Morning Visitor

I was walking back to my morning perch with my second cup of coffee. As usual I glanced out the window to see if anything unusual was happening ... like all the plants revolting because of the high heat and taking off for more temperate Canada. (At least until November rolls around.) What do I spy? The soil in my garden was moving. I have an annual visit from this painted turtle who hunts around the whole estate looking for the appropriate nesting site.

I tried to take a photo of her in the garden flinging dirt everywhere, but for starters, she is dirt colored, then she was sitting in the dirt, and to top it off she had flung dirt all over herself. It was a study in futility so I just took this photo of her escaping my gaze. They were taken through the screen so they are a little hazy to boot.

This is another photo and you can see the destruction she caused to the right of the stone/paver.


It wasn't much of a high speed pursuit as I had a chance to finish my coffee and go get dressed. I grabbed Henry to go outside for a preliminary peak at the world before our morning walk. She had only moved about 10 feet. This photo isn't much better as far as making out her silhouette.

Well... nothing earth shattering, just one of life's little pleasures.

My Morning Walk

I see some pretty nice things on my morning walk with Henry, but I never bring my camera so I don't get to share them. I finally remembered to tote it along. This is a home about a mile from me. The gentleman who did it is a certified heath/heather nut. He has a starting garden out back where he cultivates these beauties. He has done such a nice job of combining the evergreens and heathers to create a sea of texture and color. It is a very understated and formal look.

While I wouldn't want to garden in it- not enough variety for me- I love looking at it. I also couldn't have the heaths and heathers as they are so susceptible to wind burn and my home is unfairly exposed to the cold winds of winter. Although he is only a mile away he has the protection of surrounding trees.












This is just a rhododendron that is growing in the woods not too far off the road. It is so perfectly placed - hanging over a small stream - that it seems impossible that it is random. The nearest house is through some fairly dense pine trees and pucker brush, so perhaps when the area was more open someone planted it. The color is the most subtle lavender/white. I have dubbed the color "moon glow." Every spring I look for it to bloom.

Now this ... is clearly a weed. There are several that grow in a certain spot and it is the most interesting plant. These little umbilliferate forms will pop open into blossoms soon. It has tendrils that grab onto adjacent plants in its quest to get closer to the sun. I think it is absolutely beautiful. I have taken a bunch of photos and hope (some day) to paint a picture of it. Does anyone know what it is?

Beautiful Rhubarb!

Isn't that rhubarb beautiful? So tall, so handsome, so come hither in the way it brushes lightly against the fence ... in a way that would make more timid plants blush with embarrassment. But not that rhubarb. And the Taurus Cerastium is really working out well. I can see it all the way across the yard- such a beautiful silver. In a few more years it will spread enough to really make a statement. Perhaps you will be able to see it from Google Earth.

My island garden is looking mighty fine too. The Bath's Pinks are about to blossom. A few here and there have opened. I love their little black heads swaying in the breeze.

And Just Because He Is So Adorable

Agoraphobic Wannabe

I had to drive down to Beverly, Massachusetts this morning as I was a presenter at the second annual Encaustic Conference at Montserrat College. I had hoped to take pictures but it just didn't happen. So instead I am going to regale you with beautiful pictures of the highway coming back home. This is Route 93 or maybe 95. They sort of look alike. They are loaded with cars weaving in and out and generally behaving badly.... unlike certain drivers who take pictures while commandeering their vehicles. At least I waited until I was off of 1A or whatever it was which was like trying to drive through the food court in a mall.

This is the split at 93 and 101 to the seacoast. Lots of orange highway barrels that say "Danger, Danger, put down your cameras now!"


Ahhh.... This is 89. I take this route every night to get home from work. This is my favorite corner and to me it says "home." Route 202 has split off and we leave the bedroom communities of Hopkinton & Contoocook behind. The highway empties out and the mountains start to scootch together so they can give you a hug. The mountains get more and more demanding like that the farther north you go. Always asking for a hug, or a kiss or a cuddle or something. I don't mind- they are good huggers.

This is my road... that is my stone wall on the right. Perhaps I have been away from the city too long, but this scene lets me unwind. I don't mind driving here so much. It is far less stressful. I would even go so far as to say, I prefer it.

Except for the ticks.

Salvation In A Bottle

I don't normally consider myself a dainty blossom when it comes to the great outdoors. Weather? I love it! Cold, rain, snow, sleet, fog- bring it on! There is no such thing as bad weather- just bad clothing & bad attitude. So who knew that I could be brought so low by something that barely registers in an atomic scale?

What is this beast that brings the mighty Sarah to her knees you ask? Pollen. More specifically Pine Pollen. And what can something as innocuous as yellow dust do to the mighty Sarah? Better ask- what can't it do? My headache is as big as Wisconsin, maybe even combined with South Dakota. My post nasal drip has given me a sore throat and earaches. I cough all night so I am sleep deprived. If I am sleep deprived, so is le boyfriend, which causes general crankiness at Chez Casino Gardens. Then there is the pollen complete makeover including dripping nose and dark, dark eye bags. Not a pretty sight.

But le boyfriend, who is smarter than le Sarah, suggested a saline nasal spray to cleanse the sinus passages. Being a poo-pooer from way back, I thought this would do nothing to alleviate my suffering and all the whining that goes with it. But in an effort to shut le boyfriend up I did as he suggested. Oh my goodness, revelation and conversion! I woke up this morning with only a minor headache & sore throat. So I have found salvation in a small plastic bottle and may be able to make it through this hellish season with a smile. Yippee!

Sometimes I am so funny I could just die....

This is a thought that will never see the light of day so I figure I would at least put it out there. Perhaps someone else can use it.

Le Boyfriend is a library trustee in town. They are trying to come up with a float for the Fourth of July parade, which is a really big deal here. They have usually done a float which plays up the summer reading program's book which everyone has to read, but liability has finally caught up with it. No more children are allowed to ride on tractors going 5 mph through town. The librarian has decided that instead all the trustees will carry large plastic buckets which they will beat with sticks to make noise. I am still trying to figure out the connection between 5 retired people beating drums and promoting usership of the library... but whatever.

Then! It popped into my head full blown like a Donald Trump Tower. Why couldn't the trustees just march in formation with their noses buried in a book, paying no attention to the parade and audience around them? And the cherry on top will be the librarian carrying a big placard that says "SHHHH." I laughed so hard I could hardly stand it.

Le boyfriend said it would never fly and that I would be the only one in the world who would catch the humor and irony. Really- isn't humor and irony what librarians are all about?

Well, I am still giggling at the thought of it. I hope someone out there can use this idea for a parade .