Happy Halloween!

Huzzah! Another Halloween has come and gone without a spook to be seen. We had a great night of food, friends and fire. Spent the afternoon gathering wood for a bonfire and Joey & Wes, Terry, Julie and Jonathan joined us just around dark and we got it blazing away. A delicious feast of roasted sausages, baked beans, and various snackages followed, all washed down with wine or whiskey. Merriment ensued. And I made pie!




Had not done small hand pies before and learned a few things (like don't forget the steam vents). But they were delicious!

I caught Peter creeping along the tightrope that is the window edge of the car.


Chewie, of course, is her same silly self.


Hope your All Hallow's Eve was just as fun as ours.

Trip to Ill.

Daniel and I went to Illinois for a long weekend to attend my grandmother's 90th birthday celebration. We had a good time, but are so glad to be back. Here's the view across the fields at my sister's house. This is what I think of when I picture Illinois.


Speaking of Beth and Rae's place, here's a shot of it. It was built in 1905 and has all the original woodwork intact, 12 foot ceilings, and is just a fantastic place. I always enjoy being there.


Here's two of their four pets, Hank (a giant schnauzer) and Chloe, who was very sweet.




The house used to have several beautiful old barns, built int he early part of the century and painted that classic red, but they were all in bad repair and the main barn had been damaged in a tornado so was removed. A shame, as they had so much character. The foundation stones from the main barn remain and would be an excellent backbone for a flower garden if arranged properly. Wish I had them here!


A rose and iris garden behind the sumemr kittchen perhaps? Yes, there really is an old summer kitchen! I think it would make a great winery for the grapes that should be arbored along the south side of the property. (Isn't imagineering fun?)


While there we visited a winery in Grafton along the Mississippi river. Got to spend the day with so many family and friends that I rarely see. It was one of the highlights of the trip. here's the sun going down over the mighty river.


The fall foliage was just spectacular everywhere we went. An exceptional show this year. Unfortunately I did not get an pics when we visited Washington Park in Spfringfield. Check Daniel's blog for more of all these places.
http://skookum-ouzel.blogspot.com/




It was really great to see the extended family. I don't get back often and when I do it is rarely with so many others there. We're a pretty widespread group. Especially good to see Grandma and my niece and nephew (Hi Emily! Be sure and write me!). A fun trip al around, but so glad to be home.

Autumnal rainbow

Color in the garden today...

On the edge of autumn

I love autumn in the northwest. It wasn't a particularly welcome season in other parts of the US I have lived in, but here it is. The long , dry summer is ending and the rains come back. Everything is so fresh and green again for a burst before winter's dark chill sets in. Fall is the season for planting irises and refreshing flowerbeds. And cooking. Fall is for cooking.

Here's a pizza I started making after reading a recipe
Cuisine at Home had in a recent issue. Store bought pizza dough (so much easier and more reliable than home made, tho you know I love scratch), topped with leftover roasted chicken chunks, sauteed mushrooms, onions, and garlic, artichoke hearts, a sprinkle of pine nuts, with grated mozzarella, a light sprinkle of feta and some fresh grated parm to finish it off. Perfection.


With my neck healed up I am finally able to get some projects seen to. First on the list was one I showed a few posts ago - the flowerbeds to the right of the front entrance. This area has been waiting for a long time, and for good reason. It is so difficult to dig in! The construction compaction still makes it a miserable, slow, back-breaking job. But at last - it's done. In a few years the lilacs and hibiscus will fill in and break up that long blank wall. Irises at the edge of the long bed will highlight my collection of Gibson plicatas, while the triangle has a color coordinated set of historics in browns, golds, reds and dark purples. You saw before, here's during and after.




And finally, last night's sunset. Embiggen it - its worth it.

*~sunflowers~*

Surprise!

I am so happy to see the surprise lilies blooming. They always remind me of my grandma. I had thought the two survivors of the move were wasting away but they put up good strong stems this fall.


Th deer have left gaura alone... it's looking fantastic!

Here's something you won't see often - an unattractive picture of the place. But it shows what changes I am working on to fill in, break up and cover unsightly necessities across the front of the house. Consider this a before picture.

Of course Chewie is rolling in the dirt.

Some of the semps are really looking good right now. (enlarge this one - the details are great)

Summer's back

After a really nice break for some rain and temps in the 60's for a week we are back to sunny days and temps in the 70's. very pleasant, and good timing too as I am finally able to get back to digging new flowerbeds! Huzzah! This weekend I'm working on this triangle shaped bed below. Have been trying to get to it since spring, but only now am able. Next I'll expand the bed behind it (to the left in the pic) to put some shrubs up against the house and break up the expanse.


I've really been enjoying this lovely Gaura 'Whirling Butterflies'. It is just a mass of little white flowers touched pale pink. Lives up to its name very well. It seems to like the poor soil and dry conditions so I plan to get plenty more of it. The deer love it, but if there's enough around they can't get it all.


I got some fresh peaches from the Fruit Truck and made a couple of pies for a potluck at work tomorrow. We already ate the peach crisp I made for Daniel and I last night. Dee-lish!


And last is a sunset from the other night. We've had some good ones lately.