I’ve been reading away but I don’t have enough battery power for that kind of blogging.  I put together a mosaic instead.  A little of everything from the past month: flowers, WM, Denver.  Enjoy!

1. 113/365 for 2010 The Greenhouse in Spring, 2. 114/365 for 2010 Purple Columbine, 3. 115/365 for 2010 Early Rose, 4. 116/365 for 2010 Still Life with Wygelia, 5. 117/365 for 2010 House, Field, Sky, 6. 118/365 for 2010 Lily of the Valley, 7. 119/365 for 2010 What time is it?, 8. 120/365 for 2010 The Big Blue Bear, 9. 121/365 for 2010 Immigration Protest in Denver, 10. 122/365 The Molly Brown House, 11. 123/365 Along the Street, 12. 124/365 for 2010 Worth The Wait, 13. 125/365 for 2010 Foxglove, 14. 126/365 for 2010 Spring, 15. 127/365 for 2010 Roses!, 16. 128/365 for 2010 Strawberries!

1. The Pond in Spring, 2. 96/365 for 2010 Candy Tuft, 3. 98/365 for 2010 The Hoop House, 4. The Hoop House, 5. 92/365 for 2010 Yet Another Dogwood, 6. P4070416, 7. 97/365 for 2010 Wysteria, 8. 95/365 for 2010 Gourd in the Dogwood, 9. 94/365 for 2010 Dogwood Update, 10. 93/365 for 2010 Orchids, 11. 86/365 for 2010 Forsythia, 12. 85/365 for 2010 Camellias, 13. 81/365 for Project 2010 Early Daffodils, 14. 108/365 for 2010 Winged Beauty, 15. 107/365 for 2010 Irises, 16. 106/365 for 2010 Celebration in White!, 17. 105/365 for 2010 Wild Azalea at Morris Creek, 18. 104/365 for 2010 Honeysuckle, 19. 103/365 for 2010 Hostas, 20. P4140413, 21. P4140412, 22. 91/365 for 2010 Snowball Bush, 23. P4140409, 24. 99/365 for 2010 Jack in the Pulpit

We need a new brand of patriotism in this country, one with its roots in World War II, the kind of patriotism that encourages people to give to the community all the time, not just when it is in their economic interests.  Rather than quibbling over lapel pins, let’s really be patriotic.  For a start, encourage people to both buy fuel efficient cars AND drive less.  Maybe give employers who implement tele-commuting a tax break.  Gas rationing during WW II was seen as a patriotic thing to do; let’s bring back that sense of pride.  Second, how about getting people to grow victory gardens again?  With the price of food rising and the scare over salmonella, having people grow some of their own fruits and vegetables would certainly be a patriotic thing to do.

My lunch date canceled for today so that makes these morning hours less crucial for work. I did two hours of research work yesterday first thing. Now, I have three memos to write, another interview to transcribe and then an interview this afternoon as well. Been fooling around with recording phone calls and ended up buying a speaker phone. The iPod picks it up ok plus with a phone interview, I can type while we talk. I also bought a little $8 suction cup from Radio Shack that sticks on the receiver and then feeds into the analog recorder. I’ll put that on the phone as well. You really can’t be too careful.

I rewarded myself for all the research work by playing some more with Flash. It is coming back to me and I’ve got one module for a “what food when” game to learn about Jewish holidays. I’m going to start a new one about holidays that include lights. These are samples for a client. No huge bells and whistles but some animation and music.

It’s been nice to be home the last few days. I can putter and get things done on my own time. I’ve got a running “to do” list and managed to check a few things off of it. Put in a big Amnesty International order for my nephew’s birthday and may make a few CDs from vinyl for him, too. I’m hoping to be off doing research next week so am making the most of being at home.

I was going to make chicken salad for lunch. I think I’ll turn those chicken breasts into tortilla soup instead. And I’ve got turkey and potato rolls for turkey burgers. I’ll do those tonight and then make the soup in the crock pot tomorrow. We have folks coming for wine and snacks and I think I’m going to try home backed tortilla chips again. I have a big stack of tortillas to work with. Mostly I’m trying to work with what I’ve got so I can avoid leaving the house until Friday morning when I head to a workshop.

I’ve been feeling pretty lousy the last two or three days so gave myself off from WW. I need to get back on the plan, though. Mostly I’ve eaten cheese: I really miss it! Big chunks dipped in mustard and eaten with crackers. Yum! I haven’t written anything down for at least two days and I’m aware of how the act of recording does keep me from overeating. So, today I’m shooting for a 26 point day. So far, I’ve only had coffee so I’m on track.

Blessings to all!

My husband is the real gardener is the family and is considering signing up for the master gardener program in our town. But I like digging in the dirt, too, and am generally in charge of the flower beds, of which we have 4 major areas. I’ve been working on them slowly over the past several years, moving things, dividing things, and I think this will be the best year ever. I’m going to buy a few herbs tomorrow: basil and basil seeds, thyme, and a pineapple sage. I’ll get just a few annuals for the barrels in the front.

The only thing I haven’t accounted for is zinnias. I used to do them in the garden beside the front path but I’ve made that almost completely perennials and is a more “controlled” atmosphere. Maybe I can get my husband to dig up a plot in the front yard, where we are trying to reduce the amount of grass. I could just sow a swatch of them. I’ve got a big bag of seeds from last year and may get a few more tomorrow.

Aah…my window is open and I’m looking out on the back yard as usual. There are still chores to be done. The birds need fed after four days, and I should make hummingbird food and put those feeders out. But I think that shall be tomorrow’s job. A very small chickadee just stopped at the feeder for a sunflower seed then headed off to eat it. Simple but elegant and always exciting to have birds just a foot or so away.

I drank my first glass of wine sitting in the backyard reading Sharon Kay Penman’s Falls the Shadow, the second in a series of books about the relationship of England and Wales.  I’m going to both those places in October and have a pile to read, including The Other Boleyn Girl on my Kindle.

I’m on my second glass of wine. I can hear a dove cooing in the woods. There’s that chickadee again and then the flutter of his wings as he heads off with his seed. I know I’ll have to work tomorrow, mostly on research stuff, but today was indeed a glorious day!