Prairie Notes

Two weeks ago I was out in the big hayfield. I was amazed with the flowers that I found. So, this Sunday I went out to take photos. But, alas, they are gone! Only the Butterfly Milkweed remained, although I do love this flower. The one I am most sad that I missed was Sensitive Catsclaw Briar. I love that beautiful pink flower. Well, maybe next year. I'll have to remember that it blooms and goes before the hot weather hits. And the last three days have been 100 degrees.
Also note the Buffalo wallow. They are about 20 by 10 feet and 1 to 2 feet deep. They are easy to spot as even today, almost nothing will grow there. This is a result of strong compacting. And also standing water and alkali conditions. We have 3 or 4 of them. Cool! I get great pleasure in picturing, 200 yrs ago, immense herds of Buffalo grazing these fields and wallowing in the mud to control the flies, or perhaps just to cool down.

JJ's New Computer

Here it is! Jonathan's new 17 Mac Book Pro. And it is gorgeous! 40% brighter than mine and dramatically faster. Sigh... JJ's new 17 includes a beautiful screen, 2 GB Ram, 120 GB Hard Drive, and a Mighty Mouse. A Blenderhead dream machine.

I'm glad he is so happy. He will be using it for his business. His goal is to pay for it by the end of summer. But, evenso, he has 36 months to pay for it.

Hey all!
these are pretty much all pictures from the top of the London Eye, the great big ferris wheel in Londonl. All except for the one of the Big Ben, the clock, which I took from the ground!
We are off to Ireland!

Here are more pictures!




In the front of the river Thames which is right behind our glorious apartment!



This is the sign right next to the bridge over the Thames that we cross every day to get to Hammersmith station where we catch a train/bus/subway(tube)!! The sign says "weak bridge" if you can't read it.



The glorious black current cheesecake mom and I had at a coffee shop that was on Londons equivilant to Broadway. Right across the street was a theatre playing Ave Q. Later we saw ones playing Les Mis, Chicago, Wicked, Guys and Dolls, and lots of other broadway shows!!



Of course my new favorite car the "smart" car. It is everywhere! I would love to have one, except, I think if I did I would just be cracking up everytime I got in because it just looks so silly!



The Hammersmith bridge. this is the one with the "weak bridge" sign before it!


Have a great day. Stay tuned for more updates, because today we are off to actually go inside westminister Abbey, Buckingham palace and lots of other glorious places!
Love Willow

Sorry guys. The actual blog ended up completely different than what the preview was showing me. I guess you will just have to guess which caption goes with each picture. any suggestions of how to get this right??

Hey everybody! Here are just a few pictures of this amazing city!! Mom and I are having an absolutely wonderful time. I will be putting up many more pictures as soon as possible, but for now it is almost 3AM and I really need to go to bed.
Love you all!
Willow



these bright red phone booths are everywhere!!




There was a military musical event going on (kind of like a big changing of the guards...) and Queen Elizabeth was there. We were at a gate at the back of where the event was being held and this was her car! Later, when we were eating at a restaurant on a corner about a block away we actually saw her drive past! She was only about 5 feet away from where we were sitting. What are the odds that we would go to London and actually see the Queen!



This was a croud of hundreds of roller bladers! They were just rolling along on a very busy street with really loud rock music playing! It was awesome!




This was in Trafalgar square. The lit up building was the National Museum!




We weren't sure why there was a statue of Abe Lincoln in England!

wierd...

hmmm. the colors are all messed up. It is supposed to be blue and yello. Hmmm....
B

A post at last!

hello all,
Just wanted to show you the poster I designed for the June art show - Journeys. It is part of a 3 part series: Journys, Roots, and Home. Hope you enjoy! Love you all,
Betony

Roots and Wings

Here is my first try at illustrating the first page of "Roots and Wings" - Tim's awesome poem! Hope you all can see it OK. I still have to add some music notes on the score that's flying through the room - but I thought maybe Tim might want to write a little ditty for that and I could actually put the exact notes down. Anyway, lots of fun! Enjoy!

Sunday Tour of VT

Hi Mommy and Everyone! Mom, I hope these VT Spring pictures cheer you up! Because I want you to get better and be back to the healthy Mom we know! I love you soooooo much! Katie


Here is a beautiful little Trout Lily that was out in the horse pasture at the Barry's house. I just loved how pretty and perfectly shaped it was and the beautiful markings on the leaves - like a trout! :)

Here's a pic from atop the Warren Pass. Sandy and I drove that way to Aunty's house yesterday. Usually it takes about 45min to get to Aunty's via the interstate - but the way we took was almost 2 hours! Although I think we were a little lost a one point! But the Spring scenery was worth it!!!

A Trillium! So pretty! And I could't believe how many there were just everywhere in the woods!

Another Warren Pass pic

This pic was taken, again on our way to Aunty's, and I think we were in Braintree - but it was so pretty because we were way up on a ridge and the road was riding along the top ot it. So beautiful!

A sign post just outside of Warren. Do you see the Blueberry Lake sign? I really want to check that out - I guess there is great x-country skiing and blueberries in the summer!

Aunty took this of Sandy and I at the cliffs at her house - we were out looking at wild flowers!

The horses were just put into a new pasture of green spring grass - they are running out to enjoy it!

Sandy and I - on the way up a mountain to Braintree

Rushing Spring water in a stream on the way up the mountain to Braintree

A garden witch! Someone had made this funny scarecrow lady in the garden! I think she's pretty cool!

A nice view over a farm going up Warren pass

Opening some b-day presents with Elise!

Sandy and I relaxing in Aunty's hammock - lots of nice memories in that spot from VT summers past.

About the blow out the candles on the double mocha!

Dutchmans Breetches

Baby ferns!

Aunty's cats climbing up the rocks at the cliff

Elise and Jessy

Aunty and Sandy on the wildflower walk

Winter school bus pick-up shelter just outside of Warren. Love the artistry of it! Love you all and hope you have a great great week! - Katie

Katie's Garden

Hello! Here are a few pics of my new gardens that I've made. The Flower garden is the one that's in the diamond shape and I'm really happy with it so far and the one with the wood plankes is our tiny veggie garden which has lettuce and spinach planted in it so far. I'm thiking I may have to make another little bed for an herb garden too! :) And here is also a pic of the things I have going in side - tomatoe plant that will get to go outside in the summer, my big copper window box and a flower pot. Hope you feel better soon Mom! Love you all! - Katie

Mama's B-day

Here are two pictures from Mama's 49th birthday. A beautiful bouquet and a funny strawberry cake with candles that would blow out.