A Full House

As I sit here my house, my "quiet" country house, is filled with the noise of little boys, laughing, shouting to be heard over one another, growling (yes, growling!) and filling the house with an exuberant energy. It is Sijo's 10th birthday party.

The activites we planned to fill a 5 hour stretch of time are being raced through at top speed. The cupcakes have been eaten, and the party bags opened. The back yard is full of wet patches and a still running hose that no one thought to turn off. Bathing suits and towels and wet sandals are strewn from the shoe bench at my doorway to the coffee table half-way across the living room. The boys are beginning what promises to be a video game marathon, although I plan to scoot them back outside into the breezy afternoon at some point in time.

Sijo prepared a lazagna before his friends arrived (it is his specialty) and it is sitting on the counter to be popped into the oven later on. There is a watermelon chilling in the refrigerator. Cool wind through the open windows... Colorful messes in every direction... Little boy chatter and general chaos echoing down the hallway... It's all good.

picture by Haiku July 2009... a quieter moment on the hill

Friday Favorites... Spirit Beads

Reposting a favorite post of my own from the early days of this blog. It was originally posted June 5, 2007.

When I was participating actively in a beader's guild a few years back, I learned about the concept of the spirit bead. As I understand it, Native American beaders would always include one bead that didn't fit the pattern they were working, to indicate that only the Great Spirit or Creator was perfect. My own work had plenty of spirit beads that arrived on their own wings, so I had no need to insert them intentionally.

Ever since learning of that concept, I see "spirit beads" in other aspects of life. For example, the blue flax that piggybacked on a daylily I transplanted to my purple, rose and crimson front garden does not belong. It is the only blue in the garden. Though lovely, and one of my favorite flowers, it is too light and too bright for this particular garden. Nevertheless, so far I have left it there. The blue flax is the spirit bead in the front garden, reminding me that I am not the only gardener on this little parcel of land. There are birds, and wind, and entangled roots that have a hand in the design of my garden. I know it is only the first of many surprises in that garden, and I like it, though it mars my dark romantic color scheme.

The burnt corner of the casserole you are taking to the potluck dinner? Spirit bead. The sagging spot in the top of the birthday cake you made for a friend? Spirit bead. The embarrassing moment you have in front of way too many observers? It's just another spirit bead in the story of your life. It doesn't define the pattern, or who you are. When you start to recognize them as "spirit beads" even imperfections can be beautiful.

Sunday Stroll - Breezy

Just a few photos from the garden after a week of rain... Too breezy for good clear shots, but here is what's growing in my garden on this windy hill. Orange Butterfly Weed, asclepius, above is opening in the butterfly garden, as is a tiny patch of purple asters.

I'm allowing my pincushion flowers to go to seed, so that they will fill in a little more. This little moth does not mind the fading blooms.

The artic daisies are a sweet, fresh focal point in the garden this week, as they sway in the wind.








This little fellow is chomping his way through a wild milkweed which is growing where there ought to be a big patch of dill and lovage, beneath the apple trees.

To every one who strolled today, thank you for taking the time out of your holiday weekend! It may take me a little longer than usual for me to read and comment on all the strolls (after several busy days, my homework is piled up a bit and I've got to catch up!) To everyone reading this, where-ever you are, whatever the weather, I wish you contentment and joy.

...

all photos by Aisling, July 5, 2009

Sunday Stroll - Dappled Light

The end of June is almost here... Accordingly, the iris have bloomed and faded. One last skywings iris is in bloom amid the dry papery husks of the other blossoms. I wrote earlier in the years of "seasons within seasons." So as Iris Season, which bridged the gap between spring and summer, passes, the first of the roses unfold and the lilies and daylily buds swell. Their season swiftly approaches... it is just around the curve in the garden trail.

A clover blooms amid the lemon thyme, a charming invader, and the butterfly weed is cheerful and bright though not yet fully in bloom.

The Japanese Dappled Willow waves its green, pink and white flag-leaves in front of a bed of spent iris, while sunlight and shade dapple the garden trail.

This spicy pink dianthus blooms along the trail, and furthur down a single blue campanula has appeared this year. Many of my pansies are whithering away in this dry dusty season, but these blue beauties offer a splash of cool color.

Nothing cool about these bold and beautiful, Baby Sun Coreopsis!

The last of my peonies to bloom is an unknown cultivar... full, pink and old-fashioned and my most fragrant variety. This delicate mallow seems poised for flight, though if I lived among the herbs and roses as she does, I wouldn't be in any hurry to fly away.

Where-ever you are, whatever the weather, I wish you joy!

Photo note: These were taken on Friday afternoon so that my daughter could borrow my camera for an event this weekend... The stroll and narrative, however, are from today. All photos by Aisling.

Sunday Stroll - Meet the locals

Aidyn, one of our spoiled house cats, followed me down to the garden this morning. He decorated the bench, while I enjoyed the blossoms and the summer sunshine.

This little fellow, Ruby, came to visit while we were there. What? You can't see that little hummingbird sipping from the coral bells. (I know... Bird photos are not my strong point!)

A few days ago this lovely dinosaur...er, snapping turtle, visited our veggie garden looking for a place to lay her leathery eggs.

The pincushion flowers have burst in to bloom in the past few days, attracting butterflies, moths and honeybees.

Meanwhile, the poppies by the playhouse are losing their petals. I enjoy the orange petal-rain that litters the garden, but I am enchanted with the motley crew hanging around by the playhouse. Don't they look like characters from a Tim Burton film?

Wherever you are, however you are spending this first day of summer, I wish you wonder and joy!

all photos by Aisling, except the snapping turtle, which is by Haiku

June 2009

Sunday Stroll - Haiku's Vision

I took a stroll this morning, as clouds gathered. Many of the blossoms remained folded and tucked into themselves as I walked... but later in the day Haiku walked beneath sunnier skies and took these photos. Her close-ups are gorgeous, taken with an artist's eye I think, so I'm borrowing her images for today's post (with her permission.)

1) iris from a friend, unknown cultivar 2)fragrant yellow iris from the same friend 3)dark purple siberian iris 4) German bearded iris, Rock Star 5) Abalone Pearl Peony 6) Scarlette O'hara Peony

all photos by Haiku, June 14, 2009

Sunday Stroll - The Blessing of Rain

Rain drips from glistening blossoms beneath a cloudy sky which promises more rain. The Clementine Aquilegia is a petite plant, almost overwhelmed by the other plants growing near it, and I have to move in close for these photos.

At the south trail-head of the butterfly garden the Skywings Iris, after which I named my garden (The SkyWings Butterfly Garden), are blooming and, nearby, bold Yellow Bearded Iris, a gift from another gardener, are standing proud and tall.

The fairy-tale series miniature lilacs are blooming now... Fairy Dust, Tinkerbell and Prince Charming all charm me with their delicate blossoms and the way they sweeten the air in the garden.





Descendents of the pink lupines that I brought home from my mother-in-law's property are just coloring up and a blue aquilegia, probably a McKana's Giant started from seed a couple of years ago, is blooming near a long stretch of lady's mantle (alchemilla mollis.)




Iris are blooming in other places along the trail as well, including these purple bearded iris and this Wild Jasmine Iris that is beautiful even before it fully opens.



I take a last glance over my shoulder, down along the trail. The garden is a quiet contemplative place on this rainy morning, as it receives the blessing of rain.


Up on the hill, by the garage there are only a few small shrubs planted, but this potentilla seems to thrive in its rocky bed.


At the front door, I pause again. I look out at the day, with its cloudy sky and its not-quite-warm June air, and I am content to be at home on this green hilltop. Where-ever you are, whatever the weather, I wish you peace.