Monthly Archives: September 2010

Fall is definitely here – and as Jake said recently, it’s freaking GORGEOUS in the Pacific Northwest in late summer and early autumn……..when it’s not raining!  The first leaves are starting to fall, and while on one hand it’s depressing, on the other hand it means we’re putting this year behind us!

My late summer flowers are on their way out, but are still a sight to behold.

I’m still pretty disappointed that my hydrangeas never produced any flowers, my oldest daphne finally gave up the ghost, and 90% of my bulbs never even broke ground.  The biggest disappointment of all this year is the absence of any dahlias.  I love them so much, and had dozens planted last year — none of which came up.  I spent a good amount of money on no tubers, and there’s NOTHING.  I’m bummed.

Today, however, I found myself in a little piece of heaven.  Colin and Susie both love dahlias almost as much as I do, and asked me to do flowers for next week’s celebration……and they specifically asked for Dahlias.  WOO HOO!  It so happens that Swan Island Dahlias (America’s largest grower) is only 25 minutes from here and has great prices.  So off I went to order a few white and fall color dahlias.  Ok. Stop. Woah. I had NO idea there were so many different types, colors, shades, sizes, or shapes of the same flower.  I drooled my way around the demonstration garden.

The weather was absolutely perfect – not too hot, not too cold with the sun bouncing around on all the flowers.  Simply gorgeous.

I brought home a few bunches of dahlias to play with them and come up with a plan of attack.  I’m pretty happy with the arrangements – let’s just hope I can repeat them! 🙂

I’m not sure I love the real tall one, but it’s a start!

Aside from going to the flower growers’, I also went and checked out the barn that Avdoo is moving to……..and it’s great! The trainer there is really laid back, and the barn is clean, and has a great energy.  I’ll be able to get Avdoo going in both Dressage and Hunters and who knows, maybe I’ll actually do something with him!  I’m feeling a little encouraged, though I’m still pretty sad about letting go of Frank.  I’m sure I’ll get into a routine and time will help with my hurting heart.

Ellie Graye was, of course, her usual theatrical, dynamic, spunky self today.  I found an Ariel wig at Target, and while I didn’t think she’d wear it, I showed it to her anyway.  The first time round, she wanted nothing to do with it.  Later on, she saw it sitting by the door (I was going to return it), and she asked to put it on.  It was absolutely hysterical.  Oh, my lord. She’s such a HAM!!!!!

playing follow the leader with Uncle Jakey

So even though my day was one of those that never gave me the chance to catch a breath, it was all-in-all a good day.  I like good days – I could use a few strung together, but for now I just say,

“PLOW ON, MELISSA! PLOW ON!”

RANDOM PHOTOS OF THE DAY

Playing with Uncle Jakey down by the lake

Glancing at the clock, I could hardly believe it was only 7:07 pm.  Why the heck was my daughter melting down on the floor screaming, “NO fffffflower, mommy solo SLEEEEEEPING.”  No flower? Huh?

“Ok, Ellie, you want to go to sleep.  Let’s take a shower, get your pjs on, brush your teeth, and I’ll put you in your crib.”

She started hollering even more. “NO FLOWER! ELLIE…..NO…….FLOWER!” I was still confused.

“Ok, ok, let’s just go shower and then we’ll go nigh-nigh.”

“NO MOMMY! Ellie say NO flower.”

Then it hit me: my little two year old wanted to go to sleep so badly, that she didn’t want to “SHower” before going to bed, she just wanted to sleep.  There was no way we were going to sleep so early, so I convinced her to take a quick shower, but decided to let her skip the teeth brushing…I think she was asleep before I finished saying my usual, “Good night; you’re sweet; I love you.”  Poor dear.

On a completely different subject, I’ve decided that I’m ok with being mediocre.  Whaaaa?  Yeah, I’ve decided that I’m going to cut myself some slack.  If I don’t have pickles for Christmas, it’s not going to be the end of the world.  If I don’t make homemade barbeque sauce with my tomatoes, no one is going to tell me I’m a failure (they might think it, but I can almost bet they won’t SAY it).  I can’t say that if I don’t infuse vodkas that I’ll still have any friends, but hey, that one I think I can swing.  This year has been so ridiculously heltzer-skeltzer that I’ve just got to be ok with getting through it.

Uncle Jake and EG picking tomatoes.........mostly green ones

Patty-pan

We’ve started the quest to find a preschool for Ellie Graye – she’s definitely in need of some socialization and it will give me the time I need to get my own self back on track.  As we drove down Wilsonville Road, Jeffrey commented about how the freshly painted white lines on the side of the road were damn wobbly, and that lots of cars had driven through them.  We laughed about how poorly they were painted.  Sometimes the city just doesn’t give a darn.

As I headed out to my car after heading to Target to pick up some leggings for EG, I caught a glimpse of our own car: our beautiful, shiny black Suburban. HOLY @#$*&@!! It wasn’t just black anymore.  Oh no.  That sloppy paint job on the road?  It looked even worse on the right side of the car.  It had already dried, and now we’ve got a spotted car.  If it doesn’t come off easily tomorrow, you’d better believe the city of Wilsonville is going to be getting a call from one very upset Suburban owner!

The good news today is that my mother-in-law is doing markedly better.  Walking into her hospital room today, I was pleasantly surprised to see her sitting up, talking (albeit very, very, very quietly).  I think I might have done a little jump and a skip when I saw her doing SOOOOOOO much better!  We’re proud of you, Phyllis!

Tomorrow is an insanely full day, so I’m going to try to hit the hay early.  Nighty-night!

RANDOM PHOTOS

Bathe much?

Ariel