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Thursday, September 29, 2011

This or That Thursday eDition 2

One of the first shrubs we planted was this hydrangea.
And each year since, I've picked up a couple more on sale.
I could possibly have an addiction.
Check back in a few years, just to confirm.



It's been another busy week around the old farmhouse.
 We've had a lot of grass to cut and as you can see, it takes a while.
What?
This isn't what they mean by a push mower?

I'm pretty sure I could convince the Artist to build a barn and get us some goats to
mind the grass and without much arm twisting; he's been fixing this thing for weeks. And weeks.
We have a volunteer sunflower growing in our mulch pile. We're pretty sure she was from one of last year's flower heads that I hung on the bird feeder last winter. The birds love to sit in the pine trees and shuttle back and forth to collect seed. She's the beauty in my header photo and she was almost mistaken for a weed. Good thing weeds get neglected around here. 

But this isn't her; this is mini-sunflower, standing at about a foot and a half tall next to her and it's the cutest thing I've seen out my kitchen window since the male twin was last out to mow the lawn. And that, my friends was some time ago. See above.
We planted an elderberry sapling from my mom. (I do call her mom, by the way.)  Apparently, they should be planted in the spring, but I couldn't envision this sapling still being alive once the snow has melted, so we went for broke and planted her, out by the crab apple trees. 

My favourite pie in the world is elderberry pie. My Gram used to love picking them and until she lost her baking mojo would make me one for my birthday. I can't wait to have a few of these put away in the deep freeze or my stomach. I'm pretty easy going when it comes to things like that.
If all of these buds come through, I'd say we're going to have a brilliant show of mums in the not too distant future. Mums, moms, mamas, mothers, Momma! Call'em what you'd like, they're too dang pretty to give a hoot.

~Be well friends!~







Also joining:



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and then, she {snapped}
 



22 comments:

TexWisGirl said...

ha ha. hope the grass gets mowed!

Buttons Thoughts said...

I love your last line it made me laugh. B

Gail said...

A lot going on, great pictures and look forward the plant report.

My elderberries die back but some up from the roots...and they make great jellies, too.

deb duty said...

You made me chuckle as usual! So glad you neglect your weeds. The sunflower is gorgeous! Those mums are going to make for some wonderful photographs.

JoLynne Lyon said...

Fun post--I'm glad your sunflower grew to maturity. About goats--we got some to keep one end of the property mowed. They've been fun to watch and they talk to me a lot, but unlike a mower you've gotta feed 'em in the winter.

Chris at Red Gate Farm said...

If I didn't know better I'd think your husband had taken lawn mowing lessons from mine... He has his "good mower" for the nicer, flat areas and a very old (think 60's) Yazoo mower for the rougher stuff... he actually has two of them since one is usually parked where it died or he's pushing it back to the barn :)

LOVE your mulch/compost pile flowers... I've enjoyed poppies, pumpkins, sunflowers, zinnias and even a geranium in our compost pile!

~Chris

PS I too have an obsession with hydrangeas... I got 4 more this year alone!

EMily said...

That sunflower looks so happy! I kinda with I had a weed pile with a sunflower in it...instead, our weeds contain weeds. Our mums are just blooming now...it's great!

Seeing Each Day said...

Really enjoyed reading your post. My husband has a very clear cut relationship with his lawnmower- he thinks it's either great or not so great ( he uses other adjectives) Love hydrangeas too - only learnt the other that they change colours depending on the soil, as in if I took one of yours it may change colour in my garden.

Kmcblackburn said...

Visiting from "This or That"...sigh, hydrangeas...my most favorite flower :)

Kathy

Lynne said...

We have been in the same "fix" with our tractor mower. (same brand too!) Ugh, ugh, ugh! I hope the artist survives the stress.

I love it when your sunflower header pops up on my screen. Brings some cheer into my day!

~from my front porch in the mountains~ said...

What is with mowers? Ours is on the fritz too!
I love the hydrangea! My aunt has the entire side of their home just filled with them. And she dried over a hundred bouquets of them :) They are all over our home in baskets and vases! Heaven!!
I do think sunflowers are my fave. They just scream Happy!
LYLAS
xo, misha

Deb said...

That mower's acting just like Sassy. Except she will mow the grass for you.

Rose said...

I have heard of elderberry wine but not elderberry pie.....

My Shabby Streamside Studio said...

Beautiful blog & life!

Here's from Katherine's Corner.

xo

Sandy

Marilyn said...

Beautiful captures.. I love your photography.. I would LOVE for you to link it up to my fall crawl blog party.. I'm officially following ya with smiles - GREAT blog with Lots of inspirations here :)) Love it. - the link to link up is http://theartsygirlconnection.blogspot.com/2011/09/fall-crawl-day-12-blog-party.html

camp and cottage living said...

I've never heard of elderberry pie. My grandma used to make gooseberry pie. Is it anything like that?
Hydrangeas are my favorite! I love a dried bouquet as much as a fresh one!
Life on your farm always looks busy, but never, ever dull!
Have a great weekend-Kimberly

Chris said...

Your blog is beautiful and it looks like you have a wonderful home. I love the photo pushing the ride-on-mower. Have to show that to my DH, he so wants a ride-on, now I can show him how they work, hopefully he'll change his mind. Ha ha.
Lovely photos throughout. TFS Hopping from Katherine's Corner Cheers

Pat M said...

I love the lonely little sunflower! Love your blog! I am blog hopping from Katherine's Corner. Following you now everywhere I can find to follow. LOL Thx for visiting my blog. Growing Old With Grace http://growing-old-with-grace.blogspot.com/

Katherines Corner said...

First- Oh my goodness, that is a lot of lawn to mow, pushing the mower, is good exercise though,giggle
Second+ I love the lone sunflower and is that a little hopper resting on it too?
Third- we sometimes have surprise flowers from our bird feeder seeds falling and planting themselves :-)
Fourth- I enjoyed my visit to your lovely blog
Fifth- Thank you for linking up at the Thursday Favorite Things blog Hop. Big hugs!

ShonEjai said...

Very nice photos! They made me smile this Saturday morning!

Tatjana Parkacheva said...

Very nice post and your photos, too.

Regards and best wishes

Nicolasa @ {My}Perspective said...

Gorgeous! I love the bokeh!