Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Outside: irises (part 3)

This is the third installment of the irises. I don't quite remember what type the first image is, other than just pretty... The second is honky tonk blues, the third is jacaranda falls (which came from Frank's Nursery before it when out of business), and the fourth is a superstition.









Superstitions are 'black' irises - in other words, when the sun isn't hitting them directly they're very dark. Mine are planted along a fence, and it's almost impossible to take a picture of one that isn't backlit, unless, of course, I want to wander into the neighbor's yard. I really need to move these ones to somewhere slightly more practical...

So, today is summer solstice. It's the official start of summer according to the calendar, and it's the day with the longest period of daylight. And it's also my birthday.

So, even though it's 68˚F with a possible high of 86˚F (and rain, damn it, weather!) - the oven will be turned on, and the traditional birthday cake will be baked. Yes, Betty Crocker Cherry Chip cake with the corresponding Cherry frosting. I first had this cake when I was probably about 6 years old. It was at Grandpa Duda's birthday party - and by far it was the most awesome cake I had ever had as a six year old. White cake, yellow cake, chocolate cake, that ridiculously dry German chocolate cake — they've got nothing on cherry chip cake, particularly not when it has the corresponding cherry flavored icing.

Grandma & Grandpa Duda (c.1988)

Anyway, I got my love of kitsch and cheap jewelry from Grandma Duda; and my green eyes and my premature gray hair (well, okay, Grandpa Duda probably contributed to that too. I don't have any memories of him without white hair... allegedly his hair was once brown). I got my first pet from Grandma Duda - 2 bettas (Calvin and Mike). And generally, Grandma Duda bought me and my sister a lot of weird kitschy stuff... plus, she also showed me the first cockroach I ever saw - which was a Madagascar Hissing Cockroach - consequently I thought all cockroaches were giant so when I saw an ordinary cockroach for the first time I was like "oh, that?" Grandma Duda was a secretary for Richard Alexander of the herpetology division of the Natural History Museum at the U of M. So, she always had something strange to show us grandkids... plus I got that Naked Mole Rat t-shirt that I wore all through high school from Grandma Duda via her job...

Anyway, since it's my birthday I'm going shopping today, and no doubt, there will be some kind of "Grandma Duda" purchase. Yes, I'm going to buy something inexpensive that I really don't need that probably has no practical purpose. It's in the genes.

19 comments:

Marguerite (Tina) Smith Hart said...

A very Happy Birthday Sarah, enjoy your day and "unnecessary" purchase. They're the best kind!
Tina xo

Out on the prairie said...

A very Happy Birthday to you today Sarah. I like the share of your Grandma, it sounds very much like someone I would love to have met.I made a cake last night and forgot to see if any is left. I am with a small group at a Bio station in NE leaving today or tomorrow.

Bob Bushell said...

Have a nice birthday, and, your pictures, they are fantastic.

Montanagirl said...

Hey, Happy Birthday! Love this post.

R. J. said...

Happy Birthday. I hope my granddaughter also has lots of those fond memories of things that we have shared.

Happy Little Trees Studio said...

Happy Birthday... and love the Grandma Duda stories!!

Nikki said...

Beautiful! I love irises.

Happy Birthday, cherry chip sounds so good!

Lisa Gordon said...

Happy Birthday Sarah!
These are beautiful photographs!

Nancy said...

Happy belated birthday, Sarah. With a name like Duda, how could your grandparents not be fun?

Tabor said...

Belated Happy Birthday. Irises are my favorite...well one of my favorites.

Ed said...

Ah, I love flowers so much. I need to grow some, our apartment is severly lacking in that department. <3 Happy Birthday!

alissa {33shadesofgreen} said...

Happy Birthday Sarah! Hope you had a wonderful day. Love your iris photos. I still sort of miss Franks Nursery! Wish they were still around.

Anonymous said...

Happy birthday! Your grandma sounds like a lovely lady who taught you many important life lessons. Grandmas are so good at life lessons. :)

My favorite cake is the Pillsbury Funfetti cake with corresponding Funfetti icing. I haven't tried the Cherry Cake though, which sounds very delightful!

Sweet Virginia Breeze said...

A belated Happy Birthday to you! Hope you had an enjoyable shopping trip and a big piece of Cherry Chip cake.

The photos of the iris are gorgeous!

Tammie Lee said...

wow wow, your flowers are gorgeous as can be. Happy happy birthday, wishing you a new year full of days that feel wonderful to you!

Dave said...

A belated Happy Birthday for two days ago Sarah. Your grands must have been wonderful people. OK about the cockroaches. Do they bother you? We don't like touching them at all. Those flowers look great! - Dave

Lindsay [rookie's nest] said...

Haha!! Lavender IS your favorite color!!! I LOVE it as well - just not on a mirror!! xo thanks for stopping by my blog

Catherine said...

I hope you had a terrific birthday Sarah!! I like the sounds of your birthday cake. I hope you took photos! :) mmmm.....!

Your grandparents are sweet!

xo Catherine

Sarah Knight said...

I've never actually had a cockroach problem in my home or anything like that. I saw one at a place I worked... it definitely had nothing on the hissing cockroach in the jar that grandma showed us.