winter is on its way

It appears winter is on its way now.... This isn't our first snowfall of the season and it won't be our last. I wish Fall didn't leave us in such a hurry though, but would find reason to linger a little longer. The colors of Fall are such a simple pleasure, and even more so once you realize that it wasn't so long ago when the only landscaping here was the color of ice....

With the Mendenhall Glacier just down the road from us, we've been watching it recede for years. As huge chunks of ice break off and melt, more of the mountainside underneath becomes naked; now a bare canvas to the possibility of cottonwood, spruce trees, and other foliage transforming the bare rocks with a carpet of color. And it is!

When I moved here in 1970, I found it to be a very difficult transition for many reasons. But one of the biggest was that there wasn't any color in the landscape. Despite rumors that nothing would grow because of our weather and the poor poor soil, die-hard gardeners plunged forward, finding the perfect blend of plants and colors to transfer our gray town. Slowly, over the years, seeds are deposited in the forested land and new foliage takes hold. Today our town is filled with color all season long! Cottonwoods have found their niche in the Tongass National Forest, adding their personal touch to the landscape painting. We have nurseries that bring the perfect addition to our yards.

Our color is all gone now. For another season. And, in its place, we'll have the color of black and white for the next several months. The darkness that winter brings and the snow that helps lighten the days. But that's okay because it brings its own mystic to the landscape and goes perfectly with the winter Holidays!

Have a wonderful weekend! Nancy

murphy's law

Why is it....

You wash your car, and it rains....?

The other line always moves faster.....?

When you invite a repairman to fix your broken appliance, it'll always work perfectly fine....?

You always find something in the last place you look....?

You get the flu shot.... and you get the flu....?

Yep, I've been sick sick sick with the flu. Haven't had it for YEARS! Got my first flu shot, and I get the flu. Go figure.

seasons come and go....

but rain stays forever.... At least here in Southeast Alaska. Lordy lordy have we had our share of rain this summer. Most recently, 32 straight days of "precipitation." And here it is fall; technically, our rainy season. Still, fall is probably my favorite season, despite the forecast for rain rain and more rain.

Yes, I love fall. Especially my gardens this time of year. I used to think the key to a gorgeous garden was flowers in bloom all summer long. But over the years I have come to appreciate the silent beauties. The oranges, golds, yellows, and reds that only fall can produce. Now my gardens are planted with fall in mind and the burst of color that comes just before the dreariness of a long and dark winter. (Wentworth Viburnum and Tor Spirea in the front)

Fall brings with it a mystery of what's yet to come. There's nothing more exotic than morning dew that lays gingerly on the tree branches, looking like single droplets of swarvoski crystals. As the weather turns colder, our morning dew turns to frost crystals. And fog gently weaves in and out of our massive spruce trees, hovering as if slowly unveiling the day to come, letting just a hope of blue sky to peak through.

Yes, we welcome today with open arms, lapping in the beauty that fall brings. And tomorrow.... with winter just around the corner.... well.... let's just say tomorrow is another day. Nancy

i'm back!

It feels good to be back blogging.... At least for the time being. It's been a busy six months but times are slowing down, my life has a few free moments, so I thought why not. Sure, why not.

So what have I been up to these past six months? Babysitting grandbabies full-time. Working at the nursery on weekends. Landscaping my back yard in my free time. Every spare moment has been used. And now, winter is setting in. My hours at the nursery have decreased to only a few. The yard has been put to rest. And I don't know what to do with all my free time! So here I am! We'll give blogging during the winter months a try again and see how it goes.

Anyhow, this is my debut post and I'll write more later, bringing you up to date with pictures and stories.

For now.... Nancy

the end

I've been giving this blog some thought lately, and how I haven't been very good at keeping up with it. So, I believe I'm going to sign out for a while and give it a break. Maybe I'll find that I miss it so much, that I'll be back blogging sooner than later. It's been such a joy visiting back and forth and meeting so many people in so many different places of the country. I'll still visit as enjoy stopping in to see how your lives are doing and how your gardens are blooming. But for now, blogging isn't the right place for me to be. So have a great day and I'll talk to you soon! Nancy

and baby makes three

Yes, I became a grandma early this morning for the second time in the last five months. My daughter, Tracy, delivered a healthy, beautiful, little girl at around 3:30 this morning. Ten toes and ten fingers and long, lanky arms, just like her dad. What a precious little baby girl she is.... Mom and dad are doing good, as is Baby G.

And my very first grandchild, well, isn't he just the cutest thing since.... well, since anything? Isn't he just adorable in this polka dot pajamas and pom pom hat? We started babysitting two days a week and boy is it exhausting work! And that's putting it mildly. I don't recall it being so difficult, so exhausting, when I was raising the kids. But by mid-afternoon my head is ready to explode from all the nursery rhymes and the songs and the noises coming out of my head! Seriously. I've come to the conclusion that day care providers do not get paid nearly enough for this 10 hour a day job! But we're glad to be in a position to provide this service to our kids.

tell me it's not so....

Pussy Willows. Skunk Cabbage. Denticulata (primrose). Chives. Red knobby heads of the Rhubarb. More daylight. Dick. Spring King. These are signs of spring in Juneau.

Did I say "spring"? Could it be? Spring? Yea!!!! Yes, I do believe spring has finally sprung in Juneau. It's been sunny AND warm the last few days. So much that I have a tan! Yes! Hard to believe, I know. But I'm back working part-time at the nursery (plant nursery) and it doesn't hurt that I get to be outside all day. This is my therapy.

When I'm not working, we're babysitting my precious little grandbaby, Hunter. He's just so cute, all you want to do is look at him. We started babysitting last week and so far, so good. We've got a nice little routine down, one that works for all of us, and we've only had one temper tantrum.... so far.... Today we're going outside to do yard work. The snow is gone and we're able to rake and do spring clean up. This is the best part of spring. Getting the yard back in shape after a long winter of snow and ice and debris that's been blown around.

Our friend, Dick, arrived last weekend. He comes every year to fish for King Salmon. He stands on the rocky shore of North Douglas, casting his line at the first crack of dawn. Waiting.... Hoping the seals won't return to take their share of the catch.... Dick arrived at 6:30 a.m. on Saturday and by 8:45 a.m. on Sunday he had his first King Salmon of the season. Fish on! That's all he needs to say when he calls and we know to have the barbecue ready. I wish I could describe just how good this first King Salmon of the year is. We look forward to it for months. Our mouths watering. The fish is processed within minutes of being caught and slapped on the grill before you can blink. The key to a fabulous dinner is hot coals and Old Hickory Smoked Salt. Mike has this process down to perfection. The heat of the coals. Only minutes on the grill. Cooked just until the fish is no longer raw. The oils still oozing out of it. The best fish ever.

Yes, spring has sprung!