The orchids are out.....some anyway.  I took them out two days ago - the bigger one and those that enjoy sun.  My awning is expected this Friday or Saturday but  I bought a plant stand so took 25 out.  Last night would have been a lovely night to be out; we had a slow rain all night but since we were expecting heavy rains and hale, they were moved into the garage.  It is a good thing that Pete moved his boat out from the garage so I had a nice spot to move them into for the evening. The young orchids and the more sensitive one will have to stay in the house a tad longer but most will make their way out if possible.

 

There is always more to think about with orchids.  Now I'm thinking rain barrel as a collecting device for the rain.  Orchids thrive on rain water so will work on collecting rain for them. They don't necessarily like filtered water so might as well treat them well.  That also means leaders and gutters for the garden house.  So you see how this thing grows and grows!  Every time you turn, there is something else.

 

Yes, we have been indulging in strawberries. I suspect only a few more days so will buy a few more strawberries in the nect day or two. The heat, humidity and mostly sun has done wonders for them and if the day clears up, I suspect we'll have some through most of the weekend.

 

Tonight I think I'll make a shrimp salad, maybe a cucumber salad with some nice Italian bread.  I keep saying I want something light and easy and then decide on salads and find I probably spend twice as long doing salads than if I had thrown something on the grill. But it is a nice change of pace for the guys although my youngest brother will go into the caterpiller mode and eat everything in sight if dinner didn't fully satisfy his hunger.

 

The farmer that bush hogs the fields stopped by yesterday. Next week he'll bring his tractor and cut the fields.  I've never seen them as high as this year.  I guess that means that they'll need two more cuts before the Fall season.  But I believe they should be tended to or soon fields become overgrown with shrubs and bushes and every other conceivable thing.

 

I'm reeling from the experience our neighbor farmer is going through.  He's in a nursing home, failing fast and having to contend with the red tape and pitfalls that the health care system is fraught with. It is an eye opener. As an aging nation we are not prepared to handle the numbers that will be needing health and we as individuals will not get the services we need. I'm really shocked at what lies ahead for most of us.  We placate ourselves by believing that there are sufficient home health aids to care for us at home and it is not the case. I see troubled waters ahead for most of us.

 

Anyway, I hope you all have a good day.   Bittersweet on-the-hill.

This is the time of year I really enjoy.  I swear we have the best local strawberries in the world. I haven't tasted any yet but perhaps this weekend. They are so good that I insist that we have fresh sliced berries at least 2 or 3 times a week until the season is over.  One of the local fruit stands makes fresh daily shortcake so how can you not have fresh whipped cream, shortbread and sliced strawberries.  And the same goes for when the peaches are out.

 

Although it is somewhat time consuming, I try and indulge us all with lots of fresh salads during the summer. Right now I have a spinach salad on my brain. I love using fresh young spinach as the base to a salad, sliced hard boiled eggs and a creamy ranch with some blue cheese. Grill a London broil and top dinner off with some strawberry short cake.  Maybe some fresh string beans with some rosemary and butter. I'll have to see if the farmers market has there spinach and if not, I'll go with a nice beet salad.

 

Well we have had more than our share of rain this spring. The fields are rich with hay and the farmers have been cutting when the days permit. The fields are quite high and it is touch to see the fauns since the hay is above your waist line if not higher. 

 

It is almost a year since I started blogging and I'm interested in looking back at what I have written.  What is interesting is the number of people that come and go.  People you assume you have stronger connections with or have similar interests with seem to fade away as easiliy as those that quickly stop by for a quick hello and disappear.   Kind of interesting.   Anyway, peace and blessings to all.  Bittersweet

 

I'm sitting here and wondering where the last two weeks have gone. My last entry was on the 23rd of May and here we are - June 6th!  And I honestly can say that I've gotten a lot accomplished.  But then I have been doing a lot of reading in a technical field of interest. And so it goes.

 

The other day we were planting some green peppers in the garden and my brother said.....you have to look at this.  What could be so interesting about a six-pack of peppers!  Amongst this six pack of peppers was this green frog drapped among the stems.  I was almost afraid something was wrong with him and when Pete dropped him into a large clay saucer full of the evenings rain water, he popped out of their real fast.  The garden is in - mostly tomatoes and peppers and herbs and I'm still hoping for some spinach, zuchinni and green beans but if it doesn't happen, I have a wonderful farmer's market near by.  Our weather has been warm and cold; last night we hit a low of 42 and today will be lucky to hit 61.  A tad chilly. Glad I didn't put the orchids out as yet but very soon.

 

I think I told you of my new awning.  How many people delight at the thought of an awning......well I do!  I won't tell you the price of a 10 by 15 foot awning but when he worked up the bill, he asked would you like a motor for it?  At $500. I said....no thank you.  So you can guess at what the rest costs. It should be here and then my million dollar orchids go out for the summer. All I can say is that they better bloom handsomely next winter.  This new hobby is costing me dearly.

 

Pete just left for the bookstore in Chatham and asked if I needed any books.  I just put a self-imposed moratorium on books, orchids, and while I'm at it awnings but I had to bite my lips as I let out this mournful "no."

 

We still have our pair of Baltimore orioles and our young and older hummingbird. Not plentiful but happy to have them just the same.  I'm pleased the orioles are still here because typically this is just a stop off for them but I believe they decided to nest this year. Unfortunately, no blue birds this year. And that saddens me.  I think our really late spring and those late snow storms push them farther south this year.....although they are our state bird.

 

I'm in the midst of reading several of Madeline L Engle's books.  I have enjoyed her as a writer but after I finish "A Circle of Quiet," will jump to something different. I'll probably pick up "The Road," although the story line is not something I'm drawn to.

 

Well....my irises took a beating.  I have primarily tall irises and with all the thunderstorms and heavy rain this past week, they are laying down. It seems as if I'm saying that every year.....next year.

 

Enjoy your day.  Bittersweet on the hill.