A Very Late Thank-you Note

Is it just me, or has blogging slowed down the past few months?  While some garden bloggers are still posting on a regular basis,  some are posting less frequently, and some long-time blogging friends have disappeared for long stretches of time.  I've noticed fewer comments, not only on my posts, but on others.'  I'm not complaining, just observing.  Heaven knows, I haven't been keeping up with blogging as much as I would like.  After all, it is summertime and vacation time for many; it's the height of gardening season, and weeding and watering seem to be everyday activities.   I find myself pushing myself away from the computer earlier in the morning (my usual time for blogging as the body unstiffens and the brain cells become more coherent with a fresh infusion of caffeine), so that I can get some work done outside before the temperature rises to intolerable levels.  Evenings are often wasted  spent watching Cubs' games with Mr. P.



Who wants to be inside when it's coneflower season??


Another reason for fewer blog posts might have to do with Facebook, a phenomenon Frances wrote about some time ago. I do hope Facebook doesn't replace blogging because I do enjoy reading more detailed blog posts and seeing more photos of everyone's gardens.  But I do understand--it is much easier to post a quick comment on Facebook than to take the time to write a full-length blog post.  I have posts I started in February that I haven't finished yet and ideas for summer posts I can't seem to get around to writing. 


But I digress . . . the real purpose of this post is to thank some generous garden bloggers and garden friends.  All this ruminating about blogging, I guess, is just my excuse for why it's taken me so long to get around to writing this.

Sometime in late winter I was the lucky winner of a giveaway hosted by Carol and sponsored by Jolly's garden shoes.  As the winner, I got to pick out any pair of garden clogs from their website, and I decided to be a little more daring and picked these pink-soled shoes decorated with leaves and pink posies.  They are by far the most well-made garden clogs I've ever worn, very comfortable with more support than most garden shoes.  They come in a variety of patterns as well as solid colors, too--thanks, Carol and Jolly's!  The only problem with them is that they're almost too pretty to wear out in the garden:)

I was lucky again a few weeks later when I won another giveaway hosted by Kylee at Our Little Acre for some free seeds from Botanical Interests.  I chose several different types of seeds including a mix called "Fairy Meadow."   Not having a meadow handy, I scattered some of the seeds in a barrel planter and now have my own mini-meadow, thanks to Kylee!

Another thank-you goes out to Renee's Garden, who has always been very generous to garden bloggers.  I've been on the company's media list since the Chicago Fling in '09, and each year have been given quite a few free seeds.  One of the packets I chose this year was a basil collection called 'Scented Trio,' which has done extremely well in a large pot on the patio.  I've used only a little bit of it in cooking so far, but even if I never make pesto, it's pretty enough just to look at.

Other garden bloggers have shared seeds from their own gardens with me, but I know if I start naming names, I'll surely forget someone.  So, I'll just say thank you--Garden Bloggers, you are the best!



Gratuitous shot of one of many daylilies also in bloom right now.


Totally unrelated to gardening, I have another BIG thank you, this time to a higher power.  Some of my Facebook friends already know that I thought I had lost Sophie this past Saturday night.  I went outside late that evening to see the fireworks that neighbors were setting off, and Sophie followed me.  Sophie doesn't like loud noises, so when I turned around and she wasn't there, I didn't think too much of it--I assumed she had gone into the garage to get away from the noise.  But she wasn't there, and when I called her, she didn't come.  I became more and more frantic as more time passed and lightning thundered in the distance. I drove up and down the road, and walked up and down the cornfield with a flashlight, calling for her.  By midnight, my husband convinced me we had to give up, but sleep didn't come easily.  I awoke the next morning at dawn and travelled the roads again, going even farther this time, in case she had gotten really lost.  I made up flyers to post and called some of the neighbors to see if they might have spotted her, but no sign of Sophie.


Sophie enjoyed a Fourth of July cookout with the grandkids.

 Many tears were shed, for I was sure something terrible had happened to her or she surely would have come home right away.  But around 8:30 Sunday morning, my husband spied her in a distant soybean field, and when he called her, she immediately ran home, dirty and wet, but safe and sound.  I can only think that she hid in the cornfield from the noise of the fireworks and thunder and then got disoriented. Sunday was a day of tears of joy, many hugs and kisses, and catching up on missed sleep--for all of us.  There must be a doggie guardian angel who watched over her that night . . . but just in case, the angel gets busy, I haven't let Sophie out of my sight since!

The most affectionate creature in the world is a wet dog. 

 ~Ambrose Bierce