Today at Iten's Acres: Work Day Memories June 20, 2017

Beautiful day to work at The Acres yesterday--well, I guess every day is a beautiful day at The Acres, but yesterday was lovely. I suppose life is healthier for me in the summer. What I "cook" for myself is maybe better health-wise than what I eat on the way home from school each day. Maybe. (I mean sweet and sour chicken, Reuben sub, steak 'n shake aren't that unhealthy, right? =) Season with a little Pepsi. . . Mmm.) And though I walk year around, in the summer it's actual physical labor most days. Yesterday was a planting, moving things around, hauling bags of dirt, mulching day. Sprinkle in breakfast, lunch, feeding The Posse, being bossed by The Homesteader, reading, writing, and a nice chat with Kevin my mailman and it was a pleasant way to spend a day. And then to sit in the chair by the doorwindow and watch the rain . . . a good day. I'm still adding a few flowers every year. I suppose I'll stop when someone brings me the announcement that the world doesn't need any more beauty. And, as mentioned, I'm always moving things--re-brushing the painting so to speak.
For some reason I was reminiscing about The Outlaw Gang yesterday--Bonnie and Gus. They used to supervise all my outdoor labor. Bonnie would sit and growl instructions, Gus would do the fertilizing. Beautiful, brilliant Bonnie was the leader of The Outlaws. Gus, the brain-dead male sidekick. Cute, friendly, brain-dead. They were great companions on my walks, and as I "labored." Miss them both. I doubt if they would have appreciated The Posse. Bonnie would have been intelligent enough to figure out that they were now part of the scenery. Gus, probably not. Anyway, I was thinking of them yesterday.
Today will mostly be a mulching day. Friday, I'll be re-doing a bed up by the pond. Making room for a little more beauty. Have to make it happen without the growls and the fertilizer I guess. Memories. What a lovely gift.

This Week at Iten's Acres: The Lull June 15, 2017

It's the lull between the end of the iris and the beginning of the lilies. A few bearded iris remain. A few lilies have bloomed. The Japanese and Louisiana iris are starting to bloom, and the flag iris have yet to stop--all the rain has made them delirious. And, of course, the wild things are being wild, and the annuals are starting to mature. There is plenty of beauty here to make the walks a delight. On one walk I almost got run over by a fawn racing down the driveway oblivious to the old man walking up the driveway. She--or he--veered at the last moment into the trees. No sign of mom. Anyway, enjoy the walk.

Tonight at Iten's Acres: It's Official June 5, 2017

Fireflies!! Lightning Bugs!!! Morse Code On Wings! Ashes Falling From A Bolt Of Lightning! Whatever they are; whatever you call them, summer is officially here!

This Week at Iten's Acres: June Swoon June 5, 2017

First full week at The Acres. I did go out into the world once--to a grad party. I missed two--I shall have to ask forgiveness. Last weekend was a "best laid plans go awry" weekend. No great tragedies at The Acres this week--spilled some gasoline in the trunk of the car--yuk: and the refrigerator quit--new one coming today. Other than that all is well. It stopped raining long enough for me to cut both the front and the back. A former student, good friend, stopped by for a chat and walk. Got some work done--slowly moving the heavy bags of dirt where I want them to finish redoing some beds. Slowly is the key word--the old back needs slowly. The iris are about finished unless some re-bloom later in the summer. One has yet to bloom, and a few are hanging on, but almost done. Lily time will be next. Anyway, here's your first June walk. Enjoy!