End of summer

Traditionally Memorial day is considered the end of summer I guess and as far as school goes that makes sense. But not necessarily in Idaho. The days are still hot yet and the nights get cold at times. So I feel that it's not time yet to put away gardening tools. In fact I am watching a watermelon in my garden that must weigh at least 25 lbs and a bunch of cantaloupe that also need some more summer days to ripen. I tried many times to grow melons back in the Midwest but to no avail. The ground was so hard that they couldn't do what they needed to do. Here, it's mostly volanic ash and if you mix humous with it, it grows melons and potatoes and beans and sugar beets. Even though I live in high desert, with irrigation, growth is pretty amazing. Being in the tenth year of a drought is a very real concern here though. The Snake River provides the water for most of the irrigation which in turn comes from the canals all over the area and they get the water from " the Snake ". And the Snake gets it from the runnoff that comes from the melting snow in the mountains of the Tetons, etc. The problem with that is that the Tetons haven't gotten the big snows like in the past. Global warming ? I suspect it is . And this summer has been the hottest on record here. In fact, the worst range and forest fire in the country is just north of us in the Sun Valley area. Sixty four square miles had burned as of Wednesday. Hundreds of homes have been evacuated. We went to eat dinner near there the other day and the smoke plumes were just a few miles away. Today is the anniversary of the death of Princess Dianna. I can remember easily where I was when I heard the news. Had just come back from the local county fair and stopped for a snack. The TV was just announcing the death. What a shock ! Only one example of the fragility of life. Sometimes I am amazed that I have lived as long as I have, considering all the narrow escapes I have had from tradgedy. And those are only the ones I know of. Imagine how many times you have avoided or been saved from horrific things and you never knew it. Maybe left an minute earlier or later and you might have been at the wrong place at the wrong time. Life is so fragile and yet so tenacious. A couple years ago I passed by the very support in the underpass in Paris where the Princess died. An eerie feeling came over me and a sadness. What if she had lived ? What wonderful things could she have accomplished ! This morning, like every other morning, I took a walk along our canyon of the Snake River. Even though I have done it many times, I am amazed every time at the incredible sight of this natural wonder. Almost a half mile across in places, 500 feet deep and a falls near the town that is 52 feet higher than Niagara. To the north one can see the mountains near Sun Valley. In the winter they shine white with the snow. I never fail to be awed by the Creator's handiwork and make it a point to thank him on my walk. What a great place to meditate on all that he has done and continues to do. I need to get my telescope back up and running so I can check out some of the things in the night time sky, more amazing creations that shout at me that there is an incredible universe with stars and galaxies so far away that it takes light millions of years to get here and on the other end, particles so small that they can only be imagined and theorized. All accidents of " nature " ? Hard for me to accept ! So Sunday morning, when I take my walk along the canyon, and see the very tip of the sun come up over it at dawn, I will again thank God for the amazing universe and also my little corner of it.

The Earth and Sky

Finished planting today in my backyard garden what most likely will be the last of the planting of elements in that part of the property this year except a few things that didn't make it that were planted initially before we moved in after the house was done this spring. The plants were the large leafed " bergenia " that have nicely colored flowers on long stems in the spring. I think they give the garden a lush look, which is ultimately what I am building on in the back. In the photo at the beginning it pictures one side of the walk leading to the front door of the house. It is a Japanese inspired garden greeting the visitor on both sides. You arent' able to see the Japanese cutleaf maple in the back with the " chocolate ajuga " underneath but I will show it at a later time or in the spring. In the foreground is the " dry streambed or the part on this side of the walk at least. This was a pleasant evening as I rented the movie " A Good Year ", directed by Ridley Scott and starring Russel Crowe, one of my favorite actors. Some might call this movie a sappy love story I suppose but I would consider that simply an opinion. Frankly, I loved the movie even though I am sure some might also say it was predictable. So ? Who cares, not me. It had a great story to tell as well as wonderful scenery of the Provence area of France. It made me want to go there again even more and stay in one area this time. Most likely in a small hill town where in the evening one could go to the local bistro to drink wine with the locals and in the morning go to the market down to street to pick up the day's provisions for meals. I think the Provence area has an atmosphere to it that simply says " come here for awhile and forget where you came from ". We bought some great olive oil in Avignon, a very picturesque walled city. The movie tells the story of a fast living investor who is ruthless and dedicated to only one thing, making money. After inheriting a small estate in Provence where he grew up with his uncle he realizes what he may have missed. You have to see the rest but if you like a good love story with great scenery, etc. , see this movie. I don't think you will be disappointed Maybe this tells a lot about me ? Ha. Growing up in the country I still have a connection to the earth. In fact, I made wine as a youngster and now that I can start my garden and landscape from scratch, I have planted a few Chardonnay grape vines, that incidentally are doing wonderfully. And for what purpose ? Well, what do you think ? And besides that, Idaho is gaining in a reputation for wineries. More are being started all the time. Several near here. Who would have thought ! As you may see by now, I have a feeling for the sentimental and part of us that connects with our surroundings and the earth as well as people. I just downloaded the new version of Google Earth, the version that now includes the software for astronomy with photos and data and information on the universe and planets, etc. I have now been motivated to get my telescope back in service and do some viewing again. In the past I have seen things with my own eyes that are so fascinating with this instrument, such as planets, star clusters and planetary nebulae or clouds. Seeing them as taken by the Hubble telescope only makes it apparent to me that there is so much we do know but even more we don't know and much more we can't even imagine, let alone know anything about it. And I am convinced that there is no way this came about by accident, any more than all the events in my life came about by accident. The best screen writer in the world couldn't have come up with a story containing the amazing things that have happened in my life, not just the good but the " bad " as well, which in turned have seemed to come to good eventually. Amazing ! I could go on and on about that but maybe another time. I will finish with a quote that I like that addresses some of what I have written about here and maybe before. If you understand what this says, then we most likely have something precious in common ; " Nobody can make a violin speak the last depths of human longing until that soul has been made tender by some great anguish ". Take a few minutes when you have time by yourself and think about this. Until next time, Ralph.

Sooner rather than later

I have always been under the impression that you wait for the " right time " for things. That might include a multitude of stuff under the heading of " things. Maybe a trip you want to take when the time is right. Like to Paris, which is where this scene is, on top of a hill overlooking the city, where many famous artists used to gather. One of my favorite spots there .I just read a weekly posting from someone I met on the Canyon Trail along our magnificent canyon one day. He had been visiting here from Hawaii , which he does on a twice a year schedule when he comes in the winter to ski at a famous resort near here and in the summer to enjoy our beautiful scenery at the same resort town. His weekly messages are inspirational as well as good advice. Anyway, his message this evening was about " change " and meeting new challenges with new solutions, etc. One example was about taking care of ourselves as our needs change during our aging. The sooner we get the solutions and care for our changing bodies, the sooner we get to enjoy renewed health, energy, etc. I guess I never thought of it that way. I have at times begrudged having to get new glasses, go in for other issues, decide to walk, exercise, change diets ,etc. But looking at it this way, I realize that the sooner I take care of myself when things change, the sooner I get to enjoy the renewed benefits of health and quality of life. Something to think about the next time I put something off that needs attention ! I have been working on the lawn and landscape as much as is practical lately in an effort to get as much done before winter as I can so that I have a great start on my garden plan when the first shoots come up in the spring. It's such a neat time of the year to watch life return and be reborn again, to see growth, to watch and wait for the buds, and then the leaves and flowers, to see the plants get bigger than they were this year, to smell the honeysuckle that only started to grow in my garden this year after I planted it. My vegetable garden , such as it is, makes me feel good after many years of not growing one. I have my first large watermelon growing in it too. My father-in-law used to grow these huge watermelons in Minnesota called Black Diamonds. You can't find them in stores anymore but you can buy the seeds so next spring, God willing, there will be Black Diamonds in my garden, along with Chardonnay grapes and a new raspberry patch, etc. The sky's the limit ! My wife and I watched " Under The Tuscan Sun " on TV this evening and it is fun to watch it again after seeing it several years ago. Even more enjoyable after having seen Tuscany in person. I would love to go back and rent a villa for a few weeks and get to know the area, the locals, shop every day for our meals at the local market, have a glass of wine at a small cafe where the locals go. Since Sharon has had her medical problem recently it may not be practical but one has to dream. And if we don't get there, well, I won't comlain or feel slighted. Having been to Europe a couple times and so many places, I feel I have more than enough already. And in a few weeks I should be heading to China to do a painting for a corporate client.Sharon will probably go along although a few weeks ago it didn't look like she would be feeling well enough. This will be the chance to see a totally different culture than I have yet seen. One of my keen interests while there will be to visit some of the prominent gardens in the city where my work is located. So, tomorrow I will watch the news in the morning to see if there is any more word on the miners in Utah, a heartwrenching saga that deserves our prayers. And then there is the hurricane headed toward the Gulf, hurricane Dean. What is in store for the people in it's path ? and the horrific situation in Iraq with a recent bombing causing hudreds of innocent people to lose thier lives. Only a small sampling of things that need our prayers. I thank God each morning that I remember, for all the blessings I have gotten. Lots of tough times but then we all have them. So keep the good ones in mind and learn to change what you can and pray for what you can't. And do it sooner rather than later. Ralph