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.