There’s been no rain for weeks, temperatures have been in the 80’s, the soil dusty and as dry as a bone. Finally, last night thunder storms rolled in. Relief! I’ve been working 8 hours a day, 5 days a week getting seeds planted and annuals set out. I’m almost done. It’s wet, hot and humid out today and the Mosquitos are swarming so I’m booking off and having my friend over. She’s a gardener by trade and needs a break too. Both of us are feeling (and looking) a little crooked and scraggly. We’re going to make stepping stones, drink tea and have eggplant and oatmeal cookies for lunch.
handmade. homegrown. beautiful life 
Look forward to seeing those stepping stones!
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We made 8 of them. Still have lots of concrete and broken china left so this will be an ongoing project:)
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Pictures will follow, I hope.
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Brr Mosquitos, I remember them all to well when we lived in Canada. But Oh joy…none of them in our Cincinnati garden. Your garden looks beautiful!! xo Johanna
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No Mosquitos? Lucky you!! I can’t stand when you hear them whining and can’t get at them, lol
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Looking good, despite the drought. You must have spent some time watering
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Thanks, Derrick. I only watered the new plants. Up close, the impact is more obvious. Extreme weather here so far this year!
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We had that same dry spell – until last night. Must have been the same storm – it hit us around 6:30 pm last night & then we got some more rain after I went to bed. Everything looks happier out there. You’re right, though – it left a hot, sticky day today – not much fun out there. Your place looks just stunning!
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Thanks, Jodie! We do seem to be in the same weather pattern. Odd how it got so hot so quick and really weird to have such a dry May! Things are blooming out of sync. I haven’t even had a rose bloom yet.
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I’ll tell you what – I have never had so many birds in my backyard – I go out there & it’s a mass scattering every time. And NO BITING BUGS (yet). Even today when it’s as thick as the rain forest out there. So I think the birds are eating the bugs. – But are the birds en mass because of the weird weather or because of all of my new plants? Ah, there is the question.
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That is a very good thing! I’m seeing a lot of catbirds in my yard. Hanging around for the blueberries probably and don’t want to fill up too much on bugs, lol
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Catbirds here, too! I love them – Like mockingbirds but higher pitched.
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Can’t wait to see your stepping stones. I just ordered molds and want to start now so I have enough for a path this Fall. We’ve had ten inches of rain this month and it’s raining again today. Sure wish I could send some of mine your way!!
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I bet your stones and your path will look wonderful! I’ve been making these for a few years and should have made a plan before I started. Somehow, it all works out, lol
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You deserve a rest but the garden is looking great as a result of your hard work.
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Thanks so much , Mary. Today was one of those days where I felt like I never really woke up completely. I’ll perk up tomorrow once I get the shovel back in hand
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Ha – you can get addicted to work.
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Think you may have hit that one right on the head, Mary:)
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Wow! I can only wish to have that much time to play in my garden! You earned your break!
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When my kids were young, I used to dream of uninterrupted garden time! When they got older, most of my time was spent up between my family and running a business. This is a dream come true for me
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Well do enjoy! I don’t want to wish the little time I get with my kids away, but working part time would certainly be lovely!!
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I hear ya. I am still running my business (bookkeeping), which takes up much of my days – but I am flexible enough to schedule off on good gardening days! My oldest is 24 and an architect in Manhattan. My twins (boy/girl) are just finishing their junior year of HS. I am a junior Cynthia.
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Yes! That was me 2 years ago. My life is so different now in such a short period of time. Took some getting used to. Jodie, you are sentimental like me. Creative too, luckily! I hope we are still blogging when your twins go off to college:)
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“….eggplant and oatmeal cookies for lunch.” LOL. The first time I read this, I thought you were making eggplant and oatmeal cookies. I thought, ewwww. I don’t know about that. Hahahaha 🙂
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Haha!! It does sound like that!! Ewwww
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I read it that way, too & thought, “That Cynthia, She thinks of everything. Who would think to make eggplant & oatmeal cookies?” I was ready to ask for the recipe.
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LOL 🙂
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The garden is looking great – I look forward to seeing the stepping stones that you make!
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Thanks, Matt! I always seem to be juggling projects and looking for more:)
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You know, I noticed unusual bird behavior here in northern Illinois, also. It was a cold spring and the birds are just mating now. My neighbors and I have noticed groups of five or more males fighting over females on Main Street and in the alley. And, more than one group! Isn’t that odd? None of us ever noticed their “goings on” before, but they are so LOUD. Cynthia, have the mosquito bites been keeping you awake at night? I hate that! That photograph of the Lily of the Valley is so, so beautiful. I often use one of your photographs as my screen saver…I enjoy them longer that way.
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Her photos are lovely, aren’t they?
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Oh, it is so wonderful when I enlarged that photo, I could see a tiny insect with transparent wings and all sorts of sparkles in the back.
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That is odd about the birds! Ginene, you say the nicest things. I love that you like my pictures. I use my phone to take them all. That lily of the valley was a gift. I never saw the bug until after it was taken. The mosquito bites combined with poison ivy I picked up are keeping me up. Ugh:)
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Here in England we have had a really dry May but today we had some much needed rain! The cookies sound interesting 🙂
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I just LOVE your garden, Cynthia! You truly have been having weather extremes this year. I think we are getting all of your rain here in Chicagoland. Our gardens are growing lush and green… and the weeds are just out of control!! Next week looks sunny, so I will try hard to tidy things up. Hope you will share photos of your stepping stones. So glad you stopped to enjoy lunch and crafty time with a friend! Sending you a few more gentle raindrops! ♡
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We had some rain for about an hour yesterday, but we need RAIN to turn this around. 🙂 Your gardens look lovely. 🙂
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Glad you got some rain there. We’ve had less than an inch the entire month of May. It’s been brutal. I just checked the weather forecast and still none in sight for the next few days.
Maybe soon. In the meantime we play the hand nature has given us…
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It’s still so dry. The forecast changed up here and now they are saying rain for the next 3 days. I hope it makes its way down to you.
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