Sibling Assignment #148: Surprise!

 Here is the sibling photo assignment I gave for the week: "Pick a theme like simplicity, serernity, happiness, or another theme word. Go for a walk and only take pictures that fit into your theme. Create a set of ten photographs and write about the theme. " I will link the siblings' posts when they are complete.

 Today I picked the theme of surprise and as I did a walk through our greenhouse I was constantly surprised. Even though the greenhouse is a favorite place of mine I don't often spend as much time as I would like there. Today I did. The vivid red color of these blooms surprised me.

 As I did the walk I noticed what plants were doing this month. Some were still blooming. Many needed deadheading. I was surprised by the deep, rich color of this Martha Washington geranium.

 Other plants needed to be pinched back. I was surprised by the size of the blooms on  this plant. 

Another thing I accomplished while taking photos was to propagate plants. Geraniums are an easy plant to propagate. Each year I try to find new plants that are unique because of leaf or bloom color. The next year I propagate them. I also love scented geraniums. You can never have enough of those. I was surprised how well the variegated plants did over the winter.

 It was fun to putter in the greenhouse. I enjoyed cleaning clay pots with lovely music playing in my ears. I was again surprised at how many empty clay pots I found that I can now fill! The sun was streaming in. Lily, one of our many cats, joined me for awhile. I had hoped Annie would keep me company when she wanted in, but she didn't last long either.

 I did an inventory of tools and relocated a few lost ones. That is always a surprise! I also found the Cougar Gold Cheese tins that I use as saucers for my plants. It was fun to dig those out again.

When I turned plants around that had been facing the window, I was surprised over and over again by the beauty of the blooms. The blooms on this white geranium were showstoppers.

 It was a lovely way to spend a big chunk of the day, plus I felt like I accomplished something!

I was surprised when I checked the clock and it was past five o'clock. I plan to return tomorrow and enjoy more time in one of my favorite places.

Friday Skies

I am so glad I carry my camera every time I get in the car. Here is a series of photos shot between Colville and Kettle Falls today.

Please Calm Down Friday!

I am working to post every day this month. It turned midnight just as I posted this. I hope it counts! When I am just getting to my blog at this time of evening you can guess it was a hectic day. It started out with lots of rain, a flooded garage, a mini-river in the sunroom, late buses, soaked students, long day, longer meeting, great early Irish dinner prepared by JEJ, and dinner and overnight guest, and lots of time to visit over tea and pie.
Whew! Please calm down Friday!

A March Snow

 I really like the imagery in this poem, but if I wrote a poem today it would include verses about old snow now going away and sweet Spring emerging with crocus, daffodils, and tulips... but instead we can be thankful the snow, rain, and slush of today will provide moisture for those blooming spring flowers I still hope to see this calendar year!


A March Snow

Let the old snow be covered with the new:
The trampled snow, so soiled, and stained, and sodden.
Let it be hidden wholly from our view
By pure white flakes, all trackless and untrodden.
When Winter dies, low at the sweet Spring's feet
Let him be mantled in a clean, white sheet.

Let the old life be covered by the new:
The old past life so full of sad mistakes,
Let it be wholly hidden from the view
By deeds as white and silent as snow-flakes.

Ere this earth life melts in the eternal Spring
Let the white mantle of repentance fling
Soft drapery about it, fold on fold,
Even as the new snow covers up the old.

-Ella Wheeler Wilcox

White on White

Those dumb snows are still hiding inside clouds at our house... and coming out of hiding and falling to the ground!

 

 White on White

   Rug dropped sugar,
fresh, wet iris on marble dresser,
the chopping of combers under cold sun,
   rain-faded boards of proud, paint-
      poor churches, great

      dumb snows hiding
inside clouds hidden inside sky. Bring
two together and we see the old lot
   of language to ledger tint
      from tone, hint from

      whisper (not quite
sauterne, closer to crisper champagne);
to cite complement, how as a snail stains
   a cement path, the pearled trace
      kindles in light.

Hailey Leithauser

In a Word: Views

The other day we drove less than ten miles between Colville and Kettle Falls and watched the sun, clouds and sky change dramatically. I live in a beautiful corner of the world.