Quiet Here...

The day started off with a doe and fawn on my lawn. They did spot me in the window and took off back up into the hillside woodland. I've seen them many times.

It's warm so I went out for a short rideabout. My first stop was next door where my niece from Delaware and my nephew from Rhode Island have been organizing and preparing for several days to take their dad to live with her and her husband. I've known him for over 60 years when he married one of my sisters. She died in 2016 and he has lived next door to me for 26 years from the time when I moved into the cabin. We weren't ever very close but it was always nice to know that he was here and near. Now, after a chat and understanding, we both know it was a necessary move for his safety and assisted care. They took his Ranger so he might be able to ride it on the large property. His dog, of course, went with them.  Still...I'm sad. One by one my family members move on.

On a happier note, a second pink poppy bloomed this morning. I hope to save seeds from this variety.

A neighbor's flowers are full of pollinators and the Pinky Winky Hydrangea blooms are beautiful. 

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Surprises

Today my daughter brought me a beautiful bouquet of flowers from her garden. She also brought me yellow and green beans and a container of her ziti for my dinner. 

She took a walk up to the old rock garden to see how things were growing up there and came back with great news! A poppy has opened and several others will soon.....Would you believe it?? Of course I had to get up there on the buggy and get a picture. 

Have a closer look.....

This is the tomato that will provide seeds for next year's crop. My NJ daughter is going to try saving seeds too for the first time.

Not least but last....My clothespin project is almost finished. It needs a coat of shellac or clear varnish to solidify the unit more permanently. It was a very difficult project as the old clothespins were quite warped. I was going to paint it white but decided I like the wooden shades better. It has better character naturally.  One of the skirt feathers fell out and I glued it back in backwards. Toooo late to change it now! Can you spot it?

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Stumped!

I took a rideabout this morning and found very little to photograph.  Remember back in May I posted a stump with a tiny tree growing up from the crack? See below.

I thought it was a bit unusual but glad to know it was alive. Well....Today when I went by, someone else has been watching the little tree's growth and put a couple of guardian rocks near it. 

I then added two more. After I did this an earthworm appeared! Out of the crack it came and surrounded my rock. WOW! 

Soooo, before I buggied away I added a piece of the tree bark. Why, you ask? Because I could! 

Now "our little tree" is fully protected, at least for a while. Stacked rocks have many meanings but I believe these are tributes to a survivor.

One flower took my eye this morning.

Cardinal Flower, Scarlet Lobelia

An un-tended flower plot by a lake home at least has some glory left.

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https://www.trees.com/gardening-and-landscaping/types-of-earthworms

Between Showers

Rain showers, that is!  I rode about this morning. One thing I noticed is that most of the peonies have never bloomed. I think they don't like it so wet. There is a favorite white one that had buds and they are gone. In the same area is a pink one and it too, has no buds nor blooms. 

The Hollyhocks have started to open. I was a bit disappointed to see they seem to be all the same dark color. 

The only critter I saw was this one. 

My daughter had a visitor when she was taking pictures of her annual garden blooms at her home. All of the following are her images.

She cut this little bloom and I identified it for her. There are many around the lake here. It is a Spotted Bellflower.

Every year she has an unbelievable flower garden. This year some of the fencing and flowers were damaged when a black bear visited several nights when tearing down her bird feeders.  Nevertheless, here are some of this year. 

Several years ago she took some of the Sundrops from the cabin plot that her grandfather had planted. They thrive and bloom every year.

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Warmer?

Well it IS..... in here! I'm baking cookies. Temperature outdoors at 10am is only 60° and cloudy. We're expecting some rain. Today's treat is Snickerdoodles. (Recipe at bottom.)

Yesterday I went for a short buggy ride. Wore a jacket! Still wasn't warm but was determined to find color. I did... a little of it!

Itoh Peony — Love the yellow here!

Daylillies, Stella

I like the fence ...

Wild Foxglove

Chinese Lantern from a friend

My Prize of the day!!!!!!

Here's lookin' atcha! LOVE IT!!

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Snickerdoodles!

Ingredients

2 & 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1 cup butter, softened - I use salted (2 sticks)

2 cups white sugar, divided

2 large eggs (thank you neighbor for the eggs!)

2 tsp. cinnamon

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside.

Cream together the butter and 1 & 1/2 cups sugar until pale yellow, about 2-3 minutes.

Mix in eggs until well combined.

Add the flour mixture, 1/2 cup at a time, until the dough comes together.

In a separate, small bowl, combine 1/2 cup sugar and cinnamon together.

Shape dough into about 1-3/4 inch balls and roll the balls in the cinnamon sugar.

Space the balls about 3 inches apart on an ungreased baking sheet.

Bake for 9-10 minutes. (Oven temperatures may vary. Cooking time may be more or less.)  Rest before removing onto rack to cool. 

Quick Ridearound

I couldn't resist a short ride around the lake to see what is blooming today. I did find some new colors showing off. The Hawkweed were pretty. 

The peonies have started to open. I'm waiting for a particular one to bloom as it is a white one, but in the meantime the pinks are nice!

For many years I made elderberry jam and I see that the bushes are still flourishing and berrie blossoms are beginning to show. If you have never tasted this treat, do it! Labor intensive but worth the work. (I have recipe)

White and rather small iris are blooming on the other side of the lake and I think they were planted last year or I either missed them or they were finished.

Now for my attempt to plant poppies from seed. I scattered them in an old piece of plastic pipe up by the rock garden. First I had my yard guy fill the container with new soil. After scattering seed, I lightly sprinkled water on the planting three days in a row. We had a little rain one afternoon. I think what happened is that the water washed the seeds to one side of the container and this is what I see today! Yikes! Time will tell how this works out!

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I did cut some more wild spearmint to root. The first batch I made last year are doing just fine and spreading well in the front flowerbed!