I apologize for the poor quality of this picture, but you are probably thankful you CAN’T see it very well.
I took this picture in the mirror after I realized how huge this bite had become. I had a total of about 5 of them that got this swollen – thankfully none were on my face!
Kinda gross, I’ll admit, but this is what happens when the black flies bite me. Not every bite does this, only certain ones – maybe the bugs with the really big teeth…
I suppose I am allergic to them, but I don’t have any trouble with other types of bug bites.
Black fly season is over — yipppeeee — and I can go outside again without fear of becoming deformed.
THIS IS NOTHING – check out the one from THIS year (2012)
For many years I wanted a bistro set – a tall table with chairs to match. In my old house, we had a screened in gazebo and I wanted a taller set of chairs to use in there. I never found a set and then as I moved around for a few years, the thought left me.
Now, at my rental, I have a small outdoor deck and decided it was time to seriously search for a set to enjoy for the summer. I see no point in having deck chairs at “railing height” so you constantly have to prop yourself up to look over the edge into the yard. And that is what I want to do – sit on the deck and look at the garden, bird feeders, etc.
I looked online at Amazon and other on-line stores, and went to the usual places like Home Depot and Target. I either didn’t like what I found – it had to be made to handle being outside – or the prices were ridiculous!
I also wanted something small so it wouldn’t take over my little deck.
This is the set I bought. I found it on-line at JCPenney and it was only $230, which was in my price range.
It’s not exactly what I wanted – I would have preferred a round table, without a glass top, and I was hoping for a lighter color since it would be out in the sun. But I am very happy with it. And the chairs swivel ~ which is a plus!!
My New Bistro Set
By the way, I also had to put this set together myself. It took a total of about 3 hours – maybe even more!! I didn’t do it all at once – In fact, I bought the set in May, which is the month for black flies up here, so I don’t spend much time outside and that gave me a whole month to slowly get it put together.
I’ve been enjoying the recent nice weather out on my deck and even ate supper out there the other night. It was worth all the effort. Another goal accomplished!
Last year I bought some Nasturtium seeds and planted them all around the edges of my newly dug gardens. Some of them did very well, but the red ones especially did not.
For some reason they got aphids (I think) all over them and died.
Ready to plant!
I didn’t buy seeds this year, but I did collect seeds from the dried out pods last year and I’m hoping they will grow once it’s safe here to plant seeds – which should be very soon.
In fact this weekend will be in the 80’s and I might not be able to wait until June 1st -which is the safe planting date for this area. This time of year the temperature is like a roller coaster…today was about 52 and tomorrow will be mid-eighties.
Late last summer I dug up the rooted stem of the little hydrangea (below) and planted it by the front steps. I had been waiting all summer for it to develop a good root system.
The main shrub – (photo at bottom)- had some low branches that were touching the ground and one of the branches had rooted itself in the middle of the stem.
Come to find out, this is a great way to propagate – or start new- plants.
Baby Hydrangea ShrubThe "Parent" Hydrangea Shrub
I noticed this year that there is already another new little shrub growing that will need to be dug up and planted some place else.
New England's Narrow Road 