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Saturday, February 6, 2021

A walk to the garden


Hey Friends,

I'm surprised any of you ever come back to visit. I was lying awake at 3:00 am one morning this week, remembering questions that some of you asked in past posts, which I never replied to. I'm sorry and will try to answer them in this post.

The weatherman said we could have sun, up until lunch time, then the clouds would come back bringing rain overnight. 

Well, we've still got sunshine and it's 2:27 pm. Yay! So, I wandered up to the playhouse and teeny tiny garden to have a look around...

and found things looking pretty dull and drab. 

Could I ask your opinion please...I stood looking at the "long legged tower" and thinking how the playhouse and greenhouse would look better with it gone. What do you think?

Suddenly, I find it looking awkward and out of place. I guess Poppy will have a fit. Remember back when I talked him into nailing four long legs onto that little wellhouse roof? :) Maybe I can move it to the edge of the woods and he will never notice. 


Anyhow, I swept the leaves from the playhouse floor and picked up a can or two the wind had blown about. When spring comes, I need to buy new cushions for the chair. No, I need to buy a new chair, then cushions...and paint the mirror frame a bright and cheerful orange color.


The empty garden inside the gate looked pretty drab too. In the fall when I raked up the Willow Oak leaves, which are small leaves, I spread them over the garden soil. A layer of leaves protects the soil and feeds the earthworms...besides that, it just looks warm and cozy.

Why, if it wasn't for Smokey, there'd be no fun at all in the teeny tiny garden.


I kept an eye on the sky, watching the cloud move in and thought, good grief! Why didn't we cut down all the old sweetgum trees years ago.

Sweetgum balls! What a mess they make! Many years ago I picked up several wheelbarrow loads of those pesky sweetgum balls and had a brainstorm!! I will cover the muddy path to the chicken lot with sweetgum balls! Just so happened that evening that it was Poppy who closed the chicken house door. Walking on balls was not easy and his feet shot out from under him. I remember hearing him say, "WHAT THE H---". I spent the next day raking up sweetgum balls. 

one more picture from my trip up to the teeny tiny garden...

and greenhouse. Three years ago our neighbor Ann brought this little dying plant, saying she was going to throw it out but thought I might want it. I stuck it in a pot with fresh soil, and here it is now. Such a determined little plant, the cold doesn't seem to bother it. 

and now to answer a few questions...

A few weeks back I posted a picture of our soon to be new neighbor Steve...


Connie, at "Far Side of Fifty" asked if the new neighbor had something to do with the cutover across from our property. Well, no, thankfully. Steve and his wife bought land at the end of the dirt path. A beautiful piece of property with a creek that flows across the back. Maybe another year and they both will retire and build a home here. We are looking forward to that. 

Leigh, at Five Acres and a Dream asked if the vet suggested giving Heidi...

something that would build up her blood as she is very anemic. No, the vet did not. Leigh, I thought I had your email address, but could not find it...I wanted to ask your opinion about giving her something. Gwen had mentioned Redcell, but also warned about possibly over-dosing. Gwen also suggested molasses and I have tried a bit of that. 

and my blogging friend at "Coffee on the Porch with Me" asked the size of our little goat barn...


Poppy says it's probably 10' x 12' and the attached little bedroom is about 6' x 8'.  I'm crazy about the little barn and when it's clean and filled with hay and the afternoon sun shines in...I am tempted to move in with the goats. 

Sorry this is so long and boring. Hope to be back soon. The days are getting longer...and February is the month to cut back rose bushes...here anyway. 

Thank you friends!

Love,

Henny





35 comments:

  1. I always look forward to reading your blog, Henny. I am glad you are getting a little sunshine for a change! MY question about the long-legged tower is...what were your intentions for it when you had poppy nail it together for you? Have you used it for that? If you're just tired of it, maybe poppy will dismantle or move it for you. And how about calling up your vet and asking what to give Heidi for anemia? Sounds like one of these fine days, you'll be getting rid of those sweet gum trees! Too bad they don't produce Juicy Fruit or Doublemint gum!!! :)

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    1. Hey Diane. I didn't really have any special plan for the long legged tower. Just thought the little top was cute and wanted to use it. Actually what I have wanted all along is a potting shed...Something with a roof over my head. :) Oh, I wish sweet gum balls did produce chewing gum. My favorite used to be juicy juice. Thank you.

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  2. Dear Henny, perhaps a climbing vine could grow up each post on your tower? I don’t know what the ground is like at the base. But when the vine grows it might look nice.

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    1. Hey Brushpaperscissors, That does sound cute. Funny how things like that look junkier in the winter. I just may try a vine. Thank you.

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  3. I just had to chuckle about the sweet gum balls. There used to be sweet gum trees all around another house we lived in. The kids complained that they couldn’t even dribble a basketball without hitting a sweet gum ball, and I complained that I couldn’t even make a flower bed because of the roots that grew above ground all over the place. So, I hired a guy to come take the trees down. After they were all hauled away, hubby said in such a concerned way, “we are going to burn up this summer.” This was such a good post! Write more!

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  4. Isn't it great that spring is coming and we can dream up all kinds of projects for ourselves ( and husbands). I'm sure looking forward to warm and sunny days. We've had so much rain.
    I'm not sure what you could do with the little tower. Maybe move it and see if you like the way it looks but I wouldn't dismantle it too quickly. You know how it goes. A few months down the road and you'll wish you still had it. At least that's how it goes around here.
    I have no idea what sweet gum balls look like but I had a good chuckle when I read about Poppy's slipping on them. (Hopefully no damage was done to him, only to his dignity).
    I always enjoy your blog posts so much. Keep them coming please.

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  5. I always enjoy your posts and this one is so newsy! I like your "long legged tower" but if you don't like where it is you could always move it. If you have any area where you would like a special "entrance" you could use it for that. You have so many special places around your little farm that I bet you could find somewhere nice for it. Then just tell Poppy you love it so much that you want it in this new special place!

    I had to laugh at the story of the sweetgum balls! You had good intentions! I remember picking up those things when I was a kid and how they can stick you sometimes. I love that picture of Smokey! He is such a handsome boy. I do hope Heidi is improving. I send my love to all!

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  6. Oh, I like your long legged roof! I can see lovely blue morning glories climbing up the legs and dancing on the roof!

    I like your goat barn too. Ours isn't so nice. We moved last fall and the goat barn is in sorry shape. Hopefully this spring / summer we can fix it up or rebuild.

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  7. Thanks for answering my question. Many many years ago there was a barn on our property. Unfortunately it got torn down. We never saw it. I would have loved a barn. -Jenn

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  8. I love your posts and they are never, ever boring. I do like your tower and would love to keep it, but it's yours to do as you wish. :-) Maybe just move it elsewhere for the time being because you know how we like to change our minds! Ha! Poor Poppy. I'm sure he had no idea what hit him as he stepped onto the sweetgum balls!
    I hope Heidi is doing well. I've been thinking of her often since your last post.
    Take care my friend.
    Blessings,
    Betsy

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  9. HaHa! This is your self opinionated Sicilian
    advisor in the UK...
    Now! I think..and l do sometimes..that you
    should leave everything..AS IS..! Your home,
    the gardens, the woods, even your Blog....
    A while back Henny, you mentioned about changing
    the format..Your Blog looks lovely, it's so warm,
    inviting, and homely...I'm not to keen on Blogs that
    have any white on..background and such..! :(
    They look like memos..! :(.
    But! This Blog has everything going for it...AND...
    I 'love it' and everything about it..! HeHe! 'So there'..! :).
    Willie has spoken..!

    After that speech..l must get on..snow is forecast for the
    first time down south here, though the sky does'nt look
    like it..must pop up the supermarket later, few bits and
    pieces needed, roast partridge to~day, with a little vino
    calapso...feet up for some football..! :).
    ☕ 🍰 ☕ 🍰 ☕ 🍰 ☕ 🍰 ☕ 🍰 ☕ 🍰 ☕ 🍰 ☕ 🍰

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  10. Hi Henny, I really hope Heidi recovers she is beautiful. We are so hoping to buy a house with a little piece of land when my husband retires in the next few years and we want to keep goats so I'm going to have a look through some of your older posts for ideas. I love your photos. Jane x

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  11. Henny, I used injectable iron because it gets to the blood stream quickest. Tractor Supply Co. and most feed stores stock it for baby pigs, but you can use it for goats. The dose is 4 ml per 100 pounds body weight, every other day for a week then once a week until color comes back to inner eyelids. You can give oral iron, like Red Cell, but it has to go through the digestive system first before it gets to the blood stream

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  12. Nope-not boring at all. I love your blog posts. I agree with you-the long legged tower would look nice out in the woods. I love the idea of an orange chair cushion. Love Smokey-he is dreamy and beautiful. I hope the goat is getting better. They are very sweet animals. Take care-God bless you!

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  13. Never boring at Henny Penny Lane. I wish I had willow leaves to look at instead of snow so frigid it is now turned
    to concrete and not going to melt for the next 10 days or more. Smokey, you do help your mom get things going and
    look handsome in the process. Good luck thinking Poppy would not notice moving the long legged roof. and it looks
    to heavy and unwieldy for you to move alone, so DON'T try. Remember your back! Love seeing the live plant. Thanks and
    hope Heidi is responding to treatment. She looks so adorable.

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  14. Perhaps you were thinking of adding herbal medicine to your repertoire, Henny? Sweetgum does have some medicinal uses.
    and next time you can pile the seed balls somewhere safe as they feed birds, squirrels and chipmunks. :)

    Your yard always looks amazing. Praying for Heidi to get well soon. ♥

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  15. I think it looks just fine but understand how you would like a change. I do things like that all the time. We still keep getting more snow everyday. Though I like snow I'm getting a bit tired of it now and look forward to being able to walk in town again.

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  16. I love the way your little garden sitting area looks! :) And you're right, the garden with leaves on top does look cozy. I still have snow, not as much as where I used to live though thankfully! I wonder when it'll all melt, I haven't been here during a full winter yet! Your goat barn is wonderful! And I love visiting your blog! :)

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  17. I like that long-legged tower but would move it to the other side to see if it still bothers you there. I, too, sometimes suddenly feel something needs moving. I can't say exactly why something will look wrong to me, and I can't settle until it's moved. I have a fire ring that is driving me mad, and I need to roll it over to a new spot so it ceases nibbling at my attention. By the way, I actually bought a bag of sweet gum balls, I love them (in small doses!).

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  18. You could put some lattice work on the outer side of the long legged tower and grow some flowering vines up it if you have some sun there to work with. It would give you sort of a wall that would enclose the space and make it more private for your chair sitting there in the corner. Always good to have a hidden lookout post so as to know who's coming beforehand. You could vamoose into the trees behind there if you didn't want to deal with them!

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  19. Dear Henny, your posts are never boring but always a joy to read. I have no idea what sweetgum balls are but they sound rather lethal. I hope poor Poppy didn't hurt himself too much.
    And, on behalf of the earthworms, thank-you for the leaf mulch!
    Be safe and keep smiling :) xx

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  20. Leaf mulch on the garden is a very good thing.
    As to your tower, I would not presume to give advice. It's your "playhouse" and you can do whatever pleases you.
    I did wonder if the goats had a yard to run about in. Here in the Seattle area we have several Rent-a-goat business that bring in a small herd of goats and portable fencing to clear out brush and briars on public or private yard. Got any areas you would like cleaned up? Goats can do that.

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  21. Oh!Those sweetgum trees. I had one by our back porch at the last house and it was always a mess-no matter the season!
    What a wonderful post and fun to see you here, Henny. Good luck moving that piece without hubby noticing. lol.
    Happy Sunday- xo Diana

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  22. I actually quite like the tower, it looks so pretty. Always a joy when we start to think about gardening and the coming season.

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  23. I still have the stalls in one of the barns. I may raise dairy goats again, but not sure yet. We have a lot of projects in the books this year.

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  24. Could you move the long-legged roof over the chair? It would give shelter from both sun and rain, which might be welcome. A bit of paint would help too.
    I hope Heidi is well, vets usually know what to do. Do you trust your vet?

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  25. Hi Henny,
    It is always fun to read your posts. How is Heidi doing?
    I am so thankful the days are getting longer, it feels so good to have that sunshine!
    Love, Carla

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  26. Hope Heidi is doing okay and I am so glad you will have nice neighbors!

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  27. I'm so glad to hear Heidi is doing better. I have finally sat down to catch up on some blogs; yours being my favorite.
    It looks like spring there already. We are under two feet of snow and I am getting so anxious for better weather. It's just too cold here. So good to see little Smokey. xo

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  28. Your posts are always so down to earth, love them! Well since you asked, I've never liked the tower thing. But...whoever suggested attaching lattice on a couple of sides, well I think that would make all the difference and make it looked more balanced and in proportion or something like that. My other thought would be to get Poppy to help you move it and make a planter box around the bottom two or three feet, using the four posts as the corner posts of the box. Then it will sort of look like a well again, and you can plant some pretty flowers in it and maybe some lattice on 2 or three sides for some climbers?
    I hope Heidi is showing some sign of improvement. I hate it when one of our animals is not feeling well, it makes me feel ill myself.

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  29. I've missed catching up with your goings on- it's been a long couple of months of busy busy and doing nothing at all! I think we will all recover a bit of happy when spring finally arrives. We are due for some ice and snow over the next few days...and then I hope the sun will come out again. Hope you have a happy rest of the week!

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  30. i like the tower, it is cute, but it is in the wrong spot there sticking out the end of a lower shade area there, why not find a a better spot for it somewhere out in the gardens, put a vine on it, (love that idea) maybe an edible vine & pop a bird house up under the little roof?
    great post
    thanx for sharing

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  31. I still like the tower! Spring is just around the corner, Henny..hang in there. Love Terry

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  32. One good thing about snow is it covers up the drabness of the ground and trees. This morning everything was frozen over but the sun was shining so everything glittered! It was pretty!

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  33. I don't think anything there looks drab! It looks lovely, tidy, and ready for spring! Esp. your garden - very neat. Mine is a horrible weedy bed.
    About the long-legged thing. Couldn't you put some nice lattice work on some of its sides? That would make it a delightful part of your little restful area. Maybe paint the lattice work a pretty color? I think the roof is cute, and that it adds nice structure to the area. I wouldn't get rid of it :)

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