Pallet for Home

There is one in the pathway which will be transplanted if it holds on until Spring. Weird really. Until this house, I had never had much luck with Chamomile. Now, it's sprouting by itself with vigor!

I made my way to the kale bed and found the rabbits must not detect them, being all tucked under more leaf mulch. The warmer days have the Red Russian seedlings we began in the ground last Fall, popping past their blanket.

I made my way out to the Elderberry patch for some inspection for determining IF they were spaced enough to move them further apart. My fear was their root systems being so close it would kill them to do a separation. We have been clearing the area not far from their spot in hopes to move a few into a row verse their wild sprouting of a cluster. The weather has been playing tricks on them as well. Green buds have begun to grow past their protective dormant shell.

Now off to inspect the Apple trees on the South yard side. I adore this apple tree which sits on a slight hill of the front yard. It's lower trunk branching is dreamy. Pictures do not do this gem justice. With the one long branch reaching out, it's the perfect spot to climb up and lean back, gazing into it's intricate display above.

And the moss... Oh I do love the ground around this apple tree. Portions of it's root system poking through the surface with patches of Moss interspersed amongst it's feet.

Now if there were just one apple tree in the South side yard I could only keep, it would be that one. Why say such a thing? Because they are under attack! Well, not this gem but an apple tree closest to our house on the south side is smothering in Oyster scale! At first I thought the tree had a disease but with further research & a helpful forum post, I found our culprit. Despite looking like an apple tree disease, it is an invasive insect.

Oyster scale is not a disease on apple trees but an infestation of an insect exoskeleton of the female insect. The shell is protecting the eggs she has laid on the tree, which will hatch in spring of larvae.

This is just a 6 inch area of a very close snap shot. Compared to a tiny grain of rice, imagine the 8 ft of trunk from ground to first branch COVERED in these.

If the Oyster scale can not be eradicated with the organic oil methods then I must discuss with Mr. & Mrs. J the possibility of cutting her down to prevent this from spreading.

 For now the ground is covered with a thick layer of bright snow. The only wondering about I will enjoy is to the woodpile and back for some cozy by the fire reading.

OH! I am most excited for my next trip out to White Willow's home. We have decided to learn some West Coast Swing dancing. Of course we could never afford lessons in a studio, so I found a few DVD's at the local library we plan to try out. Although I do not foresee us hopping the dance floor in public anytime soon, it is surely to be a blast learning the basics. Who knows, maybe I can talk Her & Dirk the Dude into some swing music for the outdoor nuptials reception.That gives us 1 1/2 yrs to look like we actually know what we were doing. After all, it would go perfect with the Vintage Nature theme we are coordinating.

I have something special on it's way from a small Nursery in Lincolnshire England. So keep watch for a special posting on my anticipated package.

The cement block compost bin is still lacking it's stucco finish being I have yet to buy the mesh & such. Instead, I started working on a Potters shed to store all those garden tools I have a horrible habit of leaving out. The notion is to have a spot I can leave them close at hand instead of trudging them the distance from our house to the back everyday. I am using pallet wood being it is so freely available. I emphasize FREE.. I found the perfect frame base already put together, re purposing from a 4 level pallet used by a locally owned garden center for transporting potted plants from their supplier. The perfect size for me to step inside and even The Captain would not woe from hitting his head.

I still have some finishing up to do as well as it's painting to match our chicken coop of a French blue base & white trimming. In it's current state, The Captain keeps chiding me it looks like an old outhouse. I guess it did not help my case being I was dressed in a dark old flannel with jeans and a neon orange beanie hiding my pulled back hair, which he burst out in laughter with first glance, exclaiming "You look like a bag lady building an outhouse!". Thanks Honey. I know I can always depend upon you for putting a smile on my face...

Being the work on my tool shed has been stalled due to the high wind, rain & my kidney stone out patient surgery, I will at least for now share the perfectly small 6 pane wood windows I scored for it's sides:

My potter's shed will sit at the back outside corner of the garden, butting up to the picket fence. Frog is begging for more flower variety so the space between the "bag lady outhouse" and the opposite end of the picket fence will be a 5 foot wide x 12 foot long strip of her flowers. I do believe it will look rather nice being flanked with her cutting flower garden and possibly some more woody herbs on it's grass  side.

Little Man & I went into the side woods yesterday looking for fallen tree limbs to collect for the winter fires. When what before our wondering eyes should appear? But apples! Fallen from the heavens, leaving a trail for the deer. O.k, not really from heaven but the very tops of these ancient apple trees gave a beautiful sight of golden apples laid out as though they are urging you to explore down the path.....

We were thrilled to see all the hoove prints amongst them meaning the hunters on neighboring property have not scared off the locals from our woods. We rather enjoy the chance encounters we have with the deer which may also be due to their leaving my garden alone. The two of us collected some of the most perfect organic apples into our button up shirts , backwards tied around our waists, made into a makeshift apron. We left our wagon of logs & sticks for just a moment to release our treasures onto the kitchen counter.Making quick of our work in the woods knowing what awaits us.

We sat in the living room, shredding apples for the delight of a Fall favorite. Apple pie bread! I clipped this recipe from an old Better homes & garden magazine some years ago and have found a link to share with all of you whom may very well find this to be a Fall favorite.

I add 2 teaspoons of apple pie spice when I add the flour in the recipe. They do not mention any spice and despite tasting nice without it, the addition makes it glorious. I also use GOLDEN raisins and on occasion add the streusel topping depending on my supply of walnuts.

The sonic blasting of the largest kidney stone today seemed to go well. I was surprised to discover, just 6 hours after surgery, to have such a blatant "battle wound". Panda was grossed out by it and the nurses told me it would turn even nastier as it sets in with blues, purples/black of healing.

But it's not as painful {yet} as it may look. I can not wait to get back to my workout routine {it's been a month!} and to finish up my outdoor projects without aching. I have another item I scored from a big name hardware store which was used in their garden center and will now be an organizer for the after school throw downs. THAT you will have to wait for as well, which is bare in it's current state. Lacking the layer of paint to tie it in to the living theme & appeal.

Until next time...