Tuesday, June 26, 2012

M is for Margaret

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In March our daughter and son-in-law had a baby girl and named her       Margaret Grace.

She is already 3 months old and a darling, delightful baby girl.  I thought it was high time I showed you her picture!12-03-09-21-09-21Em 12-03-09-21-09-17Em She has already grown and changed in appearance so much!  It’s astonishing how babies develop.12-03-11-14-01-54H When Margaret first came home

12-05-13-18-19-02Margaret on Easter, 4 1/2 weeks old

Margaret has play dates with her cousin Matilda (Tillie) who was born in February to our son and daughter-in-law.  The two little girls are going to be best friends! 

12-04-03-17-59-26H   12-04-05-16-38-46HH Margaret and Tillie sharing life’s hardships

MargaretandTillie In a more meditative moment

I started last week babysitting for Margaret while her Mommy goes back to work.  It is an honor and a pleasure to have this role.  I am so glad that both my granddaughters live in my town!

12-05-13-17-50-59    So, you see, M is for

Margaret and Matilda!

Monday, June 11, 2012

Garden Textures

I have made a new friend this spring through an old friend, and it is a great pleasure to see how many things we have in common. One thing we do not have in common, however, is a green thumb.  Last week, she invited me and our common friend to see her yard which is 1 1/2 acres in the front of the house and another 1 1/2 behind—all gardens! 

The day we went to visit was rainy on and off, so we timed our walks between the showers.  Many of the spring blossoms are gone but there are such lovely color and textures I thought you would enjoy it.  They bought the property 10 years ago and lived on it while building their house.  Although the garden has developed over the whole 10 years, the plan for it was conceived at the outset and filled in piece by piece.  They have done all the work themselves.  Most of the plants have come from cuttings of friends’ plants, or scavenged trees that were going to be dug up.  Even the California Redwoods were saved from gardeners pulling the errant starts out of flower beds (while they were on a California trip.)  Their garden is a Rescue Shelter for homeless plants—but all very coordinated and planned.

12-06-07-13-42-11H View from the dining table

 12-06-07-14-10-52H 12-06-07-14-24-46H 12-06-07-14-25-08HThey dammed up a little creek running through the property and created a koi pond, complete with waterfall.

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12-06-07-14-47-24H 12-06-07-14-38-18H 12-06-07-14-41-46H 12-06-07-14-41-57H 12-06-07-14-45-39H

12-06-07-14-40-05H Variegated-leaf Queen Anne’s Lace

12-06-07-15-19-15HPink Peace rose  12-06-07-14-49-13H 12-06-07-14-50-27H 12-06-07-14-58-03H 12-06-07-15-01-10HA gulch with another creek runs through the back of the property

Her garden comes complete with baby ducks12-06-07-14-17-33H

and chicks and hens12-06-07-14-19-29H 12-06-07-14-19-37H  12-06-07-14-20-51H 12-06-07-14-27-40H She paints with plants, mixing colors and textures on a real-life canvas!