Sunday, May 29, 2011

After the rains...

Today I woke to a blustery rainy morning. It was quite nice. I put a fire in the fireplace then read for a couple hours. It was a nice Sunday morning. Around 4pm the sun broke and all the flowers, few that there are, looked quite pretty. My newly planted hillside is just starting to bloom. I don't expect much this year but next year should be quite pretty! The Pride of Madeira I started from a cutting last winter even has a few bright blue blooms on it! Can't see it in the pic but it's at the top of the hill.

Friday, May 27, 2011

My kitties

Tina, this is for you! Below are my two 'new' kitty's enjoying their new home...I think?

This is Pasha...formally known as Desire, Desi or Miss Kitty...finally settled on a name for her. She is a Seal-point Himalayan according to the shelter's docs but I don't think she's a himy. Maybe a Bermese or other Siamese-colored breed. She is a big, hefty cat. She's really put on the weight since I got her...it may be diet time. Shes a beauty though!



This is Smokey, aka Smoke, Mokie, or Squeeker. He's a Blue-point Himalayan so the shelter docs claim. He is a tiny-boned, delicate cat but quite the hunter...and quick! He loves to play, is shy about being petted but loves to be brushed. He too has put on the weight. They were both underweight when I got them but I took care of that!


Mokie sleeping in my sewing room next to me (while I'm on the computer...did I say sewing room?)



Well I'm off to go play in the garden...summer flowers are starting to bloom, day lilies and agapanthas, geraniums, et al. I leave you with last night's sunset...

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

I hate spiders!

I like to think of myself as a tough old broad...respectful of rattlesnakes, lizards and frogs but when this HUGE and I mean HUGE black widow spider pops out of nowhere in the dark garage dangling too close to my hand I squeel like a little girl! Ewww! Instant goose bumps. Yes, it's now part of my garage wall...and I'm back inside the house...shutter...

It was too near my longarm too! Now I'm going to have to quilt with one eye open above and below the table! I'm going to try to quilt this weekend since I have 4 days off! I have Gloria's quilt top to quilt, the one we worked on when she visited a couple months ago.

On Saturday, my b-day, I'm taking an art class with Lisa Bebi. She does some amazingly fun stuff and I can't wait! Not sure what I'm going to do, maybe a leaf or one of the kittys. After that is a shrimp BBQ at Mom and Dads.

Monday, May 9, 2011

I bought a new(er) car!

Well I traded in my poor tired 1998 Toyota with 206K miles for a 2001 Honda Odyssey with only 91K miles. It was a good price and even comes with a nav unit, electronic sliding side doors, a back seat that folds into the floor, and lots of other goodies. It's gold with a cream interior so the dust won't show as bad.
 ;-) So far it drives like a new car, has lots of power. It's only getting 19.5-19.8 MPG but then I do drive that nasty hill daily. I like it. It's a relief. My poor Toyota was ready to go tires up!

Here it is! His name is Hal...as in 2001 "Space" Odyssey...

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Owls and Iris

Well look who's peeking out of my owl box! It's momma owl. I saw her moving around in the box last Friday and snapped a couple pictures. This one was the best!

Last night at dusk I was out watching the box. I saw the male owl swoop down the hill and make a kill. A minute or so later I hear him coming straight at me from behind the owl box carrying the rodent in his beak. As he approached the box, he swooped up, wings fully extended, extended his claws and grabbed onto the entrance, stepping inside. A minute later he exploded out of the box to hunt again. Momma owl was in the box chirping away when he left. I believe she is nesting! Hope to see owlettes in a couple weeks to a month.


My Anna Apple has set apples! This is the largest. The rest resemble the next picture...just starting to swell.



My iris have been blooming for the past month, mostly the solid deep purple, lavenders and whites. This weekend this bi-color and the pink bloomed. So pretty!




And then there's this red iris...




and a red violet


This deep purple is from my grandmother's ranch up north. They have been growing there for as Long as I can remember. I believe it is a historical iris named Amas.


And of course, last night's sunset...