Pianolady's Gardens at GardenStew.com

Flood Fatigue

Pianolady — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 23:29:48 -0400

Author: Pianolady
Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2011 3:29 am (GMT 0)

Still waiting. The National Guard has been working 24/7 to keep our city....well...here. The Missouri River wraps around our city, so there's so much opportunity for a levee break. So far, so good. Levees north and south of us have breached, flooding the interstate and many homes and farms. Go here to see how bad things really are along the Missouri River.

This is the industrial levee on the wet side of the federal levee that protects my husband's employer. It's still holding, although seepage and sewer backups have become an issue.

Japanese Doll bought from a Garage Sale Today

Pianolady — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 14:40:18 -0400

Author: Pianolady
Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2011 6:40 pm (GMT 0)

The story is the doll came from Japan from a parent that served in the military. I don't have any more information than that. Anyone know much about these dolls?

Missouri River Flood 2011 update

Pianolady — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 13:31:24 -0400

Author: Pianolady
Posted: Sun Jun 12, 2011 5:31 pm (GMT 0)

Good news, husband's 2 weeks of sandbag filling is done! Hurrah! He's not coming home covered head to toe in dirt anymore. He actually got an unexpected day off of work today!

They've moved most of the company to higher ground, which means he'll be driving 20 miles to work instead of 5. But, one can't really complain about that! The river should be at its highest level by Friday (if they don't have to release more water than predicted from upstream dams....I'm cautiously skeptical on anything "predicted", too many variables there). We should know if the levee is high enough very soon. More of a concern is that it will remain high for weeks, so the integrity of the levee is the main concern, not the height.

Picture updated....still holding...but water is starting to seep up on the "dry" side. Not sure how this will hold for two more months. This is a small portion of the levee, but the only view not blocked by trees.

Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

Pianolady — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 00:40:59 -0400

Author: Pianolady
Posted: Sat Jun 11, 2011 4:40 am (GMT 0)

( photo / image / picture from Pianolady's Garden )

We have a local bakery/restaurant that makes some pretty good cinnamon rolls, but they're just "off". They use way too much butter and not enough cinnamon, no raisins (shame), and cream cheese frosting. Good for a bite or two, then it's just too much. So, after the disappointment, I had to make my own cinnamon rolls! I use the bread machine version, and usually use some ready-made vanilla frosting that I let melt on top while the rolls are still hot, although the honey butter icing would probably be quite good.

Grandma's Best Cinnamon Rolls

OATMEAL DOUGH
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (2 1/4 to 2 3/4 cups)
1/3 cup quick oats
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 package Fleischmann's® Active Dry or Rapid Rise Yeast
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup butter or margarine (1/2 stick), cut up
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup water
1 egg

FILLING
2 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 cup raisins (optional)

HONEY BUTTER ICING
1/3 cup sifted powdered sugar
2 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened
2 tablespoons honey
Servings: 9
1. In large bowl, combine 3/4 cup flour, oats, granulated sugar, undissolved yeast and salt. Heat 1/4 cup butter, milk, and water until very warm (120º to 130ºF). Gradually add to dry ingredients; beat 2 minutes at medium speed of electric mixer, scraping bowl occasionally. Add egg and 1/2 cup flour; beat 2 minutes at high speed. With spoon, stir in enough remaining flour to make soft dough.

2. Knead on lightly floured surface until smooth, about 5 minutes. Place in greased bowl, turning to grease top. Cover; let rise in warm, draft-free place 45 to 60 minutes or until doubled. Punch down dough. (With Rapid Rise Yeast, cover kneaded dough and let rest 10 minutes. Proceed with recipe.)

3. On lightly floured surface, roll dough to 18 × 8 inches; brush with melted butter. Sprinkle with brown sugar, cinnamon and raisins, if desired, to within 1/2 inch of edges. Roll up tightly from long side, pinching seam to seal; cut into 9 equal pieces. Place, cut sides up, in greased 8 × 8-inch pan. Cover; let rise in warm place 45 to 60 minutes or until doubled.

4. Bake at 350ºF for 25 to 30 minutes or until done. Remove from pan; cool on wire rack.

5. In small bowl, mix powdered sugar and softened butter with fork until blended; stir in honey until smooth. Drizzle or spread on rolls.

Yield: 9 Rolls

Notes: Bread Machine Variation (all-size machines): Measure dough ingredients into bread machine pan as suggested by manufacturer; use 2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour and 1 1/2 teaspoons Fleischmann's® Bread Machine Yeast. Process on dough/manual cycle. When complete, remove dough to floured surface; knead in additional flour to make dough easy to handle, if necessary. Roll out dough and proceed as directed.

White Clematis

Pianolady — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 15:29:00 -0400

Author: Pianolady
Posted: Sat Jun 04, 2011 7:29 pm (GMT 0)

I don't know the variety of this one, but I like it. I've got three different ones going in this area. Since I took my fence down, I've had an interesting time figuring out what to do with all the clematis I had on it. One of the others is Jackmanii, and I'll just have to wait and see what the third one is.

Garage Sale Finds

Pianolady — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 11:12:36 -0400

Author: Pianolady
Posted: Sat Jun 04, 2011 3:12 pm (GMT 0)

I haven't been going to garage sales in a few years because of the cost of gas. But, I was just in the mood to give it a try today. I found absolutely nothing for my yard, but a few things that are just ridiculous! (but fun)

I bought a marble chess set many years ago. Well, you can't just leave the pieces out because if it tips or a piece falls off, it can break. Kind of devalues the set. So.... I bought a Lord of the Rings chess set at a garage sale today & used the pieces on my chess table.

Then I found a Darth Vader Wilton cake pan, so I just had to buy it....must resist reselling it on eBay! lol

So, it wasn't a bad garage sale day, just a bit odd.

I Had to Have It

Pianolady — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 18:35:53 -0400

Author: Pianolady
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2011 10:35 pm (GMT 0)

Ever go into a nursery with a narrow focus, determined to buy only the one thing on your list? I almost made it out without spending anything extra, then I saw this...

Variegated Basil, and it smells so good. I'll be using it in dinner tonight. $4.50 seemed a bit steep in price, but I did it anyway.

Wind Advisory doesn't keep me from my camera.

Pianolady — Mon, 30 May 2011 20:33:25 -0400

Author: Pianolady
Posted: Tue May 31, 2011 12:33 am (GMT 0)

It's really difficult to get a decent photo with 30mph winds, but it doesn't stop me from trying (although with limited success). Big storms may be coming in later, so I wanted to get a few photos of new blooms before they possibly get battered by hail again.

First peony to bloom

Niobe clematis

White is Duchess of Edinburgh. The blue is probably HF Young.

Final Bearded Iris Entry

Pianolady — Thu, 26 May 2011 15:58:15 -0400

Author: Pianolady
Posted: Thu May 26, 2011 7:58 pm (GMT 0)

Here's the remainder of this year's bearded iris. Got busy and missed a few of them before they wilted.

Allium

Pianolady — Wed, 18 May 2011 15:52:11 -0400

Author: Pianolady
Posted: Wed May 18, 2011 7:52 pm (GMT 0)

Always liked this plant, was glad to see it survived its transplant last year.

More Iris

Pianolady — Tue, 17 May 2011 16:47:53 -0400

Author: Pianolady
Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 8:47 pm (GMT 0)

This is one of those from Grandma's Garden. Who knows how old it is!

Happy Mother's Day

Pianolady — Sun, 08 May 2011 15:59:32 -0400

Author: Pianolady
Posted: Sun May 08, 2011 7:59 pm (GMT 0)

Don't you just love it when something beautiful pops up that you don't remember planting? Now I know I had to have bought this on eBay, but my records don't show buying anything that fits the description of this beauty! That's ok, I like it.

Got up very early on Mother's Day and planted my tomatoes and peppers. Then spent 4 hours making cages out of 3' galvanized fencing. Got 18 cages out of a 50' roll ($27).

Gobble Gobble

Pianolady — Fri, 06 May 2011 23:35:24 -0400

Author: Pianolady
Posted: Sat May 07, 2011 3:35 am (GMT 0)

It's Thanksgiving 365 days of the year where I live. The turkeys are everywhere, they're worse than deer. Not a day passes where I don't see a group of turkeys crossing a street.

Removing the fence....

Pianolady — Fri, 06 May 2011 08:54:13 -0400

Author: Pianolady
Posted: Fri May 06, 2011 12:54 pm (GMT 0)

Removing the picket fence in our front yard was the easy part. Getting used to people being able to see our front yard and porch, the hard part. I'd been so used to hiding behind the fence, that my front porch had become a storage area of totes, boxes, old paint, and tools....ugly. So I got off my duff and cleaned it all up yesterday. I can't remember the last time my front porch was this clean, so I thought I'd better take a pic for posterity.

Now I have to quit hanging the garden hose from the house...people can see it now. lol

My latest Wallpapers

Pianolady — Thu, 05 May 2011 09:52:55 -0400

Author: Pianolady
Posted: Thu May 05, 2011 1:52 pm (GMT 0)

Click on the thumbnail. First one should be rotated right. Not sure why it's this way here.

Looks like photobucket resized them. Full resolution can be found here:
Yellow
Blue

My Latest Garden Angel

Pianolady — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 18:01:56 -0400

Author: Pianolady
Posted: Sat Jul 18, 2009 10:01 pm (GMT 0)

I haven't purchased any garden decor in a very long time, but I just couldn't pass her up (at 66% off).

Red, White & Blue

Pianolady — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 22:30:34 -0400

Author: Pianolady
Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2009 2:30 am (GMT 0)

My July 4th Gardening Tribute...

Scentimental

Mr. Lincoln

Sweet Autumn (from last fall)

Salvia

Deck View - shady area

Pianolady — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:17:29 -0400

Author: Pianolady
Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 12:17 am (GMT 0)

In the never-ending attempt to get a decent photo of the dappled shade garden, a deck view is about all I can get. Ferns, Daylilies (which desperately need division, a few roses, peonies (which are done now), coneflowers that seem to do ok anywhere, and bee balm fill the area (along with endless trees that give me my exercise in pulling). The edges near the pond get more sun, and the fern areas get less.

( photo / image / picture from Pianolady's Garden )

( photo / image / picture from Pianolady's Garden )

( photo / image / picture from Pianolady's Garden )

Deep Blue

Pianolady — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 18:52:04 -0400

Author: Pianolady
Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 10:52 pm (GMT 0)

These blue tinged Delphiniums are my favorite. I don't recall the variety, but they are definitely the deepest blue flower I have in my gardens. From a distance they actually look blue, you don't see the purple until you get up close.

Lilies & Rudbeckia

Pianolady — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 20:04:36 -0400

Author: Pianolady
Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 12:04 am (GMT 0)