  FIGHT BACK! Soroptimist International Schenectady 2010 Garden Tour 2009 Garden Tour 2008 Garden Tour 2007 Garden Tour 2006 Garden Tour 2005 Garden Tour Stockade Secret Garden Tour 2008 Stockade Secret Garden Tour 2006 Stockade Association  Charlton Tavern Website ---click on photo Tavern Benefit photos My photos at Fotki 
        The Lady Recommends... The Katbird Shop NWF Backyard Habitat The Visit Scotia site D.R.C.C. Pyramid Life Center Still Point Kent Nerburn.com B:>compatible Aunt Katies Attic My Friend's Pages... Jill Batchelor.com John Elliott Photography From the Heart Southern Somedays Blog Glassy Beads.com Cast of Characters (GardenLady's Plants) Email Me: Gardenlady at gardenlady.us |
You have found the homepage of the Garden Lady! News pages will fill you in on what's wrong in the world, my aim is to share what is right with the world through my camera. It's a BEAUTIFUL world out there. Life...a blessing, gift and a 'Magical Mystery Tour'.... Come on out and play! July 29, 2010 Where is the time going?  Does anyone else feel like time is flying by? No, that's not intended as a pun with this photo of sparrows in Stockbridge last month *grin* How about that little rebel on the right? It is just about August and even though we have had a long time of hot weather I am wondering where the summer is going. Of course, I've been working on those slides which, by the way, are FINISHED (hooray!). There were almost 900 scans done - some done more than once because I was not pleased with my first scans. What an amazing project! Now, it is on to preparing for the two retreats. Worked picked up as well this past month and out in the garden the weeds are beginning to have a field day once again. I need more hands, mour hours in a day but then again, who doesn't? I have been out here and there with the camera for a few shots. Also in the garden the black-eyed susans are open. This is the point where there is the most color out there. Plus, I have to finish spray painting the louver doors we bought at Habitat ReStore to use as a decoration out on the side the garden where the grapevine was cut. An idea that I came up with after seeing one of the Garden Tour gardens using painted shutters to hide their compost pile. I am happy to report that the one remaining vine is still alive and put out a couple of tentative shoots. For now, it's off to start a new day! July 18, 2010 A Little Relief...  After some more hot and muggy weather, we had a couple of BIG storms last night. The first one came in fast...I was outside watering the hanging baskets and saw the clouds come in. I took a picture, noticed the lightning and put the hose away. That storm lasted about 15-20 minutes. The second storm came in about an hour and a half later, with a LOT of lightning and some thunder. And today, it was much more bearable.Low 80's and less humid. It was just a little after 8 PM when I took the photo, you can see how dark it got. We also had a busy weekend with receptions after each Mass for our retired Deacon Bob who is moving to a retirement community with his wife on Tuesday. He lived here in the village for a little over 50 years. Otherwise, I am STILL scanning slides and work is picking up. Retirement can be VERY busy... July 11, 2010 And The Heat Goes On...  We had one day of [sort of] relief on Saturday when some rain came in but it is back to hot and humid. Granted...it was not in the 90's today but this is a summer just like all the old-fashioned summers I remember. The funny thing, apparently the Old Farmer's Almanac called for a cooler than normal summer. Hmmmmmm..... I have been spending a lot of time indoors and still scanning. The count is - over 600 slides scanned thus far and perhaps 300 or 350 to go? I can count the ones in the plastic sleeves but there is a recipe type box that holds more. As much work as it is I really don't mind doing this at all. But I WILL be happy when it is all finished. By the way, the photo was taken at Lock 9 on Thursday night. We have had very hazy sunsets so there is not a lot of bright color as you sometimes see heralding a hot day to come. While we were out, we came back to Lock 8 and I picked up some great river rocks along the shore. They are being used around my fountain and also we stopped at the Habitat ReStore and I picked up 2 sets of louvered doors to spray paint and use as a garden 'fence'. July 9, 2010 How about THESE? As I mentioned last week, Pat and I went to the Berkshire Botanical Garden last week where one of their featured Exhibits is "Living Stylishly in Nature: Re-Imagining the Humble Garden Shed." If you know me, you know I am particularly fond of Tiny/Tumbleweed Homes, and these sheds were as much a highlight as the garden itself. Naturally, I got photos of the five sheds on display...inside and out. I WANT ONE!!! Enjoy, Pictures are here and more to come soon. In other news, the heat wave continues and our grass is getting brown...I am inside more than out and trying to keep the garden growing without wasting too much water. The house gets pretty hot by evening as we only run the two window air conditioners at night. Tough conditions for people AND plants. July 2, 2010 Independence Day weekend  Happy Birthday America. And a safe and happy 4th to all! June 29, 2010 -Field Trip! Heading off tomorrow with my friend Pat to Berkshire Botanical Garden. I haven't been there in about 5 years, and she has never been there. The weather is supposed to be spectacular (as today is) and I am charging the extra battery as I write. The weather has turned beautifully cool and breezy, and the windows are open to let in the sweet air. I am enjoying listening to the fountain we bought about a month ago, and am on the lookout for rocks to place around it. My friend Mike (of Train Garden fame) gave me some hens-and-chicks to bring home and they will be planted among the rocks. Once I get them, that is. Hubby said maybe we could find some blocks at Home Depot but I am looking for plain old rocks. Should be nice once I get it figured out and in place. In the garden, the bee balm and cone flowers are opening. Plus, I bought 2 hanging baskets and 2 large geranium pots on sale at Pedricks so they are adding their color. Whoo Hoo! June 25, 2010 -GARDEN TOUR PHOTOS ARE UP Yes, you read right, the 2010 Garden Tour photos are up. Enjoy! June 23, 2010 -Photos...we have photos! The first of a few pages I have been meaning to get online..... Dave and Eileen's 40th Anniversary 2010 Scotia-Glenville Relay for Life More to come, the next BIG project that I am working on is the Garden Tour pictures. Hopefully up soon! June 21, 2010 -Thanks a lot...   Thanks to my 'neighbors' who killed my grapevine this past weekend. It would have been nice if you asked who it belonged to before you hacked it down. It would have been nice if you had at least apologized... June 20, 2010 -Back in the sauna We are back to hot and humid, after a fairly overcast and rainy week. I did get most of the gardens done, I have one more to do today and the last one tomorrow and that will be complete. Some real beauties as usual, it's a long job but I do love seeing what people have done. There are also other events that need pages so I have my list. You know, the one that never gets shorter? I did a little work in my own yard again and was horrified to see my relatively new neighbors hacking away at my grapevine. I was too late to save half of it :(. It takes a lot to get me really mad, this succeeded. The vine is on my property, on a support, and not even in anyone's way. I am still puilling out dead vines. More later, have a busy day ahead. June 13, 2010 -Results and more  This was the scene during the Luminaria Walk at Relay for Life on Friday night. I stitched 5 photos together in Photo Shop for this image. The 'dark' areas by the bags were the shadows of people walking. We got up to the high school field around 5, checked in and wandered around until the dinner in the Survivor's Tent, then the opening ceremony at 6:45. From then on, we walked...stopping now and then to use the facilities or sit for 15 minutes and then it was back on the track. Walked until around 11PM, then headed home where I unloaded the photos, went to bed and then it was back at the field around 5:15 AM where we walked a few more laps. Relay ended at 6AM. There are no words adequate to describe the event. Walking the survivor's lap and realizing how lucky I am, then the stirring Luminaria Cenemony where the list of those who lost the fight were read. Reading the inscriptions on the bags..."In Honor of"..."In Memory of..." There was even a bag in my honor. The walk in silence after the names are read is especially poignant, that is when I find myself tearing up and I am thankful for the cover of darkness to hide the tears. Too many names I know on those bags, people who were close once again that night. I got a notice that the Scotia-Glenville Relay has raised over $108,000. and still counting. So now, the event is done, the fight goes on. We walked or ran, helped light the thousands of candles, and stood in support. And now life goes back to normal and I start on the pictures for the Garden Tour this Saturday. The miracle of the ordinary day. Thank You, God, for our blessings. June 10, 2010 -READY TO RELAY...for LIFE  Got my Survivor's tee, checking my backpack, I am ready to walk! Relay starts tonight 6:45PM, ends tomorrow 6AM June 9, 2010 Solid Figures Tonight was a "Bank Night" for relay so I brought in my donations. Presently, the total collected is $1,263.17 for the fight against cancer. Not too shabby. I know, I know...get back to work! Still open for donations and yes, I know I have to get picture pages up **grin** One of my followers reminded me, oh dear! June 8, 2010 OVER THE TOP! I spent this past weekend with my final push collecting for Relay, which will be held this Friday-Saturday. I had set my fundraising goal at $500.00, and figured that was a reasonable amount given these tough economic times. But nothing prepared me for the surprise of raising over $1100.00.... I couldn't have done it without the help of my friends. So, I am back from the bank with a bank check for the cash I collected, plus the persoanl checks that were given. Ready for relay, and still collecting in case anyone is interested. I do have a site online at ACS Relay page and if you are interested you can email me and I will send you the link. But thanks to all of the super people making this possible. Your names and intentions will be in my heart and on a list I will carry at Relay. In other news, I have been scanning slides - a few hundred of them. I have the privilege of digitalizing the work of Fr. Bob Roos, one of the driving forces of Pyramid Life Center who passed away a few years ago. I never had the pleasure of meeting Fr. Bob but I have the honor of getting to know him through his work. And I realize how the fact that I appeared on the PLC scene a year or so after his passing was more than coincidence. It seems I am doing somewhat the same work he did. I went up with Pat yesterday and while she touched up some of the trail markers she had made I walked around and took pictures and recharged my batteries. Hopefully I have a few pages to put up soon. June 2, 2010 The Busiest Month There are some busy times coming up, I did some more yard work here and there this weekend to cross a few things off the list before the busy-ness begins Starting this coming weekend, Aunt Katie's has her outdoor flea market on Saturday, rain or shine. Will it pour buckets or be hotter than blazes? Stay tuned for THAT.
The second event is Relay for Life the following Friday night into Saturday. I have been collecting funds either through my
online page at Relay or hitting up my friends locally. I am not part of a team, but walk from the Survivors lap and for as many laps
as I can before the Luminaria ceremony around 10PM.And of course, it is Garden Tour time, so I will be contacting the gardeners individually to get photos of their gardens - any time except the day of the tour. It is just too difficult to make it to all the gardens and get good shots in the time allotted on tour day. That event is work intensive for me so I may be foregoing the Stockade Secret Garden Tour this year. That would be the 4th weekend and "I aint as young as I used to be..." I also want to get a page up with a couple of pictures of my friends Eileen and Dave, from their 40th Anniversary. A blessing and Vow renewal at Mass, and coffee and donuts after, it was the same weekend as First Communion. I think I lived at St. Joe's that weekend. But right now, I'm setting my calendar and hope to get up to Pyramid Lake with Pat one day next week. Have to have some more play time, you know! Past Diary Entries - The Archives. |