J.D. and the rose bush

Roses from the garden

These are the David Austin roses I planted a year and five monthe ago. There is really not enough sun to succesfully grow roses here but I am trying.

Close up

Brody Thomas Daughtry

Here he is, Brody Thomas and I think he looks a lot like me.....

he's almost bald, slightly pot bellied.....

and fusses a lot; if he only had a beer in his right hand......

Brayden graduates from pre-school

Scenes from chicago

Linda just before the flying saucer took her

A distant view, the things on top of the bean are sea gulls

Linda in front of an interesting art work

The fountain

From the top of the John Hancock building, Lake Michigan

The home of Frank Loyd Wright

Window of the F.L.W. house

Lion in front of the Chicago Institute of Art

(this is the one I dreamed about last night!)

T-Rex from the Natural History Museum

Me in front of the Picasso sculpture

The edible garden near the lake

My Four Dogs

Moose

Brownie

Jesse

J.D.

David Austin English roses

Dinner last night

Last night I went up to the top of the mountain and had dinner with Dave and Lynn. The Venison was amazing and the baked potatoes were awesome. The salad, (from greens grown here at Big Creek) was excellent and the peanut butter pie too. The deer was a Big Creek deer and absolutely delicious. Anyone who does not like venison has never had it prepared by Dave and Lynn. I am sorry for you because it was wonderful and we ate it all!

I did not mention the wine which was perfect too, and the bourbon. You should open a restaurant!

Magnolia macrophylla ashei

The Garden

For the past few days I have been working in the garden really hard. My rototiller wouldn't crank this spring and it took me till the last of last week to get it repaired. Catch up in the garden is really hard when you are this far behind. The potatoes should have been planted months ago and mine were put in yesterday. Even then it was only possible because Peyton helped me dig the furrows, otherwise the potatoes would still be in the sacks in the garden house.

Hops covering the garden arch

So far I have planted cabbage, rutabagas, leeks, English peas, pole beans ( Marvel of Venice), sweet corn, onions, French fillet beans, beets, Basil and other assorted herbs.

Photos from yesterday

Jesse on the front porch, guarding the house

Boxwoods and Butter Cups

Moose

Yellow Lady's Slipper at Susie's

Leek soup...Ummmmmm!

Today at Big Creek

This morning the temperature was 39 degrees. It is going to be a warm, good day but has started off pretty cold. I got my roto-tiller back on Tuesday and hope today will be the day I can get the garden tilled and prepared for planting. The potatoes should have been planted months ago but I guess it will be better late than never. I planted some of the heirloom tomatoes I got in B'ham yesterday and had to cover them up for last night just in case it got to frosty.

The snake Peyton shot last weekend finally floated to the surface of the small koi pond yesterday. I disposed of him and am now waiting for the next one to show up. There is always another one that comes to replaces the last one.

More photos from Mobile

Ashville

What a great time we had in Ashville with Bill And Peg. It is always so much fun to be with them and there is always something wonderful to do there. This time we went to two very good plant sales and got some interesting things. We also went to the Ashville Arboretum and saw the bonsai. Excellent, really classy trees. Below are a few examples of what we saw. There was also a Quilt show...sorta and that was fun too, dolls.

 The Dinosaur naming party was too much fun and the final name was chosen was, "PegnBillapod", Strange at first but it grows on you. Say it several times fast and it still doesn't make much sense but that's it anyway. So there!

Bric, Janette and the boys in Mobile