getting it in the ground

       A lot of the plants I started in March are now out in the garden, and have been for a couple weeks. (We don't get too ambitious here in upstate NY).  Today the hub and I  extended a garden patch about three to four feet wider than it had been before.  In order to do this we had to remove a rose bush that I think had been there since the time of Adam and Eve.
     I have transplanted a rose or two in my time, but I have NEVER seen a rose with a root system like this!  It was amazing.  To start with, the darn thing had suckered all over the place and was even growing out of the stone wall it was planted near.  The main root on this plant was at least 2 inches in diameter - possibly larger - it was raining,  I was frustrated, and I just wanted the darn thing out!  I had to dig underneath the root ball to try to get this out - broke several lateral roots off, and still couldn't move it.  My husband tried - he failed as well.  Finally he got a rope, tied it under the roots and pulled as I pried.  It finally released.  We moved the darn thing down by our shed.
    The rose is a mystery to me.  It was here when we moved in. It is a tall, rambling thing - not really a climber in the sense of a Don Juan or something, and it has pink  blossoms which arrived once in the summer and that was it.  It has little or no fragrance.   I was tired of getting stabbed by it every time I walked near the corner of the patio garden.
    I now have a little more room in the lower bed for veggies/herbs and sundries.  The two raised beds have always been the veggie beds, and this lower bed we tilled a couple years ago o my daughter could have her own garden.  That lasted about two weeks after the planting - basically until the weeds came up!  Her tomatoes did well there, as did the cucumbers and corn last year.  SOoo, this season the lower bed has the cukes and zukes (I had trouble with vine borers in the other beds - time to rotate) some carrots, two types of lettuce, a couple pepper plants (I am stuffing them in every bed to see where they are happiest), as well as some tomatoes, sunflowers, amaranth and basil.    The upper beds are a bit more traditional with the tomatoes, peas, beans, watermelon (if the darn slugs leave some), more cukes, borage, tomatillos and most of the peppers.
   I swore  I was never going to grow any more bell peppers - they always fail for me - they rot, or just don't set fruit.  I do fine with banana peppers, hot peppers, but not bell.  But, my younger kids love them as do I, so once more I will try.  My husband bought some plants from the store and has them in containers on the patio - hopefully at least a few fruits will come of this!  if anyone has any tips about peppers, please feel free to let me know!
    Checked on the bees today - Lordy! I was behind in my hive maintenance.  I had a ton of burr comb on the new hive  from the nuc.   Those girls have been busy, and I had better get the upper deep on tomorrow.  I have bees exploding out of the older hive - literally falling out as I check the frames.  I do not understand why, if they are so crowded, I am not seeing more activity in the super.  I scraped off a bunch of burr comb and a possible queen cell or two.  I do worry about swarming.  They are very healthy - although I did see my first mite on a drone larva.  Hmm...time to hit the books again.
    HAPPY DAY - I finally found the queen!!!   This is the first time in over a year that I have seen the queen. The last time was when I put the queen cage in the hive after installing the package.  I was thrilled - perhaps I am getting better at this!.
   Today was fun because as I was working with the hives, my mom and niece arrived and I was able to keep a running talk on what I was doing, and show them a bee "being born" - emerging from her cell.  I was also able to show them the queen.
      I think I was down there about 1 1/2 to 2 hours - probably a little slower than usual due to the conversation, but also the number of frames that need checking has now grown.  What a great way to spend a sunny afternoon!

Of canoes, plays, horses, spinning wheels, and the end of Pre-K

    My daughter was busy over Memorial Days Weekend  (as were we all) racing in a Canoe Regatta.  The General Clinton Canoe Regatta is the longest flat water race in the world and people up here take it very seriously.  It is a 70 mile race - for the adults.  The youth regatta is held Saturday of that weekend with scouts and other youth groups completing.  What a year!  Last year we had so much rain and the river was so high and filled with debris that the coaches cancelled the relay and just had the younger girls doing 5 mile sprints.  This year we have had very little rain (until today!) and the river was so low that there were several normally navigable sections that required the girls to get out and walk the canoe.  Tricky race, but they all had fun.

back paddling to reach the dock

bringing the canoe back to the trailers

    At the finish line in Bainbridge, there is a carnival which coincides with the regatta.  My youngest son had never been to a carnival, so we took him on a few rides and his sister played a few midway games.  It was a lovely day with perfect weather.

    No rest for our family, Sunday we had a design run for the show I designed costumes for (and hubby is acting in) The Complete Works of Wm. Shakespeare (Abridged), and Monday our daughter was marching in the Memorial Day parade with the middle school band.

    As promised, I have a picture or two of our eldest son at his riding center.  He is really enjoying this time with the horses, and he helps walk them out to the pasture after the lessons.

Bringing the horses to pasture

   Yesterday, I started a spinning class.  I have a friend who is a former student, who is willing to sell me her old spinning wheel.  The big hurdle was to find someone to teach me how to use it.  Well, a lovely woman opened a fibre studio in town, and I took my first lesson yesterday.  I can tell you that I already love it.  It is something which requires you to pay attention, but you can still be thinking or talking while you spin.  Lovely to see the roving turn into a twisted yarn!  So, now I am writing a couple cheques and my friend, Mel, is having her mom send out the wheel.  Oh joy!
    With all the work and excitement of the end of the school year, we cannot forget our youngest and his new adventure.  Friday is the last day of Pre-K.  He has been at a wonderful school which is associated with our college.  The people are terrific and the entire atmosphere is one which allows learning and growth, but is nurturing. They have done so many things this year - planted a garden (which has veggies used at lunch), learned to compost for the garden, gone to the fire house, visited an art gallery, performed a play in Spanish, marched in the Children's Parade - to name a few.   We have the farewell party tomorrow with cake and photos, and lots of fun!
    I hope the end of spring means a chance for this family to slow down - but I do not really think so!

  

horses, horses, horses

     Our eldest just started taking lessons at Athelas Therapeutic Riding Stable.  He had his first session yesterday and loved it.  He was up on the horse right away.  Apparently he helped lead another horse out to the pasture after his lesson was over.  I will have pictures next week, as my husband took shots on his cell. phone and I have no idea how to transfer them.
     We are really hoping this will help him with self-confidence as well as poise and a calmer demeanor.  Keep your fingers crossed!

12 and a half/gardens and costumes

     My daughter was born in October- due to one thing and another - a show, then two holidays, a family  member's passing and another show - we never had a birthday party for her.  So last night we had one - it was to celebrate being 12 1/2.  I love junior high school kids.  They are so serious and then so silly.  Set on the edge of their teen years, they want to appear grown up, but last night, with just the 5 of them, they were swinging on the swing set, playing dress up and enjoying still being kids.
    This had to be one of the easiest parties we've done.  We had food on the grill, a fire in the fire pit, s'mores and glow sticks in the tent.  What more do you need?  Oh, yes, and a cake.  We have always got to have a cake - duly decorated cake.  So I spent a couple hours making pretzel and icing pine trees, a tent from icing and chocolate bars,  as well as an icing fire and a sleeping girl in a sleeping bag. I think they likes the chocolate rocks best (these I purchased already made).  Unfortunately, by the time we got to cake, the girls had so stuffed themselves on s'mores they had no desire for more sweets.  So, as any good mother would, I said we could have it at breakfast - which we did! Yum!!

Can you see the camper's head sticking out of the tent?  If scaled up, this campfire is made from tree trunks!!  And as my husband pointed out, I made a big error by leaving grass inside the fire circle! 

 I wish I had thought to wash the sugar granules off of the licorice bulrushes, but, maybe next time. 

By the way, having them in the tent was great - the girls were up until 5 a.m. and we never heard a thing!  There  is something to be said for warm weather parties! 

   I am really risking things here, but the weather forecast is good - supposed to be in the 70s and 80s all week, with 50s at night, so I am actually going to plant half of the seedlings that are growing on the top of the dryer. (I am too cheap for a heating mat, so I use the dryer top instead - it works fine!)  The tomatoes and the cukes as well as the tomatillos are hitting the garden today.  Keep your fingers crossed!

    The current show I am designing costumes for is The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) which is all about quick changes.  Reminds me a lot of The Mystery of Irma Vep, the quick change insanity of last season, but just because of the need for velcro!  First fittings are on Wed, so I am trying to get everything as close to done as I can so the guys can start working with the pieces and getting used to the changes, ASAP. Wigs and such are my biggest challenge.
  
     Out to the garden, then back to the sewing machine.  Happy spring!
 

Goodbye Seniors, and best of luck!

   Today we had a little lunch get together with our graduating seniors and the faculty who could make it.  Nothing fancy - burgers, dogs, salads - and a lot of sunshine.  Gorgeous day - low 80s and sunny!! We found out that the terraced patio behind our house works better for evening gatherings in warm weather. the only shade we had was from the patio umbrella and the house, and so we all crunched together to stay cool.
    It was nice to see the students all together - we so often see them only one or two at a time, either in classes or the hallway.  I do not often get sentimental about graduates - well not too often - but this was a very special group of seniors.  I really wish them well.

Check one off the bucket list

      Trying to actually start doing things I want to do...within reason and my budget.  The area's adult education flier came a few months ago and I found a stained glass class which actually fit my schedule. (This is not easy!).  So for three Saturdays, for three hours each, I learned to created stained glass, and built a sun catcher.  Is it high art? No, but I am pleased with the end results, and my youngest son covets it for his room, so I must have done something right!  

   The teacher was very helpful - even though, when she showed us the project options, I took the hardest one!  I just couldn't see me really being happy making a flower.  I will say, this was a challenge for the first  time trying this.  All the curves were time consuming, and the orange frill/mane part was so small I kept snapping it.  Very frustrating!  I love the fluidity of colour in the glass.  Look at the close up and you can see the placement of one swirl made a nostril for the dragon! 

    Finished grading my finals and I am done with school for another summer.  We had first read for my first show of the season, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged). It is very funny, but the costumes are going to be a lot of very fast changes. A challenge.  My dear hubby is acting in it, so at least we get to see each other during dress rehearsals and such. 

    Off to clean - we are having all the faculty and graduating seniors from our dept. over for lunch tomorrow.  Also must go watch my daughter's track meet. 

Bye

    

  

End of the school year procrastination

    We graduate our seniors on May 22.  Finals start tomorrow.  I have first read for my next show, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Abridged, on Monday.  I have a dozen or so papers still to grade from my class of 68 students, and I have make up projects to grade.  It is rainy, so there is no excuse to go outside and work in the garden or watch the bees, or even mow the lawn.  I should buckle down and finish all I need to do.  Unfortunately, all I want to do is curl up on a comfy couch and knit, take a break and read a little, then go back to knitting.
     My eldest son had HS freshman orientation last night.  My husband took him and they got as far as the front door of the HS before the panic hit and our son ran over to the track.  It took my dear husband nearly half an hour to convince him to leave there.  Needless to say, they did not make it to orientation.  My son's autism often manifests itself as social anxiety disorder.  Not unusual, but it makes life very tricky.