On a really humid and muggy day when we are having thunder storms and heavy rain pass through I’m taking some time to share some August activities. It’s been a busy month of day trips, reading, crochet and some gardening. I’ve been neglecting my garden journal so it is a good day to catch up.
We went to visit the grandkids at the trailer and did lots of dipping for sunfish off the dock. We’ve also been out on some lovely backroads drives especially into The County. We visited Mount Pelion, Cherry Valley, Picton and The Unconventional Moose in Actinolite. I also had a few medical appointments which mean a bit of day surgery at the end of the month.
The grandkids in BC made me some lovely bracelets. What a lovely thing to get in the mail. We send them mail each month, either a magazine, book, stickers, postcards and magnets from our outings and this was their way to say thank you. We now have wonderful drawings and notes on the fridge, coasters and bracelets. Besides being a bag lady I just love, love, love bracelets and have quite a collection.
I was busy painting or should say repainting the signs in the sign post garden for a much needed makeover. Towards the end of July I took some photos of the bluejay on the signs and realized how faded they had become since first putting them up in 2014. Was it really that long ago?
One of the signs needed to have the name changed from Sooke to Victoria as our family out west had moved last year. So that was the first one I did and I wanted to see what the signs would look like when painted with a white background. We liked the result so the rest of the signs came down and got repainted.
When they were all done and getting sprayed with a fixative I noticed something was different with one of the signs. Do you see what it is?
Oops, I forgot to paint the end of the sign. But it didn’t take long to fix. The yellow on the top sign stood out while on just the wood but now it is on the white background it doesn’t stand out that much. I have a feeling that sign will come down and be painted a different colour.
I’ve been busy doing a test crochet of a pattern for a friend in England. When she publishes the patterns I’ll share the finished item that I made. I’m also working on a new pair of fingerless mittens with some yarn from a new yarn store in town, Grey Heron. There is also a pair of slippers on the needles.
The beans and lettuce I planted are all finished and the plants have been pulled. The tomatoes are still producing really well. The potatoes were harvested and already we have had some in a lovely crock pot meal. I had bought some steak and it was a bit chewy done on the bbq do decided to do the remained of it in the crock pot with some home grown potatoes and beans, some onions and carrots and it was delicious.
We’ve been enjoying August, how about you?
The Gardener Side of me keeps my online garden journal to help me keep track of when the plants sprout, bud and bloom
2013 … 2014 … 2015… 2016 … 2017
Growing well: red carpet stonecrop, sedum, mint, sorrel, clematis, rose of sharon, Jerusalem artichoke, canna, yucca root,
Harvest: tomatoes, beans, potatoes, radishes,
Blooming: potentilla, daylilies, hosta, coreopsis, heliopsis, lavender, Stella d’oro daylilies, echinacea, false spirea, obedient plant, ligularia, obedient plant, russian sage, garlic chives,
Trowel & Error: clematis (only a little bit of growth), sorrel seems to have stopped growing and shrivelled up
Daniel LaFrance
You sure have been busy! I use to get out more often for picture taking and as you may recall I take most ( ~90% ) of my photos from my car seat. It’s just easier on me with all the health issues. I like your destination signs… they look they had a makeover.
Have a great week!
Lorrie
You do so many creative things. Love those signs. It will be a bit closer to visit your children now than driving that extra bit out to Sooke. I am enjoying August; it’s flying by at an alarming rate.
Linda aka Crafty Gardener
It certainly cuts out the drive on that long and twisty Sooke Road. Plus they are much closer to the Esquimalt Lagoon now, which is a place we love to go to. We are thinking our visit will be in December this year, a different time of year for us. Enjoy the weekend.
Margie
I love the newly painted signposts! In this digital age, it must be fun for your grandkids to receive snail mail from you! As much I appreciate the convenience of technology, nothing beats receiving “happy mail”.
Linda aka Crafty Gardener
The grandkids look forward to mail and it is a way to connect with them as well. Now if only I could get Canada Post to co-ordinate their deliveries when I send a package for each of them. Very often one arrives before the other. Lots of times I put things in the same envelope as little ones have very little patience on waiting for things to arrive :)
Ricki Jill Treleaven
The signs are so cute. Nice catching up with you and all your August activities. Your grands’ bracelets are so sweet!
xo,
RJ
Linda aka Crafty Gardener
I have been doing lots of reading too Ricki Jill, just haven’t been posting about it. I’ve got a new series by Sheila Connolly on the go right now, called A County Cory Mystery. I’ve read a couple of her other series and like them, so this seemed a good choice. Have a good weekend,
Amy at love made my home
I love the signs! A very cute idea indeed!
Myrtle
Great job on the signs but I can see you taking down the one in yellow lettering as you are right it doesn’t stand out as well as the rest. Beautiful fridge magnet the grands made also the bracelets.
Linda aka Crafty Gardener
I think it will come down over the weekend Myrt and get painted a darker colour. Hope you are keeping well.
Linda
Hi Linda….
Treasured gifts from the grandkids…
Your signs are fun!
Waiting for my Obedient plants to bloom at the cottage…
August flew by….geesh!
It is quite cool thus am….a welcome relief!
Enjoy your day…
Hope the surgery is nothing to worry about…
Cheers!
Linda :o)
Linda aka Crafty Gardener
Both my white and purple obedient plants are blooming. I’m sure yours are out at the cottage now. Have a good weekend.