Owl be back!

Yesterday as I was working around the yard I looked up in the tree and spotted the owl that came to visit last year. We had been watching and hoping it would come back. Later in the evening as dusk was upon us Jim and I were relaxing in the swing when all of a sudden we saw something land on a branch right in front of us. It was the owl! We sat there watching it watching us for about five minutes. Darn, I wish I had my camera. Jim volunteered to go get it but by the time he reached the house it took off again into the neighbors yard.

Pond Tour 2009

We had so much fun doing the Garden Tour that we decided to visit the Pond Tour. Our goal is to start building one next spring. We were told over and over again by these pond owner's that it is a good idea to visit and talk to them first so we don't make the same mistakes they did. They were all really nice and helpful. When we got home we kept going back and forth from the front yard to the back wondering where the best place to put a pond would be. I think we have settled for the back next to the patio where Jim's zeroscape garden currently lies. One things for sure, we still have time to "ponder" it.

First Harvest 2009

Proud Mary

Yesterday was a big day for Gav and me. After picking up his learners permit he drove me around for the first time. It was a proud moment for both of us. He took the course seriously and made all A's on his tests. Now he will be driving Jim and me around for six months improving his skills.

My Master Gardner

Jim has been working hard in the yard making everything look beautiful.

Dr. Jerri Nielsen

I was sad to read that Dr. Jerri Nielsen FitzGerald, who diagnosed and treated her own breast cancer before a dramatic rescue from the South Pole, has died.

She wrote a very good book about her ordeal called "Ice Bound: A Doctor's Incredible Battle for Survival at the South Pole." I read this years ago and highly recommend it.

Her cancer went into remission but ultimately returned and claimed her life. She was such a brave lady.

Garden Tour 2009

By being the fifth caller at a radio station Jim won two tickets to the annual Garden Tour, a fundraiser for the Idaho Botanical Garden. We loaded up the car with all our rain gear because the weather had been so stormy and it threatened to rain again last Sunday when we toured the gardens. There were seven houses in all that we drove to and toured. Everything looked lush and green because of the recent rains. We got plenty of ideas for our own garden and managed to finish the tour without getting rained on.