Grace

On July 20, 2000, while vacationing in Yellowstone National Park my husband took this photo of a pair of Trumpeter Swans. I have this photo in a frame on my desk. I am reminded of the gracefulness of these amazing birds. The Trumpeter Swan was almost extict. Habitat is still threatened. Studying the Swans has taught me about being graceful.
In my yoga class we open to grace. We breath easily and are open to receive grace.
As the temperature rises this afternoon I shall let my imagination take flight. I already have a daydream of floating on the back of a giant swan taking shape.

I love the lore of the Swan. I have been reading different stories and enjoying the Myths.

Tonight I shall look towards the Northeastern sky for Cygnus, The Swan, she will be flying towards the south.

Hot is Hot

I am seeking refreshment. The white roses are cooling.

The breeze is hot, heat wave I am told. It seems to be world wide. Today I think it crested at my house, 105 degrees. It is hot. The sky is hazy, orange alert. The air quality is poor. Our city needs more trees. Our city needs less autos. My gardens need rain, again.
I continue to put fresh water out, twice a day, for the birds, bugs and small creatures. I give all the pots extra water and young plants whose roots are not deep also get a drink. The young male cardinal was out for water and evening food.



The baby Carolina Wren was out seeking food and water. Once the sun goes down the animals come out. I learn so much from the animals. Staying quiet during the heat of the day. Drinking lots of water.





Ventilation is important too. Having a way to take the heat out of the attic helps to keep the house cool.

I check the tomatoes every day. They are slow to ripen in the heat. I learn so much from the plants. It is a slower time of the year. No need to rush. Cooler temperatures will once again return. Soon the tomatoes will ripen and I will return to the gardens to weed and plant and harvest.

So glad I let the alyssum spread this past June. It too is refreshing. I like white flowers.

Bergamot

This is my first year growing Bergamot. The variety I am growing is Monarda Fitulosa. It is a keeper. Beautiful flowers in July, in the heat. I am reading about this herb and how to dry and use. I have seen this herb referred to as "Bee Balm".
My stand is a nice size for the first year.

I winter sowed the seeds in February.

Today I shall harvest some flowers for later use. I will wait until September to harvest leaves for winter teas. Today I shall also set up a notebook to keep my photos and notes on growing and using Bergamot. With seventeen different varieties of Monarda I could create an entire garden. That would be pretty.

I do think I will enlarge it's bed and have it as a part of my English Tea Garden. This is a side patio area bordered by the lavender, painted daisies and Sweet Annie. I have just named this area and will continue working on making it a relaxing spot for summer afternoons. It is my focus area for 2007.

I have read Hummingbirds like this herb! I do need a bird blind. I can see me relaxing with a cool glass of Bergamot iced tea, camera at the ready.

Humm...will need comfy outdoor furniture, a water feature and shade for me, sun for the herbs. Humm..... I need a plan.

Bergamot is my 2007 Herb of the Year.

Evening

The sun is setting so I am more comfortable going outside. I needed to check on plants and animals. The Rudbeckia looks nice. It does well in the heat.
One of the sunflowers was down so I cut it for the house. Nice to have a flower. Soon I will need flowers for the tables and desk. I wanted to wait until August to cut sunflowers but I need them now. The heat does not bother them. The Hummingbirds are enjoying the sunflowers too.

I saw a male hummingbird sipping nectar from the Jasmine. When he saw me he flew away.

On the way to yoga class a Great Blue Heron flew over the top of my car. It's legs seemed to brush the top. My heart skipped a beat as it continued it's upward flight. Magnificent birds.
Spiders are weaving their webs; one had filled my steering wheel and dashboard. I carefully relocated her and was sad to have to destroy her web.
All over the gardens I see spider webs. They are friends of the garden. Next rain I hope to get photos.
I will continue to hope for hummingbird pictures. My daughter said maybe they are just to be enjoyed for the moment. Perhaps so.

I do enjoy the slowness of the hot days.

Triple Digits

Keeping body, mind and soul cool is my goal today. Woodpecker is also hot. Lots of water for all the animals. Lots of water for the plants. Lots of water for the humans! Water! Glorious water.

I can stay cool by staying indoors doing chores in my basement. These hot summer afternoons are perfect for catch up. With so much of my attention on the gardens since April I have spent little time organizing. My work spots do fill up with all sorts of items. Nice time for me to get containers ready for winter sowing. They need holes drilled in the bottoms for drainage and in the tops for ventilation and rain.
Later this afternoon female Cardinal came onto the porch. She was most upset. I looked and saw her drinking bowl was empty. I ran out and filled it. I went around and checked other water spots. The Stevia was wilted. I gave water again to all the deck pots. More water to the puddlers and bird baths. When it is this hot all I can do is keep water available.
A cool bath sounds refreshing.

It's So Hot You could...

Another hot day. Another day of checking the water for the birds, bugs and creatures. I moved some of the potted plants to shadier locations. I did my outside chores early in the morning. The dipper gourd leaves are huge! Nice shadey spots for bunnies and birds.

I picked a few yellow squash for our mid-day meal.

The sunflowers are loving the heat. Watching for tomatoes and peppers to ripen.

By 9am I was inside and cooling off with my water.

It is time for breakfast. I did not want to add any heat to the house so I fixed protein Smoothies.

I have a very basic recipe for our smoothies. A friend shared her recipe with me and I have adjusted to our household.

Q's Basic Smoothie

one frozen banana
6oz extra firm tofu
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons coco
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup powdered protein
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 cups soy milk.
ice
I blend it all together.

There are so many variations. I will use fresh fruit instead of the coco, herb syrup instead of honey, green tea or Kali tea instead of soy milk, almond oil instead of olive oil. If I am out of frozen bananas I will use any sort of frozen fruit. I have added cinnamon and nutmeg for a spice drink. I adjust the sweetener. If I am using stevia than I do not need very much, one teaspoon is plenty, as it is very sweet.

It makes a full blender. Enough for my husband and I to each have two full glasses. Satisfying too. I clean up the blender bowl by hand. Fast and ready for the next time.
Delicious and nutritious. Easy to fix, morning protein.

When it is so hot I stay inside during the heat of the day. Come sunset I am outside again. Last night we put the top down on the convertible and took an evening cruise. We stopped at the Plaza and walked a bit. At Classic Cup we found a sidewalk table and ordered appetizers and salads. We walked about the Plaza. At the book store we stopped for a couple of books and some music.

Summer Reading and Study:

"Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan

We both enjoyed Pollan's last book, "Bontany of Desire". This new one looks as interesting. I am always thinking about breakfast, lunch and dinner.

"Wall Chart of Human Anatomy"

This will be easier for me to learn the body parts than Grey's Anatomy. The charts of the different body systems are so informative. It will take me awhile to know all of the information on these charts. I shall get a book stand and begin my study. I do want to know as much about my body as I am able to know.

"The Naming of Names" by Anna Pavord

My daughter sent this delightful and beautifully illustrated book. It is the journey of how plants were named. I treasure each word in this incredible book. Amazing story.

'The Bedside Book of Birds" by Grame Gibson

Another gift from my lovely daughter. This is a grand adventure in story and poem of the history of the relationship of birds and man. The illustrations alone in this volume are inspiring.

I did some shopping on line and ordered;

"Nature Speak: Signs, Omens and Messages in Nature" by Ted Andrews

"Animal Speak: the Spiritual and Magical Powers of Creatures Great and Small" by Ted Andrews

Both of these books should be very interesting.

We also found some new music last night.

Yo-Yo Ma "Paris La Belle E'poque"

Yo-Yo Ma "Japanese Melodies"

Bobby Darin "The Legendary Bobby Darin"

Edgar Meyer "Edger Meyer"

Jean-Pierre Rampal and Shigenori Kudo "Concertos For Two Flutes

We have been watching dvds too.

Darling daughter sent my husband "The Harold LLoyd Comedy Collection.

These seven discs are fun and the music is extraordinary. We laugh and are entertained by the silent picture show.

Summertime and the living is relaxing.

On Sunday nights we listen to "Hearts of Space" on the radio. We support Public Radio KCUR fm 89.3. We usually continue listening the rest of the evening as the next program "Night Tides" is also beautiful New Age music.

Staying cool

The forecast is for very hot and humid for the next week! Temperatures are to be in the upper 90's and into the 100's. Too hot for me. I am concerned for the birds and bugs and small critters that also call this spot "home."
First thing this morning I checked all the bird baths and puddlers for water.

I have them all over in different gardens.

These glass flowers hold just enough water for the bees and hummers.

Some of the smaller birds like running water so I filled the fountain on the deck for them.The bigger birds like this bath. Think I will put a large rock in the center of it. That would give a perch spot.The rains this past week watered all the plants. I will keep an eye on the deck pots. The bird feeders are full, except for the hummingbird feeder. That I left empty. In the heat the nectar could ferment and be toxic for the hummers. They have lots of flowers to gather sweet nectar. They enjoy the red zinnias under the bird feeding station. The luffa continues to bloom. Each blossom lasts one day like all gourds and squashes. By mid morning the petals were almost transparent

I glanced at the meter, reminder to check the indoors. People need to stay cool too. We changed the air filter on the furnace and checked the ac unit to make sure no plants were growing too close. Inside I turned off the little night lights I had on. They generate a wee bit of heat. I can do laundry after dusk. The dishwasher can run at night.

I set our dip and chips out so snack would be easy and we would not need to open the refigerator so often.

I closed the blind so the sun would not shine in. The Bonsai will have plenty of light. I set the thermostat up two degrees and if we get warm I can turn on a couple of floor fans. I closed the vents in the entry and living room and dining room. We will not be in there this afternoon. Little ways today I can conserve energy and still be comfortable. I filled my water glass. This looks like a nice afternoon for reading. Maybe I will take a siesta.

Bastelle Day

France

I have been thinking today on what French influences are in my life. Chanel is my first thought, French Parfum.

I do grow some French Lavender along with my other varieties. In honor of Bastelle Day I have been reading about French Gardening . I also have read some on French Decorating and French cooking. My favorite music, is classical jazz, performed by Claude Bolling, a famous French musician. Jean Pierre Rampal is also a favorite. Cique Du Soleil entertained me like nothing I had ever seen before. French Impressionist Painters have given the world such beauty. Limoges Porcelains are lovely.

Our daughter has a Nabaztag bunny. Her bunny is named Flauta. You can send her bunny a message if you would like. I would like one too.

The Little Prince is forever a favorite.

I am influenced by the French Culture.

I find when I take the time to celebrate other cultures my world is enhanced.

The Luffa bloomed this morning. My vines are much smaller than my friend's. She had hers in the ground on a large arbor. Mine are in a large pot on the deck. I am pleased with the look of the vine, even though they are small.. Now I will wait and see if I get any fruit.

Baby bunny crept out from under the front peonies when I was out checking the front gardens.

We have three baby bunnies in the yard. Each has staked out their eating spots. For the most part, they eat clover. My appointment for a pedicure was changed to next week so I had the day to play! I have been shopping for another small oil lamp. At a thrift store I found a small vase I could add a wick to and make into my lamp. This vase is 4 1/2 inches tall. I use liquid paraffin. The wick insert I had found a few months ago at another thrift store.

I found some other treasures today. I do like thrift stores!

I have begun

After supper my husband helped me with walking stick. He showed me how to saw to make it the right length, how to scrape to remove the bark and gave me some 36 grit sandpaper to begin the finishing process.
As I was scraping the north wind began to blow.


A summer storm was coming in. I enjoy the north wind in July. The cool wind refreshes me. I sat on the deck and sanded as I watched the clouds come over.
Walking stick is a most enjoyable creation.



I shall continue to work on my walking stick. I have plans on learning how to carve. I want to do some inlaid stones. I will need a "head" for the handle. I will work on it.

"Supper's Ready"

I imagine, all over the world, in many different languages, the call for supper is put out. Dinner bells ring.

Tonight we are having dip dinner. I make it up, no known recipe. The base is refried black beans. I begin layering with what is in the refrigerator, cabinets or in the vegetable bins. Tonight it is avocado, diced onions, hummus and mango salsa, diced tomatoes, black beans, diced zucchini, with sliced almonds on top. I served the green peppers separately since I can not eat them. I made a huge amount so we could have leftovers.


I spread the leftover dip on spinach tortillas and make wraps for lunches.



I take the leftover dip and layer it into a smaller serving dish for weekend dipping with blue corn chips. I have many variations on this dish. Black olives are good as a topper. A layer of corn or lettuce or carrots is nice. The only consistent ingredient is the refried black beans.

Fresh sweet cherries for dessert.

As I fixed dinner I thought about other families having dinner tonight. I sent blessings to those in the East. I thought about the families that did not have dinner tonight. I sent prosperity to them. When I lit our dinner candle I said a prayer for all the families that lost a loved one this day.