Soon!

I went to tend one of my extra gardens this morning and felt as if I stepped into a time warp.  I actually had myself wondering whether or not I was there last weekend.  I was.  I really, really was.  I know it.  Without a doubt I was there last weekend.  Everything was coming in nicely but not near as nice as this week.  I was absolutely amazed when I got there and discover how huge everything was!  There are baby zucchini!  And wee tiny cucumbers.  Another few days and I'll be eating ultra fresh veggies right from the garden.  Ha!

Summer Tradition

Some of you may remember this as an electric skillet.  And in your house it might be.  But in mine, it is and always has been the Chex Mix Pan!  I moved in here over 20 years ago and an old relative gave me this to help me get established.  Nice but it has NEVER been used for anything but Chex Mix.  Every summer I buy a collection of chex cereal, pretzels and nuts and make my own treat.

Mmm!  I know I'm supposed to wait for it to cool before munching but once again I'm certain that won't happen.  Want some?

Happy weekend, all!

Odds & Ends

At Longwood Gardens...

Yes, I have a thing for lamps. How cool tucked away in a magnificent copper beach!

The Corner

Angles in the Cathedral Canopy Tree House

Mirrors in the Cathedral Canopy Tree House

Dragon Eyes

Rail and Shadows

Across the Bridge (with a Turtle under it!)

Orchids, Orchids and More Orchids

 

I know, I know.  Overkill but they are all too pretty not to share!

Strange

So while I was wandering at Longwood Gardens on Friday I came across something that didn't fit.  A whole wall of abandoned fountains.  Everything else there is so neat and tidy, restored to probably better than new.  Except for this one long wall.  I bet they were a sight back when they were functional.  I don't why they've been left to fall into ruin but it sure made an interesting contrast.  Even within themselves since one statue hasn't begun to crumble and is still  very elegant.

I suppose I could have gone searching for someone in the Visitor's Center who might have had an explanation but I decided I preferred not to know.  This way I can create my own stories.

My Day...

Today would have been my Great Aunt Irva's 98th birthday.  Happy birthday, Irva!

In her honor, I took the day off and ended up at Longwood Gardens.  It was a perfect day for it.  75 degrees with no humidity and poofy white clouds.  Lots and lots of pretties but right inside the visitor center I stopped to smell the roses, Irva's favorite flower.

I wandered out to the new meadow, most of which was just like where I grew up but there was a cool pond.  I was standing on the bridge, watching the water and suddenly one of the lumps moved.  It was a turtle!  I love turtles so that made the day for me.  Everything after that was a bonus.

A cool treehouse, a room full of orchids, a garden that was all shades of silvery leaves and a huge mellow cat lounging under a tree.  All in all a wonderful way to spend Irva's birthday.

Happy weekend, all!

Hundreds!

Twenty-six years ago when I moved into this hovel I dug up the grass and planted flowers.  I'm not one to use chemical sprays so I purchased three Preying Mantis egg sacks to control the nasty bugs who thought my posies were tasty.  Ever since then there have been yearly majestic Mantises in the yard along with several pods of eggs.

A week and a half ago I was tidying the yard and found a sack.  It didn't look as if it had hatched which had me a bit concerned.  I thought they'd be bugs by now.  Would this be the first year without any uber cool critters?

Nope!  I went outside last Thursday to take the yard trash bag from the back to the front and noticed tiny things scurrying all over the wall.  Guess what they were?  Yep!  Hundreds of teeny tiny Preying Mantises, all racing away from the egg sack they just popped out of.  None longer than my thumbnail.  I swear it was just about the coolest thing I'd ever seen.  Teensy weensy Preying Mantises!!!

Life is good.  Happy weekend, all!

There are Mornings

When I find messages from my phone in my inbox.  Yes, I email myself in my sleep.  There was once an entire story that took 37 messages to complete and I had no recollection of sending any of it.  Of course that could have been Beau. But sometimes I take the messages as a clue to what I was dreaming the night before if I don't remember.  I suspect last night's dream was not a happy one...

 

 

Homeless heart

Trapped inside a cage too ugly for sin

Powered by a mass incapable of play

Pretending only carries so far

Soon the masks crack and crumble

Layer upon layer

Exposing a core

Of

Nothing

Busy Day!

Lots going on in downtown Reading today.  At lunch we had the WWII re-enactors from the 24th Anniversary WWII Weekend at the Reading Airport stormed into the city to liberate us, complete with air support.  They go right by where I work so I have a front row seat.  It's somewhat corny I suppose but I always enjoy it.  It's something good that happens around here which is a very nice change from the day to day goings on in Reading.  For more info click here.  The weather is going to be perfect so come out and have some fun.

A few hours later there were endless sirens.  Lots and lots of them.  That stopped right outside my office window.  In the past that would mean yet another bank robbery just around the corner but the bank updated a year ago making that possibility extremely slim.  A solid wall between customers and tellers with those pneumatic tube systems like they have at drive-ups connecting the two.

Eventually I had to get up and look out.  By then the street that leads to Howie's parking lot was blocked off.  Uh oh.  And then the bomb squad truck arrived.  Hmm.  Definitely not a good sign.  As it turns out, there was a suspicious package in the parking lot behind the bank.

It finally got to be time to leave for the day.  There was crime scene tape almost around the whole block with officers strategically place, keeping the public at bay.  Fortunately for me, Howie was ten feet outside the tape so we got to go home, unlike the poor people who work in the bank and the offices that share the building with it.

The package turned out to be a harmless backpack, thank goodness.  But it is nice to know that Reading is actually prepared to handle such things if necessary.

Happy weekend all!

So

I know the strawberry crop will be light this year.  You know the strawberry crop will be light this year.  But apparently the memo never made it out to the yard.  The plants have no idea they’re not supposed to be bearing as they are. (Insert eye roll here.)

Not only was it hot as Hades today but it was also muggy and wet from an afternoon shower.  It didn’t make it any more fun when the resident crow came to perch on top of the utility pole behind my house and cackle at me.  I’m certain it was the same one who I entertained when attempting to repair my front steps.  Did I ever show you how they turned out?  No?  Ah.  I’ll have to do that as they are wondrous. 

Anyway I pointed out to Sir Mocking Crow that birds are supposed to snatch up strawberries.  Peck ‘em to bits so they are inedible.  Not a damn one was touched!  Nor has the wandering skunk hasn’t paid a nocturnal visit.  Not even any slug holes or trails.  Damn them!  A little help would be appreciated but no, no such luck.  I guess they’re saving them all for me.  Oh joy.  (Insert sarcasm here.)

I picked over a quart.  Ate a huge handful that wouldn’t balance on top of the container.  Ignore another bunch by pretending they weren’t ripe enough for today’s harvest.  They’ll be there tomorrow.  Or Friday.  Or whenever next I force myself to deal with them again.

I know, I know.  Stop whining over ultra-fresh fruit at my fingertips.  I might if the damn ice cream truck ever showed up once I was finished slicing them.  (Insert dramatic sigh here.)

Giggle!

Is it wrong of me to be giddy that this year's strawberry crop was even more affected by the hail storm than I originally thought?  It seems many of the ripening berries and blossoms were knocked from the plants.  I know I should be disappointed but I just can't muster up one iota of displeasure.  For the first time in 20 odd years strawberry season in my yard will be over before I'm sick of them!

See?  It is possible to find good in most everything, even a massively destructive hail storm.