I Say Clematis...

Clematis, with the 'a' spoken like the 'a' in apple, is the Midwestern pronunciation. I planted this Jackmanii next to an orange Trumpet Vine in anticipation that the Clematis would weave in and out of the trumpets.

The Clematis though likes to weave itself to the driveway side of the fence and display itself there. Of course that's where the sun first shows it face....and I'm wondering if all my flowers lean toward the East?


The trumpets are in bud, but look like their a week away from blooming. The other day, I spotted a returning hummingbird checking for blooms.

Off Topic Tuesday

Tuscany shawl knitted in Berger du Nord Belle (silk, 5 skeins). Given to a friend in need of comfort. Soaked, blocked, and ironed.

Simply the Best Dad

One of the most important things I've learned in life is the ability to smile. 

I'm not quite sure where I learned it - but on this - Father's Day - I think I need to give some credit to my Dad.

Always remember to smile - a good lesson

Again - smiling.  How can one person be so happy.....?

but that's Dad!

Dad loves a good pint - and perhaps going to Ireland was the supreme pilgrimage....

Dad loves a good brew - in fact he loves one.  Now he's a hip-ster, toting an iPod, a Blackberry, and a laptop.  But lets grab a snapshot in 2001 - when technology puzzled him.  Interested - Curious - Clueless.

i

WDC = Washington DC - the Smithsonian.  Dad  is an American, thru and Thru.  

But he loves a quick pint - and so we oblige.

Foreign countries don't phase him - bring on the Canadians - in Niagara Falls.  Does it phase him?  Nope - he's still smiling.

And there they are - Mom and Dad.  They got married nearly sixty years ago -  bursting with the passion of youth.  What do they do as an encore, when their children are all grown?  

My friends, I fret and hem and haw, but I can truly say when they meet, it's hard for me to describe - but my parents are In Love.  Still Crazy After All these Years........

So today, on Fathers' Day - I give thanks and praise - and love - to Mom, and of course, Dad - still together, and still crazy, after all these years......

And sadly, we bid farewell to the Dad of Dad this year - a man who passed with no regrets.  At this end - I thank both of them - my grandfather (who I'll never see again) and my father (may many moons pass) - 

To All Our Fathers

Happy Father's Day to all the dads in the world! Do any of us really know our effect on our offspring? How often do we--as parents thank our children for being themselves and thus model to them what we would like to hear in return. What have we yet to say to our parents and hope our children say to us in return? A contrived social holiday offers me the chance to gather my thoughts and express my thanks to my Dad who always stood beside me. I knew if worse came to worse Dad would be there--how lucky is that? And I am grateful that my children feel the same about their father. Celebrate the moment!

Not Quite Spice

Not quite a Saturday Spice.... but this incipient pepper is growing in a pot on my deck. It is surrounded by baby parsley plants. Like many others, I'm trying to lessen my carbon footprint on this planet. And like many others, I was heartened by Michael Pollan's article about growing even a little of one's own food as a way to keep green.

In the past my yard did have a vegetable garden, but the growth of neighboring shrubs and trees (planted in anticipation of global warming) keeps the yard in light shade most of the day. My deck though probably gets about 6 hours of sunlight. So...I'm trying veggies in pots--I even found a book at the library: Crops in Pots by Bob Purnell. The book details an assortment of planting combinations that make your veggie plantings look as good as pots of flowers.

Along with the peppers and parsley combo, I'm trying beets with bush cucumbers, tomatoes with bush basil, and separate pots of carrots, mesclun, rainbow swiss chard, fennel, and pattypan squash. At the farmer's market I even found a hanging pot of Tiny Tim tomatoes which now hangs on the fence.
Here's the rainbow chard.


And the Tiny Tim tomatoes.

Trying to keep Green!

Lemons Again!

Lemons! Lemons are a common ingredient here in the USA. Lemons are not really that prevalent in the rest of the world. The rest of the world uses limes. I actually like limes ALOT!--because lime is so good with rum. But back to lemons.... last night I marinated my pork-loin kabobs in the...

juice of 1 lemon

1 smashed garlic clove

splash olive oil

good shake of Mrs. Dash

1 1/2 Tbs of pestle ground rosemary (next time I'll try fresh rosemary).

a shake of salt and pepper

( Next time I'll add a TBS+ of honey).

Marinate for 30 minutes to 2 hours.

Grill 12-18 minutes.

Serve with veggies of choice.

The Saucy Husband was impressed....always a good thing!

A Summer Smile

New camera: Canon SX100. The macro setting is fabulous. Now to work on keeping the hands steady. Summer heat is building here in central Ohio. Lucy is on the lookout for the first signs of chipmunks.

And we here on the deck are enjoying a mojito.

Watching the flowers grow.