Wer'e back

from Europe.

More later.

Have a wonderful week and weekend.  

Gina

Making the rounds

on a sunny day.

Lola and Clyde spend more and more time with us and away from the pond.

I have re-discovered Zinnia "Country Fair".

Sandhill Cranes have joined our menagerie.

Guests have left.

Mother duck is teaching all eight ducklings how to dive for food.

Even a few little flowers make a statement.

Pasha divides his time between inside and outside.

Lucy still pulls her own carrots.  

Need to make a note to plant Zinnias again next year.  

Lacinato Kale is the most nutritious of the Kale family.  No wonder it's the preferred kale in Italian kitchens. 

My Lake Maggiore asters, seeds collected more than forty years ago, need to ripen so that I can plant them again next year. 

Letting hollyhock seeds ripen to share with friends. 

Leaving a few grapes on the vines to make them extra sweet.

It's harvest time...don't know what to tackle first.

The Labor Day Sale and Artist Studio Tour was a rousing success.

I sold some of my favorite pieces. 

What are you up to these days?  

Gina 

http://betweennapsontheporch.net/

Have you noticed?

I'm taking a break.

See you soon. 

Have a great remainder of the week. 

Gina 

Mon Bouquet du Jour

Meine Sonntag Blumen

This is the year for Hollyhocks. 

This wild female duck laid her eggs in a secret spot. 

And 24 days or so later, she marched her day-old ducklings past my window. 

All in a single file with a purpose...to get to water and our pond. 

The tiny little ducklings must have walked more than a mile.  

picture added 7-31-2017

This mother duck is special. First she avoided all predators by laying her eggs in a safe place and now, weeks later, all eight of them are alive and well. 

A Herculean feat.  

Have an extra special week dear Friends. 

Gina 

http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com/

All they need is

Water, water and more water.

deep water at the base of the plants.  

Do not spray from top with water.

That way you will avoid diseases and rust. 

Blooms will be large, and on strong plants. 

If you want to revisit your hollyhocks in winter, why not dry a few blossoms. 
Here is how

Dry them in a bed of builders sand.

Soon, they will shine another blooming season. 

Have a great week dear friends, 

Gina 

Good Grief, I just noticed.

My chickens are reaching through the fence. 

Aha, I caught you.  No use looking so innocent now. 

They are eating my new Sweet Pea Shoots.

No use denying it.  I've seen you do it. 

A summer without Sweet Peas? 

Now listen here girls, I'm watching you. 

 If it hairlips a hog, I will have Sweet Peas this year.  

One of every color in the rainbow. 

And one more thing. 

The Ronde de Nice seeds I saved from last year's crop did not look promising.

  

But now I see that I will have enough of these delectable little squash to share with the entire town. 

(They may show up on your doorstep).

Have a great remainder of the week, dear friends. 

Gina