HOME-SWEET-HOME

 I thought I'd post some photos of a few of the local cottages around Port Orford today.  This first one has been deserted and neglected.  I knew the lady who lived here.......Marian Weston.  She was a 'one-of'a-kind' gem.   She joined a spiritual group that had formed and which studied together with the others on a weekly basis.........Marian was feisy, strongly opinionated, and a 'militant' practicing Buddhist.  She would frequently become irate at some issue or situation, and start chanting a Buddhist prayer for peace.......chanted in anger until it eventually reached it's desired emotional state for her.  One year the city cut down a big wild rhododendron that grew in front of her house.  Marian was away from home when they did the dirty deed.  She was fit to be tied, being a strong environmentalist.  She said "I would have THROWN myself in front of it before I'd let them cut it down!!!!"  Marian's house had many cobwebs hanging from the ceiling, corners and every other place the spiders decided to make a home.  She liked her spiders and they lived in perfect harmony together.......not a life-style for everyone, but it worked for her.  Marian died of an aneurysm and her many friends missed her strong statement in our lives.  Her much loved house has been empty ever since.  Except for the spiders.......

 This pretty little cottage is owned and lovingly tended to by a wonderful little lady from England.  Her garden shows her love of gardening and the seemingly natural knack that the English  to have for taming and tending nature..........When I walked by to take some photos, the flower fragrances were just tantalizing!   One of those times when I want to breath in only........hating to release the aroma with an exhale.


 And finally, here is one of the Lindstrom homes, I believe.  He was an early architect during the early days of Port Orford...................sometime during the last century.  I don't think the photo really shows off the sweet details of this Victorian cottage garden.  But it's another example of someone who loves gardening.  The arch over the entrance says it clearly..........."WELCOME TO MY GARDEN"...
And now a bit about our life these days............I think we sold our house.   There are many days now of sorting and throwing away parts of our life that no longer have purpose.   And this woman grew up hearing all about "The Great Depression"...........you NEVER throw anything away!!  Until now........even then, I'm throwing away........going back and throwing away more........sometimes even a third time.   Oh, Ouch!!!   But even through the chaos and hesitation about the whole move, it's exciting in thinking about where life will take us next.......what the future might hold and the new experiences and new friends...........and hoping that they will be as precious as our old friends we made in Port Orford.

DIVERSIFIED POST

 This is a little scene from my garden.....which we named "the fairie garden" for obvious reasons........

 The news from our place in the sun, is all over the map this week.  As are this selection of photos.  The photo here on top is of my first daylilly bloom.  I love daylillies.......and for the longest time they only seemed to come in the standard orange.......now there are so many different colors and combinations.......love them all but my favorite is probably the cheerful yellow.

 

 Our house was shown for the first time this season.  Apparently it went well and the way we continue to hear how the market is really getting back on track, it's promising.........

The rhoddy above is from friend, Nanci and Ray's garden.  These have to be about the biggest and most boisterous of the rhododendrons.  It's a large shrub anyway and covered with these flowers just make quite a statement.  They look like they should have a wonderful aroma, but before you lean down to sniff......watch out for all the little fly-type critters in there~I'll post a close up of one of the blooms soon.  It's a whole n'other world in there!

Those of you who are friends of mine on Facebook probably know about our bear encounter.  That really livened up my afternoon and evening yesterday~A large black bear only about 3 feet away, casually climbing up and over the railing of our deck.  It obviously didn't see me until I pounded on the window.  That brought me to about one foot away.  and that was AFTER I looked for my camera and realized it was in  the other room.  It did escape back down into the canyon but after the regular parade of critters making their way to the bird feeding station this year, we've eliminated the sunflower seeds altogether, and the thistle to be up only during the day to mid-afternoon.

Some of you might have been aware of the recent FDA investigation of Costco's frozen fruit medley that might be responsible for Hepatitis A infecting some.  It's an Oregon based company that sells to Costco and apparently the fruit comes from many sources and other countries.  The pomegranates from Turkey seem to be the guilty fruit.  My sister was one of those that contacted Hepatitis A.  She was notified by a recorded message from Costco about the possible contamination.  She's still not feeling right........and although this is still an
investigation, it would be wise to steer clear of Townsend brand frozen fruit for while.  Or if this is a product that you have bought and still have in your freezer, you might want to hold on to it until you know more......

This cute little house in the last photo is here in Port Orford........When I took this photo a friendly and curious little pug was staring out the window at me, wondering what I was doing.  Snap-snap......

Next week I'll be hopefully taking some photos of Tim Belmonte's new 'compound' on Hwy. 101 in the south of Bandon.........Jeffrey's.  It's already showing itself to be a great success and with Tim's creativity, it's only going to get better.  I was up last week and had a delicious quiche......one of my favorite lunches.    If you have a chance to stop in, do.  It will be well worth it........and take a look at the gorgeous chickens in their own charming little coop.

Have a great week, everyone.........enjoy your Monday!!