May 27 2012

It's Brian's birthday! Today is the actual date, and here's Brian at 70 with a table full of lovely plants sent by family and flowers from our garden to cheer his day. The big birthday party was last week, to get a head start on the holiday weekend, and as you can see from these photos (and I won't put ALL of them up!!) we had a wonderful time. The weather cooperated after five or six days of rain, then the sun came out for the weekend and the sky was as bright blue as Brian's eyes.

Lots of lively conversation,
















lots of delicious food,




















lots of shared laughter. And the shot showing Brian with several men include men who were boys at Brian's 7th birthday party. Pretty amazing to have kept in touch all these decades later.
































Hyla and Ayro had the most fun down at the frog pond, where the hunt is always on. Lisa actually did catch a frog in the net, but of course it leapt right back out to continue it's froggy life in the murky depths. But it's fun for the girls, and a real pleasure to watch them watching the frogs.

















































My favorite shot, though, was the two of them running along the upper terracing "grandchildren's path", looking just like little wood sprites.














At the party's end, happy but rather tired, I took this last shot of the table after everyone left and most of the stuff was stowed (please note the cake with colorful sprinkles, Hyla and Ayro made it for grandpa with I suspect a little help from their parents). Everyone including Sadie had such a nice time, we are so appreciative of all the folks who made the effort to help us celebrate, from Rochester, New York City, Connecticut, and elsewhere. Thanks to all!!! Now I just have to get used to the idea that I'm married to someone who's 70!!!

May 2 2012

Just to let you know what's going on, ahead of Brian's big 70th birthday party later this month:

First, Mom is home again and doing better than we feared. She is going to have PT and OT at the apartment for a while, and is always very good at keeping up with the exercises she's been given, so I'm hopeful the improvments she's made will persist. And, of course, thanks to all who were so supportive and concerned during this latest crisis. Your prayers were very welcome!


In garden news, after a very warm (VERY WARM) March, April was much cooler (except for our single 100 degree day) and now that May's begun, we've had lots of much-needed rain. The plants continue to confound.
My carefully planted bleeding hearts in the lower terraces either didn't survive at all, or are just a few inches high as you can see.

While the self-seeded ones, in cracks of the stone walls, jammed in to other planting beds, and everywhere else they don't have a visible toe-hold (root-hold?) are thriving. Go figure...



The lily of the valley plants are tumbling open everywhere. I wish I could send the scent along, it's one of my favorites and I love being able to make tiny arrangements with them that scent the rooms as I walk by. Too bad there's no "smellovision"!



















The very first of the bearded iris opened up too, little dwarves with lovely edging.













Also for your viewing pleasure, a shot of our hostas BEFORE the deer come and munch them down to the ground. Some years are better than others, but we're always grateful for whatever plantings the critters leave behind for us.








I put out a half dozen tomato plants weeks ago, and then had to cover them up with cartons three nights running to protect them from the frost. Finally we are predicted to have nights above freezing, so yesterday my chilies (for rellenos) got put in the ground, joining the arugula, lettuce, and garlic that wintered over. Still to get: basil, chard, eggplant, zucchini (remember when a single zucchini plant produced more than could be given away? it's now a delicacy costing about as much per pound as mushrooms!)

We've cleared away all of last winter's dead weeds on the lower terracing, just in time for this year's to make their appearance. Wish I could teach the deer to eat weeds. And Brian's built some new bridges to get the wheelbarrow over, as the old ones were rotting. The new ones are much prettier, too.

In the dog news, I was part of the team that found little Taylor her "forever" home. Her new family decided to change her name to Honey, and are transitioning by calling her "Taylor Honey", which, as these are Texans all, sounds about right to me.

















That's the wrap-up for now. Hope all goes well with all of you - send us your news!