Productive

Been a busy, and yes, productive morning. I took
Molly for a long walk at the cemetery (about two
miles, I am guessing--up and down hills). Got home
and divided the hostas, replanted them in other areas,
dug up and replanted some coral bells, dug up my lavender
because it was just lost behind my knock-out rose bush
that my mom and dad gave me one year (it's about 5 ft
tall and 7 ft wide and loaded with beautiful blooms)
and moved it to another place where it will have room
to grow even larger and thrive. Weeded the herb garden
and replaced all the landscaping bricks.

I mowed, took my stuff to the recycling center (we
don't have a recycling pick-up program, so I keep
the stuff in bins and take it when it gets full), cleaned
the kitchen, did two loads of clothes, and cleaned
bathrooms. I'm tired, but I have much more to do.

Cooking another Rachael Ray dish tonight--it is another
perfectly spiced, aromatic, and delicious dish. Oregon-Style
Pork Chops with Pinot Noir and Cranberries, served
with Oregon Hash with Wild Mushrooms, Greens, Beets,
Hazelnuts, and Blue Cheese. And, of course, the bread.

Some crusty charred whole grain bread with butter
and chives ( the chives fresh from my herb garden).

I cooked tacos one night last week and my youngest
son (the only one at home) said, Mom, I love all
the different things you cook, but your tacos
and spaghetti are still my favorite dishes. Gotta
love that, even though I thought why keep trying
all these other things. But, he wasn't saying he didn't
like those; he was saying I like your stuff better.

Dug up one of Libby's blue shells when I was working
in the herb garden. I think Libby deserves a poem.
Maybe one day I'll get around to writing it.

Oh, and wow, the rhododendron in the front yard
is blooming, and so are the coreopsis and dianthus.
And the pansies in one of the shade gardens are so beautiful--
purple, yellow, and burgundy. And the heirloom Irises
just started blooming--lilac colored (the deep purple Irises
bloomed a few weeks ago and some of them are still in bloom).

And the magenta and white azaleas are also in full
bloom, the pink dying out but still blooming.

These are the natural things that fill me today.

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

Laurel,

I read this today about Eight Belles and wondered if you had.

My husband is a race car driver. He makes the choice. I can't
say I am comfortable with his choice, but I have learned to live
with it. He says he's safer in his race car than he is in his personal
vehicle on any street or highway. He does it because he loves
the classic beauty of the sport--knowing what he's done to the engine
to make the car more efficient and what he knows, as a driver,
that gives him an edge. He doesn't win big money--just usually
breaks even, but he enjoys the sport. But he can choose, and I think
that's the big issue. Eight Belles could not--someone chose for her,
and perhaps she did love the competetive nature of the sport,
but who can say. I just found it an interesting assessment
of the sport and thought you might as well.