Saturday, June 30, 2012

SOME OF THIS, SOME OF THAT

OK, I DISAPPEARED... well, sort of. I have been so busy I have had lists of my lists of things to do. And I also had a major Lymes flair up that seriously slowed me down and made getting things done a hundred times harder. It is scary when the Babesia in my chest gets active. It is hard to tell if I am having a heart attack or it is "just Lymes." The symptoms are so similiar. Add fear to pain and not much gets done. OK, I read a couple books, something I seldom have time to do anymore. But, I am back on my feet, more or less... You can see some of what I have been up to at the other blog- http://onley-spots.blogspot.com/. Tho I must confess, I have not done much there lately... the body has not been cooperating, and then there is the problem with the heat. I do not do well in serious heat and humidity. I tend to pass out. So, last week while the guys labored in the heat, I sat with my camera and encouraging words and felt awful. I hate to not be productive, and my plans for all the work I needed to get done before this heat set in... well, I just get real mad at myself.
Then on June 16th, I was the "official" (!!!) photographer for our Shore's annual Juneteenth celebration. You history buffs know what that is, I am sure, but did you know that our county, Accomack, is actually mentioned by name in the Emancipation Proclamation? Unh huh.. Sure is. I will not bore you with all the pictures of the politicians and dignitaries, I will spare you all the entertainment shots, but will post Black Elvis upon request! However, I did get a few shots for my own amusement. I will share my kid fix shot for the day. They were dancing up a storm, these two, much to the entertainment of the assembled crowd. Ah, wouldst I could have a bit of that energy and pure joy!!!
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the lilies decided to put on a show. This, a new one, is in front of the St John's Wort. The older lilies have been spectacular this year. Here are just a few of them. I really like what my aunt called 'funny faces' - deep color contrast lilies. This is my version of Happy Happy - and as close as I will ever get to owning one. Look it up, see what Happy Happy costs! In the rest of the yard there is an assortment of color run riot... blue, purple and orange! The window boxes are mostly deep reds and pinks.. And some unusual combinations seem to happen like Russian Blue Sage and gladiolas growing next to each other, and the phlox and coleus out by St Francis. I just thought I would share my garden with you. It has given me so much joy even when I can't be out in the midst of it. For those of you who get my Musings, those are faded prayer flags in the upper left corner. Thanks for stopping by! Next cool day, if you are in the neighborhood, come sit in one of the Adirondacks, have a glass of iced tea, and visit. Punkie will join us, I am sure. He LOVES company.

Saturday, June 23, 2012

TICK WARNING







Ticks are out early this year as are fleas! I even heard that ticks have been found all the way up in Ontario! (Thanks Philip!)




Send this warning to everyone on your e- mail list.





If someone comes to your front door saying they are checking for ticks due to the warm weather and asks you to take your clothes off and dance around with your arms up,

DO NOT DO IT!!


THIS IS A SCAM!


They only want to see you naked.


I wish I'd gotten this yesterday… I feel so stupid

Thursday, June 21, 2012

SHARING A SMILE



I am in a lot of pain this morning... so I needed to start my day off with a smile. A smile shared is a smile doubled... I hope this gives you a smile too.

I would give credit to the singer(s) or even the photographer, but I know not who they are. This was one of many shots a friend sent... I just had to share it.

Monday, June 11, 2012

Sunday, June 03, 2012

And the ANSWER IS......

DRUMROLL? What? No drums this morning? Rats! OK, previous post (PROMISES) answers... THE PROMISES of: 1 tomatoes (duh), 2. zucchini, 3. onions and potatoes growing in bags, 4. yellow wax beans. 5. yellow squash. In the flower department: 1. St John's Wort! (didja get that one?) 2. a new Calla Lily. Is that spectacular or what?

We had a serious soaker rain ... 2.32 inches. It was great, the earth really soaked it up, plants are happy... so I went out with the camera hoping to capture the freshness of the morning, the rain on everything... and I found a few new blooms this morning. First, my favorite, Peace.

Someone gave me these lilies last year, this is their first year blooming. Someone asked about my blueberries, but the focus on the camera kept getting confused even on manual, sorry. Should have taken the picture before I picked 'em! (duh) The Caladium suddenly popped thru the ground - SURPRISE! I am excited about them, haven't had them in years. The magnolia is still going strong.


Usually I show the Buddhas when they are surrounded by flowers, but I also enjoy their simplicity when all is just green around them. They are a wonderful reminder to me when I start my day to think Peace, Compassion, Do NO Harm. I look longingly at the Adirondacks on the patio, inviting me to dry them off and have a sit down, I smile at all the color that surrounds me, grateful That I can see it all, enjoy it all, live in a space where it can thrive... and I see next to it all, the wheelbarrow, and realize it is time to get back to work. Yeah, it is a place of Serenity and Peace, a yard where the Buddha is comfortable with St Francis, both reminding me to love all creatures... and I am grateful I love working in this space, grateful I am able to keep it going, grateful that I WANT to stay busy and find peace in this busy-ness. I share these pictures as a way of sharing my gratitude with others. I wish Peace to you all. Come by, I will dry off a chair for you - or chase a little cat. Sit and enjoy the Peace of my Garden.

Friday, June 01, 2012

PROMISES

AS I WALKED thru the garden this morning with my basket filled with the last of this year's peas (already???) and blueberries, I noticed the progress the other veggies were making. For one thing, the tomato plants were at eye level. So lets have a little guessing game, see what good gardeners you are...Answers tomorrow (if I remember it!) OK, we will start with an easy one....1. 2. 3. 4. 5.. I also saw the strawberries were not finished yet. There are also some exciting new happenings in the flower department - do you know what they are? 1. 2. Yesterday was a day of serious trimming. The redbud was hitting the roof, so I took my mighty 8 foot chain saw and added the middle 4 foot extension. I am so proud of myself... the cuts were perhaps a bit sloppy, but I did all of this myself except for one branch I Tom Sawyered out to a friend who just happened to pull in my driveway to ask a favor. (That'll teach him! LOL!) Actually, the mighty little saw impressed him. The part of the tree on the right was butchered by the power company. Maybe the redbud grew faster toward the house to compensate. I don't know. Sadly, I had to also remove a very large Althea (Rose of Sharon) that somehow just died over the winter. I have waited and waited, but, nothing, and all the others have been in full leaf for over a month. sigh. A friend just read this over my shoulder and said maybe I needed to include the term "Tom Sawyered out" to my quiz.
Ah, the wind has come up, the temps are dropping. I am grateful for the temps coming back down into the 70s. More rain, perhaps? Another day that I will not have to drag the hoses around the yard? I can handle that. I like a good breeze; keeps the mosquitoes away. They have started biting. I used to complain about that until someone told me how bad they were in Alaska in the summer time. Hard to imagine!