Reclaiming
Only four more babysitting weeks! I'm giddy just thinking about the two whole days I will be reclaiming as my own. I do love to babysit the preschooler but...I do like having time as my own. That's what makes a summer break so sweet. I catch myself wondering how I will eke out the very best of those days. I'd like to go to the gym five times a week instead of three, adding in some much needed treadmill time. I'll have more time to read, knit, watercolor and squeeze in some day trips with my husband.
My husband bought mulch and will be spreading it in our flower beds when it stops raining and he has the time. This week not one day was good enough for mulching. I cannot help because garden work flares my RA (yay!). I never liked gardening so I'm not sad about the physical restriction.
The residential deer have 'mowed' down our bushes so much that we are probably removing them this summer (we meaning him). Any suggestions on what to plant that deer will NOT eat?
The dogwoods are nearly done showing off, they are my favorite flowering tree because their blossoms look up to the heavens. Last weekend my sister and brother in law were here, this weekend my daughter and son in law are visiting. I'm excited to have company once again.
(Do you know what this bush is? This bush lines our road as we drive up the hill and the fragrance is intoxicating. I've tried identifying it but haven't quite got it right)
I've been obsessed with watercoloring. I love learning a new skill and the more I sit and explore the less critical I am. I have so much to learn BUT I do learn something every time I practice. I'm learning how to mixing colors which is less stressful and more fun. I've learned that watercolor paper quality counts for something. I've bought the good stuff and can't wait to paint over the weekend.
My skein of yarn arrived in the mail on Wednesday. I promptly flew up the stairs to quickly wind the skein. I knit alternating a few rows of both dye lots to ease in the new skein. The match is close but not close enough to be perfect. Depending on the light you can see the difference. I'll take more photos when the sweater is finished and you can see for yourself. My personal goal is to finish the sweater over the weekend.
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| new skein is grayer |
Your bush looks like jasmine. There are various types of jasmine but all have a lovely intoxicating scent, and most have white flowers like these as far as I can tell.
ReplyDeleteI wondered if it might be some sort of jasmine, but I don't know that jasmine would be able to survive frost. I also don't have any recommendations about what to plant that deer won't eat. Our extension services says that holly and boxwood are deer resistant, but they gobble these shrubs up in our cemetery. They've nibbled my bleeding heart and ferns, both are on the deer-resistant list. I think if you plant anything, they will come.
ReplyDeleteI love your little watercolour book, perfect for taking out with you. It's a shame that you needed more yarn, I hope it won't bother you later with the different dye lot. You have some pretty flowers, sorry I'm not sure about the names. Cathy x
ReplyDeleteThe shrub looks like jasmine to me as well - I wonder if it is a hardy variety or something. Maybe you could snip a branch and take it to a local nursery to find out? No clue on deer-resistant plants as they seem to go for everything in our yard - even evergreens!! I'm betting that new yarn blends in perfectly. Have a great weekend with your daughter and SIL and Happy Mother's Day!!
ReplyDeleteit makes me so happy to see your artwork. Hmm what deer won't eat? Well, they don't like my seedlings of mums and echinacea thank God. I hear they don't like daffodils. From the looks of my yard they don't like dandelions either....wouldnt that be nice?
ReplyDeleteI also love dogwoods. When the flowers first emerge, I think it looks like a family of butterflies has descended onto a single tree.
ReplyDeleteCould your shrub be bush honeysuckle? That was my immediate reaction when I saw the picture and your description of the scent seconded that thought.
And your watercolors are amazing!
Yup, that shrub is definitely a variety of bush honeysuckle, maybe this one: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lonicera_maackii
DeleteWish you all a wonderful springtime!
I think you guys are right, bush honeysuckle. The bush is invasive and since no one planted these bushes on purpose they fit the description. They also line a woodland area.
DeleteYour watercolors are so wonderful! Paper and paint quality do really matter.
ReplyDeleteI certainly know how you feel about summer vacation! I want to spend my time doing all the same things you want to.
Thank you! I do see a BIG difference in the paper quality!!
DeleteWe have the same watercolor notebook! I love that it is landscape oriented. I have just returned to watercoloring and am enjoying it. I'm very lucky in that a professional botanical artist offers lessons and open studio days for a small fee. She is incredibly talented and so generous with her time and knowledge.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the others, I think that it is either honeysuckle (my first guess when I saw the photo) or jasmine. Have a wonderful weekend!
Aren't you a lucky duck!!
DeleteI love your water color paintings!
ReplyDeleteI always think it's exciting to have deer in your garden, but I can imagine it's less fun when they eat your bushes. Here on Curacao I will have to deal with Iguanas and wandering goats when I try to put things in the garden besides thornbushes and cactuses ;-)
Your watercolor rocks, Karen. The dogwoods are pretty. And you go on your goal of hittin the gym 5x a week once you don't need to babysit anymore.
ReplyDeleteI go to my summer schedule in June. I’ve been doing some major cleaning this spring. The goal is to have it complete before break so I can do more knitting, drawing, and attempting to cook. Your watercolors are beautiful. I can’t wait to see more of your work.
ReplyDeleteThat bush looks exactly like something Mom had growing across the front of our house but I don't remember hers having any smell at all... and of course, I have no idea what it was called. I also can not offer any help with deer proof plantings. Your drawings/paintings are wonderful!
ReplyDeleteYour watercolor book looks nice! I hope you enjoy your visitors. Happy Mother's Day.
ReplyDeleteIs the plant 'viney' or 'bushy' because to me it looks like privet which is usually a bush, which can have a very strong aroma.
ReplyDeleteHappy Mother's Day - so glad you're getting to enjoy a visit from your daughter this weekend. LOVE the watercolors ... super impressed!
ReplyDeleteA neighbor planted honeysuckle that looked much like your bush. It was a lovely scent. Your watercolor book is lovely! I have a very similar one and also think quality of paper makes the enjoyment of painting better. I have yet to get the critical voice out of my head. Your idea to keep going as it will wan is a good one. Happy Mother's Day.
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