New Year A Comin'

 

For those of you who haven't had the chance to experience our lovely 2023 model Xmas tree- here it is! Still Xmas at our house, at least for a couple more weeks.

And it's going to be "New Year, New Phone" as my old phone (read very old, really old) shit the bed. Let's face it: it's been a long time coming as my relationship with my Luna Pro 3 was fraught, to put it mildly. 

The phone's existence started out fine but seemed to develop personal quirks and unnecesary idiosyncracies. I swear it was mildly possessed. It was sometimes cranky about turning on, but then became increasingly hard to turn off. It took to dialing random numbers when unasked and sometimes just sat there and refused to do anything at all. I confess to hurling/tossing/flinging and occasionally- yes!- throwing my phone across the room, or if outdoors, across the lawn. I horrified Bob.

So I am now phone-less in a society absolutely welded to their phones. I feel remarkably bouyant and liberated. The only thing I have missed thus far is my cocktail-hour immersion in Wordle and Spelling Bee. (Bob lent me his phone, but it wasn't the same.) My new phone is on its way; it should be in my possession by the end of the week. Meanwhile, I am perfectly happy to resort to landline and desktop for my communicating and computing needs.

And here's one last image to take away from 2023 and its increasingly weird weather. Mud. Endless overcast skies, lots of rain and so much mud!

Here's my pony, anointed in it. Let's not get into the ramifications of it's being New Year's Eve and we have had zero snow. The ground isn't even frozen. I guess we'll have to wake up tomorrow in a brand new year and embrace the mud. Happy New Year!

Doing Something Right!

 

Here's a view of our Long Border. I admit to yanking a few deceased annuals from its ranks and I think Bob chopped down a couple of Eupatorium (Joe Pye Weed) stalks that had fallen over, but it's pretty much left to it's own devices until next early spring. I always allowed for a certain gardening laziness that creeps over me by late summer. Early September finds me shrugging and suggesting it's too late to prop things up or edit and reorganize. 

Yup! That's me casting a long shadow on a kind of unsightly aster clump (the cultivar "Purple Dome" a half tall variety.) And while I admit to an unwillingness to walk back to the house and get pruners to remove the desiccated remains I also suspected that the seeds were possibly good food for birds. And I was right!

I just read an article in The Connecticut Gardener (#1) that confirmed my thoughts and applauded my laziness. The authors of the article in question averred that insects (hopefully beneficial) nest in the hollow stems and birds do indeed feed on seeds left behind. 

(This grass (Miscanthus sinensis) makes me look tiny; it IS tall and the inflorescenses look good all winter- until an ice storm beats them down!) So I've been vindicated in my waiting 'til next spring to clean up. Yes, sometimes when we get a warm February day, Robin the Good and I get out and start cutting down things that look particulary rough. Some plants don't age gracefully!

Here's another very poofy grass; I think this is one looks rather nice with the late day sunlight hitting the tufts. So... lesson learned: don't be in such a big fat rush to tidy up. There's plenty of time ahead to do that and the birds and bees will thank you!

(*1) The Connecticut Gardener is a really good resouce for all manner of garden information. Please consider subscribing! And I don't just say that becasue I write the occasional column for it!!

In Praise of Robin

 

A post to toast our little princess of a doggo, Robin the Good! A true gem of a dog... except not always.

I'll give you three guesses as to why that plate is empty. Yes, our little angel decided to remove the four (!!) slices of rye bread (seedless) that were thawing on that plate. Turn your back for one minute; she made quick work of the bread! Not a crumb left and Robin looking so innocent. She "selected" a half a sandwich from another plate a few months ago. I thought I was losing my marbles. I walked from room to room considering where I might have left my 1/2 eaten lunch. It finally dawned on me that Robin was looking very pleased with herself. (*1)

But how can you resist Robin? Look at that face!

Here she is comtemplating the chunk of wood that is on her blanket:

Hey! She picked it out! I'm constantly providing enrichment in the form of toys, Kongs and bones but no! She wanted a chunk of wood. Poor Robin! Neglected, innored and unloved! 

Hahahhahahaha!! She has it made. Two college-educated, unpaid servants that dote on her and see to her every whim and need! Would we could all live such a wonderful, stress-free existence. I'd come back as my dog in a future incarnation!!

See? She's laughing at me!

(*1) And need I remind anyone that Robin stole six eclairs of the picnic table... eclairs destined for a friend's stomach, not Robins.

Thanksgiving Preparations

 

Well Mommy's famous (and quite fabulous!) turkey head is waiting for a pineapple. In the meantime, the handbag that Bob fashioned for me from a log will do nicely! I think my sister Cathy said she's providing the pineapple... (*1)

So here are a couple of helpful suggestions to make your holiday entertaining that much easier. First off, don't clean the house too early. Like I'm talking wait until the last minute if possible.

Case in point: this floor was clean... maybe yesterday? But we're heavy traffic: bringing in autumn leaves and general dirt on our boots type people so I learned the hard way to clean at the last minute or have to do it all over. Hell! I've got more important things to do with my time! (Like play outside and track in more dirt!) (*2)

And here's another tip: no matter what they tell you on the packaging or the Internet, your frozen turkey will still be frozen after many days of refrigerator thawing!

Here's Bob attempting to wrestle guts from our 13 pound friend. What do you do when you get one of those 20 pound behemoths?!?! Anyway, I'm certain that tragedy will be averted, the bird will thaw and a lovely golden brown turkey will grace the table tomorrow.  But now I have to go clean!!

(*1) I sorta forgot to buy one, along with dish soap. Yes, several trips to various stores and I forgot. I guess we'll have to dine on dirty platters and grubby, reused stemware! The horrors!

(*2) Similar to the time I bought and wrapped a birthday present for a friend. Several months passed before seeing this friend, in which time the wrapping paper was a crumpled, dirty mess and I had to re-wrap it. 

Leaves and Other Things That Fall From the Sky

Yup. That's a whole lotta leaves! And they're not in the woods; they're in the horse field so they need removal as they simply pile up and kill whatever grass is underneath. Additionally, they're really slippery if I chose to ride my intrepid steed in the lower field. Here is Neko- my leaf colored horse:

Neko isn't concerned with much of anything besides eating, but she can't eat oak leaves, so rake them I will! I make numerous piles like this:

Put them on a tarp and then haul 'em away to the woods. I cannot even count how many piles I've hauled away so far but I figure if I drag four or five piles a day, I should be done by next year. Endless!!

Robin supervises. She thinks autumn leaves are awesome and enjoys chasing the leaves as they blow around the yard. (She also enjoys chasing shadows of birds which is pretty funny because she's running around, nose to ground, as the birds fly overhead.) 

The other thing that falls from the sky is meteorites! Last week Thursday, there was apaprenly a meteorite that traversed southern New England, passed over Long Island and landed in the Atlantic. Sorry to have missed that! 

(That is an actual photo that someone took.) We were coming back, oblivious on the train from New York, tired from our lovely trip to Tribeca and overloading on art viewing. We saw all kinds of wonderful, thought-provoking thing but nt that danged meteorite. Maybe next time!

 

Waiting for That First Frost!

 Uh... we're still awaiting that first frost. Which means we're still waiting to celebrate our non-anniversary! The colors have finally started turning but we're as confused as the plant kingdom that there has been no frost and it's November 1st! The basil plants have long since sputtered out- as have many of the tender annuals, but it's not due to freezing temperatures. They're all just giving up the ghost from such a protracted growing season...

This is the latest our non-anniversary has ever been. And we're anticipating celebrating as it's a big one: 35 years of uninterupted fun and foolishness. We're venturing into NYC tomorrow to see art and sorta-celebrate as it is promising to be cold enough to frost over night.

Great color, right? The blue grey of the spruce "Blue Star" is a spectacular back drop for the splendid crimson of (yes) poison ivy leaves. We are so fortunate to have poison ivy featured throughout our Blue Garden! Somehow, I avoided getting a poison ivy rash this year, and it wasn't for lack of trying! I've become crazy enough that I sometimes just grab it bare-handed and tear it out. I have always maintained the element of surprise prevents infection. (Delusional much?)

And here's a whopper! This blob-like mushroom decided to begin growing right through a section of fence. I'm glad I caught it in the act as with many fungi, it melted away soon after. A wet fall presents it's own fascinating life forms. We're sure to experience at least a few "fascinating life forms" tomorrow as New York never disappoints!

Autumn Already

Wet! Wet! Wet! We have had soooo much rain! Our stream became a crazy intractable torrent an dthreatened to dislodge our bridges. It's subsided now but the wet summer into fall as caused our maples leaves to drop without even changing color.

Here's a still shot of our typically tractable stream in full explosion mode:

Pretty impressive! Too bad we don't have hydroelectric capability; we could certainly generate power to the house with this voulume of water.

Here are two lawn chairs that I think we sat in... once? twice? Not often. I just put the cushions away. It was either too hot or it was rainy. We chose to sit on the terrace in our other chairs and attempt to hide from the bugs, which loved the wet weather and came calling with atypical frequency.

See our big maple past the wood pile? Not many leaves left and they never turned golden like they usually do. This is true all around us and up through Massachusetts, where we recently took a field trip. Not much foliage to gawk, even further north.

Some impressive fairy rings appeared on the lawn as the dew has been very heavy. That's cool but I just don't feel ready for fall into winter quite yet. Yes, our "non-anniversay" will happen (35 years!!!!) but that signals frost and then ice and snow and sleet and horrors! Cold weather!

I think the world being in such a terrible mess (*1) that the approach of shortened days and winter seems even gloomier. Maybe I'll hibernate this year. Just remember to wake me up in spring!

(*1) Don't get me started... really. Just stop now while we're ahead.

 

From Art Fair to Animal Fair

 

Here I am, chillin' in my WTF Studio after a crazy time participating in Spring/Break Art Show. Hoo Boy! Tiring? Yes! I spent one day after visiting Spring/Break simply laying in bed recovering. I must have talked to a million and three artists and curators and gallerists and randos and friends... and everybody is looking for something (to quote The Eurythmics). Artists want shows and sales. Curators want shows and sales. Collectors (the few there are!) want bargains... But it was good clean, exhausting fun! Maybe do it all over again next year?

And here's a few things I saw- and really liked!

And...

And...

Hey! Those look familiar! Yep, that's my addition to the art fair. And they had a fabulous view out the window, up East 58th Street...

And we transition-

Here's me and Bob at the Durham Fair, picture taken by my sister Cathy. We had loads of fun. We ate, we saw odd chickens with fluffy heads, that scary Egyptian pharoah ride, lots of emus and alpacas! I still didn't get my fried dough- probably a good thing as it's not exactly health food! 

That's sister Cathy chowing down on a gyro at the fair. She begged me to take this picture as it was a sloppy (but delicious) mess and she entertained us with her table manners. We had pulled pork, rather sedate as opposed to her saucy sandwich roll!

As promised- and alpaca! Quite the charming personality on this one. Although I fell for a tall brown alpaca who made serious eye contact with me. He wouldn't let me photgraph him but he was quite the looker.

And emus? Did I promise emus:

These ones look two-headed from here! As we were enjoying the emu antics, a gentleman standing next to us remarked that emus are often raised for their meat; red meat in his words. We were happy when he moved off, as I'm sure the emus were. No one wants to be discussed as a potential meal while on display at the fair!

And, of course, a mandatory shot of the midway. (Not sure why it came out so dark as it was a pleasantly sunny day, with a light breeze and puffy clouds.) Also not sure why it doesn't look as packed as it was: REALLY crowded with so many willing victims. Willing to lose money on silly games with cheasy prizes and willing to throw up all that great fair food on terrifying rides that hurl you upside down and backwards. No thank you!

Yes! Fence Me In!

 

Those of you have have visited us know that parts of the horse fence were in truly bad shape. The above section is (obviously) near the barn and shows the sad state of affairs. I had attempted to "fix" the fence by weaving together bits of chicken wire and metal poles... throw in some baling twine and you get a messy less than secure fence. A close up:

Somehow, it worked and kept Neko in. Or at least her body, as the fence is bent, spindled and mutilated because Neko was sticking her big fat neck and head over the fence to get the grass. Which we all know is greener on the other side. Anyway, this section was actually better (!!!) than other sections.

We had bought the new fencing and the posts, but Bob had been busy so we kept waiting until one unusually quiet day, Bob said, "Let's do the fence." I quickly agreed and set to work removing all that old, nasty fencing. Oh course, Robin the Good had to remain in the house while this was going on, which made her very unhappy. She spent the next few hours howling in pathetic canine accompaniment, certain she was missing all the fun.

Bob weed whacked the exposed fence line and set to work erecting new posts. I tamped the soil down after he dug the holes. Then we rolled out the new fencing.

It all looks straight and shiny and new and effortless, but it did take us the better part of the day. There's Neko in the background, wondering why she can't get her head over any more. Hahahaha! Part of the reason is that I ran a second line and a third line of electric fence along the top on fiberglass poles so that it looks like San Quentin Prison, but she can't stick her head through. And it works!! Horse foiled again!!

Better view by the large upper gate. So at least temporarily (until Neko figures out some other method to destroy the fence) everything is bright, shiny and new and secure. And thank goodness, our solar electric fence charger keeps blinking away.

I know because I touched the hot wire twice recently. Works like a charm!

They're Gonna make A Big Star Outta Me!

Hahahahhahhaha! Wouldn't that be nice? Well whether I become a big star or not, some of my artwork is going to The Spring/Break Art Show... and I'm going to go, too! This is the second time I've been selected to have my work presented so I'm doubly excited!!

I have actually had several things to blog about, but this is the most exciting(*1) thing to happen directly to me. The fair is six days of non-stop art world thrills and fun. I was exhausted after the previous trip to Spring/Break; I have no idea how many people attended but believe me it was LOTS and I was hoarse for days after, having talked to what felt like each and every attendee.

I am deeply indebted to The CAMP Galley (*2) for being soooo supportive and especially to Melanie for listening to me intone how she really should take some of her artists (ie; ME!!) to Spring/Break this year. I was like the proverbially squeaky wheel. But it worked!

Here's a link to check out some images from a previous year:

Spring/Break Art Show

Anyway, I'm still reeling form the upcoming excitement. Be still my heart!!!!

(*1) Really?!?!? More exciting than the orange menace being indicted for the millionth time?!??! Well, that was a close second...

(*2) The CAMP Gallery, or The Contemporary Art Modern Project.

Adventures in the Shade Garden

 Drat! I forgot to take a "before" picture! This area- while still looking kind of barren- was covered in poison ivy and woodland asters. Hey! I like woodland asters as much as the next native plant gardener but they were the only thing in this section of the shade border and were threatening to swamp the few little Hostas that lived there. Originally, I was going to re-do this are last summer but thanks to really hot, dry conditions (and a low well), I had to wait until this year.

Fortunately, I actually had a selection of plant material (mostly Hostas *1) from previous birthday requests and plants that were scattered throughout the other areas of my garden so after I weeded and removed rocks, I was ready to transplant.

Yup! That's one of the more sizable individuals I wrestled from the ground! I dug up various lonely Hostas, divided others and started planting. I also moved several into the newly dubbed "Hosta-pital" behind the barn. These specimens need a bit of TLC!

I had a "Little Mouse Ears" that I easily divided into three, but they're going to the far end of the shade garden, which I'm also replanting. Little Mouse Ears had resided under the Sand Cherry that half-way died this spring. Suddenly, it was full sun and the Ears needed moving. Anyway they will all have a place in the Shade Border after recovering.

Further along, I planted Caladium to distract from all the weeds and mess in an area I haven't tackled yet. I will be the first to acknowledge that shade gardening doesn't come as naturally to me as full sun gardening. Shady gardens may be cooler to work in, but I sometimes get the willies as they tend to be moister and slimier and you can't always see what you're putting your hand into. Yick. But they also tend to take care of themselves more after they're installed so less time is spent fondling slime.

Here's the terminus of the Shade Garden. The lovely gate that Bob made me for my birthday several years ago is such a nice transition to the wilder world beyond. And the giant pale green Colocasia makes a terrific statement (*2).

And you know me! Can't resist a bargain and can't have too many plants! While shopping at our local supermarket, how could I resist rescuing two Hostas (on two separate occasions) that had been reduced to 1/2 price! Ditto at the big box store where I was purchasing contact lens solution. They look so happy now. More residents for my expanding and improving Shade Garden: Yay!!

(*1) Named varieties of Hosta that I have collected were "Island Breeze", "Guacamole", "little Mouse Ears", and recently added "Minuteman", "Rain Forest Sunrise" and "Blue Angel". I already had "Sum and Substance" and "Empress Wu" and "Sagae"-(these last 3 are huge varieties!), along with any number of delightful by unidentified cultivars.

(*2) Thank you to our friend Roberta who has a real knack for raising an astonishing assortment of Elephant Ears!

Department of Stupid

 

Look what I want for my birthday!! Yay! Someone somewhere got my algorithm right! Bright red and waterproof!! I can't wait...

The above picture is simply to get your attention while I relate a truly stupid tale. A couple of weeks ago, I received an email from the State of Connecticut's Department of the Treasury. They were delighted to inform me that I was going to be reunited with property that was mine. They expressed such joy in being able to tell me this! The email was positively bubbling over with a peculiar tone of self-congratulatory pride in the State's ability to locate me. There was a website listed- as I was skeptical that this was even real- and I checked it out.

Yup! Property that was mine was on its way... they didn't say how much or what it was, but I was being urged to watch the mail for this big delivery! At this point I was convinced it would probably be something like six dollars or an equally unimpressive sum... I

Well, there it is! A check for 6 cents. My first thought was (obviously), "You have to be fucking kidding me!" Needless to say, the State should have kept it.

Think of the ridiculous amount of work that went into the "reuniting me" with my "personal property": someone had to research my records. Someone had to set up a data base website. Someone had to send me an email. Someone else had to print and cut the check. And then they had to mail it... which cost the State 53 cents. And I'm sure I'm not alone. How many people in the State were given checks for absurdly tiny bits of pocket change? Surely anything under, I dunno, maybe ten dollars? Could have been pooled into a rainy day fund or simply forfeited to the State of Connecticut. Stupidity in Action!!