Summer 2014

Summer in Missoula....

blanket flowers

Callie on my lap

Callie on the porch

Callie on my lap, with my hand holding her head up

crazy tomato plant inherited from the front house neighbors when they moved

garden in June

garden in August

cow cake for Denise's birthday

Callie and the sprinkler

ninebark

Pattee Canyon

Pattee Canyon

Callie

porch

table

Callie

kale, squash, cukes...

lavender

pineapple sage, squash, oregano, flowers

oregano, sage, rose bush in background

flower pots

porch

California poppies

sunflowers

tomato, chives, cukes...

tomatoes and cukes

Roses after Rain, Missoula, September 2013

Springing

Spring, it sneaks up on you sometimes, when you aren't paying attention.

Flowers burst into bloom, even when there are still snowy days, off and on.

The perennials from last year stir themselves into life. So far, all have come back. This year, I will add a few more, along with the annuals to fill in. Eventually, it will be a full perennial garden, with flowers blooming at different times. And I can do that, now, since I've made the decision to stay here, in Butte and in this little house.

And I am doing things, things that I would normally look longingly at, but would somehow come up with an excuse for not doing. Like going to the ball (even without the pumpkin coach and fairy godmother).

Since the Courthouse Centennial Ball requires period clothing, I will be attempting to construct a 1912~ish ball gown. Some of it will be sewn on a machine, and some of it will be sewn by hand. I'm feeling both exhilarated and terrified all at the same time. 

The fabrics are a combination of thrifted dress, lace curtains, and satin, chiffon, and tulle bought on sale.

Mostly, I've been living, just living here, now, in this place, with me as I am now. And enjoying an occasional latte (iced this time) and sometimes a tasty treat (here, a cupcake frosted to look like a rose). If you look, life is full of beautiful ordinariness.

And I've been collecting things, for reasons I'm not sure of yet, and trusting myself to know somewhere in my head what the reasons are. The forces of creativity and making are quietly gathering strength, and somewhere, all these little magpie bits will come into play.

Since I've decided to stay here, in this place and house, I've been organizing. Suddenly, all the things that were "good enough" for now, in case I moved and left them all behind, don't quite cut it. I'm finding ways to use space well, to fit the things I want and need, and to get rid of the things that aren't beautiful and useful.

I bought shoes. More Keens. Because I love them. And because I have worn my green pair into the ground. And because buying a pair was on my birthday list.

I have been taking care of Callie. Even though we've increase her medication dosage, her thyroid levels still keep climbing. It's something that may stabilize, or her thyroid may just be giving out. I took her to see a holistic vet, who did a combination of massage, chiropractic, and acupuncture. I'm learning to just go with what is, and to cherish my days with her. She'll be 17 next month, and she is still my heart.

The inside flowers are blooming happily. In another 2-3 weeks, they'll get to go outside for the summer.

Things are opening, and blooming, and stretching out into the sunshine.

Blooming (ton)

Thanks to Craig and Bonnie for playing, Identify the Flowering Tree. Between the two of them, they took care of all of my tree identification problems. It's good knowing a landscaper and a librarian.

These pictures are of flowers from around town, around the university, just around. Bloomington is a very flower-ful town.

Woodburn Hall's flower beds

Some of the many yuccas that burst into bloom all around town at the same time.

Lynn's daylillies, before they were fully open.

Lynn's daylillies when fully blooming. There are daylillies of many colors around town.

Flowering Trees

These are just some of the flowering trees I've seen around town. I only know one of these, so if any of you can identify the trees, jump in. Don't be shy. It can be the new quiz. Identify that tree, instead of help Trish pick an apartment. If you don't know, make up a name that you think fits.

Other than taking many pictures of trees, and of Callie, it's the same old thing. Work and class. I'm getting ready to move across town. I get my keys on the 8th. I have moving people lined up for the 9th. My carpet cleaning and checkout appointments for the old apartment are set up for the 14th. Now it's all a matter of sorting, packing, cleaning, and all the other little details of moving - address changes and switching my electricity from one place to the other, etc.

It's really a pain to move without a car, or without access to someone with a car. Most of the time I don't miss having a vehicle, and kind of prefer not to have one. This is not one of those times, though. As I don't have a major credit card, renting a car is turning into one giant pain in the behind, too. The added degree of difficulty will just give me more points, right? If anyone has any suggestions on this (other than get a credit card or a car), please pass those along, too.

Otherwise, life is good. My first paper for class is due this week - legislative history of a public law. I chose one from the 94th Congress (1975), so most of my information is not online. I'm spending time with lots of print volumes of things like the Congressional Record, etc. It's actually easier to use the print volumes than the resources online. I can understand the print resources. I'm old enough to have used print resources when doing research, back in the ancient days of wooden card catalogs and lots of lots of print indexes to everything. It's making me rather nostalgic.

Callie's flea issue seems much better. I'm still looking for one of the hip and groovy comb things that the vet had. I think I'm going to have to call and ask them what it's callled and where they got it. It's the only thing I've ever seen that will get through all her fur. She's a hairy little beastie. On the other hand, the apartment has never been cleaner. I'm down to vacuuming every three days now, though. I guess it'll make it easier to clean when I move.

This crazy tree is full of fluffy pink flowers, and reminds me of some sort of Dr. Seussian tree creation.

Close up of the fluffy pink flowers. They're really feathery looking. I have no idea what this tree is and have never seen one like it before.

But leave it to the librarian to know that it's a albizia julibrisson, or silk tree (Thanks, Bonnie)

This crazy tree is in an alley behind a building. When I go to the little grocery store closest to my apartment, that's the way I walk. The flowers do not look real. It bloomed earlier this spring, and is blooming again now.

The flowers remind me of a fuschia or something. They droop down. They seem very delicate and sculptural.

Craig identified this tree as a Robinia, "Purple Robe" locust.

This is the only one I can identify. It's a hibiscus. There are a ton of these around town, in shades from purple to pink to white.

This tree is across the street from my apartment. It bloomed late spring/early summer. I've seen more of these around town, too.

This is the closeup of the tree. The flowers are huge and cup shaped.
Craig and Bonnie agree that it's a Liriodendron tulipifera, or tulip tree, which is the state tree of Indiana.