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. Each child, also got to release a box of Monarch butterflies tagged with a number on 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 garden 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!