Rain-Drop Gems! :)

Have you noticed how diamonds magically appear after a refreshing rain?! :)

Sometimes the rain even leaves strings of clear pearls! I hope you enjoy them as I do! :)

Why does nature get all dressed up?! To gladden our hearts, that's why! :)

Time out for yard work! :)

I have a couple post ready to do but since the weather forcast says 3 more dry days followed by 6 wet ones, the posts will have to wait! -
I've got so much to do before the ground gets too wet to work ( dig up and transplant the siberian iris's from the veggie garden to the flower beds; plant strawberry plants and garlic in the spot where the iris are, once the iris are out; dig up the tulips that failed to bloom and ready that bed for the new tulip order that's coming; and finish getting the soil, in various beds, ready for the peony order that's also coming! ) :)
With only 3 days to do it all, I'm in a race against time and the weather! :) Wish me luck!! :)

Country Comforts! :)

I meant to take my camera with me today, but sadly forgot it, so I am unable to share photos of our days activities!
Rud and I attended the local, annual Threshing Bee!! We checked out the long lanes of items from various venders, from dishes to birdhouses, to tools, to tractors, including many antiques! It was a true country affair, and the aroma of steam, metal, and oil was in the air as we looked over the many working steam engines, from toy size, to life size! :) There was a vender making kettle corn and you could smell it's sweet enticement wafting through the air! The fresh corn-on- the-cob was tempting, but we didn't go there for food, and kept walking! We didn't stay to watch the tractor pull, but we did watch the old thresher thresh some oats from the straw-like chaff, before leaving! :)
From there we drove from rural Toledo, to Chehalis where we attended the Garlic Fest at the fair grounds! :) I purchased two types of garlic to grow in our garden as well as garlic seasonings and hot, garlic salsa! :)
It was a fantastic day, rich in the comforts of counrty living!! I'm truely a country-girl, and very thankful for a day spent walking with my honey, sharing our mutual interrest in the country things we love! :)

Nothin' But Orange! :)

Lately I've been noticing how much orange is around! Orange is such a cheerful color that makes me think of Halloween, Thanksgiving, and fall festivities! I thought about saving this post untill Oct., but by then some of the plants may be out of season, so without further delay, here's a post all about ... ORANGE!! :)

Orange can taste good! :)

It can smell good too! :)

Orange can help me get my work done! :) I had to include my orange wheel-barrel, as it's such a necessary part of my life 3 seasons out of the year! I'd be lost without it! :)

Orange can be pretty and draw birds to one's yard! :)

Orange can draw bees and butterflies to one's yard, too! :)

Orange can be deliciously fun and festive!! :)

I'm crazy about yummy aromatic candles!! I tend to burn these year round, as we all enjoy their fragrance and the ambiance they add to our home! :)

I can hardly wait to taste this bit of meaty orange flesh come fall! Won't be long now! :)

Orange can bring out creativity and excitement! We'll be carving out some fun in just two more months! :)

And yes, - Orange Can be a bit irritating in the wrong hands! ... :)

Knock, knock! - Who's there? - Orange! - Orange who?

Knock, knock! - Who's there? - Orange! - Orange who?

Knock, knock, - ... Who's there? - Orange! ... ... Orange who?

... Aren't you glad I didn't say Orange?! :) ...

Have a great day eveyone! Keep your eyes open for orange! It's out there hoping to cheer you! :)

Sitting Idle ...! :)

I haven't heard or seen any hummingbirds for around a week now! The feeder sits, idle, looking unfulfilled. All the hummers left when we had the heat wave with temps in the 100s! I thought they'd return when things got more comfortable again, but there's only been a few here since then. I made sure to wash and refill the feeder one more time, for those who migrate back through! I'll keep it up through Oct., for any late travelers, and then remove it untill March! :) I miss them already! I'll keep my eyes and ears open, though, just in case one, or more, are still in the area! :) ...

Corn-stalk-ers! :)

'There are stalkers stalking the cornstalks'! How's THAT for a tongue twister? :) I dare you to try to say if fast 5 times! :) grin

If you'd like to 'See the busy bees busily buzzing' ( Another tongue twister for ya!), try clicking on the photos! Sometimes they will enlarge for a better view! :)

I love how you can see the pollen balls on their little legs when the photos are enlarged! :)

The first photo is my favorite! I love seeing bees in flight! :)

When you walk near the corn you can hear these busy workers! It's challenging to get photos of them as they fly away when the lens gets close! They don't get angry or frustrated, - they just want to be left alone to go about their bussiness of gathering pollen! :)

I'm thankful, in a time when there's such concern about honeybee mites and diseases, to be able to have plenty of them working my yard and veggie garden! What would we do without them?

Blossom Bling! :)

I'm pleased to say, that even though we are drawing to the close of summer, there is still plenty of "Blossom Bling" to be found in the yard! Enjoy!! :)

I love this Love-In-A-Mist! I hope to see the pink and blue colors open soon! :)

Just in case you're not sure, ... you're looking at sweet peas! I wish you could smell their sweet fragrance! Yummm! :)

A couple pods that are the fruit of the spring flowers on this snowdrop tree! Nature's earrings!! :) I hope this photo enlarges when you click on it because these are devine when seen close up! :)

Rapturous Rose Hips! :)

I love this time of year when the rose hips start coming on! Since I now have so many one-time bloomers, I'm enjoying alot more of them, since most one-time bloomers tend to produce hips! These red hips are from my Rose Rugosa Rose! The Rugosa roses tend to have the largest hips! They are easily the size of my upper thumb joint! :)

One-time bloomer hips!

Rose Rugosa!

One-time bloomer!

Alba ( white ) Rugosa Rose hips! These will get larger and turn more yellow! :)

One-time bloomer!

Maybe this is the year I should learn how to make rose-hip jelly!? :) - My time is pretty much claimed, so we'll see! :) - Have any of you ever made it before?! :)

A Little Fall Flavor! :)

We're only 5 and a half weeks away from the first day of Fall, and I can already feel it in the air and see it in the yard! Every year Rud and I wish we could make summer last a little longer. But there will come a point when we will embrace it and enjoy it! I admit to finding some enjoyment in seeing a little fall flavor through my lens! I hope you find some enjoyment in it too! :)