Deathstorm 2008

Well, the projected storm dumped its snow but the wind never materialized as they thought it would. We have about 8 inches on the ground now. It remains to be seen what todays expected ice storm will bring - if it shows up.


A break in the weather this morning and temps near 32 degrees sent us out to make snowmen. Aren't they cute?

Snow day! again...

So we've been having snow for days now, and alot more is predicted to fall this weekend. Here's some pics I took this morning. It is lovely, if inconvenient.


Little birds are all over the verbena stalks eeating seeds and probably scattering even more that I'll be pulling all spring as they sprout.


A woodpecker stopped by and made a racket for long enough for a few pics. This one turned out best. His red head was flashing in the morning sun. They are so shy, and we hear them often but rarely get to see them.


We put up the aluminum xmas tree last weekend. Even without all the lights working it is pretty.


And what is a blog post without some baked goods? Spent all last weekend baking for the family. Here's a shot of some cscones. I forgot to take pics of the rest of the goodies.


Happy holidays to all!

December blooms

Okay, really not the best photos I've ever taken but they are just to show how weird our weather is this year. these are blooming today. A lovely orange rose I rescued from Jim Allen's garden after he passed away (the camera just won't get the color and depth right - it is stunning), a golden geum looking fabulous with feverfew blooms, and a pink scizostylus (which normally blooms late but never until November here, which means we usually don't even get to see it before frost takes it down). This warm dry fall is extending into our winter.

Ugh, I ate too moishe...

Thanksgiving

The Guest list:

Daniel and I
Miles
Terry
Joey and Wes

The menu:

Roast turkey
Roasted garlic mashed potatoes
turkey gravy (from scratch, natch)
Stuffing (as good as grandma's!)
Sweet potato souffle
Green bean casserole
Cranberry compote
Whole wheat rolls
Apple Pie
Pumpkin pie with freshly whipped cream
Many bottles of fabulous French wine








The result:

A great feast with great friends, and a very memorable day. The turkey was late but worth the wait - so moist and juicy. The gravy was a bit thin but so tasty. Joey's souffle was amazing. The pies were perfect and the wine was to die for. I'm thankful to have such good friends. Hope yours was as good!

Beautiful days

What an unseasonably beautiful November we are having. The last few days have been warm and sunny. We've yet to have a killing frost, tho a few light ones have been thru. I finally (!!!) managed to get my Kleinsorge bed expanded and a new one created next to it. This is going to make a big difference in a few years as the lilacs and the vine maple grow in. And in the meantime all my Kleinsorge irises are in one place together.


Miss Gracie was outside with me all afternoon enjoying the sun. She's brought in a few rodents today (leaving bits of them scattered about the back yard - yuck), but unfortunately no more moles yet. They are tearing up my terraces something awful and making a huge mess and I sure wish she would kill a few more.


Here's Mr. Pansy in his favorite chair again. Paws up!


And finally a raspberry tart I made a few weeks ago. Not the most attractive but it sure was delish.


Friends are coming for Thanksgiving. Hope yours is a happy one!

Parnisp and pansies

Check out these gorgeous parsnips from Daniels veggie garden. They are roasting as I type... Yum!


And here's a shot of Mr. Pansy. He loves the green chair, and who can blame him? He looks so cute in it - especially in the sunshine.

Mmmm... Cherry Pie

Finally got something accomplished!

I have been planning this redesign for two years and finally got it done. The Kleinsorge iris bed needed to be bumped out to make room for a lilac ('Sensation') that will add some much needed vertical interest, as well as shade, to the front of the house. Can't wait to see it filled in. this also makes room to add steps to the end of the porch so we can put rails across the front of it.



I got all the Kleinsorge irises that were in need of dividing split up and moved about to better show them off. I'll add some annuals in the spring to add longer seasonal interest to the bed. I'd intended to add some other plants but had som many irises I didn't have room this year. Once the bed across the path from ths one is done there will be more room for other things.

Awww... apple time

Oh I just love it when the apples hit the market. Here's an Apple Gallette, a kind of open-faced apple pie. It was delicious!

Fresh pics

It's been awhile since I downloaded my camera and went thru the pics. Here's some recent shots from around the place. Not much is happening due to lack of funds to adequately deal with the weeds, but we're doing what we can.

Here's a shot of a not-so-lovely but quite delicious Apple Tarte Tartin I made from a Cuisine at Home recipe. It is basically an upside-down cake.


I love kniphofia. this bright yellow-orange one kept the hummingbirds happy for awhile and sure made a bright spot of color in the garden. The deer leave it alone so I'll probably get more of these.


Sempervivum 'Mount Usher. Gorgeous coloration.


A wonderful pelargonium Joey got for me for my birthday - isn't it just stunning? I'm hoping I can keep it alive thru the winter so I can enjoy it for years to come.


Here's Mr. Pansy looking quite adorable, and hiding a heart filled with badness. The little stinker got mad the other morning when he didn't get to go out and peed on my shirt that was laying on the vinyl couch - right in front of me! I think we have solved the mystery of who peed on the bed in the guest room and destroyed the mattress and a pillow. What a bad kitty. It's a good thing he is so cute.




And finally two shots of recent sunsets. We've had some really stunning ones lately. Not sure what is going on to color them up so well. One looks like a forest fire and the other was so neat - the clouds started melting like a watercolor painting, with long trails fo mist falling slowly down just as the sun was going down. Very neat effect. Click on the pics to see larger shots of them.


Until next time, happy gardening!

A few sumertime pics

Back in June there was an extreme low tide event here so mom and I walked down to the shore to check it out. A very kind lady showed us a few of the things left in the open muck as the water retreated and one of them was this pink fellow. It's really quite large - maybe a foot across or a little more.


This gorgeous shirley poppy came up early in one of the beds. I believe this was a seedling that came from a swap. Oddly when the heat came on the pink picotee edge entirely disappeared and now it is blooming pure white. The shirley poppies have been very pretty this year.




An astrantia with a visitor.


And here's a picture of Chewie. She is always doing that. I love Tucks expression in the background.

Sunny Sunday

Here's some new pics from the garden. We ahd this canoe and no where to go with it so decided to make it into a water feature. I filled it with some water loving irises and a willow that likes wet feet. Added a large 'tufa rhubarb leaf for the water to run down and Voila!




Here's the purple Japanese iris blooming int eh pond right now. So pretty.


And of course we have to have some cat pics. Mr. Tuck posing and looking fabulous, followed by Mr. Petey napping while the sun goes down.

Iris pics

There's been so little time to post pics when I have so many photos backed up and waiting to be processed. Here's a few that I think turned out particularly nice this year.

I thought I'd post a couple of pics taken in my veggie garden - which I never blog about, it seems. Poor thing, and it's growing so nicely, too...


Little strawberries, wondering when June will arrive...


while the chives don't care - they're happy to bloom regardless of the gloom.


I am not very certain of the future outcome of this poor little orphan tomato. It needs sun, and I have none to offer it.


Greens! Lovely, luscious greens!


Someday, these little bitty babies will bloom into a wildflower mix for me. Maybe. If summer ever arrives. I'd give up hope, but they haven't. So I carry on. For the flowers. ;-)

I've posted other pics on my other blog...