Gardeners who plan well have flowers blooming throughout the spring and summer. I’m still working on that. My biggest problem is I love spring flowers.
Besides gardening and reading, we’ve been doing a few jobs around the house. Remember that old, bad joke about ‘how many xxxxxx does it take to replace a lightbulb?’ Well, in our case it took two seniors to replace a lightbulb inside our microwave. We debated making a service call, and decided how hard can this be. We found the bulb we needed, and then found a couple of YouTube videos. We figured out how to take the top pieces of the microwave apart and get that tiny bulb replaced for less than $10 – I like it.
Thank you to every person who has filmed a YouTube video for the rest of us to learn from. Doing that is not in my wheelhouse, but I couldn’t count how many I’ve watched in order to learn how to do something.
Next on the to-do-list was our front door which is metal, and some of the paint had started to chip off. I scraped and sanded all the spots, but I had a really uneven finish after that. I put primer on next, but the areas where I scraped were still highly visible. Back to Google and YouTube. I picked up some Bondo and filled in the depressions, sanded and sanded some more, and re-primed. It’s looking pretty good, and I should get that new red paint on it this week. If anyone needs almost a full can of Bondo, please let me know.
I hope you had a good week, and that this one will be even better. I also hope your gas prices are lower than ours at $5 per gallon. It sure makes your eyes bulge when you have to fill the tank.
Have a good one!
NewEnglandGardenAndThread 
Perennial Geraniums, I never saw these before. Beautiful. I’m going to our local nursery to see if they have them. I NEED them in my garden!🤗. All your flowers are stunning, especially the Peony and the ant. That sounds like a title for a children’s book….The “Peony and the Ant”! We had a bad storm a few days ago that left my peony blossoms in petals on the ground. 😡
Isn’t it amazing how something as simple as a door needing to get a fresh coat of pain becomes a major project!
Hope today is the beginning of a great week.
Ginger
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That would make a good book – The “Peony and the Ant.” Now my mind is going thinking about a family of ants, Mom, Dad, and maybe two kids, living in that peony. 🙂
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If you think that’s bad, you should come to Europe!
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I’d love to, but I can’t afford to right now. 🙂
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It was a comment about the price of gas in Europe, way more expensive than in US.
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I know what you meant. I meant I’d love to travel to Europe again but can’t afford the air line ticket because of the gas increase. 🙂
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Thank goodness we have a Honda Fit and work at home. I feel for workers who must commute any distance. Spring flowers are glorious. No two ways about it, and your pictures beautifully illustrate this. I, too, try to have blooming flowers throughout spring and summer. I’m somewhat successful, but by September, the garden is done. Whatever did we do before YouTube? We go to YouTube for instructions on how to play complicated board games. Such a help. Also, it’s how I listen to music when I’m on the computer.
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A car that gets good gas mileage right now is a real plus. I’m down to green by September except for some sunflowers. YouTube is a wealth of information. Glad to see you back in the community. 🙂
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Spring flowers are the best, aren’t they? June is just glorious.
Good work on the repairs, you are a thrift-master!
One good thing about the price of gas is that people are driving less, so it is quieter and the air is cleaner. 😉
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I love early summer flowers. Well, those are positives so we can be appreciative of that. 🙂
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I’m in love with the deep, rich, royal purple splendor of your garden! If I could grow iris, that would be the only color I’d plant!
Our gas is $5 here, too. Thinking selfishly, I’m glad we’ve got nowhere to be except nearby grocery stores, grandkids’ homes, and church. We’re like you. Plenty to do right at home!
You Tube was used extensively by me when I bought Amazon books for the grandkids with a fervor. There are people nice enough to show contents page by page so you can see what you’re buying.
Enjoy the week ahead, Judy!
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I do like those dark purple ones too. I have some really short ones also, but they’ve already gone by. We try to combine our trips if possible to save a little. You just taught me something I never knew – YouTube checking for books. I would have never imagined that. What a great option to see the contents before you buy. 🙂
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Your flowers are beautiful
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Thank you. Come see them any time. 🙂
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The flowers, and your arrangements, are lovely, Judy. So bright and colorful. I’m convinced that anything can become a project these days,
I hope you have a great week. Gas prices are getting scary.
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Changing a lightbulb seemed like a simple thing until I had to find the right one, not touch it with my bare hands, and take pieces of the microwave off in order to get to the spot to wiggle it out. I was quite satisfied though when it was done. 🙂
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You have been busy. And the selection of flowers is lovely. Do the non spurred columbine cross with spurred varieties ? We have the spurred ones and let them naturalize. Over time we have gotten all sorts of looks, even doubles. Thanks
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So far, they’re staying in their spots and I haven’t seen any new plants. I’ll keep my eye out though. 🙂
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Judy, don’t you just love YouTube. Short of brain surgery and possibly that, you can learn almost anything. A fresh coat of paint on the front door brightens everything up, doesn’t it? And, what better time to do that than now, when all those flowers are in bloom to add a little extra cheer. Have a great week.
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I applaud all the folks who decide to film themselves doing small or large projects because so many of us can learn from their successes and challenges. It’s interesting too how people use it for so many different purposes. Learning something new – it’s a good thing. 🙂
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What an amazing year for iris and peonies! Columbines are also a favorite of mine. They are so happy, and your photographs do them justice.
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Thank you. It seems like the peonies and Irises are just really loaded with blooms this year. I’m certainly enjoying the bloom bounty. 🙂
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I never have seen perennial geraniums before… I love them and they look to be a lovely ground cover. And that pink columbine is gorgeous… it looks like a double. Your gardens are looking gorgeous with all your spring flowers! Beautiful photography my friend!
As for gas… it definitely is a shock but our Canadian and European friends say… Welcome to their World. Europe has adapted to smaller calls and a transportation train system that is amazing and what I wish for in the USA… heck I wish for it in Phoenix! You about can go anywhere in Europe on a high speed train.
And thank the good Lord for the You Tube people…!
Have a fabulous week to come… I may be painting my screen door this week!
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I’m guessing we may see many of our larger SUVs on the used car lots soon. We are very lucky that our town has bus and train service which can help many for local travel. Good luck painting your screen door! 🙂
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Maybe summer flowers aren’t as splashy or maybe it’s because after a long winter the color is so welcome but spring flowers are just the best! I don’t know what we did before youtube! My front door, also metal, has dings like a car. I wonder if that would help.
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I think you’re right in that we certainly enjoy the color after a winter of white and brown. Yes, Bondo would work. Watch a couple of videos on how to apply. You mix the putty with the hardener, and it has to be applied quickly in small batches and then sanded smooth. It dries hard as a rock so a little at a time works best. 🙂
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Nice repair jobs! Our gas pries are right up there with yours.
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Filling up a car these days is a real challenge to the credit card. 🙂
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Judy, your spring flowers are spectacular. Spring is the most special garden time. Making a vase on Monday finally spurred me to attempt more flowers throughout the summer. I used to be able to just throw out zinnias but rabbits have put an end to them being easy. Congrats on figuring out the microwave light and metal door solutions. Enjoy your beautiful garden.
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Your spring flowers have also been spectacular, and I don’t even attempt to try arranging like you do. I do, however, learn from your arrangements and know mine need to improve. 🙂
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Your garden is gorgeous. I’m prejudiced, of course, but I believe that perennials in particular have deeper, more lustrous color up north. And as for those how-to videos, I’m terribly grateful for them, too.
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Perennials are like dear friends who come back to visit and be appreciated. 🙂 I use YouTube like a reference category when I need a visual on how to do something, and I watch several to make sure I have the gist of the issue. I truly appreciate the options it offers.
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Love the colour in your garden. Any mathematicians out there. Your if $% a gallon, ours is £1.91 a litre……..
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I looked it up, and it appears a gallon is the equivalent of 3.785 litres. So, we are at $5, and you are at $7.22. That hurts just to type it. Have you all adjusted your driving or just adapted to the higher price?
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Thank you – and ours has just gone up again to £1.97 per litre. Some people have had to stop driving which in a rural area with few buses is very hard. We are driving a little slower everywhere and walking into town which we are lucky to be able to do. It is going to be very difficult for many people as so much is dependent on being transported so other costs will go up too.
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Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s columbine — wasn’t that one of the Top Ten? But I can’t help it! I want that blue! Oh, and as long as I’m coveting, I might as well add the iris, which always takes my breath away. I am, as usual, in awe of your accomplishments and energy. Anyone who can best that little light in the microwave is a genius in my book! Congratulations on everything!
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I have to agree those dark purple ones really are beauties, and if you were closer I’d dig them up, divide, and share. 🙂 Opening the microwave door and having that light come on what a huge win for this woman. 🙂
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If I can find some of that columbine, I’ll plant it and pretend it came from your garden. As for that little light, let it shine!
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I love your spring flowers especially the peony. We can’t really grow those here but they are still my favorite flower.
I agree with your shout out to YouTube and the wonderful people who take the time to make the videos. My husband and I are DIYers and are always grateful for what we are able to learn from them.
I think California has just about every US state beat as far as gas prices are concerned. I can’t tell you how much I enjoy driving by the filling stations in my EV.
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When you are stumped with a house project, there’s no doubt that someone somewhere posted a video. From there, you can filter down right to your specific issue. It’s a wonderful thing. I can only imagine the big smile on your face as you roll past the gas stations. Drive on! 🙂
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Beautiful flowers!!
I’m glad I’m not the only one who has to watch YouTube videos to figure out how to do certain things sometimes. 😂
Last night we got gas on the way home and it was under $5. This morning it was 25 cents higher making it over $5!! Will it ever stop?
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You are definitely not alone in checking out instructions on YouTube. 🙂 The tips you offered were very good. I usually do side roads, but I’m using the interstate now so I can set the cruise control and avoid all the stops and starts. I’m not sure where this is going with regard to price, but it is ugly and hard on everyone.
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I love all of your colorful flowers! Congrats on changing that lightbulb! My husband has fixed a lot of things after watching youtube videos.
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It’s pretty funny that you think about a small project, don’t have a clue, and then watch someone else do it, and it makes more sense. 🙂
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The photos of the pansies made me smile. I always planted them in an antic iron watering trough each spring that was at the front of our orchard. Gas is $4.76 today for regular here in our part of Florida. I have half a tank but it will last me weeks as I only use my car a few times a month. No telling what it will be when I do need to buy some.
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I can visualize that trough with happy faces planted in it. You are almost like those with electric cars and not needing gas. It seems to go up every single day. Stay well, and I hope Mother Nature is easy on you. 🙂
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Your garden is looking beautiful with all the purples. Well done with your home repair jobs. Mr ET swears by YouTube videos and is always looking up things. He says if you want to know how to do something for sure someone has made a video on it.
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I always wonder what makes a person decide to make a video of what they are doing, but I’m glad they do because there are so many of us who can learn from their experience. 🙂
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Lovely to see your colourful garden, especially as everything is cold and dreary here in Canberra. We do have some purple/blue Iris that come up every year, (given to us when we first moved into this house) they are quite small, and I’m wondering if they are the same as your Siberian Iris.
I agree about the YouTube, how did we ever survive without it…even so, the light bulb in the microwave must have been tricky.
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It’s interesting how many shapes and sizes we find Iris plants. The light bulb was tricky because of its location in the side of the microwave and we had the most challenge with getting the old one to release it’s grip to get it out. 🙂
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Oh, it’s so true, Judy! Spring blossoms always take my breath away. Yours are just lovely! I’m very happy that Mother Nature has been watering my Illinois garden lately. Yes, the pain at the pump is real! We are so grateful that my hubby is still able to work remotely. You Tube ‘how to’ videos have saved us a few times, too! Last week, I had to revisit your blog for ‘how to’ tips involving an iPhone, a back pocket, and rice! OMG! 🤦🏼♀️ I followed your tips… and my phone is working fine again!
Huge hugs, Judy!💗
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Oh, I am so happy I could help you with your phone. It’s an awful experience, but a happy ending does help. I’ve thought of you several times this week. I have a NJ Tea Plant Shrub, and every year it dies back to the ground and takes all summer to get one sprig maybe 8″ tall. This is the year, I am sending it to the property border to live. It’s taking up space that could grow to something that actually looks like a shrub. 🙂
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What glorious flowers, Judy! Thanks for brightening my day or rather, my evening. I’m in California so no, gas isn’t $5/gal. It’s over $6. 😦 Thankfully I’m not driving around or else I’m going with daughter a/o son-in-law! But it will hurt to fill the tank to head back to Arizona in a week or so!!
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I do so hope you are having a marvelous visit and getting plenty of photos, hugs, rocking, and walking opportunities with that special baby boy. Enjoy every second of it, and have safe travels on the way home.
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I’m getting all of those, Judy. 🥰
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Your flowers are gorgeous! I didn’t realize there were so many types of Columbine!!
I have to top off my tank tomorrow for two trips up to Reno this week so I’m going to be feeling the pain and reality soon. He-man came home fuming about it last week as it cost over $63 to fill up our Outback!! Lord knows how much it will be tomorrow when I go.
I love YouTube how to video and the people who do them are wonderful!
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Stops at the gas station stopped being inconvenient and became financially painful when the price per gallon went over the $5 mark. YouTube videos are so very helpful and the ‘instructors’ are wonderful.
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Agreed!
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You’re a rock star! Isn’t YouTube glorious sometimes? Besides helping me get through lockdown with endless videos of Don Rickles on Carson and Letterman, it really can be helpful for getting through daunting home projects. All of our new kitchen appliances are now installed, but by our contractor and not the appliance store that sold it to us. Soooo…. we’ve looked up how-to-operate videos on YouTube for the dishwasher, washing machine, microwave, stove, and refrigerator, and all of them have been right on the mark. That Siberian Iris is beyond words! – Marty
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Rickles, Carson, and Letterman – now there is a threesome I haven’t thought of in a while. I am always amazed at how other folks use YouTube. I guess I go there to look one thing up at a time and don’t really scroll around to see what is there. I need to do that! Have you noticed that lots of times there are no manuals with new appliances or tools? I guess they assume we’re going to look up the video, and thank you to every company and person who provides them for us.
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I have the same problem: I love spring flowers and my garden looks gorgeous until mid-July. Then, it’s game over! Glad you are so handy to sand and paint your door yourself. Brava! I’ll paint walls and outdoor furniture, but that’s it.
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Every year when I hit that ‘green’ period, I tell myself I need to do something about it, but I don’t make much progress from one year to the next. The door has been a project, and I hope it lasts for several years so I don’t have to do it again. 🙂
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I’m impressed with you two replacing the lightbulb inside our microwave, thanks to YouTube videos. It just goes to show old dogs can learn new tricks– and that the desire to be frugal guides us all. Your spring flower photos are beautiful. I’d like to paint our front door another color but my husband loves it as it is– brown, of course.
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The hourly wage for service calls here is outrageous so I was feeling pretty good when I could avoid it. My front door is primed and will get two or three coats of fresh red paint. I like red doors. I’ve had wood doors that were stained brown back a ways but I’ve never painted one brown. I’m guessing though that it goes just fine with your house and trim colors or you wouldn’t have it.
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Our door is a vinyl pretend wood-grain thing that is energy efficient and is supposed to be perfectly in keeping with the neighborhood and the bricks of the house. I dunno, it’s okay– but a red door is better. Go for it.
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Hi – gas is almost 5 a gallon here – sigh!
your spring flowers are wonderful and cheers to YouTube tutorials – they have rescued us many times
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Yesterday, I saw a local station’s sign that said $5.09 9/10. I fear where this is going. YouTube tutorials are the best!
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I remember in 2005 when prices were doubled and almost triple – and then the crash came in 2007-08
I sure hope that is NOT where we are headed
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I’m just thrilled that the majority of my flowers survived my three week absence and being under the care of hubby – who is decidedly NOT a gardener.😊
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He just might deserve a special dinner or dessert out for doing such a good job. 🙂
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But of course! He was most pleased, though, just hearing me say what a great job he had done.
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What gorgeous flowers, and I’m so impressed that you know their names. (I never know any flower names, but I’ve heard that there’s an app for that!)
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There are several apps. 🙂 I don’t know ‘all’ the names, and that is quite embarrassing at times. 🙂
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Plentiful of beauty – flowers 💐
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Thank you.
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Judy, I absolutely love your Columbine and Siberian Iris. I can understand why you love the spring flowers so much. Gorgeous!
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Thanks. They do make my gardener heart sing.
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“Peony & Ant” is the best flower caption ever.
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Simple but true, right? 🙂
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The deep purple iris are GORGEOUS!!!
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Thank you. 🙂
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😕gas prices, food prices and no end in sight. Have you taken a look at the cost of plants at your local
BIG box store? Yesterday at Loews, a tiny tiny plug of mondo grass was 3.48!
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You bring up a huge issues for us plant lovers – cost. I thought the annuals were high until I shopped for some shrubs that were between $60-80. Needless to say, they didn’t get moved to my cart.
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