Sunday Snapshot: His and Hers

I am sitting in our Family Room on this lovely Sunday morning, trying to get used to my new laptop.  (My former one is eight years old, the battery won't charge, I can't buy a new battery for it, and it ran out of disk space.)  

Anyway .... this morning, I was struck by how differently my husband and I keep our individual spaces.  He sits on the left end of the sofa, I'm either on the right end or in the far leather chair, where Ruby is in this photo.  (None of the photos in this post are staged.  They represent real life on display, and fortunately, the place is fairly tidy right now.)

This is how my husband's end table always looks.  It contains only what belongs there, no extraneous junk, no piles.

Mine, on the other hand, looks like a photo from an "I Spy" book ... with a heaping assortment of whatever I'm working on at the time.  

We see three pairs of reading glasses, knitting supplies (a cable needle, a counter, two pairs of scissors, and needle caps, because I'm making a sweater, which Instagram followers have seen, and I'm actively using these things most evenings), hair stuff (a clip, bobby pins, and an elastic hair tie), a pile of bracelets, a mechanical pencil, a pile of magazines and books topped by my iPad, an external hard drive, and a few other random things.  What you don't see is a pile of books on the floor beside the leather chair.

I try really hard to not pile things, but it feels like I'm fighting a losing battle.  From time to time, I go through the stuff and put away the things that I know I'm not using.  The table gets a bit tidier as a result, but it's only temporary.

********************

Sunday Snapshots are posts devoted to moments in time that represent glimpses into everyday life in Hartwood, or wherever else I happen to be at the time. 

Sunday Snapshot: Lights in the Greenhouse

You know that I'm all about doing projects with as much of what I already have as possible.  Adding lights to the greenhouse last week is another example of this.

Two strings of icicle Christmas lights hung on cup hooks along the top of the south wall.  It's so cute!

I already had the cup hooks and lights.  All I had to buy was a remote wall switch to control them.

This is the handiest thing ever for adding a light switch anywhere you need one.

You can find it HERE.

The greenhouse itself is a mess, with lots of stored building materials and project items taking up most of the 12' x 20' space.  I have cleared a bit of sanity space on the south bench to over-winter the baby roses that I rooted last summer, and I'm doing what I can to make order out of the rest of the space ... sorting, purging, and figuring out what to do with items I really love and will use.

This will be a great space to work in during the winter, as the temperature in the building on a sunny day is easily twenty or more degrees above the outside temperature.  It can be cold and wintry outside, shirt-sleeve weather inside ... just what my little sunshine-loving self needs!

********************

Sunday Snapshots are posts devoted to moments in time that represent glimpses into real, everyday life in Hartwood, or wherever else I happen to be at the time. 

Sunday Snapshot: Game Camera, Ruby, and Figs

My old, trusty Bushnell Trail camera died recently.  It served me well for a number of years, even though I didn't treat it very kindly.  I often left it out all year round, sometimes forgetting to latch the cover to keep out the weather.  Last week, I made a trip to Cabela's and bought a new one.  I have promised myself to take better care of it this time.

This motion-activated automatic camera is used by many people to monitor game for hunting season.  I use mine to see what kind of critters pass through parts of the property when people aren't around.  For the past week, I have had it back by the figs at the barn to assess the effectiveness of my neighbor's war on our plague of groundhogs.  I am pleased to report that only harmless varmints were recorded in the area.

Guinea hen photo bomb

All three Guineas.  They live at the farm behind us.

Ruby and me, yesterday afternoon, on our way to harvest figs.

This is the first decent fig harvest for me in three years.  We had two unseasonably-cold, awful winters in a row, that killed the plants to the ground.  Figs are produced on wood from the previous year.  No older wood = little or no fruit.  Last winter was a bit milder and the fig plants suffered little damage.  As a result, it appears that I will get a decent amount of fruit.  

This was yesterday's harvest ... 21 figs!  At this rate, I should soon have enough to make jam!!

Ruby ... this dog loves being a farm dog!  She was interested in figs as I was picking them, so I offered her one.  She carefully took it, like she does with all treats, and walked a short distance away.  I went back to picking.  Instead of eating it, she dropped her fig and the ground and proceeded to roll on it.  What a weird dog.

Just a little slice of Hartwood for you on this cloudy, cool Sunday morning.  I hope that things are just as peaceful where you are.

Happy Sunday!

Sunday Snapshot ... A New Seedling

Yesterday morning, while I was working in the Miniature Garden, I discovered a tiny seedling that had sprouted underneath one of the roses.  This whole plant is only three inches high, and that fat bud is the size of a pea.

Today after breakfast, I grabbed my camera and ran outside to see if the bud had opened ... I was not disappointed.  Look at this!

This tiny flower is only one-half-inch in diameter, and it's far from perfect, but it's one of the sweetest things that I have seen in a LONG time.  Yellow petals, with that fat orange edge, and a frosty white tip ... and it's a SINGLE!!  

The seedling grew underneath 'Simplex', so I will assume that it is the seed parent.  The pointy petals seem similar.

Which rose provided the pollen?  The only orange rose nearby is 'Orange Honey'  It has orange and yellow in the petals, so I think it's a good guess.

For now, I'm going to leave the seedling to grow right where it is.  I put a metal tag stand over it to protect it and to remind me that it's there.  It's going to be exciting to see how this little baby changes as it matures.

Speaking of babies ... do you remember the seedling that I found last year growing underneath 'Lilian Austin'?

This year, it has been in bloom continuously since the first flower opened in the middle of last month.  The flowers are three inches in diameter, the color glows as if they were lit from within, and they are fragrant!

Even with a year of growth and maturity so far, this plant is still small and immature (it's about a foot and a half high and it sprawls).  That's okay for now.  Watching seedlings like this grow and change as they get older is best part of raising them.

Happy Sunday, Everybody!

In the Garden

The weather for the past few days has been amazing, and most of my time has been spent outside.  Working in the garden puts me in my happy place ... hands in the soil is the best therapy EVER.

Here are some iPhone photos that I took yesterday evening as I finished up for the day.  

The Dogwood tree in our front yard is in full bloom.  I eagerly look forward to this every year.

This is a new Japanese Maple that I planted in front of our pavilion.  It replaces one that was killed by the cold winter two years ago.  Took me this long to find something that I like enough to put into this prominent spot.  (notice that there are no weeds, and fresh mulch, in the bed with the tree.)

This Bleeding Heart is called 'Valentine'.  I got it as a dormant pot last fall, and I'm thrilled to see its first flowers.

The Hellebores have been flowering since mid-winter, and they are still looking good.  This one is a seedling that I planted in this spot in my back yard border two years ago.  

I struggled for years to establish a colony of Lily of the Valley.  A few years ago, I must have hit the magic combination of conditions to make them happy, because now these little spring beauties are multiplying with abandon. 

Finally, let's check in on the Carolina Wrens that are nesting in a flowerpot in the greenhouse.  The eggs hatched late last week.  I still can't tell if there are four or five babies in there ... I need to remember to take a flashlight to get a good look into the shadows in the nest to count them.

The rest of the week is expected to be glorious ... temperatures in the high 70s or low 80s with bright sunshine.  Definitely sunblock-mandatory weather, and perfect for being outside.  Don't worry, this girl isn't all work and no play.  As you can see from the photos, I definitely take time to stay in touch the beauty that's around me. 

Sunday Snapshot: An Indoor Winter Scene

When it's cold outside, our cats can often be found napping on radiators.  Dorothy is the only one who will sleep on a naked radiator, like you see below.  I usually keep a small oriental rug on each of the radiators, to make their 'sauna' more comfortable.  

Dorothy was perfectly comfortable ... I don't see how.  I guess it's a cat thing.

Off topic:  This is the radiator in the living room, the room where we removed the plaster ceiling over Christmas.  The paint samples show my attempts to choose a paint color.  The final choice (as of now) is the small darker one ... Greyhound, by Benjamin Moore.  Bluish, greenish grey, and I think it's perfect!

********************

Sunday Snapshots are posts devoted to moments in time that represent glimpses into everyday life in Hartwood, or wherever else I happen to be at the time. 

Sunday Snapshot ... A Winter View

In the morning, while I drink coffee and eat breakfast, I am often in this spot at the end of the peninsula counter between our kitchen and dining room.

From here, this is the view that I have to my left, through the west-facing dining room window.

The ancient pecan tree you see has shaded the back of our house since the beginning, I imagine.  (our house was built in 1848.)  At any given time, we see a large and varied number of birds, and a squirrel or two, doing something within its branches.

My Rambler Fence rose garden is on the left, just past the driveway.  There's nothing to see there in winter, because the roses are sleeping.  In the distance, you see the winter view of our barn ... 200 yards from the house. 

The stained glass (which is where my Hartwood Roses logo came from), ironstone pitcher, and cat bed (where cats sit to watch the birds and squirrels in the tree) complete the scene.  A perfect little snapshot of so many of the things that I love, all in one image.

Used the Waterlogue app to do something artsy with the image.

Today is chilly, winter-like at last.  I plan to spend a little bit of time outside in the sunshine, tidying up one of my gardens.  After that, the afternoon will be devoted to football watching.

What are your plans for today?

********************

Sunday Snapshots are posts devoted to moments in time that represent glimpses into everyday life in Hartwood, or wherever else I happen to be at the time. 

Sunday Reality

Today's weather is perfect, if this were October ... low 70s, sun in and out of light clouds, comfortable breeze.  Hard to believe that it's actually mid-December.  

The practical part of me keeps hinting that I should take advantage of the amazing day and be out in the garden, planting the last of my fall bulbs.  The weather outside may be perfect, but I believe that this is the best way for me to spend the day.

Winnie and I are watching football.  Okay, not exactly ... I'm watching football and Winnie napping in my lap.

I can play in the garden tomorrow.  

Sunday Snapshot: How Good is the Camera in My New iPhone?

I retired my antique iPhone 4 two weeks ago, in favor of the features and the camera in the new iPhone 6s.  How good is that camera, you ask?  How's this for an example?

I am at the Antique Rose Emporium Fall Festival of Roses this weekend.  That first photo is a detail of an arrangement, designed with inspiration from Dutch Masters paintings, by one of the event's speakers, Jim Johnson.  As lovely as this photo is, the arrangement itself was truly breathtaking.  Judge for yourself ...

Both of these photos are completely unedited, uploaded here exactly as they were taken.  The room is relatively dark, and the flowers are on a table beside the window, with a rainy, cloudy sky outdoors.   Conditions were perfect to capture great images, and my new iPhone didn't let me down!

I think this new phone and I will develop a very loving relationship!

Happy Sunday, Everyone.

Sunday Snapshot: What's on Your Sofa?

Like many other pet owners whose dogs/cats are allowed on the furniture, I keep a washable cover on our family room sofa.  Yesterday, while on a quick trip to pick up a couple of things at Walmart, I stumbled across this new one as I was cutting through the bedding department.

A full/queen sized quilt, pattern called 'Aztec Stripes,' for only $20!

The colors of this new quilt are perfect for this room, and I think it's a good choice for some autumn/winter style ... and it still plays along with the Boho Traditional vibe that we have in here.  (As a reminder, our other sofa cover quilt looks like this:)

This red sofa is ancient.  The guts of it are still in good shape, but the fabric is beginning to go ... both from age and deterioration and from animal abuse, namely in the form of Maggie and her claws.  The cover camouflages the sitting area, and provides a washable solution to fur and whatever else gets onto the furniture.

Here's a question for you ... Do you, or have you, allowed your critters onto the furniture and, if so, do you have covers?

********************

Sunday Snapshots are posts devoted to moments in time that represent glimpses into everyday life in Hartwood, or wherever else I happen to be at the time. 

Sunday Snapshot: A Normal Sunday Morning

I'm sitting here in my favorite red leather chair, early on this drizzly, cool Sunday morning.  The scene around me is typical ... Ruby and Winnie sacked out on opposite ends of the sofa, and Dorothy snuggled beside me.

Reminds me of this cartoon that I see on line from time to time:

Surgery to restore the hearing in my left ear was ten days ago, and I'm almost 100% back to my usual active, ridiculously positive, self.  My impaired equilibrium , which was a result of the surgery, is almost completely normal, thank goodness.  Soon, I hope to put words to my experience (so far) of my brain's relearning how to process what I now can hear.  For a person who's as curious as I am, it's been VERY enlightening.

Happy Sunday, Everyone!!

Sunday Snapshot: First Frost

The weather forecast warned that we were likely to receive our first frost of the season last night.  We did.

You can see the frost really clearly on the hood of our daughter's Jeep.

Today's date is right in the middle of the range in which we should expect our first frost.  For Fredericksburg, which is south of here by about 15 minutes, the average date is October 25.  For Culpeper and Warrenton, our closest neighbors to the north and west, the date is October 8.  

The temperature didn't stay cold enough for long enough to do damage to the more tender plants in the garden.  That's a good thing, because I totally forgot to bring in my potted plants that have been spending the summer outdoors.  I will consider this to be a gentle reminder to make time during the coming week to clear space for them to live till spring.

Sunday Snapshot ... Home.

Good morning!

I'm not supposed to be home this morning, but I am.  I should be finishing up an overnight stay in a hotel somewhere near Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Real life, unstaged view of this sunny Sunday morning.  Dorothy in my lap ...

When my husband and I made plans to travel to attend Doug's funeral yesterday, we decided to spend last night at a hotel and head toward home in the morning.  (It's a four-and-a-half hour drive from here to there.  Doing it all in one day didn't seem to be a wise idea.)  We figured that there would be no problem finding a hotel room for the night after we finished for the day ... we figured wrong.

Winnie snuggled under her down throw, with Ruby lounging on the other side of the sofa.

For some mysterious reason, every hotel we called was completely booked.  We started calling hotels near where we were in Allentown, then we progressed to calling hotels along our route toward home ... Reading, Lancaster, York ... nothing.  The clerks we spoke to were very helpful, and most could report the status of other hotels near them, but there was nothing else they could do for us.

So .... we drew in our breath, squinted our eyes with determination, and kept going.  When we reached Maryland, we were tired, but it seemed silly to attempt to stop with only two more hours to go.  In Virginia, road work on I-95 added an extra half hour to the trip.  We stopped a couple of times along the way, to stretch and walk around and work out the kinks that had developed from a total of 10+ hours in the car during the day.  Finally, at 12:45am, we pulled into our own driveway.

Now you see her, then you don't.  Having poked her head out to check on things, Winnie burrowed back into her 'cave'.

I have to admit, despite the grueling car trip, it was really nice to fall sleep and wake up in my own bed.  Yesterday was a whirlwind ... visitation, funeral, graveside, wake, and a stop at Doug's house to pick up plants ... but it was a good day.  Sharing memories and grief with dear friends lightens the load ... thank you very, very much for your concern ... we are all fine.

Since I'm not traveling today, I plan to be outside in the sunshine, working in the garden, listening to football ...  sounds like a perfect day!

Happy Sunday, Everyone!!

Home!

Actually, we have been home from Montana for a week now.  It was a whirlwind week away that required another week to catch up with things here and recover from all the fun.  

Our cats were in the capable care of our daughter.  Ruby and Winnie spent their vacation at my parents' house, being spoiled beyond imagination.

How glad were the critters to have us home?  You decide ...

Here we were, Dorothy and Winnie and me, watching football, and my husband was fortunate to have his phone at hand to capture the scene.  Winnie has never been a lap dog.  She prefers to sleep beside her humans ... and she has never tolerated the presence of a cat near her when she's with HER mama ... little resource-guarder that she is.  

It's good to be home, and to be here, too.  FB peeps saw our Montana adventures as daily posts ... you all will get the whole week all at once ... in a day or so.  

Blue Moon Over Belle Plain

Friday evening, my husband and I went to hear a program in the National Park Service's History at Sunset series.  Every week during the summer, NPS historians give a talk at a historic local spot ... Friday's program was at Belle Plain, a key location for river travel for humans and cargo in this part of Virginia in the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries.  

Most emphasis on Belle Plain has been for its role during the Civil War, where supplies for as many as 100,000 soldiers and 60,000 horses in the Union army arrived and were transported to Fredericksburg, and wounded soldiers and Confederate prisoners departed.  John Hennessy and Noel Harrison told us stories of much earlier significance of Belle Plain, in the time of Pocahontas (who lived nearby with her Patawomack people), as the place of a brief skirmish between British forces and Virginia Militia during the War of 1812, in a description by Charles Dickens (who went through Belle Plain on a visit to the area in 1841).  The Civil War portion of Belle Plain's history is well documented through letters from soldiers who spent time there and with photographs.  (One set of photographs is the subject of an article written by Noel Harrison for the local NPS blog.)  

The wharves and structures that served the sailing vessels and steamships are long gone, replaced with a tidy private marina.  While John and Noel spoke, the history came alive because the place they described was underneath our feet and the landscape in the maps was all around us.  As the program was ending, shortly after sunset, the full moon glowed orange as it rose over the trees across the river.

This is the best that my antique iPhone 4 could do to capture the scene.

It was a really lovely evening.

Happy Sunday, Everyone!

********************

Sunday Snapshots are posts devoted to moments in time that represent glimpses into everyday life in Hartwood, or wherever else I happen to be at the time.

Sunday Snapshot ... A Little Bit More Siding.

There is small progress to report on the renovation of our little outbuilding that we call The Shack.  I spent the past week working to repair and restore the rest of the pile of the Shack's siding that we removed earlier in the year.  Yesterday morning, my husband and I installed some of that siding ... until the weather got too hot and forced us to quit for the day. 

When we started on it yesterday, the north wall of The Shack looked exactly the same as when you last saw it in THIS post.

End of day photo, 7/6/15.

It takes more time than you'd think to sort through the restored siding to choose which pieces to use, in order to have as little waste as possible.  I am keenly aware that I only have the Shack's existing siding available for this renovation, since it's not possible to run to Home Depot or Lowes to pick up some more 50+ year old half-inch by six-inch pine siding if I run out.  As long as my waste pile doesn't exceed the square footage of these new windows, I figure I'm good.

I was measuring and cutting the pieces of siding, and my husband was nailing them up and caulking them in place.  Soon, we reached what we considered to be a milestone ... the top of the trim on the picture windows.

After a water and snack break, we got back to work ... fabricating and installing aluminum window flashing, adding spacer strips over the window trim, and nailing up one more course of siding.

End of day, 7/18/15.

By this time, it was getting to be close to noon and the temperature and humidity made for uncomfortable working conditions.  We put away our tools and quit for the day ... pleased with what we accomplished, and excited to get back to it when the weather is more favorable.

Happy Sunday, Everyone!

********************

Sunday Snapshots are posts devoted to moments in time that represent glimpses into everyday life in Hartwood, or wherever else I happen to be at the time. 

Sunday Snapshot ... That's MY Mommy.

This is a typical scene here at our house.

My husband and I had been working outside (which is why you see that I'm wearing camouflage work pants).  I parked on the sofa to chill for a few minutes, before going upstairs to shower, and the animals seized the opportunity to grab some mommy-time.  

Winnie had been on her green down throw (that you see there all wadded up).  When Dorothy arrived, Winnie quickly hopped over to claim my lap.  Dorothy was feeling affectionate ... she rubbed on me for a few minutes, then she settled in beside me on my arm.  When Dorothy is happy like this, she stretches out and puts her toes on me.  This time, she was touching Winnie and Winnie didn't like it one bit.  

Each time Dorothy moved her toes, Winnie growled.  I use situations like this as a training opportunity ... correcting Winnie when she reacts and praising and petting her and telling her that she's a good girl when she's quiet.  It only took a few minutes for Winnie to decide that my lap was the reward in this case, and that she would have to tolerate the happy cat who wanted to touch her.  

Happy Sunday, Everyone!

********************

Sunday Snapshots are posts devoted to a moment in time that represents a slice of life in Hartwood, or wherever else I happen to be at the time.