The Rose Garden

The basic story is this:

I had been very busy, this past spring and it had been raining, literally, nonstop... and so it came to pass that I didn't quite realize until the buds were ripe and heavy on the vine, that the roses had been conspiring to surprise us with the most gobsmacking show of proliferation and beauty!

It was tremendous!! And that's it! =) That's what happened. The rain stopped, the sun shone out and the buds opened and I have nothing else to say but it was grand!!

=)

 

 

xo

What season is it?

What can I say? It looks like I'm about to blog about my garden but... nope!! No sensical, orderly blogging will come to me (and, trust me, I've been trying); so, I will blog where my thoughts seem to want to go. And, what I really want to say is that, although amazing and wonderful things have been happening around here, life is just not perfect!!

Do you ever feel like you're trying to do the old circus act of keeping a bunch of plates spinning at the top of thin poles all at once? Well, I'm pretty talented at getting a bunch of them going but, eventually - crash!! Er, the crash would be my house. My garden. My exercising. My prayer time. (whooops!!) And my blogging. Things are not quite right with the world but, happily, I've made it through all the excitement and life is turning back into the wonderful humdrum that I love! I mean, can I hear an 'Amen!' from the choir, here?! Anyone know what I'm talking about or do you all have it perfectly together at all times? ;)

So, life not being perfect, these are pics from last year's garden because, sadly, none of my delphiniums made it through the winter. I've got some new pots of them but haven't had a chance to put them in the ground, yet. And, oh - the lilacs, this year WERE perfect and the roses INCREDIBLE!

But this post is about strawberry picking.... strawberry picking, last year!!

(last year's flowers!)

(Last year's strawberries!)

When I first moved to Vermont, our church used to put on a spectacular 'strawberry supper' for about 200 people. A group of us would go out early the morning before and pick and pick and pick and pick and pick and eat quite a bit, too - that might be why it took so long to fill all those flats!

Well, we don't do the suppers anymore and this was the first time that the boys had ever gone picking. We picked one flat with the intention of making our own strawberry jam!

Keep pickiiiinnnngggg....

Well, three of us picked while Toby sampled and supervised!

And there was the most horrific and gruesome accident while we were there!! =O

(Those of you with sensitive sensibilities may want to look away for a moment!)

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(Yup! I'm the mother of three boys!!)


(um, a grasshopper from last year!)

Well, we made jam but saved some strawberries out for strawberry shortcake. I made homemade biscuits for the first time and discovered that they're ridiculously easy to make!

As for the jam, after two attempts at boiling, adding pectin and lots more sugar, we have lovely, runny ice cream topping!! (They make wonderfully sticky and oozing PB&Js, too!!!) And, actually, I think that the reason my psyche insisted that I write this post is because it is trying to tell me something.

It is trying to tell me that those jars of strawberry goop from last year would work just as well on shortcake this year, too!!

Perfect!!! =)

xo

George Washington Slept Here!

Hello! Do you remember me?? I miss all of you so very much!! I miss this little journal desperately and have so many things waiting to share!

I just couldn't let this Fourth of July, Independence Day pass without sharing these pictures. In fact, I've been waiting all year to show you these, since, these were from last year's celebrations!

And, last year, it was another homemade, very casual, easy event! I gardened for most of the day and was pretty tired; so, I cooked and Mom (MIL - a.k.a. the lady next door, up the hill) let us use her clean house to eat in since thunderstorms threatened!

I am not very gifted with large, family style salads and was determined to make a good one, this time. And, it was!! So fresh and crisp!! I can't remember what else we ate, though. =/ Apparently, I was too busy enjoying the moment to take pics. I just remember the fun!! =)

Inbetween dinner and dessert, we had a 21 spud salute with the potato gun (from Lliam's science project. That thing comes in handy and it's such a comfort to know that if zombies or squirrels ever DO invade the world, we'll be ready to turn them into mashed potatoes!)

Then, as dusk fell, we headed down to the little pond behind the barn for s'more dessert and s'more noisy fun and chatting into the wee hours with the fireflies and mosquitoes!

It was grand!!

My sister was trying to write a message for you.... I think it says 'Happy Fourth of July'!! ;)

 

Great Grandma!! =)
(She lives next door, too, in a cozy and adorable hobbit hole underneath MIL's house!)

And this one has a message for the future, too! I think it says, 'snow'!!
(I like to think so, anyway, it's so hot and humid today...)

So,

Off I go to make potato salad and shuck corn!!

Happy Fourth of July to you!! =)

xo

The Mystery Rose

"I think [the garden] has been left alone so long, that it has grown all into a lovely tangle. I think the roses have climbed and climbed and climbed until they hang from the branches and walls and creep over the ground, almost like a strange gray mist. Some of them have died but many are alive and when the summer comes there will be curtains and fountains of roses. I think the ground is full of daffodils and snowdrops and lilies and iris working their way out of the dark. Now the spring has begun... perhaps... perhaps...."

The soft drone of her voice was making him stiller and stiller and she saw it and went on.

"Perhaps they are coming up through the grass. Perhaps there are clusters of purple crocuses and gold ones - even now. Perhaps the leaves are beginning to break out and uncurl and, perhaps, the gray is changing and a green gauze veil is creeping and creeping over everything. And the birds are coming to look at it because it is so safe and still. And, perhaps... perhaps... perhaps... " very softly and slowly indeed, "the robin has found a mate and is building a nest."

~ from 'The Secret Garden' by Frances Hodgson Burnett

I keep thinking that my garden looks like a secret garden. It's rather lovely and tumbling and tangled.... and full of weeds!! I rather think that I seriously need to get over that romantic notion.... and pronto!!!

But what really, really, REALLY keeps making me think of 'The Secret Garden', these days, is a line from the Francis Ford Coppola version of the movie, "there'll be so many roses in there, this summer.... you'll be sick of them."

They promised us when we bought this 'mystery rose', about fifteen years ago, that it was NOT a climber. I guess it volunteered! =) And, I guess it's not 'the mystery rose' anymore. It's name, for, at least ten years now, has been 'my birthday rose'! (Which will be in a week and a half. =)) It blooms and the fireflies come out - right when I celebrate my birthday - all at the same time. How happy is that?! =D

Here's a small bit of one of the monster branches (there are many!) I (quickly) counted 400 buds, yesterday!!!

umm....Wow! =D

xo

Almost there....

The truth about me is that I am both a Martha AND a Mary! Generally, my contemplative time is very precious and common for me

BUT

when there is a gathering of friends to be had,

well,

let's just put it this way,

Martha Stewart has nothing on this detail-oriented queen!!

But, can't sit and gab all day - I have THINGS TO DO!!!

If you're wondering what's going on, I'm afraid you'll just have to go HERE to find out....

xo

Quite suddenly!

Quite suddenly.....

 ...the garden has taken on a beautiful glow...

...and there are more tomatoes ripening on the vine than one could possibly eat in one day...

...and nature is beginning to take on her seasonal autumn colors - yellowy greens, vintage whites, rusty reds and golden yellows - and everything seems to be a bit tattered and torn...

...and it compliments so many of the pretty colonial homes in our town just perfectly!

...and firewood is seriously and suddenly on a lot of people's mind!!!

 Quite suddenly, wood piles are springing up everywhere (but this isn't our wood pile. These lucky people are farther along with the job than we are... =/)

 ...and I think that the wood pile buzz is because some mornings are so chill...
 

...that it seems to settle into the very bones of our homes...

...and, since I'm too stubborn to turn up the heat, yet.... (just not quite yet, please...)

...I'm having to put on ridiculous amounts of layers....

(and I'm still cold!!!)

...and it makes me want to bake and fill the house with warm and cozy smells.... and tastes, too, of course!!! =]

(Not to mention I want to cuddle up next to the stove!)

...and we're back into the routine of early school mornings and homework and backpacks and lunch bags and yellow pencils...

...and, quite suddenly...

I'm thinking that I need to leave for my ritual evening vespers' walk drastically earlier than I've been used to this summer because... 

... I'm seeing a lot more deer out in the meadows...

(which I like! but...)

...by the time I stumble down the last stretch of road in the dark, this is what the pond across the street from us looks like...

xo