I have to say, as much as I miss this rug, it really is in the room it should be in. Megan had it professionally cleaned, and the details just pop. I told her my dogs loved it, too, it was so thick and plush. I'm still searching for a smaller replacement for the kitchen in more muted tones, and who knows, maybe I'll find it one day!
One day the Tiny Farmhouse will serve a purpose. Last week I spent a lot of time going back and forth to the zoning office and deeds and records trying to find surveys, septic tank placement and the like. Seems there is only one hand drawing showing where the septic is and that's about it. Time to get a surveyor and get this show on the road. The plan is to start renovation once the boathouse is sold. Long term plan is maybe one day when it is all complete and split off from the main deed, it would be a great house to live in with less to take care of and a tiny yard with the bamboo forest in the back and NO MORTGAGE! Then it will be time to travel again.
The Eden rose is in full bloom at the farmhouse, and I just planted a red Eden, which I didn't know existed until now, and it has buds! So once in bloom I will post some photos. This weekend I lifted all the original stepping stones that led to the main house when it was built, but now it just leads to a huge tree, so those stones are being stored at the farmhouse and will be used as paths down there once reno begins. These spots were filled in with dirt and are now planted with plugs of the mondo grass that is growing there. A lot of trees and bushes are being dug up and will be planted in other places. These include Canadian Hemlocks, a chestnut tree for Shahab, red bud seedlings and snowball viburnum. Many more need to be dug, but that will now wait until fall. At one point I thought my space where I was going to plant tomatoes and cucumbers was ahead of the game, then this happened! I now have a daisy field, and I didn't plant a single one of them! So I'm just putting my tomato cages in open spots in between and I'm not going to worry about it. I'm also planting a long row of tithonias and sunflowers. These are the tomato fields down the road that I pass by each day on my way out, and they were just planted, so maybe I'm not as far behind on my tomatoes as I thought. This peony was one of three I found in the fall tucked in between the azaleas and not doing well. I dug them up, moved them out into a sunnier area with good soil, and this first peony is my reward! I was expecting white! Other flowers blooming in my gardens. Mexican Primrose. Sweet Williams. The peony before fully open. I love dianthus! The small boathouse garden is looking pretty good right now with just greenery and horsetail reed. Baby geese. Pancake the pug! I have to say, he is my all time favorite canine guest photo. He even has his own life preserver! Some other recent canine guests. I have my eye on this hooked rug, but it's not for sale, but we'll see about that!
Strawberries are in at the local farms. They are always here by Mother's Day. I buy enough to make a dessert and to freeze for summer smoothies. It's been a really long time since I made strawberry shortcake in a vintage iron pan that I got at one of the Heart of Country antiques shows in Nashville many years ago. What I like about this pan is the indention in the middle of the heart cake that holds the strawberries and cream. Kind of overdid it here LOL, but it was so good! In the garden the foxgloves are in bloom, pink is my favorite color! Reminds me of my winter ski jacket in high school, which had to be pink! Poppies in my wildflower garden in the pasture. I transplanted this viburnum in the fall, I was surprised it bloomed this spring. All my beds are finally in place and filled. I now have all the seeds in, so this should be a great cutting garden. The deer, rabbits and rodents in the pasture won, I have moved to the front yard where they cannot destroy my flowers! All the birds are returning. The hummingbirds never left. Goldfinches. Rose breasted grosbeak. Purple martins have returned to the houses in the pasture. Last week was the Mud Creek yard sale. Up at 5 am to get in line by 7 am. It was well worth it! Found this old toy bear that fishes and it works! Crosstitch afghan. One of the reasons I haven't posted is I've been to the vet a lot. We found the cause of Princess's panting, she has liver cancer. Right now she's eating well and wagging her tail. She has trouble getting down, sometimes seems uncomfortable, but is on pain meds and as long as she is happy, it is not her time. Another reason for being MIA, rescue has been insane the past couple of weeks. So many chows in shelters that are medical cases. This is Matilda in Memphis, TN. She had bad teeth and an eye that needed to be removed. Did a fundraiser for her, she is out with rescue, but still at the vet, but doing much better. This is River, another from Memphis. He had what we thought was a broken femur, but have come to learn he was shot with a bb which is lodged in his hip causing pain and impedes his walking. He also had an upper respiratory infection. bladder infection, and is heartworm positive. One vet said to let him go, the second opinion did not agree and we believe once healed he will be able to live a few years in a home. I have a Gofundme up right now and we are at $2000! We got Gus out of Florida. He had to have four teeth removed, he was in pain and would not eat. This is after, he is doing fantastic and he was transported to PA where he is now in a foster home. Matilda after surgery of her eye removal. Another out of Florida, Chenille (I got to name her!) sat in a Tampa shelter for 21 days and did not eat because of pneumonia. So underweight, loaded with tapeworms. Vet said it was the worst case he had ever seen and the worst pneumonia he had ever seen. She spent days in an oxygen tent at the ER vet. Her bill was over $3000. I have a Gofundme for her, but I have only raised $1570 so far, but have gotten other donations sent in. She is now in a foster home in FL. Jillian's owner died in NC. She and Lucky below, have lived their lives outside on chains. We got rescue for them, temp foster in NC and they will be going to their permanent foster in Delaware on Friday (if there's gas!). Poor Lucky, 15 years old and lived his life on this chain. He was filthy, required three baths! Not a chow, but didn't matter. We think he is a border collie mix. Very sweet despite the life he's had. I've been slammed for weeks between dogs, yard work and the boathouse guests. Time for a much needed hike. I have my eye on this trail at Chimney Rock called the Outcroppings Trail. If I have enough gas, I may go on Sunday!! And as an aside, sadly, I said goodbye to my beautiful rug. A girl in California begged me for two weeks to sell it to her and when she offered $500, I had to give in. I rolled it up in plastic, took it to FedEx, she paid $300 to have it shipped, and she is so happy to have it! She is going to send a photo of it in her home with her dogs on it after it comes back from the professional cleaner. We both are dog lovers!
