persistance

We grew beets in our front yard this year. They grew vigorously, provided great meals and were delicious. We had two large harvests, leaving the rest in the ground for later meals.

That's when the rabbits found them. One day I was out watering and found all of the tops nibbled to the ground. The beets were still there so I piled up a little mulch around them and hoped for a resurgence.

And lo and behold! little green leaves poked up above the hay...a veritable miracle.

So, I'm gonna take this as inspiration. When projects go dead, my head gets nibbled away with doubt and worry. I will press on.

universal pattern

What is it? This is a high contrast graphic I created by scanning in a catalpa leaf and playing with the contrast and color. To my surprise as I zoomed in to the 600 DPI image I found this city scape of interconnected roads and arteries. I need to learn to stitch like this, it is a universal pattern.

total abandon

My favorite Rose of Sharon trees are in full bloom now. The wonder of these blooms is that once they peak they throw themselves to the ground as if in complete abandon. Wrinkly and paper thin they look like ancient tissues of the sky.

Rose of Sharon blooms, 2012

always have to be a little different

We harvested some of our first tomatoes on Sunday. That large one on the left is called a Mortgage Lifter (named by the farmer who developed the breed who claimed that they saved him from losing his farm) and the two smaller ones are delicious Cherokee Purples. Had to laugh at the guy in the front though. It has a cupie-doll insolence that delights.

in the mood

Found these two broad-headed skinks in the compost area today. Wikipedia says that the males of this species get red heads during mating season.

Enough said.

Paula Kovarik, 2012