Eugene Celebration Parade And A Very Tall Sunflower

Click on the pictures to enlarge. The celebration has been going on since 1983. I started going when I worked downtown at a coffee shop in probably 89 or 90. Back then the event was free to get into and really fun. (Perhaps I was more fun back then too.) I haven't paid to get in for several years. The parade is free and well worth the walk to downtown.





10 feet in the sky!!!

A renovated bed. It had an arch with hop vines overgrowing it. I pulled the vines out and I put in some blueberry shrubs and some of the purples and pink colors I love.
New Keens, purchased with birthday money.
42 year old me. New and improved! Dairy and egg free as well as meat free.

Happy Weekend!

I love how cheery these are.

I like this picture. It seems orderly and tidy. It isn't really, I like that it looks like it is though.

Last year I planted an insane number of tomato plants (like 20+), all sizes and types. When it came time to process them (all at once, of course) it was too bloody hot. I ended up roasting a bunch and freezing them and giving away the excess. This year I thought I would be smart, not plant so many and just the smaller grape and sugar lump varieties. I had some volunteer plants from last year's seeds crop up everywhere in the yard. I kept a few, mainly out of curiosity. When I was in Master Gardener training years ago, I was told volunteer tomato seedlings never really do much. Really? I certainly have not found that to be the case. The ones I kept have been as prolific as this year's plantings. I did move them to this year's tomato garden early on and kept them apart so I could compare. I didn't do a very good job of staking the plants and it is a jungle...next year I will do a better job.....

A few blooms from the garden.

An Airing Out

My grandmother would tell my grandfather every so often that she needed "an airing out". He'd pull their motorhome out and they'd throw some supplies in and away they would go. In an attempt to clear out some cobwebs in my head we headed out to Florence (about 70 or so miles away.) Once in Florence we headed north and ended up at Heceta Head beach. It was pretty spur of the moment and very low key. It didn't totally clear out the cobwebs, but I feel better for it.

A little bit of everything...

I like the light at this time of year.
Normally these shelves are cluttered with knickknacks. I need a calm spot to focus on these days...



Plums! Lots of them! Tasty but small.


Inside the compost bin...Not just one! At least one or two smaller ones. Since the chickens are gone, I have found myself going out to the bin just to check on the snakes. (I am not really a reptile person in general.) I worry and wonder about them. Sad, I know. I see you shaking your heads in disbelief. I do not feel all warm and fuzzy about them but do find them interesting.

Frida, on the shower curtain rail. I found a really great home for her. She has a buddy that is about her age and they sleep indoors with their people! I miss my hens terribly but after Buffy was murdered my heart just wasn't in it. Frida's people have sent updates and photos and could not be nicer.

A favorite vase that belonged to my grandmother. All of the flowers were from my garden. The lilies were amazing this year!