Today we had a surprise visit from an old cohort of David's from his research farm days. It was Arlie Penner. Arlie had a load of plants to deliver to the research farm at Nashua and more to take to the farm at Kanawha. He was near Gladbrook, and decided to stop here for a visit before heading up to Nashua.
We sat down together in the kitchen, and the guys enjoyed some rhubarb bars and coffee while I drank a cup of tea. Arlie has a 'gift of gab' and entertained us with stories of people David knew from his work at the research farm at Kanawha.
With the yard all freshly mowed, David is spending the rest of the day making rhubarb beer. So, the house smells of malt and mash, and the other beer-making aromas. We have enough rhubarb coming up already, and with the recent rains, there will be even more. I am trying not to eat much of the desserts we make from it, though, since it takes quite a bit of sugar to keep it from 'puckering' your tongue, and I'm trying not to eat a lot of sugary things. But, I do allow myself a small bite, and that helps me not feel quite so deprived.
The lilacs are almost done, and the daffodils have bloomed and gone. The little plum bush with the burgundy leaves was in bloom last week when Diane and Jerry were here, but it is about done now, too. It has some kind of 'web worm' nest beginning in the crotch of two branches, so David will have to go out and scrape that off and burn it. We don't need those ugly webs in our pretty yard!
We bought a new birdbath since the bowl of my old one fell off in a strong wind and got broken. This one is metallic copper in color and had a 'screw' type post that fastens the bowl onto the stand so it will be much harder to fall off. We also bought a cone-shaped pink and white dwarf, 'all-season' hydrangea. I will be thrilled to have that plant, if it produces some nice flowers that I can dry and keep over the autumn season.
The lily-of-the-valley are going to be blooming soon, and my friend Kate gave me a beautiful crystal vase just the right size for those flowers. I can't wait to get a bouquet of them into my living room. The smell just can't be beat (although the lilacs are awfully nice too...)
I've got the bird feeders out and filled, and we are seeing some cardinal 'couples' hanging around. That makes me very glad, since all those years in Kanawha (37 total!), we only had one cardinal. It is just a bit too cold in that part of the state to attract them. There's something absolutely joyful about a red bird of two hanging around a person's house! Welcome, cardinals!
This afternoon I'm going to leaf through a pile (and I do mean a 'pile!' - about 10 inches deep...) of magazines and catalogs. Some will get donated to the local library, and some will be taken to the recycling bins in town. Some will be kept, especially catalogs that have an outfit that might make a nice 'grandmother of the bride' dress for my oldest granddaughter's wedding in the fall.
So, time to quit gabbing, and start paging... I'll warm up my cup of lapsang souchong tea, and get into my recliner, and start the process. It's something I do enjoy, so even if the sun is not out this afternoon, I will enjoy the view out the front window as I go through these publications.
Do come again, won't you?
My blog is going to be a commentary on daily activities here at our little acreage on top of 'Wolf Creek Hill.' I will talk about birds, plants and flowers, about recipes, crafts and artsy things, about family, and about almost anything that draws my interest as the days go by. Won't you stop by my blog spot and find out what we are up to? We'd enjoy your visit!
ReplyDeleteI wonder if that did not publish. Wondering if you ( Dave) would share the recipe for the rhubarb beer.
ReplyDeleteHe's at a garden sale at Cattle Congress right now, but I'll sure ask him when he gets home. I do know he had to order some supplies before he could make it, but if he will take the time to tell all that to me, I'll pass it on to you.
DeleteI agree! Post the recipe. I won't make it, but that's something worth sharing! I'd also like to see some pictures of the plants you're describing. You have beautiful grounds out there and it'd be nice to have the visuals along with the description.
ReplyDeleteOK...sounds like I will be going around with my camera to do some of that about the plants. Of course, the pretty plum bush has nearly stopped blooming, but the leaves are such a pretty burgundy anyway (and David scraped off the web worm mess...) Recipe for the rhubarb bars (?) will be on today's blog (May 9)...I got it on Cooks.com...
DeleteI seem to be doing something wrong; when I write a comment and hit preview it all disappears. I'll give it another try.
ReplyDeleteYour blog is becomming a habit. You write like you talk which is a sign of a good writer.
I'm so glad you have lily-of-the-valley, I know how you love them. I'm expecting mine any day now. Do you remember how I bit--ed about all the things I planted 2-3 years ago "dying off"? Well, this year that scraggly forsthyia came up as a nearly full bush, and it bloomed: lovely, delicate yellow flowers! And the daffodils and tulips did a fair job also. So I've told the boys I would like some rose bushes for Mother's Day (getting bold.) I had some at my last house, a gift from Ed who planted and tended them, and they were beautiful. Maybe....
I didn't know that you never had Cardinals at the Research Farm. I hate to take issue with you but we've had at least one pair in our back yard as long as we've been here - right in the middle of Kanawha. Actually Cardinals like cold weather and are found way up in Canada. I have even had them winter over in Wisconsin. So, now you have learned something from me instead of the other way around. Ha Ha!
Happy Mother's Day!
Kate
Happy Mother's Day back at you! It was good to talk to you this afternoon. I like that you enjoy my blog. A compliment from you is worth a whole lot...my very intelligent friend! Makes my day!
DeleteWell, if there were Cardinals in Kanawha, I'm glad they were at your house, 'cause they weren't at mine. But, now there are here, and Carol saw several interesting species in the yard when they were here this afternoon. We will have to get a good bird book. We have one, but it is not complete enough.
Carol
Maybe the reason you didn't have Cardina.ls at the Reasearch Farm was that it was too neat and well tended. They seem to like my yard fine, probably because of the over-grown bushes and grass, and the junk here and there. Just sayin...
ReplyDeleteHa, ha, ha!
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