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Kay
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Recent Entries to this Blog The hardest part of having a pet
Posted: 19 Feb 2017
Grandkids
Posted: 06 Feb 2017
new computer
Posted: 06 Oct 2016
I have a new boss
Posted: 13 Sep 2015
2015- The year of the rains
Posted: 15 Jun 2015

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Kay's Blog




The hardest part of having a pet

Category: my first blog ever! | Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2017 4:07 pm

We got Dolly exactly 12 years ago. She was a 6 month old at the adoption center. I had recently lost my big kitty Patches, and had 3 year old Chloe. I thought Chloe would like a buddy. Well I was sort of wrong about that; Chloe was less than welcoming. But little Dolly didn't care, she just went about her own business.
Dolly was really adventurous. I had a second story deck, and she loved to be out there. She always wanted to be outside, but I was protective and didn't want her going too far from home so it kept me busy keeping watch on her. One afternoon, I looked out on the deck, and she was clinging by her claws off the edge. It was kind of funny, but I had to rescue her.
Then there was the time she climbed up a huge Maple and was sitting on a branch about 15 feet up. She didn't seem too concerned, but I was frantic and thought I needed to help her to get down. No ladder around, I tried to coax her, but gave up. Needless to say, she made her own way down when she was ready.
We moved to our home in 2006, and right away Dolly began to explore. Dogs bordering our property helped her learn her boundaries, but I did have to chase her and search for her when she strayed. Whenever another cat came onto our property, Dolly was there to give them the what-for and chase them away.
Dolly had medium long hair, and it was a chore to keep it picked up. Daily brushing!
In 2013, Dolly was unhappy that our loud, chatty Grandson was here, so she disappeared to the outdoors. Well. I really mean disappeared!! We thought she was a goner..... Six weeks passed and who showed up ?? Yep. Lost 1/2 her body weight, dirty, smelly and obviously freaked out. She managed to find her way home. 2 1/2 days at the vet with an IV drip, and she was OK. It took her a good six more weeks to recover fully, and that was when she really learned her home turf boundaries. I don't think she left our property again! Except for Bob and I, Dolly was scared of people. She would go hide when the company came. A lot of my family or friends could count on one hand how many times they saw her! But with me she was so affectionate and it was funny how she insisted on sitting on my lap during the cold months, then when it was nice... off she was to her outdoor world. She loved to sit out and be our sentry at night and we'd let her in before bed.
I loved how she always followed me around as I did yardwork and gardening. She was my supervisor, LOL! I loved being with her out there.
About a month ago, I realized she wasn't interested in my lap or even being around us. She was finding hiding places to be by herself, and not sleeping on the foot of the bed. Then we noticed she was pawing at her mouth, she still had her appetite, but ate much slower. The weather has been unbelievably nice here, and she wanted to be outdoors. So last week, when I was out enjoying the sun, I managed to get her to come to me. I picked her up and tried to feel around her mouth. Yep, there was a hard lump under her chin. Took her to the vet. They had to wrap her in a blanket to be able to look into her mouth, and sadly saw the cancerous growth. She was in obvious pain too.
We brought her back later that day. I had to have Bob come too. Dolly passed at 5:30 on Febr. 16th. We buried her at sunset in the yard. She will be under the shed that will be built soon.
I was able to spend some time with her out in the gardens, and talk to her and say my goodbyes, but mostly that day she just wanted to sleep. It was a sad, emotional day.
We had a "wake" that evening, and talked about all her adventures. She was a strong, brave little girl. Headstrong and sometimes a real pest But we are grateful for the time we had her, and we'll look for her at the Rainbow Bridge along with all the other pets we've loved and lost.

This blog entry has been viewed 332 times


new computer

Category: my first blog ever! | Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2016 9:03 pm

Hello Stew friends, I have been absent from the Stew for a while. Been busy selling plants; as well as doing a bit of garden work.
Bob and I decided we needed to get a new computer to replace the one we have had for 10 years.
It is an HP laptop; suits our needs fine. Windows 10 is new to me so I have been trying to teach myself something each day, or when I have the time! A lot of new technology for my brain. We are kind of the "old school" sort.
Today, I looked at GS for the first time, and had to re set my PW as it was nowhere in my memory.
So, I hope to be jumping online a bit more as the busy gardening season comes to an end.
We are also awaiting a new fiber optic internet provider that has just come to our city. They have trenched in the lines, are working out kinks, and we hope to go live with it very soon. Hoping all these updates will improve our cyber world. LOL

This blog entry has been viewed 258 times


Crazy busy world of landscaping

Category: my first blog ever! | Posted: Sat May 17, 2014 3:49 pm

I am taking a few to jot down my thoughts.
I have been SO busy. This has been a very interesting, long, intense spring landscaping season. And not over by any means.
The weather has been giving us fits. Our usual frost date is around May 11, but this year Mother Nature is giving us the chill, with a little blast of heat thrown in briefly for contrast.
We are still working to get the late calls for clean ups done, and have launched into our planting season. This year we are facing some unusual challenges.
The winter here was long, very dry and cold, with frequent high winds. So now we are seeing the results it has created in landscapes. A higher than usual fatality rate for evergreens of all types; Yew, Boxwood, Juniper, Holly, Pine to name a few. Even old, established plants gave it up!
This is from such a harsh winter coupled with drought stress from the past few summers.
So, replacing all this plant material has created very high demand on the wholesale nurseries in our region. I am the plant purchaser for our company, and I have been having a lot of fun chasing down the plants we need. I am calling in all favors, and making contacts with all my friends in the industry to help us!
Crazy days, for sure!



This blog entry has been viewed 233 times


Goodbye to the "goal post" Pine Tree

Category: my first blog ever! | Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2014 8:48 pm


the old "goal post" pine tree ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )

Since we moved in in 2006, this tree has been a source of curiosity and concern for us. It had an odd shape, and was known as the "goal post" tree on our neighborhood street.
I never really liked it, but it was pretty healthy, and we couldn't see it looking out of the house, as it was next to the garage, away from sight of our windows.
Bob's biggest concern was that it was very close to the garage roof. He's been keeping an eye on it, and of course, being a carpenter, he measured how close. Well, it was less than an inch.
This winter (which seems to never want to end!)
we have had a lot of really high winds. A few days they were over 60mph. This was a worry as we would rather not have a huge tree falling on our garage.
So, the decision was made. It had to go. We sort of feel bad, after all it is not dead... but when you look at how close it is...
So, I called up my boss. We waited patiently for the tree crew to get time to come . Weeks went by, I said my prayers to the tree gods, and apologized to the squirrels for taking away this habitat.(they can go to the neighbors!!)
Finally they had time to come!




here comes the crew ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )



The ground is still quite frozen, so they just drove that big truck right up on the lawn. Four of my co workers got busy. Dustin went up in the boom and got started cutting. Branch by branch he cut it down. The guys on the ground drug the branches to the chipper. They sure do good work (if I do say so myself!)
they worked for about 3 hours, and all that remained was this silly looking stump.


tree almost gone ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )



They took a break, and then Dustin did the wedge cuts and kaboom! down it came.


no more tree ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )






this will be my spring project! ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )



It was so cold, I wasn't too motivated to get out there to do the final clean up. Spring is still a ways away here.
I will have to re-position the limestone edging, and clean up sawdust. That's for another day.
It's a bit bittersweet. It looks so bare now.
But as you know, I will get used to it, and it will lead, I'm sure, to new gardening ideas and adventures.
Bob is happy that he won't have to be constantly cleaning needles and pine cones out of the gutters. I just might miss those pine cones though!


Dustin up in the bucket, cutting ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )





This blog entry has been viewed 376 times


Seeing the garden's "bones"

Category: my first blog ever! | Posted: Mon Dec 03, 2012 6:19 pm

So now December has arrived and my garden has gone to sleep for another season.
There were a few weeks that were occupied with cleaning up a lot of fallen leaves. I like to leave most of them in the flower beds, I'll clean those up next spring. Now I am just watering the shrubs regularly before the ground freezes.
Anyway, autumn and winter are definitely not my favorite times of the year. I don't like cold weather, I miss my flowers outside, and there is always the uncertainty of what crazy storm could come up.
Mother Nature has left it extremely dry. The ground is hard, and I worry about how many plants, shrubs and trees will fare over the winter. I sure hope we get some good snow.
However, as I stare out the windows, or go for a walk around the neighborhood, I am drawn to all the shapes of the dormant trees and shrubs. I like to see the structure of the plants, their bones. They have a different character without their leaves.
I think my favorite has to be the Red Twig Dogwoods for obvious reasons. They just "show off" this time of year! Then, there is my little Smokebush which has a crookedy shape. The Oakleaf Hydrangea and the Ninebark have such rugged interesting bark. The big Sycamore tree is a beautiful majestic giant,with the multi colored bark, it is almost more beautiful without its huge leaves.
This is also a good time to see the shapes of the trees, and plan for some pruning to keep them healthy.
When you're looking at the plant's bones, you see its plain form, and I find it very beautiful.
I am appreciating this dormant season more for that reason.
Then, next spring,(my favorite time) I will be seeing the buds form, blossoms emerging and the new leaves returning once again.

This blog entry has been viewed 301 times


Some new additions

Category: my first blog ever! | Posted: Thu May 31, 2012 11:12 pm

I've been enjoying my garden projects so far this year, and want to share a few new additions.


Hydrangea "Pinky Winky" ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )

This is a Pinky Winky Hydrangea. Couldn't resist, it is a different foliage than my other Hydrangeas. Looking forward to its two toned pink blooms.





Hibiscus Sinensis "Variegata" ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )



An interesting variegated Hibiscus. I put it in a big pot that sits atop a Pine tree stump. Flowers are bright red.



Azalea Exbury "Fireball" ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )

This is an Azalea called Fireball. I found it at my wholesale nursery. It will bloom orange-red next year. We put some of Missy's ashes into the planting hole. She was a fireball too, in her "day".




3 Hosta "June" ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )



These are "June" Hosta. I planted one last year, and love it so much, I needed more.

This blog entry has been viewed 518 times


Hawks have to eat too

Category: my first blog ever! | Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2012 6:01 pm

Yesterday during the snow event that left 12" of sloppy wet snow, we made sure to brush off and fill the bird feeders. It was fun to sit and watch them all come for the seed. Then they all suddenly flew off. I knew a hawk was probably nearby. Sure enough a Sharp Shin was sitting up high in the Crabapple. I kept my eye on it as it sat patiently waiting...
Several minutes passed, when a group of birds came flying in from over the roof. They had no idea...
That Hawk swooped off that branch in a blink of an eye and grabbed a Starling. I saw that and heard the poor bird's last cries. That Hawk sat there in the backyard killing its prey and eating. I couldn't watch much. I feel bad for that poor unsuspecting bird.
We let it eat a while, then Bob went out to brush off the satellite dish and scared it. Then it flew back down and grabbed the remains.
I hope it won't come back. I'm also glad it wasn't a Cardinal, Chickadee or some other favorite. We can spare the Starlings.
I know Hawks need food too, but next time, Not in my backyard!

This blog entry has been viewed 764 times


A summer excursion

Category: my first blog ever! | Posted: Tue Aug 31, 2010 9:36 pm

Monday was my birthday, and I didn't much feel like working, so we decided to take some time to do something fun!
We drove up to I80, and headed east about 25 miles to The Lee Simmons Conservation Park and Wildlife Safari. It is right off the interstate in the rolling hills next to the Platte River.
This is in affiliation with the big zoo in Omaha. Since the late 90's, it has been home to many animals living in natural habitat. Along with the ones in my photos, we also saw Fox, Bobcats, a large variety of birds, like the Great Blue Heron, ducks, geese, white tailed Deer,and Antelope.
There is a nice visitor center, and gardens featuring our native Nebraska plants (of course)
Then, you get in your vehicle and drive through a 4 mile area to see these animals up close where they live. It was nice for us because it wasn't busy or crowed, so we had an opportunity to talk with the animal keepers as they were out giving the wolves and bears their breakfast.
It was a nice, fairly cool breezy morning so it was fun to be out doing something besides pulling
weeds!!!
My photos are not the greatest, as these animals would not pose. The wolves especially would not look up at me (too busy eating) The deer were on the move, and impossible to photgraph. The lake that the Pelicans and Swans were in was just full of Cranes, Geese, Ducks, and various other birds. They were so pretty.
I loved watching the Black Bears get their breakfast. It was amazing to see her peel and eat that orange!
We were also impressed by the huge antlers on the Elk.
It was a fun time, and I of course also loved all the trees, shrubs and wild flowers we saw.


Elk having a morning soak ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )






Elk with grass on his antlers ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )






Buffalo ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )






Swans having a morning swim ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )






3 Pelicans on a log ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )






Black Bear eating an orange ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )










resting on the rock ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )






Sandhill Crane ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )






Bald Eagles sunning themselves ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )






wolf eating breakfast ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )






Buffalo ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden )





This blog entry has been viewed 419 times


Dreamin of my garden

Category: my first blog ever! | Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2010 4:25 pm

Hello again. I hope you have enjoyed viewing the photos I posted. I included one of me peeking out from the sweet Autumn Clematis.
So today, my endeavor was to start adding plants to my garden here at Garden Stew. This is quite fun, and I find myself dreamin of my plants that are out there buried in snow. Sometimes I stare out the windows at the garden beds and wonder what miracles are taking place. It fascinates me, when in the Spring, these plants emerge from the soil and come back to life! One of my favorites is the way the Hosta emerge. First the tiny, tightly wrapped tip, and each day reaching higher, and then one day it unfurls and spreads! So Pretty!
Oh, I could go on and on... Anyway, I have some young evergreen shrubs up by our front door that are buried under snow (although it is finally melting a little) I have to resist going out there and removing the snow! I miss them! I'm hoping they are alright! They have not ever been covered this long. We have had a lot of snow this year, and will probably get more.
It is cold, wet and yucky today. A lot of fog too. I guess I'll go back to the puzzle! Barbequed pork ribs for dinner!

This blog entry has been viewed 333 times


The Dormant Gardener

Category: my first blog ever! | Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 4:25 pm

This is my very first blog ever, so here goes! I am really glad so have found Garden Stew. Its been fun to figure out how to navigate around the site, so much to see and read! I'm not very experienced with the computer, so it comes a little slow... but I am quite proud of myself for figuring out how to post my photos and even got one on as my "avatar" That is a white hardy Hibiscus flower from a beautiful plant. I actually transplanted that plant late last summer which was scary as I had never done that, so this Spring I will be anxious to see it come back to life in it's new spot! Oh, Winter is tough for me to get through! January and February are so gray, damp and cold here! I cook and bake a lot and we have been doing 1000 piece puzzles which are challenging and fun! Just finished one with woodpeckers, it is so pretty! We love to watch and feed birds.
I planted a whole bunch of daffodil bulbs last Fall, so that is something to look forward to. Also, I put in a new Northern Lights Forsythia and when the Forsythia blooms around here, it is Spring and time for me to go back to work!!Yea!! The forecast here does not include any sun for several days, so I will rely on Garden Stew to brighten my days!

This blog entry has been viewed 372 times




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