Sunday, April 26, 2009



April 26 - our anniversary - our 12th anniversary. Wow. Dennis is out of town this weekend, as he is almost every year, at the CMC Fly Fishing Class field trip. He should be home in an hour or so, and then we will have a romantic dinner somewhere.

It is finally raining. I worked in the garden this morning; it really needed it. I pruned back the three-leaf sumac by one third and it looks great. A couple of weeks ago I went to the "No Fear Pruning" class through Footshills at Jared's. The sumac is less than two years old, but it is already four feet high. Instructor said this is because sumacs are just a big weed. But it gets tall and is drought tolerant, and that is just what that spot needed, so there it is. When it leafs out I will try to post a picture.

We are almost done with our dossier. I am just waiting for our two reference letters (they are written, signed and enroute) and state-certified Power of Attorney for Dr. T. I will definitely let you know when the dossier is accepted by WHFC. We will be drinking champagne that day. Or maybe today for the anniversary!

Addie is loving the great weather, and even Xing Xing has been dying to get on the deck. She is so cute when she curls up in a container. But soon the containers will be full of flowers or veggies or herbs. I planted Bright Lights Swiss Chard and French Breakfast Radishes a few weeks ago. They struggled through the bad weather, but are on their way now. I also planted some very old seeds:

* Mache, not yet sprouted

* Butterbay Soybean, a bushy variety, also not yet sprouted

* Mesclun Cooks Tangy Mix, which already overtook the Swiss Chard in size

Pray the birds don't pull it all out!

Saturday, April 18, 2009






Rain Sizes

by John Ciardi

Rain comes in various sizes.

Some rain is as small as a mist.

It tickles your face with surprises,

And tingles as if you'd been kissed.


Some rain is the size of a sprinkle

And doesn't put out the sun.

You can see the drops sparkle and twinkle,

And a rainbow comes out when it's done.


Some rain is as big as a nickel

And comes with a crash and a hiss.

It comes down too heavy to tickle.

It's more like a splash than a kiss.


When it rains the right size and you're wrapped in

Your rainclothes, it's fun out of doors.

But run home before you get trapped in

The big rain that rattles and roars.

Friday, April 3, 2009


Happy to report that we received the receipt and fingerprint notices from CIS for our adoption petition this week. Off to be fingerprinted!