It's Good to be Home

Tyler caught this picture of me enjoying the greenhouse the other day. Getting those window boxes planted up, I think. At this point, I'm just trying desperately to plant things up and out before they suffocate in their small pots that are so outgrown! Aaaaah!

I wish I could just plant these all together. But some are deer chocolate and need lots of water and part shade, while others are deer-repellant, drought-tolerant and need full sun. Not the best idea to keep them together.
This bed makes me happy, yet again.
Sweet pup Annie, although her adventure while I was in Alaska was not so sweet. She had her third encounter of the SKUNK kind, and the worst yet. Perhaps you can detect the brown sheen over her black coat, caused by the treatment of choice: much baking soda applied directly to skunk-sprayed dog, rinsed down with much hydrogen peroxide. Three times. I kind of like the two-tone look. But I am SO glad that I wasn't here for the event!
Summer sunsets down the valley are a treat to my soul.

And Alaska, the finale

I love weddings. They celebrate beauty.

Plucking petals after the wedding - Laura decided that Rachel should have pot-pourri from the table flowers. It was fun and kept our hands busy for a while.
It was so much fun to be with Jon and Leah. We laughed rather a lot on a sight-seeing trip to Palmer on Sunday afternoon. Nik joined us and laughed a lot too!
I never get accustomed to the mountains on the trip back over Alaska.
They astound me every time.

More of Alaska

Lovely wedding cake, just for Drew and Rachel.

Rachel was such a beautiful bride.
Drew and Priscilla enjoying the reception.
One of the few serious moments, while the best man addressed the happy couple.
You didn't expect her to wear heels, did you?

Pictures from Alaska

The view out the church window where the reception was held. Beautiful. Notice the trees just starting to green up.

Drew's family stayed in this home in Rabbit Creek right over Turnagain Arm and hosted us there twice. The views from their deck were amazing.
I think this may be my favorite picture from the whole trip.
Chris and Katie make very pretty, squishy girls!
Reception tables.

Just a Garden Moment

Five rose bushes thrive within the greenhouse, safe from marauding deer and chilly winds.

This is Gertrude Jekyll, for any of you who know way too much about gardening.

This one is unidentified but quite lovely.
Enormous tubs within which to grow potatoes this year. Harvesting is supposed to be so much easier - just dump and sort!
The new tables, bursting with plants needing attention! Oh dear - for the next two weeks our faithful assistant is on vay-cay, and I will be doing her job - I foresee busy evenings until dark!

Officially Spoiled

The Strawberry Lie - wait - Todd insists he's not lying. He never claimed to be a baker, you see, and somehow that rationalizes his being pies and mine being - well, you know. Anyway, let him have it his way for now, the Fresh Strawberry Pie was delicioso! And I got to choose my favorite pot roast, slow roasted in my antique cast iron Dutch oven - YUM! And smashed taters, and roasted yam bits. And steamed broccoli.

And (but wait, there's more) there were two folding sturdy plastic tables for the greenhouse for holding flats of baby plants, some of which are fairly bursting, and I have seriously lost count of flats. I know, I need to post pictures, and will try to after Alaska and wedding pictures, which will likely take precedence for a bit. Anyway, the tables are already in good use!

Traveling, Hobbit Style

In honor of Mother's Day, I indulged in watched The Fellowship of the Ring, extended version, of course. I had already been thinking of making blog mention of the Traveling Song, since plans would have me in Anchorage by mid-Tuesday night. Here it is, with additional lines from the book:

The Traveling Song

The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,

Pursuing it with weary feet,
Until it joins some larger way,
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say.

OR:

Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say.

Catchy tune in the film. I like it.

Watching the movie reminded me of another time-appropriate quote:

"Remember what Bilbo used to say. 'It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to.'"

Sounds exciting! Except, maybe not to those of you in Arkansas right now.

Happy Mother's Day!

To all you Moms out there (and you know who you are!) - thanks for doing (so well) what you do. What we do makes a difference! Church this morning reminded me of Captivating - I think I should browse through it again.

BTW, Todd decided to even make dessert tonight (usually my domain) and he bought LIES! I'm not complaining - I get fresh strawberry pie (I mean lie) tonight!

Poetry Thursday

Dreams

Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.

Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow

Langston Hughes

Items of Beauty

Michael holding a baby turkey found in the field yesterday, later reunited with its mother.

Amazing camouflage - we almost stepped on three babies.
My beautiful dogwood is starting into bloom!
The turkey feathers were amazing in their color, iridescence and variety.

Todd's First Wild Turkey

He did it! He's a mighty hunter of many things, selectively and legally, but never before a turkey. It's pretty cool that he got a beautiful young male yesterday. For anyone uneasy about shooting wild birds, turkeys are extremely abundant and prolific around our area, even to the point of nuisance.

This beautiful fan tail will be proudly displayed in his office.
Rachel, Todd offered to send the feet to Alaska with me next week so you can make soup and feel as though you were back in Africa! Yum, Yum!
The turkey had the last laugh, even after it had expired!

Strawberry Rhubarb Lies

I asked Todd if "Lie" pie crusts would do if I made Strawberry-Rhubarb pies. He conceded that if he wants pies he had better accept store-bought crusts. This is the first harvest from our thriving rhubarb plant. Not bad!

Had to settle for California strawberries - local berries aren't on yet.
The results, with a Crisp top crust. Pretty good!

Millions of Strawberries

Marcia and I went over the curve,
Eating our way down
Jewels of strawberries we didn't deserve,
Eating our way down.
Til our hands were sticky, and our lips painted,
And over us the hot day fainted,
And we saw snakes,
And got scratched,
And a lust overcame us for the red unmatched
Small buds of berries,
Til we lay down -
Eating our way down -
And rolled in the berries like two little dogs,
Rolled
In the late gold.
And gnats hummed,
And it was cold,
And home we went, home without a berry,
Painted red and brown,
Eating our way down.

by Genevieve Taggard

What all the fuss has been about!

It came in the mail today - my validation as a State Certified Residential Appraiser. This is a pretty big deal, apparently. I'm thankful to have it.

My "snow peas" - thriving despite their real snow cap a few weeks ago.
So glad my koi are warmer and therefore are more active and I can feed them again - more fun!
The spring beds are making me so happy!
The spring garden phlox is worth its prickliness the rest of the year.