Wasps, deer flies, japanese beetles and BUGS!

Ick. I love being out in the yard with Reese and gardening but I HATE bugs. I really do. The rain has made them SUPER bugs this year which totally stinks.
Matt has already sprayed for wasps and taken care of three small nests they started. He also sprayed the yard with the all natural garlic spray we found last year. It has helped a TON with the majority of bugs and doesn't hurt people, pets, birds or plants. So it's great with the dogs, we just keep Reese inside until it dries and then out we go!
Unfortunately, while Matt was spraying the garlic he found japanese beetles all over our new dogwood trees, and our little maple tree. We treated the maple last year and the treated part of the tree seems to be fine, just the new growth is being eaten. greeeeat.

see the dratted things on my little trees?

I HATE bugs!

Poor Reese! attacked and bitten by a horse fly - can you believe how badly it swelled? 
Since it was so close to his eye, I treated him with Benedryl and had the vet check him out next day. He's a tough guy and totally fine now - such a trooper! :-) also picked up some vet approved bug gel for dogs to help protect him from more bites. Have I told you how much I hate bugs? 

Both dogs chillin' in the AC! (watching me put laundry away in the hall)

Stay cool, dry and bug free in this weird-o summer we are having!!

Rain, Rain..

Go Away!!! I don't know about where you are, but we've had nothing but rain this summer!! Well, to be honest, we've had some nice days and a crazy heat wave (or 2!) but the rain has been bad. Yes, it makes the grass grow and our new Cleveland Flowering Pear tree is growing like crazy - but so are the bugs!! I'll post later about the bug situation, this is more about diverting the rain from the ditch behind the house and raised garden beds.

see? no gutters

We realized the water was making a trench behind the house,

so any rocks we found in the yard were put there

And while there were quite a few (I'm sure there will be more!) they weren't 

going to fill the area any time soon. Enter drainage rock from Lowe's! 

It fills the ditch nicely from the back of the raised garden bed to the concrete foundation of the house. I plan on putting some pavers, with possibly more rock along the side of the bulkhead as it's too small for any mower to get in and I think weed whacking it forever will be a pain. I also think it will look more finished!

This was as far as I got with 6 bags of rock. I should have gotten 12. oh well! I went back to Lowe's and they were out (what?! I was just here!) until a new shipment gets in next week. (noooooooooo!)
I think I will get 12 bags when the new shipment gets in just to ensure there is a good layer of rock (don't want grass growing through!) and to start down the side of the bulkhead.
And speaking of looking finished, yes, I will be filling in these garden beds and actually planting something in them! PROMISE!

Happy Independence Day!

O beautiful for spacious skies, 

For amber waves of grain, 

For purple mountain majesties 

Above the fruited plain! 

America! America! 

God shed his grace on thee 

And crown thy good with brotherhood 

From sea to shining sea! 

O beautiful for pilgrim feet 

Whose stern impassioned stress

A thoroughfare of freedom beat 

Across the wilderness! 

America! America! 

God mend thine every flaw, 

Confirm thy soul in self-control, 

Thy liberty in law! 

O beautiful for heroes proved 

In liberating strife. 

Who more than self their country loved

And mercy more than life! 

America! America! 

May God thy gold refine 

Till all success be nobleness 

And every gain divine! 

O beautiful for patriot dream 

That sees beyond the years 

Thine alabaster cities gleam 

Undimmed by human tears! 

America! America! 

God shed his grace on thee 

And crown thy good with brotherhood 

From sea to shining sea! 

O beautiful for halcyon skies, 

For amber waves of grain, 

For purple mountain majesties 

Above the enameled plain! 

America! America! 

God shed his grace on thee 

Till souls wax fair as earth and air 

And music-hearted sea! 

O beautiful for pilgrims feet, 

Whose stem impassioned stress 

A thoroughfare for freedom beat 

Across the wilderness! 

America! America! 

God shed his grace on thee 

Till paths be wrought through 

wilds of thought 

By pilgrim foot and knee! 

O beautiful for glory-tale 

Of liberating strife 

When once and twice, 

for man's avail 

Men lavished precious life! 

America! America! 

God shed his grace on thee 

Till selfish gain no longer stain 

The banner of the free! 

O beautiful for patriot dream 

That sees beyond the years 

Thine alabaster cities gleam 

Undimmed by human tears! 

America! America! 

God shed his grace on thee 

And crown thy good with brotherhood 

From sea to shining sea! 

Preparing for the 4th!

The mirror and candle sticks came down and up went
the Summer Print: Providence Harbor
with a bit of July Celebration

This past weekend we tested the fire pit so it's all ready to go!