Giant tomato plants...

taller than me are quickly blocking my windows. They are amazing! And I tell them so every day when I water and look them over, count the tomatoes growing and look for signs of any mantis life. l am truly awed at how fantastic they are. I think they like being told they are amazing. Really all of my garden amazes me- that I can have food right outside my own back door is an incredible feeling. I keep saying that over and over, but I never cease to be amazed, amused, and delighted.

If all continues this well I will be busy canning this fall. Yay-that was the ultimate goal, plus having summer fresh produce. Thank you sun and dirt and water for the magic you make happen.

At a glance...

this looks like an ordinary happy garden, and a lovely one at that- if you don't mind my saying so. All those future salads and red sauce growing closer to my kitchen daily...mmm. But, what one doesn't suspect is the army that I've been so impatiently waiting for, and it finally arrived this morning in the midst of all that beautiful vegetation. Beware other bugs... the mantis is here. Unfortunately they don't discriminate between the good guys and the bad guys, if they are hungry they will nab you regardless of which side you're on.


I just happened to peek at the egg sack this morning on my garden rounds, expecting the same thing I've seen everyday for weeks now... nothing... and what a fantastic moment to peek! There they were, hatching out right before my eyes- fascinating and creepy all at once.

I've always been fascinated with the Praying Mantis thanks to my fourth grade teacher Mrs. Waterman. Every year she would bring in a jar housing an egg sack for her class room to watch hatch, and then we got to keep one in the room to roam free till the end of the school year, thus my fascination began. We, each child, also got to release a box of Monarch butterflies tagged with a number to their wings for tracking their migration. It was a fantastic sight to watch hundreds of butterflies released all at once- a cloud of color filling the sky. Thank you Mrs. Waterman for instilling a life long interest in bugs.

I love the mantis in logos and artwork, and spiritually speaking the praying mantis has long been honored by the Chinese as a symbol for meditation and contemplation- because of her mindful movements.
I am so happy for their presence in my yard, and am hoping for some to establish permanent homes here. We'll watch for egg sacks this fall. Oh God, I'm turning into such a geek! I love it!

Always...

Bella and Sophie are two of the biggest loves in my life.I crack to think of life without them- though I know that day will come. Everyday is filled with routine, beginning with the bedside greeting of warm breath and an intent gaze that says wake up, wake up it's another day- lets get going. Then a jump up on the bed for some affection and the question I pose every single day "Should we go have some breakfast?" which is responded to with a cocked head and a wag of the tail. "OK" I say, as I drag myself out of bed put on my robe and glasses and make my way to the stairs where Bella waits for me before going down. She takes one step down, stretches into a down dog position, and I scratch her rump in front of her tail, she turns her head, smiles at me, and bolts down stairs. Sophie does a little dance as if getting up for the day and getting started is the best part of the day- and maybe shes right, that it ought to be greeted that way everyday; yay a new day- a new adventure! Dogs are really smarter than humans, they get it.

After breakfast we're on to the garden, watering, weeding, pinching, and maybe a few throws of the ball or a game of chase... then on good weather days a walk through the mini forest close to our house, in which great new smells are abundant and ripe for eager noses to investigate. A couple of treats and scolding barks as we pass the yapping white pip-squeek that lives on the corner and we're back home to do whatever needs doing for the rest of the day. One thing is for certain, my companions are never far behind and always happy to follow wherever the work takes me- up and down the stairs, into the laundry room, out to the garbage, into the kitchen and on the floor next to the couch when it comes time for a nap.

My heart will be full of these two... always. Whatever the effort, I am paid back ten fold in loyalty and love.

Priest Lake 2009

This year, like all the others, was windy and rainy- while the sun escorted us out on our way home. Our same group each year, a few added and a few left behind, witness the ticking of the clock in year increments- with most of us heading into mid-life, and kids getting louder and crazier, older and cuter, our nights around the fire aren't as wild as in years past or as late, conversations have more of a political air than they used to, bodies creak a bit more, and lounging occurs much more frequently than hiking or biking. All the efforts, the discomforts, the laughter and silly drunken men, the giggles and tickles, bumps and bruises, and food galore make this a memorable weekend.

It is a group unlike any I have ever known. Year after year I learn more about these people, these friends, I watch them grow and learn to appreciate and love them all more- for all of their greatness and idiosyncrasies endear each one of them to me in ways I never would have anticipated.

Here's to another year at Priest Lake!

How does your garden grow?

In just two weeks this is how my garden has grown... mmmm I can taste the fresh already! With the attractive deer fencing up and working so far, things are well on their way. Every morning I get up and peek through the blinds to see if I've accidently caught a deer- I don't want to think about that scenario too much. And so far the slugs haven't visited- but I have beer just waiting for the occasion.

The nasturtiums are just coming up about an inch or so. I'm curious to try them on a salad- I've heard they are kind of spicy and they are so pretty sitting on your plate. Who would have thought to eat flowers! What a great thing energetically... to eat beauty.
Wishing you all well with your gardens!

One Tired Man

The 24 Hour Round the Clock race over Memorial weekend takes place in Riverside State Park, and it was HOT this year. Unlike most of Spokane's Memorial Day weather- which are drizzly and cool- this one was dusty hot, upping the difficulty for riders to stay hydrated. A short run up the mountain starts off the first lap of the 24 hour race to space out the riders, then hopping on their bikes they are off on a 15 mile loop of crazy terrain riding as fast as they can. Mike was on a five man team, the Columbia-High Mountain Road Marmots. They rode a total of twenty laps- each rode four laps, one lap about every four and a half hours; not much time to hydrate, eat, clean your bike and your body, and rest somewhere in the middle of it all. It was grueling- but they did finished proudly and with minimal injury. They were consistent with their times- in fact one team member kept his same time of 1 hour 7 minutes for each lap including the night laps- impressive. Thanks to Columbia Sports Wear they had a great wardrobe of riding gear and looked fantastic as a team. Thanks Columbia!





Mike was too tired to reach up all the way and hit the bell at the finish line. The question now is will he do this again next year? I think we'll wait a few days for that question.


Cheers to the team! Such great effort and team support on all counts- good job Marmots!

What does one say to 45?

I don't really know. I've thought it through, and well, it feels kind of odd to think that I'm half way through this journey- and, it feels great too. There was however no confetti cake for this girl- staying true to my roots German Chocolate was the flavor of this birthday. 

 At 45 I am comfortable in my body now, and life doesn't throw me around as much as it seems it used to, or maybe it does but I just go with it instead of fighting it. Should I be doing something wild and unexpected or do I reserve that for the big 50? I'm sure everyone goes through some passage right about now. I've lived half my life, now what? What contribution have I made, what contribution do I want to make... should I make...I have no offspring to leave behind... I am the end... do I need to leave something behind? Maybe I should just eat another piece of cake, go shopping with my birthday money and think about it later. 

 The one strange thought that crossed over me with this birthday is with the state of the world, and feeling like it is all shifting- getting ready to crumble and rebuild, I felt an odd recognition that I wont be here to see how the story ends- so to speak. I know the story will never end here on earth, but I was feeling sad to know that I won't get to (physically present) see how it all turns out, and I do really want to see what happens with humanity.  Will we get it? Maybe I'll just have to negotiate coming back again. Or maybe another forty years will see a glimpse.

 Hmmm... on to cake.