Something to live and die by...

All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

Bees in the Trees

He says "come out and zoom in on these bees and get their photo." So I brought out my zoom lens to the humming tree full of bees with fat legs loaded with pollen and tried to get some photos. Tougher than it sounds... they are quick little buggers. I finally caught one little guy obsessed with a single blossom, and I rapidly clicked away.

These poses represent about 2 seconds worth of shots. Even though he was in one bud, he moved in and around pretty quickly.

The tree is absolutely gorgeous, and the bees must love the fact that they live just underneath it. They probably feel like I do every day that I see the gorgeous place that we live... but that is another story to tell another day.

Happy Sunday.

Welcome to my garden!

Today brought me a great deal of satisfaction: all those little seedlings I have been nursing to adolescence were finally old enough to release from the nest and set free in the garden. And they are beautiful! I have several kinds of peppers, heirloom tomatoes, acorn squash, butternut squash, cucumbers, sweet peas, many varieties of lettuce, kale, collards, and swiss chard. 

I have a couple things inside the house still. I started indoors several heirloom seeds from Mt. Vernon. They have already sprouted, and are under the lights. They are direct descendants of several generations of seedlings from George Washington's gardens.

And, for the third time this spring, I am sprouting corn and sunflowers. For some reason, they have both gotten to a certain height and then died... I am beginning to think it is just better to plant them directly in the ground. When the little seedlings come up this time, they are going directly to the garden.

I moved my grape vine over between the raspberries and the garden gate. I want to train the grape to grow over the trellis and create a nice entrance to the garden. I bet I have some long shoots growing over it by the end of summer. It grows pretty fast. I don't know what kind of grape it is, some green grape with little seeds. They are sweet. I made grape juice last year from my harvest. We will see what we get this year.

The blueberries are flowering, as is the crabapple. While I was out there working today under its ultra-blossomed branches, the whole tree hummed... the bees were busy at work. It was really amazing how loudly that tree hummed.

This month and September are my favorite times of year in Idaho. Today was 71°, tomorrow is supposed to be 80°. Monday apparently will be even hotter. Mmmmmm... life is so good.

There's no place like home

These are my ruby slippers, and I am happy to be home.

Virginia Wine Country

We had a fun day yesterday visiting several Virginia wineries. After tasting about 27 small samplings of wines, however, there was only one we thought worthy of buying a bottle. But we were present for a blessing by a priest and two nuns of one winery's grape harvest. That was interesting.

Most of the wineries we came across have been in business less than 10 years. I am sure with continued practice, the wines will improve.

The Virginia countryside is lush and beautiful. At this time of year, the dogwoods have burst out in bloom. I wish I had gotten a photo of the wild wisteria's in bloom along the highway. They are almost predatory to other trees, growing up through their branches and choking them. But they were blooming between pine boughs perhaps trying to justify their presence there.

The Boyds in Richmond

My brother, Charlie, and his clan live just outside of Richmond an area rich in American history. (Actually most of Virginia is full of history. Everywhere you look is another historical site.) 

Charlie's youngest, Sawyer, looks just like Charlie did as a kid. Their oldest, David, has the coolest hairdo. I told him his hair looks a lot like mine did when I was in high school (which I am not sure excited him a lot). He is an aspiring rock musician, and played the drums for me. Sam is taking guitar lessons and showed me his electric guitar skills.

Charlie's wife, Alison, is such a sweetie. In addition to everything else she does, she is part of an organization that pairs neglected and abandoned horses with challenged and troubled children in an effort to heal both. We went to visit the newest addition to their stables, this little pony who I think they named Blossom.

Sam is raising chickens. He and his dad are building a chicken coop in the backyard and these hens will be ready to move in next week. Sam's favorite chicken has a very wierd distorted beak. I loved telling the boys the stories of our chicken coop when we were kids. They get to hear their dad's version, and then mine. I am the oldest, so of course I remember more. And they never know when I am embellishing the tales. In fact, I am not always sure anymore. I just like to tell a great story.

Sam and Ernie

There is no one in this world I get more than my sister. And no one is more suited to her than her husband, Ernie.

I think the photos say it all!