Birthday?

Really??? Today???? Oh yeah! It is.....my birthday. Family came over last Saturday. We had a fine celebration. So, I kind of just forgot about it. My mind has been centered more on doctors appointments and pain medication (that doesn't seem to be helping much) for my husband. In between that I was harvesting some broccoli that was starting to bolt.

Finding the last of the season's rhubarb.

Chopping it up for the freezer.

Mmmm....pies, crisp, jam, chutney........what about roasting some for a savory sauce?......

Taking a walk in the garden for a few moments.......breath.............

Marveling at the first raspberries.

Being amazed with the hydrangea bush. Last year this bush grew 3 blooms. This year......Well, whatever happened....it liked it!

Then pausing to look back, just a quick glance, before I go back to thinking about those things crowding my life right now. It is a happy birthday.....It's my life. Sometimes unfortunate things happen. But in the middle of it all I am blessed. I thank God the the last of the rhubarb, the first amazing luscious raspberries, and for special people who bring me garden fresh flowers.

Unexpected Father's Day

I've had to re-arrange my kitchen area. It has taken on the look of an old world kitchen. Well, it has always looked a little that way, but now it has the traditional sick bed off to the side. This space was my little sitting nook off the kitchen. For now, it will be a space where my husband will spend time resting, yet able to look outside, and keep in the hub of the family.
Saturday night we had been sitting by the fire in the back yard, just taking time to relax. My husband went to get a piece of wood and fell over a spot of uneven ground. His ankle didn't twist with the rest of his body. He had broken both bones by his ankle and dislocated the ankle joint.
We spent most of the night at the ER. Now he is wearing this.
Thankfully, we had a family dinner planned at our home for Father's day. Although we were tired, the BBQ went on as planned. We still ate strawberry shortcake for dessert. It seemed though, that the spirit of the celebration was a little different. We were thankful for and honored the fathers in our family. We were very thankful that this dad was here, yes, looking forward to surgery next week and a long recovery, but here, with us.

Finally Here!

Usually...........a term that isn't happening here in the Northwest this year regarding weather. Usually, we are picking strawberries as soon as school is out, or even before. Strawberry festivals abound the first part of June. Usually, strawberries are part of graduation events, part of Father's Day celebrations. We have a hard time waiting for the first sun -warmed, juicy, luscious bite. A sign that summer is really here. Picking strawberries is pleasant when thinking of shortcake, jams, and pies. This year......well.....yes we have strawberries, but late, and few. It has rained and rained, ruining and delaying many crops. We have had a few partly sunny days, so things are starting to move along. Today we went out to pick strawberries. The first field we went to, (they advertised picking this weekend) well, I didn't even see a berry. Several fields are not even letting people u pick this year because of so few berries.

This is where we picked. Yes there are berries hiding from the rain under the leaves. Luscious, juicy, berries. They were not as abundant, many were oddly shaped, but enough for us. I have to say that picking under the bright clouds, instead of the beating sun was a pleasant change. We filled the trunk with berries. The whole car was filled with the aroma, just teasing us all the way home.

Now.........I'm making jam.

Mad Dash Into The Garden

We finally have had a few sunny days here in the Northwest. Yeah! So those of us who garden have made a mad dash out to our gardens. I'm enjoying the bright spot my new garden clogs bring, along with the riot of madly growing plants and festive blooms.

With all the rain we have had, (three times the norm in May and more than the average monthly rainfall for June in the first five days) I was afraid the plants might drown. No worries! They are growing crazily. Along with the weeds! My compost pile is huge!

Many blooms are a little late, but the wait is very much worth it. The windows in the background are to the chicken coop. The "Ladies" worked very hard early spring and cultivated the raised beds, while ridding the beds of many slugs and bugs. Now the lettuce and spinach, etc, are without pest.

Saliva spires stand tall, while Jupiter's beard waves it's crimson arms. The Rebecka (black-eyed Susan) in the foreground have not set their blooms yet.

Dames Rocket and Giant Inula, stand under the bird houses, hosting a new family this spring.

Being in the garden on one of my favorite things to do.