Rotten Reviews: Wuthering Heights

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

"Here all the faults of Jane Eyre (by Charlotte Brontë) are magnified a thousand fold, and the only consolation which we have in reflecting upon it is that it will never be generally read."
~ James Lorimer, North British Review, 1847

"...wild, confused, disjointed and improbable ... the people who make up the drama, which is tragic enough in its consequences, are savages ruder than those who lived before the days of Homer."
~The Examiner, 1847

It's a shame that the authors of these dismissive remarks never knew the success the Brontës' novels have had in the intervening years. Nor that their overwhelming longevity speaks to the universal themes that course through both books. "Love conquers all," would be putting a romance novel spin on them, but really, when it comes right down to it, these two books set the bar very high few "romance" writers since have attained.

The depth of feeling is what lingers with me after all these years. And the dialogue. Both stories lend themselves beautifully to screen adaptations. Make no mistake, they have been adapted so many times, new versions of these stories are met with little fanfare. It's as though every generation must have its own Cathy and Heathcliff, its own Jane and Mr. Rochester.

With Mother's Day approaching, I have only memories of life with my Mother and the fun we used to have together. She's been gone a few years and though that heartache seems like only yesterday, so do some of the good times we shared. We enjoyed both of the Brontë sisters' most famous stories. Usually during the holidays we'd read Jane Eyre, though it wasn't exactly jolly holiday fare, it did have a happy ending and it certainly confirmed that love conquers all. But any time of the year, even if the movie versions of these books were on the Late Late Movie (decades before cable's endless repeats or the handy VCR), we'd get ready for bed, bundle up with our blankets, settle in on the couch and allow ourselves to slip into the dangerous but romantic world of the Brontë sisters. Somehow we found a great deal of relief and triumph in the suffering of Mr. Rochester and Jane and Heathcliff and Cathy -- their ultimate happiness confirmed true love was possible, no matter how rocky the road.

Our love of Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights seems quite trivial now, in the long view of life -- but of all the enjoyable things we did together, it's one that gains importance as the years go by. To just sit and watch a movie we knew by heart together, to weep with sorrow and joy together, however briefly over the misfortunes of fictional characters -- are simple memories I cherish. I'd give anything to be able today to phone her and say, "Hi Mom! How about dinner and a movie? Jane Eyre? With Orson Welles? Or George C. Scott?"

I can hear the excitement in her voice, "Oh, that would be fun! Either one -- but how about Orson? Oh, I just took a cake out of the oven. It's too hot to frost, but should I bring it?"

"Perfect! I'm just making the salad now. Come over anytime." It wouldn't be long and there'd be a little knock on the door and our evening of simple diversions would begin. Sometimes with Dad and/or Hubby, but sometimes just Mom and me.

I'd give anything to share such a humble but happy time with her again.

Coming Home...

Peace and rest at length have come,
All the day's long toil is past;
And each heart is whispering
"Home, Home at last!"

~ Thomas Hood

A darling pair of tree swallows have taken up residence at Sunflower Ranch. Did they pick one of the perfectly aged and correctly sized cedar nesting boxes we have placed around the porch? Did they nest in one of the towering Douglas Firs that edge our lawn to the West? Well, no, not exactly.

Their new home is the same place they nested last spring when we were moving in, too -- in a nook over the front door!! Our front door is at the East end of the porch and the roof sweeps up to a short peak, which is bisected by angles from the skylights over the kitchen. Wedged in between all this is a very small "cave" of sorts. That's where Mr. & Mrs. Tree Swallow [whom we've named Lucy and Ricky] took up residence last year and have returned to again this Spring. They have a lovely Eastern exposure with abundant sunshine [of course on those rare mornings when we don't have heavy clouds or rain...] and seem to be very industrious preparing their nest.


They have been dive bombing the yard and street and entertaining us with their aerial acrobatics now for about two weeks. Since then we've had several freezing nights and much wind and temperatures lower than normal. But as soon as it becomes sunny during the day they're out catching the updrafts and gliding all over the neighborhood, grabbing insects out of the air and diving low to snatch up nesting material. They take turns flying up to the nest with a mouthful of building material, slip into the nook and then quickly fly out again. [On cool, rainy days they seem to be less active.]

One thing we've tried to do is not linger near the front door -- no need to upset them. We're pretty sure we can all live in harmony, but only time will tell. At least for now, they're our littlest neighbors and we've welcomed them home for another summer at the Ranch.

Life is good!

Click here for more information on Thomas Hood and Tree Swallows.

Gorilla Clouds

So, okay, I admit it. I am a weather junkie. I've been hooked my whole life. I think it got started when my parents would have to take me to the doctor. It was a 15 mile drive and the only way to keep me from fussing too much involved a couple of "Mom" tricks that worked perhaps a little too well. She had two favorite tricks. "Look at that pretty house! Did you see all the pretty flowers in the yard? Oh, look at that kitty on the doorstep!" Of course I'd sit up and pay attention. I've had a lifelong addiction to driving around neighborhoods and looking at homes -- dusk is the best time -- but that's not the subject of today's post.

Mom's other trick was to get me to look at the clouds and the sky. In the summer, we used to stretch out on the grass at home in the back yard and look at the clouds in the daytime and at night we'd stare up at the moon and stars. When we'd look at the clouds, our favorite game was to see what shapes came and went in the swirling white masses. There goes an angry wolf -- oh, there's an elephant -- oh look at that funny old man -- you know what I'm talking about. It's a kid thing. Well, I still do it. Guilty pleasure. Good way to zone out.

Today I was on the treadmill at the gym, zoned out staring out the window and across the parking lot and off into the distance. Up above, in a glittering deep blue sky, the most spectacular display played out before me. Clouds of white, every shade of grey and a few dense little black clouds roiled above in the sunshine. The hard edged clouds shape shifted and morphed and evaporated and reformed and positively danced to the music we were tuned into at the gym. The most memorable formation was a hard-edged blob that formed into a snarling gorilla that attacked a perfect [for a moment] version of North America [all the way from the North Pole to southern Mexico, with Alaska, Baja, Florida, and Hudson's Bay completely delineated.] The gorilla kept advancing on the continent and before my eyes Canada turned into Iceland, then joined the entire Eastern Seaboard as it fled into a towering baby thundercloud. The gorilla's head separated from his body and chased away the Mid-West, broke up Mexico and then got sucked into the thundercloud, which by then was darkening with rain.

But no rain fell. The thundercloud broke up, a dragon's tail swung in at an angle to do battle with the pieces, now shaped like slices of pie, a few muffins and a loaf of banana bread...

We finished our workout and went home and fixed lunch. Hubby had a gorilla burger and I munched on a huge bowl of fresh North American salad. I studied the weather, watched the sky, but the gorilla had fled for good.

Question to Writers: Plot or Character Driven?

A question for all of you who write fiction, drama or for the screen: Do you plot your story out before you create your main character [and others] and just plug them in to the plot to fit your story OR do you develop your main character and see where he/she takes you?

I only ask because I have worked both ways -- depends on the project. For example, when I wrote "confessions" the plot was pretty much "sin, suffer, repent, happy ending" which could be anything. I usually decided on the sin first, and went from there.

On the other hand, when I worked in flash fiction, the plots seemed to be character driven. I crafted my 100 or 200 words around the character that sprang to life and demanded to be written about. Those little plots were completely dominated by what happened to the character.

My screenwriting, on hold for a long twilight of elder care, is something I'm compelled to return to as soon as I can this spring. The script I was working on when Dad took ill had been evolving from a character who made me sit up and take notice of him. He seemed quite clear cut in his objectives -- but what happened to him -- that pesky old plot -- went in several directions. Now that I'm disciplining my mind to return to the story again, after a long break, I'm finding I'm up in the air. Perhaps another, more thorough examination of my main character is in order before I even put pen to paper again. Or perhaps I should just let the scenes come and go as they want until I can shape the script once the first draft is completed.

I just wanted to know what you found useful in your own work. I appreciate your thoughts and any comment you'd like to leave below.

Thanks for visiting today!

A Spring Day at The Spring Fair

The Zipper at the Spring Fair

The Spring Fair in Puyallup! Carnival rides, games of skill, win a stuffed animal, whole buildings devoted to the arts, agriculture, animals, and food!

Our choices today included: chicken gyros, strawberry lemonade, strawberry funnel cakes [with 5 inches of whipped cream on top!] and scones with sweet cream butter and raspberry jam slathered inside. Everything cooked and created right before our very eyes after we'd ordered it. So fresh and so delicious!!

Between bouts of food, we managed to see Mexican caballeros on their gorgeous mounts, parading Scottish bagpipers drumming and piping through the fairgrounds, artists in action making candles, pots, and quilts, western antiques, art, and collectibles, traveling vendors with bargain priced goods from around the world, water dogs performing running and jumping into the pool for their toys, piglets racing for Oreos, and so much, much more.

The Puyallup fairgrounds has history all its own -- but that will be discussed in the future. For today, in this, the here and now, a few hundred thousand of us chose to escape our troubles and worries and step back into the time when there were no troubles, no worries. We were all children today, choosing just the right little toy or souvenir, deciding on the most delicious item for lunch -- and other simple decisions, like should we see the rabbits first or the newly hatched chicks first?

Such a day of laughter and silliness and fun! Enjoyable and unforgettable!

Life is good!

Olympia Tea Party, Part 3: Final Thoughts

Daffodils on the Capitol grounds.

In yesterday's post, I mentioned the singer-songwriter. Here's a picture of him during his performance. Note the Boston Bruins hockey team cap. His song fit our mood and it was heartfelt. Besides, what would a protest be without a protest singer? He's one talented young man and we hope to see more of him! Bruins cap and all!


Dave was milling about taking pictures and explaining his sign to the curious -- it's from the Declaration of Independence -- before the event when he ran into the very popular and friendly Kirby Wilbur. Mrs. Wilbur snapped the picture. Dave said they had a great conversation!


Lindsey and her Aunt Barbara before wave after wave of crowded buses arrived. This was their very first political protest and both were very glad they attended!

After the ceremonies had concluded and everyone was starting to feel a little tired and stiff in the legs from standing on the granite steps of the Legislative Building, we hustled out toward the street. We left quickly, worked our way through the crowd and walked back up the hill to the Historic District where we'd parked on a quiet side street.

Judy was driving and she had parked in a non-restrictive zone in front of a weedy antique house with drawn curtains and a tattered "End the War Now" sign in the window. The sidewalk rolled along with a bumpy multitude of tree roots. Nothing had been disturbed and all the little houses on the street had a sad but endearing demeanor, characteristic of most older, working class neighborhoods around Western Washington. We climbed into the car, grateful for its warmth and shelter from the wind.

"Anybody hungry?" Judy asked.

"Yes!" we chorused. Lindsey wanted coffee. Judy and Dave were up for food. I can always eat! So we took off with the idea we'd stop in Dupont for something. Somehow Judy missed the exit or the road or got forced into another lane and we ended up on I-5 heading North. Lindsey spotted a sign that said Shipwreck Sports Bar or something like that, next Exit.

We took the exit, couldn't find the place, then saw a sign "Shipwreck 1 mile ahead" and drove up a steep hill about a mile but couldn't find it. There was a mall nearby and Judy said, "If there is anything in there, let's stop." Everyone liked Teriyaki and we were up for that, though I'm on a sodium restricted diet and feebly objected. (I knew I could find something to eat.) We got closer to the little mall and saw Mangano's Ristorante and everyone started exclaiming -- "Yaaaay! Italian!!" "Stop here!!" "Perfect!" So we stopped and went in.

It was a fairly new place, bright and fresh inside, with the most delicious scents and a homey, inviting decor. Traditional Italian music played softly in the background. The waitress was very sweet, said she could get us something in a hurry and showed us to a table. We poured over the menu and were blown away by the attention to detail and authenticity. Lunch was still being offered, so we studied that part of the menu carefully. In the meantime, she brought us a basket of small rolls splashed with garlic and olive oil -- to die for!

Dave chose a Tricolore with fresh mozzarella, Roma tomatoes, basil and a spritz of olive oil on a toasted ciabatta served on Romaine. Judy chose homemade cheesecake with dark chocolate drizzled on top and powered sugar sprinkled all over. Lindsey ordered coffee and Tiramisu which was silently and completely consumed down to the bare plate. I remember seeing a blur of chocolate and powered sugar and she pronounced it perfect!

I asked the waitress about the soup of the day, if it wasn't too salty. She brought me a sample and it was wonderful, so I ordered a bowl. It was a light tomato base with homemade sausage, small pastas, and a variety of finely chopped veggies. She served it in a tall glass compote, which made a simple meal elegant.

Dave declared the Tricolore "Excellent!" and Judy said she loved her cheesecake and now would have enough energy to work her night shift at the library without feeling hungry at all! The coffee was good, too.

Dave topped his meal off with a huge sugar coated cannoli siciliani, washed down with a cup of hot green tea.

All four of us highly recommend Mangano's! They are on Martin Way in Lacey with generous hours and now serve breakfast on the weekends. Check the website for more information. And go! Eat! Enjoy!

We piled in the car, jumped on the freeway, and headed north toward home. The day had been an outstanding success. We didn't wonder why it had been so meaningful. Deep down we knew we were doing it for young and yet unborn Americans. That's why it meant so much to us. We wanted to pass to them our success and abundant opportunities, a chance at prosperity and right to earn it along with the pursuit of happiness. It was our responsibility to do this for them, as generations before us did it to preserve the American way of life for us. To preserve the Liberty of free people is the highest calling any American can heed. I believe we witnessed an event unprecedented in America with ordinary hardworking Americans doing that for young Americans and all the Americans yet to come.

Olympia Tea Party, Part 2: Rally

This was the only poster I saw that referenced the President. It gently pokes fun at him but is nothing like the disrespectful effigies, obscenities and viciousness that dogged President Bush throughout his term.


A member of our group went up to the top step of the Legislative Building and snapped this picture shortly after we arrived at the square. Within an hour and a half, the steps would fill up and the green field between the buildings would be covered with a sea of humanity.


To our right more people streamed into the square. Busloads from small towns all over Western Washington arrived and joined the main group. Every busload was greeted with cheering and waving from those of us on the steps. As high noon approached, the excitement in the crowd was contagious. Soon it would begin!


The rally began with a joyously spirited version of "God Bless America," which we all sang at the top of our lungs. The lady in red in the lower corner of the picture was the mistress of ceremonies and got the ball rolling. The crowd to her immediate right included the Washington State Auditor Brian Sontag [Democrat], several State Senators [both parties], lobbyists, talk radio personalities, and citizen activists. The wider crowd behind them swept out toward the steps of the Temple of Justice and connected to the steps where we stood. The steps of the Legislative Building were packed to the top, about ten to 15 rows behind us. The slice of participants in the picture represents about 15 to 20%.


Popular radio talk show host Kirby Wilbur stepped up to the microphone first and had the crowd roaring with approval. He is a well respected history teacher as well as radio personality and put the whole event into historical perspective for us and validated our right to be there. He reminded us of the Founding Fathers and the sacrifices they made to create our country and how so many of our elected leaders have forgotten the principles that have guided this country for centuries.

More speakers followed Kirby, including a little girl, maybe age 7 or 8, who was quite articulate and read a portion of one of the founding documents, The Declaration of Independence. She read the first paragraph and half of the second. The part that drew the most cheers was, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness." The kid got a good hand! Someone with a trumpet blew a few blasts to add to the noise.


I had two favorite speakers. Both came a little later in the proceedings. The first was Mike Siegel, witty and controversial talk show host, communication specialist and one heck of a fantastic speaker. We were close enough to the podium that well before he stepped up to the microphone, I saw him chatting with Kirby and some of the other guest speakers. I was surprised to see him in the Puget Sound area again but very glad. He's going to be on local radio again with a show on KKOL 1300 AM next week or next month, I didn't quite catch that, as it's not on the station website yet. Mike soon had thousands chanting "No more pork!" until I thought the buildings around us would explode like the walls of Jericho. He energized us and helped us keep our resolve to fight the wasteful spending.


More speakers followed. Washington State Auditor Brian Sontag earned a great deal of respect from thousands attending the rally who did not vote for him when he said he was tired of the tax increases himself -- and he wasn't joking. He knows intimately that the state coffers are empty and how quickly the $4 Billion surplus evaporated under the shaky hand of Governor Christine Gregoire. He was also lamenting the fact that the Legislature cut his budget! Cut the auditor's budget? How can the convoluted financial dealings by the thieves running the Legislature be identified and stopped if the State Auditor can't audit the books? He was understandably frustrated and asked us to keep fighting. We will, Brian!


My other favorite speaker was State Senator Janéa Holmquist, from the 13th District, Moses Lake, Washington. I was not only impressed with her articulate energy and enthusiasm -- it seemed to me that she has brains and a good head on her shoulders. She held the attention of the crowd with a dynamic energy that reminded me of Ronald Reagan. Weird, I know, but this was my first rally -- I don't do political rallies or attend huge public events on a regular basis. I would say she was a bit like Sarah Palin -- but I am afraid that good woman has been so maligned by the elitist media that she has lost all the terrific public momentum she had from the time she first stepped out on the national stage. Too bad. Senator Holmquist has the same passion and it shows. She, like Kirby and Mike went to the core of the reason why we were here. We are being taxed to the max with no end in sight as our country is jerked to the left. Not just a little left, but a big, hard left.

All in all I think there were about a dozen speakers, including a singer-songwriter from Massachusetts who performed a new song he'd just written. He did a good job, but sorry to say, I don't have a video to share.

When the rally wound up and we were asked to take literature from the various groups and then go to visit our senators and representatives. And tell them to stop the irresponsible taxing. One really stupid tax in the works is to tax the number of miles you drive your car. Fine, if you live and work in downtown Seattle. You don't need a car, so you don't use it much nor do you pay much. I lived there, I know how easy it is to get around by bus. But out here in the rural areas -- you need a car to visit the neighbors!

We didn't need to go to meet our legislators -- one came to us! I recognized a woman working her way through the crowd toward the stage area. We stood near the video camera so we could see everyone. [Since I'm not too tall, it was nice having a fairly clear view of what was happening.] The woman approached us and I asked her if she was Randi Becker. Yes, she was! I introduced myself and the others in our group and we chatted. [This happened just before we sang "God Bless America."] I pointed down to where Kirby and the others were standing and she had a clear shot to get down there. She was meeting some citizens from Orting, and we saw their sign and pointed it out to her. Senator Becker didn't speak at the rally but she attended and talked with many citizens. To us she said they had held the line against the Governor's recent tax increase proposals. We wished her good luck and keep up the good work and she went on her way through the last few rows to get to the Orting folks.


As the rally finished, a breeze ruffled the flags of Washington State, the United States, and the MIA flag. We don't know what the first pole is used for. Someone suggested sarcastically it must be for the UN flag. Yeah, right. I think very few on this crowd would go for that! Just another layer of taxes and irresponsible spending.

In the FDR era, when "Progressivism" also ran rampant in the Federal government, Washington State was one of the bluest of the blue states, decades before that term meant what it does now. The old joke then was "The United States consists of 47 states and the Soviet of Washington."

Oh, how times really don't change...

But maybe we can put a stop to any more change. Are you up to it? Are you strong enough to stand up and say "No more pork?" Will you defend the Constitution with all your heart and all your abilities? Think it over. If your way of life ended today but you were still alive, could you really embrace the change? Change for the better, yes, but the change we are being offered is debt for our children and grandchildren, and their children and a massive lowering of lifestyle. The end to the American Dream? You will be competing for scraps and lucky if you get them. The changes these ridiculous taxes will bring are the end of you as an individual -- unless you are one of the Elites. Remember George Orwell's Animal Farm? Some animals are more equal than others. If it sounds vaguely familiar, it's because it is -- you're living it!! Right now!!

Tomorrow I'll have a few more photos and some additional information. I'm still in a daze from my very first anti-tax rally. Thanks for reading. Feel free to send this link to anyone you know who would find this series interesting.

Olympia Tea Party, Part 1: Before

The Washington State Capitol in Olympia, Washington.

As we approached the Capitol building, all appeared quiet and industrious. The day had begun with ice encrusted windshields and fog. By the time our group arrived, around 10:45am, the fog had lifted and the temperatures had risen to the 40s.

We walked up the sidewalk and turned right to walk past the columns and go around to the back of the building. The Legislative building faced the Temple of Justice across a broad square. Many steep steps lead up to the two buildings, forming a crude amphitheater with the steps sweeping up on two sides and the square wide enough for several lanes of traffic. It held several hundred when we arrived, but it soon would hold thousands.

When we came into the square, people were milling around, some standing on the steps of both buildings, many with signs, others with cameras, boom boxes, or citizen's petitions. The various sponsors of the event had folding tables set up and they were busy passing out pamphlets and selling their wares.

Here are the steps to the Legislative Building facing the square where people were already staking out their territory.

The other side of the Legislative Building, part way up the steps.

From the steps of the Legislative Building.

We met a lot of people, talked to them about their signs, where they were from, what a nice day we had for it, and what were their thoughts on the whole event. More and more people streamed in. There were parents with children, babies in strollers, a few elderly and infirm in wheelchairs and every age in between. It was a mixed crowd of working class, businessmen and women, white and green collar workers -- that had one thing in common -- all were Washington state taxpayers and mad as could be that all state taxes were slated to go up dramatically. Confiscatory taxes at all levels and their escalation brought us all together and kept us talking.

Tomorrow I'll have more pictures, a summary of the speeches and what our little group did afterward.

Don't Tread On Me!

I stumbled upon this YouTube video titled Thomas Paine Tea Party Revolution Patrick Henry "Give me Liberty, or give me Death!" If you are an American and value your liberty and freedom, link to us or copy and pass it on to your friends.





Tomorrow hundreds of thousands of fed-up Americans will gather and protest the internal take-over of our government by the extreme left with their out-of-control tax increases, irrational corporate bailouts, loony pork-packed so-called stimulus packages and other crazed legislation. It's not just a "sore-loser" disenfranchised Republican thing. No, it involves people from all political persuasions -- Democrats, Republicans, Independents of all stripes, moderates of both major parties, Libertarians, Constitutionalists, old-fashioned small capital 18th Century liberals, the religious, the non-religious, all races, and men and women of all ages. The news is all over the 'Net.

But if you rely on the mainstream media, you may not have heard of it. What you do see on the mainstream media will be scoffed at and diminished, and you'll be made to think Tea Party attendees are right-wing extremist kooks. Wrong again, mainstream media! They're ordinary Americans. Not elitists, anarchists, not members of the protesting hate-America classes. They love their country. Most have never protested anything in their lives. They are the people who work for a living, who raise their kids the best they can, who don't take handouts because they can, only when they must to keep body and soul together. Some go to church, some don't. Many are veterans. But they all believe in the promise and the liberty and the freedom of the United States. And they are enraged that these freedoms are being abrogated by Congress and the Administration.

The leftists are planning a backlash. They are more organized and very savvy when it comes to protests. The ACORNs, anarchists, socialists and other thugs will be at some Tea Parties for the express purpose of making trouble. Here is an excellent post for dealing with infiltrators from Webloggin's blog. Read it and follow the advice. Don't allow yourself to be separated from your friends, as you may meet with bodily harm from the out-of-control leftists.

I will report tomorrow on the gathering at the Washington State Capitol in Olympia that I will be attending with a couple of friends. Are you going to a Tax Day Tea Party? Be sure to leave your thoughts in the comment section below. Thank you and have a safe and exhilarating Tax Day tomorrow!

Like the flag at the top of the page? I'm offering a cool Gadsden flag patch at the Sunflower Ranch store. Check it out!

After The Storm, Evening Solitude

Oh, for a lodge in some vast wilderness,
Some boundless contiguity of shade,
Where rumor of oppression and deceit,
Of unsuccessful or successful war,
Might never reach me more!

~William Cowper

He is Risen

The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, Who was crucified. He is not here; He has risen, just as He said."

~Matthew 28:5-6

Christ, the Lord, is risen today, Alleluia!
Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing, ye heavens, and earth, reply, Alleluia!

Excerpt from Christ The Lord Is Risen Today, words by Charles Wesley.
Painting: The Ascension of Christ by Rembrandt van Rijn.

Three Hardboiled Chicks Walk Into A Bar...

Happy Easter Weekend!
;^)

Behold The Savior Of Mankind

The curtain of the temple was torn in two.
Jesus called out with a loud voice,
"Father, into Your hands I commit My Spirit."
~Luke 23:45-46

"'Tis done!" The precious ransom's paid,
"Receive My soul," He cries!
See where He bows His sacred head!
He bows His head, and dies!

But soon He'll break death's envious chain,
And in full glory shine:
O Lamb of God! was ever pain,
Was ever love, like Thine?

Excerpt from Behold the Savior of Mankind by Samuel Wesley, Sr., 1700.
Painting The Crucifixion by Peter Paul Rubens.

I'm Ready For My Close Up...

Closeups of the White Eyes Fuchsia hanging on the porch.

After yesterday's post Supergranny asked for a better picture. Here's the fuchsia with the most blooms. I expect that after a few weeks of feeding, copious water and a bit more warm days into the 50s and 60s, without dipping too close to freezing at night, all six of our hanging baskets will be loaded and bursting with blooms. Right now they are mostly greenery, with leaves, runners, and fairly sturdy stems. Each one has a few buds and maybe one flower or two -- but as you can see from this specimen, they are very full 12" baskets.

These are the grower's biodegradable hanging pots with attached hangers. The pots will last up to two or three years of normal outdoor wear. To dispose, snip off and recycle the plastic or metal hanger and put the pot in the yard waste or compostable garbage [depending on your local garbage rules.] The plants at this age could be re-planted into a fancier pot [I don't recommend it, however] or could be re-positioned into a slightly larger hanging pot. Be sure the pot has drainage.

The growers pots are already equipped with a nice drainage hole at the bottom. As the plant grows, the new roots will fill up the dirt and less water will stream out the bottom when watered. Sometimes I stuff a little biodegradable paper in the hole to keep more water in the pot and not dripping all over the porch. This is only something to be concerned about for the first few weeks or so, however.

I am watering these twice a day during this cool, showery period. As the weather warms up, their watering will increase to showering, misting, and soaking as many times a day as necessary. Last year's crop made it through the heat with flying colors. I'm hoping the same for this year, since five of the six are listed as heat tolerant. I will post pictures of them as their blooms increase. I'm also hoping to capture a lovely little hummingbird having a sip at one of the blooms. Now that would be a picture!

All Fuchsia'd Up

View from mid-porch looking West.

Last evening hubby and I hopped in the car and headed into town. The new fuchsias had just arrived at Freddy's and we wanted to have our pick. As we drove past the firing range, I saw two of the deer along the outside of the fence, and hoped they would not cross the highway after dark. I got a good look at their rumps and they had black tails, making them either Black Tailed Deer or Mule Deer. [There is a controversy on their classification -- they are either a subspecies of the Mule Deer or they are more closely related to the Sitka Deer. Technically it's ok to refer to all of them as Mule Deer.] But, I digress. Back to the Fuchsia Quest.

From the Garden Center we watched a spectacular, although extremely brief sunset, as we inspected rows and rows of newly unpacked fuchsias in 12" hanging baskets. Hard to decide, they were all so beautiful!

We chose five: 2 Curtain Calls, 1 First Love, 1 Dark Eyes, and 1 White Eyes. When we went to load them into the standard jumbo grocery carts, we realized they wouldn't fit too well without possibly breaking a stem here or there. So, we took a large heavy duty flat cart parked near the register in the Garden Center and loaded two fuchsias on it. One of the regular grocery carts also carried two fuchsias, and the second grocery cart carried one, absolutely jumbo-sized plant. We had our own little fuchsia wagon train to the exit where we checked out. A nice tall kid loaded everything for us into the car and whisked all the carts away for us.

The little Scion xB was stuffed with a riot of greenery and flowers. Hubby had to hold the smallest one, and it reached out toward me, across the center console and touched the gearbox. The other four fuchsias were packed carefully in the "cargo" area and flattened back seat. We drove home without incident [no deer on any of the roads.]

We unpacked these hefty pots, snipped off the tags and hung them up immediately. Instant summer! As long as I feed them weekly as suggested, water them frequently and protect them from hot sun and wind damage, they will thrive through September. Ah, now, just to kick back and enjoy their beauty!

Life is good.

You Want Fries With That?

Mt. Rainier dominates the Puyallup skyline.

My sister was having some work done on the truck at Les Schwab Tires and walked up the highway to the shopping center to do a few errands while she waited. She got coffee at the bakery/coffee shop [eschewing the Starbucks in Freddy's] so she could sit at the corner table and people watch for a while. She phoned me and filled me on what she was having done to the Ed-mobile [our late Dad's old pickup] and what she had to do later in the day.

We chatted for a few minutes and I reminded her to drop in on Heather at the salon to pick up her favorite shampoo and she said it was on her list. We both wished I had gone with her, as it was a fine day, clear and sunny and going to be warm, actually around 70, a rarity this early in the season. And I could have used an outing, a distraction of any sort.

But I had appointments elsewhere a little later, and couldn't have gone with her, and she said, "I'll take a picture for you." So she did. I had a lot to choose from -- inside the coffee shop at her table, from the parking lot, and from the highway on the walk back to pick up the truck.

I chose this one. I know there is a message in there, beyond the obvious. But I picked it because I liked it. A very common symbol in the front -- McDonald's Golden Arches -- and in the back, a one-of-a-kind work of Mother Nature's art, Mt. Rainier.

Next time you're in your own Mickey D's ordering your favorite item, and they ask you the inevitable question, look around and take note of your own very local, very uncommon object, your own Mt. Rainier, if you will. Embrace the buildings and the terrain and the features that make your home unique and be proud. Then grab your fast food and find a good spot to people watch and enjoy -- but go easy on that ketchup. The white shirt you ruin just might be your own...

Nectar Anyone?

A flash of harmless lightning,
A mist of rainbow dyes,
The burnished sunbeams brightening
From flower to flower he flies.

~John Banister Tabb

Yesterday evening as a long golden sunset slowly descended upon the Ranch, I was getting ready to fix dinner, puttering at the kitchen sink when I saw something small and dark flash by the window. It fluttered past the porch and landed on my red convertible. Too big for a moth or a butterfly but too small for an Oregon junco, our common winter bird. It was a hummingbird, an Anna's Hummingbird to be precise. The first hummer of the season -- what a wonderful surprise!

But there wasn't anything for it to eat out on the hood of the car. And nothing bloomed on the porch or the yard for it, either. Poor little thing!

So fairly early this morning Hubby and I ran down to Freddy's for the best hummingbird magnet -- a hanging fuchsia basket. I buy the 12" pots containing the thickest branches and most symmetrical shape I can find. Last year I put the baskets up in May, but since I've seen a sweet Anna's hummingbird now, I just couldn't wait three weeks.

One basket up! The nectar is waiting!

I also filled the hanging wire planter-boxes on the porch railing with red zonal geraniums. Red flowers will attract hummingbirds from quite a distance. These are likely to be replaced when they are transplanted into huge pots by the front door in a week or two.

Once the hummers find your fuchsias, they will flit from one to the other. Last year I had a light pink variety they loved, too, as well as an all red, a red and purple, and a deep pink fuchsia. The baskets were spaced about 10 feet apart. It's fun to watch the hummingbirds dart between them.

The key to great fuchsias -- fertilize. Mine doubled in size in about a month last year. They were enormous! The hummers visited all day from dawn through early evening, and buzzed from flower to flower, occasionally resting on the porch railing or fuchsia branch. Such gorgeous flowers begin with a good all purpose flower food and lots of water. [I use a 24-8-16 composition product I bought from the WalMart Garden Center!] You'll have simply luscious flowers and greenery. And a horde of curious and hungry hummingbirds for months.

We aren't finished decorating our porch by any means – but at least from now on the little darlings will have an inviting and attractive place to visit and dine.

Of Moss and Men

I mowed our front lawn Friday afternoon. Before I started up our rechargeable electric mower, I went around and inspected and picked up debris. Most of the grass was a rich green and starting to get longish, despite the extremely cold winter and recent snow. What I noticed as I went around picking up the smaller twigs and fir cones and one tennis ball dropped and forgotten in a corner under some fir cones, I noticed a terrible thing had occurred to our once flawless turf.

We had moss!!

Oh no! I had eliminated most of the weeds last spring and thought I could do the same with the few we had popping up now but I didn't plan on battling moss as well! I went out to the greenhouse to tell Hubby.

He was disconnecting the charger and getting ready to roll the mower down the ramp when I yelled, "We have MOSS!!!" He looked at me like I had announced the sinking of the Titanic.

"Don't be so dramatic," he said. "I saw it. It's worse in the back yard," he said, gesturing over his shoulder.

True, the back yard was a disaster -- bald spots, an assortment of weeds, cones, small branches, clumps of moss -- just about everything. But we agreed last year we we'd tackle the back yard this year. The front yard was going into the maintenance period -- weed, feed, water and mow.

"Here's what we'll do," he said evenly. "And don't worry!" He then went on to explain we'd get some good lawn product in the morning. But for now, he was raising the wheels on the mower to make the first cut a little higher. "Then the day before we put on the moss-killer, I'll lower the wheels and you can cut it again." I thought it over.

"Ok, it's all set. Have at it!" He stepped back from the machine and I pushed it out to the front. He busied himself with moving some pots while I mowed. I really like this mower. No need to rake, bag, dispose or compost, since it's a mulcher. It's automatically composting every time I mow. And because it's a non-gas rechargeable, no trips to the gas station, no cords to tangle under one's feet, and it's easy to operate. Hubby finds the only drawback is the fact it's non-self propelling and it's too hard for him to push it uphill with his heart condition.

The next day we went to the Fred Meyer in town and picked up two huge bags of a Scotts granulated product to spread on the lawn. We have a small spreader, which is very effective. I also think the granulated is less wasteful than the liquid applications.

Monday I'm going to cut the front again, a bit lower to expose the moss. Then Tuesday afternoon, when our brief sunny period will be replaced by clouds rolling in, I'll spread the front yard with the Scotts. I have not much grass to mow in the back, and since it's in such rough shape, I'll skip the mowing altogether and spread the Scotts product on it, too. Wednesday sometime the rain will arrive and wash the chemicals into the soil.

In a week or so, we'll see what we have left to work with and go from there.

Do-It-Yourself Stimulus Package

Tired of all this unfair bailout stuff? I am. Mad that your name isn't on this list to receive someone else's hard earned tax dollars so you, too, can go to a tony resort or redecorate your office or throw a three day birthday bash for the shop steward? I am.

I decided to take matters into my own hands and print my own money!! Just like the Feds, I have money to print and to share!!!

This is your Do-It-Yourself Stimulus Package! You don't even need a corrupt and elitist Congress and to vote it in for you!! You don't need to arrogantly sign it three days after you coerce your cronies to pass it, unread! Just print your own money!!

The million dollar denomination works best. Easiest for buying that 25 room cottage in Ireland you've always wanted, or firing your own CEO and bailing out a crooked "voter registration" community organization. Just click on the links below the graphics for a huge graphic, resize if desired, and print! These bills are appropriate for your wallet or checkbook, and just like real money soon will have absolutely no value.

Click here for a full-sized version of the front of the bill.

Click here for a full-sized version of the back of the bill.

Tell your friends! Bail out the family, too! Send it to your tea party pals! Just link back to Sunflower Ranch and make it easy for them to copy the original to their computer and then print their own money!

We're rich! We got our piece of the quickly diminishing pie!! It's the end of prosperity but the beginning of our own comfortable lifestyle with nary a worry! Just like Congress!

Hooray.

Spring's First Rainbow

It was only ten days ago that spring arrived. That very afternoon, after a series of storms rolled through, and the sun popped out briefly between the hail and rain showers, a brilliant and wide-banded rainbow appeared. It didn't last long, and it got smaller as I watched it. I was lucky to grab my camera moments before it completely faded away and disappeared forever. This picture was snapped about a minute before it evaporated. This rainbow only lived about two or three minutes. The first rainbow of spring! I am confident there will be more.

It reminded me of this famous poem by Emily Dickinson. Enjoy! And keep looking for rainbows!

On This Long Storm The Rainbow Rose

On this long storm the Rainbow rose --
On this late Morn -- the Sun --
The clouds -- like listless Elephants --
Horizons -- straggled down --

The Birds rose smiling, in their nests --
The gales -- indeed -- were done --
Alas, how heedless were the eyes --
On whom the summer shone!

The quiet nonchalance of death --
No Daybreak -- can bestir --
The slow -- Archangel's syllables
Must awaken her!

~Emily Dickinson

Deer at the Firing Range

This evening while driving past the firing range, I saw two young mule deer grazing in the low meadow between the range fence and the roadway. This was the second day in a row they'd been visible from the highway. Yesterday when coming back home after my sister's heart emergency we saw them inside the fence at the range, in the brush on the edge of the timber bordering that sprawling property. Today, the deer had apparently jumped the fence for the proverbial greener pastures.

They must be content with grass right now. In a few months, they -- or their numerous relatives in the neighborhood -- will be gobbling up our roses and other tasty flowers.

Last summer one of my wildflower patches was mysteriously flattened in the shape of one of these critters and many of the flowers had been eaten. In addition, the bird baths were so frequently empty in the morning, that I put an old kettle on the ground near the baths and filled it to the brim every night. We placed another old roasting pan in the ground near our little stand of trees. Both were often empty in the morning. I suppose the deer came through and drank, but the coyotes and foxes could have used it as well. It would be fun to hook up some kind of webcam or surveillance equipment to take pictures of the night visitors.

But that's in the future. For now, I'm happy to see them minding their own business on someone else's property, though why they would live on a firing range is beyond me.

For more information about these beautiful creatures, visit the Mule Deer Foundation.