Busy Summer

Replaced Reverse Osmosis Filters (pre, post, and RO) end of August.

Planted more Asiatic Jasmine on hill East of steps.

Planted Liriope alongside front walkway and around Persimmon tree (which seems to be struggling with little new growth).

Fig tree has produced over a dozen figs this year and seems to be taking off.

Farthest North Pawpaw tree lost its topmost leaves, not sure why.

Hydrangea has lush foliage but no flowers (maybe not enough sun?).

Gardenia closest to front porch died, but two on either side of front steps seem to be hanging in there.

Black Australorps have begun molting (early?).

Lots of rain, little need to water.

Heirloom Pink Brandywine tomatoes have grown almost 10 feet tall with many flowers, but are not fruiting.  Lack of pollination, or too much nitrogen?  Had to add epsom salt just to get flowers.

Bellpeppers growing well, flowering and fruiting (after epsom salt).

Changed oil on truck in August.  Replaced rear lightbulbs (blinkers, brakes, reverse).  Added in-line fuel pump in July.  Changed oil and cleaned air filter in lawnmower.  Sharpened lawnmower blades.

Had to replace main support beams on back porch awning.  Sealed roof where leak had rotted previous support.

Monthly spraying with Bifenthrin, Bravecta for the dogs.  No fleas seen this year, and little mosquito activity.

Started private practice on Capitol Street.

 

Winter Veggies

Started the winter veggie seeds over the weekend.  Lettuce, kale, snow peas, spinach… I think that’s it.  A couple days later and there are already some sprouts.  Also got two Paw Paw trees from the farmer’s market and planted one (will plant the other next weekend). Have gotten absolutely no rain, so have been watering once a week with our lone sprinkler.  Water barrels are half empty, so hoping for rain soon.  Summer veggies are about dead, and I’m letting them go fallow.  Will mulch on to before planting winter veggies when ready.  All of this is being done on the new potter’s table that I built.  Very sturdy and convenient!

In the yard, I applied the Scott’s Weed & Feed.  Seems to have caused a couple burn spots where the spreader was a bit overzealous, but those are turning back green and the rest of the yard is looking lush.  Have noticed this weed, yet to be identified, which I will be working on eradicating in the future.  Will also be laying pre-emergents down to prevent crab grass in the winter/spring.  Have all but given up on the Asiatic Jasmine.  Need to rake the existing mulch, cover it all, spray grass/weed killer, then re-lay mulch and get more Jasmine this spring.  *sigh*.

On a more positive note, Fall means pansies have been planted.  Those in the pots are doing great.  Those in the mulch beds were wilting a bit, but Mary was able to resurrect them with a noon watering today.  Probably just need to be more established… hopefully.  Also on the front porch, Mary made a covered cushion for the swing my dad and I put up.  Looks great and adds to the enjoyment! (Note I need to scrape and repaint the porch).

I finally got around to finishing the outlet, adding a wooden frame to make it look more finished around the cheap vinyl siding that was already there.  Just nice to have a fan at all until we get the ceiling fans put in.

Inside the house, we’ve been busy painting the dining room and installing a chair rail.  Ruby Lips on top, Toffee Crunch on bottom.  Looking good so far, but will need another coat of the red as it’s so much darker.

Also got our fire screen (from Amazon), as one of our puppies might otherwise get his ball rolled into the fire!

 

 

Weekend yard maintenance

Did a number of routine, weekly yard chores.  This consists of mowing, weedeating, edging, fertilizing with miracle grow, and watering.  At this point in Mississippi with the heat and lack of rain, I feel like I’m just keeping things from dying.  That being said, it was nice to receive a compliment from one of the neighbor’s caretakers that our yard had “really turned around.”

Also enjoyed going to two garage sales with my wife, where we got a nice end table for the guest bedroom and some miscellaneous tools.  She did a great job restoring the end table and an old trunk today while I made a bed platform for my parents’ king size air mattress.  Turned out pretty good I think, and I’m glad it only cost me about $60 (compared to the ~$150 they want for a new one).  With a bed skirt, you can’t even tell the difference.  I’ll post some pictures of my wife’s projects too, which she is very proud of (and I’m proud too, as it was her first time using the power sander).

From the Farmers’ Market, we got weekly veggies and dairy products.  Of note, I found what the vendor called an Orange Russian heirloom tomato.  Will try it tomorrow and give feedback.  Online, I found info that suggests it might also be called a “Russian Ox Heart” tomato.

On a sadder note, it looks like the watermelon I attempted to fertilize last week died… Died as in it turned a horrible black and is about to fall off.  I fertilized two more, however, so hopefully I’ll have better luck with those.

Wall Unit

This is a wall unit I’ve been working on for the last few weeks.  We wanted to divide the space in the great room, but didn’t want to completely cut the areas off from one another.  The entry parlor is on the right, while the living area is on the left (where the fire place is).  I was able to match the crown molding with the preexisting molding, and the white satin paint seems a good match, too.  It will take another coat of paint and we might add some small, decorative molding around the top part of the smaller section, but I think it’s coming along nicely.