In Praise of Trees

As the trees leaf out in sparkling green, I realize anew how fortunate I am to live surrounded by these marvelous creations--the lungs of our planet.

 

When I Consider . . .

In this beautiful time of year, it's tempting to simply ignore the news and bask in the sun.

But I can't. I am fascinated by the daily reports of the Former Guy on trial--his dozing off, his scowl, his reported farting--all of these are laughable. But the fact that he is being forced to sit silent--without his Diet Cokes and without his minions and yes persons constantly stroking his ego--well, I gotta say I enjoy that. I enjoy that he had to hear what many of the prospective jurors thought of him as their posts on social media were read out. 

And then there's the testimony by Mr. Pecker of the National Enquirer--showing how the Enquirer coordinated with the Trump campaign to 'catch and kill any negative articles about Trump and to post any and all disparaging article about his opponents.

I, for one, have never accepted supermarket tabloids as a source of news but, alas, I suspect that many of the Orange One's supporters do.  Hillary pregnant by space alien; Ted Cruz shamed by porn star, Ben Carson left sponge in patient's brain-some people believe what they want to believe. So, add the Enquirer to Fox News as an enabler of the Orange One.

Linda, one of my FB friends said that she felt much of Trump's following came from his years on "The Apprentice"--a show that had about as much to do with reality as does the Enquirer. Her words: If there's anyone to blame for the Orange Buffoon's rise, I believe it is Mark Burnett. His careful editing of The Apprentice made the Orange Asshole seem to be a smart, compassionate, honorable and wise man.

 

Interesting. I never watched that show, unlike a great many folks. But wow! that is some serious editing. The mind boggles.

I wish I could think that as more and more of the Former Guy's machinations are revealed, that his supporters will see how they've been manipulated. 

Wishful thinking. Folks in a cult like MAGA have too much of their ego wrapped up in their beliefs. 

Ah, well, at least I can look forward to Don Snorleone having some more miserable days ahead as this trial grinds on. And with no Diet Coke.

                                                                                         

At Random

The new green against the blue sky . . .ah!

At their ease, enjoying the sun after two days of rain.

The persistence of nature.

The rhododendrons are coming on.

Meanwhile, the tree peony has called it quits--a short-lived bloom time, alas.

 

Breaking News: The Rapture is Tomorrow! Again!

How many times does that make that some self-appointed prophet has proclaimed The Rapture? Or Armageddon or The Apocalypse or (fill in the blanks.)

Some people will believe anything. Witness the current state of the race for president. I think I'm actually more appalled at the number of Americans who choose to believe the Orange Blowhard (oops, I'm disqualifying myself from future juries involving him) than by the Blowhard himself.

I'd seen the "news" of the impending Rapture on FB but wanted to check the source. The first thing that popped up was Fox "News."

Surprise, surprise. When the history of the past decade is written (always assuming there will still be people capable of writing history,) Fox News will bear much of the blame for the Orange One's rise to power. Fox and Russian disinformation campaigns--though perhaps I repeat myself. They may well be one and the same.

Meanwhile, in other news, the bluebells are blooming, and my little patch of ramps is up. Years ago, I bought a bundle of freshly dug ramps and planted them. Now they are thriving and spreading. 

If I thought we were looking at End Times, I'd go on and pull up every last one and have a real ramp feast--kind of the fundamentalist approach to environmental issues--use it all up with no thought for the future because this world is not our home.

But I don't and I won't. I will continue to harvest only the occasional leaf, conserving the patch so it can increase. This world is my home.

 

Another Day Dawns

 

Pickled Onions

I was planning on a no-meat supper--field peas on rice with greens and a kind of corn cake on the side. But it just wasn't inspiring me till I thought of pickled onions--a perfect taste accompaniment as well as a nice shot of bold color to jazz up the meal.

                                                                             

And they're quick and easy to make. Do a bit ahead so they can spend an hour or so in the fridge. 

Here's how:

1 red onion

1/2 c cider vinegar (or rice vinegar)

1/2 cup water

1 tsp salt

2 tsp sugar (or honey)

Slice the onion very thinly and shove slices into a glass jar (I used a quart size.) Combine the other ingredients in a small saucepan and heat till salt and sugar are dissolved. Take a taste and adjust the salt/sugar to suit your own taste. Pour heated liquid into jar, making sure onions are covered. Refrigerate at least an hour. Keeps about three weeks. 

I can eat this right out of the jar. Or on cottage cheese or in a cheese sandwich or on a burger or a taco. 

I could probably eat it on vanilla ice cream.

                                                                                           

All Around

 

The Many Faces of Josie

I am a reader. This is a book about a robot. It has eight chapters and I am on Chapter Seven. I have a bookmark.

                                                                                     

Somedays I am a princess. And a doctor. And a superhero with a cape.

Sometimes I am a storyteller. In this story, Octalia has captured the babies. But she isn't going to hurt them. It is just a game.

I wonder what I will be tomorrow.

                                                                                            

She Has Outdone Herself!

Around thirty blooms on the tree peony greeted me yesterday.

They will be short-lived, as it's rather warm.

But the honeybees are making the most of this explosion of beauty.

 

Meditative Housekeeping

With temperatures in the high-seventies and bugs flying around, it was time to put up the screens. Which meant it was time to clean the windows.

On a beautiful day like Monday, it's a job I enjoy. A breeze came in through the open windows carrying the delightful fragrance of new-mown grass.

And then there's the view--all those trees in their feathery spring green against the blue-purple of the farther hills. 

And the cheerful hum of carpenter bees.

And wasps, too, as they vie for nesting spots under our eaves.

What a day for window-washing!

 

She's Back!

                                                                                      

Possibly my favorite flower--at the moment, anyway, the tree peony has outdone herself this year with over 20 blooms.

In past years, late freezes have been hard on her, and I've been thrilled with four or five blooms. But this year, the weather was kind.

I'd never heard of tree peonies till some years ago when an article in Martha Stewart's magazine spotlighted Martha's gorgeous collection of these beauties.

They don't die back, like the more common herbaceous peonies, and they bloom much earlier. 

Such a beauty!

Sun Day