A STORY FOR JOHN

I can never forget December 7th for many reasons, but this story is the best. One time when we were stationed in Hawaii in 1967, I put the kids in daycare, and took a water taxi over to Ford Island for my hula lesson at the Officer's Club. From the water taxi, I had to take a bus to the O Club, but somehow I got off at the wrong stop. When I got off I started walking. It was DEAD SILENT. Not a sound. It immediately freaked me out. I realized I was in Navy housing, but there was no one around, and nothing was moving. I could see the water between the houses, and eventually could see the Arizona Monument up close. Nothing was moving there either; no boats or people. It seemed as though I had the whole island to myself, or was in some kind of time warp, or was having an out of body experience. I came to a little park between the houses that looked right out on the Arizona, and just stood, stared, and watched. Soon another bus came by, so I caught it, and went on to the O Club. There was no one on the bus other than the silent driver, and it suddenly dawned on me that it was Dec. 7th, Pearl Harbor Day. Perhaps I was in the Twilight Zone.

BEAUTIFUL DECK, CHRIS! NICE JOB!

GOT CARROTS?

EDITH ANN AND A RACCOON FRIEND -

MEET EDITH ANN - SHE IS A HOOT, LIKE HER NAMESAKE, LILY TOMLIN - HERE SHE IS SINGING SOME CHRISTMAS SONGS WITH ELMO - THIS LITTLE CRADLE THAT THEY ARE IN IS NEXT TO MY COMPUTER, AND WHERE EDITH ANN HANGS OUT - THE CRADLE IS SOMETHING I PICKED UP IN HONG KONG IN 1972 - WE WERE LIVING ON OKINAWA AT THE TIME, AND MANY OF MY NAVY WIFE FRIENDS AND I FLEW TO HONG KONG TO MEET OUT HUSBAND'S SHIP, THE USS BLUE RIDGE, WHICH WAS THE FLAGSHIP OF THE 7TH FLEET - WHATEVER WE BOUGHT WHILE ON THE TRIP COULD STAY ON THE SHIP UNTIL IT RETURNED TO ITS HOME PORT; WHITE BEACH, OKINAWA, WHICH WAS SWEET! - BUT I REGRESS - BACK TO NOW -

I USUALLY HAVE ALL MY CATS IN BY DARK, BUT ONE NIGHT LAST WEEK, EDITH ANN WOULDN'T COME IN - SO, OF COURSE, AT 3:00 AM SHE'S CRYING AT MY BEDROOM SLIDING GLASS DOOR - WHEN I OPENED IT UP, THERE SHE IS WITH A LITTLE RACCOON FRIEND STARING UP AT ME - NEITHER OF THEM SEEMED TO THINK ANYTHING WAS STRANGE, BUT ONLY EDITH ANN CAME INSIDE, BELIEVE ME - HER FRIEND JUST STAYED PUT, LOOKING PERPLEXED AS IF I WAS SUPPOSED TO LET IT IN -

I WONDER IF IT'S THE ONE WHO KNOWS HOW TO DRAIN MY HUMMINGBIRD FEEDER BY PULLING IT UP WITH ITS HUMAN-LIKE HANDS FROM THE RAFTER ABOVE AND TIPPING IT UP LIKE A BEER!

THANKS, DIXIE!

IT'S MINE!

NO, IT'S MINE!

A TRUE THANKSGIVING TO ALL!

BLESSINGS

BLOSSOM AND PADDINGTON

HALO OVER THE RESORT!

MARY'S APPLES

BRIDAL VEIL FALLS - 10-26-09

BRIDAL VEIL FALLS - 10-28-09

FALL TRIPS TO YOSEMITE

THE MERCED

HALF DOME

THIS AREA WAS SEVERLY BURNED IN THE 1990 FIRES WHEN I WAS WORKING AT WAWONA - THIS IS THE DOGWOOD THAT HAS GROWN BACK, TAKEN IN 2007 -

DO YOU SEE EL CAP'S HEART!

GOOD CRESTED JAY WATCHING AT THE WOOD'S HOUSE!

NEW FRIENDS- THE WOODS - CLASS OF '42, VENTURA HIGH - MET THEM IN THE MARKET THIS YEAR AT THE RESORT!

OLD FRIENDS - SANDY AND DARRYL - AT THE NARROW GAUGE RESTAUARANT - MY FAVORITE PLACE IN THE WORLD -

70TH PORTRAIT - DILLON, ERIKA AND I ! DARLINGS!

SISTERHOOD SEPTEMBER 2009

CREEPER 2009

CREEPER 2009

CREEPER 2009

can you see the hail inside the rose petal?

HAIL TO MY LAST ROSE OF THE SEASON

HAPPY 65TH BIRTHDAY TO OUR FAVORITE BEAR!

WE LOVE YOU, SMOKEY!

ERIKA - AGE 10 - AUGUST 2009

SUMMER OF MY 70TH

It's a Sunday morning here at the lake, and the only sounds I can hear are the hummingbirds - gaggles of them - as though they are fueling-up for their migration. (only that is still a month away. ) The dogs are running around as if to say that it's time for their walk. Today, as usual on Sundays', I automatically woke up at 5:50 AM, in time to turn on KNX-LA and hear the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Today they sang, "This Is My Father's World", and a few weeks ago they sang, "For The Beauty of the Earth", both very appropriate songs for my little corner of the world. They were my Mother's favorites also.

The "birthday excitement" is over. As I suspected, it came and went in the blink of an eye! But what fun to be with my beloveds' one and all! I think we grew web feet in the lake; and very wrinkled hands every day! Not to mention, good upper body work-outs with the kayaks and swimming! If one has to turn 70, what a way to go!!!!!!!

Here are some perfect words on the thought, as written by Judith Viorst:

AT SEVENTY

Instead of "old",

Let us consider

"Older,"

Or maybe "oldish,"

Or something, anything,

That isn't always dressed

In sensible shoes

And fading uncerwear.

Besides which,

Seventy isn't old.

Ninety is old,

And though eighty

Is probably old,

We needn't decide that

Until we get there.

In the meantime

Let us consider

Drinking wine,

Making love,

Laughing hard,

Caring hard,

And learning a new trick or two

As part of our job description

At seventy.

FROM, "I'M TOO YOUNG TO BE SEVENTY and Other Delusions," by Judith Viorst

Falls Beach, Bass Lake

70th birthday fun at Falls Beach, Bass Lake, Ca

HI, MASHIE!

LET THE FUN BEGIN!

Kecia and Dillon are on a flight from New Jersey as I speak. Haven't seen them in 2 years. They used to come here to the lake every year, and are so looking forward to being here again. My big 70 is August 1st, with Kim and family coming in on Thursday, and others coming in on Friday and throughout the weekend. Such excitement! Sadly, Tucker is not able to come, but is in the trusting care of his Dad, Jeff. We will miss them terribly.

"JACKIE"

Being a Navy Wife for almost 30 years, and traveling the roads I have traveled, I seldom ever met anyone as devine as my friend of 22 years, Jackie. When I moved back to Ferndale in 1987, I was blessed to move in to a rental house right next door to her lovely little home, hidden behind a Deadore tree, which was designed and built by her. It was Devine Intervention at its best!

Jackie passed over to the other side yesterday, and my only comfort in this is that she is in a beautiful place vs. her last few years of struggling with cancer. The best thing of all is that she is once again with her beloved dog, Poppy, and I would just bet that Muppet was there to greet her also. (This picture is her favorite picture, taken in Ferndale in 2007, when I stopped to visit her on my way to Oregon.)

Last year Jackie sent me some feverfew seeds. She had some too, while living in Laguna Beach, and we both planted and nurtured the seeds, which never came up. So during our heavy rains and snows here this last winter, the seeds apparently were shifted to various other places in my garden, and low and behold, I now have feverfew everywhere. I love how the Universe works in mysterious ways. Until we meet again, Jackie. I love you!

A FOLLOW-UP ON PREVIOUS BLOG OF JULY 2ND

HUMMINGBIRD LOVERS, BEWARE!

Everyone who hangs a hummingbird feeder under an eave or in a tree does so with the best of intentions. But it''s not enough just to want to feed hummingbirds. If the feeder in not kept clean, it can give its visitors a deadly fungal infection. In fact, your feeder should clean enough for you to drink out of. Most, of course, are not, which is why some licensed himmingbird rehabilitators estimate that at least 10 percent of the birds they see are ones with fungal infections from dirty feeders.

In its fnal stages, the infection, a painful condition call candidiasis, causes the bird's tongue to swell, making it inpossible for it to eat. Worse, the disease is passed from mother to offspring. To prevent this from happening, wash the feeder with hot water every two to three days. Make sure all inside surfaces are clean. You've waited too long to clean your feeder if the water is cloudy or if black mold has formed on the glass.

Follow these additional safety tips:

Use a solution of 1 part white sugar to 4 parts water in the feeder. (Avoid red dye, commercial hummingbird food, artificial sweeteners, and honey.) Bring the water and sugar solition to a boil for 10 minutes, then cool it before filling the feeder. Store extra sugar water in the refrigerator, and use it the next time you clean and fill the feeder, however, you need to check it again for mold that may have formed if left in the fridge too long. Hang the feeder in a shady place where the feeder does not get yukky, and in a place where the birds are safe from cats. If ants are a problem, apply pretoleum jelly or vicks to the hook attachment, but this does not work well in HOT weather, so improvise by using a heavy stream of water on them, or whatever works for you.

My friend, Nancy!

I just had the nicest call from my dear friend, Nancy, from Ferndale. What a delightful chat! I feel that we have once again been blessed with the charming presence of our darling mutual friend, Jackie. Thank you again, Nancy. (These are your sweetpeas!)

A VISIT FROM MUPPET

Muppet came to me in a dream a couple of nights ago. It was one of the first times where it was very evident that I had received a message from her. When I had to put her down a year ago, I asked her to come to me when she could. The only other time that I remember that happening was when I dreamed that I woke up and she was on the floor by my bed.

My dreams are NEVER in any recognizable place. But in this dream, I was surprised and delighted that she was alive again, and we were driving in a car on a small road. I was experiencing dream paralysis which is familiar to me. I couldn't get the car stopped, so she junped out and ran off. (which is something she never did) I finally got the brakes to work, and stopped in someone's driveway, and started running and calling for her. I ran up a hill, and at the top, I came upon the most beautiful valley. I saw 2 geese playing with each other, but frozen in mid-air, and saw Muppet playing with some animals near by - sheep I think.

Then she ran over to an enclosed area about 10 feet in diameter, raised up about 8 feet. It was full of soft mud or sand, and she jumped in. I was trying to do my best to crawl up to help get her out, but she was sinking. By the time I got to her, the only part of her that was showing was her nose, and then she sunk out of sight. I got in and tried to dig down to get her, but there was nothing there, and the sand/gunk was swirling around like a slow tornado, but it didn't engulf me.

Seldom do dreams stay with me, but this one did, and I did a lot of thinking about it. I decided that perhaps she came to show me a little bit of her heaven, and wanted to relate to me what it would be like when I join her!

I WILL DARKEN THE FOLLOWING NEWSPAPER ARTICLE IN NEXT POST -

HUMMINGBIRD LOVERS BEWARE!

WHEN I WORKED AT A NURSERY IN GREENSBORO MANY YEARS AGO, WE HAD A HANDOUT FOR OUR PATRONS WHO BOUGHT HUMMINGBIRD FEEDERS. THIS INFORMATION WAS ON IT. WE TOLD THEM THAT MAINTAINING A FEEDER COMES WITH A RESPONSIBILITY, AND THEY NEED TO FOLLOW AN OATH THAT SAYS, "THOU SHALT NOT INTENTIONALLY KILL HUMMINGBIRDS!" I ALSO TOOK CLASSES AT A WILDLIFE REHAB CENTER THERE, AND LEARNED THE SAME THING.

THE AREA WHERE I LIVE NOW ON THE WEST COAST IS A FLY ZONE FOR HUMMERS, AND THERE ARE A LOT OF FEEDERS OUT, HOWEVER, WHEN I WALK, I OFTEN SEE BLACK, MOLDY FEEDERS THAT ARE NEVER PROPERLY TAKEN CARE OF, AND THEY ARE USING THE STORE BOUGHT SUGAR MIXTURE WITH RED DYE AND NASTY SUGAR. THE STUFF IS ABSOLUTE GARBAGE! I WOULD BET THAT THE JUNK IS MADE IN CHINA TOO.

IN SUMMER WHEN THERE ARE A LOT OF FLOWERS, IT IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT NOT TO USE THE STORE BOUGHT JUNK, AS THEY GET THE NECTAR THAT IS MEANT FOR THEM, HOWEVER, ON VERY HOT DAYS, THE LITTLE GUYS NEED AN EXTRA BOOST AT THE END OF THEIR DAYS FOR FORTITUDE. THEY MUST FILL UP THEIR TINY BODIES WITH MANY TIMES THEIR BODY WEIGHT JUST TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE NIGHT, BEFORE THE CYCLE STARTS ALL OVER AGAIN VERY EARLY THE NEXT MORNING. THAT IS THE TIME WHEN THEY NEED THE HOMEMADE MIXTURE. I HAVE MANY ANNA'S WHO WINTER OVER WITH ME EVERY YEAR, SO I HAVE TO MAKE THE MIXTURE ALL YEAR LONG!

THERE'S A REASON WHY YOU SHOULD BOIL THE SUGAR WATER, BECAUSE SUGAR HAS IMPURITIES! ACTUALLY, IT'S NOT GOOD FOR US, SO I'VE ALWAYS WONDERED HOW GOOD IT CAN BE FOR THEM? I GIVE A 3 MINUTE ROLLING BOIL BEFORE I COOL IT. SAME FOR THE ORIOLES, WHO HAVE BEEN IN MY ORIOLE FEEDER MORE THAN EVER THIS YEAR.

REMEMBER TO STICK TO THE 4 CUPS WATER TO 1 CUP SUGAR MEASUREMENT. THERE'S NO REASON TO FEEL YOU NEED TO DOUBLE THE SUGAR EVER; BUT I DO DOUBLE THIS RECIPE IN LARGER BATCHES IN THE HEAT OF SUMMER. NEVER USE HONEY OR SUGAR SUBSTITUTES! USE YOUR COMMON SENSE, AND IF YOU DON'T FOLLOW THESE SIMPLE RULES, PUT YOUR FEEDER AWAY AND FORGET IT!

I CAN'T SAVE THE WHALES FROM THE COUNTRIES WHO THINK THEY HAVE TO SLAUGHTER THEM NO MATTER WHAT THE LAWS ARE, BUT I CAN DO MY SMALL SHARE FOR BIRDS, ESPECIALLY HUMMERS!

A DOG DAY AT THE LAKE!

THE SISTERHOOD!

The Rincon Beach on PCH, is one of the beaches we used to go to as "kids". Dee says that she has one of these bathing suits that she wears with pearls!

THE SISTERHOOD

We are the class of '57 from Ventura High School. Our reunions, led and planned by Judi, are always very successful, as are the Brown Bag Reunions each year for ALL graduating classes. Many of us blog to each other almost on a daily basis, as there are a big group of us who have known each other since Kindergarten. Eight of us gather here at my house each September for "The Annual Sisterhood Reunion", and we always get together somehow, somewhere when I'm visiting in Ventura. This June, while I was there, we did several things, including visiting one of our old elementary schools, Will Rogers. Dee/Diann, lives in Oregon and couldn't be with us, so we "represented" her as black Ventura High t-shirt! So here is Joann, Patti, Dee, and Jerri! We also played jacks, and Judy even brought her old jack bag. We visited room 10 where we had our 6th grade class with Miss Frewin. Alas, none of us had any of our old marbles, but that's probably because we feel we've been losing them for a number of years!

A CHEERY CHERRY MORNING!

HOLLYHOCK - Someone asked me recently if they are easy to grow, and the answer, for me, is yes - I save the seeds and give them to anyone who wants them - here in this area (zone 9ish) is where I simply broadcast the seeds for growth the next year. Early in the season, the bugs love the leaves, but I just continue to cut them off until the bugs leave. The plants need good sun and water! I have many different colors, but the cheery cherry is my favorite!

"DEE" -

ROOM 10, OUR 6TH GRADE ROOM

JOANN, JERRI, AND JUDI,

FRIENDS FROM KINDERGARTEN

VENTURA SISTERHOOD ACTIVITIES - JUNE 2009

PORTRAYING PLAYING JACKS INT THE FIRST GRADE AT WILL ROGERS SCHOOL

A DRINK ON THE PIER -

JOANN AND HER NEPHEW, WHO WORKS THERE -

VENTURA - JUNE 2009

VENTURA - JUNE 2009

NOW I REALLY KNOW THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH MY COMPUTER, AS I'M UNABLE TO GET THE PROPER PICTURES UPLOADED - CUTE OF PADDINGTON AND BLOSSOM LAST DECEMBER THOUGH - TAKEN IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE DURING OUR FIRST SNOW -

THE OTHER 3 ARE OF ERIKA TRYING HER HAND AT AN OCEAN KAYAK AT THE BEACH IN VENTURA -

TRIP TO VENTURA - JUNE 2009

AT JOANN AND RALPH'S HOUSE - JERRI & JOANN

CARLOS AND RALPH

ERIKA IN THEIR POOL

ERIKA IN "CATS"

MY VISIT TO VENTURA - JUNE 2009

GLADIOLA - KIM'S YARD

GIRL SCOUT TEA PARTY

LAST DAY OF SCHOOL

ERIKA ON MY BACK DECK

ERIKA AND KIM AT THE CRAFT FAIR

A BEAUTIFUL DAY AT THE LAKE

OH, LOOK, THE LITTLE PEOPLE JOINED US!

VISIT TO CAMP GRANDMA - JUNE 2009

FLOWERS from my garden

PEPPERMINT ROSES

CLEMATIS

RED SHIRLEY POPPIES ON LEFT

AND

CALIFORNIA POPPIES

PICTURES FOR MY LAST 2 POSTS!

BEARDED IRIS

GRAHAM THOMAS ROSE

VORACIOUS CLIMBER ON BACK DECK

MY DOGWOODS

SUMMER OF MY 70TH!

Last week I took my 1st trip since Christmas. Went to Ventura to witness the end of the 4th grade for Erika, and be in on all the activities with her family and friends. My daughter, Kim, was Room Mother this year, and Girl Scout Leader. It was nice to be back on the coast. I always enjoy coming in on 126, smelling the citrus and eucalyptus, and this time of year, I can climb up on the ladder in their back yard and retrieve the avocados on their tree. Yummmmmmmmm!

We went to school on the last day, and attended parties throughout the weekend, including a beach party "out on the Rincon" on old PCH, where we used to go to bake our bodies as teens - nothing much has changed there other than the graffiti on the old, crumbling walls, but the waves still just keep rolling in on the exact same place as they did 55 years ago. The weather was beautiful, and Erika tried her hand at ocean kyacking.

When all that excitement cooled down, Erika and I drove up here to the lake for a few days of fun at "Camp Grandma". We enjoyed the lake, and took it easy here at the house. She read, did some water color paintings, and watched Harry Potter movies until her Mom joined us for a couple of days, then they were gone again in a heart beat.

But the Camp Grandma sign will fly for the summer, as we now look forward to an annual week-long visit to Bass Lake for fun and the celebration of my 70th! And what an honor to have Kecia and Dillon flying out from New Jersey for the event!

YEAR OF MY 70TH!

DESCRIBING MY HOUSE AND GARDENS - When I first moved to Bass Lake 5 years ago, I bought another unit. but only had it for 6 months when I decided that I wanted the one I have now. It needed a LOT of work, but it also had skylights, large sunny windows, big decks, front and back, a fireplace, and most important, much more garden space. After gutting the inside of the house, and remodeling it, I started on the gardens. The bad soil was hauled off, and replaced with tons of ammendents, compost, sand, and topsoil. The first few things that I planted were 2 dogwoods, one pink and one white, and wisteria. Since I love vines, I started Virginia Creeper brought from my old cabin, then added many climbing roses, trumpet vines, hops, grapes and clematis'. There are several lilacs which were transplanted, or started from shoots. A year later, my friend from Ventura added a pergola on the back deck, along with lattice work everywhere, and the creeper and wisteria have taken it over, as planned. Mike also made fences and gates both front and back, to keep in the dogs, and keep out the deer. (One of the gates is made from an old florist's sign found in an alley in Santa Barbara years ago.)



The growth in these 5 years keeps me as hidden as possible from the outside world. The only old- growth tree around is right next to one side of my house. It is a wonderful, huge old cedar that I adore. It houses shade, frangrance, and home to many different kinds of birds. The woman who designed this unit, broke up the long cover for the driveway by leaving it open in the middle, thus providing me with full sun there in the driveway, but also inside the large side window. I am able to grow flowers and vegies in the driveway, and have plants on the inside too. In the back, I have a separate little garden from the deck, which I call The Apple Tree Garden, and right now it is chock full of pots of flowers, tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, and bok choy that I use to make Kim Chee. It is true cottage gardening at its best!



Across the street I look out on beautiful oak trees, one a Golden Oak, various pines, one being the Ponderosa, large granite boulders covered in moss, and numerous spruce seedlings that I transplanted there a few years ago. My neighbor and I planted hundreds of daffodils there, plus added as many wildflower seeds as we could find. The deer roam all through their little trails there, and mosey over to my small garden in front to see if I have given them any deer candy - aka, hollyhocks! I use a spray repellant, but if they are hungry, nothing works, and I can't say that I really care, as much as my friend, Joan, does in Charlottesville. Her blog today shows the devistation of an entire garden wiped out by deer. Boo hoo, Joan, I'm so sorry for you. Those devils! They'll be back! Such is the way for all of us gardeners!!!!!!!

YEAR OF MY 70TH!

"PADDINGTON", MY NEWEST

FAMILY MEMBER! ( A BLOND

GOLDEN RETRIEVER, NAMED

AFTER PADDINGTON BEAR, OF

COURSE!)

YEAR OF MY 70TH!

"PADDINGTON", IN THE SNOW.

YEAR OF MY 70TH!

ORIOLE

JINGLE, MY RESCUED RAGDOLL

YEAR OF MY 70TH!

"BLOSSOM" ON THE
BLOSSOM TRAIL

THE YEAR OF MY 70TH!

I SEE THAT IS HAS BEEN A LITTLE OVER A YEAR SINCE I DID ANY POSTING - EVEN SO, THERE ARE COMMENTS FROM PEOPLE THERE THAT I AM JUST NOW READING - AMAZING - GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN! THANKS!

IT IS THE YEAR OF MY 70TH BIRTHDAY - AND NO, I DON'T FEEL OLD - IT HAS BEEN SAID, EVEN BY ME BACK IN THE DAY, THAT 70 IS OLD - FIRST OF ALL, I DON'T FEEL 70 - AND I DON'T FEEL OLD, SO WE'LL JUST MOVE ON FROM THERE, OUTSIDE OF THE FACT THAT I'M AMAZED THAT 70 YEARS OF AGE HAS CREEPED UP ON ME SO RAPIDLY!!!! HOW COULD THAT HAPPEN, WHEN I REMEMBER MY DARLING LITTLE CHILDREN LIKE IT WAS YESTERDAY, AND WERN'T WE JUST STATIONED ON GUAM AND OKINAWA JUST A FEW YEARS AGO?

FOR THOSE WHOM I HAVE NEGLECTED AS FRIENDS THIS LAST YEAR, I APPOLOGIZE - I DIDN'T JUST FALL OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH, BUT AS IT SEEMS IN MY LIFE, EVERY 10 YEARS OR SO, I REVOLVE IN SOME STRANGE WAY, AND HAVE TO REINVENT MYSELF! THIS YEAR, IT WAS MAINLY HEALTH REASONS THAT MADE THE CHANGE -

HAVING SAID THAT, I'M FEELING MUCH BETTER, AND WHILE WORKING IN THE GARDEN THE LAST FEW DAYS, I DECIDED THAT I WANT TO WRITE ABOUT THESE LAST YEARS OF MY LIFE - NO, I'M NOT AFRAID IN ANY WAY, OF PASSING ON, BUT I REALLY FEEL THE SATISFACTION AND LOVE FOR LIFE, FAMILY, AND FRIENDS AT THIS AGE! WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO THE IMPORTANT THINGS IN LIFE, THOSE 3 THINGS SAY IT ALL - AND OUTSIDE OF MY HEALTH, I MOSTLY REALIZE THAT IT'S NOT ABOUT ME ANYMORE, BUT ABOUT MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS, THE LOVING RELATIONSHIPS THAT I HAVE WITH THEM, AND THE WANING DAYS OF ENJOYMENT THAT WE CAN EXTRACT FROM EACH OTHER IN THE YEARS TO COME!

MY 70TH WILL BE ON AUGUST 1ST - AGAIN, FAMILY AND FRIENDS WILL BE HERE TO HELP CELEBRATE - IN MY FOG THIS PAST YEAR, I NEGLECTED TO DO A LOT OF THINGS, SO I HAVE TO START PLAYING CATCH-UP IN A HURRY - THE FIRST CHANGE THIS SUMMER, IS THAT I'M NOT WORKING, AND IT IS WONDERFUL TO NOT FEEL HURRIED LIKE I ALWAYS DID, EVEN WORKING PART-TIME - I CAN ACTUALLY SIT OUT ON THE BACK DECK AND SMELL THE ROSES! EVEN WATCH THEM GROW! THE HUMMERS ARE WITH ME BY THE DOZENS AS ALWAYS, AND THIS YEAR, THE ORIOLES HAVE BIRTHED AND HUNG-OUT IN MY BIG CEDAR ON THE SIDE, AND they EVEN COME IN AND OUT OF THE ORIOLE FEEDER I PUT UP FOR THEM -

IT WAS A LONG, VERY COLD WINTER HERE THIS YEAR, AND ON MY LIMITED INCOME, I WAS NOT ABLE TO STAY WARM ENOUGH - AS MUCH AS I LOVE IT HERE, THE UTILITIES ARE OUTRAGEOUS - A ROYAL RIPOFF FOR THE OVER 55 GROUP! THEY GIVE US A BIT OF A DISCOUNT ON ELECTRICITY, BUT OF COURSE, NOT PROPANE! WE HAD ENORMOUS AMOUNTS OF SNOW AND RAIN, AND EVEN THOUGH THE DOGS AND I ARE OUT IN IT A LOT, TAKING PICTURES AND WALKING, IT WAS COLD ENOUGH TO PUT ME DOWN!

SO, MORE THAN EVER, SPRING CAME WITH GREAT JOY! IT IS BUGGIER THAN EVER, BUT THE GREENS HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB OF OVERCOMING MOST OF THEM! AND IT IS STILL COOLER THAN NORMAL FOR JUNE, SO I THINK I WILL BE GETTING A CROP OF TOMATOES VERY LATE THIS YEAR - I DID SEE A ZUCHINNI SETTING UP THOUGH - I ALSO HAVE CUCUMBERS, DIFFERENT SQUASHES, A COUPLE OF "WARTY ORANGE PUMPKIN" PLANTS, AND VARIOUS PEPPERS - I LOVE TO BE A COTTAGE GARDENER, AND OF COURSE, ALWAYS HAVE SOMETHING TO TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS OF - THE ANIMALS ALL LOVE THE GARDEN TOO, AND IT'S SOMEWHAT LIKE A CUTE FAIRY BOOK, HIDING HERE AND THERE UNDER MINTS, NASTURSUIMS, POPPIES, LILAC BUSHES, GRAPEVINES, BUSHY DELPHINIUMS, HOLLYHOCKS, ROSES AND HERBS -

SOME OF THE "CATCHING UP" I HAVE TO DO IS WASH WINDOWS, WHICH IS ON MY LIST THIS MORNING, SO WITH THAT, I WILL STOP FOR NOW - LOTS TO DO TURNING 70!

JUNE'S GARDEN 2008

sweet pea

bouquet

hummer at

twilight

OUT AND AROUND MY GARDEN IN MID JUNE 2008

Anna Hummer

Apricot Foxglove

China

AT THE LAKE

I know of speckled frogs, but a speckled Canadian Goose is my first. Is it a cross breed? It was beautiful.