giving thanks

アメリカでは例年11月の第四木曜日が感謝祭です

秋の収穫を祝い、神の恵みに感謝します

今年は叔母夫妻と従妹家族が他州から我が家に来てくれることになりました

ありがとう、ドライブ気をつけてね

My uncle and aunt, a cousin and her family will be joining us from out of state this Thanksgiving.

Thank you, and drive safely. 

~ ~ ~

wild turkey decanter, passed down from Grandpa

祖父から承継したワイルド・ターキー・デキャンタ

北米大陸でのみ産する七面鳥、ロースト・ターキーがテーブルを飾るのが定番です
アメリカの国鳥はボールド・イーグル（ハクトウワシ）ですが
ベンジャミン・フランクリンはこの七面鳥を国鳥にしたかったようです

「卑怯な性格のワシよりも、ちょっと奇妙な容貌だが勇敢なターキーのほうが適合である」
と、1784年に書かれた娘への手紙が遺されています

いつも、なんだか変な鳥、と思っていましたが
改めて敬意を払って・・・いただきます


I had always thought turkeys were strange and silly looking birds.
Here is an excerpt from a Ben Franklin's letter to his daughter on turkey
-with my renewed respect for the bird.

"For my own part I wish the Bald Eagle had not been chosen the Representative of our Country. He is a Bird of bad moral Character. He does not get his Living honestly. You may have seen him perched on some dead Tree near the River, where, too lazy to fish for himself, he watches the Labour of the Fishing Hawk; and when that diligent Bird has at length taken a Fish, and is bearing it to his Nest for the Support of his Mate and young Ones, the Bald Eagle pursues him and takes it from him.

"With all this Injustice, he is never in good Case but like those among Men who live by Sharping & Robbing he is generally poor and often very lousy. Besides he is a rank Coward: The little King Bird not bigger than a Sparrow attacks him boldly and drives him out of the District. He is therefore by no means a proper Emblem for the brave and honest Cincinnati of America who have driven all the King birds from our Country...

"I am on this account not displeased that the Figure is not known as a Bald Eagle, but looks more like a Turkey. For the Truth the Turkey is in Comparison a much more respectable Bird, and withal a true original Native of America... He is besides, though a little vain & silly, a Bird of Courage, and would not hesitate to attack a Grenadier of the British Guards who should presume to invade his Farm Yard with a red Coat on."

                                                                                                                   Benjamin Franklin,  1784

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, everyone.

for next year

今年最後の花　返り咲きの紫ベロニカ、十月中旬でした

Last flower standing; a purple veronica in mid October.

四つある扇型のポタジェのひとつにはストロベリーを植えています
昨冬はじめてマルチングをしてみたら花付きがとても良く、今年は苺が豊作でした

Of four fan shaped potager sections in my garden, one is a strawberry bed.
I had covered it last winter, and it had paid the dividend with a noticeably more yields.

雪が降ってもすぐ溶けてしまうこの付近では　プランツに雪のお布団を与えられません
出来るだけ自然にまかせて・・・と心がけてはいるのですが
苺のように寒さに強い子でもほんの少しのプロテクションでこんなに違うのか、
と、つくづく考えさせられました

I've learned that since my garden lacks snow cover in most of the winter season, a little protection from the icy wind goes a long way even with these winter hardy plants.
(We do get snow, but it melts away fast here in Rocky Mountain foothills.)

before

after

昨年利用したのは乾燥したオーナメンタル・グラスを切ったもの、　自家製の「わら」です
今年もせっせと「わら作り」をしてふんわりとかぶせてあげました
わらは来春までほとんど飛ばされることも無く、凍った北風からの保護、
そしてこの凹凸で雪だまりもできて水分補給のメリットもあるようです

What I had used are cut up dried ornamental grasses to mimic straw  -the recommended material.
I got busy and made my "straw" today and just lightly covered the bed. 
Most of it stays put and not only protect the plants, but also trap the snow and precious moisture.

他のベッドにもコンポストと牛糞のミックスをのっけてあげました

来年また頑張ってね

Other beds received compost and cow manure mix top dressing

-for a great next year.

Love always

時折パーフェクトなカードにめぐり会います

金曜日は息子の誕生日
今日、そんなカードを添えてケーキを送りました

Every once in awhile we come across "the perfect card".
This Friday is our son's birthday.
Today, as I send a birthday cake to him, I share with you the perfect card.

_______________________________________

For Our

SON

~ ~ ~

Right from the start an explorer at HEART-

you were always on the move, never still.

Point A to Point B ( then to C, D & E!)

with a curious mind and strong will.

 ~ ~ ~

And Look at you now,

all grown up somehow,

still making us PROUD every day.

And though so much has changed,

one thing's still the same-

you've been LOVED every step of the way.

~ ~ ~

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

                                            

                                                                 by H*llm*rk

Love always,

                            Mom and Dad

_____________________________________

例年小さなラム酒ケーキを二個焼き、山を隔ててあちら側とこちら側でお祝いです

ちょっと早いけどお毒味、
うん、しっとりと日本のカステラみたいに焼けました　

I normally bake two small rum cakes and we cerebrate from both sides of the Rockies . 

After a small sampling... Yes, nice and moist!

autumn chores

ハロウィーンの夜に凄い強風が吹き
先日ご紹介したフロントの木、ホーソーン（西洋サンザシ）に鈴なりについてとても可愛かったベリーが
一晩で落下してしまいました

The Halloween night was extremely windy, and almost all the hawthorn berries up front dropped and dropped and dropped...

あちこちで発芽されたら困るので膝をついて一個一個手で拾いました

ブルーのものはニーパッド、わたしのガーデニング必需品です　

日本ではあまり見かけませんがお使いですか？

I sure didn't want them sprouting allover the place, so I had to get on my knees and pick them by hand. Thank goodness for my trusty knee-pad!

拾って、拾って、又拾う・・

And picked and picked...

雪の合間に、出来る時に、ロッキーマウンテンの秋の庭仕事は続きます

The autumn chores continues like this in between snows here in Rocky Mountains.

そして　お役目の合間に・・いえ、ガーデニングの合間にお役目を済ませ・・
う～ん、どっちだ～

今日は選挙の日でした

And in between duties... or do my duty in between gardening -?
Anyway, Happy Voting!