Finally, two of my tomatoes are ready for harvest.
A co-worker was selling this old trellis at her garage sale for $5. I begged Chuck to drag it home for me. He could see the work but not the potential. Chuck is going to add some supports to strengthen it and I am spray painting it a hammered copper color. This is the "before" picture. It will be beautiful when it is done and make a great entrance into my garden.
Flowers in bloom.
My Dad gave me several old iron wheels. I have been placing them around the yard with flowers, rocks and other ornaments. I think they look very rustic and add interest to my yard.
Some old broken pots add interest at the corner of the deck. I broke the bottoms out of these pots years ago but they are still in service.
I planted these Zinnias from seed.
I think Zinnias are beautiful.
Wiley in his natural habit. Wiley spends a great deal of time keeping the garden free of squirrels, birds and bees. It is a job he seems to enjoy.
Garden path
I have recently planted six fruit trees--an apple, pear, apricot, plum, tangerine and a peach. All were on various summer end clearance racks and each cost no more than $15 dollars. I really wanted a cherry tree but couldn't find one. The yard is getting pretty crowded with trees but I think I can still crowd in one more. All seem to be doing well and I hope to have actual fruit within 3 years. Since I did not plant them in pairs, I will have to rely on the bees to pollinate and may not get as high a yield.
Tiger Lilies
Rainbow over Lake Shawnee.
Erica called me one night and said I had better go take a picture of the rainbow. Andrea and Brian were over so Andrea and I rushed down to the lake. It was already dissipating by the time we got there. I took some pictures of Andrea with the rainbow in the background but I had a rain drop on the lens and it ruined the picture.
Sunset shot of duck in rain.
I can never have too many pictures of Chuck and the lap dog.
My other husband, Kris.
Site of the Sting operation.
Bad guy strolling away.
G-Job in a stable.
New panel in the tack room.
Chuck with trencher.
Chuck hates when the homeowner constantly looks over his shoulder as this one did.
I haven't put anything on the blog lately so above you find a Hodge Podge of pictures--from my garden to my undercover work to rainbows to horses. I wear a lot of hats.
For those of you not in Kansas, it's hot here. Very hot. Most days are in the upper 90's and some have slipped over the 100 mark. I usually work up a sweat walking the quarter mile from the parking lot to my building before 8am. I don't know how Chuck manages to work outside or better yet, in attics.
I have a "plant route". Once a week I go around to the various home improvement centers and discount stores (Lowes, Home Depot, Wal-Mart, etc.) and buy "distressed plants". I only buy perennials. For the most part, these are plants which are past their bloom time. I take them home, pick off the dead blooms and plant them. Sometimes they re-bloom and if not they will come up next year. This week I bought several perennials for $1 each (retail $5.99) at Lowe's which was a real steal. I have found by talking to the garden manager and pointing out the pitiful condition of the plants, I can often negotiate lower prices. It pays to be cheap. Some people collect "things" but I collect "plants". I know I am out of control when I start hiding my plant purchases from Chuck.
I was involved in an undercover investigation two weeks ago. My boss and I attended a sales presentation by an out of state company being held in a Kansas City Hotel. I am "Kimberly" and he is "Kris". However, since I am so paranoid about forgetting and calling him by his real name, I usually just call him "Honey". How many of you get to call your boss "Honey"?
The company was selling packages in a discount travel club for world for several thousand dollars (I can't discuss details because it is still an open investigation however what I have stated here has already been reported in the Kansas City Star and other newspapers). We were required to show two forms of identification to attend. This is always a red flag in my opinion. How many legitimate businesses require two forms of ID to come into their "showroom".
After we left the presentation, we had to drive back to the office (after hours) and write lengthy affidavits. I left at 11pm but the attorneys were there until well after 3am. The next morning, we were able to get an emergency hearing before a judge and obtain a Temporary Restraining Order which we went down and executed later that day. This article appeared in the Kansas City Star:
http://www.kansascity.com/115/story/719511.html
When I was not working undercover, I was working as an Electrician's Helper to Chuck. We took a couple of side jobs this month. Pulling wire in a horse stable is not nearly as exciting as pretending to be someone I'm not. Most of what I do as an Electrician's Helper can be summed up in three words--"Go get me...."--followed by the name of an item I don't recognize. For example, Chuck will say, "Go get me a Roman clampless strap". I respond, "What's a Roman Clampless Strap?" Chuck replies with a sigh and a lengthy explanation such as "It's orange and round, it's behind the driver's seat in my Milwaukee tool box." At this point I trot off and look through hundreds of tools until I find something that I think could possibly resemble a Roman Clampless Strap and bring it back to him, at which point he tells me I have actually brought him an Ignostsky Clamper Belt. Usually at this point he gives up and goes and gets the part himself and complains about how I have rearranged everything and now he can't find anything. Free help is hard to find and as I always like to say, you get what you pay for.
I am always telling Chuck I wish he was a Doctor (for numerous reasons) but mainly because I have never heard of a doctor coming home and telling his wife to clear off the dining room table before the weekend because he took a side surgery job to pay for the new pool.
To finish, be sure and view this video of Wiley exercising. I am glad at least one of us is getting in shape.
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