Just Two Months

Plants can do amazing things in a couple of months. As things get lush in the middle of summer, I tend to forget how different it was back in the beginning of May. No where is that more evident than in the garden I put in last fall:

8 May 2008

28 June 2008

This garden filled in amazingly quickly. Planting last fall gave everything a chance to get established and do some serious growing this spring, fueled by the 8 yards of compost added to the soil when the bed was prepared.

The spring to summer change isn't quite as apparent where there are more shrubs and evergreen perennials:

8 May 2008

5 June 2008

28 June 2008

28 June 2008

A Nice Spring Combo

Daphne x burkwoodii 'Carol Mackie', Azalea 'George Herbert', Cornus alba 'Elegantissima', and tulips made a nice impression in May.

For Women Only

I was recently selected as a finalist for a CT Women of Innovation award, which honors women in Connecticut who both perform and lead innovation. From the moment I was notified (I was nominated without my knowledge), I've felt conflicted. Is it really an honor to be selected for an award for innovation that's only available to women?

I can't shake the feeling that this isn't really an honor. I work for a large company with a couple of thousand engineers, less than ten percent of whom are women. If I'm being judged against fewer than ten percent of the people doing similar jobs, where's the honor in that? If the CT Technology Council had an award for Innovation that was open to all and I was a finalist, that would be something to be proud of!

I remember reading Newsweek articles in the 80s about women breaking through the corporate glass ceiling. Is the workplace still so unbalanced that we need to single out the achievements of women? In twenty years in engineering, I've never worked closely with another woman engineer. In fact, at my previous jobs, I was the only woman engineer at each company. Is handing out Women of Innovation awards going to encourage girls to become engineers and leaders in innovation and improve that imbalance? Not likely.

On the other hand, it was great to find that my company thinks highly enough of me to nominate me for this award - not to mention springing for a table at the awards dinner. (That was a great steak...) But it would have been far more satisfying if I'd been chosen from the whole pool of employees, not just the women.

Is This Global Warming?

It was just as warm inside as out today. Certainly not what I expect for November 12th in Connecticut. The record high for this date is 66F, set in 1982. We were very close to that today. And yesterday.

How am I supposed to put the garden to bed when we still haven't had a killing frost? It's like telling a 3-year-old hyped up on candy that it's time to go night-night. The Iceberg rose doesn't even have to work at living up to its name to keep blooming in this kind of weather. (True, it's named Iceberg because it's white, not because it blooms in November. But this weather even changes that - the buds are pink this time of year.) The canna bloomed a couple of weeks ago and the bearded iris are sending up new leaves. It's very confused out there...

I recently read a newspaper article that said that within a hundred years the climate here could be like Georgia. Or, if we're lucky and global warming isn't quite so bad, like Virginia. Having spent three miserably hot summers in Northern Virginia back in the 80s, I have no desire to repeat them. Perhaps it's time to start looking for property in Newfoundland?

iPod 8Ball

Need an answer? Have an iPod? Your answer is only moments away.

1. Choose a number (less than the number of songs on your iPod)
2. Hit Shuffle Songs
3. Move ahead to the song number chosen
4. Interpret your answer

Question: Is Bush ever going to figure out what he's doing wrong in Iraq?
Number: 4 (out of 5543 songs currently on my iPod)
Song: 'News of the World' by The Jam from the Compact Snap album
Sample lyrics:
Don't believe everything you see or hear.
They tell us what they want.
Look at the pictures taken by the cameras, they cannot lie.
Remember their views are not the gospel truth.
Don't believe it all. Find out for yourself.
Answer: No

Of course, that song was unusually topical. Coming up with a Bach Partita makes the interpretation a little more interesting!

Reasons to Visit France (as if you needed any)

A street scene in Domme, high above the Dordogne river in southwestern France. Buildings throughout the Dordogne have a beautiful golden glow. September is a great time to visit - still warm enough for a swim in the pool and far fewer people.








Montignac has an excellent weekly market. The town is a short drive from the Grottes de Lascaux, where you can see amazing cave paintings by prehistoric men or - who knows - women. (Well, you can see exact reproductions of amazing cave paintings by prehistoric men since they're protecting the originals from damage.)


A canoe trip down the Dordogne River gives great photo ops. And if you're feeling lazy, just let the current take you along. More time on the river is not a bad thing. Roque-gageac looks better from the water - and it's far easier to avoid the tourists who just got off that bus.




Further down the river is Beynac, which went back and forth from the French to the English over the centuries. When you climb up to the chateau you'll be glad you're not an invader wearing armor. And you'll understand why the townspeople are thin - they park at the bottom and carry everything up.





On an outcropping across the valley from Beynac are Les Jardins Suspendus de Marquessyac. Away from the chateau and amazing shrubbery are some great walks through wilder areas with views down to the river. Take a picnic lunch and enjoy the view.







And if you need further inducement, here's the perfect place to stay:
Les Granges a Carlucet.
Great hosts, great food (be sure to have dinner if Eric's cooking).
One of the most relaxing vacations we've ever had.

Stargate - Just Not The Same

I miss Jack. Much as I loved Ben Browder and Claudia Black as John and Aeryn, they don't fill the void left by Jack's departure. In the beginning, I was dubious. I mean, come on, McGyver? But the writers were great and so was the chemistry. It's just not the same with Cam and Vala.

Besides, my inquiring mind wants to know: Now that Jack's retired, why isn't he finally living it up with Sam? Which reminds me ... that married and pregnant Sam from an alternate universe - who was the dad?

Don't even get me started on the unsatisfactory mini-series conclusion to Farscape...