Summer's Last Blooms

"August rushes by like desert rainfall,
A flood of frenzied upheaval,
Expected,
But still catching me unprepared.

Like a matchflame
Bursting on the scene,
Heat and haze of crimson sunsets.

Like a dream
Of moon and dark barely recalled,
A moment,
Shadows caught in a blink.

 

Like a quick kiss;
One wishes for more
But it suddenly turns to leave,
Dragging summer away."
                      - Elizabeth Maua Taylor

Something to Contemplate

Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. Deuteronomy 30:11

But in accordance with His promise we are expecting new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness will dwell. 2 Peter 3:13

 

Even so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun during the short life God has given them, and to accept their lot in life.  Ecclesiastes 5:18

 

The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of a ruler of fools. Ecclesiastes 9:17

 

Stop and consider the wonderful miracles of God! Job 37:14

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.  Psalm 150:6

Feeling grateful and blessed,

What's in the Garden?

Today I'm heading over to visit Tootsie and friends at Fertilizer Friday.  Can you join us?  You can visit at http://www.tootsietime.com/ or enter through her site at the bottom of my page!

It has been raining cats and dogs here in Nikiski.  Literally!  Mud puddles galore. I haven't snapped any recent photos of my blooms, but  I will next time the sun comes out.  All the hard work is done, things are growing beautifully and now they are certainly getting watered!  Today I'm sharing some photographs of the creatures that inhabit my property. 

 

To be able to glimpse the exquisite beauty and simplicity of nature is to capture a bit of mirth, merriment and rapture of God's great creation.  We have eagles, ravens, owls, chickadees and moose, caribou, ermine, rabbits, and even on rare occassion, bear....and of course, my beloved pets!

Thousands of years ago,

cats were worshipped as gods.

Cats have never forgotten this." 

Anonymous

Cooper in the wild mess of bleeding hearts and ligularia.

Thirsty Durst in the dry creek bed.

Kipling, exploring, 2008

Wrangell, the new guy in the garden.

My little dog - a heartbeat at my feet.

Edith Wharton

Tassi amid hostas, ferns and lilies.

Monti on the green

In Alaska, as you drive at twilight, you need to keep an eye on the sides of the road for horse-size animals that might walk in front of you. An adult male (bull) moose can weigh 1,600 pounds and the female (cow) a little less. Only the male has antlers, which fall off in the winter.  Moose calves are born in mid-May. Whatever you do, don't get between a cow and her one or two calves; she will be protective. 

Mama moose resting in the morning. This view is from my window to the back yard.

Munching on a small willow.  Notice the budding antlers?  Beginning in May or June, it usually takes three to four months to grow a full set of antlers. This is an astonishing growth rate, as antlers can be enormous, often spanning many feet.

Spring feeding in front of the greenhouse.



The question is not what you look at,

but what you see.

Henry David Thoreau
Thanks for stopping by,