Another Great Harvest!

This MAY be the last big harvest of this year : )  I hadn't been out to pick for 2 weeks!  So, when I went out this afternoon, I had all these to pick!  Hope everyone has had great harvests!  Sydneykatt

Garden Update

These are the half-runners now!  I am still picking the beans, but, so far, the tomatoes are being eaten, we think, by rabbits in the yard!  Mr. S has not had one tomatoe to eat!  We have picked up about 4 or 5 in the yard with pieces eaten out of them!  They go in the compost pile.  Oh well.  Try to stay cool!  Sydneykatt

Sunflower Delight

The plants in our flowerbeds have just gone wild lately.  I'm not sure why because it's been so hot and dry but here is a pic of my daughter with my sunflowers (the few that made it!!  LOL)  But look how tall!!  (My daugther is 5 foot tall for a reference point)  They are not the traditional mammoth variety but I am posting one of the beautiful blooms from a previous day.  I'm sure our blogging friend from the The Sunflower Patch will know the variety.  I think of her when I look out at them.  They are so pretty and right outside the window where we eat dinner.  What a view!  :-)  Quiltpecan

Reaping the Harvest!

These are "some" of the delicious half-runner beans that I have harvested and cooked!  The new potatoes and carrots, are from Kroger!  We are really enjoying these delicious tasting beans : )  I hope everyone's gardens are providing great harvests.  Sydneykatt

Apple Gourd

This is an apple gourd I grew several years ago, from my previous residence.  I loved growing all kinds of gourds and had great luck at it!  I especially like the apple gourds after they dry, so that I can clean and paint them up like giant apples : )  Now, where I live I have not been able to grow hardly any gourds at all, because of the BIRDS!  I am lucky though, the birds do not like my half-runner bean seeds : )  Sydneykatt

Zinnia's

This picture was taken at mom and dad's.  One year I planted these zinnia's from a can : )  I just sprinkled the seeds and in a few weeks, we had all these beautiful flowers to enjoy!  I love zinnias!  Sydneykatt

Garden View

This is a view from my backporch.  Mr. S takes wonderful photographs : )  I am spending more time outdoors than inside sewing : )  One of these days, I will get back to it : )  Sydneykatt

Pumpkin

This is how the pumpkin plant is doing so far.  I think if it got more sunlight,  it would be doing better, but, we will see.  Sydneykatt

Half-Runner Beans- Harvest

Mr. S and I picked this basket of beans on Thursday, July 14th!  We are "guess-stimating" around 5 pounds in this basket : )  I went in and started preparing them and had some for supper within 2 hours and they were DELICIOUS!  I shared some with a friend and then cooked the rest on Friday.  Sydneykatt

Bugs and Blooms

We had a tremendous storm a few nights ago so I went to check out some of my flowers in my yard.  I cut some of the blooms that weren't too weather beaten to bring in and enjoy inside.  I love hydrangeas and cut some blooms.  While trimming them up to put in water, I found this little bitty PRAYING MANTIS.  He was so small.  Less than an inch.  He kept tyring to get away.  I think my camera and flash stopped him b/c he seemed stunned and went into combat mode!!  LOL  I might have been worried were it not for the fact I have seen grains of rice larger than him!  I still think they are neat bugs though.  Enjoy the outdoors in your area.  I know I do here!  --Quiltpecan

Hanging Basket

This is a hanging basket of miniature petunias.  I have two baskets and I enjoy them everyday : )  I especially like the deep purple color and the yellow center.  Isn't summer just the best time of year??  Sydneykatt

Pumpkin

Here is the pumpkin plant as of July 2, 2011.  We got a great drenching rain on Friday, July 8, 2011, so maybe that will help this plant grow faster!  Sydneykatt

Birdhouse..... famous?

This is one of my birdhouses.  I love birdhouses!  This one I got last year on SALE at Cracker Barrel.  Some interesting information about ROCK CITY : )

Rock City is a roadside attraction near Chattanooga, Tennessee, on Lookout Mountain in Lookout Mountain, Georgia, located near Ruby Falls. It is well-known for the many barn advertisements throughout the Southeast and Midwest United States that have the slogan "See Rock City" painted on barn roofs and sides. In total, over 900 barn roofs in nineteen states were painted by Clark Byers for Rock City.<sup>[1]

Sydneykatt</sup>

Half-Runner Beans on July 2, 2011

These are my half-runner beans as of July 2, 2011.  They seems to be doing great!  I have had to water some, because we are not getting rain.  I am hoping in about 2 to 3 more weeks to be picking AND eating!  Hopefully, I can show you what I reap!  Sydneykatt

Eye see you

Went out to take pictures in my yard and found an unexpected surprise.  Look at this GORGEOUS moth!  It was as big as a Monarch butterfly.  It was hiding in my viburnum bush.  Look how the markings resemble eyes!  How awesome!!  Quiltpecan

Yucca Plant

This is a Yucca plant that we transplanted when we moved here 5 years ago.  This is the first year it has bloomed!  Does anyone know why it would take so long to bloom?  What can we do to make the blooms fuller for next year?  : )  Thanks for all your help!  Sydneykatt

Pumpkin

Just thought I would show how my pumpkin is growing!  I guess with summer upon us, I spend more time in the yard than sewing.  I am still interested in sewing, but, I enjoy being out in the yard : )  Sydneykatt

Lavender

This is the beautiful herb, Lavender!  It is so fragrant!  Now, what about those giant blue ants??  Actually, I have them guarding my lavender.  We fight ground squirrels all the time.  We have 4 traps out to catch the varmits.  Then, when we go out, we take them for a ride and let them go!  Very humane : )  Sydneykatt

Bzzzzzzzzzzzz

The bees were buzzing in my husband's flower garden the day these pics were taken.  I got three different bee types just in the one spot I was standing.  They were very busy.  It was hard to catch them but I managed.  Enjoy..... I love watching nature at work.  Quiltpecan

Half-Runner Beans

These are the half-runner beans that I planted May 19, 2011.  They are looking good!  They are beginning to send out "runners" and hopefully in another month, we can be picking GREEN BEANS!  If anyone has any suggestions as to how to get rid of all the "strings" when breaking the beans, I am ready to hear!  Thank-you in advance for any/all suggestions!  Sydneykatt