Yeah Pumpkins!

The Pumpkin crop is looking good.
Although they too are getting nibbled by little grey slugs.

These are "snack Jack" or little "Sugar" pumpkins. We love them. They keep pretty well and we freeze the meat= great for soups and muffins/bread.

And they are sooo pretty!

Sun and Moon

These are images from the backyard; I'm trying to find things I like to look at out there.
The slugs are what I seem to notice the most in the garden. Help????

Shannon's Visit

Last weekend my friend Shannon came to visit.
Rosemary had given me a lovely bouquet of dahlias from her yard.

Shannon and I had a wonderful time making Ikebana (a passion we both share), using greens from the front yard.

I thought these turned out especially well.

So Many Sunflowers

Sunflowers 08

They make me smile.
Even today, as it begins to rain, they shine out there in the garden
and inside in the vase.

It's always hard to pick the first one.
And then once they are inside where I can come upon them throughout the day, I'm glad
to have that bit of sun in the house.
Especially as it turns towards fall
and the sun is a little less strong
and present.

Summer fades, and the sunflowers bloom.

I'm so grateful for their brave smiles.
Stef

Ripples and Reflections

Nature as artist can't be beat

The watery mirror moves
creating constant interest, never dull, always shining
with new mystery and depth to explore.

This masterpiece teaches me to keep looking
no quick glance can take it all in.
Wait, look again.

This shallow, almost muddy, rock-strewn back wash (along The Trail of the Cedars, in Newhalem)
is a hidden gem, filled with depth and luminous with light.
Get off the beaten path, look for the unexpected.
Let beauty surprise me, then, sit still and take it in.
Keep looking, there is always more to see.
Get quiet enough to go even deeper, layers within layers ripple into consciousness.
A bug landing on the surface creates circle patterns
within the reflection big enough to catch the sky.

Steffany August 1, 2008

Scenes from the Garden

While Lin is out climbing mountains,
I'm home tending the garden.
Finally, we are eating out of the garden.
And a few flowers are blooming.
So much bounty, such a short season.
Such beauty and nourishment. So much to be grateful for.