And speaking of gardens...

We are back home again to our own garden, which greened up nicely in our absence--including our burned off hillside (see previous post in April). Most of the daffodils & jonquils are spent, as is the magnolia.  (It was kind enough to leave just 2 blossoms so we could get a glimpse of its recent grandeur.)  Bleeding Hearts are bursting, tulips have sprung, red buds are just beginning to pop, and the hostas may unfurl their leaves in an hour or two.

Bird life has returned in abundance; already 4 male Orioles are fighting over the nectar and I lost count after 18 Goldfinches on the feeder.  Every year I note when the birds return and write it down in a gardening journal (yes, I know--but remember, we have to make our own fun out here in the sticks!). It's amazing how often their return engagement is within 24 hours of last year's anniversary.  I would think that weather would be an obstacle for them at times, but the power of daylight seems to override that, thus ensuring their timely presence at our backyard feeders.  Last year on this date, the following birds already visited our backyard:  

 

Baltimore Oriole, Orchard Oriole, Nuthatch (2 kinds), Cardinal, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, Starling, House Finch, Goldfinch, Robin, Downy Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Red-headed Woodpecker, House Wren, Carolina Wren, Hummingbird, Catbird, Black-capped Chickadee, Blue Jay, Bluebird, Northern Flicker, Hermit Thrush, Chipping Sparrow, Mourning Dove, Grackle, and White-Crowned Sparrow.

 

Phew!  They're all here again...except for the elusive Indigo Bunting.  It's just a matter of time....

I'll end today with a favorite quote, from Bill Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything:

Life will be.

 

And that reminds me of an Australian slogan that was popular when I lived there many years ago:

Life. Be in it.

I better just go do that! Bye!

And that other fine fellow...

With all our obsessing about Lincoln and Obama, we might have overlooked another one of our favorite Presidents--Thomas Jefferson--an all around great American--but we didn't!  On our way home, we wound our way through the lush Virginia countryside into foxhunt country--large "named" estates that had ever-so-tasteful signs out front, indicating that somewhere nestled (and hidden) in the hills was probably an incredible house and stables.  We may as well have been in England (except for that part about driving on the left side of the road). Our arrival at Jefferson's Monticello home coincided with the skies clouding over and a drizzle beginning to fall; of course, on the top of a mountain, when the skies cloud over, you're in the fog! Strangely, all that white air blowing in intensified the setting and its beauty. And really, what a lovely home and garden!                                                          

No occupation is so delightful to me as the culture of the earth, 

and no culture comparable to that of the garden.

--Thomas Jefferson

Lincoln Gets Monumental

We've seen quite a few life-size Lincolns on our pilgrimage (people seem obsessed with rubbing his nose for good luck and at one place, you could even do a side-by-side hand comparison; it gets weird). Now we've gone MONUMENTAL.  Yep, the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. does not disappoint!  A person can get choked up --especially when you make all the connections with the present. You know, the manifestation of Lincoln's endeavors culminating with President Obama.  It feels good to be an American again. (A lot of us knew exactly what Michelle Obama meant when she said she was finally proud, etc.)

We also literally made a Lincoln-Obama connection.  As we stepped out of the Metro and headed for the Lincoln Memorial, we came upon an intersection that was totally blocked off with police everywhere. Hmmm.... something was going to happen.  In a couple minutes it did! Obama's entire Presidential motorcade swooshed by--sirens, flags, and so many, many black vehicles. (Apparently there can never be too many black cars in one's entourage!) It was just like on the TV!