Almost Summer in my Garden

 

SUMMER begins here is about 5 day on 6.21.22.  it is about 90 here today so feels like it is here now. plan to honor my summer traditions and eat meals outside to enjoy the season this summer & fall.   

We attended our first picnic of the season recently.  Double Chocolate Mocha Brownies.  Chewy, gooey goodness in every one.  

 

How are you spending this Pride Month? I have a trip to visit family nest week.  se excited to be able to see them in person.  Quality time with Family is PRICELESS.

Black Lives Matter

Free the People ROC is the group in Rochester, NY. 

 Free the People ROC

 

We must stand up and VOTE to support our sisters & brothers.  The massacre in Buffalo, NY  is horrific.  The hate fueled white supremacy was encouraged by the 45th president.  We need to talk to our friends & families and be sure they register and vote out those who do not want to bring our country together.   Search the below terms 

I Can't Breathe
Black Lives Matter
and read from fact checked news sources.   

 

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Pride earrings will support The Mochas Center all year. Donation of 25%  during Pride for the earring sales.

   Pride Earrings

My Family

Valentine Memories

As we are in mid February, I have love and memories of a few family members who are no longer with me.  

As many of you know, I am an avid gardener.  My Father & his Mother both have birthdays the end of the month.  They showed me strong family, love & tolerance for all. 

This picture was taken many years ago at my family cottage near Alexandria Bay, NY.  you can see my Grandmother wth her tow oldest sons here.  It looks like a very successful day fishing on the St. Lawrence river.  I remember my father taking me out on that river as a child.    

My Grandmother loved gardening and her flowers were a show of her dedication to nature.  This was obvious at her home in the NE area is the city of Rochester & the summer home her husband build in the 1000 Islands in St Lawrence county. One of my favorite flowers in her garden was the Peonies.  She had both the pink & the white flowering plants.This is the pink flowering type in my backyard garden.  When they first bloomed here my only thought when I inhaled the intoxicating aroma was of Grandma.

As I enjoy planting my seeeds, I think of my family and the fantastic gardens at Grandma & Grandpa's house.  The Blackberries & Red Raspberries were always harvested by my sister & I.  Amazing that any of the fruits made it into the house by the color of our hands from the harvest of the super juicy berries.This is the view from the dock at the summer place several years ago.  The water lilies are wild there and inspired my backyard pond.  My waterfall sound takes me back to the cottage in the 1000 islands and many summer weekends with my father when I was a child.

Black Lives Matter

I know my father would support me in standing up for others.  His family emigrated to the US and he was first generation of his family born in the US. 

The BLM group in Rochester is

Free the People ROC

Black Lives Matter in ROC

The Group in my city is Free The People ROC

 I invite everyone to stand up, listen to others, be kind and speak up.  

#blacklivesmatter 

#standup

#speakup

#listen  

We are in this together. Wear a Mask,  Stay safe,  Facts Matter, Science is REAL.

More important this Black History Month!

Shop Small

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My shop:  Panda Wear Website
Facebook:  PandaWire Facebook
Twitter:  Panda Wear Gems  
Instagram: Instagram

For every $100 you spend at a local business,  $68 stay in the community.  

June is ending, summer is here

 Lapidary and the garden

Happy Monday all. heat wave and summer is here in ROC  As a lapidary it is almost impossible to slice or slab any rocks because of this heat.  On the other hand, good part is I can cut cabochons because that equipment is inside in my basement. 

 

This is a snowflake obsidian cabs.  Obsidian is a volcanic natural glass  there are several varieties of it that I have as rough and cabochons.   

 

The heat might be stressing the plants though we are keeping them well watered.   We use recycled rubber soaker hoses to water the vegetables and most of the pants in our gardens.  They conserve moisture by placing the water where it is needed at the roots of the plants,  none is wasted as with sprinklers.  As in the past years of drought, the soaker hoses allow us a harvest and not having to remove dead plants. Fingers crossed this short term heat wave and dry does not turn into an all season event for the summer. 

 

This is yellow turquoise that I cut and set in sterling silver. I love the play of colors on the stone and the final design to show off the shape of the cabochon.   

 

 

Black Lives Still Matter

 

 

Free the People ROC is the group in Rochester, NY.  FB page  Free the People ROC

I invite everyone to stand up, listen to others, be kind and to support our sisters and brothers.  

#bekind

#blacklivesmatter 

#stopasianhate

#standup

#listen

 

 

 

 

 

  

Buy Local from the Maker

My shop:  Panda Wear Website
Facebook:  PandaWire Facebook
Twitter:  Panda Wear Gems  
Instagram: Instagram

 

Why shop small?  For every $100 you spend at a local business,  $68 stay in the community.

 

 

This is a natural Aquamarine from a mine in New Hampshire.  I did not cut this beauty but the fact is is a USA gem made me purchase several cabs in a few different gemstones from the mine owner.  

http://bit.ly/Panda_aqua

Dog Days of Summer

The dog days of summer are here.  As we near the end of August,  there are a few activities we look forward to each year they are   making tomato sauce from the bounty of the veggie garden,  the NY State Fair, enjoying the end of August dinner dishes from the garden harvest. Two of these are possible this year.  The fair will wait for 2021. 

As a small bushiness in Rochester, NY I am thankful to those whom have come before me to secure my right to vote.

Happy to have this month with such focus on the Centennial of the 19th amendment.  Working with one group this Friday  to put together our video for the Susan B virtual parade this year.  You can join the celebration here:
 Susan B Parade 2020

Remember, stay safe, wear a mask, social distance in public, flatten the curve, stay home and use compassion. For every $100 you spend at a local business,  $68 stays in the community. Black Lives Matter

    Buy Local from the Maker 

My shop:  Panda Wear Website

Facebook:  PandaWire Facebook
Twitter:  Panda Wear Gems 
Instagram: Instagram

For Education  Search 
 I Can't Breathe
Black Lives Matter
and read from fact checked news sources.  As a supporter I need to speak up.  Please join me.

Hand made Copper or Sterling silver earring with part of the proceeds to benefit Flower City Habitat for Humanity.I am part of the Women build project again this year. 

 Earring are $49 per pair.

If you would prefer to give directly, you may donate here:


 Kim's Page

Welcome August 2020

August has arrived in my western NY garden.   The hazy, hot, & humid month of summer is here.  On the positive side we have has a few visitors recently I wanted to share with you.  Two stunning examples Mother Nature sent me this week.  Blue dragonfly and yellow swallowtail butterfly.  It is great to have these minders of the beauty and delicate nature of teh creatures around us always.  we may not see them but they are near by and they are worth taking notice of.  Stop and enjoy the moment. 

For every $100 you spend at a local business,  $68 stays in the community.

 

Black Lives Matter!  Flatten the curve. Wear A Mask. Stay Safe. Practice social distancing.

I did virtual back flips yesterday when Presidential candidate Joe Biden announced his pick for VP,  Kamala Harris. She is an amazing congress woman and she will be a fantastic VP.  I ask all of you to please vote in November.  Be sure your friends are registered and that you all vote.  Here in NY they have made it easy by sending absentee ballots to all registered. 

I will end with my recommendations for all of us to become educated and support our sisters this anniversary of the 19th amendment  Celebrate the centennial the way our fore-mothers did and stand together in unity. 

       Buy Local from the Maker 

My shop:  Panda Wear Website

Facebook:  PandaWire Facebook
Twitter:  Panda Wear Gems  
Pinterest: Pinterest 
Instagram: Instagram

For Education  Search 
 I Can't Breathe
Black Lives Matter
and read from fact checked news sources.  As a supporter I need to speak up.  Please join me.

February Family Memories

I welcome the end of this month because spring is in March.  As many of you know, I am an avid gardener.  Another annual event is remembering my Father & his Mother both of whom have birthdays the end of the month.  They both showed me strong family, love & tolerance for all. This year the month adds another family memory, the passing of my father's middle brother, Russell.  My Uncle Russell passed away & his service was Saturday, 2/22.

My Grandmother loved gardening and her flowers were a show of her dedication to nature.  This was obvious at her home in the NE area is the city of Rochester & the summer home her husband build in the 1000 Islands in St Lawrence county. One of my favorite flowers in her garden was the Peonies.  She had both the pink & the white flowering plants.This is the pink flowering type in my backyard garden.  When they first bloomed here my only thought when I inhaled the intoxicating aroma was of Grandma.



As I enjoy the sprouts of my tomatoes & bell peppers, I think of my family and the fantastic gardens at Grandma & Grandpa's house when I was a child. The Blackberries & Red Raspberries were always harvested by my sister & I.  Amazing that any of the fruits made it into the house by the color of our hands from the harvest of the super juicy berries.This is the view from the dock at the summer place several years ago.  The water lilies are wild there and helped me to have my own backyard pond.  the sound of the water takes me back to the cottage in the 1000 islands and many summer weekends with my father when I was a child.

Habitat for Humanity Women Build 2013

Buy Local  from the maker

My shops:  Panda Wear Website
                   Cabochons and Beads

Facebook:  PandaWire Facebook
Twitter:  Panda Wear Gems  
Pinterest: Pinterest 
Instagram: Instagram
Habitat:  My Page Women Build

Dog Days of Summer in Rochester, NY

 

Wrote this back in early August.  I went out to water the plants and it was not posted.  Ab it late but the beauty of the plants are shown. 

This was a visitor to my garden toward the end of August. I believe it is a red tailed hawk.  Hope he is eating the mice and squirrels that seem to be enjoying my root crops.

The summer season ended with a drought and federal disaster area for my county and the surrounding area.

Dog days of summer here in my gardens photos.  New York was in early drought stages, is early August  Seems like we just planted the garden.  We have a happy and prolific garden due to water wise gardening practices.  My most prolific plants have been the early spring crops: cilantro, greens, lettuce, peas, radishes.  As the heat arrived:  lettuce, mustard greens, collards, kale, cucumbers, & yellow beans.

My bush beans are quite happy with the heat wave which lasted the entire summer.  My several days a week watering with recycled rubber soaker hoses keep them happy. We have about 10lbs of beans in the freezer for later, the most ever saved.  They are still producing which is unusual,  normally we take the plants down in mid September.

Another of the prolific vegetables are the bell peppers and the broccoli. A different variety, Jalapeno show below.  Especially with the cooler fall temps now and the much needed rain this past week.  The broccoli has taken off and we are eating it a few nights a week.

Apparently the heat is not done here, yet.  High of 79 forecast for the end of this week.  Grilled dinner outside on the deck is what we will be doing.   Mine as well enjoy the unseasonable warm while it is here.  The leaves are certainly falling and it will back to true fall weather.

The Holiday season is here.  Panda Wear is accepting holiday orders thru 11/1/16 for delivery in December.  Please order early.  

My shops:  Panda Wear Website
                   Cabochons and Beads