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You are here: Home / Archives for garden

Civil Disobedience, Flowers & A Dove

June 23, 2016 at 8:44 am by Claudia

In this house, more often than not, these words are spoken: “There’s nothing  on TV!”

Last night, however, we were glued to the television as House Democrats, led by one of the heroes of the Civil Rights movement, John Lewis, took over the House floor, staging a sit-in. Paul Ryan gaveled the session and ordered the cameras that C-Span uses shut off.

Ah, but this is the age of social media and tech-savvy Representatives used Facebook and Periscope to broadcast what was going on and C-Span tapped into it. It was real, it was raw and it was incredibly powerful.

I just checked. They’re still there and they’re still broadcasting.  They’ve been at it since 11:30 am yesterday morning. I tweeted my support to them last night and tweeted my disgust to Paul Ryan (more than once). It’s a simple request: a vote on two relatively mild measures, one to close a loophole in background checks and one to prohibit the selling of guns to anyone on the No-Fly List. I mean, really, what could possibly be problem here? It’s a no-brainer.

Watching this civil disobedience in action is inspiring. There are times I feel that no one in Washington DC is listening to us. These brave Representatives are. And John Lewis has more moral fiber in his little finger than Paul Ryan and all those who pander to the NRA combined.

They’re taking a stand.  #HoldTheFloor #NoBillNoBreak

See? I’m using hashtags.

Moving on.

6-23 aroundtheporch

The spirea, hydrangea, roses and clematis are in full bloom.

6-23 beebalm

The bee balm is just about to pop.

6-23 elsiemay

Pretty roses.

6-23 newdawn

And just-about-to-open roses.

6-23 yarrow

Yarrow self-seeds and plants itself right in front of the chicken-wire-fence-garden, tall and strong and beautiful.

We are desperate for rain here. The rivers are low, the grass is getting brown, and we didn’t have much snow pack this winter. Everyone around here has a well that needs to be replenished.

It was supposed to rain today, but the forecast changed overnight. No rain. Maybe some on Monday. Fingers crossed.

Yesterday, I saw two mourning doves on the driveway. A pair. I wondered if my ‘lonesome dove’ had found a mate or if this was an already established pair. Later on in the day, I saw the dove on the edge of the birdbath:

6-23 lonesomedove

Such a gentle beauty.

Tomorrow is the big day. Will you stop by and leave a birthday wish for my sweetheart? I promise to shoot a little video of his reaction when he sees the Top Secret Project and I’ll probably share it with you on Saturday. I’m also putting together some photos of the whole project and I’ll write a separate post with all the sources and other pertinent information.

Happy Thursday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

Filed Under: birds, flowers, garden, gun control, what I believe 43 Comments

Tuesday (That’s All I Could Come Up With)

June 21, 2016 at 9:18 am by Claudia

When 71% of Americans favor some sort of gun restriction, even if it is simply background checks, and over 90% of Americans supported the measures being voted on yesterday, yet our representatives continue to vote down any legislation that would make that possible, well, I sit here once again, disillusioned, disheartened, and becoming more and more cynical by the minute. Shameful.

And that’s all I’ll say about that.

To maintain my sanity, I’m going to concentrate on my garden (as of yesterday.)

6-22 rosesandspirea

6-22 hollyhock

6-22 LEMrose

6-22 ALrose

6-22 spiderconeflower

It was so hot yesterday that photograph taking was kept to a minimum! But watering? That was ongoing. It should be a bit cooler today – not much – but a bit.

I made a little something for the TSP:

6-22 TSPdonotenter

I thought mini Don would like a little something to warn those well-intentioned friends who might open the sliding door without thinking, thereby ruining a recording.

6-22 TSPwelcome

The other side. The sign is hanging on a white knob, which is the head of a quilting pin that’s been cut down to about a quarter of an inch.

Some dusting and minor tweaking and we’re good to go for the big day.

Cross your fingers that Don likes it. I’m worried I’ve overhyped the whole thing and when he sees it, he’ll think, “That’s it?” 

Happy Tuesday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

Filed Under: flowers, garden, roses, Top Secret Project, what I believe 63 Comments

Missing

June 19, 2016 at 10:08 am by Claudia

dadme

You’ve seen this photo before; it’s one of my favorites.

Missing my dad on this, my first Father’s Day without him. Thinking of my sister who is feeling the same sense of loss. And of all of you who miss your fathers.

And of my husband, who is missing being a father to Scout.

A bittersweet day and a day where every post in the blogging world and on Instagram and Facebook seems to be about fathers. So I’m going to lay low.

I’ve not been sleeping well this past week. I wake up in the middle of the night and then I stay awake for hours. It’s very frustrating.

All that being said, we have to have a least one pretty flower picture, don’t we?

6-19 yellowdaylily

The first daylily to open up in the side garden bed. A cheery yellow daylily.

Happy Sunday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

Filed Under: Dad, flowers, garden 24 Comments

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Welcome!

Welcome!

I live in a little cottage in the country with my husband. It's a sweet place, sheltered by old trees and surrounded by gardens. The inside is full of the things we love. I love to write, I love my camera, I love creating, I love gardening. My decorating style is eclectic; full of vintage and a bit of whimsy.

I've worked in the theater for more years than I can count. I'm currently a voice, speech, dialect and text coach freelancing on Broadway, off Broadway, and in regional theater.

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