Yard work

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpwg_SBtuexVwtN68jj9JXDC5K9Wr_Y-GJlyQ5mg9XdYPQNzMydYoA1N9_ysw17udmu-mPfXkn83s280HsyMP-UVCHiFg7mX-JG0DKk4S47Z6y1Ds6LXHEseHKqlclpGZL8q9zDnoPS9bM/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpwg_SBtuexVwtN68jj9JXDC5K9Wr_Y-GJlyQ5mg9XdYPQNzMydYoA1N9_ysw17udmu-mPfXkn83s280HsyMP-UVCHiFg7mX-JG0DKk4S47Z6y1Ds6LXHEseHKqlclpGZL8q9zDnoPS9bM/s400/2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />As a lively breeze rustles the leaves on the trees beside the deck, the overcast, comfortably cool 73 degrees makes me long for more days like this but I know that won't be. The first day of summer is tomorrow and we're in for some scorchers before fall rolls around but for now it's nice to relax.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7XiZmovTqa5KCOx8SIYXhMnPHC-bwJpvG0sanS4IZdM87tMV1RQAkSvvV7SVUULQMUEEXGYSwtCTQfLrxym5Cr6RG82lsvv97daGT4Fmdc63GWsUxcGjttmnI5sAJGUwG265fmlIT1zmU/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7XiZmovTqa5KCOx8SIYXhMnPHC-bwJpvG0sanS4IZdM87tMV1RQAkSvvV7SVUULQMUEEXGYSwtCTQfLrxym5Cr6RG82lsvv97daGT4Fmdc63GWsUxcGjttmnI5sAJGUwG265fmlIT1zmU/s400/3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />All the rain this spring has been welcomed especially since we will soon go into a dry period ... but it has certainly caused everything to grow! Our shady paradise was threatening to become an overgrown jungle, and so we've spent the past two days limbing, weeding, trimming, and generally regaining control over the many trees and bushes that dot our property.<br /><br />Next-door, the sound of the neighbor's tractor could be heard as he cut and baled his field. Tonight, I'm a tired puppy, but it's a satisfied tired as I look out over the day's accomplishments. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgspBCxSBJPYAbCpFmr68VAj-_mW5v86Q3Fb0_952IoVMeMH7YIu-u-Z7DBGTbJ8Cn5CMDGUjpsnvRxf2rvCKrKwpPqS2E2zp817lfi-oel32T-WjR5oRZ2tU_LRi70JnG-kgvx5rRHnBTx/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgspBCxSBJPYAbCpFmr68VAj-_mW5v86Q3Fb0_952IoVMeMH7YIu-u-Z7DBGTbJ8Cn5CMDGUjpsnvRxf2rvCKrKwpPqS2E2zp817lfi-oel32T-WjR5oRZ2tU_LRi70JnG-kgvx5rRHnBTx/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>While weeding one of the flower gardens, I came across this little fella who remained motionless, assured that I could not see him.</i></div><br />Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell<br />June 19-20, 2013

yard work Yard work

As a lively breeze rustles the leaves on the trees beside the deck, the overcast, comfortably cool 73 degrees makes me long for more days like this but I know that won't be. The first day of summer is tomorrow and we're in for some scorchers before f…

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A stroll in the yard and the sweet smell of honeysuckle

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjafIUy46vSUln9jr8r_W8pNdnlnr3wguNFj8smP6RH6foXwFG4M8PaxFE7MKP8X-OFuiX6SMBVAvmYjU3AdOjeSh-Hcqw9x01ugAB4jFzRP7okMRq8d0N2ZPzbtn-JZHCRM01YdmBGpOOD/s1600/10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjafIUy46vSUln9jr8r_W8pNdnlnr3wguNFj8smP6RH6foXwFG4M8PaxFE7MKP8X-OFuiX6SMBVAvmYjU3AdOjeSh-Hcqw9x01ugAB4jFzRP7okMRq8d0N2ZPzbtn-JZHCRM01YdmBGpOOD/s400/10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> With windows open on these cool late-spring days, the intoxicatingly sweet smell of honeysuckle has wafted in on the breeze, filling the house with its aromatic scent.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhogr19UfQKv54vFc0i4i_7-Q2LoPxcuCiW-mWOKByxpgDAh6zlwcWMSKKutKonG6mDslSa7GV_gKhcj8NuyUnu1yktN1lrXORrNw7zfemfPSAFOp7Tc1Skp85zxlFS6yjaO6N9YJnyONcK/s1600/11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhogr19UfQKv54vFc0i4i_7-Q2LoPxcuCiW-mWOKByxpgDAh6zlwcWMSKKutKonG6mDslSa7GV_gKhcj8NuyUnu1yktN1lrXORrNw7zfemfPSAFOp7Tc1Skp85zxlFS6yjaO6N9YJnyONcK/s640/11.jpg" width="460" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Roses and peonies are blooming, adding to the sweet fragrances in the yard.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBlB2gFwQ5JN3KKrqVpNP-NRBrJjYFJAIupu9MWJhmFyjbwizdlRV7ChOD7ChDIBfs498eHhrhsAzE6BDO_UUFns-ngMJavsiF6Asl2sAcdH7u5V7Xykr-Kw8q0BR3kQfdPxer1ChBnbIk/s1600/12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBlB2gFwQ5JN3KKrqVpNP-NRBrJjYFJAIupu9MWJhmFyjbwizdlRV7ChOD7ChDIBfs498eHhrhsAzE6BDO_UUFns-ngMJavsiF6Asl2sAcdH7u5V7Xykr-Kw8q0BR3kQfdPxer1ChBnbIk/s400/12.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGkP8bE4DF4RvAGgUzoYwT5JJLOBSell7iqWmaQfJvfKgEU7lNpmQUh747HMvq7LMX_VBTiqtSfeXd-D3Dx3z3fPvkrdl6f9TKEJ2E_jOZQHlyzk6rCR6dE2FLPMmP0Ag2afm_RRp0oQIr/s1600/13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGkP8bE4DF4RvAGgUzoYwT5JJLOBSell7iqWmaQfJvfKgEU7lNpmQUh747HMvq7LMX_VBTiqtSfeXd-D3Dx3z3fPvkrdl6f9TKEJ2E_jOZQHlyzk6rCR6dE2FLPMmP0Ag2afm_RRp0oQIr/s640/13.jpg" width="404" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The rain gauge bench <i>aka</i> the resting bench while working in the yard.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKi2M4w6-jQG63Op-vsfUjUYjagx0sg9Lz2JBu2bxIKljNPSub9tgxOZaZ0M9N1xKSzSbkbZ0pgkU-BPYG-zASyVAXq67B9IcXbaRpjHEbwO-yCc8is2P0HhxV-k4Q08O025w35yVDDseI/s1600/14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKi2M4w6-jQG63Op-vsfUjUYjagx0sg9Lz2JBu2bxIKljNPSub9tgxOZaZ0M9N1xKSzSbkbZ0pgkU-BPYG-zASyVAXq67B9IcXbaRpjHEbwO-yCc8is2P0HhxV-k4Q08O025w35yVDDseI/s320/14.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Time for a bonfire to burn piled-up brush in the fire pit.</div><br />Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell<br />June 5, 2013

Augusta County fire pit garden honeysuckle peonies roses Shenandoah Valley yard work A stroll in the yard and the sweet smell of honeysuckle

 With windows open on these cool late-spring days, the intoxicatingly sweet smell of honeysuckle has wafted in on the breeze, filling the house with its aromatic scent. Roses and peonies are blooming, adding to the sweet fragrances in the yard. The r…

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Yard work

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJm0XFiTVxHten96svl4xu35qsj8koPmqrcT_2NX-l5hsdcWjfzFh8Xqu425vjvAa_mgD0TTgPUZBIu5q0fKliLmAXpzjtDgAYn7ZT-IW_Smu2AvgFUrOEmeb7ii__f5HiwQMVkrHmol2V/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJm0XFiTVxHten96svl4xu35qsj8koPmqrcT_2NX-l5hsdcWjfzFh8Xqu425vjvAa_mgD0TTgPUZBIu5q0fKliLmAXpzjtDgAYn7ZT-IW_Smu2AvgFUrOEmeb7ii__f5HiwQMVkrHmol2V/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Watering window boxes and potted flowers ...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhswr6d98sqLGR65mfCY2OzWD8PdDv8sIg4vItlwz95plknMUb8QyHYlw71sX2Lm95qz3gfR-tdiDO5RHj5mtwA3id0Nj9WPNnL18NRxHfIxaruEBkmVvUH2P9lxfTpaYwqkQTKEoYTO9rT/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhswr6d98sqLGR65mfCY2OzWD8PdDv8sIg4vItlwz95plknMUb8QyHYlw71sX2Lm95qz3gfR-tdiDO5RHj5mtwA3id0Nj9WPNnL18NRxHfIxaruEBkmVvUH2P9lxfTpaYwqkQTKEoYTO9rT/s400/2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> ... and weeding spiderwort.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1vTK1fOxtDWDBhWi3h-Esau7iVRS6CHC4FFYRf4B6KOkOgapdJRYN9BZGpH4XUcBCqlL6si-y9wwy-qCdZzbLNCtL-I4H9hms5aRgw9iuQDNDqsV9T7uWjTG3057LvnWZrrEBJ0oI_QNl/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1vTK1fOxtDWDBhWi3h-Esau7iVRS6CHC4FFYRf4B6KOkOgapdJRYN9BZGpH4XUcBCqlL6si-y9wwy-qCdZzbLNCtL-I4H9hms5aRgw9iuQDNDqsV9T7uWjTG3057LvnWZrrEBJ0oI_QNl/s640/3.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell<br />June 3, 2013

Shenandoah Valley spiderwort window boxes yard work Yard work

 Watering window boxes and potted flowers ... ... and weeding spiderwort.Photos by Lynn R. MitchellJune 3, 2013…

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Roller coaster temperatures ... what a difference a week makes

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuNPFJ_g6Z2PfSR78ZI8H5kdVwxfjdc3ngOWypFQSdDg9lzRsphtOyGaay3x8shlvdStNcdbhbvK6PA3AshuUPIXCPamszpkKLiRn4q5w5Q2poa-jCxGkS0oAvbx0mslyXBBLCQumzqUww/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuNPFJ_g6Z2PfSR78ZI8H5kdVwxfjdc3ngOWypFQSdDg9lzRsphtOyGaay3x8shlvdStNcdbhbvK6PA3AshuUPIXCPamszpkKLiRn4q5w5Q2poa-jCxGkS0oAvbx0mslyXBBLCQumzqUww/s640/1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <i>Salvia</i></div><br />A nice morning breeze made working in the yard a comfortable experience earlier on this first day of June. SWAC Husband was repairing his garden gate, expecting to have at least until after noon to work on his project since the weather forecast had suggested today's high temps would be in the mid-80s. <br /><br />By 11:00, with a sweat-drenched shirt, he put away his tools and we finally turned on the air conditioning. Even though there is still a slight breeze outside, the humidity feels like it has crept up. Perhaps it's the build-up from the past three days of hot temperatures.<br /><br />It's hard to believe that a week ago today we woke to 33 degrees and frost on the grass and cars. A few days later, high temps topped out at 93 degrees, and it's been warm ever since. What a roller coaster spring we've had! The forecast says 70s for next week. Hope so ... I've got outdoor stuff to do. Enjoy the sunny day!<br /><br />Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell<br />May 2013

frost hot temperatures spring yard work Roller coaster temperatures ... what a difference a week makes

 SalviaA nice morning breeze made working in the yard a comfortable experience earlier on this first day of June. SWAC Husband was repairing his garden gate, expecting to have at least until after noon to work on his project since the weather forecas…

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