Queen

Here is my beautiful granddaughter Chrissy in the Lovington Homecoming parade today, as 2009 queen. She gives up her crown to the 2010 queen at the dance tonight.

October

We've had wonderful perfect weather the past few days. So glad the hot heat and horrible mosquitos of this past summer are over. I've been able to get out in my garden and work on it-the weeds got entirely out of hand. (My progress on the herb bed is pictured.) The tomatoes are doing better now, it seems we've gotten more of them this week than we did all summer.

Tomatillas

Someone gave us these as little seedlings last spring. They are now huge (in spite of the bug nibbles and growing in pots) and alien looking! Wonder how big they would be if in the ground. Never grown these before or even seen them growing- the fruits are used to make salsa verde.

Happy Summer Solstice

Sunlight shining in my north windows (living room and sewing room) which only happens around solstice time.

Summer Flowers

Rain, rain, rain, every day rain. But the flower bed is going great (so are the weeds).
Balloon flower before opening (why it has its name) and after.
Lilies that I transplanted last fall from the shady north yard where they hadn't bloomed in five years, to the sun in front where they are blooming like crazy.

Spring Conference at Pilgrim Park

Last weekend I went to UU Women's Connection Spring Conference at Pilgrim Park; a quiet and peaceful retreat center in a little valley near the Illinois River. The highlight was a lovely and powerful circle on Sat. evening-but the whole weekend was very enjoyable. Wonderful to be with like-minded women.

Plant Surprises

 

 

The lily in the front flower bed has bloomed-a beautiful bright white, I thought it was going to be red! And here is the rabbit foot fern in my kitchen window-it is becoming a "big foot" fern. Before I moved it this window with eastern exposure it had little bitty leaves but now it has popped out with this whopper!

My Flower Bed

The perennials are going great this spring, and I planted a pink shrub rose. The cactus Jenny brought back from Florida last year is growing too.

Summer is Here

It was 90 degrees and humid for a few days this week, but today absolutely beautiful!
We had drumming circle outside, and I saw my first lightning bug this evening. Another bird was added to our yard list: yesterday I heard a yellow-billed cuckoo.
Photo from Cornell Lab of Ornithology website.)

Chrissy's Graduation

Tonight Chrissy graduated from Lovington High School. They had a nice and dignified ceremony; Chrissy did a great job reading the class history. Last night Cody was promoted from 8th grade to high school. I've got wonderful grandkids!

Dalai Lama!

Terry and I went To Bloomington Indiana last week for a teaching by the Dalai Lama.
Had a close encounter when we got to see him arrive at the center on Tuesday. Standing at the side of the lane greeting him as his car went by, he was looking out the car window with his big smile and was waving at us.

Mother's Day

 

Had a nice service at church, talk was about the founder of Mother's Day - Julia Ward Howe- the day was originally for peace, to put an end to sending mother's sons off to war. Service included our flower communion, I got this peony to take home. I need to replant a peony bush to replace the one I lost last spring.

Wild Turkey

 

I finally saw a wild turkey while on the bike trail, been looking for several years. Heard a loud goble goble gob, looked over into woods and it finally briefly showed itself through the tall vegetation. This is where it was, he didn't stand still for his picture to be taken.

Our Snake

 

Snake left her old skin by the back door. Happy to know that she is still here helping to keep the mice out of my kitchen.

More Flowers

Spring Flowers

We're having a beautiful spring. Here are some flowers from my window,yard and along the Rock Springs trail.

Ed and Vicki brought Dad and Carol to Decatur, we met at my house and then went to eat at Tuscany, Jenny and Cody, and Jason were there also. Celebrated Dad's 90th birthday.

My crocus are up. Spring is on its way at long last! Tulip leaves are poking through, so I put netting over them to keep the deer out. Last year they left me with only one lonely little tulip bloom.

Great time in Milwaukee the last weekend in Feb. for UU CMwD Women and Religion WomanSpirit conference. Starhawk was keynote speaker!

Goodbye to February

Evening Stars quilt done, icicles, poinsettia blooming for Valentine's Day.

Wild Things in Winter Yard

Its been 11 days since we've had any sunshine, until today the sun shone weakly through some thin clouds, and then at the time I went to work at 5 it shone brightly.
Here are photos of a squirrel, house finch, nuthatch and cardinal that T took with his new camera.