Yesterday Chess had an episode that caused us to go to the emergency room. I sat there for several hours, everything checked out okay, and we went for our morning walk today with the usual gusto (me being dragged along). Still, I’m nervous.
In the middle of all this trauma (dog owners can surely relate), it occurred to me to check on the status of my bottle. Yes, I secretly test bottles for winter hardiness. Not something you go around telling people, for sure. I thought the bottle would fill with snow, then ice, and burst, but no.
I’ve been thinking about making a bottle tree. Traditionally made to catch evil spirits, but I suspect that this isn’t really effective.
The original plan for these bottles was for them to be cut, and the bottoms used for a mosaic or something similar. Nothing ever came of it, so I thought a bottle tree would be a good idea.

The decision to make a mosaic out of champagne bottles was an easy one. I had to buy the bottles, of course, and empty the contents.
I felt so sorry for myself today (the dog is of course oblivious), that I had to go to Tony’s and pick up some health food.

Oreo cookie cake. It is entirely possible that I’ll come to my senses as usual and give some of these things to the neighbors.
Oh, I know, this is supposed to be about gardening. Well, the dog likes to garden and the bottle was in the garden, but here are some crummy pictures just to prove I know what this is really all about.
I’m not overly interested in “traditional” garden plants for my garden, but I do dote on asters.

‘Chilly Winds’. this came from Seneca Hill Nursery; it’s the first novae-angliae type to bloom here.

a hybrid that appeared in the garden; larger flowers than ‘Harrington’s Pink’. we called it “Pooka’s Pink” since it appeared next to the shortcut that our second border collie made through the garden.
I hope the health food made everybody feel better! All the best!
Yes, it certainly did. Tony’s everyday cake alone is a wonderful thing. (I did give that to some neighbors who had never experienced it.)
Bob
You were most kind to share some of that delicious looking food.
Oh, the everyday cake …. I have to resist those when I go shopping there. I can eat a whole one just sitting here.