Saturday, March 28, 2009

Oklahoma Spring in My Backyard - Part 2

Never discount the possibility of any kind of weather, any time of the year, in Oklahoma. Just when I thought it was safe to plan a weekend of deck lounging, a winter storm system moved out of Colorado, dumping two feet of snow on our neighbors in northwest Oklahoma and about an inch in my neighborhood in central Oklahoma.



Fortunately temperatures are supposed to warm up in a day or so; then we get to watch the skies for thunderstorms (YAY!)

See Oklahoma Spring in My Backyard - Part 1 for photos of the faux spring we experienced last week.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Oklahoma Spring in My Backyard - Part 1


Random photos from my backyard...

Hubby built a new railing for our deck and installed a wall-mounted fountain:




Hot air balloons on a Sunday evening...







Tomato seedlings (cue the song "At Last" and see My Seed Problem for more thorough explanation). Buddy guards the door as I transplant seedlings from the starter tray into styrofoam "pots".



I have high hopes...


Wednesday, March 11, 2009

The Case of the Crooked Tree



In spite of freezing temperatures and snow in the forecast this week, spring has already arrived in central Oklahoma. Bradford Pear trees line the streets of Edmond, creating clouds of white flowers. They are everywhere, in all sizes, and these spectacular trees burst into bloom the first week of March. We were fortunate to have several in place when we moved into our house three years ago. This year they displayed the most extravagant, snowy white blossoms ever; but my husband says that I say that every year. And I am very biased about the natural beauty I find in Oklahoma.



Sharing the front yard with the pear tree is a crooked little purple leaf plum tree. Prior to the arrival of shiny purple leaves, beautiful delicate pink-petaled blossoms adorn this tree.


Since it grows at an angle and is not exactly a lush, full tree, my husband has wanted to cut it down since he first saw it. He believes the yard would look better without it. My argument has been that it is healthy and that it seems a shame to cut down a perfectly good tree. But last summer I finally agreed to his reasoning, and our plan was to cut it down during the winter. Somehow we never got around to it.



The other day when I walked out to get the mail, I stopped and looked at our misshapen tree, and suddenly I was smitten. This sturdy little tree endures the Oklahoma weather extremes of cold temperatures, ice, snow, heat, and drought; and yet every spring it unfailingly provides us with beautiful blooms. How could we kill it? It deserves a chance to live.

And so, when Hubby got home, I took a deep breath and pleaded the case of the crooked tree, and he good-naturedly acquiesced.

The little plum tree will live out its natural life in all its quirky glory. And I swear since I told it the news, it has straightened up a little bit.

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Orangette Is An Okie


Oklahoman food editor Dave Cathey had a nice article about Molly Wizenberg yesterday. Molly hails (as we like to say in Oklahoma) from Oklahoma and is one of my blog idols. She authors the delightful Orangette blog, with impeccable writing and exquisite photography.

With the advent of her new book, A Homemade Life: A Homemade Life: Stories and Recipes from My Kitchen Table, Okies are possessively rising up to claim her as their own.

Congratulations, Molly!

You may read further updates about Molly in Dave's blog, Food Dude.