Randomness...

Just some random photos. First are the chickens at Fertile Ground, a local B&B guest house in Olympia. Daniel and I walk over here on our break s from work and get some 'chicken therapy'. Really helps destress from the job. We are just enamored with these hens. They are so funny and have such personalities.


This is Eleanor - she thinks she is a free range bird and gets out of the pen alot, much to the bemusment of the pedestrians passing by.


Joey got a new afghan for his back seat and I just love it. I love this photo too, with the window reflections overlaid on it.


I usually finish off with a pic of one of our pretty kitties, but today I have something ugly to share. This came in on an iris from a friend (Thanks, Wy!). Found it in the rhizome when I went to plant it. It's an iris borer - first one I have ever seen, and hopefully the last. I am so thankful they cannot survive here.

Summertime party

Thursday evening we were invited to Joey's place for a cocktail party. The theme was 'retro summer' and it was a great excuse to drag out all the vintage barware. Joey put out a great spread, with a sangria punch and the makings for martinis and other delicious drinks. Daniel and I had a great time. Good food and fun people always do have that result.


Joey had the deck all dressed out in his collection of geraniums, artfully arranged in groupings here and there. He is the master at arrangements. Here's a few shots.






And just for good measure, here's a shot of Chewie.

Vintage recipe books

So, we ended up recently with two recipe note books in front of us. One I had had for years, from a thrift store, and the other came from a dear friend's mother's collection of recipe booklets. Here's the weird part. One was made in Japan the other in Hong Kong, but one of them obviously had the other's photo available when setting up their photo shoot. as everything is recreated, if less than perfectly. Check it:


Neat, eh?

Lilies!! ...etc.

Tiger lilies are blooming along with some other summer lilies. These classics are my favorites.




Not sure what the big cream ones are... VERY fragrant tho and taller than Daniel.






Love the little fuchsia flowers on this shrub. Hope it can get size on this year without being knocked back to the ground next winter.


Thought I had lost this yarrow but it came back this year. Love the color.


It drizzled all day yesterday and the cats stayed in.