Picture of "The Committee"

Even though this is not a very good picture of this picture we have hanging in the "study" or whatever one calls the place where we do computer work, etc., it tells a true story.  Ron picked this picture up from the Bellevue Arts & Crafts Festival many years ago.  I did some colored pencil work on it before I framed it, just to add a little bit to it.  I loved the title - Serving on a committee usually involves many people who think they are wise, and these owls all look like a group of recalcitrant people who will find it very difficult to quickly come to the decisions that a committee requires.

A Posy for the Day

When all else fails on my resolve to put one interesting thing on the blog each day, just fall back on a posy picture.  The geum, which blooms freely, and then has to be cut back, is always an airy addition to the flower beds.  Like the violas, it travels about freely, springing up in unlikely places.  I like that - it saves me lots of work.

Help for Vertigo Sufferers - or Judy, the Therapist

I have flirted with vertigo for the last 15 years.  Sometimes an incident strikes hard, and then I quickly recover, but sometimes, the unsettling nuisance is here to stay.  My doctor prescribed meclazine, but that leaves me so sleepy and drained, and doesn't always do the job - besides, now you get it over the counter as an ingredient in a motion-sickness pill.  One huge advantage to our sibling network is that someone else at some time has had the same malady, and has some advice to offer.  The sheet above (be sure to enlarge it) gave me information about a great exercise that is a challenge to do if you're in the middle of an attack.  It does seem to calm down all of those little white crystals that float around in the inner ear and cause such discombobulation.  I know that there are certain techniques that qualified doctors can do, particularly the Eply maneuver, but so far, this exercise seems to get me out of the most severe problem.  Back to the exercises!

Julia's Pencil Box

This little quilt is actually a block from a quilt that was designed by the owners of our local quilt shop, Suppose, last year when they were featured in American Patchwork Quilting magazine.  Julie was here last summer and purchased the kit to make this quilt, but she was so busy that she didn't get it done.  I was happy to make it for her - the process was fun, and the results pleasing.  One more project done satisfactorily.

Location Where History Took Place

I recently read an article about blogging, and the suggestion was to take one interesting picture every day, post it and write something about it.  Sounded like a good idea.  I took this less-than spectacular shot on the way to Idaho Falls on Wednesday.  This place is about 18 miles north of Preston, just past Swan Lake.  The significance of this place is that this is where Lake Bonneville broke through and rushed on to Snake River.  As you drive up the valley from Salt Lake, and again from Logan to Preston, you can see the line part-way up on the foothills where the lake had risen to.  Look for it when you drive by.  This monument at the top of the steps tells more about this momentous happening.  Being in the way of the great rush of water that occurred would have been very dangerous!

p.s.  Louise left a comment, and I accidentally put it into Penrose Mornings - which I now can't eliminate.  However, here it is:  "I have always been intrigued with the immensity that Lake Bonneville must have been. I would get my 4th graders to try to picture it. I like your picture, I don't believe I had known about the monument. thank you for in informative little tid-bit. great idea."

We Go to Idaho Falls for the After-Graduation Day

 Bethany and Benjamin - in Denton and Taylor's apartment.

 Sonja, who has risen to the occasion with every new challenge that comes her way.  Her children still go to her for advice - experience is the best teacher, and sometimes someone who has been there helps us avoid some mistakes.

 Denton and Taylor - the new graduates.  Taylor still will do her student teaching in the fall at Ammon, just a little south of Idaho Falls.  Denton began work today at his new job in Idaho Falls.  Big steps for these kids who are really no longer kids!  Congratulations!

Bethany - the chic college co-ed.  She is working this summer for the college at maintenance - earning some money will help school ambitions.  Fun and talented young woman.

Seeing grandchildren grow and become independent is very satisfying.  It is refreshing to be around these grandchildren,  who are going ahead with their lives with great optimism in the future.  We had a delightful day with them and their mother and younger brother.

A Soft Baby Quilt

Our family had it's own royal baby - a little boy born to granddaughter Sara and Phillip.  (See earlier posting of the baby.)  They did choose a name right away - Jet Andrew - which is a little different.  Anyway, every new baby needs a soft quilt, and I'm down to making simple ones these days.  When I wanted to make quilts for Dorothy and Sara many, many years ago, I consulted my mother, and she told me to cut 6" squares and lay them in a straight furrows design (diagonal), layer with backing, batting, and top and tie them, which I did.  This baby quilt isn't much different, except I did secure the sandwich with machine stitching, which you can see in the detail.  Now, it's on it's way to Arizona.

Hummers

Every year, I plant a cherry tomato plant in the Earth Box on the back patio, using a strong metal spiral to tie the plant to, to keep it from being unruly.  This year, I neglected to keep up with the fast-growing plant, so the top of the spiral is now a free perch.  The little red-headed finches come to perch on it to swing down to the bird bath which is next to the box for a drink or a swish .  Now, this pair of hummingbirds have taken over.  Ron wanted to have a feeder this year, so we researched on the internet and found the best way to do that for the welfare of the little warriors.  So far, we've had this pair - one has a bright red head, which does not show up in the shade.  We delight in watching their antics.  My only safe post is just inside the window that faces this scene.  Now I wish I had a better telescoping lens - but this will do for now.

Time for the Tall Lilies to Bloom

Every year for the gardener seems to be unique, and this one is no exception.  We had an especially harsh winter, which melted into a very short spring.  Then we had some summer hot days, and went back to cold spring days and nights.  As a result, the beautiful lilies got bortrytis blight, and everything i did couldn't get rid of it.  I'll let the flowers that are coming bloom, and then cut and destroy at least half of the stalks now, and the rest in the fall, and hope for more salubriuous conditions next year.  These lilies are about 6' high this year (the newer ones are shorter), and they perfume the air all around them.  We are very fortunate to have them to brighten our days.

Little Miracles Do Happen

Years ago, we were in Florida, and I remember seeing amarillys planted in the ground, and blooming beautifully.  Mother loved them, and would carefully nurse her bulbs so that they would re-bloom every year.  The blooms are spectacular, and never resort to anything less than a display that inspires awe at the beauty of their creation.  Over the years, I have purchased bulbs or had them given to us, and enjoyed the blooms, summering the plants over on the back patio, and then putting them into a dark, dry retirement as instructed.  The only result was that they grew more leaves when the bulbs became active again.  Not this time, however.  Year before last, two pots with bulbs and leaves got put into the garage in a rather secluded place, and they were forgotten.  Since last year was not the best year, I never even thought of them.  However, Ron got them out a couple of weeks ago, and lo, and behold, some leaves were beginning to come.  Same old story?  Lots of leaves, no flowers?  I actually got a little ambitious and re-potted the bulbs, and here is the miracle.  Two blossoms on the lighter-flowered plant, and four blossoms coming on the darker flower.  And I don't care if it's Christmas or not - just to have the beautiful show is a real treat.

Celebrate the Fourth of July today!

Again, we have two flags in the yard - the one that Ron usually flies, and the one that the Scouts planted at about 6am.  This flag is last year's picture - with our neighbor's home in the background.  After the month of June when we enduring unremitting strong winds, the wind has abated with this incredible heat we're having.  Somehow a limp flag does not seem as appealing as one that is animated by a little wind.  What a reminder of our nation's birth and the people who gave their lives in one way or another to see it survive.  Thank you to the inspired people who worked so hard to give us our freedoms.