Flower child

Tutu's favourite spot is always where she shouldn't be – in this instance, in amongst the ornamental sage? and marigolds – which have done exceedingly well after their precarious start to life.

I had a slow start to the weekend, only venturing out around 3.30 this afternoon, to try to bring the front yard into some kind of order (one of my recently planted yews is on the way out, along with I think all six of the variagated bushes planted along the fence out the back). My enthusiastic early Spring gardening attempts not so successful and this latest discovery joining the ranks of my failures, the best still being my overfertilized back lawn ... now a mottly array of burnt dead patches and stubborn green tussocks.

Beans

After pulling a carrot from the crowded patch and finding it to be about 2 centimetres long and not ripe, I was flabergasted to find that my 'Italian Bush Beans' had yielded at least one meal's supply, before bunnies or disease or gardening ineptitude could strike – and yummy they were, reminiscent of beans from Mum's garden at 108. Tomatoes are yet to ripen.

Fin soaks up some rays

Fin (who is at this moment bugging me to go outside) enjoying some afternoon rays.

Fin and Tutu go raspberry picking

Fin and Tutu can't believe their luck with the onset of ripening raspberries in the backyard. Very hard to drag them away from their pursuit.

Sonya's 4th of July celebration

Sonya (from work) invited me to a birthday brunch on the 4th ... a very nice way to start a three-day weekend ... and topped off by this delicious concoction of berries and cream.

Hitting the trail

Pete and Rina invited me to go horseriding AND strawberry picking on the 4th of July weekend. It was a hot Saturday and about a 30-40 minute drive south to Rosemount. Horseriding here is not quite the adventure I remember from my youth ... where we were let loose to do as much damage to ourselves as possible ... but a slow plod along behind our 'trail leader' around dusty soybean and corn fields - similar to our family holiday experience at Grand Marais.

Strawberries were not quite ripe and, due to procrastination on my part are now bagged and sitting in the freezer awaiting some kind of culinary interaction!

Tom Waits at the Brady

Took a mid-week trip to Tulsa with my friend Steve to see Tom Waits. Very different to Chicago a couple of years back. We had much better seats and the theater is much smaller (about 2,000) so the interaction with the audience was more raucous. He was in fine gravelly form.

We stayed at a historic B&B by the muddy Arkansas River about a mile and a half from town. Tulsa was typified by a lack of taxis and ATMs!

Paddling on Gun Lake

Went for a paddle for an hour or so this morning on Gun Lake in Fort Snelling park. Saw beaver dams (and heard evidence of habitation when we got too close), bald eagles (and nests), herons and yellow-headed blackbirds.

Sunday in the garden

A somewhat successful Sunday afternoon in the garden, resulting in unseasonal sunburn (from pulling dandilions). Planted the needy marigolds along with a native 'Fothergillia' that reminds me of Aussie bottlebrush. Also planted a lilac – though a little wary, given that I was constantly pruning one last year that is planted in an unfortunate position behind the garage ... couldn't resist the thought of the fragrance. Monday night and just enjoyed a glass or two of wine and too much cheese with Lynn and Katie. Lynn dropped off a bunch of hostas which will hopefully survive the shady front yard.

Dim Sum at Jun Bo

Met up with James and Jackie (Jemma and Jack), Nicole and Matt (Oscar and Kate) and Katie for a long overdue yum cha. Nothing like raucous Chinatown, but no great difference in the menu.

Good intentions and needy marigolds

Didn't quite kill these little guys yet - but looking sad after a warm week. Still to get them into the ground (more lawn repair taking precedence).

Summer storms

My little 1 megapixel Canon doesn't do it justice, but the summer storms with their beautiful afternoon light have arrived.

Adirondacks

Garden furniture courtesy of George Bush's economic stimulus package. Yes, not only was there a refund from the IRS this year, but George deposited $600 in my bank account to encourage me to help kickstart the stagnating economy. Happy to oblige, I ordered these chairs from a local furniture maker, who used various types of reclaimed cedar. Have given them a test run inbetween my Spring gardening efforts.

Lawn repair

Spent a morning last weekend hoeing (sp?) the (many) dead yellow patches of what once was grass in a pre-three-dog-house landscape. Of course, I have neglected to subsequently 'water twice a day', so there's less than a 50% chance that my efforts will be rewarded.

Tutu goes to the salon

Sadly can't see the full extent of my labors, but Tutu had her annual de-shag a couple of weeks back. I don't think she's too pleased, but it does make her look a shadow of her former self! Fin has yet to go under the knife.

Flamingos

Spent Wednesday to Friday last week in San Diego at a 'Women's Leadership Conference'. It was held on Coronado (a not-quite island attached by a narrow neck to the mainland). It was busy enough that I didn't get to dip my toes in the Pacific, though we were treated to a lovely dinner at a famous hotel on the posh side of the island (sadly not the side we were staying on!) 'Hotel Del Coronado'. Flamingos spotted having a dip in the hotel grounds.

Spring

Missed April ... the days are definitely stretching out. Surprised to see tulips sprouting in one or two places in the yard. Managed to prune the apple tree but yet to attend to grass repair!

Snow and poop thawing

Daylight saving last weekend. Seemed somehow to encourage the onset of warmer weather. A beautiful 2 degrees C today, veritable t-shirt weather. The snow melting last week caused a minor flood in the garage and the revelation that I had missed quite a few pooper-scooping opportunities over the winter ... nothing like pooper scooping amidst thawing pools of water ... lovely.

Fin and Tutu are VERY shaggy and in need of a good going over, though they are oblivious to the fact. Hope to get out for a stroll this afternoon.

Daffodils

Palm Sunday today. The 'youth' from church cooked a pancake breakfast - which hit the spot. Included locally tapped maple syrup and these weird but very edible maple-flavoured mini sausages. Daffodils were available for purchase, so are now enjoying a home in the kitchen.

Kettle

Thanks for the kettle Ewen. It gets a regular workout.