Posted in The Gardens of Sonnystone...

In the Garden

Posted on by Jo Mayne Casey

Sorry for my absence, but I’ve been caught up in the World of Irish Dance, on the edge of my seat for the North American Irish Dancing Competition that was held in Montreal, Quebec, Canada this year. Emma placed #5 in the U16 group and Eliza placed #17 in the U11 pack. The Jose’ family, consisting of my daughter, Melissa, and son-in-law, Eric, as well as the two EE’s are having the time of their lives and it’s sweet to see.

In the meantime…the garden grows on…

What you don’t see — the bloopers, if you will — are this year’s fails. It seems all of our zucchini plants are boys, so no zucch forthcoming; something broke/ate the bottom stem of one of the canteloupe plants (we have three back-up); after a dozen nice sweet peppers, there is no sign of bloom or fruit. But, we’re feasting on tomatoes, brought in a couple of pounds of potatoes, and will soon have a bumper crop of cucumbers and green beans. I think we’re in the black…

The Shady Grove…a good place to stop…

Peace

Posted in The Gardens of Sonnystone...

Retreat

Posted on by Jo Mayne Casey

It’s Day 3 of my News Block. I feel exactly like I did on election day 2016 — sick to my stomach and afraid. I cannot allow myself to be emotionally manipulated by media, both social and otherwise. I have put up the Forcefields to block the anger from entering into my Peace. I am struggling to Be Here Now, in The Present with The Presence.

I’m so glad I have my gardens and my grove where I can throw myself into the trimming, the harvesting, or the contemplation of birdsongs or the purpose of creepy-crawlies. There have been a lot of bees around, a good reason to rejoice, and I’m feasting on homegrown tomatoes and peppers. Gratitude abounds here in the Present Moment…

Edible Garden

Coneflowers in the Peace/Bird Garden

I’m calling this Shady Grove now; an excellent spot for Contemplation.

Casey’s been staying busy remodeling Goldie’s interior, my design, of course, and she’s beckoning us to take a trip off-grid…

I hope that you will take the time to clear your mind of the “slime from your video” (Frank Zappa) and your timeline. Come back to the Present and receive the power you need to go forward in Love and

Peace

Posted in Celebrations at Sonnystone

Celebrate Dads Today!

Posted on by Jo Mayne Casey

My Dad passed away 25 years ago…and I’m still kinda mad about it…but that’s another story. Today I just miss him and his wit and wish he were here to make me laugh. He would say, “Right, Bug?” and to that I say, “Right, Dad!”

Me and My Daddy, circa 1978

It’s a beautiful day to celebrate Fathers, both quick and dead, and I hope you enjoy it!

Peace

Posted in The Way-Back Machine

Flashback Friday

Posted on by Jo Mayne Casey

I hate that we missed Zydeco Night at the WC Handy Blues Fest…again. While we didn’t always make it on the Thursday when the Cajuns perform, we always drove across the river to Henderson, KY for at least one of the nights to hear Super Musicians, tapping our feet under the trees in Audubon Mill Park on the riverfront — until Covid. It’s now been three years since we’ve attended and we’re ready to go. Yesterday was too damn hot (96 feels like 104) for these two old folks, but a storm has blown through and cooled us off for the weekend, so I’m excited to be crossing the bridge tonight or tomorrow.

Let’s step into the WayBack Machine and set the dial for 2013, June, when we had a great time at Zydeco Night…and so did Flat Ronna…

up all night…

ON  BY JO MAYNE CASEY

I can’t sleep.  I tossed and turned, told my brain to STFU, finally got up and have exhausted every bookmark on this computer.   I have an appointment in the morning, so it’s too late to take a chill-pill…I’m doomed…

Here’s some pictures of last night’s Blues Festival headliners, Voice of the Wetlands Allstars.   The Allstars are a group of New Orleans musicians pulled together by Tab Benoit to raise awareness of the erosion of the Gulf Coast wetlands (beginning before Katrina, actually).

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The version visiting Henderson last night included Benoit on guitar; Cyril Neville belting some blues and playing percussion;  Johnny Sansone made the harmonica wail and played accordion for some zydeco;  legendary drummer Johnny Vidocovich; a remarkable bassist,  Corey Dupelchin;  Waylon Thibideaux playing an electric fiddle that was way cool;  and the cherry on the sundae:

 Big Chief Monk Beaudreaux brought it on home…

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Boy-child, his lovely bride, and their precocious daughter were with us.  The weather was Ohio River Valley Summertime, complete with sweat and chiggers…Olivia loved the waterpark and I sure wished I could have cooled off with her…

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Charley and Lana were with us, as well…

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casey and charley

But, as always, my Twin Cousin, Ronna Lynn Loppnow, was the Life of the Party…

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(Ronna lives down near Houston, TX and we don’t get to see her very often, so Lana and I try to take her with us when we’re having the Most Fun)

I guess I’d better try to get some rest…

Back here in 2022, I’m grabbing my lawn chair, bug spray, and Flat Ronna; we’re ready to Party!

Peace

Posted in Random Musings

Bird is the word…and bugs…

Posted on by Jo Mayne Casey

When Samantha spends the night, she sleeps with me in our bedroom — Grandpa doesn’t really mind the couch. A couple of weeks ago she woke up early and got up to use the adjacent master bathroom, leaving me half-asleep. The windows were open and the dawn chorus was blaring with chirps, songs, calls heard clearly through the bathroom window. As I listened, Samantha began to mimic the loudest of the birds, a two-parter that she started with a carefully pursed whistle and then a caw-caw-caw followed by dee-doo-dee-doo…

I took a Birding class several years back, taught by the eminent Sharon Sorenson. She is a wonder and can imitate any kind of bird sound imaginable. She would have known exactly which bird Samantha was hearing, but I had to look some stuff up. What I found was a wonderful resource from Audubon.org to help me identify my yardbirds. I am not sure what kind of bird Samantha was hearing, but I have recognized the Cardinals and Carolina Wrens. There are at least a dozen species out there, dozens of families of birds living in our trees and under our shrubs, and I kind of wish Sharon would visit some morning and tell me who is what…

I do, however, recognize the sound of the Surfin’ Bird…

Now that summer is nearly here, the birds have quieted down when I head out to my Thoughtful Spot for my morning contemplation. I hope they’re eating bugs, but they never eat the chiggers. Why haven’t chiggers been identified as a plague? Is it just me? I once had a kid come in whining about a chigger bite — a chigger bite! Just One, I asked? How is that possible? Do they only line up for my tender skin? Already this year I’ve had dozens of them bury themselves in spots where I can’t show you, nestling their itchy-asses wherever the sun don’t shine…

I still avoid sitting in grass, even in a lawn chair, which explains why we have covered our garden area with rock; I still get bit, but to a lesser degree. It is also why we rocked a path to the campfire circle, covering islands of chiggers that love to cling to the weeds and jump easily to legs and upward. I use DEET, but sparingly, and it does seem to help with mosquitoes, but those dang chiggers..

Heat and Humidity and overtaken our world, but the pool is up for cooling off.

I’m on my way to pick up the Jr girls for this week’s get-together.

Peace

Posted in Sunday Report, The Gardens of Sonnystone...

Evening Edition

Posted on by Jo Mayne Casey

We went up to the New Harmony Antiques Show yesterday and it was kinda sad. We have regularly attended this show for several decades and the last years have seen it dwindle with few vendors, but this year there were only a dozen antique booths set up and half of those were local stores. Inside the gym, where it is usually packed with sellers, there wasn’t much to see. The crowds were paltry, too. Antiques just aren’t a “thing” right now, but I couldn’t help but notice that the prices are outrageous…I guess they don’t mind carting that stuff around.

I like antiques, but mine are actual heirlooms, making them priceless despite their chips, cracks, and stains…

This morning I woke up early to get some garden work done, having been forewarned that there was a 100% chance of a severe storm set to appear about 1pm. Turns out, it all dried up and we’re settled into a couple of weeks sans precip alongside record hot temps and humidity, so I don’t regret the mistake.

My black-eyed Susans, just one group of plants, has been steadily infected with black spot, and I cut it back from the other plants, removing most of the affected leaves. I’ve ordered some copper-based fungicide to treat any small spots that may reappear, and I plan to do some serious division next spring.

Before
After

I pulled up the peas and brought in the last harvest, a measly handful of dried pods, making room for the watermelons and cantaloupes to climb.

Here’s the latest photos of the Edible Garden…

Casey’s getting the mowing done and I’ve been just piddling around, relaxing and taking pictures.

Unfortunately, the WC Handy Bluesfest is this week and I wanted to go, but we’ll have to see…Stay safe, friends. Drink plenty of water–don’t wait until you’re thirsty–and stay inside if you have lung problems.

Peace

Posted in Reading Challenge

Summer Reading Program

Posted on by Jo Mayne Casey

Every year I challenge myself to read 24 books over at Goodreads and most years I easily reach that goal and more, but not this year… Luckily, it’s that time of year when the local library incentivizes us to Read with their Summer Programs. I signed up last Wednesday and received a free pencil, a “Love My Library” sticker, a free round of putt-putt and free kids’ meal at Azzip, a bookmark, and a folder to track my reads by coloring in the books. After I’ve read 10 books, I get to turn in the folder to be entered for the Grand Prize. Samantha and Olivia have already turned in one entry, so I’m lagging behind.

The back of the folder lists some recommended books that sound pretty good, but for quick reads I turn to the cozy mysteries, usually set in England in the time between WWI and WWII. The sleuths are rich people who attract murders wherever they go and they always get their man (or woman). You’d think that I would be able to solve the puzzle on my own after reading all the Sherlocks, Poirots, Marples, Campions, and Lord Peter Wimseys. Authors such as Ray Chandler, Dashiell Hammet, and Erle Stanley Gardner alongside more modern writers Elizabeth George, Patricia Cornwell, and P.D. James have schooled me for years, but I rarely figure out whodunnit…

It is Cold today and rainy, but the weatherman has warned us that next week’s temps will be 90-100degrees with godawful humidity, so I’m enjoying it. Casey’s getting the pool ready for Summer and I’m trying to figure out how that skeleton got in Braeburn Castle and who it could be… Any ideas??? Lord Lennox will figure it out…

Peace

Posted in Random, Royal Family

Just one more thing…

Posted on by Jo Mayne Casey

I’m picking up the Jr girls at 11 and we’re off to the mall and other adventures, but I just have one comment on the Platinum Jubilee and the Royal Family…

Harry and Meghan are seriously mental and their decision to leave the Royal Family was based on the belief that they would be able to make more money by capitalizing on their association with them — note she still calls herself a Duchess. When that didn’t materialize and Prince Charles cut them out of his payroll as Duke of Cornwall, their revenge interview with Oprah was full of lies — 17 of them proven to be outright porkies. The Queen’s response that “recollections may vary” is as close as it gets to the RF calling them out. They filed several lawsuits, one against the Queen’s own government for extra security, and refused to come to Prince Philip’s funeral, further hurting Her Majesty.

But they still play off of their royal connection here in America where they maintain a fan club who call anyone who despises them like I do a racist. I hate that and it’s hurts the cause of fighting true racism in our country and the UK. They are seriously unpopular in UK, and disliked by about 67% of Americans, last poll…

Still, they continue to pull stunts like her showing up in Uvalde the day after the shootings, like she represents anybody or anything other than Narcissism. She truly makes me sick.

I’m not going to defend Harry, but he’s very mentally unstable (a fact that the RF covered up for years) and I believe he is abused by her at the same time that he preaches at the rest of the world to get help… And did he Ever acknowledge the Queen’s Jubilee and Thank her for her service — no…

So they got their come-uppance at the Jubilee. They had not coordinated with the Family regarding plans for the many engagements that Senior Royals were attending (Princess Anne was in charge). They did not bring their children to the Trooping the Colour when they could have met all their cousins and Aunts and Uncles, instead having a “birthday party” for their daughter-with-the-stolen-name on Saturday when All of the other Royals were either in Wales, the Epsom Derby, Northern Ireland, and Cornwall — arrangements made well in advance of the Harkles decision to attend.

About that decision: HMTQ ordered them to let her meet her great-grandchildren and they were informed that there would be No Pictures of the event, though it appears there was an official Royal Photographer present to take pictures that Belong to The Queen, not for commercialization. They actually tried to bring in their own photographers, even after being Told not to — that’s who took the pictures they released today.

After they were booed at St. Paul’s on Friday, and seated far away from the Senior Royals, they disappeared, unable to face the public. That’s the smartest decision they’ve made in a while–or was it mandated to them?

Since all the families were present in the room where they made their cameo appearance alongside the Tindall and Phillips children, it must have been icy in there. The next morning they were summoned to see Prince Charles before heading out to St. Paul’s and I believe it was him who let them know they should stay home for the rest of their visit. If you watched as closely as I did, you would see the cousins Blank them at St. Paul’s.

Anyway, today a photo was released of their daughter and she’s a cute little thing, but poor Archie hasn’t been seen full-face in years now… I’m sure they’re jealous that All the other Royals brought their kids and had a great time at the Party and the Pageant, so could hardly wait to get back to America and get their PR machine rolling again — and the darling little girl is certainly a palate cleanser.

I feel so sorry for Archie and Lily…they could have been part of that rambunctious group of cousins, just like Harry was when he was growing up. When will Harry’s therapists finally convince him that living with a narcissist is unhealthy for him and the kids?

Anyway, I could go on and on, but I gotta go. Just wanted to put my 2cents worth in…

Peace

Posted in Sunday Report

Still Partyin’ with the Queen

Posted on by Jo Mayne Casey

Occasionally I note that other people are not as obsessed with the British Royal Family as I am; in fact, many don’t even like them… (The Family are like a soap opera for me — I don’t like all of the characters, but they’re essential for the plot.) It is Clear, however, that World-wide most Everybody feels kindly toward HM The Queen. It has been quite emotional for me seeing her on the balcony Three Times! From the Trooping of the Colour on Day 1 to today’s Platinum Pageant, the Brits have put on a spectacular show to celebrate her 70 years on the throne. Last night’s Party at the Palace was so so good — I was dancing one minute and crying the next. Did you happen to see the clip of her having tea with Paddington Bear? Now we know what she keeps in her purse!!

Now that the Jubilee has wound down, I’m about all royaled-out. Back in the gardens, we’re enjoying the Perfect weather and so are the crops.

We decided to wait to put up the pool until it gets hot again — probably next week — and in the meantime started a new project down at the firepit. Here’s what it looks like now…from the back of the Edible Garden…

We’re putting up more privacy fence at the bottom so I don’t have to look at the neighbor’s solar panels. We’ll also add some larger shrubs to enclose the sitting area… I have a vision…

The cottage garden is growing and the black-eyed Susans in the Peace Garden are about to explode. We’ve put out three hummingbird feeders and they’re all staying busy…wish I could get a shot of them, but I never seem to be handy with the camera at the right time…

Hope you’re enjoying a lovely day wherever your area!

Peace

Posted in Random

It was the 3rd of June,

Posted on by Jo Mayne Casey

Another sleepy, dusty Delta day…mama hollered out the back door, y’all, remember to wipe your feet!
And then she said, I got some news this mornin’ from Choctaw Ridge
Today, Billy Joe MacAllister jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge

Where were you when you got the news? It was 1967 and ever since I heard I’ve wondered just what happened.

Bobbie Gentry, who wrote and performed the song, said regarding what happened at Choctaw Ridge: “I left it open so the listener could draw his own conclusion.”

The song was #3 on the Billboard Charts for 1967 which explains why it is ingrained in our brains; it’s a good song, but disc jockeys must have been playing on a loop to win out over songs like Light my Fire, Groovin’, Soul Man, and even Respect! Bobbie Gentry quit performing in the 70s, so we could consider her a 1-hit wonder, unless you give her this loophole: She wrote “Fancy”, copied by Reba McIntyre in 1990, which has brought her millions in royalties over the years — more than she made off of the Ode.

Just thought you’d want to give a thought to Billie Joe McAllister today…

I’m still watching The Royals, the Party goes on!

Peace