Thanksgiving in Austin with my daughter Daphne and family.

We went to this Koi garden/nursery, and Shirley, the owner from Scotland and I became friends very quickly. It was lovely here. We bought some ficus pumila for Daphne's pond areas.
Ill add some pics of her garden area, and pond.

We had a quick lunch at Chik Fil A on this day.. umm, I had forgotten all about Chik Fil A.
 I had to have these certain foods you know; like tamales, and barbeque, Schlotzsky's, and Chik Fil A.
The tamales were heavenly, from a conviences store!
A friend drove from Dallas to visit me, and we went out for Bar be que one night.
Thanks Mark!! It was good to see you again.

Pretty yellow flowers
Daph and I hung out here for a few hours, but mostly we just stayed around the house with family, and enjoyed the yard and visiting.
 Her home is very lovely, a garden that is just plain relaxing. And the kids and all of us had a marshmallow fight. We had to pick up the mess though so the dogs wouldn't eat them and get sick. We had fun.
Thanksgiving was ver very nice. I had missed family occasions so much.
She has invited me back for Christmas but I haven't made plans yet.
 I was also invited to California, I guess I had better decide.

Nice sculptures

Daphne cooks, but many hands help out..

The pooches like to sun on the stairs

Daphne who says she isn't photogenic.

Karen, who is apparently going somewhere. All teens are always going somewhere. :)
I stayed in Karen's room, That was very nice of Karen to share her room with me.

Here are the pooches getting a drink in the yard

This is Fancy...

..and this is Paco
I miss you all......!
I'm sorry I just forgot to take more photos..
we had so much fun visiting, and cooking, shopping, etc.

Umm, nice evening..wish you were here..

A Little music, good food, a glass of vino..Christmas Shopping can be fun!

I little restaurant with live music in Snohomish..

Surf is so relaxing..

Click below to view full screen. 

This is almost as good as being at the beach...

Beautiful Mums

My first year attempt at growing these specialty mums. I don't think I got the ones I ordered. I bought about 13 starts and very few turned out to be what I ordered. I'm a little iffy on ordering next year, which would be springtime. But I have to say that these mums have potential beyond the job I did this year. They require cultivation more than most flowers I grow. Pruning at a certain time to 6"
Then feeding with osmocote, then feeding with high phosphorus, constant debudding, and not allowing new stems to grow. The goal is one great large flower to a plant.
I admit I don't care if they are giant flowers, they are very beautiful and provide luscious fall color.

Notice the petals curve inward, like a good leader leans into his people.
( It is said in Chinese literature about these flowers, which were emancipated from a lonely form of one flower, a single yellow fall flower, to become just one of thousands cultivated thus far).
The history is very interesting.

They're amazing flowers, and the varieties are endless.

Click to enlarge. These are iPhone photos. (G3)

This one looks so much like the light shining through a lemon.

Click on this to see the way the flowers petals are translucent.

This is what happens if you don't dis-bud

"The flowers that we grow originally come from China and have been cultivated as a herb since 1500 BC. Historically, chrysanthemums have been documented as far back as the 8th century AD in Japan.

In fact, it is so important that the Emperor of Japan has a chrysanthemum for his official seal. It is a 16-petal golden disk. The physical throne of the Emperor is called “The Chysanthemum Throne.” The Ming Dynasty of China used the chrysanthemum in their art and lacquer ware."

Ikebana attempt.

These are some of my chrysanthemums I am 'trying' to cultivate. This weekend King's Mums closes, last day Saturday to see their display. Anybody wanna go?

Two varieties here..

kokono waza

A few varieties I'm growing..I'll get to the other names soon.. maybe

Kokono Waza

Joyce Fountain

George Couchman

Wenatchee River

Some Mushrooms by the river.
 These were very large mushrooms, some a foot across.

The beautiful Wanatchee River
Did I ever tell you that Rivers talk to me?
Well, Rivers tell me everything I need to know.
Basically that we are all One, so don't forget.

We really enjoyed this trip, and I'm sure that we will have any more enjoyable trips in the future to this area.

 But I may have to start a new blog soon...we will see..

Skookum La Metsin

My Chyrsanthemums. These are the beautiful Japanese varieties.

Joyce Fountain

kokono waza

joyce fountain

kokono waza

Joyce Fountain

Yesterday on Whidbey Island

Sushi and udon tonight. Cosmos beautiful.

Lake Quinault Lodge deep in the Rain Forest

The resort features 92 guest rooms, a lobby with a Grand River Rock fireplace, an indoor heated swimming pool 

and a front lawn overlooking Lake Quinault and the Olympic Mountains. Lake Quinault Lodge is open year-round.

The artistic work decorating the beams is enjoyable to appreciate.
 The old lodge is a peaceful place.

There are no TV's, but there is internet service which is iffy..
Rooms are comfortable, and breakfast is very nice. I had sweet potato pancakes with bacon and eggs.
 Yum!

Lake Quinault Lodge, I'm helping pick out new carpet for the stairs and hallways.

Built in 1926 on the shores of Lake Quinault, within the heart of one of only three temperate rain forests in the world, Lake Quinault Lodge is a rustic, historic resort in the Olympic National Forest. 

With access to more than 250 miles of hiking trails in the Quinault Valley – 15 miles of which are within walking distance of the lodge – Lake Quinault Lodge is the perfect starting point for exploring the emerald green forests and surrounding wildlife on and around the lake.

On June 9, 1926, construction on this lodge began with forty-five craftsmen from all over the Pacific Northwest. 

Crews worked around the clock to complete the construction before the rainy season hit. 

Fifty-three days later, on the evening of August 18th, a grand celebration with 500 people officially announced the opening of the Lake Quinault Lodge.