





It was even more difficult to maneuver around these candle houses and trees that made it from the front porch shelf to just inside the door and no further. I did make a path through them so I could go out and get the mail every day. It was more interesting to watch home fix-up shows on HGTV and think about replacing these 1950's (excuse me, I meant mid-century) tiles with nice updated 12x12 inch ceramic ones. That's not going to happen though.
Outside, the garden is just as uninspired as I am. Snow, ice, and desiccated leaves and berries are the only things on show. A few seed catalogs have landed in my mailbox but I'm not likely to order any. I just like looking at them.
The squirrels may want to slow down but as long as there's food to be raided in the feeders, they're busy. I see a snowflake hanging on that branch that I forgot to put away. If I leave it out there long enough, the squirrels will probably chew it up and I won't have to worry about it.
Good thing I'll be going to Mexico next month so I can be officially lazy. Before then, my main ambition is to catch up on all your blogs!
Before I got sick I put up a few lights on the back patio, and while I was at it, I decided to tie up my Skyrocket juniper so the winter snows won't break the branches down. What better way to tie it up than with a string of twinkle lights? Protection and decoration all in one.
Oh-oh, let's get out of here, the big guys are coming!
Only a flock of magpies would make the squirrels scatter. They are pretty big birds.





Now I'd better go decorate my own Christmas tree.
But wait, here's something that still has a breath of life in it - Homestead Purple verbena.
And a couple of miniature white roses, flanked by their dead cousins.
This is all too morbid, let's check inside the house and see how the carry-over plants are doing. This fern and a few others of its kind live on the patio in the summer, providing a lush background for the Pink Flamingo. This one has to move soon, it's in the Christmas tree spot.
I'm not keen on variegated leaves but I bought this Calathea because the undersides of the leaves match a pot I own. This is the only sunny window in my house and in the morning this plant reminds me of the view inside a kaleidoscope. I liked it better outside and I think the plant did too.
I predict this fern won't make it through the winter. I'm getting really tired of picking up dead, dry leaflets off the carpet.
The bamboo is looking none too happy. I don't know what's the matter with it. Probably a lack of humidity like all the other plants I brought indoors for the winter.
And this behemoth in the kitchen skylight is really annoying me. There's one like this hanging over the basement stairwell too. Do you know how hard these are to water? I need a solarium, or a greenhouse. A conservatory would be lovely. Heck, I'd settle for a big bay window. I need to get lucky and win the lottery.
Speaking of luck, it's run out for this gardenia. Remember I paid $1.00 for it at a garage sale? It had two blooms and I certainly got my dollar's worth out of smelling them. I brought it into the house before the first snow and it proceeded to get spider mites. It's back outside. The weatherman says the second snow is coming for Thanksgiving. This gardenia is history, just like the turkey will be on Friday.
I love those crispy leaves, but they can't stay - at least not in their present state.
Shredded by the mulcher, they'll decompose slowly into my grass.
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Now, on to my confessions. What is it about people who toil in offices that makes them dress up like kids on Halloween and go to work? It's a tradition at my home away from home. One year I was a lion tamer, and not a very good one, as evidenced by the bloody scratches on my face. When you pressed a spot on their paws, the lion and tiger growled and their eyes glowed green. These scared the grandchildren.
It was more fun being a cowgirl. My stick horse whinnied and moved his head up and down to the theme for The Lone Ranger. Never thought I'd get sick of hearing the William Tell Overture.
The Gypsy fortune-teller did a lot of business another year. My "crystal ball", when rapped smartly, made eerie noises, glowed, and gave answers to questions.
My farm wife costume featured a clucking chicken in a basket. When set on the floor, and a button was pressed, she made agonizing clucking sounds, and laid eggs. The grandchildren love this toy. Oh, I had my gardening clogs on.
Last year I was just about out of ideas so I came as a tourist just off the plane in Hawaii. I actually own those glasses and use them occasionally. I told you these were confessions.