Too Many Apples

 

This was our apple tree  July 17.... you can see it was full of apples.  It was the fullest it's ever been.  Spring 2012 it warmed up to 80+ degrees way too early, for Michigan.  Everything bloomed and then froze. So all the fruit trees didn't bear any fruit.  This year the trees were over producing after, they had a year to rest. We pruned so many branches to help with the weight of the apples, but not enough.

 

Finally the tree gave and split right in two.

Thankfully just missing my greenhouse.

 

What a mess and a job to clean up a 30 yr. old apple tree!

 

 

It was so sad looking.  That tree shaded half the yard.   I was really upset about it coming down. It made the deck cool and shady.  Notice the umbrella shielding

my shade flowers that no longer had shade until the wheel barrel of flowers could be move.

 

 

So we went tree shopping.  We decided on maples since they grow fast

and  I am hoping to see shade before I'm old and feeble.

 

All planted and my husband extended the bed wider for me than it was...

 which means more planting space. (Smile)

Old plants and new plants shifted around.   I also added a

shade cloth across the beams over the deck.

 

another view.... I'm not as sad, it will all grow.  A few other garden pics.

 

 

 

Kitchen window box

 

view off right side of deck

 

My little moss pot experiment....something different

 

 

I like how this pic came out with my St. Francis statue in the background

 

 

A new cement bunny statue I got for  $12

He stands about 20" and I washed him brown with

watered down brown acrylic paint.   I didn't like the grey cement look

He watches over the vegetable garden.

Coming on next post.... a new critter was added to the household.... even though  I said no more animals.... it's not a bunny!  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How will my garden grow?

Well I’ve been busy gardening.   These are the May garden pic’s and I’ll take more through the summer.  So this is my first back yard (I lived in a condo previously) and I’m trying to use every inch to grow everything I can in my small little space.  I love animals, plants and nature.  They are my inspiration and bring me so much peace and relaxation.

My favorite thing, is on weekend morning to come out and sit on the deck in my PJ’s while it’s quiet.  I drink my morning diet Pepsi,  and motivate slowly.

 

This morning Murphy and Petey join me.
Maybe I'll bring my easel out and paint
 out here before it gets too hot.

 

 

This was a banged up table,  I told my husband to trash it
 on one of my clean up and get rid of excess junk days,
but then I had second thoughts and painted it and stuck it out on the deck.

 

 

Then this table had to get a fresh coat of paint to match.

 

 

 

 

This side garden I extended last year has filled in nicely

 

 

Have you noticed all my rabbit statues.  Can you tell I'm a bunny nut??

 

 

 

My husbands niece moved and gave him this old rust wheel barrel, with thoughts I’d find something to do with it in the garden, and I did. 

 

 

 

Our gold fish pond.

 

 

I keep adding plants around it

 

 

Pond Irises blooming that someone threw out

and gave to my step son.

Looking pretty and happy now.

 

 

Art fair find,  it sits on a pedestal.

Got a great deal, since she didn't want to lug him home.

 

 Every year my step son Cameron and I go plant shopping.

 This year we kind of over did it with the veggies.

If it all grows well it may be bursting at the seams.

 

 

This year I planted all my lettuce in my greenhouse. 

Got tired of the wild bunnies eating all  the lettuce I

planted for my salads and my bun's salads. 

 

 

 

This arbor was made from 3 trellis for my green

beans to grow over.  A family of little sparrows have

babies in the house.  It took a year of it sitting for them to finally use it.

 

 

 

And I'm SO excited that the plum tree I planted 3 summers ago

finally has plums.  I'm eager to see how big they get.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A few California riding pics

I've been so busy doing my spring planting outside

that I'm just getting to posting the riding trip pics.

I so love doing riding vacations, and Matt my husband

is not into riding but he does it for me. 

He's taken me on the best vacations of my life

while we do the things I so love and leaving

memories I will never forget.

I'm so grateful!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On the first day we started at the bottom in the valley

 

 

And rode up the hills to the top

 

 

All the way to the top, just as the fog rolled in, see the beach

below  behind us

 

Stopping for a drink

 

 

 

Playing in the water

 

 

riding through the redwoods

 

 

petting Jazzy's during a bathroom break!

 

 

Horses waiting while we ate lunch!

 

 

Just a wonderful time riding!

 

 

 

Surprise Birthday Trip!

For my 45th Birthday on 6 April my husband gave me

a surprise trip to California.  I knew we were taking a trip (obviously I

had to take off work)  I just didn't know where.

So exciting!!! 

We stayed in room 19 at the

http://www.maccallumhouse.com/ 

Beautiful doesn't even cover it!

So take a look for yourself. 

Lovely...

  

I always wanted to see the big redwood trees. 

  I've always loved mountains & forests.

I love trees!

If I had to choose to be in the woods or by the ocean. 

 I would choose woods and mountains

every time.  The wonderful thing about here is you have it ALL, very mountainy terrain, rain forest, ocean cliffs and gorgeous uncommercialized  breathtaking scenery.

No guard rails anywhere, even along the roads.

  Just walk right along the edge.

Careful...don't fall it's a loooong way down!

Did I mention I am afraid of heights???

 But oh the views as we strolled along the cliffs.

Too many pictures I couldn't make up my mind,

So I will so I'll post in two posts.

Wild Irises growing along the cliff edges

 then the beautiful forest...

It was so amazingly peaceful and the size and height!

See how little we are!

Notice the moss grows on everything, everywhere!

It was such an awesome trip, in the next post I will show

the horseback riding we did!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

I love, love, loved the trip and did not want to leave.

I adored everything about it!  Usually I

look forward to coming home and seeing all

my animal babies.  Uh Ah not this time!

With super birthday surprises like this

I don't mind getting "older" one bit!

 

I'm really happy this weekend I accomplished so much without any migraine.  Yeah!  I get terrible pain, usually caused when my neck goes out from a past car accident.  Of course it happens when all the Chiro's are closed.

I finally finished this painting requested by Marie.  A woman in North Carolina.

It was taken from the following

The horses is a large work in progress,

that I will now focus my attention on.