A Day Just For Me

I love the artwork of Mary Engelbreit. I always have one of her calendars hanging on the wall in my study. This study also has a collection of her mugs, magnets, prints, books, and bookmarks. The print above is one of my all-time favorites. During a stressful time I can just picture myself in that chair and it takes me to a place I can rest and relax.

Today was the first day after the last day of school. I still need to return in a week to do some tasks, but today was my day to spend in the comfort of my home. I relished the idea of when I woke up I didn't have anywhere to go. I sat on the deck and drank coffee leisurely. I didn't pay attention to time. I sat and finished reading a fluffy feel-good book. I reread writing I had done recently. I toured the gardens. I spent time with the dogs and cats. JEJ made me a comfort lunch of tomato soup and toasted cheese sandwich.

I could feel my body decompress as I spent the day doing what I wanted to do. I felt the kinks move out of my neck as I petted the cats. I felt renewed energy as I smelled the roses and admired the vegetable garden.

As day moves to evening it looks like we may have a storm. JEJ just snapped this picture over Lake Roosevelt. I think I will go back to my chair on the deck with a glass of wine and enjoy the beauty of my surroundings. What a day to rest and relax.

The rain just started. Here is another shot catching the moving clouds. Nothing like a summer rainstorm to end a day just for me.

Summertime and Livin' Easy

When I began raising roses I often paid attention to the name of the rose rather than growing conditions, type of rose, or the size it would get. I loved names like Moonshadow, Brigadoon, and Carefree Delight. After getting a bit more experienced I was more aware of the types of roses I was growing. I was looking for a birthday gift for JEJ and chose the rose above just because of the name Livin' Easy . It described his personality and the tag information made the rose sound like it would be a beauty. This was my first introduction to the floribunda type of rose. I love these because they bloom longer than the hybrid tea. The blossoms are smaller and they usually do at least two big bloom shows. They blend in nicely with the landscape because of their size and shape. The glossy, dark green leaves make them an attractive shrub all three seasons. I gave him this rose about six years ago and it has been a blooming success every since. The flowers make a colorful addition to a bouquet. You can see one in the bouquet on my last post. I would highly recommend the Livin' Easy.

Spring Bouquet #11: Flowers to Say Thank You

As the school year draws to an end there are always people to thank for their efforts at making the school a better place. What better way to thank my principal for her excellent leadership than with a bouquet of fresh picked flowers? I decided to do a mix of blossoms and colors. The peonies in the center with their huge blooms and lovely scent are definitely the focal point. It made a perfect centerpiece this morning on her desk in her office resting among her papers, books, and files. I saw her later and the bouquet put a smile on her face!
Now I am off to finish the last reading of exams and final grades. Tomorrow will be here before I am ready I am afraid. Let's see... there must be some really good chocolate that can keep me awake for another hour or so..... let the search begin!

Our Cat Lily

We always acquire cats that need homes. Because we live in the country friends and family think we need more cats. Of course JEJ is knows as " The Cat Whisperer" because the cats flock to him wherever he is around the property. Since our cats are indoor/outdoor cats adding more doesn't make a huge difference. Right now we have six cats. A year ago in March we lost a dear friend SH. The fall prior to her death she got two kittens at the feed store. They were the cutest brother and sister. She kept them on a screened porch when it got cold. When she got sick the cats got attention from people who came to help and visit like JEJ and me. Her husband was concerned about the cats because of his dog and other animals around their property so they didn't go outside.

There was so much to deal with after her death. GH didn't know what to do with the kittens. We went home one day after helping at the house and decided as a gift to our dear friends we would bring them home. What a blessing the two cats have been. There were some hisses and growling when they first arrived and met the other cats. Now they have blended into our cat kingdom nicely.

Lily is very independent. She doesn't like being held. She is still a bit leary of our dogs, but loves to follow you everywhere around the gardens. Her coloring is beautiful and I was glad I caught these pictures after she did a tour of the gardens with me one evening. I hope we will continue to spend more time together. Another day I will do a post introducing her brother William.

My Social Life Would Die

Today writing an essay was not on the minds of my middle school students. It is exam week. We wrap things up on Friday at 10:30. The sun was shining, they didn't get their usual break in the morning, and many of them are just plain worn out!

Getting in the last juicy gossip, finding out the final decision on "who is going out with whom", and deciding which classmate is playing with them at Hoopfest are so much more important than sitting at a desk writing out an exam. We heard cinnamon gum made you think better, so I even helped them along by handing out Big Red this morning! As they pushed their pens, chomped on their gum, and furrowed their brows I paced around looking over their shoulders just to try to keep them encouraged.

Later I was reading a new poetry book and came across this title. If I had given them a chance to speak their minds today, these may have been their words.

My Writing It An Awful Mess

My writing is an awful mess,

And my teacher asked me why,

" I zoom through my assignments,"

I told her with a sigh.

" I want to finish all this work

So I can yack with friends,

I simply cannot wait until

The school day finally ends.

" I never check my spelling and

Punctuation, I don't try,

For if I spent my time on these,

My... social life would die.

"It's talking with my friends each day

That keeps my whole world bright,

And I don't want to give this up,

Just to get my schoolwork right."

-Kalli Dakos

The Gloaming

gloaming - the time of day immediately following sunset

My husband's favorite time of the day is the gloaming. At our house the sun sets west of our gardens. During that time of evening it is beautiful. This is what I caught as our gardens were preparing for the gloaming this evening.

"This grand show is eternal. It is always sunrise somewhere; the dew is never all dried at once; a shower is forever falling; vapor ever rising. Eternal sunrise, eternal sunset, eternal dawn and gloaming, on seas and continents and islands, each in its turn, as the round earth rolls." -John Muir