Gladioli

Well they're not yet in FULL bloom; but I am going to declare victory anyway.  My gladioli are quite nice.  And they will get nicer - weather permitting.  We had a pretty decent southeasterly last night and it rained some; but my web of yarn has, so far, kept them upright.

In other news, I confess I was made very uncomfortable yesterday when I stumbled across The Donald's stadium extravaganza somewhere in Alabama.  Apparently about 20,000 true believers were present.

His stream-of-consciousness vocalizations (I don't think you can really call it a speech) were complete gibberish.  Rants and raves.  Down with the stupid and weak politicians who have betrayed you.  We will expel the foreigners in our midst.  I will make the country great again.  I will "bring back" jobs from Mexico, China, and Japan.   All these pronouncements made with great certainty and absolutely no suggestion on how it will be accomplished.  By sheer force of will, apparently.

And occasionally he would put his arms out and encourage his supporters to roar their approval - something I suspect supporters at future rallies will do without prompting.

I do not believe that The Donald will win the Republican nomination much less gain the Presidency.  But I do fear that his "success" thus far will embolden other Republicans in this and future campaigns to further cheapen and debase our political process.

The Donald

Well, Mr. Trump's poll numbers continue to rise.  Those who assumed he would have already been sunk by a circular running torpedo fired by himself are confused, angry and saddened.  And it's not like circular running torpedoes have NOT been fired.  They have.  Volleys.  But they have all been duds - at least as far as the Republican grass roots are concerned. 

The Trump phenomenon raises a host of questions - none of which can yet be answered.

The media, both mainstream and otherwise, are totally bewildered.  So am I, for that matter.

The focus of attention is, quite naturally, on the reaction of other candidates.  Republican hopeful "A" says something about some nonsensical statement uttered by The Donald and The Donald immediately responds via Twitter questioning Republican hopeful "A's" intelligence, masculinity/femininity, or general worthiness as a human.  The Donald's poll numbers go up with Republicans and Republican hopeful "A's" poll numbers drop.

Lots of digital ink is being spilled on this aspect of the phenomenon. 

My interest is a bit different.  As the first  multi-billionaire to run for the nation's highest office, what do his fellow oligarchs think about his candidacy?

My suspicion is they probably don't like it.  The Koch Brothers and Sheldon Adelson have become almost household names; but they prefer to let their dollars do the talking with their Super PACS, self-serving non-profits, and no doubt their personal charms.

The Donald brings prominence to the world view of their species which, at the end of the day,I don't believe even a majority of the Republican faithful will find attractive. 

The Donald trumpets how often he, as a man of wealth, has been able to get access to elected politicians.  Indeed, he points out how often it's not HIM calling the pol; but the pol calling him to ask for a favor.

The Donald worships money.  It is his measure of every man in his world. 

 The Donald worships himself.

I am an atheist.

However, I cannot posit a better response to "Trumpism", and the American oligarchs than that offered by Pope Francis.

“A way has to be found to enable everyone to benefit from the fruits of the earth, and not simply to close the gap between the affluent and those who must be satisfied with the crumbs falling from the table, but above all to satisfy the demands of justice, fairness and respect for every human being.”   

Good News/Bad News

When I bought my house back in 2011 the previous owners made clear their intention to build a small cottage on the lot immediately adjacent to my house to the southeast.  My lot and the lot they planned to build upon were once a single lot.  They carved out a small parcel from the original plot.

Sadly the couple split-up shortly after they sold to me and only now has the status of the small lot been resolved.  And the winner is Karen.

I spoke to Karen and her contractor a few weeks ago.  She hopes to put up the cottage next spring although she MAY have some site preparation done this fall.  This is distinctly a good and bad development.

On the negative side...few people want a neighbor's house within immediate view.  I am no exception.

On the positive side, I really like my soon-to-be neighbor who was an old high school chum.

On the other hand, my already windblown property will get a little more windblown with the loss of the big spruce and hemlock to my south and southeast.

On the other, other hand, the loss of those same trees will be a HUGE increase in direct sun to my garden which currently is in the shadow of the neighbor's trees for several hours in the early afternoon.

It's a close call for my interests and I certainly do not fault Karen for building.  Although I do dread the actual construction phase.

Yesterday, I took a bunch of pics to help me visualize what the change might do...and now I'm sharing them with you.

This is the view from my kitchen window.  The cedar in the foreground will go as will all the conifers behind it and to the right.

 Panning slightly to the right.  The shed will go.

The property line is about three feet in front of the shed and runs diagonally down to the Old Glacier Highway.

Gone.

My view southeast down the channel towards town will be improved...although how much depends on her house profile which should be quite low.

Took this shot at about a 45 degree angle.  You can see my roof line on the upper left.  Good riddance.

So...I may wake-up one of these mornings to the sound of chain saws.  

I think I recall she said she was planning a 1250 square foot house.  Although I don't know if that includes a garage.  The land will be really tricky given the setback requirements from the Old Glacier Highway.  Most of her property is considerably lower than my house.

In other garden news, my gladiolas are poised to be the highlight of August...depending on the weather, of course.

Hang in there!  

The impatiens are doing the happy dance around the porcupine-proofed apple tree.

This and That

Just posted a couple of rants on Senator Murkowski's most recent Facebook contribution.  The Senator alleges that Obamacare is broken, doesn't work in Alaska, and needs to be fixed.

I suggested to her  that the Republican Party in Alaska is broken.  And damn!  I forgot to ask her what her "fix" might look like...

But to be honest I'm pretty sure Republicans in the U. S. Senate don't have a clue what "fix" they could propose without antagonizing a large segment of the party's political base.

What this and other recent Facebook posts really mean is that Senator Murkowski remains concerned about a possible Republican Primary challenge from her right flank.  Giving love to the tens of thousands of Democrats who voted for her last time around will have to wait for the general election (if she needs their support at all).  Senator Murkowski has moved on...

On the national level...what can you say?  Doug sent me a link to an article in 'Rolling Stone' which pretty much sums up my feelings.  It's a well written and humorous article:  http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/inside-the-gop-clown-car-20150812

Apparently the Donald is hiring actual real live staff in the early primary states.  Boots on the ground.  WhooHoo!

Mowed auntie's yard today.  It needs some fertilizer which I will administer tomorrow. Took auntie out to mom's today so she could have a bath.  Mom and auntie will play rummy cube all afternoon.  I will collect her at 7 PM and haul her home.  If both dogs from my household are not present to ride home with her she will be very disappointed.  The doggies love auntie.

A couple of pics I posted on Facebook but not here.  They have a longer shelf-life here than on Facebook.  And  I know where I can find 'em.

The still unidentified flying purple people eaters...

BBQ and Fire Pit

Went over to Alison's and Doug's last evening for a BBQ potluck and fire pit experience.  Lots of good friends some of whom I had not seen in months.  Took lots of pics - some good and some not-so-much.  I am electing to only post the decent ones.  So if you attended last evening and do not see your picture posted you should be GRATEFUL.  And I can assure you the shortcomings on the less than wonderful pictures were the result of photographer sloth and incompetence and no reflection on the subjects...

Alison and Fred enjoy the pleasant evening

Fred was in a jovial mood

Stu and M'Iva lookin' good.

Laura and M'Iva

Dale and Chris mock the photographer

Alison give M'Iva and Marla a garden tour

Supper was delicious.  Doug is a first rate grill master and two flavors of ribs were on offer.  Lots of delicious salads and fresh crab.  I had two very generous plate fulls.  Yum.

This morning I did the usual coffee at mom's and dog walk routines and just finished mowing mom's yard.  Had hoped to get auntie's done today also but have run out of time.  I have a 2 PM card game to attend to...

 

Phase II Complete

It took about six hours of serious pick and shovel action but I have now completed Phase II of the salmon berry removal project.  We broke 80 degrees yesterday and my car just told me it was 81 degrees when I pulled into the driveway.  Bet I lost a gallon working this afternoon.  An icy cold Gatorade really hit the spot!

The thicket.

 No more thicket.

I picture a weeping white spirea and an azalea. 

A few annuals survived the record July rainfall.

And I am pleased with the hollyhock mallow...

...which is doing well in multiple locations.

Hmmmm.  A campanula?  I don't remember; but happy to have him aboard.

 

If the weather holds it will be a deadheading and weeding kind of day tomorrow.  And taking the blowtorch to the weeds in the gravel - I've got a bad-ass weed burner.  When you live in a rain forest, you get to use fire in the garden.

More Garden Pics

We did it.  Another record.  For rainfall.  Over ten inches in July.  My garden got beat up.  Damn.

Still, there are bright spots.

Some things like the rain...

And some things can be hauled under the eaves...

On wheels...

Hope thinks I'm nuts...

Happiest lobelia I've ever owned...

And impatiens love the clouds and rain...

 Very tranquil.

Was seriously into phase II of my current garden rehab project today.  Pick and shovel work on salmon berry roots.  It's an ugly job.

Could do it for about an hour and quit for the day.  Backbreaking labor and it was warm.  Still, I'm almost half way done.  So after a bottle of Gatorade went to Home Depot and got some bricks. 

Back at it tomorrow.

Another Short Break in the Weather

A totally crapulent  week...rain and wind like fall.  Ugh.

But today dawned halfway decent so I mowed through three yards. Mom's and auntie's are serviced with a good old fashioned push rotary mower and a rake.  Mine needs the gas mower treatment if I am to spend less than two hours doing it...  All yards get the gas weed wacker treatment.  I'm pooped after I'm done with the lot of 'em.

Fortunately tomorrow is also supposed to be half-way decent and reasonably warm so I can get more done at a more relaxed pace.  The worst thing about bad weather is that when the weather clears briefly you have to immediately do the required maintenance routine without getting to do any fun stuff. Tomorrow I hope to do fun stuff.

My sister is in the initial phase of creating a 2016 calendar.  She hasn't asked me for any pics yet, but I suspect she will.  So...I've been going through the family album.

Here are a couple of classics which I may or may not have posted at an earlier date.

Dad on the 'Linda M.'

One of my favorite pictures of my dad.  This would probably have been the summer of 1969 or 1970.  Dad and I hand-trolled for a couple of summers.  This was in Funter Bay.
 

 Dad on his troller (probably the double-ender 'Cameo')

This pic would have been somewhere between 1946 and 1954.  Dad owned two trollers, the 'Cameo' and the 'Fredrick F' but I can't remember which he owned first and for how many years.

Looks like he was having a decent day.

Mom and Maynard

This is mom with my best pal's (John and Bob Chapman) basset hound, Maynard.  We did not have a dog when I was young.  Maynard changed that by casting a doggie spell on mom which has lasted to this very day.

Maynard would show up at the back gate and bark.  Mom would go let him in and give him a hearty snack.  He would visit for a few minutes and then want out the front gate.  He would amble up '11th Street to 'C' Street, turn right at Doc. Polley's house, and continue about his business.  Mom and I suspect he had a regular trap line.  He was a charmer.