Blooming Rock Garden Part 10

The flower is a yarrow that rarely blooms - doesn't get enough sun, I think - but the real focus is the rock. Isn't it cool? I have had it for many many years. It is a green schist from the creek bed in Trigo Canyon in the Manzano Mountains of New Mexico where I grew up hiking and later, partying, and then later, hiking again.

7 Days Summer 2010 Day 7 Me and the Bairns

7 Days Summer 2010 Day 6 10 Years

Today is our tenth wedding anniversary. ♥ We were married on the edge of a precipice (North Rim of the Grand Canyon) by a friend in front of a scattering of family members. I had that grin plastered on my face the entire time, I was so happy! I still am. 10 years; it seems like a blink.

7 Days Summer 2010 Day 5 Cold Water on Owie (theme is COLD)

I can't stand to wear gloves so my hands generally take a beating when I'm in the garden. Today I smashed one of my fingers (see blood blister), snapped off the middle fingernail, and scraped my middle knuckle. The cold water numbed it up nicely and I didn't cry.

7 Days Summer 2010 Day 4 Blazing Summer Color

This is a sample of what's blooming in my yard on this scorching summer morning. With the sun already high in the sky I was able to capture the brilliant colors (i.e. no editing) just as I see them. I know you can only see my hand but this is as much of a self portrait as any because I put my everything into my garden. These flowers are an extension of me.

7 Days Summer 2010 Day 3 Lurking

7 Days Summer 2010 Day 2 The Cotton Pops (theme is HOT)

As soon as the weather turns exceedingly hot the (female) cottonwoods let fly with a veritable storm of cotton. There happens to be one on either side of us. So when the temp rises we get engulfed. I included my eye in this shot because I am highly allergic to this stuff. It makes my eyes itch something fierce!

Blooming Rock Garden Part 9

Lavender over Gallardia.

Taken

By cotton! The entire property is covered with it. Bad luck the rains came before it popped.

7 Days Summer 2010 Day 1 Morning Read

7 Days is back *beam*.

My blessed little family let me sleep in today then took off for a day in town. I started my rare day off right in the hammock chair with a glass of lemonade and a library book.

The Cotton Flies

It's like snow in summer only not. Hope your eyes don't itch just watching it.

Day in the Life 6-15-2010

Our summer schedule is pretty busy but we like it that way. No one gets too bored.

Today started with me perusing my garden while relaxing in the hammock chair with a cup of black current tea (black). By this time I have already snuggled with freshly awake children, checked email, read the comics, checked in on my message board, cooked and eaten breakfast, watered and weeded where needed, showered, dressed and seen Rob off to work. Well, no wonder I already look tired!



The kids were happy to be getting out of the house.



By the time we got to town it was 77°F which is nice for June so I wasn't complaining!



Summer Reading Program is twice a week this summer. Today was spent out on the lawn playing octopus tag (each person tagged has to hold hands with the rest to tag another)...



Painted murals they'll later hang downstairs in the children's section of the library...





Then Jessica read them a poem and a story with the storyboard.



After library we have just enough time to grab a quick lunch at Sonic before we're off to the pool in Hotchkiss for OT. An added bonus, you can see our Wal-ly World on the other side.



The drive from Delta to Hotchkiss is amazing. I am awed every time. It goes from jutting rocks near Austin, to the seemingly barren 'Dobes (pronounced DOH-beez, short for the adobe clay that is abundant out there), to lush green pastures and orchards of Roger's Mesa (including my favorite tree in the county), to the West Elk Mountains and beyond.











We had to pass through construction both ways. On the way I thought I'd get a shot of the flag person. He graciously posed for me while "riding" his stop sign Happy Gilmore style. I'm submitting this one to FAILBlog.org. LOL Weirdo.



Note the temperature is only 72°F an hour later and only 400 ft. higher. That's the North Fork for you.



This is all called the North Fork as the North Fork of the Gunnison River runs through there on it's way to meet the Gunnison as it comes out of the Black Canyon (see map).



Pool is always fun, wouldn't you agree?



Rhetta had a first besides touching the bottom by herself in the 4 ft. end; she held her nose and put her face underwater! Yay!





Once we got home I inspected my garden again and found my day lilies had burst forth with fiery color. They were merely budding this morning.



Now we are all just relaxing and waiting for Rob to get home so we can have supper and (boy would I like to insert some fun family activity right here but we've got chores to do!)

Blooming Rock Garden Part 8

Rain this morning, blazing sun this afternoon, just the right angle this evening and voilá! Pincushion at sunset.

Note: This is cropped only with no color editing whatsoever.

Blooming Rock Garden Part 7

Lamb's Ear. A most interesting flower; phallic and yonic both. The silvery blue leaves look and feel like soft newborn lamb's ears.

Being Cute While Being In Trouble

I just have to get this down before I forget it.

Willon (41 months) lashed out at Rob, a weird habit he has of knocking Daddy's glasses off when he's torqued, and earned a time-out. Our time-outs consist of sitting in a quiet spot thinking about your offense until the timer goes off. Then you're required to apologize, "I'm sorry I *insert offense here" before you can go about your business. When it came time for Willon to apologize he was very quiet, and a little embarrassed as we were all there waiting (not usual). I reminded him twice he needed to apologize. I finally resorted to a threat of taking away all of his trains if he didn't. He turned very thoughtful at this prospect, then proceeded to say to Rob, "C says ssss... *pause to think... H says huh... *pause... R says rrrrr... *long pause in deep thought... and E says eeee. C, H, R, E spells sorry."

Rainy Day Gardener Hands

Weather, nay lightning even, doesn't stop me from working in my garden. More often it's the heat that drives me indoors, or 1" hail as was the case this morning. June rain however is the BEST and I love to be out there getting my hands dirty.

I'm no so vain about my hands save when they look like they've worked a full day in the garden. I find it comforting and satisfying somehow, knowing my hands can do all that hard labor and still turn around and comfort a child who needs a snuggle. No one, kids nor plants alike, cares that they're not buffed and polished as long as they are kind and gentle.

I'm Pretty Sure...

... Bill Watterson somehow had my son in mind when he drew this 20+ years ago.

Fresh Strawberries

From our little strawberry patch. Best year ever. Lots more new (volunteer) plants, no bear to eat them all, no slugs because who knows why, and more attention from me. This is what I have gathered every other day or so for the last 6 weeks. Small but sweet!

Isolated Rain Shower

What does it mean when it rains on your house, and only on your house, in the early morning sunshine? It means YOU are at the end of the rainbow.

Blooming Rock Garden Part 6

Who'd believe such a delicate flower would come from a prickly pear cactus?

Blooming Rock Garden Part 5

This was a snip of a succulent I picked up while camping up Dominguez Canyon on the Uncompahgre Plateau one summer a few years ago. It is quite tiny but delivers a bright starry blossom three times it's actual size.

Blooming Rock Garden Part 4

It's called "Snows in Summer" but in reality it stops blooming for me right before summer starts. I especially love the silvery blue of the leaves and stems.