearranging the garden for his comfort and like Seamus, I am feeling my age a bit.  Simplifying the garden is one of my main goals for the garden during the next few years.  Hopefully, these changes will make both of our time outside easier.

Petal covered walkways in one of our parks.

In between gardening and long walks in the park, I prepared for the neighborhood yard sale we had on Saturday.  I got rid of some big items and have a nice pocketful of cash for fabric :)  It's been a lot of physical work the last few weeks.  Now it's time to give my body a rest and sew.  I sure hope you are enjoying the Spring!  Have a great day!