Summer's almost here...

According to my calculations, there are officially 25.5 days of school left. I can make it, I can make it, I can make it...

Today in the garden...

I made these "posies" last year...
Boo! Our old andirons! This Deodora Cedar will grow to 80 ft. I planted it from an 8-inch pot 3 years ago...
The bluebird of happiness welcomes folks to this pathway!
My students made these for me in 1987.
I bought a cheap pasta bowl at Costco, mounted it on a ceramic stand, and Tah-Dah! Birdbath!
I dug up these Columbine originally from my husband's dead mother's garden.
Love the Dutch Iris. The posts in back were old bed posts. I painted them red and they will soon have bird houses on top!

Mrs. Bradshaw's Geum! One of my favorite flowers. I've had it for 9 years...moved it here from the old house...
Beautiful Foxgloves! I planted them from seed 2 years ago. As they are biennials, this is their year to bloom!
Camas, Columbine, and cool insulators!

I made this wall of plantlife. It includes: Globe allium, Golden Hops, White Clematis, and a Climbing Hydrangea
Mint, herbs, wegelia, and little country touches...
Iris with a view!

Galatians Azalea along the roadside out front!
I bought an old shipping box from Holland bulbs, painted it white years ago, and now it serves as shelving on the edge of a deck...I made the birdbath on top after reading a Mary Engelbreit idea book!
2 weeks ago, while driving to McMinnville, I found this chair in a ditch alongside the highway! I stopped, opened my trunk, and now it's mine!

BEAUTIFUL SPRING IN OREGON!

Garden Dirt...

Today was a day of garden work. This day was spent on the dirty side of the jobs that needed doin'. I emptied the biggest water garden (the one in a 75 gallon gavanized steel feed/water tank) on the old back patio. What a job! The Umbrella Plants, Rush, Water Iris, and Cattails had all outgrown their water pots and had managed to meld all of their root systems into one giant mass. I would guess it weighed near 60-70 lbs. I hauled it all up, pulled out my big hatchet, and hacked away at everything until the pots were separated, roots trimmed, and divided. I found 1 lone goldfish still lurking in the muck. Each year I fill the garden with feeder fish, as they eat mosquito larve, eliminating the need for any chemicals. I also found Pacific Tree Frogs swimming all around, about 1.5 inches long. Everytime I catch any frogs on our property, I put them in this water garden, hoping for egg-laying.

I used a high-powered hose to clean everything. I used a steel wire brush the scrub out the algae, and then set everything up beautifully. I have about 15 birdhouses in back. Some are currently housing house wrens, swallows, and 1 funky little white-crowned sparrow, which is odd, as they usually don't seem to like houses. There is a major problem, however, in that these huge wasps/hornets tend to inhabit some of the houses and they like to attack and sting me when I disturb their abodes. When I get stung, the pain is akin to someone jabbing you with a piece of steel wire that leaves a nasty burn. I tend to scream and curse when it happens. Even though we live outside city limits, we still have neighbors and I know they hear me. I bet they think I'm yelling at a dog.

Anyway, now that the dirty work is almost done, I will be able to turn to my garden rooms and get them all organized and ready for visitors, evening drinks, chat-sessions, and relaxing through the summer. Going organic has some awesome advantages, but there is a lot of maintenance involved and I spend a lot of time crawling through shrubs, beds, and areas pulling out weeds and invasives with my now-sore fingers.

I plan to host many evening wine/mojito/margarita evenings this summer...so, everyone get ready!

Dance, Monkeys, Dance

I like this. Except, there aren't any monkeys. They're all apes. Monkeys have tails...
Watch it anyway...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a15KgyXBX24

Ready for this?

Today, my students and I hosted a HUGE benefit garage sale to help the family of a young child who is suffering with a brain tumor. The child is a student from our school, although, none of the children in my class know her.

We've been working for a month on this project, and the big work took place this week. The ENTIRE cafeteria at our school was FILLED with donated items...folks from all over our community showed up on Friday to make their donations. Kids were working in teams (they had to fill out "Job Applications" for their jobs and be "hired," including signing a contract). THE WEEK WAS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! Our total "take" was...are you ready?...$1600!

The principal of our school hasn't said one word to me about this adventure. She hasn't even acknowledged our existence in this work. She hasn't said ONE WORD of encouragement or inspiration to my students. Then, she showed up at the VERY END of a very long day, I'd been working for 9 hours and most of the kids had been working for about 7...as we were loading up 4 complete truckloads of items to donate to GoodWill...and managed to "sneak" in to one photo I took of children hauling boxes.

I have already deleted that photo...

Earth Day is Everyday!

I was just taking down some artwork my students created when it dawned on me how pretty their pictures were! I decided to snap a few shots so I could share and remind folks how pretty our Earth can be!

Oh, man!

During a recent adventure to the Island of Cozumel, my husband couldn't hold it any longer. I still love him, however...

Shades of Orange...

I wore a beautiful sweater to school today. It's a new one...Liz Claiborne...very graphic, orange with small white stripes. A staff member was celebrating her birthday today. She had this absolutely eye-catching cupcake with a HUGE orange flower on top, made completely out of butter, sugar, and cream cheese. I sat by her at lunch and someone commented that the flower was the exact color as my sweater. As we all looked at them both, we realized that neither was really orange. They weren't peach, tangerine, or ??? So, I came home after running the last track meet of the season, absolutely frozen and tired, and did a little research. Here's a list:

Colors resembling orange
Orange
Amber
Coral
Dark salmon
Gamboge
International orange
Mahogany
Peach
Peach-orange
Peach-yellow
Pink-orange
Pomegranate
Pumpkin
Rust
Safety orange
Salmon
Tangerine
Tenné (Tawny)
UNECE Amber
Vermilion
Burnt Orange
Apricot
Carrot Orange
Orange Peel
Orange (web)
Brown

This list got me thinking about a thematic approach to an upcoming blog. I'm going to search high and low for all of the amazing "orange" objects there are in my world. Watch out, world! I feel a collage coming on! If you have anything you'd like to share with me in regards to Orange Images I, please forward to boggywoggygumgum@gmail.com

I'm curious...

Student stuff...

Today, I was working with a higher-level math group on the basics of algebra. We were using the SMART board and exploring some awesome websites together! One of the lower level math kids entered the room and asked what we were doing. I said, "We're working on algebra!" He said, "Oh, I now a lot about that. I know that ducks, salamanders, and fish eat it."

Lighten Up...

After 2 downer posts, it's time for some uppers!

Here are photos I took this afternoon, when I returned home from work!

I've owned this Bleeding Heart for 11 years!

I love the combination of a deutzia with Forget-Me-Nots! I usually end up ripping out most of the little blue buggers, as they like to take over...but, in April, I welcome them!

A close up of one of the lilacs I planted near the roadside...

I bought this Viburnum from Gosslers in Springfield. They are absolutely the BEST at developing new species of viburnum to meet a wide variety of seasonal, soil, and bloomtime needs! You have to make an appointment to tour their gardens and greenhouses, but it is worth i! I plan on going there in a couple of weeks! If any friends want to join me, hooray!

I love the side yard. When we moved here in 2001, the only thing you could see was the oak tree and the rhodie in the foreground! Lots of sweat and time spent here!

Here's a view of my "Secret Garden" area, prior to the explosion of leaves on the larger trees. You can see the bird bath/sanctuary.

My handsome husband and I have hidden in here before

and kissed!

Funky, funky tulip! I put it right by the front door. It really wakes me up in the morning when I'm heading out the door to school! I'll hate to see it fade...

Here's the scoop...

I ended up driving up to McMinnville to care for my mom. On the phone, I advised her to head to the emergency room. She took my advice. I then called "Mike and Jane," our family friends, and asked for help. They went over to be with her until I could get there. Mike then left and Jane and I entertained her with our chatter for hours and hours. Good grief! What a ridiculous situation. Almost 5 hours later we took her to lunch and then home. She was pretty drugged up and needed to get in bed. Jane drove me back to the hospital to get Mom's truck. It was in bad shape.

I took the truck and drove way up into the coast hills...where she had dumped her dog. Yes, in desperation and in a moment of complete anxiety, she finally ridded herself of the idiot...but, in the complete opposite manner that a sane person would do. Her anxiety attack stemmed from this decision, which she regretted. She had dumped the dog yesterday, then drove back at midnight to find her. No luck. That kept her up all night, panicking.

I drove out to the road she described. I hadn't told her what I was doing, as I didn't want to go through the process of reasoning. She's not in a clear mind. I drove miles and miles along the dirt road, hoping the dog would recognize the truck and come running. When I got to the end of the road, I turned around to drive it again. I saw this farmhouse and "got a feeling," so I entered their driveway. Sure enough, after talking with the old couple there, KD had been found. They loved her, but had taken her to a local shelter. What a relief. I hadn't shared my name with her. I did, however, share the info. re: KD's situation. They told me that 2 neighbors had wanted the dog, so I encouraged them to do it! Adopt her!

When I got back to Mom's, she was drowsy and waiting for me in the garden. Her garden is a sanctuary. She was relieved with the information and was able to head to bed with a clear heart and mind. I drove her truck home, as it needs a lot of work, and left my car with her. I think I'll give it to her. Seriously. She could never afford anything better than what she's got. It's our old Toyota, which my husband over-charged her for in the first place.

I don't inten to become emotionally mixed-up with this. I'll keep a level head and will contact her doctors. I paid the bill at the hospital. Looks like our summer vacation will be a bit shorted...

Keepin' on Track...

My mother called this morning. We've had a very limited relationship since last August, basically so that I can maintain my personal sanity. I've felt a little bad about the decision I made to preserve myself...I used to call her 2-3 times each week, checking in and making sure she was OK. I used to pay many of her bills. I used to entertain her and include her in just about all events. Then, she was really, really mean to me...so mean that I ended up in a heap on my friend, Donna's, floor. Lots of work and lots of crying and a bit of counseling...and, now, well, I think about calling her every 3 weeks...and am very cautious when we talk. I know how to end a conversation carefully, but quickly and efficiently.



This morning she called, quite upset and very depressed. Things aren't going well in her life. I'm focused on listening, but not reacting. I had moment of urge to drive up to see her today, but, I reminded myself that I really want to work in the gardens today...and spend time in my own home, since it feels like I don't get to be here often. But, her situation is bad...but, there really is nothing I can do about it...I must remind myself of that fact. I can only wish her well and give a little advice (like for her to read "Care of the Soul," by Thomas Moore).



So, I'm here, letting it out...sort of telling others about it...and maintaining...technologically. Sort of weird, but it works, right?



I love my friends and I know they'll understand. Thanks, guys...

Warm, warm Grant's Pass...

We're down in ol' GP, Oregon this weekend for an invitational track meet. Beautiful daughter already ran the 1500 this morning and is goin to run again this afternoon, in the 3000. She didn't look so good in the first race...but, she admitted that there were girls crowding her in the lanes and using some pretty intimidating cuss words when she attempted to pass. Must be frustrating. Oh, well...

This is the Banana Belt of Oregon. It's about 1 p.m and already 80 degrees. Good stuff...except that I came with my traditional "April in Corvallis" wear, including long pants, long-sleeved shirt, and fleece vest. After getting the kids settled at the meet, I jetted over to a store and bought clothes!

Drove down a big crew of boys on this trek...5 boys and 1 girl, actually. Very little chatter, except for ZVP, who must have forgotten his meds and was jabbering for 45 solid minutes about all of his adventures and abilities. The rest of the crew was either sleeping or doing homework (Beautiful tends to do that on road trips...)

Be home this evening!

Photos I just HAVE to share!

The nest of Scrub Jay babies...in my camellia!

The "boys" in front of my huge davidii yellow rose!

The "other boys" messing around!



The lilac I brought from our other house..,

Donna's tree peony

One unique tulip!

A Fun Quip

Back in the 80's (I like saying that) when I was a new teacher, I had this really cool class of kids. They LOVED writing stories! I can actually remember details of many of them. One of my favorites came from a child who now, as an adult, is confined to a mental institution, after he attempted to murder another person in Eugene (the other person was also one of my students!)

Anyway, the prompt I gave the class was, "Tell a story about a time you made some money."

This kid wrote about a business he and another neighbor kid started when they were 7 years old. See, up in the Skyline area of Corvallis, many folks had wood-burning stoves. This boy and his friends started hiking up into MacDonald Forest, collecting "firewood" to sell. The would drag small logs and broken branches down into his family's backyard, chop it up, load it into a wheelbarrow, and go door-to-door selling it.

They did this for months and months. Of course, they would usually collect more wood than they could sell, so they would store the left-overs behind the family home, against the back wall.

A couple of years passed and he and his buddies lost interest in their little business. The wood just sat out back. The dad, who happens to be a Cardiovascular Surgeon here, decided to have the house painted in about 1983. As the painters prepared the house, they moved the wood that was piled in back. Behind it, they discovered extensive damage to the home, due to the fact that the wood was infested with termites and carpenter ants. So, the dad had to hire someone to come in, pull out all of the rot, exterminate the colonies of bugs, rebuild, and repair the home. The cost? In his story, the student said, "Dad asked me how much money I made selling wood. I told him, 'About $65.' He then told me that I only needed to make about $11,000 more in order to break even."

I laughed so hard and carried that story around with me for years...