Chance of Precipitation?

Well, its a complicated weather forecast for the next few days.  Its now 3:30, and the temperature has dropped 15 degrees in the last two hours.  Its going to change to snow, chance of percipitation 80%, 1-3 inches tonight.  Then tomorrow 1-3 more inches,  chance of precipitation 90%.  Then tomorrow night, snow ice or sleet, chance of precipitation 100%.

So, what is the chance of school?  I say 80% chance of school tomorrow,  40% on Friday.  Its a difficult forecasting school, though, since we have a new superintendent.  Is he going to call it for nothing, or are there going to be buses off the road all over 89 before he calls it?

Wouldn't it be great if WMUR included a chance of school forecast in with their weather?  I mean, it couldn't be anymore of a guess than the weather is, so no one would really rely on it anyway.  But it would give the kids some betting odds for whether or not to do their homework, because thats a hard decision for kids to make.  

Fourteen!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KELSEY!

ANTM Picabo was unavailable for this photo, so her stand in Biscuit took her place.  Its good to have a back up dog around.  Biscuit is working on his fierce look, Tyra showed him how to put his eyes to the camera and his tongue facing the other way while tilting his chin to create a softened wolf look. 

Political Polls

Remind me not to register as independent before the next presidential election. 

Seems like we are being polled every five minutes between 5 -7 pm.  Kels is asking if she can answer the poll questions now - and I am like sure, whatever.  How accurate can these polls be? 

The poll numbers change every week, but I really don't know any one who is changing their mind - didn't you and everyone you know have their mind made up a long time ago?  Pretty much once it became McCain versus Obama, everyone knew who they were voting for, so why poll us so much?  Maybe just call back the ones who don't have their minds made up and give everyone else a number to call if they change their mind.  

And how statistically accurate is it to rely on these polls anyway?  Clearly there must be a correlation between people who are never home to answer the phone and these same people not voting in elections for this to be valid.  Not to mention people who have caller id and don't answer strange numbers, people who inform the pollsters it is none of their business and people who just hang up on pollsters.  All of those people must not vote.   Oh yeah, what about busy signal people?  And people whose phone goes right to voicemail if they are on it? cell phone only people?  

THIS WEEK"S POLL

We needed a fill in the blank poll this week.  Please comment with your answers - they can be anonymous if you want.  Two questions:

1. What should we call the new plant labels cindy and I are making?

2. What would  be the perfect gift for Kip and Shelley's wedding if money was no issue?

Its not just me!

There's a great post today on GARDEN RANT about the text in garden books. 

 

It confirms that I am not the only one who doesn't read these books, just enjoys the gorgeous photos.  Although I love to read, I rarely have patience for the text in gardening books.  There are several reasons:

1.  Its a regurgitation of what is in EVERY garden book: Design (includes measuring, garden plan, site), Soil (hohum), planting (honestly how hard is that? could you write a whole chapter on it?), and finally the requisite plant list.   All of this is very important, but how many times do you need to read it?

2.  Sometimes, the book takes a different spin than the topics listed above, and then the problem is how do you describe something that is almost completely visual?  It goes like this "a monochromatic combination allows the simple beauty of forms and textures to shine".  (Yes, I can see that in the picture!)  There is a certain value to putting these things into words, but there are only so many sentences such as the one above that one can tolerate.  Here's my garden book ---A good edging plant allows the simple beauty of the composition of the the garden to shine...a repeating pattern of certain plants in a garden allows the simple beauty of the eye being drawn through the length of the garden...a pairing of complementary colors allows the individual colors to shine.  At a certain point it all becomes blather which might be better suited to a list.

3.  There is no story.  Maybe I should write a book about the time the tree fell over on Kip as he was trying to move it into the hole in a lightning storm.  Or getting the bobcat stuck in the mud. Well, actually maybe gardening isn't all that exciting.  

I have so many gardening books - its a bit crazy.  But if a publisher wants to get me to buy one - just make it all pictures, like the most recent one I bought -Gardens of New England.  Each full page photo just has a sentence describing where it is and a garden credit.  Thats the way to "write" a book.  

FALL MUMS!

WE PLANTED LOTS AND LOTS OF MUMS OVER THE LAST TWO WEEKS.  And fixed up lots of planters for fall.  It was at least 7 loads in the truck...but its all blurry now.  Almost done.

BIG SALE

It was a great time at the Company C sale, my favorite September event.  I can never buy enough, because I always leave thinking about the one or two things I really should have bought and inevitably have to go back and check and see if they are still there on sunday and 50% off.  

This year I am already wishing I got two picture frames, because I have two great places for the one I got.  I hate to make the Tilleys feel more under siege, but I do know where there is one more.  I am also having a hard time parting with the rug we got for Kelsey last year and have to return (because it has a really weird, burnt rug odor - no kidding).  It may smell but it looks so good in her room.  And I know I could find another place for the really pretty one I bought today.  

It seemed like more people than EVER this year.  I should have been suspicious when I ran into three people in Jacks at 7 AM who were going...  And maybe a little  less stuff, or there were just a lot of faster shoppers there than me.  Considering I had an empty living room for five or so years at our old house, making any decision on a rug in even a day is a tremendous accomplishment. 

One thing I did do is get plenty of napkins.  I really do not need ANY more napkins.  Guess what you are getting for Christmas!

Local Magazines

I just got a new magazine about New Hampshire, IMAGES.  I am assuming you got it too, because I am sure I didn't order it.  But really, how many magazines can there be about new hampshire.  If we are honest with ourselves there is not that much to do or see here and its a small state.  I mean, were not talking Boston or New York.  

If you look at Kearsarge Mag, UpperValley Mag, New Hampshire Mag, and now Images, they are all talking about the same events and advertising the sam businesses.  I really don't mean to complain, but it a bit of overkill and I am just trying to save trees.  

Of all of these I would say Kearsarge Mag is by far the most interesting, and of course its the only one thats not free.  Hummm.

Tomatoes!!

I realize by posting this I may be jeopardizing my unofficial member status in the Lauridsen family (and I had my foot tat all planned out!) but it is tomato season and I am so happy!  I thought I would share my FAVORITE cherry tomato ideas...

Cherry tomato bites - half cherry tomatoes and place a dollop of pesto and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese and bake 400 (cause you are probably in a hurry to eat these yummies and 350 would be too slow) about 7-10 minutes until the cheese is nice and brown and bubbly.  

You have all heard me talk about the cherry tomato pie - you have to try this one.  It makes a great meal with some steak and salad.  Its actually called "tomato cobbler with gruyere crust" but lets devil ray it to tomato pie.  In a food processor combine 2.5 cup flour, 1t salt, 1t sugar, 1 cup shredded gruyere cheese.  Add 1 cup butter and process to a coarse meal (8-10 seconds) with machine running pour ice water (about .25 cup) little by little until the dough holds together(no more than 30 seconds).  Divide into two flattened balls and chill 1 hour.  Melt 1 T butter in skillet and saute 1 large diced onion and 3 minced cloves of garlic until cooked, let cool.  Place 2 lbs cherry tomatoes (or more - more is more) in a large bowl.   Toss with 6T flour 1.5t salt, 1.5t sugar.5 cup chopped basil and some pepper.  Add onion and toss.  Now heres the tricky part.  You actually just made enough dough for two cobblers so you just roll out one of the balls.  But I really like pie crust so I usually decide to roll them both out and put a top on the cobbler - and thats why I call it a pie.  So whichevera.  when you put the tomato mixture in dot with butter before you cover it... and  you can brush the top with egg.  Some good things cannot be rushed so we'll bake this at 375 for 50 minutes.  Serve cool.  

Here's one last favorite:peppers stuffed with tomatoes and mozzerella.  EASY EASY EASY.

Halve 3 red peppers.  In a bowl combine 1.5t olive oil, 1.5T balsamic, 1 clove minced garlic and some salt and pepper.  Halve or quarter .75 lb cherry tomatoes , cube 1 cup mozzerella (once again more is more especially when you are talking cheese) and .5 cup basil. Mix it all up in the bowl and fill the peppers up with the mixture.  375 for 40 minutes unless you are in a hurry then you could probably do 400 for 30 minutes.  Make sure the cheese is nice and brown and if the edges of the peppers brown up a bit all the better!

Guess what else?  Pears are almost ripe - I'd say a week or two away.  And I have already begun decorating the house with them.  What are you guys doing with your tomatoes?

One Tenth of a Mile West

The results of our latest poll indicate a clear cut winner in the race to be the next place to host the Coffetank Organization.  By an impressive 77%, voters indicate that they would like to move coffee to John's house upon the possible death of Jacks.  Exit polls (of our poll) indicate that the orange sectional was a huge factor in the people's choice.  "We must protect a woman's right to choose her seating above all other issues.  John's house provides the best variety of seating and we know most women prefer an orange sectional when given the choice" said one source.  Surprisingly, no one considered the quality of the coffee as an issue.  Fox news reports that coffee quality has been overstated by the media as an issue because of the media's liberal bias.  Coffetank is not about the coffee, according to fox news reporter, Bill Hemmer, stating "only Coffee Outsiders think that coffee is about coffee.  The name is misleading.  Inside the beltway, people realize it is really more about the tea."

This runaway win by John's house has led to John once again stockpiling arms at his house to prevent the capture of the orange sectional.  An unnamed source in leopard print shoes was quoted saying "even the hula dancers on Daddy's shirt were shocked by how many guns he was carrying".   This source indicated that reinforcements from Denver have been called in to help defend this national treasure and a gun was mounted on the back of Trish's convertible in case she has to come back from Concord shooting.  

Commentator Campbell Brown opines "John and Trish will either have to move the orange sectional into the kitchen or host coffee in their bedroom.  The will of the populace cannot be denied."  Seemingly, coffeetank appears to be more organized in its efforts to defend the survival of coffee.  As recently as yesterday this reporter spotted Jim Perkins scouting out routes for a possible invasion of 139 Main, while trying to appear as if he was 'just walking home'.  Additionally the notorious coffee addict Alison Angus has limited her trips to Jacks to three a day in order to plan a troop surge in New London.  

In the meantime, peacemaking efforts are being made to keep Jack's open.  New statistics indicate that an initial report of less than 4% profit margin has been understated by more than .8%.  Fox News indicates that Bill O'Reilly will be interviewing Jack Diemar in a four part interview promising the answers to some long unanswered questions.

COFFEE WITH COFFEE TANK!

Its so good to be having coffee with you all again!

Topics covered so far include (surprise surprise):the middle school, busing, the sale of Jacks, coffee mugs, the traffic circle, camp coniston, skiing, ski racing, the new superintendent, first day of school, the start time changes (YUK!), facebook, alaska, Hillary Clinton's speech, the real estate market, oil prebuy, moving:(, pizza tasting, package delivery and wedding rings, moving locations.

Future topics : landscaping, master plan for town of NL, economy of NL, proctor, bishop brady, accidents at the traffic circle, the xmas yankee swap (I got my present today - it was seredipitous), chillaxing, the latest school board fiasco( I don't know what it is but there will surely be one), the barn playhouse and the rec center conflict (yes most of you heard it here first;), the rec department, the outing club "indoor facility" (we really need to come up with a "devil ray"/"traffic circle" type name for that), iphone, kip and shelley's wedding, oh jeez I also forgot the election!, turning 40 and a middle life crisis plan, all the kids sports, drop in topics, NY times reading assignments, great podcasts, corn, good books, refrigerator replacement.

I am excited to see what evolves to be our "corn" this year.  I think it could potentially be the sale of Jacks, but that may fizzle out quickly.  facebook? 

As you can see we have a lot to talk about so don't miss any days!

Spring Bulb DISPLAY

One of the marketing companies I get info from suggested putting a spring bulb flyer in the August Statement, which just went out.  (Without a flyer because I don't have any yet).  But it is time for all of us to start thinking about our spring displays.  

We have lots to think about, because in addition to our own properties, we have to consider the guerilla garden triangle.  Tulips are out because the deer practically have ownership of that area of town.  Do you think we could plant daffodils deep enough that the salt and stuff wouldn't get them?  And what is a garden without allium?  We have to plant allium to ASSURE we do not get a garden club award next year.  That's my current drug induced theory - its the allium.  It could be you know.  No garden on main street that had allium in it got an award.  If allium pops up in  all the main street gardens next year - that would be a great guerilla gardening feat.  

Here's a website to check out www.springdisplays.com for some ideas(login spring and password displays).  I especially like the tulip "blends" section. 

Now, I lied in the last post because I also feel very strongly about spring bulbs, so you really don't want to get me started on this topic.  You all need them and it needs to be a DISPLAY a la 139 Main.  Thats the dirty girl official company policy.   

Happy planning! 

I promise not to talk about the Iraq war while I am on steriods

Here it is!  The moment we have all been waiting for in this drama : the specialist appointment!  Now in this scene, I go to the doctor who is moved by the horrible plight of my "lost summer".  Like the hero that he is, he says "I know just what is wrong and I will make it all go away with my magic prescription pad".  Then i get a new, great pill that makes everything ALL better.  

Of course, someone forgot to send him MY script. You mean I don't control THIS either???  What exactly am I in control of then? (BTW, as an aside, I apparently am not even in control of my own behavior.  Sir prednisone has taken control of that.  I have been saying ALL of these strong angry things that I really don't mean, with curse words even.  I just want you to know, I REALLY DON"T CARE about any of these subjects I have been angry about.  Really.  I have no strong feelings about anything except the specialist appointment and not controlling everything. REALLY.)

Well, the specialist was the star though.  He was like President Bush(I know, its so disappointing, but I told you I don't control everything). We have a new plan of attack along the lines of "operation iraqi freedom"and "the surge".  Its called operation "resolve/evolve".  In this plan of attack we are still sticking with steriods.  STILL.  Like the war in Iraq, it just has a new name.  In case its not clear we are hoping for "resolve" not "evolve".  

So my new mantra is "resolve".  If you say it in a whispery voice it really can be a mantra.  I would like to just go back to believing I control everything, that mantra worked for a really long time.  But I hear I can't go back, so I am EVOLVING to be RESOLVING.  Sorry I couldn't resist.  At least it made ME laugh.

A Fairy Tale

The dastardly demon, Ra, who has stolen my life force and imprisoned it in his dungeon, succumed to the power of my knights yesterday, long enough for me to reclaim my life force for a trip to le gardin boutanique. My champion, the valiant knight prednisone, fought side by side with the knight naprocin and banished the evil Ra for several hours. During this repreve, Le Roi Lee (as opposed to Leroy) accompanied me to the garden. Yes, that does make me Queen Terri (ah, queen of the earth I believe is the translation), as if you hadn't guessed that at one point I would reveal my true identity.

Le Gardin Boutanique in Montreal is one of the finest botanical gardens I have visited. After Roi Lee and I walked through the rose garden, we arrived at the Chinese Garden (Gardin Chine). The entire garden was built in China and imported by boat and is believed to be the largest chinese garden outside of china. The incredible sacred lotus was in bloom. There were so many interesting plants that it was hard to change focus from the details of the garden to the structural elements which made this huge garden so impressive. My guess is that the chinese garden covered more than an acre and a half.

As we left the chinese garden in search of the japanese garden, we stumbled upon the "flowering feilds". A winding collection of english style borders centered on a small stream which was actually the watering runoff of the alpine garden, the flowering feilds were completely in bloom. The garden was created with a remarkable small palette of plants (for the most part, peonies, bearded iris, lilies, daylily and sedum - all my favorites:) I thought this area of le gardin botanique would be an inspiration for a garden I would like to create in my side yard. I have to get permission from the prince and princess to remove some play space, however.

I was really interested to see the contrast between the Chinese garden and the Japanese garden, but on the way, the feindish demon Ra, returned to fight some more. The knight prednisone was able to keep him at bay for a short visit to the Japanese garden where there was a remarkable contrast in style. The japanese garden was more manicured, more open and a bit more contrived as opposed to naturalistic. Is naturalistic even a word? whatever. The contrast may have been exaggerated, however, because the japanese garden for the most part was a sun garden and the chinese garden was shadier.

The king and i really had a great visit, it was encroyable. Unfortunately, it ended with the trimumph of the evil demon, no happy ending to this fairy tale yet. The good news is that the valant knights were able to reconquer Ra for a long dinner (4 and a half hours -no kidding!) in which the 20.000 courses could have easily fit onto one regular dinnerplate. I wish i had some pictures of that.

I'll post some gardin botanique pictures when we get home - I have some really good ones - so check back!

Jesus approves

This packaging from Ralph Lauren completely made my day!  It was complementary -even for my sale items.  

I really don't know why gift boxes, tissue paper and ribbons make me so glad - but I would have to place this gift box second only to tiffany's packaging.  

And of course Jesus said "ye of little faith" but who would have thought packaging this good would be free?

For Laurie

SERENDIPITY

1.  the faculty of making fortunate discoveries by accident - American Heritage Dictionary

2.  good luck in making unexpected and fortunate discoveries - Wordnet

We had a perfect example of serendipity yesterday thanks to Trish.  Co and I stopped at the pharmacy to get a new pinky ball because his was lost in a particularly aggressive game of bounce back (Lee was playing -imagine that.)  Colonial didn't have pinky balls!  Colby was pretty bummed because he uses his ball against the garage almost every day especially when I am sleeping.

But the serendipity was that we parked next to trish, who was running errands and she happened to have a pinky ball at 139 main, which she had purchased to send to Colby at camp!  How weird is that?!

I love the word serendipity, because it sounds just like what it means.  It also reminds me of frozen hot chocolate from Serendipity in NYC, which was serendipitously located two blocks from the hospital  I had to spend two weeks at when I was 17.

What is serendipitous in your life?

So what's up with the euthanizing of our language.  If you change the name you call something does it really change what it is, or just your perception of what it is?

Yes, you got it it - I am talking about the DEVIL RAYS.  Of course we can't call them just the "rays"(said with a smile and a cute tilt of the head) especially when they are 2 and half games up.   Why did they have to drop the devil from their name - its so lame now.  "The Rays" - what is that? rays of sunshine?  Its certainly not a devil ray or a manta ray or anything you would want to name your team after.  Rays of sunshine lose in every matchup of mascots.  

Also on the list is the TRAFFIC CIRCLE.  Roundabout? Never.  Its always going to be the Traffic circle.  Maybe Jacks could do a new slogan - meet me at the traffic circle.  

On a darker note - how about "Ethnic Cleansing".  Lets just call that what it really is - SLAUGHTER.

And if we turn to KING CORN, there are a myriad of possibilities.  "Processed Food" = JUNK FOOD.  "Hfcs" = "TCBY" 

And finally, how about "partly cloudy" which really is "WE HAVE NO IDEA".

I am sure you have some good examples of this, tell me your favorites.

This doesn't suck

It doesn't suck to come home from work and see this on the porch.  Its the wilcox version of a crop circle.  And a great reuse of Allium (2008 plant of the year for the Dirty Girl Association).

And look at that mandevilla....its going crazy (that is a nominee for 2009 plant of the year).  Too bad they don't give garden club awards on KMR.  

Intoxication

Its insanity.

Every year for three weeks the Ogden, Orr, Fajans women have committed crimes to fulfill their obsessions.  Three generations of temporary insanity.  My mom sneaks around businesses, college campuses and asks my children to be her "lookouts".  My mom is pretty sneaky, because she rarely gets in trouble.  I got drunk at the golf course one time and got caught out on the driving range by the golf pro!  And I almost got arrested at a rest stop.

 

Lilacs!  Yes, I know you feel the same way - I've read stories.  Why do you think they had a police officer secretly hiding out to bust people at that rest area!  Its worse than a gay sex sting!  And my defense to the state trooper?  My grandmother says cutting them makes the tree bloom more next year.  Actually what my grandmother said was BREAKING THEM OFF made them bloom more next year, because she was justifying her own lilac stealing habit.  But I had to explain the clippers in my hand....

What is it about lilacs that makes us want to steal other peoples before we cut our own?  Why can't you ever grow enough?  Driving during this season is torture because all you see are gorgeous lilacs everywhere just waiting to be stolen - its like a budweiser commercial for an alcoholic!  And then the scent wafts in your car window....

In Garden City we knew all the best places.  For a while it was the Doubleday parking lot.  We would run into other women there with baskets and kids in the car as lookouts.  The Garden City police were a bit like NL police..."oh thats just Dorothy Orr's granddaughter - she's not illegally drinking, or parking or waiting for a drug pusher, she just stealing lilacs!"  

And then before you know it, like a heat wave, the temporary insanity is gone.  And so are the lilacs.  The crime wave has ended and the women of my family settle back into their regular lives.  

What is the lesson learned?

Me, I like to think its that we should be a bit more like that year round.  Life is too sane.  But thats just the peri - mid life crisis talking!  

Look what the postman brought!

It was like Christmas morning...There's John all in a blur because his new acer palmatum arrived in the mail today!

He is a very happy man.

He'd be even happier if it gets big enough to warrant getting a new tripod pruning ladder.

Best Days

I have been thinking a lot about this Spring, and how lucky I am...

The apple trees I almost cut down this winter have never been more beautiful.  Co-co, Hayley and Jack came over this morning and they stood, danced, and twirled under the branches of the tree as I shook them and the white petals billowed down like snow.

I also love baseball and softball season.  Well, except for the black flies.  Co hit a home run at yesterday's game!  Kelsey is pitching so well.  It is nice to have a game to go to in the evenings, and unwind after a long day.  

And the construction is DONE, so we can really work on the landscaping around the house.  We are just picking it off a little at a time as we can with sports, work etc. But it is so nice to see it start coming together as you can see from the pictures I will hopefully be able to post.  Even Lee worked in the yard today!  As you can see from the old pictures, we have really come a long way since we have lived here, its just that there is a long way to go too.  

Its so beautiful.  

 

Dirty Dog

Just thought you might like this photo --of my dirty dog.  She is a landscaping pup.  

Thats John on a pruning ladder... in the giant sized bonsai nursery.  Okay its called Notaki or something, but I can't remember what it was called, and to 99% of americans, its giant bonsai.

We took the coolest field trip to Shin Boku nursery in Wentworth NH (don't ask ---it is truly the middle of nowhere - anyone who went there would know Sutton certainly isn't the middle of nowhere).  Our guide, Palmer has been pruning these specimen trees for 15- 25 years.  There are some really incredible trees...but with my champagne tastes, I couldn't find one I wanted for under $10,000.  Then we went over to his other nursery which seems to be the source for the Shin Boku trees.  Baker Valley Nursery had very large shrubs and trees which are much older than the ones you typically find at nurseries.  In some cases thats a good thing, but if you are buying just for your house, unless its an extremely slow growing shrub or tree (Japanese Maples, John!) it doesn't pay to spend extra for something that is that much older.  Well, unless money is no object.

The selection of shrubs and trees was wonderful.  Because Wentworth is so far north in the middle of nowhere, most of the stuff had survived 50 degree below zero temperatures, according to Palmer.  So their plant list is a"cold hardy" cheat sheet.  It is also a good Japanese garden plant "cheat sheet", because all the plants are appropriate for that style of garden and able to be pruned in a manner consistent with Japanese garden styles.  

Back to the picture.  John and I both want this very expensive pruning ladder.  It is very stable, and it looks really cool and professional.  I don't know the price yet but the coincidence is I have a pruning job coming up  --- tax write off???

Shin-bokunursery.com

DIRTY GIRLS!

Its Wednesday and we have already spread 14 yards of mulch this week!  I didn't think we could do it in one week, week one for most of the girls, but they rocked it out~!

The dirty girls, five of us, dominated at the Zen garden today.  There were carpenters, painters and Brain hastings (Lou!) and they were all surprised by the garden girls.  We had a very efficient wheel barrow brigade (we are now a TWO wheelbarrow outfit) with which we basically cleaned out the whole garden and spread 8 yards of mulch by 1 PM.  Except for the sound of the excavator and our laughter, all was quiet at the Zen garden.

We really impressed them until one of our cars got stuck in the mud and we couldn't get it out.  Then we had to be real girls and ask Brian Hastings to help us get it out.  I could have pulled it out with the truck...if I knew how.  I asked Brian how and he said just get up a lot of speed and be sure to give the chain a good snap.  When I said, 'oh, okay' and started walking towards the truck, he knew he had to intervene.  (uh, how was I supposed to know he was joking?!?)  

Brian and his partner got the car out and okay now I have to confess it was my sister's car, because Cheryl said "Oh, I owe you for helping me out - I'll bring you a plate of chocolate chip cookies.  To which Brian's partner replied, "oh, a six pack will probably taste better."

Cinco de Mayo

Much to chagrin of NL NH, the flamingos have come home to roost.

Kentucky Derby!!

What would Jesus do?

It was rainy and dismal outside, but for the Kentucky derby it was warm and wonderful with all the friends who showed up!  Laurie's bourbon cake was a huge hit - the plate was licked clean by the end of the night!  

I can't believe how long we have kept this tradition up...but where are the pink flamingos?  Will they appear for Cinco de mayo?

Obsessive?

Forgive me for not posting for a while, but between the trip to charleston and SPRING, I've been pretty busy!  I don't have much to say about Charleston - it was great - except that being the good Olympus girl that I am I brought THREE cameras, but ended up only taking about ten photos!  And most of those stink.  I just can't keep up with all the artistic folks on flicker, you'll just have to squint your eyes and figure out what that blurry thing is!

Well, it is Spring, and so begins the annual garden obsession.  Oh, yes, I did all the normal things...swept the driveway when the ice melted (with a little help from our ice breaking obsession --- like its not going to eventually melt on its own?  We have to shovel and break for days and weeks- but that is the subject for another post - maybe next year).  I raked all the stuff up from the grass (where does it come from?) used the blower to take care of the leaves I didn't rake up last spring, raked the garden, planted pansies in the window box and planted left over bulbs.  At that point were are probably getting into the abnormal, because unless you plant more than ten thousand bulbs in the fall you probably don't have too many left over.  So here we go.

Its not enough to take care of several estates, several large properties and more than enough regular homes - I have to plant lots of gardens at home to take care of on weekends.  Now that the carpenters etc are done trampling, running over and generally ruining anything I try to do outside (the inside looks great though, boys!) I need to get planting.  Where to start though?  When I am planning for someone else's property I usually make a complete plan, and then since it really is THEIRS, I let them decide how to prioritize.  

At our house, do we start by moving the hot tub (no, its not fixed yet, trish) and putting in a patio?  I have a great idea for that if I can figure out how to post a sketch of it, it includes a pergola, stone patio, low stone walls.  

Or should we start with the sledding hill which is great in the winter but a hill o'weeds in the summer.  My idea for that is to have stone steps down the middle (which the kids assure me they can still sled down) and a retaining wall made of the boulders from the "rock fort".  That solves two problems at one time because if the rock fort becomes a beautiful rock wall we could pretty up our beautiful birch tree.

Clean up the front yard anyone?  plant ground covers, clean out grape vine and raspberry (it sounds pretty but we all know its not.)

Take down the spruce in the side yard?  make a garden over there?  plant a row of lilac?

Oh its all too much.  too many ideas, not enough spring!  

Emma the new Au Pair

The Tilleys have a new au pair,  and her name is Emma.  Unfortunately there is already an Emma living at 139 Main, and it has become very confusing, very quickly.  For example, on Friday night John must have told us five times Trish was picking up Emma and I answered each time, "but I thought she was at a sleep over!"

So, there is a need for a nickname, and the urgency of this need supercedes any other potential poll questions this week.  Choose one of the options already suggested by the poll questions and/or comment on your ideas here.  

TRAFFIC CIRCLE

I submitted the poll results for "what should be in the center of the traffic circle?" to Jessie Levine and the selectmen. I hope they will choose to comment on the blog (I kinda doubt it though;) A little boy peeing got 38% of the vote, a fountain got 23% wildflowers, post office poles and call it a roundabout got 15% each.  Only one vote for concrete barriers, although one certainly could include landscaping to tie those  barriers to the "natural" environment.  13 whole votes...this blog is really taking off.  Oh, maybe we should have included planting corn in the center as an option...we could get the subsidy!

So, here is a quote from the Alternate Street design website:"roundabouts slow all vehicles, provide refuges for pedestrians and are the only traffic control device in which trees can be planted, fountains can bubble or spray and statues can sparkle into the next century." (and potentially produce the raw material for processed food and earn money for the town in the process:)

  

Mystery Man

Who is Dan and has he been inducted into the Coffee Tank?

DECISION!!

Thank you for your patience with this important decision.  We couldn't have made it without your input, opinions, information and help!  You all are the greatest coffee group ever.  And wonderful friends.  We are very blessed.  

Best Furniture Poll

Sorry, Trish, you are going to have to give up the orange sectional.  

By an overwhelming 66% of the vote, the orange sectional must be moved to Jacks.  Even though the coffee party did not allow Michigan and Florida to vote, the will of the voters must be followed.  Surprisingly, two tables and lots of chairs came in second, with 50% of the vote.  Pundits were shocked that the people continued to support this alternative after the vehement endorsement of Reverend Wright, Geraldine Ferraro and Jack Diemar.  Not surprisingly, no one voted for the so called "April fool's day arrangement" even though Rush Limbaugh urged his listeners to vote for it just to spite the fire side coffee group (otherwise known as the old men swiftboat captains - did you see how quickly they swiftboated the furniture to the other side?)  

On Hardball with Chris Matthews, Andrea Mitchell said "the coffee tank organization is planning to use the pressure of super delegates to get the Tilleys to give up the orange sectional.  I find it fascinating that the coffee tank organization would take this substantive position.  You have to ask why they would put the support of the Tilley Family at risk in this striking move."

The other alternative receiving 16% of the vote was a platform.  After the comments made by Hillary Clinton about her crash landing on a Bosnian platform, voters seem to be concerned about the possibility of sniper fire in an exposed situation.  According to Tucker Carlson, SR MSNBC correspondent,a platform's credibility was hurt by the position it took on key issues.  On the issue of beverage spills, the platform broke with the party, saying beverage spills must be banned, even if it takes a hundred years.  

Crimes against Trees

Well, look at the new approach to 276 KMR.  

Welcome to our new telephone pole landscaping job.  They took down 5 black cherry trees to create this  beautiful effect.  One was about a 12" diameter trunk.  

Its an excellent example of landscaping by subtraction.  By removing the black cherry trees they were able to emphasize the vertical element and artifical aspects of the pole.  The yellow support is a particularly skillful use of color.  What an excellent idea for improving the approach to our home, providing a transition from the impermeable paved surface, through the "gate" created by the power lines into our property.  It aids in the relaxation of visitors, and family members coming home.

Many arborists would envy the half lollipop tree that they left behind.  It is clearly a unique specimen.  It reminds me of a espalier gone wild.  I believe these gentlemen were so excited about the creation of landscape innovation that they forgot to clean up after themselves.  How kind of them to leave us the wood.

New Hampton

Well, we visited New Hampton today.  Its a very nice school, good college placement and we really like the ski coach.  Emma, who was our tour guide, was really great (Lee thought the best tour guide of all the schools we visited).  She had a great answer when Lee asked her about substance use on campus and she answered "yes, there is substance use here, as there is everywhere.  If you seek it out you will find it, but you will only get in that situation if you put yourself into it."  Very good answer for a sophomore.  

There is an academic skills program which all the students participate in, and an arts survey course that includes theater, dance, photography, 2d art and 3d art.  The ski program is just being hashed out, but for us at least the coaching (waterville coaches) is a known variable.  They have a revisit day on Saturday - didn't they know about the t-shirt race?!?!

Its a tough decision now... we are all on the fence.  

APRIL FOOLS

We are a bunch of fools - too bad the picture is mainly of our "new friend"!

Happy april fools day!

I've never been accused of THIS before

Check out this link that I lifted from the stuff white people like blog.   I think Jim and I would be accused of knowing it all, if only we got some reception.   ((Actually, I have a sneaking suspicion that Jim does know it all, and he's just waiting for the rest of us to realize it, iphone or not!))

New vocabulary - Iphoneism

latimes -iphone

Snow Day

Co took this photo today - pretty much says it all.  Then we colored the window green so it would look like spring.

BECAUSE WE JUST DON"T TALK ENOUGH!

Coffee is so much fun, but sometimes I just don't feel like we have had a chance to finish the conversation, even if we stay until 10AM (never ANY later, you concerned spouses).  Blogging is fun, so lets go!