Ever heard the saying, vegetables feed the body and flowers feed the soul?
Purple Columbine, Clematis, Cranesbill Geranium, Peony, Orange Columbine, Iris
Everywhere I look something is blooming, and I’m smiling.
We’ve had summer-like weather and just a few sprinkles although we could use some measurable rain. It’s dry.
I’ve been giving my Craftsmen battery powered tools a workout, and I still love them. No priming, no filling, just slap that battery in and get to work. 🙂
While I’m promoting tools I love, here’s one that you
might want to make note of if you have a lot of indoor plants.
This package costs $9.99 and provides twelve sticky traps. You just insert one into a plant, and the small insects are attracted to the yellow color, get stuck, and you toss it.
I’ve had some fun and some not so fun wildlife encounters recently. The guy digging under the barn is still digging. Trapping hasn’t worked so far, and I’ve filled the tunnel with rocks, soil, chicken wire, and with bigger rocks – he just tunnels right through. A game camera was ordered and is due to arrive this week so maybe I can determine what type of opponent I’m dealing with, but I’m thinking groundhog. I’ve also been fighting the Carpenter Bees that are tunneling into the wood of the barn. Trying to walk or work in the area is tough with them helicoptering all around you so my husband built me a DIY trap. It’s working based upon the dead bees I see in the jar.
On the bright side we have baby ducks, and I had an up close and personal toad visit. The ducks are cute as can be, but watch out for Mom because she’s not wanting visitors so getting a decent photo is out of the question. When I was potting up a container of annuals, I filled it with potting mix, and set the annuals on the container. When I took the six pack of annuals off the pot, there was this toad who seemed to be posing for me. He and I exchanged a few greetings, and then I found him a nice new place to reside under a spirea bush for safe keeping.
The sewing machine has hummed a little while I worked on a small flag wall hanging. I had hoped to have it done by today’s post, but I got derailed reading a Craig Johnson Longmire book that I suddenly realized I hadn’t read.
Now, before I say have a great week, I’m wondering if anyone has a positive review for a washer/dryer combo. My dryer is going fast so we’re looking at new units. If you have an opinion, I’m listening.
Happy second week in June, stay well and be safe. 😎
NewEnglandGardenAndThread 
Baby ducks! Oh they are the cutest. I’ve not heard of the saying you mention but I like it and believe it to be true. We have Electrolux stacking washer and dryer. I balked at the price, but the washer cleans our clothes better than every machine we’ve had before. The dryer just dries, you know?
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The ducks are a hoot running around. Thank you, I’ve got Electrolux on the list. 🙂
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We replaced our washer a few years back but kept the old dryer. Now the old dryer doesn’t always dry requiring two cycles for most loads. I hate buying appliances. Nothing lasts like the ones my mom had way back. I used to get two sets of carpenter bees at my last house. They drilled a hole, laid their eggs and then left. I never saw them after that for the rest of the summer. Are you worried about the holes or are your bees more aggressive. I never had an issue with them bothering me and they were on my deck.
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I hate buying appliances too. They are all meant to be disposable and not necessarily repairable. We thought about trying to get a repairman for the dryer but decided it would probably cost us 1/3 of the price of a new one. The Carpenter bees have drilled a lot of holes on the side of our barn and hang around there like clouds of helicopters. If you have to walk on that side of the barn or go to the chicken coop, you have to really be prepared to wave them off the entire time. If I can move them out, everything I read says I can then fill the holes, paint over, and they’ll find a new spot next year. Fingers crossed. 🙂
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Mama duck and her babies are too cute for words. What a treat to see them. Glad you found a safe haven for the toad. We have lots here. I usually encounter them at night when I take Murphy out for her ‘last call’. Really have to watch where I’m walking.
All your flowers are stunning. And why wouldn’t they be? Looks like the DIY bee trap is working quite well at eliminating those carpenter bees. I’d never heard of them until I read Dan’s post earlier. Yikes!
Good luck on your quest for new appliances. It’s really a crap shoot. No matter which one you decide on, it could turn out to be the best one you’ve ever had, or a complete lemon.
Hope you have a great week.
🐾Ginger 🐾
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The toad scared me to death. I put the potting soil in the pot, set the six pack there, moved it, put my shovel in, and there he was. I guess he had been hiding in the flowers and hopped out. I went back to get my phone and thought he might hop out, but he just kind of sat there. He’s the third one I’ve seen this year, and he definitely was the biggest. You are so right about appliance buying.
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You are going to have so much fun with your trail camera! I bought mine so the grandkids could see who came to feast on their gourmet piles of seeds, corn, and peanuts left in the woods at dusk. They were delighted with the raccoons who peered directly into the lens, and the daytime flock of birds and busy squirrels. Nothing more exotic than that, but it sure was fun – and so usable for the detective work you’ve got in mind! Looking forward to finding out who has been digging your tunnel against such great odds!
We had a Whirlpool Cabrio set for ten years with no problems until the washer went out about a year ago. Replaced it with another less expensive Whirlpool from Lowe’s (no fancy name) – and that one has cleaned far better than the energy efficient prior one. Cabrio dryer still works fine. I hate appliances! Hate shopping for them, paying for them, waiting for them to be delivered and installed, and reading the manual to re-learn how to use ’em! However, process is far preferable to going down to the creek with a rock and bucket of lard, so enough from me on the topic!
Oh no, wait! One more thing! Since our last purchase, Lowe’s now charges for installation (so our electrician son-in-law did it for us instead) and free take away of old item is now $40. Yikes! We found a guy on neighborhood FB who collects scrap metal and were delighted to have him come pick it up for free. Both those service would have added well over $100 to the cost – so add that stuff to my list of what I hate in the appliance-needing world! 🙂
Enjoy your flowers! Wow. Beautiful!
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The last groundhog I saw a couple of times during the day. This guy is invisible except for his constant digging so I really want to see if that is what it is. I’ve been kind of concerned it might be a skunk, and I’m pretty sure I don’t want to tackle that job. 🙂 We’ve been looking at Lowes because of their military discount and they will install and take away as you said for for some hard earned cash. You are lucky to have that electrician son-in-law. He should get a bigger piece of dessert at the next family holiday. 🙂
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I had to wait to stop laughing before I could send my question: lard????
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Lol “artistic license!”
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The baby ducks are adorable, and a formidable mom keeps them safe. 🙂
I wondered about carpenter bees and learned they are not great pollinators and can rob flowers of nectar without pollinating them, teaching honeybees to do the same– not good. Interesting article: https://bestbeebrothers.com/blogs/blog/killing-carpenter-bees
Have a great week!
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Great article – thank you. That Mom is taking good care of those three little guys, and she makes a LOT of noise when you get remotely close. Sure is fun to watch them. 🙂
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If you don’t see the washer and dryer because they are secreted away in the basement you should consider getting a fancy side loading Washing machine unit and go with the most straight forward dryer. We have made good strides improving washing machines so they use less water and wash better however a dryer just dries the same as it has always… save your money.
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Thanks for your suggestions. I saw your email address with your comment and had to smile. My husband and I have had ‘sbc’ emails for many years. 🙂
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Your flower collage is just beautiful;such pretty colors. Not a fan of frogs, or bees, but the ducks are nice. Except for that piercing scowl on Mama Duck’s face. Have a great week.
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Those ducks would like your big pool instead of their small one. 🙂 Hope the weather is not too bad where you are. Stay well.
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Summer, beautiful summer is nearly here. Despite the troubles we are all facing, we can rejoice in that. That iris you featured is fantastic. Looks marbleized. Stunning.
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Don’t you love it? I have only the one and don’t have a clue where I got it. Other gardeners give or trade me flowers or I pick them up at plant sales. Now that I’m ‘more mature’ I realized I should have kept a journal. 🙂 Hope you are having this lovely weather as well.
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Yes, lovely weather in Maine. Cherish that iris, whatever it’s called.
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I agree! Flowers make me smile. Yours are beautiful!
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Thank you. Hope you are well.
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Your group of flowers would be a nice addition to Terry Webster SUNDAY SKILLS Plants Life Around. After doing laundry for 15 years at a Laundromat, one of first things we did was to buy a set at Lowe’s. It doesn’t have all the fancy equipment but the ones I felt I would use. That was over ten years ago. We have no problems as I clean the lint trap after each load. When the dryer needs to run longer, the vent is blown out the lint. The make is Robers.
I am not familiar with the term carpenter bees, we do have a wasp that it eggs in wood. So many people kill insects that I question if it is necessary. I try to find the least method of removing insects. I like the heading of the white bleeding hearts, a favorite plant of mine.
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Thank you for the feedback. I appreciate it. 🙂 Carpenter bees drill holes in wood in this case our 200 year old barn and they do not pollinate plants but just take pollen. I’m with you about trying to remove only those insects that are absolutely necessary. Bleeding Hearts are a wonderful sign of spring aren’t they. 🙂
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Flowers make me happy and they do feed the soul! No matter the bloom they make me happy. And I need happy.
Having ducks must be fun. They must bring good luck, don’t you think!
With all the nature in our world… it takes away the horrible trouble going on around us.
Enjoy your week my friend!
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Yes, nature brings some sense and balance to life right now. 🙂
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Food for the soul indeed! What beauties! I’ve never seen a duck in a tuxedo before, and so I am very impressed by New Hampshire ducks. And how cute those babies. I think that little toad hopped aboard when he saw it was you buying the annuals; he knew what he was doing! I have read that the carpenter bees don’t go after people, but anything that is part buzz saw isn’t coming near me! I am eager to see what your camera reveals; viewing it from Indiana is just close enough!
I ditto everyone who hates appliance shopping. My washer and dryer are Maytag Neptunes, purchased in CA in 2001. I used them for 8 years, they were stored for 8 years, and now I’ve used them in this house for 2+ years. But laundry for one is a very different level of use. Good luck with this!
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The ducks and toad were my ‘visiting guests’ for last week. 🙂 Those Carpenter bees are big and fly like helicopters. When I walk around that area which I have to do they will come right up to my face and hover. It’s like a challenge as to who is going to move first. Since they don’t pollinate plants, I’m for them relocating. 🙂 To be perfectly honest, I was hoping the current laundry pair would outlive me but I’m thinking not. Thanks for the info.
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Your flowers are beautiful and the wildlife is adorable (the ones that don’t burrow, anyway). I don’t know anything about carpenter bees but I hate the thought of killing any much-needed pollinators. Are they a different kind of bee?
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I’m with you about the pollinators, but these guys don’t pollinate. Eliza Waters put a great link in her comment. They also are quite destructive and drill holes in the side of our barn. I will also take the trap down as soon as I can reduce this particular population and can fill and repair the holes. Hope all is well in your part of the country. Take care.
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You certainly have a lot going on, Judy. The baby ducks are cute, but I understand it wanting to cross mom. We have holes that look similar, but they’re from chipmunks. Maybe the holes are larger than they appear. Good luck fighting them and the bees. I’m going to try to give our bees a better target. I love your toad. We discovered one last week, too. We also tried to give him a nice home. They eat a lot of bugs.
It looks to be ok weather until the end of the week. I hope you enjoy this week. Stay safe.
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I’m thinking I see a bee hotel in your crafting future. 🙂 Happy walking with Miss Maddie and look forward to hearing more about the bookcase project.
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I am going to try to give the bees an alternative place to “build” a home. I’ll have a bookcase update tomorrow 🙂
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Lovely to see all your colour and flowers, one of the big bonuses of following blogs in the Northern Hemisphere, we get to see summer colour and cheer twice a year! I love the ducklings, sweet little things. That is a fair sized toad, he must be doing well in your garden, so I bet he is glad you’ve moved him out the the shovel’s way! Happy gardening!
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He was a good sized guy, and I sure wasn’t expecting him up there on top of my potting table in a container I’d just filled with potting soil from an enclosed bag. 🙂 I hope he’s finding a good buffet out there. 🙂
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Your flowers really made me so, Judy. You really do have lots of wild visitors. The duckies are sweet. My latest visitor is an armadillo. Haven’t seen one here before.
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An armadillo – wow. Now, that’s a visitor. I bet you enjoyed watching him/her. 🙂
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It is quite a novelty, I have to admit. 🙂 My neighbours are not enamoured of the wildlife here, especially anything different, so are complaining about him/her. 😦
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Not sure how I missed your post this morning, but it’s never too late to make amends. I’m waiting for the new Longmire book in e-book. Not sure how long it will be yet. I enjoyed the Netflix show but it took massive liberties with the books which I enjoyed more.
I do love ducklings. I love goslings too but they unfortunately grow up to be geese, whereas ducklings are still attractive and non-aggressive as adult ducks. I’m happy too that my soul was fed once more before bedtime. It’s only 9 pm here but midnight there, so I hope you don’t read this until Tuesday morning, while I’m either still sleeping or walking at the Preserve.
janet
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The characters in the book have more depth. I truly thought I’d read every one, but somehow I missed reading “Kindness Goes Unpunished” the third book in the series. It was a really good read. Hope you enjoy your walk this morning.
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This morning was working in the yard and it was nice and cool. Tomorrow will be as well and I’ll be back at the Preserve.
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“Everywhere I look something is blooming, and I’m smiling.” I do the same and it doen’t matter how many times I pass them.
I just smile 🙂
Stay blessed.
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Thank you. And, thank you for the smiles that I enjoy in looking at your photos as well. 🙂
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What a beautiful post! You have some lovely plants in flower. I particularly like the geranium.
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Thank you for the visit because I know how busy you are in your spectacular gardens. Stay well in these challenging times.
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The flowers are so pretty, and I cannot agree more with that quote. Your baby ducks look so cute, but the toad reminds of my current frog problem here – the garden is infested!
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An infestation of anything is never a good thing even cute toads. Hope they move along to another area of the beach.
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Yes, they like digging my plants to hang out there and it is really making the plants unhappy!
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I’m not sure I’d be too excited to meet a toad in my garden but the ducklings are so cute. Great to hear everything is blooming and looking beautiful.
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I’ve seen them before in the ground, but I’ve never seen one on top of a potting table in a container I was working on. 🙂
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Plans derailed by a book that demanded reading? Nope. Never happened to me 😉
So now I finally have a name for the sumo bees that have taken up residence in our back deck. As you say, they aren’t aggressive and I have to admit I find them rather fascinating. They bob around rather ungracefully … incredible they can fly at all.
The good news is that our back deck will finally get replaced in a few weeks and we are biting the bullet and going for composite. My carpenter bees are about to get evicted.
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They are interesting to watch as they weave and bob around. An eviction that you don’t have to handle – I like that idea. 🙂
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I’m just hoping they don’t find somewhere else on my property to settle into. Thanks for helping me identify my uninvited tenants.
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Love it, Judy! 🙂
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Didn’t know that saying, but it’s a good one. The baby ducks are sweet.
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Absolutely beautiful blooms Judy. I’m immensely jealous that you can grow your own!!! As for washer/dryers, my only advice is DO NOT buy a front loader. I did so 3 years ago and the delivery guy was great. He warned me to dry it by hand after every use or it would smell terribly. Plus you have to kneel/bend/stoop to do the laundry which is awful. Our appliance repair person told us they’re now all made by the same manufacturer so go with the cheapest option – the better brands are no longer a differentiation.
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THANK YOU!!
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I adore your iris and that gorgeous peony. Oh, wildlife! Rabbits are eating everything in my garden. I’ve never before had a problem with them. Sigh.
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I wonder if these comparatively mild winters have made wildlife way more productive. A couple of years back we had an unbelievable amount of squirrels. This year it is chipmunks. It reminds me of the old Alfred Hitchcock movie the Birds.
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Great stuff I showed my garden and it’s jealous
Love the pictures
Stay well and laugh when you can
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Hope your garden is doing well too. 🙂
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