THE DC GUYS

Taking advantage of a three day weekend, I hopped in the Subaru early, early Saturday morning and headed over to visit Samuel in Washington. I'll supply details of our weekend at a later day, but I wanted to get these photos in place for The Farm family. Many of you haven't seen Sammy in a while...He's happily adjusted to DC, loves the city, and is working his rear end off at an Urban Outfitters downtown while going to graduate school full time.

I had a great time hanging out with him, and I think he was equally as glad to see me. Samuel and I have a history of good times together, and this weekend was yet another time we made memories and solved the world's problems together. I'm so proud to be his mom.

NATURAL PROGRESSION - YELLOW DATURA

The pinwheel slowly opens into a full, delicately powerful, double blossom. The flower lifts its trumpet to the morning sun to welcome the day and follow the sun across the sky until the afternoon turns into evening. Then the aged bloom bows to the Earth in gratitude for the day gone by and collapses to the ground as darkness arrives. All this, in less than 24 hours.

FARM BLOSSOMS #4: THIS PAPHIOPEDILUM IS ONE SEXY ORCHID

Better photos to follow, but this paphiopedilum opened today, and I can't quit staring at it.

MY PAPER'S STILL AROUND

Jen Grove, a calligrapher from Marietta who used to buy a lot of paper from me sent me a Facebook message yesterday and directed me to the Tree Whispers website, where, lo and behold, right there on the home page is a work by Anne Binder done on my paper. It took my breath to see Tanya Wilder paper again.

As I recall the under layer here is done with abaca fibers, faintly dyed with a light onion skin and walnut mixture. The top paper is a combination of hemp and abaca,with organic inclusions of mica and snake skin.

See the Tree Whispers (collaborative project celebrating life's resounces) website for some beautiful work:
(www.treewhispers.com)

And perhaps there could be some more Farm Paper in the works...I'm feeling inspired.

FARM BLOSSOMS #3: MORE ORCHIDS

I'm like a child at Christmas when my orchids bloom. The phaleonopsis has been open ALL summer, and just this morning, one blossom drooped to fall off. The dark burgundy paphiopedilum will open in the next couple of days. That means I check it every hour to see just how much more it has progressed.

Orchids make me happy....

FARM BLOSSOMS #2: DIFFERENT DAHLIAS FROM THE SAME TUBER

Unless I'm very mistaken, these two entirely different dahlias are growing from the same tuber. Interesting....and elegantly lovely...

FARM BLOSSOMS - LADY SLIPPER ORCHIDS

The Farm Mom is an very, very amateur orchid grower, but every once in a while, I get lucky. I purchased this paphiopedilum (HsingingCitron #16 x lawrenceanum #1) at Earth Fare in Boone, NC, for a steal of a price and have pampered it according to directions I've studied on the internet and in my orchid books.

As a child, I loved all the Lady Slippers that grew in the wild in the mountains around Boone. I successfully transplanted pink, yellow, and snowy lady slippers on several occasions around my grandmother's and my parents' houses. . I have not, however, been able to grow them in the woods here at The Farm in Ohio.

So, when I came across this and one other (photos on the way once it blooms), I decided to expand my orchid collection. I do so hope I can keep them alive and blooming. There's something about paphiopedilums that bridges the connection to my childhood Lady Slipper garden, so I'll give these a good shot and welcome them to The Farm with lots of TLC....

RUFUS

Somewhat bull-headed...still trips over his ears...wingspan over 20"...has moments when he thinks he's a cat...plays all day with his best friend, Clousseau (who IS a cat)...has a starburst fluffy at the tip of his tail...learning, slowly but surely, that two old corgis can lose their patience rather easily with his puppy antics...getting too big to be a lap dog...goofy, funny, loving....that's our Rufus.

SUMMER 2009 FARM UPDATE #7

It's been over a week since I've even looked at my blog. Here's what's been in the works at The Farm:

1. Had a great visit with Betsy and Bill as they headed to Buffalo for Kate's wedding. Celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary with them here at The Farm. Brought back memories of my wedding 31 years ago and theirs the year after. (Their marriage lasted; mine didn't...) Childhood stories made Joe and Eliza laugh, and Betsy and I really are quite like Mom and Aunt Lib when we get going.

2. Purchased a used weedeater. Joe's taken out most of the ragweed in front of the deck and around the barn. I've sneezed quite a bit.

3. Got the mowing done.

4. Am working on refinancing the house and trying my best to define a new insurance policy that's going to save me some money.

5. I've knitted a couple of dishclothes. Haven't gotten started on my next round of scarves.

6. Worked a bit for the Evergreen Arts & Humanities Series.

7. Gone on good walks with Rufus, Joe, the corgis and cats. Laughed a lot at Rufus.

8. Worked a bit on my classes for Marietta College.

9. Attempted to clean the house.

That's about it.....

(Rufus: Wingspan as of last weekend = 20" from tip of one ear to the other. He's quite the hound dog.)

SUMMER 2009 UPDATE #6

From Petie's computer at home here in Boone, NC:

1. Had a wonderful lunch with Uncle Tom and Carol on Tuesday. So good to see them.

2. Had a wonderful lunch with my aunts, Linda and Audrey, my uncle, Ken, and Mom at Grandma Shook's house yesterday.

3. Cooked a tasty Cuban meal for Uncle Frank, Aunt Lera, Richard, Miss Hal and Bobby the other night. My flan really came out well.

4. Had a good trip to the farmer's market with Mom.

5. Attended the Retired State Teacher's Personnel meeting with Mom and saw several of my former teachers from Watauga High School, including my favorite math teacher, Linda Harwood.

6. Finished a scarf and began a sock (for the second time). Also knitted a couple of dish rags.

7. Read a book!

8. Helped Mom get some ideas about re-covering her antique chairs in the living room to match the couch she had done last summer.

9. Ran errands with Mom.

10. Sneezed my head off and suffered from itchy eyes, thanks to NC allergies.

11. Walked downtown a couple of times.

12. Had lunch with a cousin on my mom's side and her family. Also took Mom, my Aunt Hal and Bobby, my cousin, to visit my Aunt Lucille, who's in a nursing home in Stanley, NC. Had a good visit with cousins and my sweet aunt, who's debilitated from Parkinson's Disease.

13. Cared for Mom and tried to make her feel special. I love her so...

14. Loved being home among those with whom I've grown up and who have been so much a part of my life. Loved having access to good, homegrown, organic food. Loved being in a place that's alive artistically and laid-back. Loved the reconnection with educators for whom I have total respect and admiration.

SUMMER 2009 UPDATE #5

This update format's getting to be a regular thing here at Namasté. I've found it's the easiest way to keep the farm family informed as the summer passes, and it'll serve as a reminder to me in the months to come as to what all transpired....

1. Rufus has a fancy new compound at the end of the side yard, and he seems quite content to spend the nights there.
2. Brett's home, and we've spent a couple of afternoons on the porch, catching up since we saw each other at Christmas last year. He and Betsy have had an amazing year in Bulgaria, have one more to go, and then will more than likely return to the States.
3. Brett and I got some paperwork done to completely turn the car over to Eliza.
4. Joe and Rufus are visiting Joe's sister in Raleigh, NC, and I'm headed to NC for a week on Thursday.
5. Dahlias continue to bloom gloriously.
6. I pulled up old broccoli, collards, kale and lettuces from the garden beds, re-tilled the beds and have them ready for fall planting (which I hope to get to tomorrow).
7. I've brushed all the critters in an attempt to get done with the shedding process.
8. I've spent a goodly amount of time on getting info out about the Evergreen Arts & Humanities Series.
9. Samuel messaged me that he has an interview for a position at the Bookstore at American University.
10. Bobbi taught her first class in her new first-class studio in Philadelphia last Sunday.
11. Eliza's started band...band camp this week all day. She's guard section leader and working her tail off.
12. Lori's traveling all over the country with Nickelback.
13. I'm getting my hair cut again...it grows out really fast.
14. Tonight I plan to sort and alphabetize my CD's. Hasn't been done in a couple of years, and they're way out of order. Total chaos.

That's about it for now....

Enjoy recent pics of Rufus, the farm (bassett) hound dog...He's growing like a weed!

SUMMER 2009 UPDATE #4

1. Gutters on the barn cleaned out and washed. Thanks, Joe.
2. Back porch washed and cleaned. Thanks, Joe.
3. Yard mowed, trimmed, and raked.
4. College visit to Miami (OH) University with Eliza. Had a great tour guide, learned a lot, impressed with the programs, many opportunities available for students, including an equestrian club so Eliza could ride again. A really good Mom and daughter day.
5. Samuel moving to Washington, DC today. Leaving Boone. Lots of tears on his part, my part, Petie's part.
6. Trying to sell ads for the Evergreen Arts & Humanities Series.
7. First tomatoes in from the garden, and man, are they puny!!
8. Great dahlias in bloom.
9. Feeling like the summer's moving way, way too fast.
10. Dinner with Sherm and Beth tonight.
11. Corgis and kitties adjusted to Rufus and his bumblings.
12. Won't be going to Miami....Will be going to Boone again in the next week of so.
13. Celebrating the life and love of Aunt Lib, who passed away last week.
14. In love with life...many, many blessings to count...
15. Knitting needles in action....see below....

SUMMER KNITS

1. Finished the handspun purple wool scarf I started in the winter. Color of photo not so good. A really warm, somewhat scratchy scarf that will be great over a turtleneck.

2. a delicate fan and feather patterned scarf, knitted with organic cotton thread. Color bad in photo...it's a pretty light, chartreuse green.


3. a diagonal patterned scarf (now completed) for Aunt Lera done in organic cotton. Color not good in photo...it's actually a beautiful periwinkle that will go beautifully with her white hair.

4. The color here is really off...this is a salmon-colored bouclé organic cotton that I'm knitting on different sized needles...A Farm Mom originial pattern...Prettier than it looks here.

5. a longer moss stitch with yarn over pattern knitted with an organic cotton / silk yarn. Soft and pretty...more of a teal than the photo shows.

When Joe comes to the farm, nice pottery comes along with him.

And, while the rest of us putz about doing our respective thing around The Farm, Rufus saws logs!! You gotta love those ears!

SUMMER 2009 UPDATE #3

1. Garage cleaned

2. Basement cleaned

3. Tree that had fallen in back field cut up, wood gathered and stacked

4. Lots of good, fresh veggies gathered and cooked

5. Plans for the barn in the making

6. Lots of walks with Annie, Molly, Rufus, and cats

7. Lots of teenagers coming and going

8. Dahlias slowly blooming

9. Sammy getting ready to move to DC in a week

10. A couple new sculptures around the farm thanks to Joe

11. Moving my body a bit more

12. Moving into summer mode with a bit of work pressure brewing in the background...

SUMMER 2009 / FARM UPDATE #2

I've noticed several of my blogging friends have written fewer posts during the summer, so I'm not feeling all that guilty. With gardens to tend, yards to mow, books to read, scarves to knit, trips to make, funerals to attend, moves to make, and visits with friends, time flies by...really flies by...

So, here's what's been happening here at The Farm...

1. Rufus and Joe and getting ready to move in and set up shop at The Farm. Rufus (seen below) just completed his 6th week on the planet and has already traveled across the country in Joe's truck as they made their move from Utah back to Marietta. In these photos, the farm basset hound seems a bit lethargic, but he was on the tail-end of getting his second parvo shot, and I think the medication made him a bit sore and sleepy.

2. The Shook / Michael family reunion took place on July 4th, and it was a huge success. Approximately 175 people came, and some folks saw each other for the first time in 50 years or more. It was an afternoon of good home cookin', warm embraces, and wonderful memories. All who attended voted to get together again in two years. (photos and a post devoted to the reunion will be up soon....)

3. A couple of dear friends have lost loved ones this past week. Diane Bosley's grandmother, Gracie, passed to the spirit world last Friday, and the celebration of her life brought back the love, family closeness, and sadness of Grandma Ruth's leaving the earthly plane. Stories from the funerals were quite similar, all centering around the love of family, the family dinner tradition, and spunky women who had seen the world change enormously over more than decades. Sweet, elegant, dignified, and salt of the earth women, Gracie and Ruth, will forever live in our lives and hearts.

4. Eliza has finished three weeks of an intensive Chinese class. Wan-nu-dze, as she became known to her teachers and peers, learned a heck of a lot and was the star of the class. It's not cool to show enthusiasm about learning Chinese, but I know she had a good time....I heard her telling someone it was "really neat."

5. Weeds abound...Dahlias are beginning to bloom...The tomatoes look puny....Volunteer dill's overtaking the garden...The roses are fragrant...Lilies are waning...Sunflowers are huge and happy. Collards, spinach, kale, lettuce and broccoli have been overrun with cabbage butterflies.

6. Skunk fragrance seems to be the vernal perfume of choice for the aging corgis...Chipmunks and mice fill feline bellies, except for the little gross parts the cats pass on and leave for me to step on outside the doors.

7. Samuel moves to DC in a couple of weeks. WOW...it's really happening...!

8. I'm not yet totally relaxed into summer, but I'm making headway....

Stay tuned....

SUMMER FARM UPDATE

1. The fields are mowed and baled, and the yard's looking pretty good.

2. The hummingbirds are emptying the feeders faster than the Farm Mom can keep up with them.

3. SUPER GOOD NEWS! Samuel and Harrison now have a place to live in DC. Today, they found an apartment owned by a British guy named Peter and his wife, who's from Iran and works at the Iranian Embassy. Estimated moving date for Samuel and Harrison: August 1

4. Joe arrives at The Farm on July 17th.

5. The Matney Gathering (Shook/Michael reunion) is a week from today!

6. Zucchinis have started to come in, and the broccoli keeps on producing. The collards, kale, and other greens are getting munched by the cabbage butterflies and their wormy babies.

7. There're lots of flowers in bloom. This year's stars are the lilies....

8. All's well with the world here.....

WORTHLESS, "TRIFLIN." OR WHATEVER, I'VE HAD NO ENERGY TODAY

There's something about funeral energy that takes the wind right out of my sails, and today, I've been about as worthless as tits on a boar hog. I haven't slept well since I got the call about Grandma's passing, and I also notice I don't recuperate from travel nearly as fast as I used to. So, today, I would give myself a zero (0) in terms of accomplishing much more than moving from the computer to the couch, staring into space, and making phone calls to family members to see they got home OK.

The physical exhaustion may even be surpassed by my mental fatigue. Molly and Annie may not have noted I fed them cat food, but the cats certainly let me know they weren't into the tasteless dog food that landed in their dishes. The hummingbirds looked a bit puzzled when they realized their food was colored water with no sugar added, and I'll see what effect the lemonade I poured (thinking it was a glass of water I had ready) has on the begonia outside my door.

It's not quite 6:00 PM, and I think I'm headed to bed.....Hopefully, I will have returned to life and some level of sense tomorrow.

SERVICES FROM GRANDMA

I am late getting this post up on my blog, but arrangements for Grandma were made faster than I had anticipated, and I had to get everything together in Ohio to get down to Boone by last night...

Grandma's viewing was last evening (Friday)...She was beautiful in a pretty lavender suit and her pretty earrings. She certainly didn't look 107 years old!

The funeral is today (Saturday) at 2:00 PM at White Rock Baptist...Viewing will be from 1 - 2 at the church...Donald Smith will be part of the service as one of the preachers.

Those of us who had to travel had hoped the service would be Sunday, but we've all made it home and will be in Pigeon Roost today in her honor. For those who can't be there, know that you're with us in our hearts and our love of family has never been stronger.

From everyone who came to the viewing last night, it sounds like the family reunion is going to be huge....Please come if you can.....

Love to all....Tanya

GRANDMA'S TAKEN FLIGHT

Her body finally gave way this morning, and as she has told all of us for many a year now, Grandma died, "right here in my chair." She'd had a restless night, and when my aunts got her up for the morning, it was evident she was struggling to breathe. Peacefully, she let go... right there in her chair....






Ten children, eight of whom still live...Around 30 grandchildren...Numerous great grandchildren and great, great grandchildren...a woman of great faith....the best biscuit and gravy maker in the world...as strong as the mountains that surrounded her all her life...had the prettiest dahlia gardens in all the mountains...loved her hummingbird feeders...possessed a dry humor and a cute little chuckle til the last day of her life...loved all her family through thick and thin....raised everything from a garden to baby groundhogs...when a neighbor was sick or died, folks called on Grandma for strength...spent days upon days on the ground in the mountains picking galax to sell for money to buy herself a few things...could squirt milk from the cow's udders straight into your mouth...never touched a drop of alcohol...



Other than my own mom, the most influential and loving woman in my life.....