Lonely Little Petunia in an Onion Patch

Remember that silly song? ("All I do is sit and cry all day" was the second line to the first line above as the title of this posting.) I feel that this blooming hen (succulent) which has been overrun by the ground cover on the south side of the house really had to assert its individuality. Was it Emerson who said something about marching to a different drummer? Anyway, it's certainly a conversation piece. Or, perhaps there are lessons to be learned? 1. Keep one's individuality, no matter what peer pressure tells you to do. 2. Rise above the fray. 3. Don't get swallowed up in the mundane. Or . . . .

Blake - last summer - he's much older, now.

This is Blake, whose birthday was last week. He is our great-grandson, mother Suzanne and father Jonathan. I took this picture last summer when he was visiting at our house. Check out the blog site to the right to see how much he has grown, since he now has a new baby brother, Adam. There is nothing like having a little child around to remember how magical the world can be in the eyes of a child! And he is very special.

Mandy's Birthday...and Others

How many birthdays have I missed? Lots! But...I'm turning over a new leaf today, and beginning anew. Today is Mandy Kay's birthday - as you can see, she's been a charmer from the time she was tiny. She is now the mother of two. Go to her blog to see Dallin and Mia Lilly, who are also charmers, according to her maternal grandparents. Since I left out her sister Sara'a birthday the last of May, I am including her baby picture, with big sister appreciating the seriousness of the occasion. I took the picture in Missoula, Montana, where the family lived for a time in student housing; it has always been a favorite. Anyway, Mandy is a very accomplished young lady, juggling advanced schooling, family, home, and career. She has the help of her husband, John, which helps. Happy birthday, Mandy. And belated happy birthday, Sara. We'll do better in the future. Go to http://johnmandyandmore.blogspot.com/ to see the McNeill children.

Thyme and the Honeybees

It's gratifying to see many honey bees buzzing around the blooming thyme. (I wonder what taste "thyme" honey has?) We hear lots about the disease tht decimates honey bees, so it has been encouraging to see the bees in the orchard, and now the bees that are so busy these days. I find this little guy especially odd. His body is easily discernible, but it looks like his head has a fur coat on???

Yellow Roses are in Bloom

The yellow roses that line the back property line are among the nostalgic flowers of childhood. They have a distinct rose scent, and their vivid yellow cheer brighten these cloudy, rainy days. Can you smell them?

Happy Father's Day, Ron!

Of course, I never knew my husband until he was in his mid-40's, when we met in Washington State, but from the looks of this high school picture, he was a charmer, with a mischevious gleam in his eye. He tried hard to be a good father to his four children, and then became an adopted father to my five. What a job! It's a good thing he has broad shoulders and a big heart!

Grow Old Along With Me...

Julie and Mike gave us this sundial long ago when we lived on Tumwater Hill. We haven't checked the accuracy of it lately - too many gray days. I've even seen the UPS man pause to check the time, and do a little adjusting. Of course, the saying, "Grow old along with me, The best is yet to be" ignores the vicissitudes and trials of the aging bodies that we now possess. Perhaps the poet was speaking of "the best" as being in another realm than the physical one?

I love the bright blue posie that is beginning to thrive in the hanging planter in the same flower bed. I didn't keep the label (ouch), so it will be by guess and by golly to ever find it again. Makes life more of an adventure, don't you think? By the way, cloudy and rainy today, with bursts of sunshine. We've had a Bullock's oriole (bright orange) and some little brownish bird with a tufted topknot in the bushes outside of the office window this morning. They seem to be trying to brighten up our day.

More Spring Posies

Who has not been charmed by violas? The bright little faces, just like pansies, which are larger, bring lots of cheer to the spring (summer, too?) garden. They scatter themselves around the flower beds, coming up in very unexpected places, including cracks in the sidewalk. (You'll incur my ire if you step on that crack!) The first year we lived in Preston, I was in Logan hunting for plants to liven up the flower beds, and picked up a little pot of violas. A lady came up to me to ask my why I wanted to plant them in my garden - she considered them weeds and had just spent time tearing them out of her garden.

These bright coral bells look so fragile, but they are truly long lasting. If you enlarge this picture, you can see the violas hiding behind them.

Flowers for Sunday

These iris are just to add a sparkle to your Sunday.

It's for the Birds...

The old nursery rhyme goes: "A birdie with a yellow bill, hopped upon my windowshill, Cocked his shiny eye and said, 'Ain't you 'shamed, you sleepy head?'" This little finch and his wife are very curious - they love the bush that grows outside our "office" window, and we often have more fun watching them as they check us out. All of the pictures are taken through the screen on the window, as you can see from the first picture. Holding the camera at an angle gives me a clear picture, eliminating the screen effect. After this little fellow paraded for us, he obliged us with a song, and then went back to the nest. This is the first day his mate has not come, so she must be sitting on the nest.

And this persistent robin pair insisted on making a nest on the brick ledge above the patio door. In years past, we have managed to block them, but this year we were too slow, so there she is, guarding her nest very jealously, and dripping straws and dried grass on my planters of impatiens below her. At least this nest will be safe from the marauding magpies - and we may get to see some babies.

The columbine are in full bloom - they look so fragile and fairy-like in the cold, wet weather that we have been (and will be) experiencing. We feel like we are back in Tumwater as we look at gray skies with heavy clouds hanging down, and the occasional rainy periods during the days and nights. There is new snow on the mountains every day; we're just thankful that the cold has not come down another thousand feet. The peas have sprouted (don't they love the cold?), but I've seen nary a bean. Are they just mouldering in the cold, damp ground? Tomato plants are just sitting and glaring at me, insulted to have been taken out of the greenhouse and put in the chilly ground. But the lettuce, chard, beets, and radishes, along with those peas are graciously growing, thanking me for the cooler conditions. (Why don't the potatoes join in the fun? Where are they?) And, of course, the zucchini and cucumbers just ignore all kind of weather, and grow profusely, no matter what. Isn't having a vegetable garden the epitome of gardening? Meaniwhile, the flowers just dance around and do their thing as they are supposed to, no matter what the weather. It frosted rather heavily on the 6th of June last year, and we've passed that date safely, so I think we may be home free. Oh, and I've been on the computer long enough to see that the clouds are clearing in a few places, and here comes the sun! The 60% chance of rain as predicted by the weatherman for the entire week to come still gives us 40% chance of sunshine. Look on the bright side, right?

Full Moon

I didn't check the paper this morning to see if tonight is the full moon, but it was spectacular as it rose through the clouds. Is a full moon magic? The only problem with my camera is that I can't show you the man in the moon. Click on the pictures to enlarge them.

Peonies Take Their Turn

This is the first peony to bloom - the red is really deeper than the photos show, and look particularly dark in the rain this morning. We think we might be transported back to Washington, or even to Ireland. The back 40 (the two extra lots) are green enough for Ireland. We never water them in the summer time, so they turn brown, but right now, we are lush, much to Ron's dismay, because he still has to mow them. There is fresh snow on the mountains this morning. Is spring really here? Or just pretending.

Why are Iris Sometimes Called Flags?

How does one pick a favorite flower? After the fragrant perfume of the lilacs is gone, then comes the totally different, sweet perfume of the iris. And can anyone tell me why iris are called flags?

On the patio table, the dancing frogs are celebrating the beauty of the yellow iris - and yellow is my favorite color. (I think)

Of course, iris comes in different colors - some combinations so utterly unusual and unexpected.

Oh, yes, and the columbine are gracing one of the front flowerbeds, keeping the bleeding heart(s) company. Sweet, sweet spring!

The Deluge

On the same day (and night) that we got such a pounding rain, Smithfield got so much that a manhole colver on main street erupted into a geyser - people's homes were flooded in the basements - one basement full almost to the ceiling. We are grateful that that deluge was a bit lessened when it got to Preston. Phew! Aha! But the radishes and three kinds of lettuce are up and looking very well. Gives me hope for the rest of the garden.

Garden Planted - And Then the Rains Came

After pounding deluges last evening and through the night, clouds still reign in the sky, along with the fog rising from the draw where the Cub River comes down from the mountains to eventually join the Bear. Humidity level is definitely up!

Our garden has shrunk in size and purpose. The beans will grow up the bean pole, and the walls o' water protect the melons - but one decided to die, and I won't take the time to fill it. This will be a (non) scientific experiment to see which watermelon thrives the most, the protected or the unprotected.

Ron kindly built me three boxes so that I could play with the square foot gardening. We always plant way too much in the rows in our gardens of old, so this year, urged on by sister Ann, I've arranged things so that we won't be so innundated. Already the work level is much less stressful (after the boxes were built.) We still have a mountain of wonderful compost - it's been used to help mix the soil for the boxes, boost the soil in the pots and earth boxes around the house, and give the roses, perennials, and annuals in the flower beds a big boost. There is nothing like compost! I took these pictures from the patio this morning - too lazy to get my clogs so that I could walk across the wet grass to the garden. The next ones I take will be when things have grown and look wonderful - hope springs eternal!

What is so rare as a day in June?

The skies have been spectacular, with big thunder clouds looming up, and then disappearing. Imagination runs wild, as pictures in the clouds appear and re-appear. What a lovely time of year!