Friday, July 1, 2016

June complete, July ready in my never ending calendar, and more


I have friends who create these calendars every month and they are outstanding.  Colorful, well decorated, some use stamps, other draw by hand.  Me?  I simply can't get the hang of all that artistry.  So obviously, what you see is what you get.  And it isn't much!

Most of June was spent making ICADs and my final swap pages for our international swap.  Decorations were stickers I found as I was cleaning in my craft room.  That's a project that may last an entire month, because I want to change many things around and get rid of lots of things I no longer use since my tastes and my art have changed so drastically over the years.

July is ready to be filled in, boring as it may be.  Maybe I'll be inspired to actually decorate July's calendar page, and then again, maybe not.

Since you have been so patient, reading my minutia, and laughing at my poor attempt to keep this calendar going, I thought I would share an update on my "flower bed" and front garden.

I completely cleaned out my little pond that used to hold fish and water lilies, but now could be a mosquito magnet.  I still had some "mosquito dunks" (some people call them donuts) left over from years past, so threw two in the standing water.

For those of you who are scientists, or have a small water feature on your property, these "donuts" contain an active ingredient derived from a naturally-occurring soil bacterium, called Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis or Bti.  They kill both larvae and active biting mosquitoes.

I managed to get rid of many, many small trees that started as seed this spring and grew tall enough for me to see them.

I edged around my bricks for the second time this summer, something I regretted not doing the last time I mowed.

As I was edging, I noticed my echinacea or cone flowers have finally started to bloom.  Maybe the bees will be by to pollinate and take some pollen to their hive for honey.  Of course, I have no idea where that hive is. 

On their last legs are my day lilies.  I took a few photos of some that had bloomed in the back yard, but haven't shown them yet.

I never got a good shot because the wind was furious at the time I was out taking photos.

Back at my small "pond," I want to make a point.  My friend Sally gets on me for any water that might be standing in my yard.  So when she told me she had several large containers she had "thrown" on her back patio that I could use for sorting and storage, I jumped at the opportunity.

When I picked them up at her house, they were not just filthy, they were also filled with green algae, leaves, and stagnant water.  Had I known what I was getting into, I might have passed.  I finally scrubbed and washed and got them clean using a scrub brush, my garden hose, and a tiny bit of bleach.  I left them on the porch overnight to dry completely before bringing them in the next morning before I went to bed.  Now I am ready to sort and fill to my heart's content.

Speaking of sorting, I'm sorting through my published blog posts for one to share again on the 2nd of July.  Hope you will join me.

Thanks for dropping by to see what's going on in my world because your continued support of my art and my blog means so very much to me.

9 thoughtful remarks:

Valerie-Jael said...

I like your calendar because it looks like a real calendar, and it is one that is meant to be used. You have been really busy in your garden, well done, and things are looking really spick and span. Nice and useful containers from Sally even if you did have to scrub them! Enjoy filling them and getting your craft room up-to-date and organized. Have a fun day, hugs, Valerie

froebelsternchen said...

You are always super with your calender pages... I love to see this.. you are such a good organized woman! Your house and garden looks fantastic .. and if I would be nearer to you I would have borrowed you our high pressure steam cleaner which my hubby loves to clean all stuff and the car...♥♥♥
Happy weekend - see you tomorrow..as mentioned before!
oxo Susi

Meggymay said...

Super pages for your calendar, mine would be even plainer and certainly would not be decorated. Love the photos of your garden.
Yvonne xx

pearshapedcrafting said...

Oh Elizabeth! I love the fact that you add little pictures to your days activities. I started doing that but just couldn't keep it up, so I say truthfully that I love your calendar pages and look forward to seeing how july comes along! Your garden is looking good - I love seeing down your street and your own house - it is all so like an American movie! 'See' you tomorrow with a second look! Good Luck with filling those fabulous boxes.
Hugs, Chrisx

Helen said...

those boxes look like new now!
I shared the photos from this year's Wimbledon trip yesterday, glad you enjoyed Hampton Court! (I won't be going to the flower show this year, can't get a day off in the week and am busy both days next weekend when it finishes.Will have to settle for watching the coverage on TV) Oh, and my new job is 3 years today, lol

Rita said...

Funny how fast those calendars fill up each month!
The crates look new! You really worked on them, that's for sure. They will be of great value to you. :)
Happy 4th of July!! :)

My name is Erika. said...

Your house looks so cute sitting back behind the garden. I like your garden too- I like how it looks natural but not too wild. And you're using some biology too. Love it. :) Too bad those crates took so long to clean, but they do look new now and you must exciting to do some packing and cleaning! Have fun! Hugs-Erika
ps- I don't think your calendar is so boring. Remeber- Its not how it looks, it what all that time contains!

Dianne said...

always enjoy seeing your calendar, yard and garden...wondering why your neighbor wasn't using these bins to sort some of her 'STUFF.' ;) I know, I know. well, her loss is your gain 'cause these look like nice containers once you scrubbed them! don't work too hard!

Let's Art Journal said...

What a busy month you've had! It's a great idea to capture all your achievements, have a great July! :-)