Our Paths in the Valley

Out of the Blogging Loop

Both Karen and I have had numerous health problems and surgeries in the last few months.   All our efforts have been focused on helping each other recover and regain our health.  

California laws changed in June with regard to webmasters with Amazon associate accounts.  California demands that Amazon pay sales taxes.  Amazon has now stopped paying us for all our link referrals to them from our websites.  This has resulted in a decrease of our web based income by $150 per month.   What a disappointment for us! 

We may, like thousands of others, just bow out gracefully from any more blogging or webpage creative work. 

Karen's Workstation

Here is Karen's home workstation: office desk, computer, business center, command center, recreation space, etc. 

She looks out the window in front of her desk and looks directly to the east.  She has bird feeders and numerous shrubs outside this office window. 

Currently, she is working on an update of the webpage on Work.  She will post the revised and updated Work webpage on-line on Sunday, May 15th. 

Gardening in Red Bluff, California

 

 

Fencing Completed

I finished Phase 1 of our south field construction project today.  The wood fencing portion is now completed.  Phase 2 includes a) installation of field fencing to close off a quarter of the south field, and b) planting grape fines and trees along the fencing.  Phase 3 includes a) building a coup for poultry and/or pigeons, b) gates for the field area, c) a goat shelter, d) a shaded work area, and d) moving the compost bin. 

Summer: Quotes, Poems, Sayings, Lore, Gardening Chores

One Old Druid's Final Journey: The Notebooks of the Librarian of Gushen Grove

Gushen Grove, Red Bluff, California  

  

Deer Creek

We took a drive today into the mountains.  We drove east for 50 miles on State Highway 36 from Red Bluff towards Lake Alamanor.  Then we drove 50 miles southwest on State Highway 32 into Chico.  The upper portion of the 32 drive is down a canyon cut by Deer Creek.  We stopped a couple of times to enjoy Deer Creek and Deer Creek Falls. 

Michael "Mick" D. Garofalo (my son), Mike Garofalo, and April Scott-Garofalo
It has been very hot (105F+) in the afternoon for the past week.

I've been watching the Tour de France bicycling race each day. 

Double the Gardeners' Power

Karen returned today from her nine day stay in Portland, Oregon.  She had taken care of our two grand-daughters, Katie and Mackenna, for over a week.  Our daughter, Alicia, and her husband, Sean, were in Hawaii on a business trip. 

It is good to have her company again!  Also, we now have double the Gardener's Power. 

Karen in the garden in early June 2008. 

Karen mowing our five acres in early June 2007.  This Craftsman mower, nearly 12 years old, is now out of service until I can fix the broken pulley head. 

First Fig

Today, I ate a black fig from one of my fig trees.  What a tasty treat!

Temperatures climbed into the upper 90's F today.  Summer is around the corner. 

Too many flies in the garden.  I must smell good to them, they seem to land on me everywhere I work in the garden. 

Watering trees and shrubs slowly all day.  I move the many hoses every 20-30 minutes or so, all fed from the water in our two ponds.   

Busy working on a grant application in my home office. 

The Spirit of Gardening website has not be hacked for a nearly a month.  A good run of luck for awhile. 

Sitting in the Front Yard

"Sitting in your garden is a feat to be worked at with unflagging
determination and single-mindedness - for what gardener worth
his salt sits down. I am deeply committed to sitting in the garden."
- Mirabel Osler

Here is a view of our sitting area in front of our home in Red Bluff, California.
The large potted plants by the garden seats are Tuscan Rosemary. We look from
the front of our house towards the east. This sitting area is in the shade after 2 pm.
Photos from 2006 by Karen Garofalo.

"To sit in the shade on a fine day and look upon verdure
is the most perfect refreshment."
- Jane Austen

Here is a view, looking to the southeast, from the front of our home. The background
planting includes Leyland and other cypress trees, pines, redwoods, bay laurel,
white birches, pyracanthas, oaks, sweet gums, and a variety of flowers behind a few
lawn edges. Although we have 5 acres of land, we only have two small areas with
a lawn - it front of the house and a smaller lawn in back of the house.

Green Way Wisdom - Sitting

Valley Spirit Center

Clearing Skies and not Raining

Yes, some clearing of rainclouds, no rain, openings to clear skies, and warmer this morning.  I can now practice the Eight Immortals Cane Form outdoors without the rainfall. 

Overs six inches of rainfall in the last week.   

April, Karen and Mick all worked on cleaning up the garage. 

Another Day, Another Inch

Another inch of rain has fallen since yesterday.  We have absorbed 4.5 inches of rain in the last five days. 

Karen looks to the southwest. 

Days of Rain

It has continued raining today for the forth day.  We measured 3" in four days at our home in Red Bluff, California. 

The four ducks explore some new territory, east and downstream from Teahouse Pond. 

Teahouse Pond outlet.  The teahouse is out of view to the left in the above photo. 

Karen standing before the inlet and further back the outlet of the new middle pond. 

Looking north at the property line. 

 

Looking east at the property line.