The Eagles Have Landed

Jenny and her boss left for London yesterday afternoon and they landed at 2:15am our time.  In the meantime, Ariana and Kurt flew from Washington State to Croatia and they will be joined by Daniela tomorrow. 

After having no sleep, Jenny went out to catch some sites before meetings started. I appreciate all the photos she has sent.

Vedrana, Ariana's grandmother, spends many months at her home in Croatia and she was very happy to see these two.

So what about Scott?  He is at home working on the house with his contract pal, Doug F.  They have made so much progress.  This little cape will now have dormers and

a two car garage topped with a great room.  A lot will be done by the time Jenny returns.

Meanwhile back at the ranch....  It was a busy morning.

I mowed the lawn and front paddock.  Finn came up to help Gary with weed whacking, moving manure to the gardens (that have been picked) and they took down two big branches that were blocking the gate to the small pasture.

I went out to Glen Darach farm with Little Wonder to groom Buddy and give him some carrots and apples.  It was hot and buggy so several of the horses were inside where it was cooler.

Buddy was still shedding.  I'm glad I was able to get more hair off him.

The flys were bugging his face so I put on a mask I'd brought out when he moved.

No one else was there and LW wandered around panting.

He was happy to get in the car for the second half on his ride.

We had a different dinner tonight...all done on the grill.  I sliced up a fresh pineapple and basted it with brown sugar and butter.  Also sliced up three potatoes (raw) and they got basted with butter/oil/parsley.

On top of that, Gary grilled two boneless pork chops.  So good.

We are expecting rain for the next few days.

Night all.

Lots of Visitors Today

But...I forgot to take photos!  It was beautiful until dinner time and then it poured for over half an hour.

I was slow on the draw this morning and got a phone call that two friends were in their car on their way to the farm.  I was still in my nightgown and quickly changed to some clothes.  They were here for about an hour and it was so much fun catching up.  Jeanne was visiting from Pennsylvania and her good pal (Alicia) drove her over to see us. We have know them both for over 50 years 

Had last nights leftovers for lunch and I went for a quick trike ride (#25)

 before our friends Tony and Claire stopped up.  They are in Saratoga for 6 months of the year and always pick up some garlic.

While they were here, Greg K. stopped in for some garlic and Gary had none.  Sold out in ten days.

We've had enough rain to keep the gardens in good shape

(On my kitchen table).

Today Gary picked shallots and

dug out more potatoes.

No regular dinner tonight.  Had some oatmeal with walnuts and craisins.

Little Wonder is in his bed giving me the stink eye.

Night all.

 

Another Full Day.

Up by 8.

Little Wonder and I got out to the Studio just before my class arrived at 9:30.

I had asked them to add more layers to the landscape/seascape paintings they started last week.  Here are few examples.  They were painted without a reference, which is not so easy,

 

Today I asked them to do a simple drawing of the cone flowers I brought in....

  This time they drew them on tracing paper and transferred them to water color paper.  The object was to start out light and layer them.  It was just an exercise and I did not expect a full page painting.

I gave them each a water color book (a local artist must have given me 50 new ones when she moved out of state) to take home.  They can keep them or trade for another,  I had already given away more than 20 and certainly don't need to have so many.  It was such a good time.  We listened to some old Barry White music and discussed everything from the World Cup to the political scene.  I had forgotten how much I used to enjoy teaching.

After they left I started preparing dinner.  Jenny, Scott (celebrating his birthday) and Finn were going to join us. 

Little Wonder absolutely loves Jenny,

Yet another new blossom.

We had a serious picnic and it was delicious.  Used the hot dog sauce Chet brought over yesterday and it was off the charts.

Jenny is going to London tomorrow (work) and it was nice for her to have the night off from making dinner.

We had Nutty Buddies for dessert.

Little Wonder and I need some chair time.

Night all.