Spring flowers

I don't know if I'll get around to planting any annuals this year - except for the few geraniums that Mom gave me last weekend, but our perennials look really good. Our tulips are bigger and brighter than ever. Last year, I think we mainly saw the purple and white tulips and not much else.
Below is a different kind of tulip. I don't think we've ever seen more than one flower (or plant) from this kind until this year. They're also much shorter than the other tulips. It's a good thing they were planted in front of the others!

The grape hyacinth are huge this year. Just look - they're as big as my hand! They've multiplied enough, I think I'm going to have to thin them out or move some to another location.

Most of these bulbs we received 4 years ago from family members when we had an open house to show off our "completed" home. It's taken a couple of years to really get them going. Here's a complete picture of the flower bed (try to ignore those yellow "flowers" in there!). Pretty soon there won't be any places for me to plant annuals.

I love pansies and violas (Johnny Jump-ups). I'd planted several kinds last year and didn't see much survive. The crazy thing is that this year, I'm seeing more than I planted last year, but in the "wrong" places. This is just below our front stoop - so these will have to be moved when (if?) we get our driveway and sidewalk poured this year. This has to be the most inhospitable place to grow!
Meanwhile, Mag's poor vinca vine has been struggling to survive ever since we planted it here. After 4 years in thew new house, this is all we have to show for it. I suppose it could be worse - hers was taking over on the north side of the house when we sold it - getting in the basement window sills, etc. I still think it's a pretty plant even if I only see 0-1 flowers per year. Maybe I should try moving it to where it would get a bit more sun and definitely more rain (it's practically under our fireplace vent).

Even if I leave everything else where it is, I'm going to have to move Grandma's/"the farm" rose to somewhere else. It's taking over!! The first year, I wasn't sure it was going to survive. Last year we noticed an offshoot. Now there's at least 4 plants in there (that's all I could spot on the picture) - probably more! It's practically a weed. I'm thinking it should go closer to the woods - that way it can spread all it wants to. (Click on the picture to see a larger version).

Hope you've enjoyed the pictures!

NuShine News

I've created another blog ... one that will be used just for updates on what's happening with Dave's new business: NuShine Tile Cleaning and Floor Restoration.
You can access the blog by going to http://nushinenews.blogspot.com/.

house TLC?!?

(click on picture for Century21 listing).

All this home needs is a little T.L.C. to shine! Nice floor plan with a main floor bedroom & the other two upstairs and a bathroom on each floor too. Currently a home office/den on the main floor that could easily be a 4th bedroom, if so chosen. Hardwood floors in the dining room. Large back deck arae [sic] to enjoy. Insulated workshop off of garage. There is a dog kennel, that is included also. Property is just blocks away from the park!

$94,900
16975 N 5th, Galesville, WI 54630
MLS# 998859
(update 6/3: the house is now $74,900!!).

Um, I believe the PREVIOUS owners gave the house a lot of TLC... it was the "current" owners who messed it up again:
a) ripping out the bench seat in the dining room and installing vinyl flooring where it used to be, instead of trying to match the wood floor.
b) never cleaning the living room carpet (it's disgusting) and putting bead board in that room (an attempt to "match" the car siding in the office??)
c) amateurish installation of drywall and a door frame to turn the office into another bedroom (can't really tell in the pictures)
d) painting the "master" bedroom about 6 different bright colors (must have been the kids room this time)
e) the dog kennel is nothing special - in fact, because they had a dog kennel with access into the garage, the garage floor is filthy! (and the wood stove is gone).
f) and that teal carpet is STILL THERE! it's now been 9 years since we wanted to replace it!

Not sure if the house is going to sell any time soon, what with the real estate market so low. The house was foreclosed on, and they're now on the 2nd or 3rd realtor. Plus, I'm sure that I saw it listed just a few months ago at $113K... they've come down in price quite a bit.

I don't want the house back. We're struggling with an ant infestation in our new house and we've always had issues with spiders in the basement. Going back to the old house would mean even more critters - mice, silverfish, ants, Asian beetles, box elder bugs, etc. I'm getting the heebie-jeebies just thinking about it!