Froggies and Flowers

I wanted a closeup of the Ohio Spiderwort in the lakescaping and while I was taking shots from various angles I was interrupted by this little frog! He hopped into the garden from the lawn. When he realized that there was a human there, he stopped cold was as still as could be until I moved away. That was fortunate, of course, because I managed to take several pictures of him.

I've got several more good flower photos but am running a little late, today, so I'll try to get them posted either later today or tomorrow. I've got a ton of pictures to add to my Flickr photostream, too...had some trouble logging in for several days so will give it another try. Wish me luck...

Our Lakescape - July 2008

Thought I'd post a couple of pictures of the lakescape. Took them late yesterday afternoon. There are dozens of other colors that have yet to bloom but the Sand Coreopsis have bragging rights at the moment. I have to say that these pictures do not do them justice by any means. They're really gorgeous. The Ohio Spiderwort is blooming, too. They're blue. I'll have to take some closeups of them, too.

It's cool to walk into the midst of all of them and see what's hidden. We've tried to move the shorter wildflowers to the outsides of the garden but it's almost impossible to find them until they're already surrounded by the taller varieties and the tall grasses.

I'm going to pick some bouquets, today. Tomorrow I'll post some new photos.

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, etc.

So Friday we hauled ourselves and all our smoothie paraphenalia to the Liberty Block Party where the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band was scheduled to perform. It was so-o-o-o-o-o busy. We were swamped. Blended smoothies until we were blue in the face. There were thousands of people.

Anyway, I was bummed because I thought I'd never get the chance to take photos of the Dirt Band. Then, as luck would have it, the organizer of the event - a great woman who does a smashing job every single year - popped over to our location and offered to take pictures for me. I gave her my camera and...here are the photos she took! She did an awesome job.

Their performance was outstanding. As busy as we were, we were at least able to listen and was it ever worth it...those guys might be a bunch of 60-year olds but they've got teeny-bopper voices...haven't changed a bit in thirty years. Really, really good stuff.

Here's the link to their official website. It's a good one. http://www.nittygritty.com/

They don't make 'em like that, anymore.

Scenes from the Lemonade Concert

This is going to be a quickie post because we're getting ready to head out to another event. Just wanted to show you how nice the Lemonade Concert and Art Fair always is. You can see that there are all sorts of offerings...art, honey, clothing, games...you can even get a henna tattoo if that's your thing!

The setting is pretty - lots of green space for the kids including a special area where they can have their faces painted and work on art projects. Lots of food available - including awesome smoothies *wink*.

You can see all the chairs lined up for the concert in the one photo. The concert by the symphony was outstanding, as usual. They perform about 8 PM to a packed audience! They are really world-class, in my opinion. It's a beautiful way to end the day.

Jack and I had unbelievable help - his sister and her husband who worked their fingers to the bone. We couldn't have done it without them. Well, we could have but we'd be in traction today - hah! We had a long line of smoothie-lovers constantly for several hours - overheated the blenders a few times, too. Luckily, from past experience, we have learned to have an extra blender or two at the ready.

This evening's event is a Rib Fest and the featured entertainment is the legendary Nitty Gritty Dirt Band who will, no doubt, be performing their legendary Mr. Bojangles. We are pumped! Will try very hard to get a photo or two but it'll be tricky because we'll very likely be blending our fingers to the bone for four hours, once again...and it'll just be the two of us.

Stay tuned...

Peonies, Daisies and Garden Art

Just a quick post - we're off to another event with our smoothie kiosk. It's called the Lemonade Concert and Art Fair held at one of the state universities and it's a lovely venue. Lots of trees, some very talented artists, people strolling along the pathways and in the evening the symphony performs. I'm taking my new camera - yep, I got a new camera - and will take photos if I can.

Here are the first pictures with this camera - It's a Canon Powershot A720 which is a fine camera for the price...I love it, already.

Took these shots last night. The peonies are almost finished blooming so I'm lucky I got this of the dark reds. Then, I wanted to show you this cool rain gauge...a good friend gave it to me. Pretty artsy, I think.

The daisies are starting to bloom and those little rascals just run rampant once they start...I actually have to yank some of them out of the ground when they start to overtake the other perennials but they're pretty, so if they behave themselves, I just leave them.

I'll be off taking pictures of everything in my path, I imagine - hopefully, we won't be so busy blending smoothies that I can't take a photo or two.

Random Thoughts

First of all, I should say that I think the Chickadees are gone. Well, I don't just think they're gone - I know it...they're not in the birdhouse and we can walk under the cranberry bush without being scolded. So that's sort of sad but happy, too. I'm hoping that the babies are still small and that I'll see them around.

It rained last night - I was hoping it would. We need the moisture and I'd much rather have it from Mother Nature than by watering. Although Jack has a lake pump, now, which is terrific because the water is pumped out of the lake and not from our well. Another good thing is that all the nutrients that are in the lake water get fed to the plants and grasses. The potted flowers that I have all LOVE, LOVE, LOVE that lake water - yum!

The lakescaping is fabulous, now. All the wildflowers are starting to bloom. It's gonna look awesome in the next week or so when the kids all come for the 4th of July. I'm going to take pictures later today so will post some in the next day or so.

In the meantime, this is a picture of the Butterfly Weed growing in our lakescape. Haven't a clue as to why it's called a weed - it's just a beautiful orange flower that really does attract butterflies. Another "weed" that butterflies like - in fact, I think it's what they live on - is Milkweed. It grows wild and a few years ago (before I knew what it is) I'd pull it when it "invaded" my perennial bed. When I learned that it's a source of butterfly food, I was horrified that I actually yanked the milkweed out of the ground on purpose! No more.

Some interesting Butterfly Trivia:

• Butterflies can see the colors red, yellow and green
• Each year hundreds of thousands of butterflies migrate to the same mountains deep in Central America
• There are about 750 species of butterflies in the United States
• Butterflies have no lungs so they breathe through their bodies.
• Butterflies use their feet for tasting!

I'm off and running for the day!

Happy Birthday to Me...

Yes, indeed, it is my birthday. And it's sunny and going to be warm and Jack's taking me out for a birthday lunch.

We're going to Bella on Broadway, a great little restaurant with an Italian flair. The food is excellent, the service is above average and the ambiance?...well, you'd just like to sit there for hours. Quiet...relaxing...

Tried photographing the peonies but the lighting was all wrong. I could see my shadow when I stood on one side but the sun was just too bright on the other...will try again...maybe today. So here's a shot of the purple iris, instead.

I've been working on motivation - haven't been very good about keeping to a schedule and I really need to do that. Starting today.

Found a couple of good quotes on a page I tore from an old Family Circle magazine...the title of the article is To Thine Own Self Be True which is appropriate for my birthday, I think. And appropriate motivation...maybe I CAN stick to a schedule. Here are a couple of them:

"Once we give up searcing for approval, we often find it easier to earn respect."

(Gloria Steinem)

"The greatest thing in the world is to know how to belong to oneself."

(Montaigne)