Earth is Laughing

The earth laughs in flowers.
e.e. cummings










My father-in-law sent these photos of his beautiful gardens in Washington. It looks like such a happy place, doesn't it? He is definitely a master gardener and fortunately has passed those genes down to one of our daughters!

The Gnome's Cohort in Crime

On our walk through the city last night I spotted another gnome -- hiding near a porch. I'm sure he was helping our little gnome because I believe they work at night and he seems to be carrying a flashlight.

A question: I know there must be lady gnomes otherwise they would be a dying species, BUT -- have you ever seen one??? Wait ------- I don't think I've ever seen a young one either. Maybe they ARE a dying species.

A Garden Visitor

"A garden requires patient labor and attention. Plants do not grow merely to satisfy ambitions or to fulfill good intentions. They thrive because someone expended effort on them."
Liberty Hyde Bailey

In our case, I think the "someone" is a little gnome. I found him standing guard over the tomato and squash plants this morning. But actually I'm not sure if he was tending the plants or if he was planning on taking some of the veggies as he had a picnic basket over one arm!

The above quote is from Liberty Hyde Bailey who lived from 1858-1954 and was a horticulturist and botanist. He was also a co-founder of the American Society for Horticultural Science. As #1 daughter is a horticulturist, I thought she'd appreciate this quote.

I Keep Forgetting My Camera Lately

I left my camera at home for the last Summer of Jazz concert this week so I have no pictures of it but the music was great. It was Kevin Mahogany's Kansas City Revue. Lots of dancing early on this time. We shared it with a dear friend -- actually a "framily member." You know, more than a friend, almost like family.

And then today we went up to Mountain Fair in Carbondale and I left my camera at home AGAIN! I realize now that God is trying to tell me something about living in the moment and not worry about getting those pictures. I should just enjoy the moment. But I do have pictures of past Mountain Fairs which would still work today:

This is the nice lady who makes the Saint icons. We had previously bought St. Bernard from her and this year we bought St. Valentine. Nice work and very nice lady. And gotta love her sign!

This act was not here this year but there was still plenty to watch. We enjoyed the Limbo contest and it ended in a tie between a young man (probably early 20's and most assuredly a gymnast) and a little girl about 10. Lots of fun.

Plenty of lively music in the Gazebo. Although I must say that the group from the Aspen Jazz summer camp was good when they were just playing their instruments but the singing reminded me of "America's Got Talent" -- the acts that you say to yourself, "Does that person REALLY think they can sing?"

And of course lots of kids! They are so fun to watch. They were dancing, spinning, crying, screaming, getting lost, getting found, and sometimes........just quietly enjoying the shows like the rest of us!

How Dry We Are

Tom was just on a conference call with his IBM project team and there was lightning and immediately a HUGE clap of thunder. He told them that the storm was too close for him to be on the phone and excused himself from the call. Moments later we saw the smoke from our backyard -- the lightning struck the mountain near us. We called 911 but haven't heard any sirens yet, although maybe they're hoping the rain will put it out. We hope so too.

Flat Tops Wilderness / Trappers Lake

We enjoyed a few quiet days at Trappers Lake in the Flat Tops Wilderness. This area was visited by Arthur Carhart, a Forest Service official, in 1919 and he was inspired to preserve this area as wilderness. The Forest Service agreed and Trappers Lake became the first protected wilderness area in the US. In 2002, lightning in this area sparked the Big Fish Fire which destroyed over 17,000 acres, the Trappers Lake Lodge, a couple barns, the hottub lounge, and several old historic cabins. The new lodge is up and running, with Holly and Carol as our wonderful hostesses, the meals were delicious, and we stayed in a sweet old cabin.


Tom is still upset with how devastated the area looks since the fire but I found a particular beauty in all the incredible wildflowers and watching deer and their babies running through what was left standing when the trees burned.



Tom attempted to fish Trappers Lake but the darn fish ended up nibbling the toes of his waders and kept looking up at him as if to say, "Ha ha, you can't catch me!" (They were right!) As they were jumping out of the water all around him I thought perhaps they enjoyed the smorgasbord of insects as opposed to the individual fly lunch he was offering.


We hiked the Wall Lake Trail going about 6 miles up the trail, and at about 10,000 - 11,000 feet, the air is crisp and clean, but I started to get nervous when I saw some clouds forming. I'm petrified of lightning and know how dangerous it is in the Rockies so we headed back down. It's a beautiful hike, and I will get flak from dear daughters for not completing it, but maybe someday..........


The only unpleasant part of the trail were the piles of horse poop we had to step around and over. And I don't think I'm the only one who thinks horses are a problem as I saw this sign at the beginning of the trail:


It has been said that when God goes on vacation God goes to the Colorado wilderness. I'm sure you can see why.

Kitchens are Dangerous

There's a reason I don't spend a lot of time in the kitchen. As Tom informed the ER staff: "My wife stabbed herself!" It was not nearly that exciting.