I had to hesitate calling this post “Pot Gardening” due to the abundance of obtrusive comments that I get
under ordinary circumstances from total strangers in obscure places around the globe. Imagine the response from strangers - say nothing of the law enforcement community - to “Pot Gardening” ! So “Container” it is. We had been to a wonderful garden tour with our garden club this month where the huge deck overlooking the lake was covered with an incredible array of containers of perennials, shrubs and annuals. I was inspired. Although there is no lake at which to gaze from our deck, there is an overgrown green belt behind the condo where the birds attach the bird feeders with the frenzy of a ravenous African carnivore.
In addition to my own containers, the owners of our condo graciously left behind a number of odd pots which I promptly filled with potting soil and began the search for red flowers of any kind. I had fallen in love with my sisters red begonia in South Carolina so when I saw this one it was a no-brainer. It is still blooming the way it looks in this picture.
To satisfy my fetish for color on walls, I successfully convinced my dear friend, Robin, to let me help her paint the entire downstairs of her condo a shade of sage-y green similar to the living room on Johnnys River Road. She is so exuberantly happy with the results that my guilt over the aggressive manner with which I convinced her has been completely assuaged.
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The furniture arrived and everything is unpacked. We are about as “settled” as can be for the next 2 years. The garage is full of seasonal stuff and things that don’t fit in the house. This is the “before” we are unpacked picture. It was a bit touch and go but we managed to get all the furniture into a spot somewhere in the place.
I have begun the container gardening project with lots of red - begonias, impatiens, carnations, geraniums. But I couldn’t resist the lavender and delphiniums so I’m included them on the deck. I found an astilbe and remembered how much I loved the one my former neighbor had in a pot so that had to come with me, too.
Some of you have asked about pictures of the condo so I am also including an “after” picture. This shot was taken from the living room. Looks pretty crowded, huh? I prefer the term cozy.
Here’s another shot of the living room. It was taken from the landing of the stairs. The chandelier got in the way. That’s our new sofa. Really comfortable.
Talked to our tenants in South Carolina and they are happy as clams in the house. Hopefully for 2 years.
So, since we are pretty much settled here and most everyone knows we are home, there is really no longer a need for this blog. It will be taken down at the end of this month.
If you need to contact us, email or call:
sparky@tsparks.com
kathy@tsparks.com
360-656-5548
Call Tom if you need computer help. Come see us anytime.
Thanks for sharing our adventures for the last 16 months…it’s been quite a ride!
-tom&kathy
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Although we have actually found a place to live for the next year, we won’t move in until July 30th so we are still staying with friends, Irene and Gary, in Everson. We did spend a couple days at the Damon’s estate in Sudden Valley where I snapped this picture off the back deck. We are headed back next week for a few days, too.
Will post again once we move in.
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I forgot to say that while we were in New Mexico we experienced some terrific thunder and lightening storms but after a particularly heavy one, the sun reappeared and produced a magnificent double rainbow just beside Kathy and Butch’s house.
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After a few days in New Mexico with Butch and Kathy, we are on the road once again. This time we are traveling the high desert of New Mexico, Arizona and Utah. We spent several hours enjoying the splendor of the Navajo Nation in Arizona. After watching the hill formations loom up in front of us with the pristine blue sky above them, it is no wonder that the native Americans held the land in such reverence. What few people we encountered at our infrequent stops we found to be rather quiet, courteous and sincere. I did find them to return smiles quite easily, though. I have a new appreciation for this country even though I could not make it home.
The Navajo Nation is located in the northeast corner of Arizona but extends north a few miles into
Utah and east into the northwest corner of New Mexico. The speed limit on Highway 191 slowed as we passed through the various small towns along the way. It is all open range so at Many Farms we encountered a number of cattle and horses grazing peacefully along the side of the road. Besides modern homes of either stick or manufactured construction, most of the little ranches also had the traditional hogans located somewhere near the house. They are built with the door facing east and used for sacred ceremonies and to keep themselves in balance. I thought they were so interesting that I’ve looked them up on the internet. You can read more at: Navajo Hogan
Well into Utah, we viewed what appeared to be a huge rainstorm up ahead but as we approached it, we realized that it was a windstorm picking up dust.
We made Price, Utah and got tired and hungry.
Tomorrow we hope to make it to Baker City, Oregon. Won’t be long now and we’ll be home. Can’t wait to see green again.
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We’ve had our last dinner at Beef O’Brady’s and are on the way home. We’ve said good-bye to Cindi and Randy Welsh with a promised visit by Kathy next summer when she visits Maria and Patricia. The Welsh’s will be caring for the house on Johnnys River Road for the next year. Cindi assures me that Randy has the “biggest green thumb”. We do know that we will miss them and all the folks at Beef’s that we have come to know over the past year. I look forward to visiting next year and holding babies that are expected within the next 9 months.
We are packed. My plants are once again loaded into the back of my car with some of the essentials we will need until we are permanently ensconced in a residence in Bellingham. After a quick breakfast with Suzanne at the Maryville Diner, we are on the road again. This first leg takes us 14 hours on the road as we travel across three entire states in one day and fall into bed at a Hampton Inn just outside Jackson, Mississippi.
Next stop - Arlington, Texas with the Stasny’s again. Tom arranged to meet up with two former Air Force members that were stationed on Shemya, Alaska while he was there. We met them for lunch at Willie’s Place in Carl’s Corner, Texas. Yes, that’s right, Willie’s Place as in Willie Nelson. After lunch Bob gave us a tour of the facility which includes a cafe, souvenir shop, a theatre and the most creative Ladies Room in the western world. I had to get a picture of the three of them in that room because of it’s close resemblance to a brothel from the 1800’s. See for yourself. How appropriate that we should be stopping here when we are “on the road again.”