tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38287758353913019762012-01-23T22:08:29.606-05:00making a home in the woods. . . . from scratch.queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.comBlogger2941100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-90434255092312508682012-01-06T15:28:00.004-05:002012-01-06T15:38:27.982-05:00

I love this hat! The one made for my grandson apparently was too small. This one, however, for a wee newborn, was just right! She was the hit at the Christmas Eve gathering in her elf suit, and she didn't try to take the hat off even once. It's the eyes that get me. . . .Instructions for the hat are pretty general, but you will find them at this link, here. Ask, if you have questions!

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-89504816858456053922011-11-30T14:14:00.006-05:002011-11-30T15:45:45.865-05:00

I am amazed at how fast Christmas comes each year. Apparently faster and faster, with every passing year! But I know that this is just a common place illustration of the relativity equation. With only one Christmas season under my belt, the next one took forever to arrive. With 50-plus under my belt, they're a bit more commonplace these days. . . .I like this season. I like it perhaps better

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-16196319082452117612011-11-26T05:16:00.007-05:002011-11-26T05:50:53.932-05:00

I've been an abominable correspondent. No excuses. I have nothing to point to that has kept me so busy I couldn't write. In short: it's not that I can't write - or couldn't write - the fact of the matter is simply that I haven't written. sigh. Here's were inertia sets in, and months of not writing can weigh you down to another half year of silence, which inevitably leads to a year and more

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-3756102168981395692011-10-19T09:23:00.006-04:002011-10-19T09:32:51.652-04:00

There is such a word as "darkle" - a word I've put into the beak of a rhyming crow - and is in play outside today. The word, that is, not the crow. It's a darkle day. . . .

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-51964532588436719682011-09-24T10:30:00.005-04:002011-09-24T10:41:39.110-04:00

. . . . from the archives:Today's is Elizabeth Perry's 1000th consequtive posting of sketches and musings over at Woolgathering and as part of her online celebration, I am posting my own sketch. I lost my wedding band this spring [which would have been the spring of 2007]. I was out in the garden, preparing urns for a new batch of annuals to be nestled in with the evergreen ivy. It wasn't

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-66670101930765608692011-08-17T08:40:00.007-04:002011-08-17T09:43:59.682-04:00

I haven't felt real chatty this summer. The summer study has focused on the role of conflict in life and life has obliged by sending lots of conflict life lessons upon which to practice. Conflict may be a must-have for a good story, but I continue to think it's overrated in one's own life. I could be wrong. Meanwhile, out in the garden, I've harvested the two volunteer melons. One turned out

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-18262304647743737072011-07-20T10:11:00.003-04:002011-07-20T11:55:54.200-04:00

Last year - this time - we were all about cucumbers. This year, it's all tomatoes again. I spent a good five hours yesterday blanching, peeling, coring and seeding a pile of all-ripe-at-the-same-time tomatoes until I couldn't fit any more into my largest pot! And it's a very large pot.There are still 20 left over. What to do with them? More marinara? I don't know. . . .No, there are no

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-54048177864116712212011-07-17T13:44:00.006-04:002011-07-17T14:10:03.227-04:00

We put in a soft-sack thistle feeder to try and get a better look at the yellow finches we like to feed. They were suspicious at first, but eventually started feeding there when we weren't looking. (based on the diminishing seed level)Now, you pretty much have to walk right up before they'll fly off. Even then, they don't fly far.We've seen as many as 3 couples at a time, feeding or waiting

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-740242529246388562011-06-28T12:42:00.006-04:002011-06-28T20:36:45.403-04:00

On garden walkabout with my coffee this morning, I noticed that someone - some thing? - had been digging around in the corner where I keep garden stuff and had drug out the deer netting. It ended up in the caladium patch - which immediately caught my eye. I grabbed it to put it back and screamed, dropping it. See him? How about now? Surely now you see him. He's in quite a tangle. Is he

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-24332977701056448232011-06-07T16:10:00.008-04:002011-06-08T09:20:59.430-04:00

I have often said that if we had to kill our own food, there would be a lot more vegetarians. I don't like the idea of killing animals. I even balk at killing bugs. I chalk it up to my feminine sensitivity and innate nurturing quality. Yes, I know. It's sexist to think that women have innate nurturing sensitivities (and men don't). Get over it. Still, "live and let live" is wonderful

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-39090021470367957432011-05-31T10:58:00.006-04:002011-06-28T12:41:39.001-04:00

Shopping this week led me past a display stand of "artisanal" breads and granolas. The price breakdown showed that the cost of granola was almost $6 a pound. HOW much?! No, it did not make its way into my shopping basket. Neither did our usual big brand name standby.When I got home, I broke out the granola recipe I found several years ago in a magazine. I immediately remembered why I hadn't

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-50757596134374551072011-05-29T19:01:00.004-04:002011-05-29T20:54:21.306-04:00

The garden is doing well.After 3 days in a row of almost 90 degree weather in April, I disregarded the conventional wisdom of waiting until Mother's Day to set out tender plants. I just couldn't help myself. I came home with six-packs of tomatoes, basil, cabbage, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, and romaine lettuce. Beans, sugar snap peas and radishes went in by seed. [Note to self: if the

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-34984263380260743042011-03-16T08:34:00.005-04:002011-03-16T09:17:41.513-04:00

This year, there will be two additional considerations to the garden planning: deer and money. Deer, because the dratted beasts found the garden last year and even bit off the tomatoes, which they then did not eat.Money, because buying lots of plants the silly deer then eat is expensive, but buying herbs and vegetables from the local supermarket is even more so! More than ever, I am determined

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-25058348422252285412011-03-15T08:49:00.009-04:002011-03-15T11:38:21.583-04:00

Overheard this weekend at the Greenwood:"How long have you been knitting, J__?""About 20 minutes.""No, I mean how long have you been knitting? When did you learn?""20 minutes ago. Queenie just taught me."I don't think I've ever taught a more apt pupil. (Sorry, M__. You may have been surpassed. We'll see.) In any event, J__ showed up, large with child, bearing her "knitting" supplies, which

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-51247040165774263232011-02-02T11:17:00.003-05:002011-02-02T12:07:29.768-05:00

The queen-mum is back from her latest foray, this time to foreign southern climes of the Puerto Rican persuasion. She sent this photo, which I thought bordered on mean. But as I loved looking at it anyway, how mean could it be? So pretty. . . . and yes, we were also invited. . . .Anyway, she came back with her usual largesse from the local markets. Knorr makes instant garlic cubes! [who

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-52284445756433893632011-02-01T14:54:00.003-05:002011-02-01T15:43:59.023-05:00

One of our favorite family jokes is the one of the simpleton who, when asked to name the most amazing human invention, intoned: "The thermos.""The thermos?!!!"Yeah! The thermos. You put hot things in it and it keeps it hot; you put cold things in and it keeps it cold. How do it know?!"Well, here is my new amazing hot/cold pack. It's perhaps not quite as amazing as the thermos, but it's

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-4220445701567106412011-01-20T08:24:00.004-05:002011-01-20T08:47:26.841-05:00

Which consists solely of pictures.

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-21745761158053292692011-01-16T11:39:00.004-05:002011-01-16T11:46:34.628-05:00

What is it about these flowers that makes me want to record the day-to-day unfoldings of them? They look like some sort of prehistoric bird beak emerging from an egg. Pterodactyl-like.This one was a gift from the queen-Mum, who realized she would likely still be out of town (in southern, tropical climes) when it bloomed.Knowing me, she probably figured pictures would be forthcoming. I've

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-82538306546317864772010-12-28T16:18:00.013-05:002010-12-28T17:39:00.209-05:00

The snow is still on the ground, barely, and through the trees I see the red of a huge timber truck loading up enormous sections of the road-side oak recently felled by the utility company. We were worried that a repeat of the 100-year snowfall from last year was about to make a repeat appearance this 101st year! But no. We got all the enjoyment of a snowfall with none of the work. I don't

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-87250571549253975852010-12-08T14:31:00.010-05:002010-12-08T16:13:45.433-05:00

. . . . in which the queen-mum attempts to poison her offspring.The queen-mum and her consort have recently returned from their annual world cruise. As is their wont, they return with little treats from the local markets. Spices, condiments and coffees are popular acquisitions and this trip was no exception.The bottles of Madeira were broken by their bearers (so the entire travel party smelled

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-78903885012294832542010-11-30T14:06:00.007-05:002010-11-30T15:06:24.129-05:00

The full 2010 herb crop is (and has been) in. I consulted my notes on the "recipe" for les herbes du bois vert - the greenwood version of herbes de provence - and remembered that it was generally a quarter rosemary, a quarter thyme, a quarter savory and a quarter of whatever else there was (including lavender, tarragon, sage, etc.) Oh, and I've also consulted with a scholar in Paris, and she

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-11768236813949277802010-10-09T12:39:00.006-04:002010-10-09T12:56:39.437-04:00

I left the potatoes in longer this year, and put in more plants. It didn't help. Here's the potato harvest this year. Here was last year's. You noticed too, did you? More potato plants left in longer equals fewer potatoes. They were smaller, too. Go figure!Ah well - they were free, and they're pretty red potatoes. I cut up the ones at the bottom of the bag which had started sprouting,

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-10632037015666611432010-09-23T12:41:00.006-04:002010-12-28T17:33:44.744-05:00

No moths were injured during this photo shoot. No yellow paint was applied. He came that way. Really! Think about it like this: if you were this colour and saw a house this colour, wouldn't you set up residence there? It would be a serendipitous sign I don't know that I could resist. A 'message from God'. . . .OK. Look. If I had painted this guy, would I have been able to get him the

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-14188456407634600092010-09-18T01:10:00.003-04:002010-09-18T01:14:36.890-04:00

There is the unmistakable hint of fall in the air. At the same time, a very late firefly has been lighting up in the pasture the last two evenings. I love this time of year.

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-86660812558924859612010-09-15T11:12:00.004-04:002010-09-15T11:37:16.753-04:00

You will have noted the use of the singular. There was one. It was smaller than it appears in this picture. I say this in the interest of full disclosure, but I do not care to give you a picture proving the fact. I left it on the vine a good long time, hoping it would get bigger. It did not. I finally harvested it when I could smell it when I strolled past. It was starting to attract the

queenienoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-89852952380834489162010-08-19T12:21:00.006-04:002010-08-19T13:42:23.791-04:00

I harvested the first red cabbage. After the lessons learned from eggplants and cucumbers, I began to worry that leaving the cabbage in the ground all summer might not result in a larger head of cabbage, it might just result in a tougher head of cabbage! My fears were not ill-founded. I was not able to cut the cabbage off its cabbage stalk with my garden shears, but had to pull the whole

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-14118875584454242382010-08-17T11:56:00.005-04:002010-08-17T13:12:36.253-04:00

I was thrilled the other day to see what appeared to be a miniature hummingbird buzzing the violas that were still braving this summer's intense heat. Upon closer examination, he appeared to have antennae and legs. A hummingbug? Cool! On the other side of the garden, I've started having to police the tomato plants for enormous caterpillars which - overnight - can defoliate the entire top of

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-14035737890128532602010-08-03T11:00:00.004-04:002010-08-16T08:05:45.549-04:00

Last year, on July 14, we ate our first full-sized tomato. This year, on July 14, the deer pulled all our still ripening full-sized tomatoes off the tomato plants.What a difference a year makes.Last year, first thing in August, it was all about the tomato. This year, it's cucumbers. Here's the harvest from yesterday. Today, I finally picked the overlooked ones. Who knew they'd be so

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-70238888455748771932010-07-25T14:46:00.002-04:002010-07-25T15:19:14.318-04:00

Maybe there is such a thing as too much basil. Here's what I brought in yesterday. Here's what I cut today, along with several carrots the deer have ignored. That's a lot of basil, and there's more where this came from! Not to mention out back, in the water garden. Last year, it produced a ton of basil. This year, there's Genovese basil (the standard), African blue basil, Box globe

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-78935224384117614592010-07-25T12:20:00.005-04:002010-07-29T01:22:24.943-04:00

I fell in love with these socks the first time I saw them.I've been wanting to cast on to knit them ever since! The problem was finding a nice shade of green yarn. Sock yarn these days is all variegated or hand-painted it seems, at least in the shops. If you do find a single coloured sock yarn, it is either acrylic or a poisonous shade. What gives? I had some cotton yarn in a nice green, but

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-7300645062521324902010-07-23T21:48:00.008-04:002010-07-28T11:40:40.302-04:00

What to do with a surplus of cucumbers? A friend suggested a cold cucumber soup [?!] and gave a general idea of the recipe. I'd never heard of it. It sounded wierd! But the more I thought of it - in 100 degree plus temperatures - the better it sounded. This is a somewhat different version I ended up coming up with, which was delicious! Here's the recipe: Cucumber garlic chive

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-7452948904637127262010-07-15T15:07:00.009-04:002010-07-16T13:05:04.128-04:00

The pictures by Michael Shakespeare Gregg of the child dedication/baptism last weekend are so splendid, I didn't want to bury them in an otherwise rather drab post about liturgies!Here is the family in question: Here, the 'officiants'. Aunt Dawn with Joshua, the elder. He did well! And now it's Joey's turn. He looks a bit ill at ease; perhaps we'll hold Uncle Jeff's hand. . . . .

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-73189269194059678902010-07-15T13:05:00.009-04:002010-07-15T14:39:58.086-04:00

I cannot keep up with the cucumbers. Every time I turn around, there's four more. And every yellow flower is potentially yet another one! Here's what happens over the course of a few days. Here (below) is what happens if you miss one! I've decided to leave this one on the vine to see just how big it will get - as well as what colour it ends up. I've never seen the likes of this before.

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-35790983618632527142010-07-14T10:19:00.006-04:002010-07-15T12:52:09.379-04:00

Everyone knows that deer won't touch tomatoes. So what are those green globes littering the landscape in my garden?! Right. Tomatoes.Apparently no one bothered to tell this year's crop of fawns that they don't like tomatoes. They pulled down just about every green tomato on the plants.Here are the cloven footprints to prove it! And the little fawn-ey tooth marks. (and the little green

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-84240985736790026072010-07-11T12:29:00.004-04:002010-07-16T13:05:45.045-04:00

No, I will not be writing a theological treatise on this subject.When photographer Michael Shakespeare Gregg gets some photos together I will add a photo or two of the spiritual subjects in question: Joshua and Joseph, two tykes who were dedicated [if not baptized] this weekend on a beach in Delaware. They are adorable! The event required a liturgy, which was not that easy to find. At least I

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-37261606894794638092010-07-06T15:14:00.004-04:002010-07-06T15:33:17.563-04:00

Cutest baby socks ever!With a name like SockPixie you expect cute. These socks deliver! You can find SockPixie's free pattern here. I am not completely convinced they will fit a newborn, but what do I know of babies?! These are the ones I knit. I guess they do look large enough, when pictured with my hand for size reference. . . .Yes, the greenwood is expecting a grandchild. Of the male

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-60838433248914238832010-06-25T17:15:00.007-04:002010-06-28T09:11:48.784-04:00

We went to the Boordy Vineyard last week for an evening picnic. Several people asked for my black bean and rice recipe, so I thought I'd post what I recall of that batch, here. No two batches are ever alike, you see! For one, our friend Jess doesn't like mushrooms(?!), and because we love Jess, I made this batch without them. (Normally, sliced mushrooms would go in with the onions and ground

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-23968515702475870722010-06-22T10:47:00.004-04:002010-06-22T13:46:34.538-04:00

Last year, the queen-mum found a gorgeous day lilly garden in Bethany Beach, with an obliging gardener who will occasionally dig up some of his prize day lilies for you, for a modest sum. She ordered all kinds and colours from him, some of which made their way to the greenwood. Not having seen the garden in bloom, I had to take the rave reviews on faith. We planted them last fall. The first

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-33020288182924844922010-06-13T23:39:00.003-04:002010-06-14T00:17:30.768-04:00

In stark contrast to the abundant herb bounty are the root veggies I planted in late April. We've got radishes and carrots. After an initial good show on the radish front, they seem to have fallen off. We have lovely radish tops, with red, string roots below. No root vegetable. Or not much vegetable yet, anyway.The carrots have great carrot tops, but not much root yet either. I keep

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-75950617205293870802010-06-13T17:14:00.005-04:002010-06-13T23:35:01.362-04:00

Somehow I've always thought that the fall was the proper harvest time. I'd been wondering how I would get through the summer without buying another tin of herbes de Provence before I could properly harvest the greenwood herbs and start making my own greenwood blend. We grow all the required herbs here, after all, and it's not all that difficult to dry them and mix them together in a blend I can

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-27805914307407943092010-06-09T13:21:00.007-04:002010-06-09T14:13:07.972-04:00

Found in the attic of my mother some time ago: a pair of vintage red-heeled socks, together with the original instructions for making a sock monkey. They had belonged to my grandmother - to Nana - who had a fondness for making small stuffed critters. For a reason I cannot imagine, she never got around to making this particular one.Actually, I can imagine why she never made this sock monkey.

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-25974798913822812982010-06-02T11:24:00.008-04:002010-06-02T11:49:05.410-04:00

OK, I'm not crazy about zucchini. The queen mum had requested room for one (count it - "one" - "1" - however you want to say ONE single, solitary) plant here in the garden, which I reluctantly agreed to harbor. She solemnly promised to look after it and to dispose of all the bounty. Heaven knows one zucchini plant can put out an impressive array of zucchinis. Around here, the joke goes that

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-40732078377808159802010-05-28T11:40:00.004-04:002010-05-28T13:04:07.446-04:00

It's so easy to forget what things looked like, once they've changed. Here's a picture from last year, pre-garden. I didn't take many pictures of this area, because it was kind of ugly. No, I mean really ugly. More like this: Nothing would grow there! This, my friends, is what happens when your builder does not use good topsoil when doing the final grade. It's a mess.You've seen the

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-37615629664035011742010-05-21T21:58:00.005-04:002010-06-25T16:18:16.088-04:00

From seed, I eventually learned what was vegetable and what was weed. Here, these left are definitely vegetable. What is that hint of red? Radish. Is it full-grown already? Yes. Look at this! Like red marbles. It was delicious! I do hope we get more than one at a time in future, though. In other small beginnings, these are the melons. Wait'll you see them in a week or

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-27192373218695115052010-05-15T16:02:00.003-04:002010-05-15T16:29:58.971-04:00

When last we talked, I had been told that green bean plants produce only some 12 beans per plant. This was not good news. I can eat 12 beans at one go!I looked at the landscape and reassessed. I put green bean seeds everywhere I could squeeze some room. Good news, they all came up! We have pole beans, bush beans, and beans of many colour (although they all look pretty much the same right now)

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-12027512916027897632010-04-22T08:58:00.006-04:002010-04-22T09:48:41.490-04:00

One of these days has got to be 'earth day' - but I don't know which one. We've been subjected to earth day references, exhortations, imprecations, sales pitches and home remedies for months now!In the news today: the Ogallala Aquifer is being depleted at an alarming rate. It turns out that the original survey report of the Louisiana land purchase may have been correct:I do not hesitate in

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-21060754510074825132010-04-15T08:00:00.001-04:002010-04-18T10:16:25.541-04:00

These are the prettiest violas I think I've ever seen. I chanced to buy two small plants last spring (from Homestead Gardens down the road) and had enough forethought to save some seed pods. One plant survived the multiple multiple-foot snowfalls this winter, and started blooming in the front pot as soon as the snow disappeared. I discovered several progeny manfully leafing out in the gravel

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-82410108900232851942010-04-14T12:23:00.002-04:002010-04-14T13:25:30.603-04:00

I can't believe I haven't written about this yet - it's been a week now; no, two!I have elsewhere complained - long, loud and hard - about the soil Tom-builder left in the one reliably sunny spot here at the greenwood; the one spot any decent gardener would choose to put a garden. Apparently it was also the one spot any normal man-of-a-builder would choose upon which to make concrete, mix

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-58654568242888142762010-04-14T11:05:00.005-04:002010-04-15T11:41:19.150-04:00

The spring is beautiful here. Everywhere I look is evidence of what is written in the ancient song: "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." *Found here the other day, by the king, a four-leaf clover; AND a five-leaf clover. One friend wanted to know what was in the water here! We wondered ourselves when we looked out the window yesterday and saw

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-41127605937417481412010-03-29T12:56:00.004-04:002010-03-29T16:47:43.442-04:00

. . . a picture of the daffodils that gave their 'full measure' to the clutches of wee toddlers. You can surely see the one that caught my eye also last year - here's the picture from last year to compare. Of course they would decapitate my favorite flower. . . . Perhaps this will spur the bulb on to greater efforts next year, however, and we'll see two [dare I hope for three?] of these

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-53957946975365757702010-03-28T10:24:00.016-04:002010-03-28T12:58:31.507-04:00

The daffodils are out - but I have no pictures! We have more this year than last, though. Daffodils, that is.You may recall we had a daffodil planting party in the fall - here's the link and while I'm linking, here are some pictures from last year's daffodils. They look much the same this year - although somehow we seem to have only two varieties this year: bright yellow big ones and white

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-44191784596711257712010-03-11T07:51:00.005-05:002010-03-19T10:21:29.963-04:00

The king finally took matters into his own hands and brought home these lovely shades for the the lamp just off the kitchen. It has warmed the room up nicely. One day, perhaps we'll actually inhabit that room in some meaningful way! It just hasn't happened yet.I think it started with its name. I have read [by someone who unfortunately never gives footnote references] that Einstein said the

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-20972768586510342872010-03-05T11:54:00.005-05:002010-03-05T12:52:25.060-05:00

As promised, here is the report on Luther's new favorite treat, the crunch-bone! It started with a birthday present: a cookbook and cookie cutter.An egg, a cup each of crunchy peanut butter, wheat germ, water and 3 cups of King Arthur whole wheat flower, half cup of rolled oats, and a couple of tablespoons of oil and you've got a heavy dough! Roll out to however thick you want the biscuits

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-35104561110863713852010-02-26T10:52:00.005-05:002010-02-26T11:54:34.917-05:00

I'm tired of the snow. Tired of thinking about the weather. Tired of white - dingy white - swirling white - and cold heavy wet white everywhere.This is why I have not posted anything here for some time. I seem to have a compulsion to document the weather! I am tired of that. But it was either that, or getting into trouble for posting inside pictures with people's faces in it. . . . Now this

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-6020370426754500932010-02-08T11:12:00.007-05:002010-02-09T11:16:23.612-05:00

Twenty nine hours of straight snow. . . . punctuated by late night thunder and lightening (which I apparently slept through), resulted in almost 3 feet of the white stuff here at the greenwood. Day three dawned bright and clear, with a cornflower blue sky. Did I mention cold? I should have. It was crisp!The dig-out from the blizzard of 2010 had been commenced the day before at the height of

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-56626809025897294492010-01-23T14:01:00.005-05:002010-01-23T15:29:37.829-05:00

In the entrance way of the queen-mum's beach house there used to be a tacky banner printed with sea gulls and sea shells that said "Welcome to the Beach!" It was a jarring presence in an otherwise serene house. I didn't quite know how to bring up the subject until she finally took it down this fall.*"Where'd it go?" I asked. "You know, I never really did quite like it. . . .""Neither did I!"

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-38817777709845321202009-12-31T11:12:00.007-05:002010-01-02T17:06:19.551-05:00

I've been knitting for almost 50 years now. What an amazing thought! I got my first acting role in the first grade solely on the basis of the fact that I could knit. I played Mrs. Claus in our Christmas play at school, and was on stage almost the entire play, knitting in a rocking chair. I did have one line: "Santa, don't forget your scarf!!" I've been given permission to knit a kingly vest

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-91735735139146457482009-12-22T11:24:00.006-05:002009-12-23T09:04:14.333-05:00

Luther's favorite toy. OK, ok. . . . His super-Kong, if loaded up with a tasty treat, takes precedence, but without a treat, this is what he goes for! The request. To make in multiples for all his friends! Easily done. Gray flannel fleece (don't use regular regular fabric - or flannel - as it shreds and the strings are easily swallowed/eaten). Cut into 2 inch strips and 4-strand

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-15285945768747351272009-12-16T09:25:00.005-05:002009-12-16T10:33:42.175-05:00

Facebook has revamped its privacy settings, allowing you to control who-sees-what of what you post there. I can now post pictures, for example, that only my mother can see. I can post the link to an article just for my liberal friends, and another article for the conservative ones. Or I can post under the 'default' setting - which is 'everyone'.Blogs have no such controls. If you post it,

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-45819498359616726682009-11-23T11:10:00.004-05:002009-11-28T10:28:08.898-05:00

The good news is: I found the mistake in my current knitting project, which is the re-knit of a circular woolen shawl I started 4 or 5 years ago.The bad news? It was a major mistake, some 20 rows earlier. It was not something I could just fix-and-go, or adapt the pattern on the fly. It needed to be ripped out, and re-done. Thank you Elizabeth Zimmerman, EZ to her many 'friends' in the

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-34621964318658954842009-11-11T09:02:00.008-05:002009-11-12T11:36:33.932-05:00

It doesn't look like much now, but we planted hundreds of tulips in this little bed. So far, they have escaped detection by the squirrels, who are overwhelmed with a bumper beechnut crop. Hopefully, the first they know of the tulips will be when they bloom next spring! Then, I'll dig them out, and store the bulbs till fall again, by which time the veggie garden can be cleared away, the

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-7494802007260376832009-10-26T10:04:00.007-04:002010-01-03T07:41:36.860-05:00

No. There's no ham in this story. Only green tomatoes. Lots of green tomatoes. . . . I've learned a lot this first year of vegetable gardening at the greenwood. Obviously, sun is vital (if not to the actual survival of the plant, then at least to the production of edible produce. Likewise, water (also vital) can present problems at either end of the spectrum - too much water, or too

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-15325598352529361282009-10-09T14:06:00.004-04:002009-10-09T14:23:52.958-04:00

OK, so they tell you all about keeping files of things you like when you're going to be building a home, redecorating, etc., but here's something I haven't actually seen written down:Keep a file listing everything you actually chose. Colours, model numbers, brands, etc.Why? you may ask. Because you will forget. And then you will have a hard time figuring it all out again.Case in point: What

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-4843360828587861162009-09-28T09:56:00.003-04:002009-12-16T11:57:49.822-05:00

The summer is over. Granted, it's a beautiful day today, the birds are singing, and last night I saw another firefly. Two of them, in fact, one on each side of the lawn. I've never known them to linger so long.Still, the summer is over. I can tell in the bug sound in the woods, where locusts have given way to crickets. I can tell in the trees, where a shimmer of red and yellow hide among the

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-78455896980567405932009-09-25T11:23:00.004-04:002009-09-25T12:24:27.439-04:00

Some of my favorite clothes were found in thrift shops ("Charity shops," for my Irish friends). I love thrift shops, and they seem to love me, based on the amazing number of wonderful finds that have come to live in my closet and take turns going out with me on excursions, draped over my body. There are not usually a lot of things in my size, but what is there is usually choice. . . . I've

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-87931871533702246912009-09-21T09:23:00.006-04:002009-09-22T12:29:30.536-04:00

Luther has a blue spot on his left forearm. Right, as you're looking at him."A bruise?" I thought, involuntarily, before I collected my thoughts."A sunspot." I'd been peering out the french doors into a courtyard made brilliant by the early morning sun and then looked down at Luther, who was regally crouched at my feet in his best stone lion pose, mistress and hound in the

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-37661315391705759692009-09-16T11:00:00.005-04:002009-09-16T12:46:39.795-04:00

To summarize, there's the failed garden, the tomato garden and the water garden. [ a tale of three gardens]The failed garden produced a lot of weeds, prolific carrot, beet and radish tops, a goodly amount of smallish tomatoes with no taste, and some pretty - but stunted - red chard. Steve came over the other day to help me shut it down. Here, by the way, is a visual depiction of why the garden

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-46651640027168255732009-09-04T11:47:00.007-04:002009-09-04T12:44:14.241-04:00

The bench outside - the one I look at every morning and evening and sit on much less frequently (unfortunately) - has made a U.K. appearance. Writer Sarah Salway's delightful little bench of a site, A Quiet Sit Down features benches from all over. Quirky benches, gorgeous benches, startling benches, intriguing benches. . . .And now the greenwood bench, from my favorite place in the whole world.

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-52261757284105788662009-08-25T11:18:00.007-04:002009-08-25T11:58:17.207-04:00

I've been entirely too dependent on my camera, I'm thinking. I actually got to the point where I realized I was thinking "I have nothing to say, because I have nothing to show."This is not a good thing from someone who fancies herself a writer.So: I left the camera behind deliberately, and have headed to the West coast - Big Sur country - armed only with my words.I'm a little out of practice.

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-9471525835118627182009-08-19T10:52:00.003-04:002009-08-19T11:28:33.112-04:00

OK, so we didn't hear back on our Luther for Spokesdog campaign for Carol's Canine Cookies (c'mon Carol! Get that website up! There's link-clicks to be had!). I understand she's not terribly internet-savvy and only recently saw the internet campaign.In the meantime, Luther made his way through all the cookie rolls, the banana-fanny's, the cheesy-fanny's, and the sweet-potato rolls. Then, he

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-79650129646668744122009-08-14T11:09:00.006-04:002009-08-14T12:40:03.701-04:00

This. Is beautiful. Look at the colours! The single tomato, ripe, flavorful, beautiful. Here's the problem: every day I go outside and bring in more of these. They have a limited shelf life. If I don't do something with them within a day or two, they start turning ugly. With brown and black spots. And the occasional green or purple fuzz. Not beautiful; not something I want to

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-8709469223236640762009-08-05T09:19:00.003-04:002009-08-05T09:40:16.525-04:00

This time of year, I pull mushrooms like other people pull weeds. Ok, ok, they're probably toadstools, but I don't know the difference. I do know I'm not eating them!They're everywhere. In the mulch - natch - that's where they are known to flourish: too-deep mulch. I've been hauling mulch away almost since it got put down. It's been making great paths over the clay hardpack that turns

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-26879741103234134312009-08-04T10:07:00.002-04:002009-08-04T10:35:57.395-04:00

The early morning sun is so beautiful. All is peaceful. Calm. Quiet. Sleepy, still.But wait. If you pull back just a bit you'll see what's wrong. Wake up li'l' Suzie - it's 07:30 and the contractors are here! No, this isn't from last year - you can see Luther [full-grown] in the picture. This is this year, déjà vu all over again! (Thank you,Yogi Berra)The bathroom floor is being

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-10421081702337921122009-08-03T21:56:00.003-04:002009-08-03T22:12:55.921-04:00

The tomato crop is coming in, faster and faster. Here's what we have on hand, so far! The colours. . . . so brilliant. This is the Black Zebra tomato I just wrote about - sliced up. Pretty, isn't it? The Long Tom is still the favorite, though. . . .

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-68130260330197753002009-08-03T13:50:00.000-04:002009-08-03T13:53:29.686-04:00

With every tomato or aubergine we eat, a scrape of pulp and seeds goes onto a paper towel to be dried and (if we like it) saved for next year. So far, our favorite (by far) is Long Tom tomato. . . . but we still have the Cour di Bue to try, and the Black Zebra, not to mention the Genovese Costoluto!The Romas have been a bit disappointing. . . . and the Jaune Flamme a bit tart. . . . I

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-15868681349129334892009-07-30T07:44:00.008-04:002009-08-01T13:20:24.150-04:00

I saw a knitted hemp pillow online with a $570 price tag. (the one with the patch is only $525, I think it was. I'm still working out the patch bit. . . . 'now just why are we patching this new pillow? So that it looks old? and we pay more for that? And why was that again?') I liked the cable one, but $570?!"Ridiculous!" I thought. "I'll make my own!" and so I did.Two weeks later, I

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-77718703659493393892009-07-22T17:01:00.008-04:002009-07-22T22:11:14.843-04:00

Luther would like you to know that he receives absolutely no compensation as spokesdog for Carol's Canine Cookie Rolls (website still under construction). That's because he isn't the spokesdog for CCCR, although he would like to apply for said position. He'd be a handsome spokesdog, well-spoken.Remuneration could be in the aforesaid Cookie Rolls - which he'd never tried before last week - but

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-36015128620334115532009-07-17T10:15:00.004-04:002009-07-17T11:08:07.682-04:00

We had dinner with dear friends last weekend, a beautiful evening, joint-project cooking, and an incredible setting: on the water, with candles, fireflies, potted hibiscus trees in bloom and a table setting that looked like something out of House and Garden Magazine (although I said "Martha Stewart" when I complimented daughter J., which I'm not sure she appreciated. I meant it was

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-89204442920579969582009-07-15T15:33:00.004-04:002009-07-15T15:44:09.001-04:00

Whaddya do with these guys?Besides arrange them in whimsical ducky poses?Seriously - any hints? No, these are from a friend's garden (although I believe the failed garden might be harboring a squash or two). . . . and no, I don't eat squash either. But hopefully the other greenwood inhabitants and visitors will!Now. First things first. Do you peel 'em?They sure are colourful!

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-72392710405923147522009-07-14T13:04:00.003-04:002009-07-14T13:09:46.174-04:00

As in: "That first-grown tomato is history."Stay tuned for new veggie pictures! (Be still my beating heart. . . .)

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-76696758824035169532009-07-08T10:17:00.003-04:002009-07-14T13:03:55.921-04:00

As it's July, it should come as no surprise that it's hot outside. I take that back. It's not really all that hot - still below 90, which officially counts as HOT - but the sun has been out unrelentingly, and I stay out of the sun these days. That means I have a limited window of time in which I can be outside, unless I'm in the woods.The good news: the house stays nice and cool, so far even

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-60839287754643905572009-07-07T12:37:00.005-04:002009-07-07T12:53:59.276-04:00

I'm sorry. I can't help myself. I don't like aubergines or tomatoes, but I am obsessed with the day-to-day accomplishments of them growing! Look - the aubergines are getting a whole lot bigger. And here, see the first reddening tomato! Unfortunately, the bugs got to it before I did. . . . but I'm letting it continue to ripen on the vine in the failed garden, just so the tomatoes in the

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-49941050153699380422009-07-04T11:24:00.002-04:002009-07-04T12:43:27.980-04:00

Coneflowers are said to be pretty nigh indestructible. Bugs don't touch them; neither do deer. They're prickly things, no aroma, but the colours are nice and they come back every year. What's not to like?!I splurged this year and got one of the new cultivars that have scent, even prettier colours, and gorgeous names! Summer Sky - said to be the most fragrant of this new strain. They're

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-71356269073356069972009-06-30T10:04:00.006-04:002009-06-30T11:45:56.733-04:00

We now have three gardens. The failed garden that wasn't such a complete failure, the first raised bed garden for the Italian heirloom tomatoes in an undeniably sunny spot in front of the studio (where the black widow was found), and the second raised bed garden in the surprise!-several-hour-sunny spot along side the back of the house, which turned out to have serious water issues. (who knew

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-39541848455765367222009-06-28T22:05:00.003-04:002009-06-28T22:30:48.763-04:00

Luther had company. Much play ensured.Leaving all concerned, exhausted. Lilli fared better than the others, but she was wiped out, too.Eron bounced back. He kept coming back for more.So did Luther, even when he looked like he was down for the count! He hasn't moved since they left. OK - yes he did come inside.

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-90843488847160895842009-06-27T22:59:00.001-04:002009-06-27T23:03:35.049-04:00

a.k.a. the hound.Dreaming of exploits.

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-51702156098309319632009-06-22T17:33:00.004-04:002009-06-22T17:47:26.399-04:00

Purty, ain't she?Yes, I knew immediately what kind she was. . . . No, I didn't ask her to roll over so I could see her belly. The red I could see was close enough to giving me the idea of the black widow red hour-glass on her belly without closer inspection. This was more than close enough, thank you very much.I saw her right after I'd pulled the fencing down from around the tomatoes and was

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-22321011714667963762009-06-15T22:50:00.003-04:002009-06-15T23:04:39.149-04:00

OK, so the the failed garden isn't as complete a failure as I'd thought. Imagine my surprise to see these on the admittedly spindly vines! I was going to photograph the difference between the ones from the greenwood garden [no sun] and the ones from my dad's garden [sun] - but I couldn't tell the difference. If anything, the ones from the greenwood garden are maybe a bit more tender. . . .

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-14357993712168969152009-06-12T09:48:00.003-04:002009-06-12T10:29:11.731-04:00

Found, out in the front pasture, by the Sicilian.I've never actually seen a four-leaf clover in real life, only those pressed into medallions sold in Shannon Airport which (as everyone knows) are so easy to fake. I used to do it as a child all the time: pick two clovers, rip all but one leaf off one, hold the two stems together and - voilà! - a four-leaf clover.The king said he used to find

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-20542281950604118962009-06-10T10:58:00.004-04:002009-06-10T11:50:52.502-04:00

In the words of the song - Storm - "there's a big storm comin'. . . ."We watched it from under the porte cochère. Luther was unfazed by the thunder and lightning, which was a relief after his scare the day before yesterday by a crack and a clap of thunder that came out of nowhere. . . . Very alarming. I have been hoping that he will not develop a fear of thunder and lightning, though. To

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-2616294145198428952009-06-02T21:29:00.003-04:002009-06-02T21:34:53.729-04:00

Seen, tonight, the first firefly.And the second.And - I think - the third.It was hard to count, competing with lightning flashes on the northwest horizon. The setting sun was almost green tonight, in a perfume haze of honeysuckle. They're calling for severe thunderstorms. The lightning bugs flitted about the top promenade, just at the edge of the woods, going no deeper. I wonder if they're

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-75368009629880456382009-05-31T10:53:00.003-04:002009-05-31T10:59:38.722-04:00

I was horrified to discover that these are my husband's favorite flowers for summer.Petunias.a.k.a. "beach umbrellas" (as he calls them).A pot - a small pot - of them sits on our outside table. I hate to admit it, but they're growing on me. They're kind of pretty, up close.. . . bite thy tongue! Silly petunias. . . .

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-68588783628825021672009-05-29T09:11:00.004-04:002009-05-29T10:00:12.733-04:00

We had such high hopes for the garden. Such trenchings and roto-tillings that went on, and beans, peas, radishi, beets, tomatoes, potatoes and roquettes that went in! And fencings. Oh, the fencings. All for nought.The sun has not risen high enough in the sky to throw its rays over the top of the clearing of trees to reach the garden. It gets nothing more than leaf-filtered light and that is

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-73808959613474575572009-05-25T21:35:00.007-04:002009-05-29T10:03:08.257-04:00

Nope. Not Luther. Luther had company. That's Lilli! Here they are together. You'll see the difference readily. Lilli's the blonde. . . .Luther likes blondes.Here's Lilli and wee Eron. I like to call him Enron. Too many business ethics case studies, I imagine. He's a perpetual motion machine. Oh - and a barker! He doesn't much like Luther. Not yet, anyway. He's leery of him, so

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-26353915928323384112009-05-15T12:51:00.003-04:002009-05-15T12:56:14.702-04:00

My latest, favorite song: Walter Reed by Michael Penn. Yep, Sean's brother.I'd never heard of him before, but heard this song on a rerun of House last night and tracked it down. Now I can't get it out of my head. Be advised.[It's worth it.]

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-89098538571071016912009-05-06T11:04:00.004-04:002009-05-06T11:27:08.012-04:00

Words of wisdom from Michele at Garden Rant:1. Plant asparagus, even if you don't think you'll be here for the harvest, and2. When planting asparagus, "I didn't follow the usual directions, which generally recommend some absurd trenching and digging program and planting the crowns in sculptural fashion on a mound well below the soil surface. It's one of my basic principles as a gardener: Never

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-67623003189235833892009-05-03T09:25:00.003-04:002009-05-03T15:45:03.994-04:00

It's a green day at the greenwood. The leaves on the trees are bright, tender, green in the low light of an otherwise gray day. It fills the house with green. Dark; eerie; like fog. It's peaceful, quiet and calm. Later, a fire on the hearth will add a golden glow with red and black: the 'smells and bells' of our sabbath in crackling incense. Outside, rain threatens, now only a mist. A

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-71155866321856190682009-05-02T09:49:00.005-04:002009-05-02T12:35:35.424-04:00

You remember this, the strange plant pictured lower right? It got bigger, and more threatening looking. The king took action. Chemical warfare. sigh. . . . It reminds me of the old science fiction movies: "What is it?!" "I don't know. KILL IT!" Now we know what it is, but it's dead. We killed Jack. In his pulpit. Luckily, there are others. ("We're sorry, others!") I hope

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-75821360046047188552009-05-01T08:36:00.002-04:002009-05-01T08:42:39.332-04:00

This. Is. Amazing.What I like are the reactions: (1) shock, (2) delight, (3) catch it, (4) join in, or (5) ignore. . . .It is good to remember what we are capable of. Even in a train station.Maybe especially in a train station!(Thanks to Gretchen over at the Happiness Project.)

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3828775835391301976.post-36774491702917398102009-04-29T13:12:00.003-04:002009-04-29T13:16:59.211-04:00

I have been taking photos most every morning for over a week, and I think we may have surrounded the time when the forest made the jump from bud to leaves, if not captured it on film! I'll be posting the photos later, but here's a nice 'beginnings' shot, of the greening of the greenwood.I love spring. . . .

queeniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08696559925337210772noreply@blogger.com0