Wednesday, May 12, 2010

A "Dear Jane" Quilting Journey

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My friend, Kindred Sister Doreen (a/k/a "Aunt Reen"), has embarked on a "Dear Jane" quilting journey. Her very ambitious goal is to produce 6 blocks per week, and as you can see from above, Doreen has met her goal for Week #1! Yay, Doreen!

If you would like to follow Doreen on her quilting journey, you can check in on her from week to week at her blog where she will be posting about her progress here:

AUNT REEN'S PLACE

Good luck Doreen! This is an amazing project, and what an heirloom and achievement you will own when complete.

'Til next time,

Mary

Monday, May 3, 2010

What's Blooming in South Carolina Now!

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Peonies are such a lovely old-timey, heirloom type shrub. My mother, now 84, still talks about her father's garden, which of course included many peony varieties. This one turned up as a volunteer in the front bed. I think it must have been in the topsoil we purchased and placed there when we put in the raised bed and French Drain in that location.


I'm really pleased with the over-wintering of my Geraniums. I just kept them in the dining room which received plenty of light and watered them sparingly. Set out a couple of weeks ago and fertilized, they are already blooming profusely!


Another volunteer that popped up this year is this variegated Iris. I have no idea where it came from, but love how unique it is!

I also overwintered my Asperagus Fern this year, adding some Verbena to the pot. Instead of setting it out during the days and bringing it back in at night, I just left it out and shocked it a bit, but after trimming it up, it is coming back nicely.

The vegetable garden is coming along nicely, although hubby did some damage over the weekend. We had some peat starts for pepper and flower seeds doing really well and almost ready to transplant into the garden when he decided to overdose them with a too strong mixture of water and Miracle Gro. I told him not to do it, but he wouldn't listen. He was really disappointed when they all died, but "live and learn", right? LOL! Off he went to Lowe's yesterday morning to buy some pepper plants. Sort of defeats the purpose of our little "living off the land" experiment!

'Til next time,

Mary

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