Rain Down

If you live in a wet climate, you probably wish for less rain and humidity. If you live in a dry area, you long for the occasional rain. No one is ever completely happy with the climate where they live, although rain generally does not affect a person’s livelihood, only their comfort level. However, if…

Brave New Blogging World

I have been blogging for approximately 18 months. At first,  I was seeking a practical solution to sharing my gardening knowledge and sermons, which people often asked me to email. Blogging seemed easier, and it is. As a naïve beginner, I did not realize that I was entering into a brave new world where a…

Vegetarian Eggplant Parmesan

The eggplants are starting to come from the garden. Each year I bake large pans of eggplant parmesan and freeze it in one serving containers. I can not  describe in words how good it will taste next February, in the deep, dark winter. You will have to suffice with yuuuuuuuuuuummmmmmmmmmmmmm. Cooked eggplant and the cheese…

Flying Cloud and Half Moon?

The morning is cool, calm, and luscious at only 60 degrees.  I feel fall in the air and I see in the forecast that we can expect thunderstorms. This is only a fluke; we have a hot, dry August ahead of us until fall finally graces our region. But, I like the promise of this…

Colorado Camping Trip 3 – Pikes Peak

Kerry and Kira must return home this morning. I still have time off, so after coffee and warm goodbyes, I wander off towards Victor and Cripple Creek. There is nothing I really need to see or do in either location, but both are visually interesting, old mining towns with that seedy charm so typical of…

Colorado Camping Trip

JJ’s has been silent but I have plenty of adventure to share. I have been camping in the Pike National Forest, west of Colorado Springs. It’s an area with no Internet or cell. I have been blissfully out of touch since Saturday! I started out camping with my son Kerry and his girlfriend Kira and…

Memo to the Garden – July 19

Dear Faithful Garden, I can see how hard you’ve been working to produce beautiful flowers and veggies. Today I harvested summer squash, chard, jalapenos, and eggplant. I have not cut many flowers but quite a few are blooming now: marigolds, moss rose, hollyhocks, lilies and more. We have had some losses and disappointments but overall,…

Alive Again!

What a difference one week can make. Seven days ago I had a stomach (stress?) flu, was exhausted, dragging, and  a bit burnt out. Since, I have slowed down,checked in with my doc, amped up my spiritual life, played in my garden, visited my son in Denver, celebrated my 59th birthday, and visited the Denver…