What? Rocks Move.......

There's something you may never think about, or maybe you didn't even know.  Sinking rocks!  Because of the movement of the earth, our planet is continually shifting and moving or shaking.  So how does this relate to my gardening?  In this first photo, I want to show you these rocks that line one of our gardens.  This was the first garden my hubby constructed about 25 years ago, and he used sandstone rocks as the boarder.  I just spent the last two days lifting these rocks from the soil because over the last 25 years, they basically sunk into the ground.  The rocks in the back still need to be lifted, but we'll do that later in late October or November.

The other BIG task I've been working on all summer long is weeding and mulching our hosta gardens.  I can't tell you how many pine seedlings I've pulled in the gardens.....it's got to be in the hundreds now!  Between the bending, pulling, lifting, twisting and carrying rocks, my body is slowing adapting to this new physical work.  Remember, I sat behind a desk for the last 15 years, so my body started screaming at me!!!  I just have to tell you, I am so happy to be working outdoors again.  I loved my library job, but yard work is where my heart is.  I'm so enjoying my early retirement.

I've got some spots like this where we lost hostas or perennials over the years, so soon I will be transplanting hostas and perennials to fill in bare gaps.  I have lots of baby hostas that I've digging out of the ground and saving for projects like this.  I've also given away lots of baby hostas as well.

We still have certain gardens that need lots of help, but that will be tackled next summer.  This photo is taken in our "jungle" of  Angel Candle, Astibe, Vinca and other various hostas.  You can't even see the hostas because they are so well hidden. Oh well.

  

And yes, we have plenty of hosta plants.  FYI, Liquid Fence works really well to keep the rabbits and deer from eating these beautiful plants.

This cute little rock owl was a gift from our daughter Becca last year.

And this beautiful Clematis was a gift from our son Chris and his wife Trisha.  I love the color.

Of course, I have to show you the little miniature gnome garden I created in one of the hosta gardens.  This was my first attempt at creating a miniature garden.  I've slowing been collecting and buying more tiny garden pieces to create more miniature gardens.  I do have a great book that I checked out from our local library that shows how to actually make miniature gardens and furniture.  The furniture can be made from natural items like sticks, birch bark, stones or acorns.  I might just buy the book because I've checked it out from the library so many times!!!

Thanks for checking in with me.  Later, I'll share the small terrariums I've been making as well. 

Summer Is In Full-Swing

Four trailer loads of cedar mulch, just waiting for me to lay down in our hosta gardens.

My new summer project is weeding ALL our hosta gardens and laying down the cedar mulch.

It's hard physical work bending, squatting, twisting and kneeling....but I love the outdoor work.  Good for the body and soul ya know?

I'm still in love with all our hostas over these last twenty-some years.

We recently had a bout with really hot and humid weather, so I walked down to our dock and dipped my feet into the lake water.  Cool and refreshing!!!

All is well with Bike man and myself.  We are currently busy with lake & stream monitoring for our State DNR and also bat monitoring.  Yup, life is busy.

Barn Quilt Class

I took my first barn quilt class today at the Grain Bin Market & Bakery.  This painted quilt block took me about six hours to draw the pattern and then paint.  I found this quilt pattern online and fell in love with it right away.

There's actually a lot involved in making a barn quilt.  You need to measure your prepared wooden block and measure out your quilt pattern.  Honestly, that took me like 2 hours!  As you can see, I did have some help.  Once you have your pattern drawn, then you need to tape off the areas that you want to paint.  You do this process in sections of colors.  This takes a long time, but it pays off in the end.  Oh, and a hair dryer does come in handy.

The class I took provided the primed wood block, paint choices and a delicious lunch.  Dawn, the owner, made a wonderful chicken salad, homemade rolls, fresh fruit and even sliced avocados.....thank you Dawn!

We started working around 10:30 am and this is me finishing my quilt block around 4:45 pm.  Despite a muscle pull in my back from yesterday, I made it through the day standing most of the day.  Thank heavens for Tylenol! 

I would probably paint another barn quilt as a gift for someone, but I need to figure out an easier way to transfer the quilt pattern to the wooden block.  Guess it's time to research the Internet and request some books. 

Time in the Woods

So the other day I said to myself, "hey Lis, you got through the first 3 1/2 months of your new retirement....whoo hoo, you made it!!!  I always said I would NOT retire in the winter....but I did and I survived.  What was my survival tip?  Do not sit around in the house during the winter months and hibernate.  Learn to love winter, the cold temperatures, the cold sunshine and the beautiful outdoor scenery.

So, now that it is officially spring, Bike man and our friend Caryn went out looking for morel mushrooms the other day.  I know it's a little early, but we just decided to take a look.  After an hour and a half of walking through the woods, we found nothing.  The walk through the woods however was heavenly!

Look what we found!  A leopard frog down by the water....and we also saw a blue bird, sorry no photo.

My most exciting find of the day was mother nature's terrarium, or otherwise known as an old bottle in the woods.  I found this old soda bottle in the gully of my friends wooded land.  But look, the moss has little ferns growing inside the bottle!  This bottle is so interesting, that I decided to bring it home and cap the bottle with a wine cork.  Now, I will just watch mother nature's terrarium just grow naturally.   

Late Afternoon Observations

A late afternoon hike today in the enchanted forest.  With the breezy conditions, the trees were singing, or maybe they were groaning!  Whatever they were doing, it was a pleasant sound to my ears.

So, I just realized today that there is a second muskrat house down by the water.  I had seen this stick

mound along the lake bank during the winter months, but now after seeing this new hole on top, I realized it's home to a muskrat family!  I spotted the muskrat by the other house today, but it's really hard for me to get a photo of him/her.  Ironically, muskrats are eaten by many predators like mink!  I never knew that until I attended a furbears workshop.  Muskrats also raise lots of young and are considered aquatic rodents!!!

 

Even though I always try to be quiet on my hike when I reach the mouth of the Hay River, the water fowl always senses my presences.  These two geese are obviously guarding a nest with eggs or youngins just born.  This pair scolded me the whole time I stood by the water's edge.   I didn't stay long this afternoon by the water because I didn't want to upset this mom and pop goose habitat.  My late afternoon hike was productive and much needed.  Thirty-seven degrees and 20 mph wind gusts did NOT stop me from enjoying the outdoors.  Take that Mother Nature!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Switching modes here.  I discovered a new salad mix purchased at Woodman's in Altoona, WI.  Woodman's is a new employee-own grocery store chain that opened in the fall of 2015.  I'm absolutely loving this new crunchy salad mix...and it's reasonably priced too.  It contains no traditional lettuce, however.  To make this salad a complete meal, I panfried a black bean burger and added it to my salad. Delicious....

This salad actually comes as a kit containing kale, cabbage, brussel sprouts, broccoli, radicchio, chickory, dried cranberries, pumpkin seeds and poppyseed dressing.  It's distributed by Apio, Inc. and I can only find this at Woodman's. If you can't find this mix, then I guess you could make your own!

Another tip:  Bike man decided this would be a good veggie combination to add to a batch of fried rice.  Add a little Asian peanut sauce and sautéed tofu, and you have a delicious meal.

Spring Can't Come Fast Enough

Such a beautiful day and nothing like yesterday with wet snow and 40 mph wind gusts.  The weatherman just mentioned on the news that the snow and wind will return in a couple days.  Darn! 

Bike man and I returned home yesterday after attending a 3 1/2 day lakes/streams conference in Stevens Point.  Apparently, I crossed paths with someone that had Strep, and guess what?  I came down with strep throat during the later part of the conference.  I wasn't actually diagnosed until I went to Urgent Care this morning with swollen glands, achy neck and a throat that felt like it was on fire.  Never thought I'd pick strep at my age....very weird.  I came home with a prescription of Amoxicillin for the next ten days, so that should do the trick. 

I've been feeling restless with being sick and sleeping a lot, so I went outside today with my camera to look for spring surprises.  Hey, my rhubarb is coming up....yippee!

And, our garlic is sprouting too.  Despite the wet snow and blustery conditions returning soon, spring is just around the corner.  Here in Western Wisconsin, we just have to be patient.

Solo Hike

Did a quiet solo hike today at Menomin Park.  Only saw one person out there on the trails.  Quiet was good.....