A couple of months ago, I started two avocado plants, thinking that I would be lucky if they grew. It took weeks and weeks, and I was about ready to give up. When I was beginning to lose faith, I decided to google "how to start avocado plants", and found out that I had the pit upside down in the water.
So I turned them over, and waited again.
I was surprised when they both started to root!! So I gave one away, and kept one.
I probably won't live long enough to see an avocado from it, but it's fun anyway.
I really didn't need another plant. I have to move them around when winter comes. My huge elephant plant has to be moved from its favorite window, because it is right next to the gas stove in the living room. When it's very cold, I use the stove in the evenings, and sometimes over morning tea, and the plant just doesn't like the heat.
Other plants, upstairs, have to come downstairs for the winter, as there is no heat upstairs in this 230 year old house.
So no, I did not need another plant.
That's why I gave this Mandeville to one of my daughters, instead of
trying to winter it in my house.
The garden is gone by, everything needs to be trimmed up and put to bed for the winter.
But for some reason, these morning glories are not ready to give it up.
I don't think I've ever seen them with leaves this big.
One of you asked about Lois. It's a difficult subject, and one that
I really struggle with.
She went to assisted living back in January, lasted there only a
few days, and moved to memory care where she has been since.
Her sister takes her out a few times a week, and often
brings her over to see me and the dogs, who love her dearly.
She knows me, but if I asked her what my name was, I think she might struggle with that on some days. A dear friend of both of us, is a stranger to her now. She simply does not remember who she is.
It's painful to see her, as awful as that sounds, because she looks like
Lois, and she sounds like Lois, but the Lois that I spent every day for 13 years with is not there.
If anything makes you grateful for whatever life you have, no matter how difficult, it should be dementia/Alzheimers.
She is safe where she is, but in truth, her life is over, while she still breathes.
I hate every bit of it.
We had a great run, Lois and I, weaving here at Crazy as a Loom.
I am grateful for it all.
Time to plant the garlic this week, finish whatever needs doing outside, and wrap up the yard for winter.
A few weeks ago, I picked up all these black walnuts over by the
labyrinth. I have a black walnut tree that is very productive, and
probably what keeps all the squirrels so fat and healthy.
why they are used as a natural dye. My finger nails were a lovely
shade of black. This photo is AFTER I scrubbed them and even used bleach on them.
Live and learn.
The squirrels are welcome to them.
I had an old bench that has been out in the yard for years...it's actually a glider. I loved it, but it became covered with lichen, and looked
like it was ready to call it a day.
But I called this local guy who restores antiques, and he took it
home with him, took all the bolts out of it, removed all the mahogany
slats, put new bolts in it, and oiled all the wood, and put it all back
together. It reall turned out to be a beautiful bench after all.
Sitting on it, under the linden tree, (also called a basswood tree)
here's my view of the house.
Below is a screen shot of the rug in my living room. It was
pretty, but thin, and every time Willie came in the kitchen door,
he raced through the kitchen and into the living room,
and the rug reacted in a way that left ripples in it.
So every day, I pulled and pulled on it to flatten it out,
and the rug refused to stay flat.
So the other night, my daughter and I took a trip to Ollie's,
a store that definitely has everything. To be honest, it's a bit
scary.
But I found a rug, actually, my daughter picked it out, I was not at all
sure.
But for $149, I thought it was an improvement. It's much thicker,
and it certainly does POP.
The dogs loved it, they rolled around on it, and
gave their approval.
What do you think???
Re:new rug… does it stay flat after Willy’s zoomies?
ReplyDeleteThat rug looks like it would stand up to the zoomies much better and it is a bold pop!
ReplyDeleteSo nice to see you back so soon. I did not know that about starting avocados. Probably because I have never done it myself. All your plants look so beautiful. And the restored glider!! OMG! It looks fantastic! Worth every penny that nice man charged you.
So sorry about Lois. Alzheimer's is a deep sorrow that never seems to end disease. I am glad she still comes for visits, though, for now.
Have a great day! :)
Wonderful rug. Reminds me of my daughter years ago trying to get me out of grey shirts. "Some color, Mom. Some color!" That's what kids are for.
ReplyDeleteDelighted to find another blog post so soon! You inspire me to write more often myself.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry that Lois has lost herself, and you have lost a dear friend.
i am so sorry about Lois, alzheimers and its various memory destroying pals are truly horrific stealing our loved ones yet leaving them adrift .. i cant imagine .. that rug is GORGEOUS .. your daughter has a good eye .. use it in the best of health
ReplyDeleteThat rug is beautiful. It sure does pop.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry about Lois.
No nuts for me this year from my 45 year old black walnut tree, that I grew from a nut from gramma's farm. I think it's every other year for nuts. The squirrels usually eat mine. They sit up the tree and I watch the green peels rain down. So industrious.
Growing up we collected the nuts, laid them out on newspaper in the attic and let the stinky green covering turn black and soft. Much easier to get to the nut. My mom used them for baking and eating.
As a Floridian, hate to rain on your Avocado parade. You can nurture the tree, but don’t count on fruit, they are hybrids and may or probably not yield. Love reading of your life and adventures, you are a courageous inspiration.
ReplyDeleteLike you, I would have been hesitant but I love it. Definitely a good choice!
ReplyDeleteLove, love, love the rug!!
ReplyDeleteHi. First time commenting, but I've read for a couple of years. Is Lois unhappy? Does she know she's changed? I haven't yet had to deal with a situation like this, and I'm wondering if there is a point where, yes, the former person is gone, but the new person is ok in their current world. Thanks for considering this. Olivia
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ReplyDeleteThanks for the update on Lois. So sad. The rug is fantastic though!
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