I have no idea where the last two weeks have gone. It certainly doesn't seem like I've accomplished much during that time. I did finish a quilt top and have another cut out and partially sewed, and I've taken some Red Cross classes online and at the Southwest Washington offices, and I've done some housework (not enough!), and then there's the gardening.
Okay, so I guess I know where all the time has gone. But the results sure are pretty.
Okay, so I guess I know where all the time has gone. But the results sure are pretty.
Costco had flats of 6, 1 gallon pots of Gerbera daisies. Man, I love Gerbera daisies. I tried, without success, to grow them at the other house.
They died.
Pretty much as soon as they went into the ground. I think I babied them too much.
But they love it here at this house. It's hot. Really hot in the backyard. They get full sun from 10am until 5pm. Hot sun. These started with 3 blooms each when I put them in the beds two weeks ago. They now have 6-7 blooms each. And man, are they beautiful. It's like having a bit of the tropics in my backyard.
I posted pictures of the yellow iris a while back. Now that the yellow iris are about done blooming, the purple iris have kicked in. Finally. Randy was getting tired of all the yellow iris.
And I have to show you the pot of tulips my in-laws brought me from the Woodburn Tulip fields. 
Wow, are they gorgeous!
I had the pot sitting on the patio table for over three weeks and the blooms were beautiful that whole time.
This picture was taken toward the end of that three weeks. Most are still in great shape - which is amazing for a tulip that was sitting in the rain.
The yard - well, the backyard anyway - is looking good. 
With all the April rain and now the May sunshine and warmth, things are kicking into high growing gear. Even the fish are hungry - do you suppose those bubbles are his way of saying "Get me some food!"?
A goldfish with a mouth this big is a scary thing.
I love macro photography and flowers make such wonderful macro subjects.
Spring is great time to get the camera out and start practicing up for summer outings. 
A couple of weeks ago, we were on a farm about an hour south of Portland visiting a cousin on Randy’s side of the family. Mary Pat is a wonderful gardener, seamstress, chef and decorator. I love visiting with her, touring her garden, and seeing her latest sewing accomplishments. We were also treated to a wonderful pasta that included a vodka sauce and fresh shrimp…mmmm.
Her garden is always a treat to see. I do wish we’d had some warmer weather before going down because more flowers would have been in bloom and the trees would have been leafed out. Still, we found plenty to see and talk about.
Mary Pat is very generous with her plants; if you see something you like, she’ll hand you a shovel and tell you to dig out some of the plants to take with you. We came home with 5 new plants for our backyard this trip. All but the dwarf pussywillow tree are in their new homes. We’re still debating about there to “ground” him!
The magnolias were trying so hard to bloom…
If only it would warm up.
The other thing I love about visiting Mary Pat’s backyard is that she adorns spaces with wonderful artwork. (This would be one of those photos where you need to tilt your head.)
This swing hasn’t seen any swinging action in quite some time but it’s perfect in her backyard.
I love this little girl and her umbrella...although I think she belongs more in ND than in Oregon!
And these ladies!
These windows are on a garden shed, partially hidden behind some trees and shrubs. I smile each time I look at them.
She lightens dark corners of her garden by planting brightly colored chartreuse plants...isn't this great?
Or simply adds plants that have brightly colored blossoms, like these Oregon grape.
She lives in a big old country farmhouse with a big old front porch. The porch is right out of a Martha Stewart magazine. There's this great bentwood rocker with its welcoming cushion...
An iron rack filled with brightly colored ranunculus - how cheery are these? I love ranunculus but have never been able to keep them alive for more than a couple weeks.
Then, there’s this tall clay pot filled with pussywillow branches. I love pussywillow.
Needless-to-say, it takes me a few minutes to get from the front porch to the front door because everywhere I look, there’s something I simply must explore. If I were a bird, I'd live here.
Inside, is another wonderland. I do love wandering just to see what's new since my last visit. And there's always something - Mary Pat does a great job of with floral arrangements. Just look at this beauty! 
In her family room, she had a large vase filled with quince branches. 
She’d brought the branches in when the flowers were just budding. After a bit of time indoors…in the warm…they popped.
And wow, are they beautiful!
We also both love to knit but she’s far more experienced than I am. Plus, she’s not afraid to try something new…not afraid to resize the pattern here or there, or think "outside the pattern," so to speak. She made this lovely shawl for one of her daughters.
It’s absolutely beautiful. Just look at the detail. She insists it wasn’t that hard but I think I’ll be sticking with slippers, afghans and the occasional sweater!
Walking into her guest bathroom is like stepping back in time. The hat rack just opposite the door is filled with hats from a gentler era.
And this gem…the woman who wore this must have turned a lot of heads when she walked in the room. 
