Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Holy Air Conditioning Batman!

Clearly it's not this hot up here in
The-Not-So-Great-White-North
But that hasn't stopped us from racking up some pretty high temps! 88 degrees yesterday and 90 today! If this keeps up it's going to be one expensive summer in cooling costs... on the very heels of a record setting heating costs during last winter. What are you going to do? What can you do? Pay it! (Duh, huh?)

Friday, June 20, 2008

The early summer flowers are almost over..

A few of the pleasures that bring me joy!
The one I'm most proud of... "Black Velvet"
One of the last purple bearded.

The last "Cream & Sugar" I was really surprised to have it turn out with a bluish tint to it. It's really a pure white and slightly yellow. Maybe it's because I took this in full west sunlight.


I have no idea where this iris came from. I can only assume it was one planted by a previous tenant. It produces less flowers every year. This year it produced the one just below it on the stalk and the one blooming here. I've been here eight years now, so perhaps it is cycling down. While not one I would planted, it is still a pretty bloom.

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Nothing says Happy Father's Day like cleaning up the basement with backed up sewer issues!

For all those times you took care of me...
Yes... I will spread 80 lbs of cat litter on sewer
sludge and then scoop it up and take it out.
It's not as high up on the list as taking you out
for a steak, but it's on the list.
I love you Dad!



A time of sadness... but much like Mother Earth shakes off and begins again...

I too am shaking off the old, to begin anew...
Wow! What a trip life has been in the last few weeks! And I do mean "a trip" in all forms of the words!

I saw some beautiful things and some things ugly, in the context pertaining to certain events... but these things happen. I have learned some interesting things, about others... and perhaps more importantly, things about myself.

It's what could be called the very definition of why miscommunicating is such a dangerous thing.

It's been quite nice since I've been home. Gorgeous, sunny days... windows open to let the sweet breezes in... the smell of the lilacs and Lilies of the Valleys.... My beautiful irises are the most spectacular. The pale yellow & white of the "Cream & Sugar" variety and the stunning "Siberian Blues" a deep purple.
The most stunning of my irises is the "Black Velvet". It's blooms are the size of my hand and so deep purple the appear black from a distance. Their scent is intoxicating and unforgettable. I'll post pictures soon.

The best are yet to come... my Oriental lilies and day lilies are chockful of buds and I can hardly wait for them to open! this picture is from last summer. It's called "Fire Lily" and the humming birds spend hours and hours feeding from them. I was gone last summer at the peak of it's blooming and this was one of the few remaining. This year I'm looking forward to getting more pictures of all my blooms!

(I softened the edges for my cards)

Well, off to the Doctor's office... I so love having to read last year's "People" magazines while waiting!

More later!