The Years To Remember

 After getting home from Cape Cod, I took a nice long walk the next morning and noticed two geese saying hello to a heron. I indulged a bit on vacation so a 5 mile walk was needed. Water birds on the pond. Later in the evening I met a group of ladies at the Tree House Brewing Company to discuss ski travel next winter. I knew 3 of the women, but there were 4 others I was meeting for the first time. I just listened as they discussed possible plans, but ultimately decided not to travel with them. I am picky about who I travel with and there were just too many unknown factors, plus one ski trip to colder climates will be enough for me. You can tell by the sky it's been cloudy and rainy and chilly! The brewery is huge, with seating both indoors and out for hundreds of people. We enjoyed cocktails and pizza. The next day I met with Geri and Peggy, who I'm going to Norway with in March, to finalize our plans. We booked hotels and airfare for most of the trip. They are coming to my hou...

 I spent a few days in the garden planting, admiring, and planning new flower displays. I have four different azaleas and they are blooming well. My favorite. I transplanted it last year into a better location and it's doing much better now. A very showy flower. These white blooms are another favorite - I have planted several of these. These came with the house so I had no say in the matter, but they are reliable! The weather took a turn as a few stormy systems passed through bringing high winds, rain, and just unsettled weather. I could mostly work through it as I alternated indoor and outdoor work in concert with the storms. The clouds have been pretty dramatic, from puffy, white, towering cumulous... ...to lowering banks of roiling clouds. This combination of  low, dark rain clouds overhead with sun streaming in from behind was surreal. The flowers seem pretty happy with the combination of sun and rain. On Sunday I packed up and headed to Cape Cod for a few days of fun and ...

 Mother's Day was a perfect gardening day. Sunny and 65 degrees with no humidity. I went to the garden center and picked up some lantana, verbena, and coleus for my large pots. While potting them up, I kept looking at the massive boulder that was left on the lawn after the construction last year. I've been waiting for Wayne to return to place it in a garden bed, but I just couldn't wait any longer.  The boulder - I wanted it placed on its flat end in the gravel bed. I've tried to roll it several times, but the thing wouldn't budge having sunk into the lawn a bit. I taught about simple machines and friction  for 30 years, so I know a thing or two. I got out an old shovel and pike my father gave me 30 yrs ago, and set to work levering and placing rocks under the boulder. I wish I had more hands, but I just put my feet to work too. It took awhile to get enough rocks under it, but I was fully invested in the process. Less friction on the rocks meant I could pivot and sl...

This garter was digesting a meal in the back yard a few days ago. Hopefully it was a rodent. Thursday started off with a bike ride on the Helderberg trail with SueEllen, Charlene and Ernie. We got rained on a little bit, and decided to stop at Brewtus Coffee shop for a cup and a chat. It was so decadent to be enjoying such a day with friends.  Our little coffee break tablescape.  After the ride, an errand to buy spa supplies just happened to bring me past the Pine Bush where I hiked Tuesday so I couldn't resist going in for a quick ( half hour, at most) look at those wildflowers. I thought I could do a run/walk precisely to the patch. After a mile of that, my knee reminded me why I gave up running ten years ago. I eventually found them at the 2 mile mark and they are Lady Slippers! On my way back to the car, at 2:30 pm, my stomach reminded me that I hadn't eaten anything since breakfast. I stash energy bars in my car, but hadn't thought to bring them with me - or water for ...

What a wet week it's been. I have lost track, but I think it has rained for four days in a row. I don't know how many inches fell, but the only part of the lawn that wasn't a swamp was the sloped section behind the wall. I managed to get out before dark and get that section mowed. I've taken a walk each day, with an umbrella which I have never needed before this week. At least we aren't in a drought anymore. I watched the birds from my deck hunting for food including this Eastern Bluebird, our state bird.   Tuesday I checked the radar and there was a 2-3 hour window between storms. I shot over to the Pine Bush as the only place guaranteed to be dry (it's dune sand) and had a 4.5 mile nature walk. I took my 35 mm camera in case I found anything worth a shot. It turned out to be only a 1.5 hour window because I got rained on for the last couple of miles. The path through the woods looks quite boring until you take a closer look at things. The lupines have just sta...