Without Further Adieu

I absolutely cannot believe that it has been a week already since The Garden Walk.

Summer is so fleeting.

I've been decompressing this week.

Wandering around, not sure what to do with myself, and yet not wanting to do anything.

It's been a busy week, and actually Wednesday and Friday were the only days I didn't have bushels of things to do.

I've come to the conclusion that I just have to have a project.

'Taint happy otherwise.

Let me just say that your comments have had me rolling.

I must have read them all three or four times!

And let me just say again - those other gardens were really wonderful. I do believe that the homeowners did do all the work themselves. They were a marvel.

Exactly one week ago to this minute - I was not yet dressed, and roaming aimlessly around the yard looking for weeds I'd missed.

I'd hoped so hard that I would have looked nice for the walk, but it's not in my cards to be one of those non-sweaty, perfumed, put together people.

I'm beginning to accept that.

It was so humid, there was no point in fixing my hair.

At precisely 9am, a car pulled up and these smiling faces emerged.

Kelly, Jade and Brenda.

I just couldn't have asked for a better start to the Garden Walk than this trio.

Jade reminded me SO much of me at that age. I'm not kidding, I looked just like that.

She seemed like the kind of little girl I would just love to have around here. She wanted to hold the ducks, and loved the chickens. I just wanted to put an apron on her and roll pie dough.

Kelly brought me a tray of the most beautiful cookies I've ever laid my eyes on. She made these ya'll. Kelly, promise you'll come and show me how! And look at how she decorated the tray!

She also brought me bacon.

She's my new BFF.

The cookies were too cute to eat, but eat them I did, and in fact, I had to take a quick pic while there was some left. It was the only nutrition I had that day, so Kelly, I thank you!

I absolutely had a ball talking to everyone.

These two ladies were a hoot.

I could have yakked with them until dusk.

Debra, Jennifer and ? -I'm so sorry, I didn't remember your name.

Debra is a blog reader, and she liked meeting the chickens.

Thanks for coming!

Here's Cathy Jo.

I couldn't get over how smooth her hair was on such a humid day.

It was so great meeting her.

We'd emailed a bit back and forth.

Here's Cathy Jo with the friend that she'd come with.

Two more ladies that I would love to know better.

I think their names are Carolyn and MaryAnne.

I gave away so many starts of a plant called Perilla.

I told them not come back and fuss at me when it over took their yards.

This is Debbie, she's the mother of a girl I used to work with at Pier One-Erika -

She's a blog reader and a true gardener.

So great meeting her.

Jan and Kara - I didn't get or I just don't remember the little boys name, but they were so much fun to talk to.

So much fun.

I still have theses two tied up in the basement....

No, no, no, no....there is no room left. I have Shannan and her family down there.

Ok, now - that is just creepy, so I'll stop.

This is Marilyn and Kim.

This is the Marilyn of Marilyn's Pies in Hobart.

I bowed to her when I found that out.

Oh my goodness was she cute and sweet.

Kim had a smile that lit up the whole garden.

I suppose now is a good time to tell you that my neighbors had a big fight right about this time.

They are quite a distance away - not like right next door - 300' or so down the road. Sound seems to travel out here. It was ugly, and embarrassing. The woman I was talking to at the moment looked at me - and I just said 'Oh I forgot to ask them not to fight today'

Sadness, really - breaks my heart to think of a home having so much turmoil.

Just when I thought it couldn't get no betta - here come 'da bus!

I was in a whirlwind of excitement. I watched it unload.

I don't know why I had the reaction I did, but I got so tickled and excited that I wanted to give everyone hugs.

I enjoyed them thoroughly.

A few of the bus gals emailed me and said my garden was their favorite.

It's probably because they didn't get hugs at the other garden.

I wanted on that bus.

I hopped on, signed some autographs (joke) and took a photo.

You can see how I completely captivate an audience.

I heard that the stars in Branson do this - get on the tour busses and sign autographs and meet the fans. It just seemed fittin'.

Let's talk about Smoking Lady now.

I must preface this story by saying - I'm sorry if you smoke and I offend you.

It's not my intent.

You must understand that cigarettes claimed the life of my mother, and so I just have this 'thing' about smoking. That and I seem to be allergic to it - as I get an incredibly sore throat, and if I'm exposed for more than a half an hour or so, I get an upper respiratory infection.

Plus, I just can't stand the smell - just can't stand it.

Smelling a cigarette in the garden is kinda like having someone poop in the punchbowl, or laying in a hammock and find a scorpion - it's just not pleasant.

Being the non-confrontational person that I am, I just stewed in my juices for a while.

OK friends, the tour is almost over - I'm not going to post pictures of the garden again, since you've seen it so much here - did I get a photo of the vintage aprons on the clothesline? Nope. Did I get a picture of the 'outpost' set up with quilt and blanket, vintage binoculars and bird books? Nope again. Did I get a picture of the table set? Well, shuck the corn, no I didn't.

Apologies.

I did however get a picture of the Ant Farm Glenco made.

It's the cutest thing ever - and it's sitting on a big ant hill on the nature trail.

Here's a photo of the nature trail. I'll take you on a guided tour very soon. I've been picking blackberries lately - it's so serene out there.

Glenco made a sign - we are calling it Milkweed Way - during the walk I noticed he'd put another sign up there too - I don't like that - but I didn't say anything - yet. I'm coming to realize that sometimes it's just smarter to keep your mouth shut.

Like when he started weedwacking during the walk.

There were only a couple people here, and he'd just repaired the weed wacker, so I guess he wanted to try it out.

My first thought was 'Who gave you crack?' - and then, I just thought - let it go Jayme, let it go. It only lasted a couple of minutes. Not worth the fuss.

This was my little bee display that I'd set up. It had my 'Adventures In Beekeeping' with some photos, my bee suit and tools. That darn bee suit scared me silly a few times when I'd catch it out of the corner of my eye early in the morning. It's a bit Grim Reaperish.

If there ever was a truer portrait of what I look like on a daily basis - I've not seen it.

I put my Billy Bob teeth in for Terry Smutniak's benefit, and I was laughing so hard, I couldn't keep them in right.

All in all, I had a fabulous time. People were very complimentary about the garden, some saying it was their favorite. A 'real' garden is what I heard alot.

Even though I don't garden for other's benefit - it's just an extension of my soul - it was nice to hear the compliments.

I put out a frame with photos and the house story.

I wanted to encourage people to never give up on their dreams.

My good friend Laurie stopped by right before the walk was over.

I call her LuLu.

It blessed me. She said she wanted to see it all 'staged'. She really gets me.

Did you think I'd forget about Fake Accent Lady?

Perish the thought!

I'm running this gal in the ground.

She actually took a blanket and laid down in someone's garden on the Walk and was asked to leave. She fussed at someone for talking on a cellphone during the Walk.

She didn't do that here - but only did this:

Like I said - I do believe it was a fake accent and that her head was cold on one side.

Bless her heart though- she's given me some blog fodder, and I constantly go around now saying "I can just feel it"

My next post will be about my day with the Farm Girl from the Flower Patch.

Can't wait to share her with you.