Kathleen's Korner at TheStidhams.com

Well, not so much an update of the garden, as a walk around the yard this morning. Seems every day I feel okay it rains and when it’s lovely out I am either busy or not able to be outside and active. The beauty of perennials, even those that really would like a little more attention, is that they perform even when left alone.

I was too late to get a good pic of the indian plum, they are already forming green berries, but they are always a real treat.  So next year, we’ll try to get out with the camera when they’re still in bloom.  Also didn’t manage to get any good shots of  willow flowers this year, or the fat, juicy-looking buds on the big-leaf maples.  In our yard this year things seem to be happening at lightning speed!

Today in the garden…

First an establishing shot from the middle of the road looking up toward the house. You can see the plum tree still blooming, the tree in front of it (still spindly) is a pear. The bedframe marks where the tomatoes were last year. You can also see the trailing blackberries, trailing over the piles of bark chips…  You are facing west — the early morning sunlight fills my yellow living room so beautifully in the summer!

To the left of the above pic is the area M planted his daffodils a few years back.  They are going strong, and I am considering moving more into this area, and along the whole slope of the orchard.  It’s difficult to mow in this area, and a meadow of bulbs, grasses and wildflowers would look so pretty under the trees.

Next to the daffodils (which are among the Asian pears — five trees) is the nectarine, just coming into bloom, you can just see a few of the plum branches in the background.  You’re looking north, toward the driveway:

On the front steps of the house,  a small terracotta planter with frilly pansies and bi-color violas.  You can see I have my pitchfork and shovels ready to do battle with weeds!

At the back of the house, the a red-flowering currant by the generator really brightens up the yard.  I can see it by the kitchen window when I walk in, and it always makes me smile.  This plant is also (I am sure) the source of the hummingbirds I can hear but haven’t yet seen…

Another spot of pink in the back, the salmonberries:

And last but not least, a small stand of trillium on the way to the wellhouse…  these are in my cedar grove that I jealously protected from clearing when we bought our land.

And that’s what’s happening in our neck of the woods.

I was able to do some painting earlier this month (an example is at stidmama.blogspot.com, same one posted to the art history section of my business site), but a week and a half ago I got a migraine. A long-lasting, drains it all away, nasty one. Just as I was getting over that… I catch the virus that plagued Tom for several days. So this week I am doing the things I must — getting kids to and from appointments mostly — and sitting around the rest of the time.

Yesterday I felt better, but just as I was about to start my day I learned that a long-time acquaintance had died. Not quite a friend to me, but certainly a fixture in my life, and it just took the wind out of my sails. No heart for art.

Last night I felt better and I was looking forward to having several hours today between the errands… but woke with a really bad stomach ache. Every time I move it hurts. Just hurts. I think it’s the chicken I ate for supper last night… more fatty than I am used to. So again, I am sitting as much as I can, trying to let this also pass.

Feeling as if the start of Spring has let me down this year. It was brilliantly sunny up until about ten minutes ago, and rain is expected to move in for a few days. Chances are, it will hold off until I am feeling able to play…

It is difficult to be creative in the way I like when I am not well. The amount of focus it requires (is this a sign of deficiency or talent?) must seem absurd to most, but I can completely lose myself when I am painting, just as I can in the garden.

It is frustrating to me, to have ideas I want to produce, and not have the energy to set them onto paper or words.

SO, I am looking forward to feeling better, having the sunny weather return when I can enjoy it, and getting on with my projects and playing in the garden with the critters.

[originally blogged at stidmama.blogspot.com]

Convince Nike to just Do the Right Thing

Among the social justice issues I track are housing, education, healthcare, diversity and fair labor practices. Garment workers around the world tend to be poorly treated, badly paid and work in unsafe conditions (not all, just in general). They do this so those of us who have time to sit and blog can wear comfy, cheap clothes.

Here’s a small way to make a statement if you knit or crochet. Microrevolution’s Blanket Petition.

I see that NOBODY from Arkansas, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, North Dakota, Oklahoma or Wyoming has contributed. It is possible that folks just aren’t aware of this project (as I wasn’t until ten minutes ago) — or have they heard about it and figured their voices don’t count? Though corporations are not democracies and don’t have to listen to the voices of others, they do tend to take notice when consumers contact them en masse.

No, Nike isn’t the only company still using underpaid, overworked, third-world employees to produce clothing for people whose closets are already full… but you’ve gotta start somewhere!