Friday, August 31, 2012

Friday, August 31, 2012

Rhiannon

Been busy working on the Village Planter Garden. A wonderful angel helped by removing all the weeds, another angel donated the mulch, and I just am slowly working my way mulching and preparing to plant some hardy mums for the fall.

The surprising thing about all of this that the volunteer help from the community and the lady who yelled it's looking good as she passed have just reaffirmed my idea that people are willing to do things. All you need to do is ask for help, say yes when it's offered, and a lot of small acts make a big change.

As I walk around the Village I see so many persons making small differences daily and the result is - the Village is better for all those small changes.

So, if you are out there and you have an idea of something you can do to make the place you live a better place - Just do it, ask for help, take it, and make the change!

A big thank you to the people who believe in a better tomorrow, one small step at a time!

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Tir Na Nog

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Strange day, strange time of year, just always seems this way at the end of August. You still feel summer, the heat and humidity when old Sol popped out, from behind those dark foreboding clouds that made you think fall. The grays were intense with darkness and brought a feeling of fall coolness.

The flowers are those of late summer and early fall - Cannas, fading Phlox, bright colored Zinnias, Bright blue of Cupid's Darts and the glowing yellow and oranges of the Marigolds. Still some hangers on of summer Daisy, Lupine, Canterbury Bells, Pulmonaria and the last of the Roses trying to convince us that perhaps there is still another few months of summer out there.

However, when we check the Mums and Asters we see their beginning to peep there way to buds.

The pumpkins in the garden are starting to swell and slowly turning from green to orange.

Late summer, I am not going to give in to fall until sometime in mid September and then I'll only say that it is slowly coming on.

Well, weather in the 90's later this weekend? That's what they are saying.

Monday, August 27, 2012

Monday, August 27, 2012

Pwyll

Well, it was another normal Monday. A little rain fell and then I thought I would check the garden plot between rains. Beans, peppers and lots of tomatoes. It seems they are deciding that it is getting time to be ripe.

The fall crops I planted two weeks or so ago are coming along fine. If the weather holds like it has been through September into mid October we should be gathering the benefit of this midsummer planting of root crops.

I'm going to have to do some reading on storing root crops if they suceed. Parsnips, turnips, beets, and carrots. The eight cabbage plants I purchased for 80 cents seem to be developing fine. Will keep and eye out for cabbage moth eggs.

Gather some tomatoes to share with others. It seems that sharing the bounty is the way to go. We can't eat them fast enough and still not to the point to start canning.

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Thursday, August 23, 2012 - Thank you to the Angels in my community!

Well another week is quickly drawing to a close. I have been thinking about the need for persons to take responsibility for change. So many people complain about how we should do this, or how this could be better, or why we can't do this.

However, I find that when you ask these persons to help institute that change they are "to busy, don't have the skills,  I just can't do it".

I am a believer in change. That it is a slow process, that it is not easy, that it takes a lot of energy. One may not have all the skills needed to bring it to fruition, but, if you plod along little by little you can get things done.

Change is not easy nor does it happen without a bit of sacrifice. In our little Village, the center of the universe to only those live here, some changes have been happening. We have started a community garden to help people to feed themselves healthily. It involves work and time. We are making improvements to our Village Park adding play equipment and hopefully repairing existing structures. Giving people a place to go and play. Again it takes work and time, and of course a monetary commitment. A small group of dedicated citizens are working to develop a plan to improve and beautify our town center. Hoping to build a civic pride that makes people notice we are the center of the universe. Again time, energy and money are needed to accomplish this.

The thing that I find remarkable is that a small dedicated group of citizens - with no real training in instituting change, with limited funds available, and with a lot of sweat equity are bringing about a slow deliberate change in the quality of life for all those naysayers who want change but don't want to contribute to it.

And, to all those young families with children and commitments that are improving their homes and yards - Thank you for doing so!

Thanks to all those who see the future as a positive possibility.         You are Angels.

Angel

Wednesday,August 15, 2012

Wednesday, August 14, 2012

Engaged in a long overdue family tradition. A that is rising before the sun so we can see Sol rise and spread its glorious warmth and light upon us. We became this tradition back in the 80's when we sat on the lawn at the Lila Arboretum in BC.

Today we repeated this activity as we watched the sun rise over the bay here in Northport. It. Was a perfect sunrise that played hide and seek with us a total of three times before we actually felt the warmth of the sun.

We added a new twist to the day thanks to Barb's Bakery - not only a twist but a cinnamon twist, a Bismarck, custar filled donuts, cherry turnover, strawberry tarts and Pat's freshly brewed coffee. Needless to say weallenjoyed the sweetness of the sunrise.

The rest of the day was spent in a sugar fog of relaxing at the beach, slow drives through the orchard lined roads, and lazy afternoon naps.

Looking forward to the supper of spaghetti squash, pasta and fresh chopped salad.

Vacation days are slowly winding down. What s tomorrow's dream!

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Traveled yesterday to our favorite vacation spot here in Pure Michigan. 

Started the day with dark gloomy skies foreboding at best. Then came the down pouring rain. As we traveled on the sky turned to partly cloudy and the rain became mist. When we neared are destination the sky was clear, the sun was beneficial with its warmth.

We met the whole Fam Damily for a wonderful dinner. The night grew darker.

The darkness beckoned us to Petersen Park overlooking the big lake. We laid on the ground, or on top of the picnic tables and preceded to view one of the wonders of the universe.

The Persieds  star showers. The oo's and ah's of all the grand kids as they watched nature's fireworks was as exciting to me as the showers themselves.

Watching the star showers has been a family event as long as we have had kids around!

Stay tuned for more of the continuing saga of family vacation 2012 -Summer Edition

I will be working on some sketches today to try to capture the high points.

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Very relaxing  day. Started off with checking the garden and setting the hoses. Things are growing fine, now if the tomatoes would just start to ripen. Did have an earlier fight with tomato horn worms but it seems that I have found and stepped on them all!

Someone has Broccoli that needs to picked. Every time check the gardens out it tempts me.

After some photos of the new play structure site and updating the Village website. I took off for the pool.

Perfect pool day, swam laps for about an hour and them just drifted on the raft, soaking up the sun and enjoying the water. 88 degrees air 84 Degrees -perfect light airy cloud wisps.

Summer Morning Sunrise

Had John Denver on the IPod and just thought about what a wonderful life I really have.  Life's been good to me so far, but I fine it hard to drive 55.

Monday, August 6, 2012

Monday, August6, 2012

House, Trees and Shadows

A beautiful day here in the Village. Spent the better part of the day caring for the community garden.

We started this year for the first time. Eight gardeners signed up and we have some really good progress in the development of the garden.

There was an attack last week of  tomato horn worms but with the help of  a gardening grand daughter we seem to have stomped them down to nothing. I will still keep a diligent eye on everyone's tomato plants when I go down to check and water.

Some of the gardeners need to get down there to do two things. Weed and harvest. I've begun to pick tomatoes and the beans seem to keep coming. The pole beans are covered with blossoms and tiny fruit so we will be starting those soon.

Planted late fall crops of beets, turnips, and parsnips add a few potatoes and if all goes well I can taste those fall roasted goodies coming from the oven, to the table, and into my tummy. Yummy!

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Ostara

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Well spent the day doing those things I enjoy. Wash and polished the car, picked vegetables from the garden, prepared for tomorrow's yard work, and just laid on a raft in the pool and did a few laps.

Now I'm working on my drawing number 3 in the Bedtime series . Hope to finish it before fall hits! 

Have the idea formulated for the next Berlin drawing. So I will work on that soon to get it started.

Did mat and mount work for the ART WALK in Grand Haven. Will begin to post those drawings on my blog here soon.

Saturday, August 4, 2012

Saturday, August 4, 2012

Imbolc

Ein ganz normaler Samstag! What a beautiful Saturday. Some sadness this morning as the grandchildren and their parents pulled out of the drive on their way home. We headed to the Amish workshop and enjoyed the search for seeds to plant second crops in the garden. Found a few but will still keep looking for 1 more week.

We will see the grand kids again at the cottage. Gosh summer seems to be flying by!

Beat the heat today by drifting around the pool on our floating rafts. Enjoyed the crystaline clear water with its dancing sun rays as we felt the breezes blow over us and the cool water beneath us. Reminds you of why we have summer in the first place.