A Passion for Green

Seems like I am never quite ready for fall when it arrives and every year I am surprised again by the little quirky things that have to be dealt with, like:

figuring out whether or not you need a coat or a sweater and if so, whether you should have long sleeves or short sleeves underneath the outer garment, having to pour hot water into the coffee mug in the morning because the cupboards get chilly over night, fumbling back and forth between hot/cool and defrost/vent/heater/airconditioning in the car, having to allow extra time in the mornings to defrost or defog the car windows, wearing a scarf and gloves and then trying to remember not to leave them behind at meeting, needing to use my inhaler when I walk outside in the chilly air, trying to remember that it could still be late when I wake up even though it’s still dark outside, AND the perennial kicker – getting a slow start on the day and then not having as much light at the end of the day as you’d like.

Ahhhhwellll, I’ll adjust pretty soon hopefully!  How is your fall going? (or spring, depending on what hemisphere you inhabit!)

We’re coming up on the last days of summer soon.  Looks like it will hot here through the weekend and then cool off again with highs in the low 80’s or 70’s, temps dipping down into the 50’s at night.   Above is some grass seed I saw in the garden next to the Ames Public Library.  All over town it seems like the gardens are putting on their end of summer show, the tomatoes are ripening as their vines begin to fade away, the last crop of baby bunnies is growing up, perhaps the migrating birds are making plans for their annual trips to Florida and beyond, the Monarch butterflies are charging up with sweet nectar on their way to Mexico, and the night chorus of tree frogs and insects seems to be at a frantic peak.  I’m thinking it’s time to make some basil pesto, put up a little sweet corn for a winter pot luck, go to the Berry Patch and pick some blackberries and see how the Honey Crisp apples are coming along, make time for a concert at the Ames Band Shell Park, work in another trip to the Nevada pool, and start planning my fall wardrobe! How will you spend the end of summer days?

Just got back from a little family reunion in St. Louis. My brother and sister arranged for us to stay at the Holidome near Six Flags. We never got to the amusement park due to the cold weather, but the holidome was fantastic! Lots of swimming in a fairly warm pool, shuffle board, air hockey, a few mini golf holes, and arcade games. Plus, this holidome is older and has lots of character, kind of like a castle. The rooms were perfect and everyone was very friendly. If you ever go to the home of the arch, I would highly recommend it. They even have a shuttle to Six Flags, which is right across the street.

I know I am a few days late on this…but that’s kind of how it’s going around here.  On another Ana note, I made her Filipino egg rolls last week for Meagnon’s Thursday supper group, and I have to say, they were almost as good as hers!  I love you Ana!!

I think there is a song that goes something like that. We have a pretty good cloud cover today, although a couple of times the sun has broken through for a few seconds. Do you ever have times when the sun breaks through? All of a sudden you have a burst of energy and warmth and the whole world looks different. Ya gotta catch those sunbeams, put them in a bottle and make ‘em work for you!

This photo was taken through the pine tree behind mom and dad’s house in Sterling. Oh and by the way, happy birthday dad!

as he goes through surgery to remove his leg where the tumor is.

Just thinking tonight about how quickly 2008 is coming to an end and decided to make a board that reflected my thoughts. These are all my own pics this time. Do you recognize some of these?!