Morning Walk

 

  As I walk to the lake I pass by this extremely big house under construction. I don't care for the look of it but maybe once it's finished it will look fine.

The flowers in the park are farther along than mine. Probably because they get more sun.

I hadn't noticed this tree stump before. Whoever cut it took the time to make a 'crown'.

Here's something new in the park. The fountain is up and running. I had taken pictures of it but then I saw  daughter Sheila's picture and I liked hers better. She managed to get Mt Baker in the background.

Thanks for coming by. I hope you have a lovely Sunday.

 Granny M

Summer Weather

 After days ( weeks) of cloudy days often with rain we have gone from this....

...to this!  Blue sky with lovely summer clouds.

 
We got strawberries for a very good price at the grocery store. The berries were not local but very soon we'll have those available. Now it really does seem like Summer.

In the garden the peonies are about done but so many other flowers are coming into bloom.  

Needless to say I'm spending as much time as possible enjoying the sunshine. The forecast is for temperatures in the 30's for the weekend so I'll be doing some baking today and not using the oven when it's so warm.  Whatever your plans are for the weekend I hope you enjoy it.

Thanks for visiting,  GM

Summer Solstice 2022

 

 The June solstice marks the official beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. As the Farmer's Almanac explains, it occurs when Earth arrives at the point in its orbit where the North Pole is at its maximum tilt — about 23.5 degrees — toward the sun.

 
After a busy weekend and an equally busy Monday I'm ready for a quiet evening.  It was another mostly cloudy day as the next 2 days will be  but then, if the forecast holds, we're in for some sunshine. The strawberries which have been just waiting for the sun should ripen quite quickly. In the tiny raised bed garden my lettuce has done well and we've had several salads already. This picture was taken a couple of weeks ago.

That's my very short post today.  Thanks for coming by,  GM

picture from the internet

A Failed Recipe

 

 I tried a new recipe yesterday. Impossible Chocolate Pie. I like those Impossible pies both savoury and sweet and I've never had one fail. Until now. This is how it should look ( with a brief description from the internet.)

 Chocolate Impossible Pie is a wedge of dense chocolate indulgence that couldn’t be easier. Simply whirl the pantry-friendly ingredients in a blender, pour into the pie dish and bake!

 

This is what mine looked like.  And yes, I followed the recipe.

 

It's edible but disappointing.

I picked up 2 books that I had requested at the library. They're the ones on the right. The other 2 I picked up at the thrift store.  Hopefully these will not disappoint. I have read others by Elizabeth Hay and Ann Cleeves. The other authors are new to me but reading the blurbs they sounded interesting.

It's another day of overcast skies but no rain so I will work outside cutting back some overenthusiastic Shasta Daisies that are crowding the roses.  Youngest son is coming over later and will do some digging for me.  

Have a pleasant weekend.   GM

 

 

 

 

My Morning Walk

Overcast and 13*C (55*F) when we left for our walk this morning. The waterlilies are taking over the lake again. Some years there has been some sort of machine that comes to clear them out but they always come back.

 

There were very few ducklings this Spring. I'm not sure why but I missed seeing them. This mama duck must have had a late start.  You can just see the third duckling in the bottom right corner.

 A fancy fountain is in the works for the lake. The first step was to put in the electrical. I like how it is decorated.

 

When we came back from our walk DH went on to his volunteer job and I did some gardening. Today I put in supports for the perennial Fuchsias ( which couldn't hold itself up last year. Not taking the chance that it flops again).  Also tied up some very tall  peach-leaved Bellflowers ( also prone to flop).
Before I came in I cut a branch of the Mock Orange to bring in.

I don't think I have shown you this strange piece that I found at the thrift store. I like it.

Thanks for visiting today. Thanks also for all the lovely comments. I love reading them.  GM

June Blooms

 

 Happy Sunday!!   The sun isn't shining but it's mild out and not raining. I went out with my camera to record middle of the month flowers. The big old Mock Orange is covered with flowers and more buds yet to open.

More Poppies are blooming

Spiderwort

It's time for some lunch then this afternoon we'll play Dominoes as usual.  We'll be seven today. Sheila's bringing a loaf of her delicious Pumpkin bread and I have some Brownies in the freezer.

No get-together seems right without some food shared.

Thanks for coming by,  GM

Nectaroscordum

 It's evening and I just came from sitting on the porch watching the rain pouring down. It was forecast for today but waited until after supper to begin. That meant I was able to be outside puttering away getting small jobs done all the time looking what was getting ready to burst into bloom. The Peony is almost there as well as the huge old Mock Orange. All we need is some sunshine but this Spring sunshine isn't something we've had much of.

A couple of years ago I planted some Nectaroscordum  bulbs in Fall and they still come up in Spring and last a few weeks. They get quite tall and I didn't stake them properly so some broke off.   These are also known as Sicilian honey garlic and are related to Alliums.  Here's what I found on the internet:

Growing up to 4 ft. high (120 cm) and spreading 12-18 in. (30-45 cm), this beauty may self-seed freely and is virtually disease-free and pest-free! Easily grown in moderately fertile, well-drained soils in full sun or partial shade.

 So far no volunteers have grown but I wouldn't mind if some did appear next Spring. They certainly are very different.

 
I hope you have a pleasant weekend. Thanks for visiting,  GM

 

Irises (Almost Wordless Wednesday)

 

 

 

The heavy downpour beat down some of the poor Irises and I cut them off and brought them in even though I don't really like Irises as a cut flower.  To me they look awkward and top-heavy but I'll give them a day or two before they become compost.

 

Thanks for visiting today,  GM

 

 

Geraniums

 My DH came back from his visit with family and life is back to normal around here. He enjoyed his time away and I thoroughly enjoyed my time alone. Of course I'm not alone since middle son and family are in their part of the house and he pops in often as do the grands.  

We did the grocery shopping this morning and outside the store were marked down plants. I couldn't resist buying 2 pink geraniums which now join the white one and red one on the porch next to the swing so I can admire them when I sit with my cup of coffee. It's so odd. I never used to be much of a coffee drinker. One cup for breakfast, that was it. Otherwise it was Earl Grey.  Now I make a pot of tea if one of my daughters is coming to visit otherwise I prefer coffee ( but always decaf).

One of the days when I was alone youngest son brought me a wonderful dessert that my DIL had made. It was meant to be a Pavlova but due to the humidity the day she made it it wouldn't rise. It was still scrumptious.

So far it has been a lovely day. Partly cloudy but 20* C (about 68*F) so very comfortable.  

Whatever your weekend holds I hope it's a good one.

Thanks for coming by,  GM