Through the Fog...and into the New Year

My sincere thanks to all of you who have left good wishes,
caring thoughts, and prayers. I continue to think of you,
wish I could spend more time with you and your blogs,
and sooo appreciate the incredible kindness
among gardeners, bloggers, and garden bloggers.

Until now, I couldn't bring myself to write about
what has been happening.
I still feel like I'm walking through fog,
unable to fathom what lies ahead
but treasuring the memories behind...


My unplanned break began in November, which oddly enough
is "pancreatic cancer awareness month".
We were hit with "awareness" beyond what any of us wanted.
Surgeons found my mother has pancreatic cancer,
for which she is now charting her course of action.

I was back 'home' with Mom and family on Cape Cod for Nov-Dec,
during which time I snapped some photos of popular locations.
Those places bring back fond memories,
and it lifts my spirits to share them with you here.
Perhaps you've even been to some of them!
(Click on a photo to enlarge it.)
(No, I was not paid to include information about the places below.)

Cape Cod Beaches

Birds of a feather seek warmth during a cold winter's day.


Traffic on route 28...
imagine what it's like during warm weather!

Perhaps they are headed to...

Molly's
or...

Pirate's Cove putt-putt golf next door
or...

This Cuffy's store, no more...
a sad reflection of the economy.


Ahh, coffee...
or perhaps some ice cream at...

Friendly's, just off Route 6...
or head to browse at...


Christmas Tree shop (gotta love a bargain!).
If you're bored with that, perhaps a stop at...


Captain Parkers and the Zooquarium (on right).
All done?
Then head to the airport via...


Results of the Big Dig ;)

Looking back on my visit,
with a view of the...

Serene sky and sturdy oak tree.
It brings back to mind a song from '85,
Oak Tree
(by Morris Day and the Time)
Beware of clicking on this link, you may break out in dance
and/or end up with an earworm...

Wishing you best wishes for a very
Happy and Healthy New Year!

~Aerie-el

Sunshine

The sunshine belies the sadness that is in my soul.
As the rays stream down, so do the tears.

I'm sorry, I'll be taking a break for a while...

SAGBUTT Sunday Sojourn

Seattle Area Garden Bloggers United To Talk (SAGBUTT)
met on Sunday at the Lake Wilderness Arboretum.
You can see in the picture below
that we were an attentive group as we began
our docent-led tour in the 'Alpine Garden.'
What were we fascinated by?

It was a fasciation fascination!
We learned that volunteers at
LWA intentionally propagate plants with this characteristic.

'For the kid in you', click on the picture below and
see if you can spot something on the tree trunk?
(It's mostly black and houses some cool mammals.)

Another one for the 'kids'...
What are these large hills?

They're ANT PALACES of course!
They are home to what are called mound, thatcher, or wood ants.
These ants are predatory and devour destructive insects
that could harm the azaleas
in the Smith-Mossman Western Azalea Garden.
There is a cute article about these type of ants
geared towards children here.

Everywhere we walked, fall was evident.

The fountain softly bubbled,
a calming and quiet spot for reflection.

As we reflected back on our tour,
we shared some snacks and garden bounty.
We spoke of gardening, future gatherings,
and even some garden blogging!

The garden bloggers above are (left to right):
Aerie-el (baseball cap worn for ID with blog profile picture),
Curmudgeon of the Weed Wackin' Wenches blog,
Paula of Petunia's Garden,
Wingnut also of the Weed Wackin' Wenches,
Molly of Life on Tiger Mountain, and
Daniel of Daniel Mount Gardens.

We missed Karen at Greenwalks

and all of you who couldn't attend this month.
Be sure to check Greenwalks,
or any of the other SAGBUTT blogs
for information on future meetings
(held the 3rd weekend of each month).
We hope that if you're in the area,
you can join us at one of them!

SAGBUTT Sunday Oct 18!

The colors are splendid, even in the rain.
I took this picture at the Lake Wilderness Arboretum
just the other day when it was pouring down rain.
Imagine what it will look like when the sunbeams
break through the clouds
and shafts of light stream onto these
almost-painfully beautiful fall colors.

Please join the
Seattle Area Garden Bloggers United To Talk (SAGBUTT)
this Sunday, October 18, 2009
at the Lake Wilderness Arboretum
in Maple Valley, Washington, for a docent-led tour.
We'll meet at the Gazebo at 1 p.m. for the tour,
after which we can linger and share snacks and conversation.

Here is a link to the location:

View Larger Map

Below I've posted some photos (click on them to enlarge them)
of what your journey will look like
(minus the rain of course, since it is supposed to be nice on Sunday),
especially with some areas that people have called the 'tricky' parts.

Please note that if you have turned south off
the Maple Valley Highway, and you arrive
at the entrance to the Lake Wilderness Golf Course on the left,
you've passed the turn to the Arboretum.

This view is of Witte Road, as you approach
the left turn you will make onto SE 248th Street
to get to the Arboretum.
A right turn takes you to the Library
(which can be seen from Witte Rd.)
The Library was featured in a Seattle paper a few years ago
because of its architecture and
use of the surrounding features in nature.

This is what you will see
as you approach the Arboretum on SE 248th St.

Choose the gravel road.

This garden will be on your left
as you drive toward the gazebo and Nursery.

The gazebo is tucked back from the road;
you will pass it on your left
as you approach the parking area near the Nursery.

Park and take the short walk to meet at the gazebo.

Please leave me a comment and/or email me
if you have any questions.
Hope to see you there!

~Aerie-el

Skywatch Friday - rays of hope

Today began as one of those gray and misty mornings,
but the promise of good things were on the horizon.


Phone calls delivered good news
for 2 of the 3 of us waiting test results.
Biopsies for both my sister and I came back clean - yay!
(Click on a picture to enlarge it.)

Monday is the day we learn
if there is cause for continued concern,
or reason to seriously celebrate.

Thank you for all your good wishes and thoughts.
They have comforted me so much.

Enjoy more Skywatch Friday posts when you click here.

~Aerie-el

Skywatch Friday - puffy clouds

The above photo was the scene as the sun rose last Friday.
As I snapped the shot,
I felt it was a fitting representation of how I felt at the time.
Hopeful, but the clouds were pouring in.
I was somewhat overwhelmed having learned about
health issues with family members, so the Blog suffers too.

The afternoon before,
the skies were full of interesting clouds and moon.
The clouds were wispy and carefree, as the day had been.
The moon was a speck in the sky,
a tiny part of this universe we live in.

(Click on any photo to enlarge it.)

These clouds are close to the trees,
as the emotions are close to my heart.
But as you look skyward, the density seems to evaporate.
Giving up the stresses and worry to that of a greater plan
feels that way too, as it trickles away
and peace and calm remain.

Peace.

More Skywatch Friday here.

~Aerie-el

Wednesday Words - Autumn Within

It is autumn; not without
But within me is the cold.
Youth and spring are all about;
It is that I have grown old.
...

~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, "Autumn Within"

For more Wednesday Words, visit Jen at Muddy Boot Dreams.

Wednesday Words - It takes courage...

It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.
~e.e. cummings

I couldn't help but think of this quote when I saw
this slug sliming its way along on the second story deck...
it took courage and a little luck!

I have sort of 'live and let live' approach here,
probably because there are more than enough plants to share.
Although I must say I'm not happy
when the slugs try and decimate new or special plants.
If I see that happening before the plant is destroyed,
I have been known to get out the Sluggo or Escar-go.

Click on the pictures to enlarge them, and
to check out the textures, colors, and patterns of this little creature.
How can they do so much damage in such short order?

For more Wednesday Words, check out Muddy Boot Dreams!

~Aerie-el

Double Dip - Skywatch Friday and belated GBBD

Skywatch Friday Photo.

Today I'd also like to share some of the photos
I took this past week in my gardens.
(Shhh, don't tell! They were meant for a
Garden Bloggers Bloom Day post,
but August 15th came and went, oh my!)

So, please enjoy a little stroll through some of the mid-August blooms today...
(As always, you can click on a photo to see it bigger.)

Fall colors


Wish you could smell these chocolate cosmos!


Scarlet runner beans blooms. The hummingbirds seem to love these.


The mountain ash is heavy with berries (they were blooms not long ago:).


Phlox from a friend

Sedum in bloom

Dwarf hollyhock

Hope all your skies are pleasing and
your August continues to bloom.

~Aerie-el

Wednesday Words - Nature and Harmony

"But let the children walk with Nature,
let them see the beautiful blendings
and communions of death and life,
their joyous inseparable unity,
as taught in woods and meadows, plains
and mountains and streams of our blessed star,
and they will learn that death is stingless indeed
and as beautiful as life,
and that the grave has no victory, for it never fights.
All is divine harmony."

~John Muir

Visit more Wednesday Words with Jen at Muddy Boot Dreams.

SAGBUTT on Tiger Mountain

Seattle Area Garden Bloggers United To Talk met
this past Saturday
at Molly's of Life on Tiger Mountain.
Before I knew it, POOF, the afternoon was gone. Could it be? My first SAGBUTT meeting was ending already?
Here's the afternoon via my lens...

As we each arrived, we were welcomed by the
gorgeous and bountiful vegetable gardens,
quaint setting, and energetic pup.
Click on the picture above (or any of them) to enlarge it,
and see the pumpkins hanging in the center.
It was like art in the garden.

We admired the veggie gardens and continued on to see
the chickens, rooster, and ducks.

This pair seemed as though they were thinking...
just stand really still and we'll blend in.

Look, they don't even see us!

Unlike the ducks, the rooster made no effort to hide.
He was quite the center of attention and
eyed us all as he struck a Mick Jagger-like pose.

We continued through the wooded area
where the Weed Wackin' Wenches captured a photo of 'Sasquatch'
which they posted on their blog!
Nothing near as exciting as that, I (sort of?) caught a face
in the rings of this fresh tree stump, shown above.

Tucked in amongst the plants and boulders is
another ever-so-tranquil spot on our garden walk.
What a lovely place to grab a peach, relax, and enjoy nature.

The hydrangea Molly had near the house was in full fantastic bloom. Gorgeous blooms.
We moved into the house to begin the next part of our meeting.

Above is a sampling of the offerings of the day.
Aren't those little cucumbers the cutest?
They tasted just as good as they look too.
Karen at Greenwalks has the names of many of the foods.
One even has a French name--oo-lah-lah.

It was time to sample tomatoes.
Although at first glance I thought the name of this one above
was Gnarly Goliath. Early Goliath was anything but gnarly.
It was a yummy-tasting tomato.
Garden Muse posted a great overview shot of
most of the tomatoes we sampled, and lots of other great photos too.

I think that next to 'Sungold', this 'San Marzano' was the best-tasting to me.
Paula at Petunia's Garden wrote up some great information about some of the tomatoes and their structure, and so forth.
She has a far more developed palette than I.
My comments included things like:
I like it, I like this one better, this one isn't as sweet.

It was a blur of walking, talking, eating, and enjoying the company
of other garden bloggers and friends, face-to-face.
Til next time, Happy gardening and Garden Blogging!

~Aerie-el