Taking a Break

 

I am taking a short break.  I will start posting again in a few weeks.  This is a darling cottage in Wrightwood, California that used to belong to a Disney animator.  It is so special.

The roses that I planted in my woodland garden are doing beautifully.  I fed them some liquid fertilizer and top dressed the soil with planting mix.

The deck has been stained and is ready for winter.  I have a lot of chores to do in preparation.  I placed my firewood order for eucalyptus and mixed wood, and had the chimney cleaned.

This is a video of a new bear that was walking up the hillside just steps from my cabin.  This one has a more angular face.  The wildlife is literally right at our doorstep.  What a magnificent animal!  

Blogger did not post the video.  It won’t let me delete the space.  I’ll try again when I have more time.  How are you doing?

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The Joy of Gardening During Retirement

 

One of my favorite ways to spend time as a retiree is as a gardener.  Shrub roses grow well here in the sunny mountains of California.  I go out and deadhead these Cecile Brunners each morning.  I am rewarded with constant, fragrant, pink blooms and new growth.  They enjoyed a recent drenching from the rain we just received.

This year I planted a Mr. Lincoln, (my favorite dramatic red rose,) in the ground.  It's located in a sunny spot, and I'm hoping that it will thrive there.  Berries, apples, pears, and cherries grow in abundance in Wrightwood, California.  Our summers are short and mild, unlike the harsh and blistering heat we experience in Santa Clarita.  I tend different fruits in each location.

This plum tree is very close to my cabin.  I saw a squirrel excitedly run off with one of these succulent fruits in its mouth.  It looks like they have adapted to the climate very well here, as well.  This plot of land also has a large grapevine that is filled with grapes.  It receives plenty of sun.

Are you growing any fruit right now?  I am currently harvesting Macintosh Apples.  They are so tasty and sweet!  

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Gardening Chores and Gorgeous Flowers

 

We had some snow in this month up at the cabin.  I was worried about my tulips and daffodils, but they did just fine, and are still standing tall and proud.  I love seeing the bulbs push through the soil in Spring.  Soon the purple Lilacs will be in full bloom.  Their fragrance is intoxicating!  They grow wild in our area.

Today I met with a man who owns a tree service.  His crew will trim a few of my trees to prepare for the warmer weather.  He told me, "We will make it look very nice."   I can tell that they will, and am excited to get it all done.  I pulled weeds last week and filled two large green waste bins.  I still have more work to do, but the most difficult portions are finished.  

Have you been puttering around in your garden?  What's in bloom?

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The Daffodils are in Bloom

 

Yesterday I dragged the hose up the mountain and watered the irises, tulips, daffodils, roses and herbs.  I fed the flowers some organic Tiger Bloom plant food, hoping to help them along from the snowy winter we experienced.  This morning I was pleasantly surprised to see the daffodils had sprung open and were vibrantly colored.  Plants are so responsive to care.

I charged the weed whacker and got a head start on the grassy areas, before they become overgrown.  My machine uses an electric cartridge.  The power lasts about forty-five minutes.  I will continue to work the land in pieces until the weeding is finished.  

It's thrilling and rewarding to see the first flowers of the season.  Spring is really here.  The birds have been zooming around in pairs.  The juveniles are taking dust baths and building nests.  They seem excited and energetic.  The robins have been eating worms and bugs from the soil.  I get the sense that they feel safe and secure here, with all of the trees, food, and shelter.  

How was your weekend?

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Cutting Back the Front Garden

 

My front garden has been springing to life as the weather is becoming warmer.  I have been busy pulling weeds, trimming branches, removing dead wood, and planting.  I dug this fragrant citrusy smelling yellow rose into the soil today.  The earth is wet, rich and black.  I found some healthy earthworms wriggling in the ground.  They help us so much, aerating and feeding the dirt with their waste.

The straw mulch really kept the weeds from sprouting, and it also has helped to hold in the moisture.  I am replenishing the mulch around the fruit trees.  They are filled with buds that are ready to burst!

I bought a Hibiscus and Lavender plant.  They are both in full sun.  I'm hoping to make tea with the Hibiscus flowers.  Mine are yellow.  This recent rain has made it so much easier for us to garden again in California.  Our neighborhood is on a list to receive a grant which will upgrade our water system.  If it goes through, we will have new pipes and our own meters.  What a relief!

Have you planted anything new this year?

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Leaf Litter and Butterflies

 

The other day, one of my neighbors stopped by as I was sipping coffee near my roses, and asked me about my trees.  He said that the fire department had issued him a notice.   He raked up his yard, and now his pine trees are dying.  I nodded in agreement.  This is happening all over California.  We have been experiencing raging forest fires, and are in the midst of a drought.  

I explained that we are allowed to have some mulch on the ground.  We have to keep our weeds trimmed below four inches, but when bare soil is bone dry, it becomes hard as a rock and can't absorb the water.  

Today I watched a documentary explaining how native plants help butterflies produce.  That's part of the reason why my land is so productive.  It is filled with lilacs, oak trees, and bright red Indian paintbrush wildflowers.  The tiny hummingbirds flit from flower to flower, soaking up the nectar.   My land is filled with them.  I let the seeds dry on the stems, and then spread them each September.  The soil remains undisturbed, except for the wildlife.  I stay on my path when walking up and down the mountain with friends,  neighbors or my dogs. 

This afternoon I harvested the coffee berries.  They are a flavorful fruit that resembles a blueberry.  The taste is almost like licorice.  They contain seeds, like a Concord grape.  They start out green, turn red, and then become almost black.  The plants were here when I bought the cabin, and are native to the area.  

So, as the ecosystem hums along, without sprays or chemicals, people feel the buzz of life as they walk by; everyone who visits comments on the trees. They look up in amazement.  Trees are life, and oaks are spectacular.  My dad taught me that you can't put a price on mature trees in a neighborhood.  

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Picking Persimmons

 My Hachiya persimmon tree has provided an amazing harvest this year.  For the last few years, I was afraid the tree had died.  During the last several seasons, it didn't produce.  I'm not sure why, since it's a mature tree.   I fed it some compost tea and straw mulch, and what a difference!  The whole tree came back to life.  I have picked at least 150 persimmons so far...it's  a thrill. They are lined up in long rows on the counter, the windowsill, the dryer and the kitchen table.   I love growing fruit; it's so rewarding.

I gave some to my neighbors, and dropped off a bag on the porch of  the woman who runs our co-op in Wrightwood.  She uses them to make persimmon cookies.  I will leave a bag in the mailbox for my mail lady.  She is always so appreciative of homegrown fruit.  I also gave some to the lady that sells produce at our local fruitstand.  Her eyes lit up and she told me that she loves persimmons.  I will take her some more tomorrow.  

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My First Podcast

 

One of the dancers from "Hello Hollywood, Hello!" asked me to do an interview for her podcast, "Bluebells Forever," last month.  It was released today.  It's called, "Never Stop Learning."  You can listen to it it on Apple podcasts, or google Bluebells Forever podcast with Stephenie Lawton to find it.  It should be under June 17th 2021.  https://linkpodcasts.apple.com/.../bluebells.../id1513513525...

We live in an amazing time with technology that is available.   The interview was given on Zoom.  I initially resisted downloading the software, but have thoroughly enjoyed every meeting that I've attended.  It is so fun to see my old friends' faces and to hear their voices and laughter.  We are all older, but somehow still the same, on a soul level.

How are you doing in this heat?  It was 110 degrees in Canyon Country.  Wow!  Palm Springs hit 118 degrees, and I heard on the radio that it was 125 degrees in Death Valley.  (hence the name.)  I have the bathtub filled with cold water, and have been taking a dip in the lake or the tub throughout the day.  I hope you are staying cool and comfortable.  Be careful of heat exhaustion; it can creep up on you.   I just watered the trees in my forest, and they are giving off lots of fresh oxygen.  

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A New Coffee Table

 

One of the reasons I love vintage and antique furniture is that the pieces are smaller and crafted to last a lifetime.   I just purchased a coffee table for my den.  I had been setting my tray of java, half and half, sugar, and a spoon on a bench that came with the cabin.  I kept wishing for a coffee table like my parents had when we were young.

I found exactly what I was looking for at one of our local shops.  It has has beautiful, dark, wooden curved legs, with roses carved into the wood.  The top is an oval piece of grey and white marble.  I just love it.  My grandparents had marble steps that led up to their front door at their home in San Francisco, and it always made me gasp...the smoothness and richness of the stone filled me with awe.

I picked up a few birdhouses at the vintage shop as well, and hung them around the garden for decoration.  A pair of quail has been visiting my front yard every day.  I leave water for them in the tiny stone  birdbath.  Recently,  I've only seen one of the pair, so I'm hoping that the female is sitting on her eggs.  

It's back to swimming and sunbathing at the lake each day.  I love the routine.  Today I rode my bike there.  It's so healing to immerse yourself in the  refreshing, cold water.  All of the kids that hang out at the country club are so friendly and happy.  It's heartwarming to see everyone's smiles again.  What a  wonderful place Wrightwood is  for children to grow up; they are surrounded by nature.

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Bulbs Are in Bloom

 

On Saturday I was happily surprised to receive two bouquets of gorgeous tulips from hollandridgefarms.com.  I wasn't expecting them.  I had started to place an order on their website for peonies, and then canceled it.  (once I realized that you need to order those in the fall.)  I will go back and reorder.  These bulbs are spectacular!  I am eagerly waiting for them to open and bloom.  I have been changing the water in their crystal vase each day.  They sent me both yellow and red ones...my two favorite colors when I was a little girl.  How thoughtful of them.  (and a smart business move.)

Many people are relaxing their Covid restrictions here, but I am still being very careful.  I shop for groceries at 6:00 or 7:00 a.m., and spend a lot of time bicycling, walking, and hiking.  I turned down a recent invitation to a fantastic party in Las Vegas.  I would love to connect with my friends, but I just don't feel like it's safe yet.  Patience is a virtue.  I chat with my close friends on the phone, and keep in touch with others online.  I don't feel comfortable getting the vaccine at this time.  I plan to wait a year.

Spring is definitely here.  I have been feeding the fruit trees homemade compost, added a layer of mulch, and have been giving them plenty of water.  They really respond to the care.

Lula and I have also been soaking up the sunlight and vitamin D.  It really makes a difference in how you feel, I think.  Is it sunny right now where you live?

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Ninety Trees Trimmed

Over the last few days I had ninety trees trimmed on my land.  Phew!  It looks so clean and beautiful now.  It's amazing how alive the property feels with all of that dead wood removed.  I stayed home and kept an eye on the workers.  It was exciting to see the men complete the contract.  They are very dedicated.

One of the pluses from all that trimming is  that I now have lots of firewood to burn this winter.  They stacked it neatly in piles for me.  I have been carrying it up to the cabin and  gazing at the  crackling flames each morning and evening.  I hung my mom's feminine lace curtains in the window next to the brick fireplace.  Flanked by a 1920's hand painted antique lamp, it is a really artistic look.  I just love the old styles.  I've never gotten into the modern decor that is popular now.  

The smaller branches were put into the chipper and spread as mulch.  The supervisor told me that my trees are healthier and greener than  many of the ones that they do, because I water and mulch them regularly.  It means extra time and effort, but is so worth it.  As I water in sections, I keep an eye on my trees and all that is happening.  That's important when you own land. 

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Cosmos In Bloom

The magenta Cosmos that I planted are now blooming.  Each week I feed them compost tea, and they have developed a lovely bright color through absorbing the nutrients.  It makes such a difference to amend and mulch the soil.  Ours is very rocky up in Wrightwood, California. 

I planted a few packages of sunflower seeds, as well.  I am hoping that they will bloom before the weather changes.  They always add a bright spot in the garden.  I sprinkled the soil with compost.  It was covered with pine needles, so I raked those up and deposited them in  the green waste bin.

I am nearly done with the writing project that I've been working on; it's getting exciting.  I have really enjoyed applying the hand written notes from Tommy Tune.  Peter Glebo emails them to me.  I will post the link once the article is finished and published.  It's so rewarding to use your talents, especially during a pandemic.  It's so easy to work with them.  That makes all the difference.

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Mature Trees Need Water, Too

I learned the other day from our local arborist that mature pine and oak trees need to watered.  I had always assumed that if we had received adequate rainfall or snow, that their roots went deep enough into the ground to keep them healthy.

I asked him if a once a week watering schedule was sufficient.   "No, they need to be watered every other day," he answered.  Wow!  I had no idea.  I had noticed that the trees near my new woodland garden had been looking much healthier, happier and greener.  I thought it was the compost and mulch that I had applied.  The growth is now very vigorous on the oak leaves.  I soak that area every couple of days.  It makes sense.

The large trees near the lake look exceptionally beautiful;  same with those close to the beach in Ventura.  The dryness and lack of water makes in other locations them brittle, stressed and susceptible to disease and beetles.

So, I have a new hobby, forest bathing.  That's what the Japanese call spending time in the woods.  For now I am irrigating all of the trees on my land by hand.  Once I got into the new routine, my whole yard filled up with birds, butterflies and a sense of busy life.  The trees immediately responded.  I could feel their relief and gratitude.

Do you water your trees?

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Back To The Library-Just Published

This morning I took Lula for a relaxing walk down the Wrightwood Trail.  I stopped at the post office on the way back, while no one was there.  In my mailbox was the latest edition of our local newspaper, The Mountaineer Progress.  My article on our sweet little library was in it.  It's so fun to be in print again.  My friends have been so supportive.  It's sweet. 

I stopped at Mountain Hardware and picked up some Cosmos and a large, impressive  Russian Sage plant.  Cosmos do very well in Wrightwood.  They get so tall!  I also bought a couple of bags of rich, black  planting soil.  As I was digging into the dirt in my front garden, I was disappointed to realize that  most of it is still very dry and rocky.  A few pockets have improved, but not nearly at the level that I had expected.  I need to do some more amending and mulching.  My friend always told me, "Just keep planting..."

It was so satisfying to work closely with the earth and plants.  I love how my tiny woodland garden is coming along.  I hope to add some berry bushes and more colorful flowers.  The purple Russian Sage plant is so delicate.  I've seen them growing in my neighborhood, and they thrive.  It helps to pick plants that do well in your location.

Have you been out in the sunshine lately?

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Another Big Fire Here

mature trees at the Wrightwood Country Club

 
This afternoon I heard fire trucks go screaming down Sierra Highway.  I sensed  both urgency and doom in the way they were speeding.  There were two fires in this area today.  The first one was only five acres of land, up by the 5 freeway.

The fire near my cottage was the one that worried me.  It was burning 400 acres, last time I  checked.  This is becoming all too common.  It's in the history books, so many homes burned to the ground when this area was first settled.  They didn't have fire departments in those days.  It gives me a sick sense of dread when I see the smoke and hear the sirens.  Part of the reason that I started looking for a cabin in the mountains was because of the repeated summer burnings in this area.  It makes me nervous.

Fortunately, it's not too windy today, and our firefighters are very experienced.  Thank goodness there isn't a lot of protesting going on at this time.  Recently things were so out of control.  We really need our civil servants in times like these; it's so dangerous without them.  I am very thankful for their dedication and training.

On a more positive note, the sunflowers are in bloom, and the garden is doing extremely well.  We have had very pleasant temperatures for this time of year.  Today it was eighty degrees.  Normally it's much hotter.  I picked the first few ripe, red tomatoes from the garden for salads.  I also tasted the first green chili pepper that I have ever grown.  I sauteed it with onions and put them both on my chicken enchilada, garnished with fresh cilantro.  Yum! 

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A Tiny Garden In The Mountains

the Jeffrey Pines smell like vanilla

I planted a miniature garden last week, up at the cabin.  It's a petite rectangle, which I encircled with pine cones.   A few of my neighbors have noticed it, and commented that it looks pretty.  I wanted something simple and natural for people to see when they walked by, or rode their bikes.  I brought  up a couple of my mom's animal figurines from her old house.  They really work well with the trees.  The seller left behind a ceramic duck that I added, too.  I love the old, majestic oaks.  They are so wise and ancient. 

I dug up and relocated some of the irises that had multiplied at the pink cottage.  I transplanted several lilac seedlings that were sprouting underneath the deck.  I also bought a couple of six packs of hollyhocks, and spaced them wide, since they will get huge.

one of my neighbor's gardens

I plan to add geraniums, sage, oregano, lemon thyme and cilantro.  I chose plants that need very little water, since I have to lug it up the hill.  I may buy a long extension hose.  How's your garden doing?

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California Poppies, Celery, Pink Roses, and More Garden Photos

I have some more photos of the garden for you.  The picture above captures the  bright orange of my patch of California poppies.  I save the seeds every year and spread them in the ground.  If we have rain, they come back each spring.  They are so easy to grow here!

This celery plant I rooted from the base of a bunch that I got from the co-op.  I set it in water for about a week, changing the water each day.  It looks like it's pretty happy.  We will see it it regrows...

My pink roses make my heart melt.  I thought that I couldn't grow roses.  I gave up on them for fifteen years.  Then I decided to try planting them in the ground instead of in pots.  I stopped trimming them and fussing over them.  What a difference!

They go through different stages of color.  I find their energy to be so spiritual and uplifting.  I love to sit outside and bask in their beauty.

The bearded irises are almost finished blooming.  They come all the way up to my shoulder this year!

This is the backyard.  All of the green spots are weeds that I am removing each day.  I have my work cut out for me. I use a shovel and they come up easily.  In time, this will be a forest of fruit trees...

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Finding Solace In Nature During the Coronavirus

the hummingbirds have been sucking the nectar from these periwinkle flowers

Yesterday I felt renewed sense of hope after spending time in the garden.  I have all kinds of energetic, beautiful birds visiting.  I saw orioles, sparrows, hummingbirds, woodpeckers, and a titmouse.  They all looked so happy and excited.  It's as if they were pleased to find plenty of bugs, nectar, and water to splash in; they love the birdbath. 

there is the first lime of the season

Seeing their antics gave me faith that everything is going to be all right.  They are busy with their babies.  I always take my cues from the animal kingdom.  They are so wise, in the moment,  and in tune with nature.  

the rhubarb is growing quickly

My artichoke plant is getting gigantic!  Soon I will be able to harvest artichokes to cook with homegrown lemons and Italian salad dressing.  It is an exciting time, and a bountiful harvest is just beginning...

Will you be growing food this year?  I left a bag of homegrown organic blood oranges and Meyer lemons in the mailbox for my mail carrier.  She was happy to receive them.

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Enjoying Beeswax and Honey

roses and salvia

As I'm writing this post, I'm enjoying a fragrant cup of fruit tea sweetened with raw, wild, organic honey. What is it about honey that is so compelling? I adore it. I have my new beeswax candle burning. It gives a soft, warm glow to my little cottage. The color is so natural and soothing. It reminds me of the different shades of brown and tan that my homemade goat's milk soaps are. They don't need any artificial colors, The temperature of the milk predicts what shade they will be. Sometimes it gives them a carmelized, marbled effect. I have a preference for the natural yarns, as well. Something about the colors of nature is so appealing. Black from a llama or alpaca is different that the look of black dye. It's all there, if we observe and absorb.

white geraniums

I have been using a cream that I bought at Costco a few years ago. It's called Egyptian Magic. It had been sitting in my medicine cabinet, unused. Something made me want to try it again, and to read the label. "How interesting," I thought, the ingredients are almost all from bees! They are: olive oil, beeswax, honey, bee pollen, royal jelly extract, and bee propolus. It's a thick salve that feels a bit oily. It absorbs well into the skin, though. I use it on my face, hands, and fee.  It complements the homemade soaps that I shower with nicely.

the artistically landscaped parking lot at Bennett Honey Farm

It's funny that after being stung by two bees recently I am suddenly becoming very interested in using products made with beeswax and honey.  I find it interesting. A couple of weeks ago I felt the pain of the stingers, and now I am reaping the benefits of what bees can produce. The dark and light of it is very spiritual. I always loved the make-up and lotions made by Burt's Bees. I still use his lipsticks and lip crayons. Everything with these ingredients feels so nourishing on the skin.

shea butter goat's milk soap

I added some more photos from my trip to the honey farm yesterday. Someone put a lot of thought and care into their garden. It's so healthy and welcoming. 

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Cleaning Your Windows With Bar Soap

my view from my desk

Today I cleaned my front window with a bar of homemade soap. I used to use white vinegar and water, but I wasn't really happy with the results. The windows looked far better after using dish soap, which I learned about from the book, How Clean Is Your House. My mother even noticed the difference when she came to visit me. She commented on how much cleaner an antique mirror that I had looked. I told her that I had switched to using dish soap and distilled water. We have hard water where I live. It leaves a film on things, and makes cleaning much more challenging. It creates a smeared look. It's depressing to see after working hard at cleaning your home. It makes the laundry dingy, too. Soft water pumps are illegal here.  Still, I try.  

Today I discovered my first baby Cinderella pumpkin. Once that flower opens, (which is a female,) I can pollinate it with a male blossom. I am hoping there is enough time for a pumpkin to develop. We shall see. I remember seeing them growing very late in the season at another house, years ago. It was in November.

green Algerian tangerines

  

tangerine turning orange

I have been making more headway on my deep cleaning. Sometimes it feels overwhelming, so I just do a few hours a day. I am amazed at how fast professional housekeepers work. I may update my windows, as these slats are very hard to clean. I have to remove each one individually. The more I clean, the more I find things that are dirty. (and I live alone.) I can't imagine how I'd feel with a husband and kids. I remember my mother cleaning like a maniac, all day long. Now I see why. It makes me feel kind of sad for her. She tried so hard to be the perfect housekeeper. How exhausting...

The garden is coming along well. When I see the weather in other parts of the world, and in the rest of the USA, I feel very fortunate. Gardening takes a lot of time and energy, but the results are worth it. I love how healthy the stalks of this zucchini plant are.

 
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