Belle du Jour

Belle in the Afternoon

Lazy cat day in Glendale. Too warm for any of us to stay in the garden.

Knitting Needles

Hostas

Enjoying my garden this summer

Semana Santa in Antigua Guatemana

This is a spectacular alfombra(carpet, rug) in Antigua Guatemala.
The family has constucted this carpet for the last thirty years. I heard that it took 14 hours to layer the carpet. The procession walks over it in minutes, and then the family starts the design of the next alfombra for the following procession.

Belle

Here is my cat, Belle. She was a rescue from the Pasadena Humane Shelter....my Christmas present in December 2004. Bob, my twenty year old cat had died on December 1st. I wanted a mature cat, as it is more likely for the kittens to find a home. Unfortunately there are too many animals that are destroyed (killed) each year.
She is now nine years old. It was immediate love when we met each other in the shelter. She is a good hunter, treating me with a rodent every time I return from my vacation. She loves to garden with me. Her favorite gardening trick is to unearth the succulents I have just planted and carry them off in her mouth. Sometimes I find them. The cat behind her is Jumper, also nine.

The Huntington, Botanical Gardens

Went to The Huntington yesterday thanks to Bank of America. Never thought I would thank that banking institution for anything. It was a perfect day for the gardens. Many cacti and succulents in bloom. All the years I have visited here and this was my first time in the heritage walk section. This area was opened to the public in October 2003 and gives one an idea of how the original garden was laid out in 1907. The bees were busy harvesting pollen and the squirrels delighted us with a show of how they climb onto the cacti to snatch the spent blossoms and eat them as though they were a nut. The lizards were fat and sassy and the garden was full of hummingbirds.
The bromeliads, puyas, in the desert garden were also in bloom, even though this is usually at the end of their booming time.

The new Botanical Conservatory was a treat. It will be even more enjoyable in the winter. Today was a bit oppressive with the high humidity and temperature. They have tags pointing out the blooms that may be hidden to the casual observer. Another visual treat there was the nesting mourning doves, second generation to the Conservatory. Many carvinorous plants are here also, in addition to a learning, hands on center for future bontanists.

This was an experience that left me smiling all the rest of the day, and even lasted through the next day. Makes me wonder why I don't take time to enjoy what is available to me more often.
Great day!

KA's first post

My first posting to my blog. This blog was a birthday gift from my eldest son. Time to get with the 21st century.
Look here for future projects I am planning, and perhaps some completed.

Happy Birthday!