Rainy Day Post and SP Wednesday

Okay, this is cheating. It is me but I'd forgotten what day it was until moments ago. It will have to do.

John likes to give his onions a haircut. I like to eat the tops he cuts off on my morning eggs. We're like Jack Spratt and his wife.

I'll give you a real garden tour this weekend when it's supposed to stop raining. For now this is all I could get from the porches without getting doused. This is typical of Oregon in May. We wait and wait for sunshine. But oh, the rain and mist is lovely.

The peony is covered in big, slatternly blossoms. Tree peonies bloom about a month earlier than the herbaceous ones. I like it that we get two waves.

Such a wanton flower normally. This one's shy.

Then we have peppers galore. Lots of kinds. John's head is full of pepper varieties; which ones grow where, which ones are so hot they'll knock your socks off, which ones to use in the various moles. (moe-lays, not those furry animals) Hot ones, stuffers and mild pimentos. Full of good vitamins. I hope in this economy people are putting gardens in. Some to eat, some to share.

The rhododendrons are busting out all over. Our yard is an explosion of color every May thanks to the couple who lived here before us and planted so many varieties.

I brought the grape irises from our previous home because they are heavily fragrant (like grape kool-aid) and because my neighbor Dorothy gave them to me. She passed away a couple of years ago but her spirit comes in strong during the iris visitation.

I wrote poems in the Minneapolis airport between planes by writing down snatches of conversation and making observations about the fellow passengers. It was amazing how the words flowed out. I think I wrote 11 poems in 2 hours. Airports are great places for evesdropping and word catching. Everyone's yakking on their phones, talking louder than they realize and then there's CNN going on and pretty soon you have a great montage flowing onto the page.

Our neighbor has a zillion varieties of columbine that have migrated past the walnut orchard and into our flower beds. Every year they come up in different sizes and colors. Always something new.

And every day I write. I have so much to say. It's as good as cheesecake.

My thoughts have turned toward Asilomar and the road trip I'll be making there to teach. I'll also be visiting friends who live in the area - so much to look forward to. I'm putting together fat packets and packing griddles and pans of wax and pigment and beautiful watercolor paper that will be made into magical books. Cutting lace and whispering a blessing on each bundle of promise. My journal is nearly filled now after 8 months of tee-niney writing and pasting and painting and the next one is ready to take over where the last one left off.

Nurture your dreams and treat yourselves gently. 'Til next time then. xo