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Bed Number Nine is finally in and planted!

It has been built for a while but we had to wait until the road down to the orchard dried out before we could bring the trailer down with the two yards of top soil required to fill it.

In the photo below you can see Sylvia taking a break with the puppies after shoveling the soil into the bed and then mixing in compost, black gold, and fertilizer. The nitrogen infusing green beans will be very happy!

More Wedding Photos

We have already received many nice photos from the wedding so we decided to create a web album on Picassa. There you will find such titillating photos as the one below of the bride and groom enjoying their first kiss together as husband and wife.

The link to the slideshow is provided here:

http://picasaweb.google.com/102070988850594966845/BobSylviaSSolsticeWedding?authkey=Gv1sRgCJX9jtTkxPXBEQ&feat=email#slideshow/5486091160839245394

And if that does not work you should be able to reach the home page of the photo album through this link.

Bob & Sylvia's Solstice Wedding

Solstice Wedding in the Orchard

The bride was beautiful and positively glowing. Resplendent with five finger shoes and a bouquet and crown of flowers gathered from the property. The groom handsome in kilt and steel toed boots.

The dogs were well behaved and enjoying the extra pets available. General Lee did entertain with his hunting skills.

While at the ceremonial circle Bob & Sylvia introduced the trees of the orchard to the gathered guests.

Everyone in attendance signed the Marriage Certificate of Bob & Sylvia.

We will be posting more photos over the next days but wanted to get a sample of the day out there for everyone to enjoy.

Solstice Sunrise on the Orchard

Wedding Day has arrived at the Upper Creek Monastery and it was a beautiful sunrise. Today is solstice and the wedding ceremony for Bob & Sylvia will be in the orchard at 2 pm which is local low tide. Here are a few photos taken as the sun rose and bathed the orchard in morning light.

Some of the natural beauty of the orchard - Foxglove with Beds.

Here is the Ceremonial Circle prepared for wedding ceremony. Eventually pavers will surround the circle. - General Lee enjoys the sun and tends to his split nail.

This was the view that greeted us as we rose this morning. A dozen white wedding roses with the orchard glowing in the distance. The roses are on the table the kiters of Alameda signed and gave to us as a going away present.

Here is the gateway to the orchard which has been freshly mowed in anticipation of today's event.

The ceremonial circle awaiting guests, and the bride and groom.

Wish us well on this very special day!

Orchard Preparations

Preparations are underway for the ceremony to be held at 2pm on Solstice next Monday. This photo shows the run of raised beds with the two newest added to the end this spring, which brings the total to nine. The boards forming the angle to the right are for the "ceremonial circle." The location of the ceremonial circle is on the spot where Bob & Sylvia first placed a tripod of alder suspending a dream catcher - when the spot was still in the middle of brush and forest and the orchard was only a vision. The circle is also the location where, when it was mounds of dirt and not much else, the orchard was blessed when Olga Morrow (Bob's Mom) came with brother Steve, Phil, Lynne, and Deb to plant the family orchard with each tree placed in honor of the living and in memory of ancestors passed.

The latest planting includes about 100 feet of trellis for the berries and large tubs for the squash, and cucumbers. The trellis is overbuilt to the max with electrical conduit stung though 9 and 12 gauge wire tied into eight foot fence posts on eight foot centers. One of the pleasant side effects of the trellis is that it is also a musical instrument that sings in the breeze :-) We extended the row of Raspberries and planted Loganberry and Marionberry -

the Cabernet Sauvginon of Blackberries.

And speaking of Marionberries...

Bob & Sylvia are doing the Marryin Thing.

Here is a photo of Bob & Sylvia signing their Marriage License in the Curry County Clerks office. The blessed event will be on Monday, June 21, 2010 at 2pm PST which is the afternoon local low tide of Solstice. The ceremony will be held at the ceremonial circle in the orchard, hence the preparations. Mirleen from the local feed store will be performing the ceremony. It will be a muck boots optional event.

Puppies at Play

Here is a great photo of the dogs at play on the beach near UCM.

We typically get there several times a week. Coda wants to chase sticks and when that fails she diligently works to keep the waves of the Pacific Ocean from coming to far up the beach. A true working dog. The General typically follows along on the high ground keeping an eye on things, joining the fray when he senses danger or Coda acting blonde.