I'm sitting here on a rainy summer night snacking on these delicious salt and pepper pistachio nuts.

I have memories of eating the red kind of pistachio nuts and getting the dye all over my fingers, lips and tongue. Ugh! I can't stand that. I used to suck on the whole nut and crack it open with my teeth. Dear friends, no matter how big and open the nuts appear to be please resist the impulse. Do not use your teeth as a nut cracker. Here's a tip. Take an open shell and stick it into the opening of the hard to open nut and then twist it open. Voila! My sister Carole taught me this valuable lesson many years ago and I'm happy to pass this tip to all my fellow pistachio loving buddies.

Cut Flowers

Mmmm Mmm Good

My Back Yard

.

Summer School

I almost forgot the hours of fun I used to have playing school when I was little. Propping up stuffed animals as my students. My classroom was at the very top of a staircase and I used a Romper Room toy blackboard. My name was Miss Jean and at the end of each class I would recite the Romper Bomper Stomper Boo chant while gazing through a badminton racket for my magic mirror. .......sigh....... That was back around 1960.
I'm not sure how many of you can relate. Excuse me for reminiscing.

Here is a recent picture of Xavier and Dylan playing school in their own way.

I wonder if they will remember their soft cuddly students 40 or 50 years from now?

It was in May

Bring flowers of the rarest,
bring blossoms the fairest,

from garden and woodland and hillside and dale;

our full hearts are swelling,
our glad voices telling

the praise of the loveliest flower of the vale!

So much to do...so little to say

see you very soon

Clematis Vine

Royal Velvet Clematis.

Evening

Sweet Violets

SWEET VIOLETS

At my steps and in my soul
the sweet violets of early spring.
Nodding heads and waving hearts
in mass profusion what joy they bring.
---sigh---
Isn't that lovely? And Violet I do mean it.
But here's the dirt little Miss V.
consider well the source
Steer clear of the beds and borders

or your luck will run it's course.
Persnickety gardeners curse you
for your annual brigade.
You mind your P's and Q's
to make it in my shade.
---smile---

Come on now ...please be happy.

You have lots of room to roam.

We've known eachother all our lives.

You're welcome in my home.

- Elaine M. Vermette 2009

Near and Dear

The house sparrow
is a common little bird in my neighborhood.

Often overlooked and in spite of it's many short comings is always welcome here.

“I once had a sparrow alight upon my shoulder for a moment, while I was hoeing in a village garden, and I felt that I was more distinguished by that circumstance that I should have been by any epaulet I could have worn.”

Henry David Thoreau

The Red Birdhouse

There was an empty old birdhouse

kicking around, out behind the shed.

One sunny spring day

I dragged it out and painted it bright red.

I wedged it tight,

inside the branches

on the Rose of Sharon tree.

And then I waited patiently

for a bird to come and see.

to be continued... IF a bird comes.

Happy Easter

Rejoice in the Risen Lord in every present moment
( Rallegrarsi nel Signore Risorto in ogni attimo presente)

Holy Saturday

Hope for everything from the will of God of the present moment
( Sperare tutto dalla volontà di Dio dell’attimo presente)

Good Friday

Jesus dies on the Cross

Do the will of God of the present moment completely
( Compiere totalmente la volontà di Dio dell’attimo presente)

Holy Thursday

Jesus' supreme humility

Love the will of God of the present moment all the way to the end
( Amare sino alla fine la volontà di Dio dell’attimo presente)

Nightstand by Day

You will not Croak-Us

We have one of those driveways that come right up alongside the house,

all the way to the back door.
There's a narrow strip of earth in between the house and drive that I dare to call a garden.

Once there was a nice stand of Periwinkle,

but large patches have died off leaving it dusty and patchy.

Blame a too hot sun from last summer,

or sporadic urinations from a passing pet.

Or maybe the careless footsteps that stomp as they jump out of a car.

Beside my driveway can be a dangerous place.

Where oil slicks roll off in fingers when it rains.

Where shovels heap their heavy snow during wintry blizzards.

Where we dump the sand from our shoes after beach jaunts.

Where bicycle tires travel too close.

Where bouncing balls finally land.

It can be a treacherous place!

But the will to live is strong for a Crocus.

These tough little troopers have survived more than 20 years here.

But they're not so tough that a fly won't land on them!

7

Xavier said it was "the best birthday he ever had!"
* * * * * * *

The "whole" day to ya!

Sea Gulls aka Sky Rats

At the beach I snapped this shot through my window. I opened the window and tossed out a few french fries.
There just wasn't enough for all of them.

Happy Birthday Emma

Remember I would sing to you?

Just as my Mother sang to me.

Where are you going my little one, little one?
Where are you going my baby my own?

Turn around and you're 2.

Turn around and you're 4.

Turn around and you're a young girl
going out of the door.

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



God Bless you Emma,

and God Bless your path in life.
I Love You.