Relax and look at the flowers!

As my daughter's graduation approaches seems like there's not enough time to clean, cook and prepare for all that needs to be done for the onslaught of visitors, but since our house is old, dust looks right at home in it. If we don't have enough food to go around, people will just have to chat. Anyway, I was feeling a little stressed by day's end, but a walk around the yard put things back in perspective.

Here are a few leaf snapshots:

And here are a few pictures of blooms:

Surprise! Surprise! Surprise!

I almost heard Gomer Pyle (remember him?) exclaiming "shazam" and "surprise, surprise, surprise" in my garden when I took a quick stroll around this afternoon. A lot of flowers burst into bloom, seemingly overnight! Must be the flower fairies FedExed them. Foxglove, columbine, cornflower, sweet williams (pinks), campanula (balloon flower), colorful, yellow coreopsis blooms... The overpowering sweetness of the brambly, multi flora rose has almost peaked, and the old fashioned roses are spent (due to several heavy rains) before they really had a chance to bloom. The glorious poppy is just a bright memory and the peony's petals have fallen with the rain.

Flag Day

Today the school celebrated Flag Day, community and school spirit. The entire student body (pre-K through seniors) gathered on the bus loop to raise the flag and recite the pledge of allegiance. Afterwards, several hundred voices joined in singing "Happy Birthday" to Mr. P, and then the whole crowd cheered the winning softball team as girl received an introduction along with their coach.The whole community wished them well on tomorrow's games. J's entire class got into the patriotic spirit by wearing red, white and blue clothes with matching hair!

An official welcome

Today the new stone announcing Afton, NY, was set in place and it looks very official now. You are here. Afton. Welcome! There are many more new blooms to usher us into the summer season also. Attended a fine, fun baseball game between seniors and staff yesterday. Loose rules, lots of fun, winners all.

Hot weekend

Yesterday, I noticed a Scarlet Tanager cooling off in the creek. I haven't seen one often but it's very a very distinctive bird with a brilliant red body and black wings.Later in the afternoon my daughter and a couple of her friends were cooling off in the same creek, which gave the mosquitoes welcome variety in their diet. I laid low this weekend, trying to shake the remnants of a cold so finished reading Clear Springs by Bobbie Ann Mason.Today, we noticed Sunday traffic slowing in front of our house where the creek runs under the Route 7. Much to my husband's joy, a crusty, old snapping turtle was crossing the busy road. D loves turtles and will make a U-turn every time he sees one on the road. Maybe he should have a bumper sticker that reads, "I brake for turtles".Anyway he and J grabbed a long walking staff and herded the turtle toward the other side. It may be looking for a place to lay eggs- I think this is the time of year they dig a hole to deposit eggs.