This is where they get the Swiss Mushrooms for the Swiss Mushroom burgers.

I know, I know, enough with the mushrooms already. But I couldn't resist this cool specimen I found in the flowerbed while I was waiting for the girls to get off the bus this week.






The girls are both going to *gasp* middle school this year. Sage is in 8th and Maggie's in 6th. It's been a pretty smooth transition so far. I'm excited to meet all their teachers and see just how this whole middle school thing works.

Sam's still at the Charter School, in 3rd grade this year. If I learned anything about dyslexia and learning disabilities thus far, it'd be PUT YOUR KID IN SUMMER SCHOOL. I was floored by just how much he lost over the summer, when we compared his test results this week with the ones from the end of last year. Live and learn, I guess. I'm sure he'll be back up to speed soon.


Anyway, I snapped this pic of the girls coming home one day this week. Look how excited Ginger is to see them. :)

All that's missing are the gnomes.

With all the wet weather, the mushrooms are taking over my yard. I can't get over how many different kinds grow just in my side yard alone.

This one looks like mushroom condominiums.



I love this blue ornamental grass.

Ordinary leaf lettuce, but what a pretty shade of green.

I'm not sure what this is called, but it's in my perennial bed. The tiny yellow flowers are ready to pop at any minute.

The combination of colors on this one is just stunning. I just wish the flowers lasted longer.

A pretty white mushroom...

Can you see the tiny fairy who lives under this one?

Yummy color!

These remind me of creme brulee.

Looks like a pin cushion.


This concludes the fungii tour. I hope you enjoyed it!

Done any dumpster diving lately?

Why yes, as a matter of fact, I have. As I was leaving Bishop's Attic in Palmer yesterday (with a cart load of treasures!) I saw this cool old coat rack thingy leaning against the back of the building. At first I decided to just pass it by, since I spent my junk budget for the week already, but something told me to go back and ask about it. I knocked on the back door and asked the people sorting donations how much it was, and they said "take it, it's yours!"! Score! The old, pitted mirror is duct taped to the back and there's a serious crack in the top that'll need wood glue and some time in clamps, but I love the whole "feel" of it. It reminds me of something you'd see in a farmhouse. Stay tuned for the transformation pics!
I won't bore everyone with the mundane details of just how $hitty our summer has been, or how cold it's been, or just how much the deluge of rain has taken its toll on my poor gardens. Wait, I think I just did. Apologies. But it's all anyone can talk about lately here in Alaska. That and the insane price for a gallon of gas.
A few of my perennials have managed a meager couple of blooms, despite the conditions. My poor blue poppies. If a flower could frown, this is what it would look like.
I was very surprised to see a bloom on my Gardenia. After reading how they are pretty darn "fussy", I resigned myself to just appreciate it for it's gorgeous, glossy foliage. And it blessed me with a single, super-fragrant blossom!
And after 3 years in this spot, my Goat's Beard finally decided to show me it's namesake. Love that spikey, feathery thingy. Sorry these pictures are so dark, but we haven't seen the sun in ages.

Hang in there, Alaska! I think I see the sun peeking out!

Thursday Randomocity

Sage is looking very thirteen these days. Slow down, girly! You're making me look old. She got a fresh new 'do for summer yesterday. Something about this picture...I can finally see myself in her. And I can see my mom.

Summer skies...there's nothing better! (click on the pictures to see them full size) I took this on my nightly walk with the dogs yesterday evening.
Meet Smith Kitty. She's the noisiest of the kittens (I should mention that tiny little Wesson didn't survive. After being unable to nurse enough to sustain herself, she passed away two days ago.) Ruger and Red Ryder are definitely boys. I adore Smith's "beauty mark" next to her nose. Sweet! Oh my goodness, these little furballs are so much fun to watch.


Two of my favorite summer plants: Devil's Club...

and fern. We are crowded with these on the trail behind our house. Paul wanted to know why I'd take a picture of Devil's Club. Most people hate the stuff. I say you have to respect anything that wears a coat of thorns!

Told ya this was a random post. I wanted to add a few more pics, but stinkin' Blogger isn't letting me. I guess you're off the hook...for now.

I planted a new bed of perennials this week that I'm super excited about! Two gorgeous Peonies, some ornamental grasses, some spurge, rock cress, spirea and a couple of annuals to fill in with until the new ones mature. I added a couple of herbs (dill and tarragon) for height in the back. I've never had good luck with them for some reason, though, so not holding out too much hope.

Almost everything I started from seed this year looks like crap, including the veggies, so I had to finally give up on them and go buy some decent plants at the nursery. Bummer. I went ahead and planted the tiny veggie seedlings in the raised bed, but I'm not expecting much from them. So much for fresh salads this summer. :(

I'll share some pics of the new perennial bed in the next post. Does anyone know if Peonies need special care? Someone in line at the nursery mentioned they needed ants to pollenate the blooms. Is that true?