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Monday, June 29, 2015

Home

It is very soggy here but I ventured out to shoot our home and landscape for the first time since returning from SC. Ferns, seedum, grass, all are flourishing. So are the weeds! A new decorative hand made cedar birdhouse with a copper roof has already been approached by several chickadees! They can't nest there! There is no floor in those apartments. And...I haven't decided where I will place it to stay - yet. There is a bare spot in front that needs a plant. I'll have to decide on a perennial or annual. The spot also needs soil. It has washed out badly. Yes, the water is very clear. I even saw a turtle on the distant log by the dam edge.
Cabin Tranquillity June 29, 2015
Growth just started on old old old fern
Seedum taking off - soon to be huge
Farewell gift lovingly made by dear SC neighbor 
Hosta almost blooming
View from porch chair
View of spillway and dam road (see log in lake?)
Mushrooms on beachfront lawn
Beachfront water's edge
Zoomed dam water's edge from porch! Saw him!

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Sunday, June 28, 2015

Skimmer

Even though I tried not to bring SC critters to PA I may have done just that!  They do look alike, don't they? 

Seriously, this fellow landed on my chunk of slag glass that I had put on the front porch table. He wouldn't move - I think because it is too cool. Yes, I said too COOL. (55°) How wonderful it is to be cool. I poked him but no reaction happened. 

Well, since I saw him I had to have his picture.  The SC and the PA pretties are very similar, don't you think?

Pennsylvania Skimmer Picture Today
Maybe he liked the raindrops?
South Carolina Skimmer May Picture
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Saturday, June 27, 2015

Rainy Day Post

It is POURING here. 62° and we have the heat on.
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NEWS!
The First Great GREAT Grandson has arrived. His name is Leonidas and he is beautiful.
Angelo and Leonidas
Kaylei and Leonidas
More News...
We are going to have an automatic generator installed pretty soon. The electrician came today and went over everything and decided what size would be best. He contacted the supplier and then he called and we agreed to have it.  It WILL be soon! It is so nice to trust our local people. The connections are there and they know many others who we also know - personally! (Our 4-H and County Conservation occupations were responsible for much of this.) Love this area for just that reason. Plain, honest and hard working folk -  especially the businessmen. 


You would have laughed. The electrician fellow spotted my jar of Goetz’s candies and asked if he could have a few! He said they are his very favorite treats! WONDERFUL! 

Garden Update

Another daughter has green thumb. These are her June blooms. She lives in New Jersey and just sent these photos.






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Wow!

I always said "Music is my heartbeat." This group is exciting to me. My music teacher from 5th through 9th grade inspired me and all of his students worshipped him. This is because of the music and instruments he taught us to listen to and to play. He was bold and commanding and soft and gentle at the same time. The only instruments I successfully played was the trumpet and the French horn, playing both in band and orchestra. Good teachers can really bring kids good memories and appreciation of all kinds of music. I also played some piano, but hated my lessons because the teacher who came to my home just didn't have it. She was pushy and mechanical in her methods. (And she hit my hand with her stick!)

lunkerville/video


Thursday, June 25, 2015

Tranquillity at Last

Well the traveling back and forth to SC three times a year for 15 years has ended. Six months here, and six months there every year has ended.  We sold our place in the campground on the beach. It is bittersweet, but we are resigned that it must be. We have been going there since 1989, the first ten years in our motorhomes. The best thing is that we sold it to friends and their dream of having a place at the beach is now true and we sure hope they will enjoy lasting memories in their later years as much as we do already, even though it is a bittersweet experience for us.

I think I've taken pictures of every bush, tree and plant - that grows there. So many residents have beautiful flowers and my amateur photography efforts have given me great enjoyment. Now I'll even have a chance to renew my enjoyment of more relaxation and views of the autumn colors and local flowers and keep on snapping when I can. I have missed Autumn's full splendor in the mountains for the past 25 years!

Yesterday we visited our daughter, who lives nearby across town. She has the greenest thumb of anyone I know. I took 38 pictures in 1/2 hour as she was heading out to an appointment. Her garden is exceptionally beautiful and not tightly structured. She has varieties of flowers plus many vegetables that are thriving and are sure having a lot of full and healthy growth there! Even her koi came to the top of the small backyard pond to say hello. She can name every one of her plants and even has a special herb garden. I will go back to catch more blooms, especially for one of my favorites, Zinnias. Pop always had many of those around the house when I was growing up. Some plants are finished blooming but there are many more spectacular varieties of lilies to come!

WOW! Hosta
One of thousands of Morning Glories
The Sundrops originally came from the Cabin garden.

Birdhouses and Blooms
Lilies in tall grasses
Tuberous Begonia
Elderberry Bush - Jelly to be made. YUM!
Boy Koi
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Thursday, June 18, 2015

Agave Bloom 2015 HD

OMG! Please notice I was so excited to finish this slide show that I made a mistake BEFORE sending to YouTube. Can you find it?




Hint!   I thought I was perfect and knew how old I am. Guess not!

Monday, June 15, 2015

Sago Palm and More

Surprise! A very different look. I find the darndest things, don't I? This is real and not manipulated! A freak of nature is exciting to me.
Four!

Unusual

I removed background
This is why I was delighted to find the "foursome." Rarely, a male sago will have several heads which can sprout multiple cones as shown. 
 This one is in Valdosta, Georgia and the photo is used with permission from Dr. Mink
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In late spring, a mature male Sago produces a golden cone, shaped like a giant pine cone which may grow over 2' tall.  A female produces a huge golden flower which slowly opens when it is fertile, then closes, and begins to produce viable seed if pollination from a male sago was successful.
"King"  
 "Queen"  

    "Princes and Princesses" 

Most Sagos must be at least 15 -20 years old before they are mature enough to bloom, and they also must be well established in your garden or landscape.

It is highly poisonous to both pets and humans. A chemical in the plant called cycasin is toxic and often causes permanent liver damage as well as neurological damage if enough of the poison is absorbed by the body. The seeds are the most poisonous part of the plant and the effects on humans are seizures, coma and death.
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Then I saw this large turtle in the creek.


The canna lilies by the creek have started to bloom. 

It was a good day, even though way too hot!

Sunday, June 14, 2015

Heat Crazy

Well I just cannot stand the heat and humidity so I stay indoors and play. Today I took one of my recent lily pictures and these are my results.

It kept me busy while the Mister watched Sprint Cup races.

Final Artwork "DISEASED"

Second Work

First Work

(Started with this)
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Saturday, June 13, 2015

Buttermilk Skies

Yes, that's what my dad called these....



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Reminded me of this song:

Ole buttermilk sky
I'm keeping my eye peeled on you
What's the good word tonight
Are you gonna be mellow tonight?
Ole buttermilk sky
Can't you see my little donkey and me?
We're as happy as a Christmas tree
Headed for the one I love
I'm gonna pop her the question, that question
Do you, darling do you, do?
It'll be easy, so easy
If I can only bank on you
Ole buttermilk sky
I'm tellin' you why, now you know
Keep it in mind tonight
keep brushin' those clouds from sight
Ole buttermilk sky
Don'cha fail me when I'm needin' you most
Hang a moon above her hitchin' post
And hitch me to the one I love
You can, if you try, don't tell me no lie
Will you be mellow and bright tonight
Buttermilk sky?
Ole buttermilk sky
Don'cha fail me when I'm needin' you most
Hang a moon above her hitchin' post
And hitch me to the one I love
You can, if you try, don't tell me no lie
Will you be mellow and bright tonight
Buttermilk sky?
Will you be mellow and bright tonight
Buttermilk sky?

Songwriters
CARMICHAEL, HOAGY / BROOKS, JACK N