Thought I Was Losing It

Yesterday, I honestly thought I was losing my one true talent in life.

That'd be finding genetic anomalies in my lawn, as in, 4 leaf clovers.

I know, I'm a freak. I can be just walking along, look down and pluck a 4 leafer from the ground. Drives people nuts, especially the family.

A few years ago, I sat on the lawn at a picnic we were having for my eldest daughters birthday, and while everyone was playing croquet, I plucked 22 in about 18 minutes.

Now, you'd think that'd be something cool, right? Ahhh, but they all already knew I could do this, so it was no big deal. Besides, the luck thing? SO not true! If finding them really was lucky, I'd have either won the lottery fifty times by now, or Donald Trump would have sent me a blank check.

I have a lot of old picture frames hanging around, so I thought I'd maybe press some flowers from the flowerbeds this year and fill the frames. You know, the old fashioned way - in books.

So, I set out across the lawn yesterday to find some 4 leaf clovers for one of the frames. Figured it'd look cool having a bunch clustered together across a white background.

Well! Do you think I could find the damn things? 45 minutes later and I'd found 2. A lousy 2!!

Ugh! Of course, I immediately blamed the hubby for mowing them all down. He absolutely hates the fact that I can find them at all, since he's never found a one. Not even when I've pointed them out to him can he find them, then if he does see it, says, "No good. It's not lucky. I didn't find it, you did!" Well, at least he admitted to mowing them all down on purpose. :)

So today I was on a mission. I was going to find the damn things if it took all day!

Well, it didn't! Yay!

In 30 minutes I found 17, 4 leaf - 4, 5 leaf - and 1, 6 leaf!

Ha! I STILL GOT IT!

I'm A Seed Snatcher

Is there a 12 step program for that?

Ok, so I guess I don't deserve a badge. It's not like I snatch from places I'm not suppose to. For instance, I would never think about just going into someone's yard and grabbing seed without asking, or from a public or botanical garden.

But, ditches, meadows, neglected pots at gas stations, mall strips? Mine! Just a few, mind you, and enough left to let fall where they may.

I think this seed saving thing is an addiction of some sort. Like, I'm not happy unless there are fifty plates sitting around the house covered with drying seed. There's something very primeval about running a fingertip through those little balls and sticks.

Alright, I'm really not even close to being in the big leagues with some people...it's not like I have a closet or fridge filled with boxes and file cabinets full. My plastic food containers are actually used for, well, food! I know, I know, I'm such a slacker!

My husband seems to be appalled, and yet, at the same time intrigued with this behavior. Kind of a, "You go girl...as long as they don't think I know you." lol.

I'm on a mission at the moment. The gas station has these beautiful (and of course neglected) red daylily. Yeah, i know they probably won't come true, but...

must have!

One of these days I'll get up the nerve to ask someone at the college if I can have some seed from Root Glen public gardens. Now that would be hitting the motherload!

I Hope The Government Is Right

There, I've said it!
Yes, I said it and then promptly slapped my own wrist.

The Farmers Almanac says this winter (for Upstate NY) will be colder than normal and with much more snow.

The government weather geeks are predicting warmer temps with less snow.

See? Now how could I not say it...though, with a grimace?

Yard Pics, August 2007

My eldest daughter stopped up today and took some pictures of the yard for me. Yay!

The impatiens I overwintered as house

plants now surround the base of the big maple

My creative effort of bathroom sink

and vanity chair planters :)

Heavenly Blue Morning Glory

My daughter thought this one looked

like it had a glowing star in the center

Water Lily

Gloriosa Daisy

Last of the Baby Blue Eyes (thanks Kim!)

Cleome

Ponds & bog

(veg garden in the distance-

look how tall that corn is!)

shade bed

Front flower bed

Front arbor bed.

My youngest daughter chose
the fab color : Florida Bay Blue.

Everyone loves it!

Even though it's winding down now, I still love how everything looks this year. Thanks so much to Sissy, Kim and Don for making it look so fab! Without you guys sending me seeds, well, it certainly wouldn't have looked anything like this!

Well, This Is Just Not Cool

30 degrees in Saranac Lake Sunday night, August 19.

I ventured out to the gardens yesterday and needed a coat. A brisk wind and 62 degrees for a high feels mighty cold to my summer warmed skin. Both my body and brain are not ready for this.

That 'fall panic' feeling hits me like a wet, smothering blanket "Must get food in the freezer. Now!"

It takes a lot of mental force and deep breathing to push that panic away. I finally convince myself there's still plenty of time.

And then I see our young maples already colored up with their fall oranges and reds and immediately return to panic mode.

"But it's still August," I try harder to convince myself. The butterflies and hummingbird moths are still adding to the bright colors of the buddleias. Huh, I thought I read somewhere that butterflies needed to have air temps of at least 70 degrees to fly. Well, blows that fact all to hell, if it was even a fact to begin with.

"Ah, see, hummers and monarchs are still here, plenty of time."

And then my eyes scan the sky for the source of that echoing, depressing sound. The recognizable 'V' honks gracefully by overhead, their dark wings seemingly made a few shades darker against the deep mottled gray of the clouds hanging low above them.

I sigh and frown as that panic feeling washes over me once again.