Today's harvest: arugula, parsley and sweetpea blossoms. Sunflowers, shallots and peas are progressing nicely as well.
It has been so beautiful here all week - not too hot, perfect temp. Friends have been dropping by for wine and meals, and the knitting group met here on the deck for some fresh air knitting. My X is out of town so I get some peace. And I'm not working, but getting paid. What could be better? If the kittens would stop crying so piteously, that's what.
Nothing like clearing gutters for clearing the mind!
The gutters had not been cleaned in 9 years. I remember, because I had just gotten Henry and some kind neighbors came over and cleaned them.
It was deeply satisfying. First, because they were completely impacted with juniper droppings and dirt; second, because it was on my to-do list for, oh, a couple of years. Now that I've accomplished it, I can do anything! I'm strong and self-reliant!(gutter affirmation).
Of course cleaning up the decks after cleaning the gutters is boring, dirty, hot and annoying. Hey, that's why we have kids! If I could just find him . . .
Next up on the list: washing the windows. And then maybe I'll tackle the garage.
Bug courtesy of my big bro Steve. Photo mine.
One thing I like about the East: fireflies.
We always called them lightning bugs. Nothing brings back the summers of my childhood like a lawn at late dusk, sprinkled with lightning bugs twinkling in their lovesick short buggy lives.
There don't seem to be fireflies in the West. I think it's a humidity thing. Maybe the only good thing about this East Coast humidity, other than my cuticles looking more presentable.
What are your childhood summer memories?
The day you've been anxiously awaiting is here again!
Saturday, June 14, all over the world, knitters will be representing in public. From New Zealand to Alaska, on trains, in restaurants, at the bus stop, in bars, all knitting their little fingers off. And Bend will join in!
We'll meet at the outdoor stage at Drake Park Riverfront Plaza on Brooks Alley at noon. Bring a chair, water, snacks and your knitting (or crocheting - we're open-minded people).
You know you want to join us . . . or at least stop by and say hi (and check out the awesome poster Judy made for us, above.)
For more info on events around the world, visit 
Their motto:
Better living through stitching together.
A friend and I went up to Schilling Solar City Gardens yesterday for their spring extravaganza.
Schillings is a wonderful nursery filled with central Oregon-friendly plants and silly little garden vignettes with plaster figurines, dinosaurs, etc., including a fake western town with building fronts, just for fun.
They are the perfect nursery - helpful staff, incredible variety, special areas for water plants, sedum (my favorite), annuals and vegetable starts in greenhouses, etc. I rarely get out of there for less than $100, though this time I restrained myself. This is all I bought:
Well, maybe almost $100. But it was all on sale!
Now I just have to plant it all.
I got productive yesterday. I planted seeds for peas, arugula and mint, put up the greenhouse, weeded the front beds, planted annuals in the patio garden and cleaned up the iris cutting bed. Whew. Photo to come.
I'm just saying no to tomatoes this year. They take a lot of babying, and there's an incredible selection at the Wed. farmer's market from beefsteak to heirloom in every tomato hue possible. I've got a nice patch of parsley, shallots and strawberries that have obligingly spread, and the asparagus is commencing nicely. I'm going to go with them, as they're clearly happy. I've started the herb boxes and will grow basil in the greenhouse for emergencies.
On the lawn front, I've come to peace with a patchy lawn as long as I have boys and dogs enjoying it. I'm thinking of getting an electric mower. The reel mower is fun, but you have to go over the same patch a number of times to get a semi-smooth lawn. It's quite a workout, and not very efficient. Any recommendations?
Follow-up: too wet to take a photo outside, so I'm including this one of my lilacs - they're having quite a year!
Time to fire up the mower! Oh, wait, that's me.
I mow my small yard with a reel mower - I hate the sound and smell of gas mowers, and I really don't have that big of a lawn. It's a bit of a workout and it doesn't get you a smooth suburban manicured surface, but I feel very virtuous using it. I also grass-cycle (the ecologically-correct term for leaving the clippings on the lawn) and a reel mower does that very nicely.
My favorite part is trimming the edges. I don't "edge" (cutting a perfect line through the sod) but I do trim with an electric string trimmer. It's like giving the lawn a bikini wax. It's all so neat and clean after.
I can feel stirrings of needing to be out in the dirt again, but I'm reluctant to start. Once things get underway, I constantly feel the pull to be working. Weeding, cutting back, replanting, vegetable plot preparation, setting up the greenhouse, hassling with irrigation, purchasing endless supplies, reseeding the lawn, composting, etc. etc.
I love it but it weighs on me. It's my puritan work ethic colliding with my basic indolence - true for every aspect of my life.
From my office window, I've been watching the development across the street on the river. It's a big dusty pit right now, but surrounding it are still vestiges of natural landscape that are disappearing inexorably in Bend. This week I've been watching a herd of deer, a very big rabbit, hawks and geese on this little strip of land. Little do they know what's coming in the way of parking lots, office buildings, streets and "green space" to replace the green space they now inhabit.
Why does our town need more commercial space? There are newly-built empty buildings for lease all over this town, and especially near this little spot by the river. Why are we building more? The city seems hellbent to destroy the very thing that brought most of the folks (and the prosperity) here.
I know I'm singing that same old song, but today it's really disgusting me.
Labels: Bend, Central Oregon, pov, rant
Every C.O. blog is probably posting a similar thought today.
Labels: Bend, Central Oregon, garden, seasons
We were all so sad to leave! The last evening was warm and emotional - lots of tears from guys and gals alike, and great stories shared over dinner.
Labels: vacation
I have got to finish the himalayan recycled silk ponchette/wrap thing before I fly out on Thursday, and hem a dress. So here I am writing about it rather than doing it all. Maybe by putting these words in print I'll shame myself into getting going.
The Knit-Up last night ended up at my house due to last minute mixups, but it was great. Instant party! I turned on every light in the room and it seemed to work. We had wonderful cheese and wine. Oh, and we knit some too. Everyone enjoyed it and I'm leaning perilously toward offering my house regularly. At least it will get me to vacuum occasionally. . .
Labels: Bend, Central Oregon, garden, Knit-Up, seasons
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