Friday and Saturday were spent mowing, trimming, and hauling bricks to the middle of the yard to build a foundation for the Amish-made lighthouse that has replaced the eroding, ant-infested wishing well my stepfather built for me many moons ago. When the wood-shingled roof of it fell off last fall, a plan to replace emerged. The place I bought it [Troyer’s Leather in Fremont] is getting out of the lawn ornament business and so had the remaining stock at 25-30% off. The lighthouse is made from a non-rotting composite material — nah nah nah nah nah, ants! — and has a light inside that can be plugged in. The problem with that is it’s a long way from any electric outlet. The search will be on for a solar light substitute.
After very carefully using the line trimmer around the witch hazel, the happy report is that they are all still alive, even if some are thriving much better than others. Here they are, from the closest to the road to the furthest from the road.
The prickly pears wrinkles have smoothed out, new needles are emerging, and they are busting out with protuberances that may be new lobes, or possible, buds for blossoms? Not sure, but the plant is very happy.
The redbud is in full bloom. The sage hanging basket lived through winter and is now hanging out with the bird feeders.
Sunday was spent with My Sons, Daughter In-law, Granddaughter, and DIL’s parents at fmg. They had an international bonsai show going, with some AMAZING bonsai on display for a competition and also many for sale. (Did you know bonsai in the tree-shaping use is pronounced BONE-sigh?) DIL’s mom took a class awhile back and learned that handy fact. Upcoming post with some of the pics I took and maybe some DIL’s dad took if he gives me the OK.
And now let me share a pic of one of my little buddies, who is awake and getting busy out in the yard:
Tao Talk 
Always enjoy your doodads, Lisa. That redbud looks beautiful and the little furry buddy in the last pic is cute! :-)
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Christian, thanks, and happy you enjoy the doodads :)
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Love your pictures Li. A great way to celebrate Mother’s Day’s by getting together with family and going to the bonsai exhibition.
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Happy you like the pics. I feel like a proud mama with the witch hazel too :)
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Awesome
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Love the lighthouse!
I also like the prickly pears…glad you had a happy Mothers Day!
Your buddie at the bottom looks happy.
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Thanks, Max. He is happy, as long as he stays away from these effing neighbor cats that insist on coming over here. I like cats but am seriously thinking of getting a bb gun.
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Yea they should keep them in their own yard. We had one stray cat to come by but Martha chased it off.
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Imagining a cat seeing Martha running at it lol
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lovely lighthouse . Nice the bricks need to be arranged. Nice photos.
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Thanks!
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You had such a wonderful outdoors weekend, Jade. I’m so jealous.
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:) Hope you find that for yourself soon.
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I definitely need to.
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I enjoyed this – there were some touch points, I love gardening, I enjoy cacti and succulents, there is a lighthouse near where I live :)
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We are kindred spirits, Paul.
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We sure are LI ❤️
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I’m glad your plants are doing good, and the redbud tree is beautiful!
Glad you got to be with family for a nice outing!
I got a kit to grow bonsai trees (4). I just planted them in little pots the other day. I’ll see what happens. :)
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Thanks much, Barbara. How awesome to be growing bonsai trees. Can’t wait to see updates on them.
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Lovely images
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Thanks, Glyn! Things are really greening up around here.
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I did NOT know about the pronunciation, and appreciate knowing that! Looks and sounds like a pleasant weekend.
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Was over there again yesterday. I may as well set up a tent over there while the weather is nice ;)
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Not a bad idea! 😎
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I love that lighthouse, Lisa. A worthy successor to the wishing well.😊
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Thanks, Bruce, and made of a composite that doesn’t rot and isn’t tasty to ants :)
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Sunday was quiet enough with dinner at SIL’s… and more cards. :)
Saturday I was taken out by hubby … and yesterday I did get a belated call from the younger child! Even though I saw the elder today… Always busy with some project.
My Mother’s Day Mum’s from the grands a couple of years ago are budding. And I haven’t planted the tall Iris that I picked up at the farmers plant stand (yet).
Cool lighthouse. My one neighbor has these solar powered lights at the edge of his yard by the creek that look like little flames. I think he is trying to discourage wild animals from wanting to attack his little dog! They don’t produce that much light, but you know were the edge of the creek is – at night!
Happy Spring… isn’t weeding and yard work fun. ;)
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What a wonderful and relaxing weekend. I got cards from both sons, and my younger son said my DIL bought me a plant but she still has it (huh?!) No worries, I have too many plants. You know how it goes.
Thanks on the lighthouse. It has an old fashioned light with a cord to plug in (yipes, no) so I’m shopping around for a solar setup (may have to go to the actual store for this one.) I love solar lights and sounds like neighbors picked good ones and good placement. I have one reflector by my driveway so I know where to avoid the ditch at night.
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I put some solar spotlights to highlight my rural mailbox numbers. While our area has side walks… the elctric is under ground – so no street lamps. But most neighbors have lights by their doors and garage doors.
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They’ve started putting solar street lamps out around here (in the city,) which is an excellent idea to me. We have exactly 2 street lights on our road, at the intersection at either end (1 mile between them.)
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When we first moved to our area it was semi rural. Less traffic lights. Unfortunately some traffic lights were put in via the ‘three fataility rule’… others though due to population growth.
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p.s. nice that you have underground electric. I wish we had it here.
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There are some advantages… but if a pole goes down… that is connected to our area – we still have power outages. Our area at one time was all electric which has its downsides. Some put in tanks… and others connected with gas (at their own cost) when gas was finally put in our area. We didn’t do that… I like gas cooking, but haven’t had it for sooo long….
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Natural gas came through here a few years back, and a good % of people signed on for it, with each “yes” marked by a yellow marker/post-like thing. Not me. I burned wood for the first so many years, but when the supply dried up of good wood at reasonable cost, I started using the electric floor registers. Those cost a mint to use. Two years ago I had the mini-splits put in. They weren’t cheap but I’m saving about half on heating cost now. Maybe next will be wind or solar installations.
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We have a widowed relative that put in solar…check for rebates. And check out all the details. They have a back up generatior (I forget for how long it will last). We’ve got a hybrid water heater/ heat pump for air and heat.
We also put in a better front door, and most of the windows are double pane. We also added insolation in the attic. Being on the budget plan helps too. You’ve got to have land for a windmill. Might have to check on restrictions for that.
We’ve gotten used to lower temps in winter and higher temps in warm weather but because of allergies we need to filter air.
We do have a fireplace that gets outside air, and we have glass doors and a heat exchanger. But we haven’t used it much. The way our home is bulit the air doesn’t really flow well enough for the fireplace heat to warm the room we need it in most. We do have a large fan / light combo in our central hall and that helps too. :) Good luck!
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