rainbows in the closet

Destined to be the mother of boys.....

I always thought I'd have girls.  When I was expecting my first baby, I remember, as if yesterday, the first baby outfit I bought.  It was a soft little pink after bath snuggly gown, with a hood and cuffs trimmed in delicate lace.  Several weeks later, during an ultrasound, it was revealed that I was to have a baby Jamie (James) rather than the Elizabeth I was so sure of.  After a brief moment of shock, I laughed and happily prepared to greet a tiny son.  The little pink gown was wrapped in tissue and tucked carefully away.  

After my first marriage ended and my sweet Jamie and I moved into our cozy cottage, I nearly donated that little pink gown.  I remember kneeling on the floor holding that bit of pink, thinking "I'll probably never re-marry and have another baby....,"  but I couldn't let it go.  I re-wrapped it in tissue, slipped in a bit of hope, and tucked it back into my cedar chest. 

Several years later, happily re-married, my Chris and I discover to our delight that I am pregnant, and this time I know, I am absolutely certain, this baby is a girl!  Three months later, the results of an amniocentesis reveal we will welcome......sweet William.  Once again, the delicate pink gown is tucked back into its tissue nest where it would safely stay for many years.

Needless to say, I would not dream of trading my boys for girls, and I've come to believe that while I may be a good auntie to my nieces, I am a great mother for my boys. 

I have introduced them to cooking and sewing, and many tea parties we have certainly had.  I believe in letting children play in the mud, climb trees and build forts.  I would have encouraged a daughter to get dirty, just as much as I encouraged my boys.   There is a time for dress up and best behavior, but then there is also time for rolling in the grass with the puppy and the wearing of old sneakers and jeans with ripped knees.  If I'd had a girly-girl, I'm not quite sure I would have known what to do! 

I've been a soccer mom for Jamie, and a basketball and track mom for Will.  I have nearly lost track of how many trips to the ER I've made for the setting of bones and the stitching of wounds.  But, I have also spent much time carefully nurturing my boys and teaching and guiding in the hopes that they will grow to become wonderful men, respectful of women, and loving husbands and tender fathers. 

I'm pretty certain my boys will marry wonderful girls, and hopefully, hopefully, one day I shall have a granddaughter!  

What happened to the little pink gown, you may ask?  Eleven years ago, my sister-in-law discovered she was expecting twin girls and I happily gave it to her, with other tiny pink things, at her baby shower.  :-)

Happy Mothers Day to all you wonderful women, mothers or aunties or friends, who care for and nurture the young ones around you!

 

Happy Valentine's Day, Happy Birthday!

Happy Valentine's Day!  Isn't that a sweet vintage postcard?  Such a pretty little girl.   My grandmother received the card from a girlfriend when she was a young woman.  My mother is now the caretaker of Grandma's postcard collection and from time to time I'll share one with you.  Please feel free to take this for your own personal use.

Today is a special day in our household, not because it is Valentine's Day, but because my youngest son is celebrating his 18th birthday.  As usual I am experiencing a range of emotions, but mostly I am just happy.  A sweet, charming little boy, William has grown to be a sweet, thoughtful young man.  Every morning this school year he has greeted me with a cheery "Top o' the morning to ya'!"  I'm going to miss that daily dose of sunshine when he heads off to college in the fall.  But, I'm pretty sure he'll be sharing a lot of cheer on campus and that's a very good thing. 

Birthday gifts this year are all about art, specifically ceramics.  Will just finished up a second class in ceramics and discovered he loves the entire process.  After haunting Craig's List he located a potter's wheel and a small kiln within driving distance and for $50.00 each.  Score!  After driving out for a quick look, we purchased both items keeping our fingers crossed that the kiln was operable.  Several days later we journeyed into Seattle to Seattle Pottery Supply to purchase basic tools, clay and glazes.  Within an hour of returning home William was happily throwing his first pot to the accompaniment of classical music.  

This weekend the little old kiln successfully bisque fired its first load of pottery for our budding artist.  We have a very, very happy boy! 

In that stack of mugs and bowls is a tea bowl for me.  Once glazed and refired, I will share the finished project with you.  I can hardly wait!

 

 

At the beach on a perfect summer day

In May, I made a list of things I hoped to do this summer.  I haven't had a whole summer at home without a shop to to run for 12 years, so my wish list was quite a long list indeed!  I knew I wouldn't be able to do everything, but it was such fun to write down everything that came to mind.  There were tasks that needed to be tackled, including organizing the many things heaped in my studio for my now home based business, and there were simple home and garden to-do's.  I hoped to work through a few of the Italian lessons waiting on my Mac, to sew and craft, and cook and read, and to carve out time for long walks with sweet Corgi Millie.  However, the most important things on my list all have to do with my family.  On my list you will find "coffee with my parents," "wine with Chris on deck after work," "one on one time with each son" and "lunches at Double Bluff Beach with the boys."  

I'm happy to say I've done many of the things on my list, but we've only made it to our favorite beach together a few times.  Happily, yesterday was one of them, and it was a perfect day for an afternoon at the beach.  While the temperature was in the low 80s at our house, it was high 70s at the beach with a lovely fresh breeze coming in off the water.  We had picked up munchies and beverages on the way and arrived at the beach just as the tide turned bringing the water in over the warm, gently sloping sand.  Perfect conditions for Jamie to do some sketching, for William to do some skimboarding, and for me to snap a few photos. 

(William1)

My long, tall boy heading out to the water.

(William2)

We have few waves of any size in this shallow bay.  So, this is flatland skimboarding.  A board is thrown, the boarder runs onto it and glides across a thin layer of water, sometimes for a great distance.  Tricks of all sorts are done, many very similar to those one sees in skateboarding or snowboarding.

(William3)

crouching.....

(William4)
  Side-slips, Ollies, Shuv-Its, and Spins......... So fun to watch! 

(William5)

But what I saw was a graceful, spinning, gliding dance on sparkling water on a beautiful summer day.... and my son. 

A visit to Virginia.....

For nearly a year we plotted and planned and finally on June 20, I flew to Virginia to visit my dear friend Lesley for nearly a week!  Except for two visits into Williamsburg, most of my visit was happily spent at Lesley's charming home nestled in the countryside.  We visited late into the nights, sharing hopes and dreams and stories.  We picked blackberries and listened to the sweet peeps of tiny chicks in their brooder box on the screened porch.  I heard cicadas in the trees and in the evenings sat on the porch steps, with companionable kitties, and watched fireflies dance over the garden.  Lightening bugs!  For this pacific northwest woman, fireflies are a wonder!

(image 1 Kitchen)

Each morning I crept as quietly as I could down the stairs and fixed myself a cup of tea in this charming, airy kitchen.  See all those books?  Lesley has oodles of books and I only had time to peruse a fraction of them!

(Image 2 front window)

The oldest part of Lesley's house dates to 1780.  While it has been remodeled and added onto over the years, two old windows with wavy glass remain.  I love the view out the window to their drive...  That driveway is so old, and I would not have been the slightest bit surprised to see a soldier from the past riding up the drive on horseback. 

(Image 3 gathering room window)

The home is situated such that the golden light of late afternoon and early evening floods into the kitchen and gathering room.  The room and everything in it glows in such a beautiful way.  Lesley has captured this lovely light in many photographs on her blog. 

On Friday we visited Colonial Williamsburg and in spite of the nearly 100 degree weather, we did a walk around most of the old town.  We saw soldiers coming to work.......

(Soldier)  

and other worker bees going to work......all in their historically correct garb. 

(Worker bees)

I loved the houses, the church, the mossy roofs, the old cemetery....

(mossy roof)

(tombstone)

but most of all I loved the gardens and the beautiful trees, and charming fences and gates. 

(garden & tree)

Isn't this inviting?  This lovely gate leads you into the garden shown below.  Lesley told me this garden is filled to the brim with tulips in the spring.  I could happily move right into that darling, little house!

(garden)

(cloches)

After walking through Colonial Williamsburg we walked around the beautiful campus of The College of William and Mary.  Summertime is quiet on the campus, so we were able to take our time in the very historic Wren Building.  The Sir Christopher Wren Building at the College of William and Mary in Virginia is the oldest college building in the United States.  It was constructed between 1695 and 1700, before Williamsburg was even founded.  Classes are still held in this beautiful building.  Wouldn't THAT be something?

(College 1)

 It gave me the shivers when I learned I was walking on the same paths where three of the first ten U.S. presidents had walked.  Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe and John Tyler all attended The College of William and Mary.  

On the back of the Wren Building there is a piazza from which one can look out over the old sections of campus and the Sunken Garden.  It was here I snapped one of my favorite photos, one of my friend.

(plaza & Lesley)

Thank you, dear Lesley, for opening your home to me.  I had such a nice time!  It was a very special visit.  :-)

Time to write.....

Six months plus since I last wrote in this blog of mine.  Once I made the decision to close my brick & mortar tea shop, and committed to a date, that is pretty much been where my time needed to be focused. But now I am finding time here and there to take a breath, to sit quietly, to become better acquainted with my camera, and to write.  It is so very nice. 

Our weather this spring has been so fitful. Even for this pacific northwest girl, this is getting quite tiresome!  Don't get me wrong, I do love my rain boots, but day after day?  It is June now and I still have planting to do!  But all the rain has certainly contributed to the rich lushness that abounds on our pretty island. During one rare, lovely afternoon, while sunshine dappled the lawn, I spent some peaceful moments wandering about.
 

Chris reseeded our back lawn early this spring and the rich green is the perfect backdrop for the iris planted close to our little pond.
 

The exbury azalea in the photo above is simply glorious this year! We moved it from my fenced garden last summer and thus far have been able to keep our deer from nibbling on it.  May my luck continue, because I love, LOVE this azalea!  The color, the fragrance....perfection!

A very industrious bumble bee working the purple rhodies at the top of the yard.  These bumble bees are a little on the petite size, just a bit bigger than a honey bee.   Don't you love their orange stripe?  These rather solitary creatures will bed down in a blossom at day's end.  If you go out early, while it is still quite cool, you can pet them, ever so gently of course.  They will stretch in a groggy fashion, and then snuggle in again until the sun's warmth wakes them. 

 

Here are Chris' pampered goldfishies in the Sashimi Pond.  ;-)  They are fed daily and protected by the wire grid from the ever so patient blue heron that does regular reconnaissance flyovers.   On occasion you will look out the window and find this lovely piece of yard art standing ever so quietly eying the plump fish.  Giving up (with a sigh I am sure), she will run a few steps on her stork like legs and flapping a bit awkwardly up and away she'll be over the cedar trees. Not today, not today....

While I walked about the garden, my little shadow followed me.... 

 
Such a cutie-pie!  I love this pooch!  :-)  There are many such jaunts ahead of us, Miss Millie. 

Autumn in the garden

Sometime in late September or early October, a certain crisp coolness gives rise to a sense of urgency in any gardener's soul.  Winter is coming and there is much to do; roses to be tidied up, perennials to be divided and shared, bulbs to be planted.  After more than 2 weeks of going into the tea shop nearly every day for holiday prep, I have had the delight of several days off. The weather has been cooperating with beautiful sunny days.  To celebrate garden time I bought new boots!

Last weekend, Chris and Will brought home the perfect gift, a pick-up truck full of beautiful rich, black compost. Oh, the joy of such stuff!  We had been working off and on the past two weeks on my perennial border.  Over the last few years roots from nearby trees had invaded my garden, enjoying the water and compost found there.  The tangle of roots had finally begun to choke the delphiniums, daisies and lilies that bring me so much joy in the spring and summer.  My feeble attempts to dig out the roots, brought my husband in to help.  He dug, chopped and sifted while I lifted babies to save, tucking them into one of the raised beds.

Do not get in this man's way when he is working!  While Chris added a few new fence boards, dug in the rest of the compost and raked the bed, I puttered about weeding, harvesting plump carrots, snapping photos and planning.   

There is something about rich black soil that makes the colors of foliage pop!  See how pretty the autumn dress of the peony looks in contrast? 

 

Tomorrow promises to be another lovely day, and while my guys are off dirt bike riding, I'll be heading to the local nursery to see what perennials I may be able to find in the clearance area.  There are always orphans in need of a home. Then back in the garden I'll be, tucking plants into the bed which awaits.  And while I plant, I'll be painting a picture in my mind of what the garden will look like next year.  :-)

I'll finish up with this photo of a pretty little late season butterfly.  It took me nearly 45 minutes and a great deal of patience late in the afternoon to catch it.  I crouched nearby, but every time I'd raise my camera, the little thing would startle and flutter off about the yard, but the allure of the Autumn Joy sedum was too strong to resist. Finally, the butterfly returned one last time and I captured this shot just before it fluttered off never to be seen again.  Good-bye, farewell, please send your offspring back next year to say "Hello!" 

Stargazer time!

This was the year I was going to enter stems of stargazer lilies into our county fair.  I had my eye on the blue ribbon or maybe even Best in Show!  

Oh, how I have babied these beauties since spring.  They and their strawberry companions have been fertilized, mulched, protected from marauding slugs, and deeply watered.  When I've been gone for long weekends, friends have been drafted to come tend to their needs. 

Several weeks ago I thought we were right on schedule, but then came our spell of extreme heat on top of an already hot, dry summer.  I came home from a long weekend in Canada to find my Stargazers erupting into bloom.  By the time our fair starts pink petals will be falling and there will not be a bud left.  Sigh... What's a gardener to do? 

 

This one visits her garden in the late afternoon to take photos, and again in the evening to drink in the heady fragrance, and again the next morning to pick stems for home and teashop....and dreams of next summer's blue ribbon.

Oops!

Isn't this the dearest little thing?  We have a swallow box up in the roof peak of our front porch and have the pleasure of monitoring a family's progress each summer.  On the third of July, this poor little baby either fell out of the nest or was pushed out by one of his siblings.  My husband spotted him huddled right outside the door and called me to come check him.

I carefully scooped him up to inspect him.  He was clearly scared, but in very good shape.  My son, Jamie, quickly snapped this photo, then a ladder was fetched.  While Mom and Dad swooped close by, he was gently guided back home.  I can happily report this young swallow fledged with the rest of his siblings earlier this week and is now working the neighborhood bug control detail. 

Everytime, I look at that photo, I smile.... To me he looks like a cross between Groucho Marx and Einstein!  :-)

Beautiful goodness

There is something so magical about shopping for fresh produce in my own garden.  When I get home from a day of shopkeeping, I grab a basket and head out to see what beckons.  While the soaker hoses quietly hisssssss, I pick berries, greens, the vegie of the week. 

Isn't that pretty?  Doesn't get any fresher or better than this!  This is the first time I've grown broccoli.  I'm not sure if it is worth the space that it takes, but my goodness, the plants are impressive!  They look almost prehistoric in their robust bigness! 

My garden's not big enough to fill all our summer produce needs, but it comes fairly close and frequently we even have some to share.  I love that!  The strawberry rush is nearly over now, and the raspberries are beginning to ripen.  It is time now for some clean-up, fresh compost, and replanting of greens. 

Coming soon to our table are snowpeas and summer squash.  Yes, it is nearly zucchini time, that challenging time each summer when gardeners and cooks all across North America scramble to keep up with the green buggers which grow from slender fruits to huge boats overnight.  I swear, at times I can hear them chortling in the twilight when I close the garden gate for the night. 

We'll see how I do with keeping up with the zukes this year, or if I have to send my son William off in cover of darkness to leave giant squash on the front stoop of Steph and Ruth's house! 

A lovely autumn

Here on Whidbey Island we are better known for our stately evergreen firs and cedars rather than for deciduous trees, but as the population has grown plantings of maples and other pretty leafy trees have increased.  Frequently these trees quietly slip into winter, their leaves turning to muted browns which hang but briefly, and then are torn and tossed by October and November winds.  But, this year a cool summer and lingering Indian summer, with warm days and crisp nights have worked wonders and coaxed spectacular color!  

The Japanese maple below is in my friend Andrea's yard.  She has been keeping a photo essay of its color story and in this photo the color is at its peak.  Andrea sent this from her iPhone.  Quite the gadget.

The photo below I took from our back deck.  It was actually pouring, but the sun, hanging low in the sky, had just broken through the clouds and the a beautiful golden light illuminated the autumn foliage.  The leaves looked as if they were glowing from within.

It has been a glorious season.