It's All Out Of Hand! How Did This Happen?

Well, actually, I KNOW how it happened. It was just too hot to get out there and work in the garden. I don't feel too guilty. I got out there and just about worked myself to death for a lot of hours. Got a lot accomplished too. I think that between the heat, and having too much to handle, it just got the best of me. The problem this year was, we put in completely new beds; which meant that everything had to be done from the very start. Blocks had to be laid, dirt had to be hauled, mulch had to be done; and when you have a fairly decent-sized garden, then all these things are time-consuming and HARD WORK. And my husband keeps saying, " We're not spring chickens anymore!" I swear, I'm going to slug him if I hear that from his lips one more time! My body tells me this everyday, why does he feel that he has to rub it in, I'd just like to know? Anyway, the good thing about all the work that was done this year, is that a lot of it will not have to be repeated. Unless I decide to enlarge my garden, which I am seriously thinking about doing. I have come to the conclusion that farm equipment is a wonderful thing to own. Tractors, plows, wheelbarrows, riding lawnmowers, I get all mushy inside just thinking about all those things. Because, most of the work that was done this year, was done by hand, and if you don't have a whole lot of help getting it done, then any mechanical implement that can help me to get the job done, where the machine does all the work, is a wonderful thing in my opinion! My problem is, we have very-well-used equipment, and I get so frustrated when it won't start, or it quits in the middle of the job. I used a regular push-mower for most of the grass-cutting season, and then started having trouble out of it, couldn't keep it running. The grass would get so high, that it looked like we were trying to grow a crop of hay for our imaginary horses. It kinda made me want to go buy a couple of horses just to keep the stupid grass cut. When the lawn mower tears up, it doesn't get fixed right away, sometimes it takes as long as a month. And we all know that the grass is certainly not going to cooperate by not growing. Well, since I was trying to keep the grass down at my garden cut , (about 1 1/2 acres) , and the grass at home cut, ( almost 1 acre), with a push-mower, I talked hubby into buying a used riding mower off of the want-ads. Now, hubby didn't want to do this, after all, we have a perfectly good broken-down 15 y/o riding lawnmower that's been sitting in the yard with weeds grown all around it, ( because I have nothing to cut the grass with). But, he's going to get that one fixed some day, I'D BETTER NOT GIVE IT AWAY TO GET IT OUT OF MY YARD! And we also have the push-mower that won't stay cranked more than 30 seconds; he's going to get that one fixed too; so why do we need to buy a working riding lawnmower? Well, we bought it, ( the riding mower), and I got three grass-cuttings out of it before IT tore up. I tell you , sometimes I just want to cry. I don't know how I got stuck cutting the grass in the first place; JoAnna contracted the job last year, to make spending money, but this year, she would only cut grass when she wanted something, not once a week when the grass needed cutting. If she was only going to do it for the money when it suited her, that wasn't acceptable, so I took the job away , and started doing it myself. And when we got the riding mower ( the one that lasted three grass-cuttings), then she started wanting me to pay her to cut grass again. Now sometimes I can be pretty obtuse, but this time, I didn't fall for it. The nerve!
So, the grass is waist-high again; all three lawnmowers are broken, and I tell you, I get pretty depressed sometimes. The weed-eater doesn't work, and I have actually gotten out into the yard with a pair of grass-shears, and cut around the edges by hand. I really despair of ever having a decent-looking house and property. I am always so embarrassed when people come over. So, these problems and others, are why my garden and property got out of hand. The only thing that I know to do is to let it all die down in the winter, try to clear it all out, and try not to let it get out of hand next year. That, and pray that God send some working equipment my way! I am also going to check into lasagne gardening between now and next spring; I've been reading a little about that, and it's supposed to ease most of the digging that has to be done.

All Is Well, We Are Not Alone

Are there times when you feel all alone? Like maybe at two or three in the morning when it seems that everyone but you is asleep? How do you feel, knowing that you are the only one awake at your house? Do you feel sad that you are all alone, or do you feel joy that all is quiet for once? Do you use this time for meditation and prayer, or use it for doing something that you have wanted to do for a long time, and just never found the right time to begin?
I have been using this time to think deep thoughts; of course, most of what I think of seems to BE deep thoughts. I've been told that this is a sign of a sensitive and creative mind. And I don't seem to have a whole lot of trouble thinking of things to think about. I don't know if that's my AADD (adult attention deficit disorder), or just my creative mind just keeping busy; who cares, at least I'M seldom bored by my thoughts. And I don't have to worry about boring anyone with what I'm thinking about, because no one knows what I'm thinking besides me. I feel the power! Oh, but wait! There is one who knows the thoughts, and that is God. He says in His Word, "I will never leave you nor forsake you", and that is very comforting indeed, but even more-so when it is in the middle of the night, and you feel all alone. I don't know why, but I feel panicky when I am alone. Now, I am not panicky right now, because even though I am the only one awake, I know that all of my family is here (the ones who live here), and I know that if I need them , all that I have to do is to wake them up. (Hey, this could have possibilities..................all the times the kids got me up in the middle of the night????? heh, heh!)
Do you have family nearby? Are you all alone? If you are the only one in your house, and you feel deserted, then remember that if you are a Christian, then God has promised in His Word, that He will never leave you nor forsake you. God bless, my friends, let us all be there for one another.

Fall Prevention For Spring Garden Problems

When it comes to lawn and garden problems, prevention is the best cure. Fall affords gardeners a great opportunity to set the tone for next year's growing season by way of soil preparation and cleanup. By putting in just a little bit of extra effort this fall, you spare yourself a whole lot less work and worry next spring.

1. Clean Up And Cut Back
Fall is the best time to clean up dead and decaying plant debris, and it's also a good time to cut back spent foliage. Decomposing plant debris can provide a safe haven for overwintering insect pests and disease , and removing it reduces the likelihood of having to deal with problems next year. Having a neat and tidy garden going into winter also means less time spent on cleanup in the spring, and makes it easier for tender shoots to push their way through the soil. In the coldest zones it's often better to leave spent foliage until spring. It offers plants extra winter protection by attracting and trapping insulation snow.

2. Ward Off Weed Seeds
Weeds really go to town releasing their seeds in the fall. If you can, pull them up, clip them off at ground level, or collect the seeds by hand (or with a cordless handvac) before they have a chance to scatter. The same is true for any desirable self-seeders that have run a bit wild this season. Now is the time to regain control. Whatever you do, don't toss the seeds on top of the compost pile. There may not be enough heat left to kill them off by next spring. Toss them in the trash instead and be done with them for good. If you have a large area infested by weeds, smother them over winter with a sheet of black plastic secured with rocks or stakes. If you cover them now, you'll have a clean slate to start with in the spring.

3. Test Your Soil And Top Off Your Beds
Fall is a great time to test your garden's soil, because once you get the results, you will still have plenty of time to add amendments before the really cold weather settles in. Once you've added your amendments, top off all of your vegetable and flower beds with three to four inches of compost. There's no need to work it into the soil; winter rain and snow will leach the organic nutrients into the soil, giving your plants a great head start next season.

4. Water Everything Well
One of the most common mistakes gardeners make is not irrigating properly in the fall. Frozen soil limits moisture availability, which can create a drought situation that damages ( or even kills) plants during the winter. Give perennials and trees a good weekly soaking in the final weeks leading up to freezing weather. In colder zones where the ground freezes several inches deep, top plants with a heavy layer of organic mulch ( four to eight inches deep depending on average snow cover) for some added protection. This will help prevent frost heaving and conserve moisture.

I found this article on the internet; it says perfectly what I wanted to say about putting your garden to bed for the winter. I still plan to plant a few more things before cold weather sets in; I'm just waiting for the heat to ease up a bit, so it will be a few weeks before I get my garden ready for winter.
I make it a habit to clean up all garden debris after the gardening season is over; spent plants, weeds, etc. When the green stuff is dead, it is much easier to clear away, plus it makes it much easier in the spring to begin to work the ground. Also, it's not nearly as hot, and hardly any mosquitoes at all! These are just some things to think about; to let you know what makes gardening easier, to prevent disease and insect problems next spring. Happy gardening.