mourning for my flowers

Ah me............I have just spent the entire morning in our front yard. The glories of the spring and early summer are gone and I'm left with ripened daffodils, bleeding hearts that are definite eye-sores at this point and peonies that are also showing the effects of heat and leaf-cutter bees. In short.........the beauty of my front yard is gone, gone, gone............. I've been digging out weeds that should have been pulled weeks ago and trying to save the climbing roses from the aphids. We'll just have to wait and see how successful I have been. Thank goodness the vegetable garden is doing well. We even have a couple of almost red tomatoes! Now that's something to shout about!! But I definitely need some late summer and fall flowers for my front yard. I've thought I would move a couple of mums from the back to the front. I think I could plant them very close to some tulips or daffodils. Do you think the bulbs would be all done by the time the mum was large enough to compete for air space? At any rate, I'm going to go shower and worry about all that tomorrow.............and no..........I'm not going to share any pictures. This is something I will leave to your imagination.....it's bad...........

garlic anyone?????

Yeah..........we are over the top. But that's kind of what happens when you have an interest in something and you are trying to learn about it..........you experiment, right??? Richard decided last fall he wanted to learn about and grow some garlic. He ordered a book--yes, a whole book to read about growing, harvesting and using garlic. He planted it (the garlic, not the book) and marked it last fall. People were so impressed early this spring because we had such large "onions" already. I think they were less impressed when we told them it was garlic. And we have had lots of jokes about breath and losing friends............ahhhh, the price of fame........ So Richard finished reading the book the other day and declared that it was time to harvest the garlic. AND WHAT A SURPRISE!!!!!! We have a couple HUNDRED garlic bulbs!!!! I'm not kidding!!! The pictures will speak for themselves. Any ideas on how to use this much garlic?? Anyone want some??? I told Richard we could have garlic mashed potatoes every day............he doesn't even like garlic mashed potatoes!!! I think he has the idea that if he will grow it I will use it..................sometimes I wonder............




We thought it looked like a little man with a mop on his head...........

Richard rigged up this "rack" to dry them on in our root cellar. Those bee boxes (supers) come in handy for all kinds of things..........

my corner of heaven

I grew up in a corner of heaven. And lest you disbelieve me....I offer you this pictorial......... Maybe you too can feel the peace that is ever-present...........

I started my ramble as I ever do headed toward my Grandmother's house. The hay, newly mown, only added to the magic...........

Maybe you've heard the song, "My Grandmother's Old Fashioned Garden"........this is part of all that's left of my Grandmother's garden..........I can almost see her there with the lilacs, the tulips, the bridal wreath, the pansies and lily of the valley, and the glorious red peonies........... I have heard somewhere that odor is one of the most powerful triggers of memory. The scent of these roses made me ten again.....wandering safely in the places that I love...........

These are actually some of Mother's roses....aren't they beautiful?

There is clover..............and then there is clover..............(and timothy)

It was that perfect time of day............maybe you've heard another song with these words, "the evening sky, the setting sun, turn the lakes, deep blue, to gold"........well instead of deep blue lakes, I had deep green meadows--all enhanced with that golden glow............

I wandered in the silence of the meadows.........which is not really silence...........but I'm going to stop "talking"............

It was time to head home...........

...........but my reservoir was not full, so I wandered off again early the next morning........before sunrise...........this time I also had a few snipes to keep me company. Yes, there really is such a bird--I'm going to have dozens of them for friends in my perfect world, just so I can listen to them.

These are what we used to call "bumble bee flowers"........I have always loved them..........

And then! as I turned back........I found this patch of jewels. I'm afraid my picture does not do it justice...........



Have you ever played on the "bumps"??? And to find one with a cow trail through it!!!! We used those bumps while I was growing up. We got pretty good at walking on them to stay out of the mud............these just happen to be dry right now............

And speaking of cow trails..............I could never understand how they could be so narrow!!!! They were never wide enough for me and I know my hips are NOT AS WIDE AS A COW'S!!!!!!


I ended where I began.........looking back, but also looking forward........with faith and trust.....with a reassurance that there are sure and stable things in this world and with the absolute knowledge that my Father in Heaven loves me and had created this little "corner of heaven" for me............and maybe just because He loves me............and knew I would need it.

July 4th--for real

I said I had spent the week finishing a blessing dress for Beni..........and it took a good part of my time. I was hoping to have it finished so Candi could take it with her the night of the 3rd--but I didn't............however..........I had it done--slip and all!!!! before midnight!!!!! This is the first time I haven't been up most of the night before such a day. Definitely a step in the right direction!! I was really pleased with the dress............

Isn't she beautiful??

And here is the whole sweet, wonderful family. Needless to say, I'm proud of them!!

It's been a whirlwind few weeks. Full of all the kinds of things that are most important. Sometimes exhausting, but worth the effort. I have to be one of the most blessed women in all the world!! I hope I am grateful enough............

July 4th Celebration--July 3rd

I spent the week following our reunion sewing a dress for our sweet, new little granddaughter. Her blessing day was scheduled for July 4!!!

Our town celebrated the birth of our country on the 3rd. We traditionally have a breakfast that is totally not good for us: pancakes, bacon, sausage, orange juice........well, I guess not totally.........so we started with our traditional breakfast.........the parade on Main Street starts at 9:30 with an Air Force "fly over" about 9:25. I missed it this year!!! But because I have some good pictures from years past..........



In my defense, they were early this year!!!! And they made only one pass. Usually they fly kind of down Main Street from east to west, make a big circle out over the west desert and come back. I'm never ready of the first pass..........they go fast!!!

And then we watched the parade.............a few floats, 8-10 old tractors, all the fire engines out of the station, a dozen horses, the high school football team, the dance team, the cheerleaders, the souped up cars all ready for the demolition derby that night, and the best part!!!! THE BAND!!!! And this year they played "Stars and Stripes Forever"!!!!!

...no, it's not a big band...

...and yes, this is our Daniel!

The little boys in the red and blue baseball caps are waiting for more candy. That's why we go to parades on July 4th, isn't it? for the candy??

and here's Lisa with "little brother"....he is still learning the art....

This is our family--just after the parade.......so I missed some........ We had a great time!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! AMERICA!!!!!