Sweet Summer

Oh it's good to be busy, to have work that you love and a quiet, calm life. Not that every day is but on balance it is so.

Out takes from the wax video demos. I'll dribble them in here and there. I love the rhythm of these days; "filming" in the early part of the work day then editing and sending them to the vault. Going to bed each night with a feeling of accomplishment. It suits me.

And it solves the vocal challenge. All I have to do is increase the volume in the editing process and my voice is strong. And not worn out at the end of the day. I would just deflate if I couldn't teach. It is who I am.

Meanwhile the corn is gaining ground, very happy in their little bucket homes.

Who wouldn't be happy under this pampered little tent? Protected from stray corn pollen; cozy as anything.

It's been so long since I've posted journal pages and art. But I've been making. Just not blogging. Sheesh, it's busy over here after all in the middle of the Plaster class and all.

And that has been fun too; I just love being on the computer and actually feeling like I'm working and not just roaming around. Well, I still do that too.

I'll finish with some garden shots.

The beans and carrots are stretching their arms.

The apples are slumbering, dreaming of fall's pleasures.

And the sign-ups are coming in for the wax class this fall. What a bargain. If only someone had offered me all this information in such a concise, easy form. Instead I've studied for years, traveled from one coast to another and driven back and forth to many classes to gather the knowledge. For you guys. 

Oh yes I did.

Midsummer Night's Dreaminess

Summer arrived today; 80 degrees of delicious, sweltering heat. We love it.

Last night we celebrated the solstice with friends.

And desserts. And smoked salmon. The farmers swapped stories and plant news and bug information and more.

We got to inspect the new bee house where the honey is made (and the wax!).

When you open the little doors you can see the bees working away. What a fun and educational bee house.

The lawn is green and soft beneath bare toes.

Everyone is tired after a hard day's work but not too tired for a visit and a nip of wine.

Good people. Really good people. Gives you faith in the worth of the human race.

Meanwhile the roses put on the show of the summer.

Each one has it signature fragrance.

June. How I love you.

Pink and Yellow

Just a check-in before heading into the kitchen to whomp up some food for the Father's Day BBQ. June is crazy busy over here as it probably is at your house too. In my case I'm either online conversing with the plaster class or in the studio shooting more video for the wax class. Teaching online compared to teaching in person is an interesting contrast. Certainly there are many more hours involved, even when factoring in the making of travel reservations and hours sitting in airports.

But it is so nice being at home; doing it all in a warm setting that I have more control over, having access to all my tools and not having to hunt for everything in a series of packed boxes.

What I miss is the interaction; the look on someone's face when they get it, being able to see that quiet one in the corner who is too shy to ask but needs a little encouragement. I love the performance of the face to face experience and reacting in the moment to the class dynamic.

Anyway, just a few reflections on teaching online. Meanwhile the world is moving faster than ever, change is everywhere, only a few more "in person" classes later this year and then I'm hanging up my apron in 2012 to paint and spend more time here sharing. This has become yet another kind of journal for me - beside the main journal, the diary, the calendar notations. 

I'm just a gusher. It's in my DNA to opine, record, report and hold forth. 

Okay, I'm shutting up now. Time to be the kitchen goddess. I hope your Sunday is sweet.

June Garden

 

Time for a little walk around the garden. The June garden in Oregon, before the weather turns sultry and the dry season is upon us. Yes, believe it or not it gets dry in the summertime. We like to say that's what saves Oregon's bacon.

While I'm in the house sitting at the computer, making videos, editing videos and doing business tasks, John is outdoors making the world blossom and grow. He is the most nurturing person I've ever met, man or woman. He treats his seedlings better than most of us treat ourselves.

He is the soul of patience. Oh wait. That song "Don't Advertise Your Man" just drifted through my memory. I'll stop. I'll try to be quiet and just show you the garden.

We have taters. Nicely growing within their little boxed in bed. They look happy.

The roses and rhodies co-existing peacefully, each showcasing the beauty of the other.

Lots of garlic. Soft necked and hard necked. John says the soft necked stores longer even though the catalogs say the opposite.

The strawberries are on their way. This one is now in my belly. :-D

 

The cherries will ripen in time for July desserts. My sister has a July birthday and we always celebrated it with cherry pie instead of cake.

Red Ribbons. Such a low growing, stickery little girl but I accept her as she is for the redness of her blossoms. They speak to me of passion, gypsies and dark longing.

Big fat onion. 

Plums on the way. Promises everywhere. The earth is generous.

This is John's new corn planting method which I describe as genius. He cut the bottoms out of the planting containers and planted 3 or 4 seeds in each one. The soil inside is lower than the surrounding soil.

So that during the droughty months of summer the pots will hold the water in longer. And the roots go out the bottom. I'll keep you posted; this is a first year experiment.

The purloined rose. Dont know the real name. Snatched off a bush in the country growing wild about 10 years ago. It's enormous now. Very fragrant.

One of the wascally wabbits that drive John crazy. They are soooo cute though.

Mountain Bluett.

The cozy little cloche. Mostly to keep the seedlings from drowning but also it keeps them warm in our cool spring climate.

Corsican mint. I have this underfoot everywhere. When you walk on it, crush it, the scent is divine.

Buff Beauty. Fragrant. I will not have a rose that doesn't smell wonderful. That is their job.

The old grapevines with rhubarb growing underneath. We have 7 varieties of grapes now or there abouts.

Golden Showers.

The black fig. John planted more fig trees this week. We love our figs.

Another color of rhody.

This is a special cloche that contains a bean trellis and carrot seedlings. The wire fence is to keep the bunnies out. 

Looking inside that cloche at the beans and carrots.

Cecile Brunner is taking over the world. I keep hacking her back and she just grows all the faster.

 

John's lusty garlic. Nearly ready now. When the 2nd leaf up starts to dry out we harvest.

Kathleen. The bees love this. I gotta feed the bees with all the wax I use.

Peaches!!

Volunteer Brunia lettuce. Yeah, probably spelled that wrong.

Onions going to seed. Holy it is. All of it.

More rhody.

We loves our fava beans.

Yet more rhody.

mmmm. Artichokey.

You know what this is.

One last stroll through the walnut orchard. Now let's go sit on the porch and have a lemonade. Thanks for stopping by. xo