almost the holiday weekend

Good morning.
 As expected, it's been a crazy, busy week.
I worked 11 1/2 hours on Wed. and 10 on Thursday. I've got another packed day today.
Her's a few more pics of the yard....

Above Bridal Wreath Spirea, and below Japanese Kerria Plentiflora.

And the yard is finally filling out. The trees would normally be fully leafed by Memorial Day, but our cold spring has delayed that.  Probably in another week or so.
It rained nearly all day Wed and Thur but sun is forecast for the entire weekend, though it will be a little on the cool side with temps only in the low 60's.
Anyway, have a great holiday weekend! I'm looking forward to a long weekend also!

stupid, no good, weatherman

Good morning.
Well, as usual, the weatherman was wrong again.
Monday, it rained a brief period early, and was sunny most of the day, and Tuesday, it looked like it wanted to rain, but didn't. So much for a 70% chance of rain.
Soooo, I took advantage of that and did some more work in the yard.
We have a fountain out in the yard, and I had Mother of thyme planted in it. Some years it looks great, and other years not so much. This was one of those years. Once it started to grow, I could see it was half dead. It's done this before, and I usually sort out the dead stuff, thin the good stuff and replant. Not this year. Because it's a raised bed, it can get very dry during the winter if we don't have much snow fall. This past winter was one of those, and so it drys out to much and dies off. So, I decided to tear it all out, and replant with a creeping sedum that thrives in dry soil.

Here's the after pic. I didn't think of getting a before one. This sedum spreads quite fast, and should fill in the entire top by late summer.
I also did a bunch more weeding, and I'm surprisingly in good shape for so early. Downsizing flower beds has accomplished what I intended. Less weeding. And it should also help in the fall, with less deadheading.
Also, we cleaned out the dryer vent. This is what we took out of the chute, after the lint screen.

Couldn't believe how much lint gets past the lint screen!
And as promised, here's a few pics of some tree peonies that have begun blooming...

And now, time for another work week. It's looking to be crazy busy, as I'm going in early today and tomorrow, as it's a short week due to the Memorial Holiday this weekend.

a beautiful Sunday

Good morning.
I've just returned from cleaning the Salon. I know, it's not Sunday, but let me explain.
My weekend's forecast, (Sunday, Monday and Tuesday) was calling for sun and 80 on Sunday, and rain Monday and Tuesday, so instead of cleaning the Salon Monday morning, I decided to put it off a day and clean and seal the roof of the mo-ho.
As soon as it was light enough to see, I got up on the mo-ho roof, and spent an hour cleaning.
After allowing it to dry, I then sealed the roof. The roof of the mo-ho is rubber, and it needs to be cleaned and sealed every year to prevent it from drying and cracking which of course would then lead to leaking.
After Craig got up, we did our usual running and also stopped and picked up flowers for the 4 pots I plant, and also a big bag of moisture control potting soil. I first used it last year, and I must say the stuff is amazing. We were able to leave on a camping trip for 4 days, and when we got back, the pots were fine. I highly recommend this for anyone who doesn't want to have to water your pots every day.
Back home, I planted the pots and I also washed the mo-ho and the Kia and Boston.
I then did some more weeding. It was an exhausting day, but I got a lot done.
As a treat for all my labor, we had pork steaks on the grill. Yummy!
And here's a few pic of the yard....

Everything is looking pretty good. All my tree peonies are starting to bloom and I'll try to take some more pics.
Oh, and now, the weather forecast for today is just a 40% chance of rain after 2pm. So hopefully, more time to work in the yard.

a quickie

Good morning.
It's been a very busy week. In the Salon, and at home.
Now that we've finally have gotten some summer like weather, I've been working in the yard every morning for an hour or so before going to work. I've managed in one week to get a good chunk of the yard in shape.
But I've still got a lot more to do.
Here's a pretty Parrot Tulip.

It's a late bloomer, but worth the wait.
I'll try and get more pics this weekend.
Have a great weekend!

Sorry

Good morning.
Wow! I didn't realize I haven't posted since last Thursday. Forgive me.  :-)
It was a busy week at work, ending with a couple of prom do's. 
The warm week left us in a hurry, just in time for Mother's day, which hit a high of only 48 with a brisk north wind.  Craig an I went to Muskegon to take my Mom out for Mother's Day lunch at Muskegon's famous Whitlow's. I cut her hair, dida little cleaning and off to lunch we went.
 Joining us for lunch was my brother Bruce, and my brother Brian and his wife Ruth. Mom and I had Perch, and Craig, not liking fish, had a double cheeseburger. All very good. After lunch, we said our goodbyes to the brother's who had other plans for the rest of the day, and took my Mom to the VFW for drinks and pull-tabs. For a change, we actually won a $100! From there, it was a little grocery shopping for Mom, and back to her apartment.We arrived back in Lansing safe and sound.
Monday morning, I let Craig sleep in while I cleaned the Salon, and at 9:30 had my yearly physical. Everything was normal except my Cholesterol which was 245and should be under 200, and my 'bad' cholesterol which was 148 and should be under 130. He wasn't too concerned since my 'good' cholesterol was 81, which is more than twice the recommended higher than 39. Supposedly, the higher you 'good' cholesterol is offsets the 'bad' cholesterol. He wants to recheck that in about 4 months. If it stays high we may need to think about medication.  I'm thinking all those wings I've been eating probably is what did it. Even with boiling and baking, they probably aren't the best thning to eat.   :-)
Anyway, after our usual running around, I got out in the yard, despite the still cold weather. Yesterday only got to 53. But I prepped the newly reduced garden area for grass seed which I'll put down today, and I started weeding the flower beds. That process should go quicker, since I've now taken out the equivalent of a 6 x 30 ft bed between last fall and this spring.  And I may take out more!
And here's a few pics of the yard....

By the front door, a dwarf hosta, Hens and Chicks, and a dwarf ornamental grass.

A late blooming crab apple.

A purple Leafed Sand cherry.

A dwarf Fothergilla.

3 Japanese Maples. Red one, called Bloodgood, green one called Green Fern Leaf.

And this one called red twig.  Because the branches stay red year round.
And that's it for now....