Pam – Page 103 – New England's Narrow Road

College Graduation Ceremony in Manchester, NH

Hesser College graduation — Graduation Ceremony at the Verizon Center, Manchester, NH

Last weekend we attended my daughter’s college graduation ceremony. She and almost 700 other people received their diplomas from Hesser College. The ceremony took place in Manchester, New Hampshire on a gorgeous, sunny day.

Parking is very limited so we parked a few streets away from the building at a metered space which was an excellent idea. Then we made a quick get-away after the three hour long ceremony.

My daughter’s name was near the beginning and then we simply sat and waited through the next 600+ names afterward!

Graduation ceremonies have not changed much. Eye strain from searching for your kid when they all look so much alike. And lots of sitting and waiting.

With a B.A. degree in criminal justice, now she will have new and better job opportunities along with all those college bills to pay!

couple walking after graduation — A new phase in life for my little girl.

Mountain Lion Spotted Near Manchester, NH School (boston.cbslocal.com)

The Jack-In-The-Pulpit Plant I Found

jack in the pulpit flower — Jack in the Pulpit

As I was weeding the side garden that holds my day lilies I noticed this odd plant and knew at once that it was a Jack-in-the-pulpit. It was growing in the tall grass and weeds at the edge of the woods, but in my yard.

I had seen one before when I took a walk at my old place. It was growing next to a stone wall and I wanted a photo of it, but the next time I went walking and took my camera, the plant was gone. I suspect that someone – or maybe an animal – dug it up. I rarely see them, but I don’t know how rare they really are. So I was disappointed, but now I have found another and it’s close by!

So here are my photos of the Jack-in-the-pulpit plant.

jack in the pulpit plant and flower — Wild plant – Jack in the Pulpit

The Tomatoes Are Planted

little tomato plants — Ready to plant tomatoes

I stopped at Tenney Farm the other day and picked up some tomato plants. I knew that planting time would be upon me soon and I didn’t want to be without anything to add to the garden.
I bought Early Girl, Big Boy and Cherry, Grape and some sort of Roma.
The trouble I am having this year is that everything has to be done at once. Digging the gardens is the most time consuming thing and I had to have loam / garden dirt delivered to add to the vegetable garden area. I’ve also been watching the sun to see where I get it the longest so the tomatoes could be planted there.
Last year I spent most of the end of summer removing the blackberry bushes that had taken over the back right where I wanted to plant my garden. That was a nasty job but at least that part was done. This spring I’ve spent digging, buying soil amendments and lugging dirt. I still don’t know if the dirt will be good enough to give me some tomatoes, but I am hoping.
It might be too early, but the weather for the week will be warm so I planted the tomatoes last Saturday and then finished up yesterday with basil and marigolds. I also built some mounds for my zucchini, summer squash and cukes. The peas were planted a while ago but haven’t grown much yet. I am out of room, but I might get to add some beans if I can find space – maybe along the side of the deck.
I’ve noticed that I have one big sunny spot out front. I might have to turn that area into my garden spot.

Another Wonderful Weekend in New Hampshire

pile of loam with wheelbarrow and shovel — Ready to Work

We have lucked out with the weekend weather lately. Sunny, warm and beautiful days have actually fallen on Saturday and / or Sunday for the past few months which gives us plenty of opportunities to beautify our yards.
Since I work from home, I can get yard work done any time during the week, but that means working extra on the weekends and if I have plans that take me away from home, then my work will suffer.
So I love the warm weekend days too.
I bought some new hydrangea plants for the yard and have been slowly getting them into the ground. They need the right locations according to their favorite growing conditions so I’ve been watching the sun to choose spots for them.

Also, all the so called “gardens” in this yard have been terribly neglected and need loam and compost and digging. That is the thing that slows me down. This old body will only do so much and then I need to stop if I have any hopes of moving the next day. So I’m moving my loam pile a little at a time and enriching my back yard areas for planting veggies and that time is coming soon. The growing season is so short that I always feel the pressure to get things in the ground ASAP. My little tomato and cucumber plants are waiting to be planted.

So have a great weekend!