turkey feathers

Misty Morning

 
The scent of rain soaked pines is in the air.  You can't tell from this picture, but when I stuck my head out the back door this morning it was pouring down rain.  These two are soaked to the skin.  There are plenty of trees and other places to take shelter under, but they don't seem to be bothered one bit. 

  
Can you spot the tiny chickadee up in the branches?  It was very persistent that I not linger. There's a nest in this box and if you are very quiet you can hear the tiny peeps inside.

 
It seems there's a tiny surprise around every corner.

 
Spring peas are waking up!

Got Potato Salad?

 
I'm still here at ye old homestead, and doing just fine now.  Enjoying a beautiful Memorial Day out on the porch with family and feeling grateful for the big things and the little things.  Including the fact that I found out, I do not  have chicken pox as we once thought, but a spa rash due to the poor maintenance of a semi-private hot tub that I was soaking in last week.  Before this, I had no idea such a thing was possible and am just so grossed out now that I know.  My mother would've called it, "the creeping crud".   The rash and other symptoms are very similar to chicken pox--but don't last long; I dare say that would explain a few things.  But, I'm feeling better.  And ever so much wiser.  (Will keep a spa test-kit in our travel bag from now on as a precautionary measure.)  

Oh how I love a three-day weekend.  The leisure of it was all mine though as I watched everybody else bustle around doing things.  The Mister was moving dirt and building new planters for the garden,  the girls shopped and cooked and visited the pool--while I rested and watched free 'On Demand' movies:  Faith Like Potatoes--Loved it!  Maybe a bit rough in the beginning, stick with it though--it's worth it; not a big production but a wonderful true story with some seriously sad parts--so keep your hankies handy.)  Then, I Dreamed of Africa; another family drama set in Africa with big sweeping landscapes, loss and tragedy.  (I was on a jag--apparently.)  And my favorite,The Grass Harp--Truman Capote's coming of age story so full of charm and wit.  I may just watch it again.  Yes, I'm sure I will.  Piper Laurie is perfect as Miss Dolly.  My favorite part is when she runs away from home (to escape her sour sister, played by Sissy Spacek), and goes to live in a treehouse.  Others, sympathetic with her plight, join her--and that's when the mayhem begins.  It's perfectly delightful! 

WYOMING--Indian Paintbrush

 

Well, well well.  Here it is Memorial Day weekend and I have the chicken pox!  I thought at my age it might be something else, but one of the girls got them too.  Counting back two weeks (the incubation time), we were at a birthday party with lots of little ones around, so it's possible we got exposed then.  The illness is much less severe than I remember having when I was eleven, but still quite miserable.  I'm trying not to scratch.  No oatmeal baths or calamine lotion this time though, instead I'm trying Aloe Vera on the blisters and taking Lysine as an immunity booster.  Seems to be working--no new outbreaks since yesterday.  Thank goodness.  So..I guess that means no heavy lifting this weekend--the garden will just have to wait.  Gee, I'm going to miss doing all that work.  *wink*wink*

 Before I head back to my nest with my books and magazines and my basket of sewing and some fun embroidery (might as well look like I'm getting something done--while I doze), I'll leave you with the next state flower quilt block--just in case you find yourself homebound for some reason with some time on your hands...and hopefully not because you have the chicken pox.

* * * * *    

This lovely flower belongs to the figwort family!  It's also called the 'desert paintbrush' and 'prairie fire' and is a native plant in Wyoming, making it a perfect selection for the state flower.  The Indian Paintbrush (castilleja linariaefolia) was thus adopted on January 31, 1917.  This is one of those rare plants that can be both an annual or perennial depending on the climate.  Various Indian tribes throughout the region used it as medicine and also as a rinse to make their hair glossy.  (So that's their secret!) 

COLORS:  upper petals--bright red #349; mid petals--orange #721; lower petals--yellow green #734; stems/leaves--olive green #730; letters--smoke gray #645.

I chose bright colors for this block and filled in most of the areas with lots of satin stitching.  Love how it turned out. 

Have a great weekend everyone!

Wildlife Refuge

 
Here's another picture from the Oregon coast--this estuary is a natural habitat, and wonderfully alive in the spring with nesting birds and bullfrogs providing *morning song* (tweet-tweet) and *night music* (ribbet-ribbet).  It's completely closed off to foot traffic, I was standing on the edge of the road looking in.

  
And this photo...taken from the opposite end--facing toward the sea. 
The sound of the ocean at low tide is but a whisper on the wind. . . . .  
Yesterday, we were just sitting down to lunch, when a young male bobcat hopped up on our backyard deck and casually strolled by. We fell over ourselves trying to get to the windows to watch him.  This is of course, a thrill as well as a concern living on the edge of a vast wilderness. 

Rainy days are here again...but at least we have rainbows!

 

True Blue

 
We were at the coast over the weekend--just meandering down the road, when my eyes spied these gorgeous blue anenomies.  No camera in my pocket either, so my brother-in-law took the photo on his i-phone.  Amazing!  I could just stare at them all day long.  And now I can.  And so can you! Thank you, Drew.

I'll be back with the next flower quilt block soon.  I'm still unpacking and waiting for my 'research assistant' to wrangle up the bio for the Wyoming Indian Paintbrush--these things can't be rushed.  So...in the meantime I'll just shower you with poppies (and other pretties).    

Taking Delivery

 
 Looks like we have our work cut out for us.

Have a great weekend!

Bees & Trees

 
Even in May, there's a chill in the air despite the sunny outbursts that lure us out of the house. There is nothing urgent yet to do in the garden, but I stand and marvel at the awakening.

 

The crabapple trees literally vibrate with unseen activity.

 

A bluebird lands on a nearby branch hidden from sight, but the song is familiar. 

 

Oh! Joy!  The honey bees have returned.

TENNESSEE--Iris

 

Currently, it's a perfect May morning with blue skies and sunshine.  That could change at any moment of course, so I'm basking in it (fully) while it lasts.  We had a frost yesterday morning.  Fortunately, the new beet sprouts that were planted several days ago didn't seem to mind.  But I'm thankful the tomato seedlings are under the protection of a gro-lite.  Looking out the window, I spy Iris standing tall, still in bud.  Any day now I expect a beautiful show.  From past seasons, a few were blogged here.  And here.  Who can resist this gorgeous confection of spring, I ask you?   

Surprisingly, it wasn't an easy shoe-in as the Tennessee state flower.  In 1919, Tennessee legislation started the process of choosing a state flower.  School children were to designate a favorite.  The "flower candidates" were listed in the newspaper and the voting began.  To the surprise of some, the Passion Flower was certified the winner, when apparently, it wasn't even known to be in the running.  Poems and pamphlets were quickly issued to usher in the selection and it was accepted--for a time. 

Eleven years later, as the gardening clubs gained attention for its efforts in cultivating the Iris, and Nashville became known as the "Iris City", dissatisfaction for the passion flower as a representative for the state grew.  A claim arose that the passion flower had never been officially adopted which prompted the Tennessee Legislation to get involved and it approved a joint resolution on April 19, 1933 to adopt the Iris instead.  The passion flower had not been forgotten however, and garden clubs, botanists, and newspapers across the state all had something to say.   For a time, Tennessee it seemed, had two state flowers.  Indecision and confusion about which flower was legit lingered for years. 

 From my garden.

Finally, in 1973, there was resolve when the General Assembly designated the passion flower as the official state wildflower, and the Iris as the state cultivated flower, making everybody happy.   No specific type was designated out of over 170 species of Iris (Genus Iridaceae), but today purple is still the most commonly recognized and accepted as the official state flower.        

 

COLORS:  outer petals--purple #550; upper petals--lilac blue #3839; knots--yellow #744; leaves--yellow-green #989, center--navy blue #823; letters--smoke gray #645.

If you are new to the project--the State Flower Quilt Block list is updated with each new addition, so if you are looking for a specific flower, it's a handy resource.  Enjoy!

Quiet Time

 
We are still trying to adjust without our dear little kitty friend.  After twelve years she had become a constant joyful  presence in our lives. 

That unconditional love leaves a lasting impression. 

My family and I have been so touched by your sweet and comforting comments.  They are very much appreciated.  We've read through them many times, usually with misty eyes, and we want to thank you so very much for your support and kindness during this sad time in our lives.  It's nice to know we are in such good company. 

 Happy News::  Somebody had a birthday...hard to believe this baby turned 3! 

 

I'll be back in a few days with the next flower block to share.  I just know you can't wait!   

Loved Always

  
Our beautiful, gentle "Lily of the Valley" left us Sunday, after a rapid downward spiral due to CRF.  We're all still reeling from shock and grief; completely devastated.  Through the tears, it's difficult to post this very sad news.  But I felt it was necessary to explain my absence here on the blog for a time..  I knew you would want to know, and would understand.  Thank you for visiting here today and for caring.