So...this is a really cool plant that I TRIED to take a picture of with my inferior camera. I love love love the way the bud looks, and it slowly expands until it it is unfurled in all its hexagonal glory!

Hello Hello...anyone there?

Oops..I guess it is me who is absent lately.

This is my garden. (OK..maybe only my fantasy garden. Mine is pretty sad)

We have made the transfer into a busy summer, full of kids and doctor appts etc etc. It will likely drive me crazy. Hmm..I wonder if I should do a pre and post assessment of gray hairs.

I went to my doctor's appt. I even stepped on the scale and didn't die, or have a heart attack. Everything was good, as far as I know. We did the routine blood work deal, and I suppose they will call me if anything is wrong.

I even discussed some issues I have been having with anxiety. I have been given a mild prescription for diazepam..rather than a more consistent medication, cause lots of times I am just fine. (giggle..they gave me valium...)

I have it, which is a comfort, cause there have been times when the anxiety is quite uncomfortable, and especially when I am at work, akward. But I hope to not need it too often. I will go back in a month to check and see if this is the best choice, or if we might need to choose a medication with more overall effect and less addictive nature.

Wish I had exciting things to report, but I am not feeling very exciting right now.

Well, one exciting event is coming in the future. I am going on a camping trip..without children! I am very excited. It will be with a friend!

You know...I just am not good at keeping goals. Why is that? I sometimes feel that it is a chronic failure on my part. I just can't figure out how to do it. Spineless, I say, spineless.

So, rather than dwell on that failure, I am going to post some things that I have accomplished that I feel good about.

I have created a little herb garden out the front window..so far I have planted basil(they are soooo tiny), parsley(also tiny),
chives(huge and happy),

a few onions, a bit of lettuce and some lavender. I bought it as a "bareroot" plant. It came in a bag, packed loosely with shavings and peat moss, and I just shook it out a bit and tucked it in the ground. You can see the new growth, all green and fresh. I hope it will be happy in my garden, for I love lavender.

I also turned over a garden out back. Our veggie garden just wasn't big enough last year, so I decided that this little spot would be an addition. I believe that it was a garden once before, because I have found quite a few peonies and bulbs as I worked through it. It did get a quick run over with the rototiller, but I had to turn it all by hand, because the rototiller just didn't really do a bit. I pulled out dozens of huge rocks and clumps of asphalt.( I think that our back yard was created of fill) So now it is planted with tons of yellow beans, cuke and cantalopes, tomatoes and peppers.

I also finished a puzzle, really not a pretty one, but the boys picked it out and started it, and I finished it. I didn't know that I liked doing puzzles, but I do.

Oops, back to this garden. If you notice, there is a patch of grass...I am still working on one corner, it is going to be my transplant spot for a few peonies that are still hidden in the grass, as well as some Mums that my grandfather gave me. I have planted a few in a front garden(above), but I am not sure what to do with these new ones, so they will go into a "holding garden." (below)










I also created a little bed of lily of the valley, curtesy of donations from my mother and grandfather. They are snuggled up under the cedars and pine trees that edge our property. I hope they will be happy.

I have also been tending my chickens and duck(one duck left us, we aren't sure how). I built a "night box" to put the chickens in, because we have had such a problem with predators. I should say I altered a wooden box that was left on our property, to make it a happy home for my ladies.

Also, I have been tending little treasures found around the old gardens. I am very excited that perhaps this year the lilies will bloom. Last year they were devestated by slugs. This year they were in grave danger because of "red lily leaf beetles." I finally caved and had my dear husband buy some poison. There are actually buds!

And, please notice the pansies given as a house warming gift from my grandparents...rebloomed this year!