Time Keeps on Speeding By

The toilet paper roll spins faster and faster.  It feels like my life moves at the speed of light.

Winter, spring, nearly summer. The images flicker. Crocus, daffodils, tulips, cherry blossoms, French lilacs.

The kousa dogwoods and Korean lilacs are in full bloom.

It's late spring now, almost time for the summer solstice.

Local strawberries are here at last, although the inside of the farmer's market building was too crowded for me to get a picture.

Outside, the crowds hadn't yet arrived, and I could move around and take pictures.

Garlic scapes have arrived, sitting next to rhubarb.  

So many people love rhubarb and strawberry pie.  I've never been a fan.

But I love peas.  These snap peas are fully edible.

Shell peas must be shelled out.  These are what most people think of as peas.

Beets and spring onions.

But then I see something that tells me that time is speeding by. Zucchini.  Summer squash.

The longest days, measured by daylight, are just about here.

It's almost summer.

Ready for some songs about June?  Join me tomorrow for Music Moves Me.

The Fearless Chipmunks

Apparently there is a population boom in chipmunks. Either that, or they suddenly love me.

I was outside in my yard on Friday, when I looked up from my reading.

Look at the top left of photo.  Peekaboo!

A few feet away, a chipmunk was staring at me.  I stared back.

It must have shrugged mentally, because it returned to its business of whatever it was doing in my yard.

Bottom center of photo

I saw a chipmunk in my yard for the first time this year about 10 days ago.  Usually they aren't so brazen as to show themselves while I am sitting. It's a small yard and I am quite visible to them.

This one ran to my patio, feet from my chair, and stared at me.  It was frozen in place.  Finally I looked away and it managed to leave.

Now, it doesn't even bother to run unless I bring up my cell phone to take a picture, and I think that fear is decreasing, too.

Bottom towards the center between the plants

But that isn't all.  Chipmunks are showing up elsewhere to be near me.   Thursday, I was walking on the Vestal Rail Trail with my spouse.  Perhaps two feet from the right borer of the trail where paved trail meets grass, there was a chipmunk rooting in the ground.   It didn't even flinch, until I stopped.

A few yards away, same position on the grass near the trail, was another one, rooting in the short grass.

And then another one.  Yes, it was in the same position as #1 and #2, and rooting away.

I wasn't able to take pictures, though.

Now, almost every time I look up from my reading at home, there's a chipmunk, a few feet away.  I really don't know what to do.

Have I become the Chipmunk whisperer?  Or maybe there's been a population explosion.  I went online and there were chipmunk population booms in New York in both 2020 and 2021.

I realize they may be attracted to the ground around our bird feeder.  But the Vestal Rail Trail?

I did find some interesting facts about our Eastern chipmunks. 

And no, I don't intend to try to trap it.  But I still wonder about my sudden popularity with these little creatures.

Any thoughts?

It's a Sunset! #SkywatchFriday

I decided, in the past couple of weeks or so, to go out almost every evening, whether or not the sunset looked promising.

I was, no matter what, going to get my readers a sunset.

I got one.  June 2, to be exact.  Let's join our sunset, already in progress.

I looked in another part of the sky and saw these ripples.

Back to the first view.

And the second.

Time for the purple.

Blue fades, purple expands.

Last, but not least.

My sunset drought is broken.

Joining Yogi and other skywatchers each Friday for #SkywatchFriday.

Mystery Marvel Tree #ThursdayTreeLove

“The possession of knowledge does not kill the sense of wonder and mystery. There is always more mystery.” Anais Nin.

You can walk a path again and again, but there is always something new.

Everyone loves a mystery, right?  And everyone loves flowers, right?

Today, you get both.

This is one of these "I should know what this is but I don't".  I saw this - large shrub? Small tree? in bloom along the Vestal Rail Trail, and I have to think it was planted there, not something Nature placed.

 

This is what I saw.  Wild roses are in bloom but this is not that.

 

So I went closer.

And even closer.

Any guesses?  Something about this makes me want to say lilac, but the late blooming lilacs I know aren't white, and (to me) smell terrible, as in garbage-like. (This is a problem I have with paperwhites, some lilies, and other flowers most people seem to enjoy, but I digress.) This didn't smell terrible.  Whatever it is, it's beautiful.

No matter how many times you walk a path, you can always find something new to marvel at.

Joining Parul at Happiness and Food, and other tree lovers, for #ThursdayTreeLove.

Cottonwood Snow #WordlessWednesday

In a couple of our local parks, we've seen snow lining the paths recently.  In June.

Well, not real snow.  Not at this time of year.

You be the judge.

Taken June 5

These are seeds of the cottonwood, or Eastern poplar.    These are produced only by female trees.

But, don't these look like snow to you? Others think so, too.  The fluff carries the seeds on the wind, just like it does with dandelion seeds.

Along the paths they gather wherever the trees grow - along riverbanks, or on flood plains.  They float on the air, just like snow flurries.

But, thankfully, they aren't.

Joining up with Sandee at Comedy Plus for #WordlessWednesday.

No Lilacs Just Roses for my Mom

The young me, growing up in an apartment in New York City, ordered Jackson and Perkins rose catalogs just to look at the pictures, and to dream about growing roses.

My mother loved a talcum powder called Lilacs and Roses, and I've always associated these two flowers with my memories of her.

I have several lilac bushes.  But no roses.

I gave up growing roses soon after moving from Northwest Arkansas to the Southern Tier of New York

The house we purchased a few months after moving here had a beautiful red climbing rose on the western side of the house.  Our next door neighbor, now deceased, had lived in his house since right after World War II, and thought a previous owner had brought the rose plant from a previous residence, possibly in Texas. (This was over 30 years ago, so I don't quite remember)

I got tired of fighting the diseases and the Japanese Beetles.  I hate ripping out plants, but we ripped this rose out.

Now, I let others grow roses and I just come by and admire them.  Our free botanical gardens, Cutler Botanic Gardens, has a Rose Walk which I visit once or twice a year.  I love to take pictures and share with my readers to brighten their days.  We all need bright days in these grim times, do we not?

I visited Cutler on what would have been my mother's birthday, June 4. 

My phone was acting up on me and so I couldn't capture all the names.  But enjoy.

 Belle de Crécy 

Celsiana, which apparently dates from at least 1750.

Sir Thomas Lipton. (I know I've had this on my blog before).

York and Lancaster, a historic rose, dating from around 1551.

A multicolored rose I couldn't enter on my phone for some reason.

And a rose with a name that autocorrect mangled into something totally incomprehensible.

Perhaps my Mom was with me on these rose walks in spirit.  I'd like to think so.

Do you grow roses?

Songs from 1970 and Beyond #MusicMovesMe

It's the first Monday of June and it's time for music!

Who are the Music Moves Me bloggers? Glad you asked!

We are bloggers who blog about music each Monday and if you have music to share with us, you are most welcome to join! (Music Posts Only-meaning at least one music video, please!)   Our head hostess is Cathy from Curious as a Cathy,  and she is joined by the knowledgeable Stacy of Stacy Uncorked and the world famous (not) me.  Our founder, Xmas Dolly, has stepped back from blogging for now, and would appreciate your good thoughts as she works through some health issues.

We'd love more music lovers to join our fun group.  All you have to do is join the linky above* with a music post that contains at least one music video (there must be a music video or your post will be subject to removal or labeling "No Music"). So easy!

*There seems to be a problem with the linky as of when I am working on this post, so here's a partial list of bloggers participating (If I've left you out, please let me know and I'll link to you Monday evening.)

Curious As a Cathy

Create with Joy/Inspire Me Monday

Adventures in Weseland

Songbird's Crazy World 

Driller's Place

The Sound of One Hand Typing

Each month, except December, we have a guest host, who picks the themes for that month.  For the month of June, our guest host is none other than Cathy from Curious as a Cathy.

For today, Cathy has given us a free week and I'm going with a variety of songs.

This song never gets old, and I can't believe it is 55 years old this year.  From 1967, the Moody Blues and "Nights in White Satin" (complete with the poem at the end).

Let's travel back to 1970 for our next two selections. This song was stuck in my ear for several days this past week, so why not make it an earworm for me again?  Three Dog Night and "Out in the Country".

Next, in 1970 I was fortunate enough to be able to participate in a college trip (although I was still in high school at the time) to East Carolina University to view a total eclipse of the sun.  If I listen to this song, I am transported back in time.

This song was released in late 1969 but charted in 1970 so 1970 it is:  The Delfonics and "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)"  And now...

Let's not forget that today is the anniversary of the D-Day Invasion of Normandy.  This song is called "The Shores of Normandy" and was written and sung by Jim Radford, a D-Day veteran.  He was only 15 on that day, and had quite an interesting life, fighting for causes such as peace (being jailed at one point) and housing for homeless people.  Sadly, Jim Radford died from complications of COVID-19 on November 6, 2020, at the age of 92.

For my last song, I am reaching back to last week, and an audition on the TV show "America's Got Talent".  This started as a nothing spectacular.  And then, something happened.  Could this song be what unites our country against Big Parma?

Ben Lapidus and "The Parmesan Song".  The song itself starts at around 1:23.

And that is a wrap!

Join me again next week with another episode of "Music Moves Me".

Nature's Wild Bouquets

It's amazing what Nature can put together for us.  These, unless noted, were taken today on the Vestal Rail Trail in Vestal, New York.

This is a popular exercise trail for people of all ages.  I wonder how many pass by without paying attention to Nature's show?

Dame's Rocket is still blooming. This flower is considered invasive in a number of states, but (so far) not New York.  That surprises me a little.  This comes in several colors - white, pink, and purple.

A lone daisy, but it doesn't look lonely at all.

Rugosa roses.  Yes, they are invasive, but they smell so sweet.

A yellow wildflower with bee.

I always forget the name of this.  I'm thinking it has to be a member of the aster family. It blooms from late spring into "regular" aster season in late summer/fall.

From May 30, Dame's Rocket with a pink wildflower.

No, I don't pick these flowers.  They aren't mine to pick.  But if I could, they would make an interesting bouquet, indeed.  Sweet music from Nature.

Speaking of music, why not join me and other music bloggers tomorrow morning for Music Moves Me?

As Time Goes By

This afternoon, I settled in my backyard to do a little blogging.  When I did, I noticed a middle aged man mowing the lawn of my next door neighbor.  It has been a rental for several years now.  The owner of the house, CK, was in high school when we moved here, too many years ago.  He was the youngest son of my next door neighbors, who had six children. 

CK's wife appeared briefly and waved to me.

My spouse then came out and I motioned to the man mowing the lawn.  Who is he, I wonder?  Another one of the siblings? No, said spouse, who has a better eye for faces than mine.  "That's CK".

That middle aged man?  CK?

Memories came in a flood.  I've blogged about CK's parents a couple of times over the years.  They were a loving family and they befriended my son as he grew up.  CK became a mentor to my son and taught him a lot about computers and home repairs.  

And as for his late parents...here is one of the posts, from July of 2011, updated a little.

From 2011.  Time does go by.

AGING AIN'T A PLACE FOR SISSIES (July 2011)

Today at work, I heard that the mother of a co-worker had passed away.  When I went to the local online obituary, I saw a name I knew well.  Not the co-worker's mother, but a different woman.
It was my next door neighbor of over 20 years.

She had passed away yesterday, unbeknownst to me.  Her death was fall related.

I immediately called my spouse.  He already knew, and, in fact, had just come from the neighbor's house, where he visited with family for 40 minutes.  (I visited tonight, as out of town family started to arrive.)

Her husband....her widower....seemed to be taking it well.   He said to my husband "She died on the 4th of July.  She went out with a bang."

They had celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary less than a week ago.  In the last stages of dementia, she never knew it.

 I don't care what they say about old age.  It stinks.  It robs us of the essence of what we are.  Don't talk to me about the "golden years".  There is nothing golden about those years.  Those years took the mind and then the life of a wonderful woman, who was loved by everyone who knew her.  My neighbor was a deacon of her church.  She was a retired elementary school librarian.   She did a lot of charity work.  She raised six children and at least, tonight, her husband is surrounded by their very large family. (Her husband was an only child and wanted a large family very much.  He got it, thanks to her.)

She loved romance novels.  She had hundreds of them, and she kept trying to give some to me.  She was an avid reader. She loved to have her grandchildren over to visit.

She spent so much of the last couple of years of her life a prisoner of her living room chair.  Her husband, once a telephone lineman, aged at her side.  He told me, tonight, that "I am happy".  We talked to their youngest son [CK], and he talked about her death.  It was a good death.  About two weeks ago, her voice became very slurred. Then she stopped eating. Then she stopped drinking.  She drifted away, asleep almost all of the time.

She died surrounded by the ones she loved, at home.

Her husband has also has a lot of health problems.    I don't want to say it out loud, but I fear for him now.[He passed, in a nursing home, several years ago, after following his wife down the road of dementia.]

They were so much younger and full of energy and love of life when I first met them.  So was my mother in law [who passed in 2018, a month from her 91st birthday] and my spouse's aunt [who passed in 2019 at the age of 107] and my good friend's mother, who passed away in 2013 at age 94.

Like all of us, I must come to terms with my aging.   I may be looking at my eventual fate.  And perhaps that is what is affecting me now, as much as the passing of a woman great in her own way.

As Bette Davis once said "Old age is no place for sissies."

And now, in 2022....I feel it more every day, but I am here in my yard, on a beautiful Saturday afternoon, and I wouldn't want to be anyplace else.

Wild Roses, June 2022

And with that, I think of my late mother, whose birthday would have been today.

Before and After A Storm #SkywatchFriday

Wednesday, we were under a severe thunderstorm watch.  It had been unusually hot (for us in the Southern Tier of New York) earlier in the week and a cold front was going to be coming through. On Tuesday, we hit 92F (33.3C), which was nearly a record.  I realize that type of heat in May is normal for many, but it isn't for us.

The sky agreed with the forecast.  I took this picture as a passenger in our car as we were moving and I didn't see the structure on the left until I prepared to post this here.

Don't these look like pointers directing us to the center of the photo, which makes you think of the eye of a storm?  The storm itself was still two or three hours away.

About a minute or so later, we're still moving, and I saw sunbeams shining down through the clouds. So I took another picture.

I took one more shot of the sunbeams - at this point we were merging onto a highway so were ready to lose this view.

Sure enough, we had a couple of rounds of thunderstorms later that afternoon, one of which had hail.  Fortunately, no tornadoes were reported.  Yesterday, it was cooler. 

Early afternoon yesterday.

And, to end the day, a nice sunset.

Joining Yogi and other skywatchers for #SkywatchFriday.

To Bee or Not To Bee- All Hail the Flower Garden

June 1 was an exciting day.  I saw a bumblebee on one of my two rhododendron plants.  Wait, I'm wrong, but you'll have to read to the end.

Why was I so excited?

These rhodies have been in bloom for several days now and this is the first bee I've seen on it. (Flower on top right, left side of flower.  I had to retake this a couple of times.)

I've been noticing the declining populations of bees on my small urban property for years.  First, it was honeybees.  In this post from 2013, we still had a plentiful population of bumblebees.

At one time, my rhododendrons would have been swarming with bees. I first blogged about the absence in 2010.  

I would see bees visiting my crocus in the early spring.  This year, I didn't see one.  Granted, I don't keep a 24 hour watch on my flowers, but the decline is obvious.

Here, the bee is partially hidden by another flower.

This rhodie has been ailing for years.  We've been trying to nurse it along; this is the best we've seen it for a long time.  This rhodie came with the house when we bought it in the 1980's.

 Pink is the go-to color in my flower gardens.  I don't consciously do that.  It just happens.

I forget what this is, except it was supposed to be a columbine.  Its foliage looks just like a columbine's.  It blooms at about the same time (I would call it a "late columbine").  The flower looks nothing like a columbine, though, and hummingbirds ignore it.  This is the second spring it's bloomed.

I do not like this allium in my front sun yard, yet I don't get rid of it.  Its flowers hang down, and I think this may be Nectaroscordum siculum, or the Sicilian Honey Garlic. (a warning, this plant is not edible.) It's a little hard to see, photographed against some of my not-yet-ready-to-bloom day lilies.

This allium relative is supposed to be beloved by bees, but, again, not one has shown up around it.

This leads me to the hail part of the post.

We had hot weather (for May) the past few days.  On the last day of May, it got up to 92F (33.3C).  On June 1, we were in a sticky 80's and under a severe thunderstorm warning.  We are fortunate, living outside the normal tornado areas, although we've had several small ones over the years.

The storm came swiftly, with torrential rain.  When I started to hear pinging sounds, I knew we were getting hail.  Unlike when we lived in Kansas and Arkansas, hail isn't that common here (knock on wood). We heard the thunderstorm "with hail" warning minutes before and didn't have time to move our car into the garage before the sky opened up.

We weren't about to run out there in the middle of the hail to check things out.  Spouse figured he saw some the size of nickels, but the ground wasn't anywhere near covered, thankfully.  He had just done some planting.

After the rain, I went out to see if there was damage (I don't think there was but we'll see.) Our flowers were soaked and droopy, but within an hour, my other rhodie's flowers had perked up.

And, as I was taking this photo, I saw a bee buzzing around the plant.

To bee or not to bee?  A scary question.

The Story Garden #WordlessWednesday

 It's been almost two years since I've visited the Story Garden near the Discovery Center (a children's museum) in Binghamton, New York.

Today, for Wordless Wednesday, let's enjoy some pictures of the garden, taken May 26.

Welcome!  Now, you may be asking what a story garden is.

It's a garden for imaginative boys and girls.  Of course, it has some rules, such as "Look Out for Elves and Fairies."

Some mailboxes to leave letters addressed to story characters.

A turtle planter.

Late lilacs were still blooming.

There's more but I'll save it for another day.  If you are in the Binghamton, New York area, why not visit?  It's free, and open every day, dawn to dusk.  Your children, grandchildren, or the child in you will enjoy it.

Joining Sandee at Comedy Plus for her #WordlessWednesday.