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Showing posts from July, 2013

#GardenWalk Weekly Round-Up

Welcome to the #GardenWalk Weekly Round-Up! Featured in this post are some of the great shares posted during the last week on Twitter: #gardenwalk An old chair w/Annual's pic.twitter.com/C46Sj15Cp2 — Pam Jackson (@Pam_maP) July 19, 2013 Gardens Are Heaven Scent | Rose Garden This AM #roses #gardening #gardenwalk #gardenchat #weeksroses pic.twitter.com/NrDmGbQC0K — Susan Fox (@gagasgarden) July 19, 2013 One of my favorite #antiquerose blooms from a June #gardenwalk , Charles de Mills. Happy lovely sunny #ff ! #roses pic.twitter.com/KzNCVHXdD0 — Stefanie S (@yahoogardener) July 19, 2013 My #GardenWalk began with my #Dad when I was just a kid. They continue to this day.... #RoseChat http://t.co/DsvqsscoeX — Chris VanCleave (@RedneckRosarian) July 21, 2013 The lovely Cherry Parfait rose. Gets some blackspot but still a keeper! #rosechat #gardenwalk pic.twitter.com/FwUmXxgpSK — Louise (@gardeninbetween) July 21, 2013 Evening #gardenwalk...

A Writers Journal - Comfortable Creativity

I should have known when I started switching things up in the spare room earlier this month, it would once again become our Home For Wayward Nephews. Thankfully this was not to be an extended stay and the No Vacancy sign has been unplugged, taken down and put away for now. My wheels began turning when I discovered the small coffee table, pictured above, outside our gate a couple of weeks ago. Because our side fence runs along the area for bulk pickup for where we live, and up to an over-grown power company right-of-way alley, stuff is often dumped here. And it's not always a case of 'one mans trash is another mans treasure' by a long shot. I discovered it when I went to put recyclables in the bins and loved it immediately! I had no idea where I was going to put it, but knew it would be snatched up by pickers before noon, so I brought it in the yard, closing the gate behind me. A few days later, t-storms were imminent, so I brought the table into the spare room so it ...

#GardenWalk Thursday Round-Up

Welcome to the #GardenWalk Thursday Round-up!   Featured in this post are some of the great shares posted today on Twitter: New no-till bed connects 2 short beds. Pole beans, leeks, & 3 pepper plants that needed homes. #gardening #gardenwalk pic.twitter.com/jpgvI1jPsD — Nan (@notillgarden) July 25, 2013 Good gray morning turning things green #Gardenchat #GardenWalk pic.twitter.com/SGQq2lLvbe — Old School Bill (@BillsGarden) July 25, 2013 I want to thank Nan/ @notillgarden and Old School Bill/ @BillsGarden for sharing with me via the #GardenWalk hashtag on Twitter for #GardenWalk Thursday! Want a chance to be a #GardenWalk Featured Tweeter here on The Portable Homestead? Participating is super easy: Post your photos to Twitter using the  #GardenWalk   hashtag in the tweet that goes with your photo.   Or if you are posting your  #GardenWalk  to your personal site, leave your link to it in your tweet. What are you waitin...

The Weather Takes A Break!

As you can see, I'm not the only resident here at The Portable Homestead who is enjoying having the windows open today! Miss Boo spent the entire morning perched in this spot watching birds and butterflies. The temperatures began to fall, albeit it slightly on Sunday, ending heat wave number 4 of the year, and now the humidity is finally following suit. Though still a bit muggy now, I for one am so thankful for a break from the oppressive humidity & heat! I thought what was left of my sanity would break first. Having bronchitis and a sinus infection (day 11 & counting) as well as hibernating indoors (because of the weather, infections & my body's extreme dislike of hot/humid weather) hasn't helped my spirits (or cabin fever) any. I think the reason why Summer cooties (colds, sinus infections, bronchitis & the like) seem to go on and on is that, despite air conditioning, it's just too hot for soups, hot teas with honey - many of the nourishing ...

Summer Nights

With the heat wave just barely beginning to loosen its' grip, we ventured out last night for a ride to the other side of the river for a cold treat to soothe my raw throat. I'd been in bed 98% of the day thanks to bronchitis & a sinus infection (day 7 of these Summer cooties in fact) and Hubbs doesn't really need any excuse to go out for ice cream or ices when we have none in the house so off we went. I snapped this photo on the way back, from my passenger seat window. When the humidity isn't suffocating and the heat isn't oppressive, Summer nights can be so beautiful! Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

A Birthday Of A Different Sort

Today was the fur girls 12th birthday! Miss Boo is in the top photo, her sister, Mama, is in the bottom photo. What a blessing my cherished Calico's have been and hopefully will continue to be for many more years to come! And you know you and your husband have lost what's left of each of your minds when you both sing Happy Birthday to the kitties in Polish! Hope your Sunday was a lovely one. Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

The Joy Of Home: Summer Mantle

Sometimes things come together slowly.  This year's Summer mantle is no exception!  The shells and related pieces have been up on the mantle for weeks.  Of course my in-laws ashes are a fixture on the mantle (in the center) and are there year round.  With having to hibernate indoors so much during this latest (extended) heatwave (because of the heat, my usual health & battling bronchitis), I've finally started switching things around. But, my Summer mantle finally came together this past Friday after a rare cool day of being out & about hitting a few clearance sales when I found those two adorable Owls! The finishing touch came yesterday when I clipped that bouquet of roses from my garden so this awful heat wouldn't claim the last of those blooms and shrivel them to bits. And there you have it!  What are you doing to change things up for this season?

Off The Shelf: Summer Reading and The Lost Saints Of Tennessee

Taken Sunday, July 7th, at our wee lakeside home. I always have such good intentions and big plans when it comes to my "Summer reading."  But, who am I kidding anymore?!  I take forever to find a book that I enjoy reading and still take more forever to finish reading it.  Not the case with the novel featured in this addition of Off The Shelf , which has been on my radar (aka to-read list) for a while now and is this month's Southern Lit Lovers group read & chat selection. The Lost Saints of Tennessee by Amy Franklin-Willis My (goodreads) rating: 5 of 5 stars From the Atlantic Monthly Press 2012 hardback edition:  (Spoilers Possible -->) "With enormous heart and dazzling agility, debut novelist Amy Franklin-Wills expertly mines the fault lines in one Southern working-class family. Driven by the soulful and intrepid voices of forty-two-year-old Ezekiel Cooper and his mother, Lillian, The Lost Saints Of Tennessee journeys from the 1940s to the 1980s ...

In My Garden Today: Gertrude Jekyll

It's a (not so) Wordless Wednesday here at The Portable Homestead and that is because Ms. Jekyll, a David Austin rose, has begun her second bloom! I'm pleased since I only just bought her as a birthday present to myself the third week of May and she finished that bloom before mid June. She's already more than doubled her height! I was afraid the slight touch of black spot & powdery mildew she's come down with would hold her back. Perhaps she's competing with Queen Elizabeth (grandiflora) who is now seven and a half feet tall! From the lovely, delicate pink color, to the ruffled petals once a bud opens fully, to the utterly enchanting scent (heavily traditional yet not overwhelming), I adore this rose! For more photos of Gertrude, click here . Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Weekend Scenes: Steeples

I love taking photos of these two steeples. I never tire of the sight of them. And I couldn't tell you why! The top is in our Northwestern NJ town and the bottom one is in PA. Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Summer Means...

Coneflowers! Echinacea purpurea, purple coneflower to be exact. Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

What's In A Name? Phase 2!

Back on June 26th, I wrote about my decision to change the name of Diggin' Around to The Portable Homestead (click here ) to warn y'all changes were coming to this here blog!  Well, we've now reached phase 2 of the change, the new header is in place up at the top of the blog.  Soon, the actual address for my blog will change too, which will likely require you to re-follow me.  Because I've been Diggin' Around so long, I felt it only right to give fair warning before the final change comes. One can end up with so many 'loose ends' online.  I'm also working on tying up all of mine and bringing them home here to The Portable Homestead.

Happy (belated) Birthday, America!

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Happy (belated) Birthday, America!

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®