Remembering

Another Bloom

Iris - unknown (to me) variety

Once again, I'm put out with myself because I don't keep adequate records (actually, I keep none) of the names of the beautiful plants I have sprinkled here and there in my yard.  This Bearded Iris was a gift from Gardening Daughter a couple of years ago She acquired it at a sale sponsored by the Arkansas Iris Society. If I recall correctly, the name of the plant was written on one of the leaves. Did I write it down?  Or, memorize it? No.  That oversight doesn't, however, diminish my enjoyment of its beauty.

Tomorrow is also a day -- and there are buds waiting to flower.

Bits and Pieces

   John F. Kennedy Rose                           

For the past four or five days I've been plagued by vicious upper respiratory symptoms, made worse, I'm sure, by the dust I raised in the whirlwind attack on my craft room, about which I so cheerfully reported in my last post.  Since I subscribe to the "germ theory" of disease, I assume I picked up the responsible virus/bacteria a few days before I started the cleaning frenzy. Whatever/whenever/however acquired, the resulting symptoms caused an immediate cessation of my cleaning activities.  Although I've not felt ill enough to confine myself to bed, I have dozed, a lot, in my recliner, consumed quarts and quarts of various hot and cold liquids, sneezed and coughed until my ribs are sore, and kept the "Puffs" folks in business.

Missy cat stayed by my side most of the time, not demanding to be outside -- which was a good thing, since the weather was not conducive to outside activities, even for a feline.   Our area, like much of the country, experienced a sharp drop in temperatures from those earlier last week, and on again-off again precipitation.  Just rain here, thank you. Nebraska daughter reported another 2"-4" of snow on her acreage.

A cat has only so much sympathy and patience, and yesterday afternoon being sunny and temperate (in the high 50's) she demanded to be outside.   Having spied a few white roses from my kitchen window, I ventured out with her and found not only a bush full of roses but that my 'wet foot' Iris had bloomed.  (I'm sure this variety has a real name, but Gardening Daughter, who gave it to me, described it only as needing to be in a moist place, unlike many other irises. Adjacent to the back yard water tap seemed to be as good a place as any.) The iris is in a bed next to the wall and immediately under my kitchen window and thus not visible from it.  I'm happy that I ventured out; I would hate to have missed its blooming.

"Wet Foot" Iris

The new leaf growth on my JFK roses has me somewhat puzzled.  The leaves are at least twice the size of last year's leaves and, if my eyes don't deceive me, the rose blooms are at least half again larger.  (See rose photo; that's my not very small hand behind the bloom.) Also, the iris seems to have grown quite a bit taller since last year; perhaps the Christmas snow contained a tonic. 

Tomorrow is also a day.

These Foolish Things Remind Me --

At lunch time today, I found the refrigerator lacking in leftovers, having consumed the last of several "I'd like a to-go-box, please"  meals yesterday evening. I'm currently involved in a much needed sorting/trashing/cleaning activity in my stamping/crafting room, and didn't want to take much time out to prepare a meal. When I'm on a roll, I'm on a roll.  

I did spy a partial jar of Marinara Sauce in the frig that needed to be used soon and so I decided to have pasta, the skinny, quick cooking variety. 

After the pasta had boiled for the recommended time, I tested a strand or two to determine if it was ready.  That simple task reminded me of --

Carmen Sandiego!

Why should cooked pasta remind me of her, you might ask?

If you never played, or your children never played, any of the Carmen Sandiego games, you missed some funny, but educational playtime.  If you are familiar with the elusive Carmen, you will, of course, remember one of her henchmen --  Al Dente!

OK.  I'm up and away --  back to the craft room.

Tomorrow is also a day.

A Trip

Crystal Bridges Museum, Bentonville, AR

photograph - Pat Phillips

My sister from Hot Springs Village invited me some weeks ago to go with her to visit the Crystal Bridges Museum in the northwest corner of Arkansas, a little over four hours drive from where I live, and so we did, on the Friday just past.

The museum has a number of wonderful works of art in its permanent collection, but the special exhibit she wanted to see featured the work of artist Norman Rockwell, perhaps best remembered for the hundreds of paintings he created as cover art for the Saturday Evening Post.

Thinking that my son and his wife, who now live in extreme southeastern Kansas, might also enjoy the Rockwell exhibit, we invited them, and their younger daughter and her husband, who live not too far from the museum, to join us.  All being in agreement, we met at a lovely restaurant in Bentonville at the noon hour, had a leisurely and delicious lunch, then went to the museum about a half hour before the time assigned to us.  

I knew beforehand that Crystal Bridges was quite an attraction, but I truly was not prepared to find perhaps a thousand persons already on premises.  It appears it's a popular destination for coach tours, as several "Greyhound"-type vehicles were in evidence.  

After a quite reasonable wait for admittance to the Rockwell gallery, we greatly enjoyed the exhibit, which included actual covers of all of the three hundred twenty six (326) issues of the Saturday Evening Post featuring his work.  Many of these I remember fairly well, as the Saturday Evening Post was delivered to our home in New Mexico for many years. 

After leaving the Rockwell exhibit, we made a fairly quick trip through the rest of the galleries.  The permanent collection contains more than a few highly recognizable and well known works of art, including "Rosie the Riveter,"  a famous Rockwell painting, and works by Gilbert Stuart, Georgia O'Keefe, and Mary Cassatt. More than a small smidgen of the Wal-Mart wealth has been spent to good end.  Thank you, Ms. Alice Walton.

My son's and daughter-in-law's home being less than a two hour drive from the museum, we had already made plans to spend Friday night with them rather than making the longer trek back here.  I don't get to see them as often as I would like since they moved to Kansas, and greatly enjoyed the time spent with them.  We had dinner at one of their favorite restaurants in Joplin, then drove about 20 minutes to reach their home in Baxter Springs, KS.

Sister dropped me off at my home yesterday afternoon, arriving here early enough that I could get in a short nap before bedtime!

Tomorrow is also a day.

What Season Is It, Anyway?

I turned on the air conditioner this evening after I "broke a sweat" just sitting at the computer with Missy Cat on my lap.  It's snowing in some parts of the U.S. but it was almost 90 degrees here today!  

I might have just opened a window to let a bit of cooler air inside, but there is so much pollen in the air that it's visible even to these old eyes. My dark green automobile has a heavy chartreuse colored coating. Driving the speed limit in the neighborhood doesn't seem to budge it.  I guess a rolling car gathers more pollen.

Tomorrow is also a day.

All Done, Uncle Sam

Yay!  I had to look for only one item I needed (filed in the wrong place) and that took just a few minutes.  Forms are completed, signed, sealed, and delivered (into the hands of the USPS.)  Even better, I'm due small refunds from both state and federal governments.

I even had time to go outside and pull a few weeds.  Life is GOOD!

Tomorrow is also a day.