Monthly Archives: May 2022

………….I have seven pieces of caste iron that I display in the garden……two chairs and a table…..a large bench….a stand table [next to the bench]…….a stove that I use as a planter, and a tall but small plant holder. I have had all of the pieces for years and some of them are outside all year round…..They were starting to get rusty, and were not looking their best. I was thinking of having them professionally refinished, but then I thought I needed a project, and I could do it myself……I got wire brushes and metal scrapers, and got to work…….Sammy enjoyed her Daddy time and sat and watched me at work. When all of the pieces were wire brushed, scraped and sanded I power washed them to get all of the dust and remnants off. I let them dry in the sun for a day. The next day I started to spray paint them with rustoleum……When that was dry I spray painted them with satin finish white paint…..two coats! It took a few days, but it was worth it. All of the pieces look brand new, and they look great with the new fences!

…………………..The stove belonged to my mother in law, Marianne. It’s a real stove, and I often wonder how it was used. The plant stand [photo third in at the bottom] also belonged to my MIL. I know she and Jac would be very happy to see them now…..looking brand new……There are bird houses scattered around the garden. Jac and I used to collect them. It wasn’t anything serious, but whenever we saw one that was interesting we’d buy it. There are some on the sun porch in the house that I don’t bring out, because I don’t want them exposed to the elements…….The garden is looking really pretty. It’s so nice to just sit on a lounge chair in the sun, and listen to the birds……with Sammy by my side.

……………………..For many years I’ve planted one of Jac and my favorite flowers on trellises…..Morning Glories…….However, for the past few years there have been no flowers, or a few bloom in late October. It was becoming depressing, because I knew how much Jac loved them……This year I decided to make a change, and planted these beautiful RED climbers that were recommended to me at Sam Bridge Garden Center in Greenwich [photos second in from the left at the top and middle]. I was told they will climb and bloom straight through the fall. It will be nice to see a wall of beautiful red blooms instead of just green vines. Maybe next year I’ll try the Morning Glories again……My Peonies [center photo at the extreme left] will be blooming soon. I see ants crawling all over them which is necessary for them to bloom so I’ve been told. They secrete a fluid, some say ant pee, that is necessary for the flowers to bloom……It’s an interesting story, and every year there are those ants so maybe it’s true?!………CLICK ONTO NEXT PAGE FOR ONE MORE POST!

……………..One of my favorite things to eat in the summer are TOMATO sandwiches….Jac’s mom used to make them for me, and they were the best on Portuguese bread and lots of mayonnaise, salt and pepper!…..Store bought tomatoes never taste like home grown, or as good as the tomatoes from Farmer’s Markets, but I never know where and when they are…..so I’ve planted SIX different plants in huge pots. I also planted a large pot of Basil for my Caprese Salad……yummy…….I don’t usually plant too many annuals, but I love Giant Zinnias, so I planted more than a dozen of them in all different colors. They always remind me of my Mom. She loved them, and would plant beds of them. She always had vases of Zinnias in the house….I guess that’s why I love them too.

………………..”People who have a good sense of humor, dirty mind. and beautiful heart are a rare combination”…..think about it