Busy, Busy

I've been busy making these:

into these:

I've canned 42 pints so far. It just doesn't seem like much when I think about the canning I used to do when all of the kids were home! I always tried to have at least 50 QUARTS of just green beans. And they would usually be gone before the next summer and it was time to do it again. We ate them plain, covered with cheese, in casseroles (like tator tot because the icky picky sisters didn't like peas!), and especially with cream of mushroom soup and onion rings on top! Funny, but I mostly make them plain for just the two of us now.

Logically I think we could really afford to purchase these green beans since they really aren't very expensive, but I don't for several reasons; I know how these were handled and exactly what is in them, and I just THINK I should have a garden. I don't necessarily enjoy it, but I'm used to having it and canning to feed a family of six.

So, now I'm waiting for the second picking to be ready, tomatoes to ripen for salsa, and corn to freeze. I'm going to purchase carrots for canning at the produce auction since ours didn't get planted. Times are changing, but old habits die hard I guess.

Flower Beds

I love flowers, but with our addition we still are in somewhat of a transition, so I don't have any flower beds by the house. I have been working on a flower bed by my fence south of the house. It actually got started when we were getting ready to dig. I had to move the plants or lose them! Soooooo, we moved a bunch to the south fence line. Last year because fo back problems I was unable to do much in the way of yardwork so they were REALLY weedy! This year, however, I have been trying to keep on top of the weeds.



This is the east end of the bed.








The middle.



And the west end of the bed.










In the bed are lots of hostas, irises, lilies, sedum, purple cone flower, phlox, a rose bush, and a clematis. The rose bush was new last year and was almost dead this spring. We cut it back and it is starting to do well. The clematis is a cutting from a friend's mother. It is fall blooming and I am excited to see it thrive.

We adopted some lilies from Trina and Tanner. The first one has bloomed!

Along the south side of the house I have day lilies. which are native to Iowa, a clematis, burning bush, some daisies, phlox, mums, and impatiens.

I love the lavendar clematis!

And the impatiens look so nice in the bucket on the milk can. I have one of these on each side of the garage door.

I like to accessorize the garden beds with things like birdhouses, little fences, benches, flags, and other decorations. Doesn't this little guy look cute reading his book in the flower bed?

All of the trees in our front yard are surrounded by hostas. By the east end of the south flower bed we also have an area with the flag, a redbud tree, two burning bushes, hostas, phlox, and another plant.(I can't think of it's name!) One of the garages is bordered by peony bushes and hostas, and the back driveway is lined with hostas. I also have a patio area in the back that contains , hostas, tiger lilies, and day lilies in addition to a container full of phlox that I use to replant in different areas. I also have a bunch of irises in the garden just waiting to be replanted by the house.



Having flower beds are a lot of work, but so beautiful to look at! Now, if someone would just get rid of my creeping charlie and morning glories I would really be happy!!