Pink Roses

As promised, here is a picture of my climbing rosebush in all it's pink glory. Yesterday, over in the cool of the evening, I went outside to repot some plants that were beginning to droop. Dave was relaxing on the screened porch, and we were talking (and he was dozing) , and there was a pleasant breeze carrying the scent of these rosebushes with it. It was just so delightful. I wish all of you could smell them.

Collapse

This day has been so strange. Dave bought the game 'Collapse' for Kloe to play when she visits. Since it's one of my favorite computer games, I decided to create myself a character so I can play, too. The idea was to play it every now and then, when I have a little time to kill. Well, it hasn't quite turned out that way. I'm completely addicted.
I put in a load of laundry, then played some Collapse. I folded the clothes, put in another load, then played some Collapse. I started feeling a little guilty, so I got up and vacuumed the cat hair off the porch furniture and mats...then I played some more Collapse. I began to feel guilty again, so I ironed Dave's shirts, folded the sheets out of the dryer, put the towels over into the dryer....then...you guessed it...sat down to play some more Collapse. When Dave got home from work, I decided to work outside for a while, so he drilled some holes in the bottom the new pots I bought this week, and I did some repotting.
It's so funny, because even though I don't feel like I've been that busy, I must have been, because I managed to get a lot accomplished. Right now, I'm sitting at my computer, I just got out of the shower, and I'm waiting for CSI and The Mentalist to come on. Hmm, I think I'll play some Collapse.

Topsy Turvy Planters

Ever since I saw the first ad for the Topsy Turvy, I've wanted to try it. I didn't want to call in and order it, because I'm the type of person who likes to see things before deciding to buy. Walmart has a section for the products advertized on TV, so I thought I'd just wait until they get them, but every time I checked, they didn't have it. So I just went on planting tomatoes in big cat litter containers with a tomato cage. Not very pretty, but at least I had home grown tomatoes. Finally, this year, Dave and I were at the tractor store, restocking our cat food supply, when I saw them. Until then, I had no idea how many different planters this company made. They had topsy turvys for tomatoes, strawberries, herbs, and hummingbird flowers. Since I already have nice herb gardens, and I don't have much luck with strawberries, I got the tomato and flower ones. They also make one for growing herbs and tomatoes together, but I didn't see this one until I'd already bought my planters. The tomato one I have, has a port at the bottom, where you put your tomato plant, then you fill the planter with soil. Flower one has a port at the bottom for one plant, and a divided area on top for three more plants. The idea is for the top plants to cascade down over the planter and mingle with the bottom flowers. I just recently planted this one, so it's not very pretty yet, but hopefully it will be. We planted the tomato in the spring. I'm still not sure how well it will do, but it has started producing fruit. That's a good sign. :)

Oh, I just want to mention one very important thing for anyone who is interested in buying one of these planters. They get very heavy, so make sure you hang them in a sturdy place with a strong hook.

Chicken Soup With Rice

Today, Dave had a little extra time for lunch, so he made us some of his wonderful chicken with rice soup. It was so delicious. I'm not much of a cook, but I'm going to try to tell how he makes it.

Chicken Soup With Rice

This recipe make a three quart pan of soup. Start with two quarts of chicken broth (Dave made this broth himself when Kroger put their bags of leg quarters on sale. Store bought broth will also work). Add a chopped onion, a chopped carrot, and two chopped celery stalks along with your chicken (Dave used three leg quarters worth of chicken meat. You can use more or less according to your preference). Add salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil, then cover and cook for 30 minutes or until veggies are tender. Add about a half cup of rice, return to a boil, then cook until rice is tender. If you keep a container of precooked rice in the fridge, you can use it instead. Just add it at the end and heat through.

Well that's Dave's recipe for homemade chicken soup with rice. We'll be having it again before long, because Dave used a whole cup of rice, which turned out to be too much. With water added, we have enough left over to make another whole pot. Yummy!

Oops!

Remember when I wrote about the front yard rosebush? The one that came with the house? It had just begun to bud, and I thought I remembered these roses to be a dark pinkish red. Well, I was wrong. The buds have opened, revealing a rose that is a true red. I don't know how I have lived in this house for seven years, not knowing what color my rosebush produced. I guess it's because this bush only blooms in the the spring, then it's done. That's not a very long time for them to be seen. I just know that's it. It can't possibly be that I'm that unobservant....could it?

Silly Cats

As long as I live, I will never understand cats. Dave and I feed and care for a managed colony of feral cats. Long before we got the new shed, we used to feed them on a little slab of concrete, probably part of an old driveway or patio at one time in the house's past. We'd give them two trays, which we filled with dry food twice a day, and several bowls, where I'd divide four cans of moist food once per day. The canned food is just a treat, as we cannot afford for it to be their main source of nutrition. Along with all this food, we had three bowls for water, which we provided daily from the hose. This feeding plan was a great idea when the weather was warm and dry, but not so much if it rained. I can't even begin to calculate the amount of soggy dry food I threw away during that period of time. Maybe it's best if I don't even try. I also spent a huge amount of time, moving the food containers off the new ant beds that seemed to sprout up over night. It wasn't the most ideal situation.
Now, the old shed had already begun to leak, and when we could no longer put it off, we went shopping for a new shed. Dave had been wanting a bigger shed for a long time, and now was the opportunity. He wanted me to go with him to be involved in the decision. I couldn't imagine why. I mean, it's a shed, for goodness sakes. How many choices could there possibly be? How little I knew. They had big sheds, small sheds, sheds with lofts, sheds without lofts, windows, no windows, Several door sizes...It was amazing. These sheds could be custom made to any specifications. We looked around for a little while, and then I saw it....A shed with a deck. I immediately thought of my cat feeding dilemma. What could be more perfect than an off the ground porch area, with a covering to keep the dry food safe from the elements, complete with a nice dry shed to store it in. Dave even had them wall in half of the porch area to be absolutely sure it stayed dry. Perfect.
So now, everyday, the cats get two trays of dry food twice, and the moist food treat once everyday, whether it rains or not. They still have three water bowls, and an endless supply of fresh water from the hose. What I don't understand is why, after all our efforts, do the cats seem to prefer the nasty water the collects in the bottom of my planters after a rain, and love to eat the leftover table scraps my neighbor throws out her back door onto the ground...

More Potting

Today is a good day. I was so tired this morning, but since I don't want to get back in the habit of missing church, I made myself get up and go. I'm so glad I did. We had some guests, and five of our kids present. They sang loudly and clearly, and even helped with the praise and worship songs, After we dismissed them to class, Bro. David gave a great lesson. It's such a blessing to know that Jesus rose and is walking with us today, the same as he did with his disciples. Amen.
After church, we had a nice lunch at Furr's, and came home, where I spent the afternoon potting up new plants. Of course, I had to take pictures to share with my friends...
First is a picure of my lantana. I have two small white, and a larger pink, which hasn't bloomed yet. When they do, as you well know by now, I'll take a picture to share.
This is my windowbox, herb garden. My old windowbox, was made of wood, and was starting to rot and fall apart. I bought myself this coco basket planter to replace it. The lemon thyme and garlic chives were transplanted from the old box, and It was quite a chore because they had rooted into the wood, and had to be ripped out. I hope they survive the ordeal. The boxwood and bouquet basil were purchased new this year.
Next, we have a pot of annual pentas. I planted some pink and purple ones last year, and the hummingbirds were all over them. It was so much fun to watch them, I just had to get some for this year. I found some red ones at one of the local nurseries. I've never seen red pentas, and I can hardly wait for them to bloom.
Next, I have a mixed pot, containing red salvia, pink butterfly flower, and bicolor sage (the blue). I picked these three plants, because they all have the same light and water requirements, and they looked so pretty together. I'm not an expert on creating mixed potted gardens, so I'm hoping these will be ok. I would be so sad if one of the plants decided to hog the pot, and choke the others out. I guess only time will tell.

Tired

I'm so tired today. Dave and went to Dallas yesterday to see my brother-in-law. He's been in the hospital at Medical City for about six weeks or so. He had flatlined, and the doctors here didn't hold much hope for him, but God has other plans. They stablized him and sent him to Dallas, where he has made vast improvments. He's getting his strength back, and will start physical therapy soon. He still has a long way to go, but I've no doubt he'll do well. God has already brought him back to life, and we continue to pray for a complete recovery.
"...The Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings..." Malachi 4:2

After our visit, we went over to Tyler. The radio stations had gotten tickets to see Glen Beck at The Oil Palace, and Dave had been wanting to go. I wasn't as excited about it as he was, not because I don't like Glen Beck (because I do), but because being reminded of the way our country is headed makes me nervous. I was afraid I'd come home, scared out of my mind, but I was pleasantly surprised. There is no denying the attacks to our very way of life, but we have to put our trust in God, and pray for the future of our country.

Pleasant Lunchtime

Today, Dave and I had the most pleasant lunch together. I'm sorry to admit that I was still asleep when he got home for his break, so I hadn't gotten anything done. This didn't really bother me because I had cleaned house yesterday, hoping to do some yard work today. As it turned out, I couldn't have worked outside anyway, because it was raining. No harm done. I started a load of laundry, and we heated up some leftover veggie soup we'd made Sunday evening. We set up our folding table on the screened porch, so we could eat outside while we listened to the gentle rain fall. We were just relaxing out there and talking, when Dave realized it was time to go back to work.
Now the rain has stopped, and the sun is peaking through, but I'm so relaxed that I no longer want to work. Oh, well. It'll still be there another day. I think I'll grab my crochet, and watch some TV.

Pleasantly Surprised

On April 11th, Dave and I bought azalea shrubs to go in front of our front porch. According to the label, these were white, repeat blooming shrubs, attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds. They were a little pricey, but we bought them anyway, because they are just what we wanted. Yesterday, while I was watering my front porch plants, I discovered they had bloomed. That was the first surprise, because I didn't expect blooms until we'd had them long enough to be established. The other, and even more pleasant surprise, is that the flowers are a salmon pink color instead of the white ones we were expecting. I know I should be disappointed, but I just can't be. These are a gorgeous color. Now, I do hope these are all from the same mislabeled batch. I don't know how I'll feel about multi-colored azaleas planted in the same area, but only time will tell about that. I know at least three are the same color, because the buds match this bloom. I'll let my readers know, as soon as I know, what I've got.

Shoot!

From now until the end of the season, I guess I'm going to have to take my camera every time I go outside. I had gone out to feed the cats, and was walking around the side of the house when I saw it. A beautiful butterfly landed on my pink azalea shrub, and sat there for a few minutes. It was large, with yellow wings, edged with black. Each wing had a little tail on it. I've seen picures of these butterflies, but this was the first time I've ever seen one up close in real life....and I didn't have my camera with me. :(

Wow!

Before I leave, I just have to post this picture. I knew when I bought this hosta that it would be beautiful, but this is just spectacular. It was a little more expensive than the ones sold at the box stores, but Wow, what a difference.

Buds And Blooms

I just love this time of year. It seems like new growth and color happens everyday. I took some photos to share with my readers. These are first blooms on three different rosebushes. You'll also notice that all of them are filled with buds. It's just so exciting!

This bud is from the bush in the front yard that came with the house. It's flowers are a dark pinkish red, and will open once per year. I prefer roses that bloom all season, but when my neighbor told me how the previous owner planted and babied this rose, it made me love it as much as my repeat bloomers, and look forward to it's burst of color every year.

This 'honey perfume' is the first rosebush I bought for the house. I potted it and put it at the side of the house, where it happily produces sweet smelling yellow roses from spring to fall.

This rosebush is part of my potted rose garden in front of the shed. It's blooms start out a deep pink, and fade to a lighter shade as they mature. Since it's a climber, I'll clip the limbs to the trellis as it grows. If you click the picture to enlarge it, you'll see an abundance of buds ready to open, making this plant smell heavenly.

So that is a look at my rosebushes. I hope you enjoyed them as much as I enjoy sharing them.

I'm So Goofy

In an effort to save money, Dave and I have opted to bundle our internet, cable, and phone. The man from the cable company came today to fix us up. My computer desk is a corner cabinet with doors. We bought it at an unfinished wood furniture store before we got married. It was an amazing deal, because it was already stained and finished, but didn't cost anymore than the other pieces. After sanding, staining, and finishing the bedroom furniture we'd bought, I was extremely happy that this piece was already done.
I love this piece of furniture where we have it, but the closest cable hookup is in the next room. We had a cord coming from behind the TV, going around the corner, and to the back of the desk. It's very discreet, so we've just left things be. Today, since the cable guy was coming anyway, we decided to have them put a hookup behind the desk. He moved it out from the wall, drilled little holes for the phone and cable cords, then went outside to begin his work. Since it's huge, and heavy to move, I don't get the opportunity to vacuum behind the desk very often, and I decided to do that. I was in the middle of my task, when this cord started feeding through one of the holes. It was pretty creepy looking. I'm happy to say that I realized what it was before screaming, and making a complete fool of myself, but I still feel a little goofy for letting it startle me. :)

New Fridge

As promised, here is a picture of our new refrigerator. When we remodeled the kitchen, we replaced all our white appliances with stainless and black, except for the fridge. It was still fairly new, and was to be placed on a different wall, so we kept it. Last week, Sears was having a one day sale on appliances, so we went to check it out. That is where we found this beauty, which is the last piece of out stainless steel makeover. The double doors open to reveal a very roomy refrigerator. Each side has it's own shelves that adjust to fit any size containers. The two vegetable/fruit drawers has it's on temperature control setting, as well as the meat keeper drawer. The shelves pull out so you can ee everything that's in there.
The freezer door tilts down to reveal a pull out shelf and a deep drawer. Trust me when I say this freezer holds lots of food.

And that is our brand new fridge. I just love it!

Taking It Easy

We've had quite a busy morning. The new refrigerator we bought earlier in the week arrived, and it's just beautiful. I don't want to take a photo until we get rid of out old one, so I'll save that story for later. Right now, Dave is working a remote, and I have the house to myself. I finished my laundry, and around 5:30, I'll start getting ready for our churches monthly singing service tonight, but right now, I'm just taking it easy.
For today's post, I don't have a lot to write, but I thought I'd share this picture I took yesteday from my kitchen window. The cats just love to enjoy the fresh air and sunshine, and sometimes a little bird watching, from the screened porch. This is the perfect time of year to be out there with my knitting and diet coke. Soon it will be too hot, but I'm going to enjoy it to the fullest while I can.

Memories

While looking through my things today, I found this blanket. I remember crocheting this the year I got married. That was October of 2002. I had decided earlier that year to crochet blankets for my parents, and each of my brothers and sisters for Christmas. I had finished most of them by the time Dave and I got engaged. After we got married, I got back to my project full force. I showed Dave the blankets I had finished, and told him of my goal to make enough of them for the families' Christmas gifts. I also asked him if he thought his mother would like one. He loved the idea, and chose this one for her. We packed it up, and sent it to Alabama. Not long after, we got a phone call from her, telling us how much she loved it, and she seemed to really appreciate that it was handmade. I met her in the summer of 2003, when Dave's family and I went to Alabama for vacation. I was so pleased to see that she had her Christmas blanket neatly draped across her chair in the livingroom. That let me know that not only did she really like it, but she also used it. Nothing makes a crafter happier than to see thier work used and enjoyed.
In 2006, when she passed away (at the age of 92), Dave inherited the afghan back. I had folded it neatly, and put it in my trunk for safe keeping, but now I want to display it. It's made of durable yarn, so the cats can't hurt it, and it's machine washable, so hair and dust isn't an issue. I'll never forget the way she displayed it proudly, and it's time it was once again put to use. I draped it across our rocker, and I couldn't help but smile. Even though she lived far away, and I only knew her for a short time, I'll always remember her fondly. I took a close-up picture so my readers can better see the design. It was such a pleasure to crochet, and also has really nice memories attached to it. I couldn't have hoped for more.

Blooming Chives

Chives are one of my favorite plants to grow. Besides being yummy on baked potatoes, they are easy to grow, and the purple blooms, so simplistic and beautiful, add a certain level of interest to my garden. Sadly, I haven't always appreciated chives, and all they offer.
When I first began gardening, I consentrated mostly on the houseplants I used to decorate my front porch. I only had an ivy, a chinese evergreen, and a corn cane plant, given to me by supportive friends after I lost my mom. I loved the the way they looked so much, that I began to garden in the front yard. I already had a climbing rosebush, and a hydrangea planted by the previous owner of the house. I weeded them, and pruned them back, enjoying the fresh air and smell of dirt so much, that I decided to start a garden. My sister had told me all about chives and thier many uses, but that first year I was working the front yard, where I didn't have enough sun for chives, or any other herb. It wasn't until I moved on to the side of the house that I planted my first herbs. Sadly, that didn't work. I love our old house with all my heart, but I admit there are some drawbacks. I discovered the hard way, that because of the lack of gutters, rain runs off the roof like a flood, right into that side garden (the reason for the potted garden I have there today). This abundance of water killed my chives and every other herb I had planted there. Once again, I gave up on herbs.
Then a great thing happened. In 2007, We remodeled the house, adding a screened porch. Nobody wants to sit outside and look at an ugly backyard, so I began a potted garden. I also discovered I had sun. Not full sun, because of the pecan tree, but enough to make me feel less limited in what I can grow. The first photo showes my first chive bloom of the year. It and a purple sage plant were the only perinnials in a pot full of annual herbs. When the annuals died out, the chives took over, leaving just enough sage to make it interesting. I liked the way they looked, but it wasn't until the spring of the next year that I saw my first bloom. A round, soft looking purple flower atop a long green scape. Nothing spectacular, but for some reason I fell in love with it. I decided to plant my annuals in onother pot, and let the chives have this one.

It was when I was planting my potted rose garden in front of the shed (the only full sun area of my yard), that I remembered some of the things my sister had told me about chives. They draw butterflies and hummingbirds, and when planted around a rosebush, they discouraged aphids. I went out and bought enough chives to plant in the pots with my roses, and I can honestly say I don't have an aphid problem with these particular roses. And just look at the amount of buds on the chives. It looks like I have an explosion of purple blooms to look forward to. I can hardly wait!

Pink Profusion

I'm so happy. Our pink ruffle azaleas are in full bloom, leaving a wall of color down the side of our house. We got these small shrubs in 2006 at Lowes for the amazing cost of 99 cents each, and have had the pleasure of watching them grow. They're not repeat bloomers or some fancy hybrid, but oh, the beauty.
I'm especially happy to see them looking so nice this year. I used to belong to an online garden forum, and I had read many times that over feeding is much more harmful than under feeding. I'm sorry to say that haven't fed these shrubs since we planted them. I also didn't do much gardening last year, due to a period of severe depression. All that, plus a year of record rainfall may be the reason these shrubs have so many yellow leaves and have, over the years become woody. But this year my energy level is up, I'm back out there gardening, and I'm especially loving these azaleas. When bloom time is over, I plan to cut them back and give them a good feeding, so they'll be even more lovely next year....although I don't see how they can be much prettier than they are now.

The Blessing Jar

In April of 2005, our church's fellowship building burned down. The loss devistated us, because that building was a big part of our ministry. Wedding receptions for happy brides, baby showers for mothers-to-be, and a hot meal for families suffering a loss were just a few of the ways we reached out to others. Reconstruction of a new building is not just desirable, it's a necessity.
Our congregation, although very giving and committed to the task, is small. Rebuilding is much more costly than we could afford, but with God's help, we have raised money by raffling quilts, selling crafts, and we even held a garages sale. All these endeavers have been successful, but the most creative way our church has built our funds, is through the blessing jar.
The idea for the blessing jar came to our pastor's wife (also my cousin :D) while she was running errands. She noticed a penny on the ground. Of course, most of us would have kept going, but God spoke to her heart, that if she'd make the effort to reach down and pick up that penny, He'd bless it. When she shared her experience with the rest of the church, our blessing jar became a reality...
We now have a big water jug sitting in front of the altar. It contains all the found pennies and spare change, donated by church members, and many visitors. Having it there has inspired us, and changed the way we think. None of us can pass a lost coin without picking it up. Parents no longer have change in their cars' consoles, because the children have snagged it up to donate. Some people even put bills in it! We have emptied and refilled this jar three times, adding a good sum of money to our building fund. I have no doubt that we will begin construction on a new building soon, and it all started with a lost penny and a woman, willing to listen to and obey God's voice.
I'm thankful for every penny in our jar, and I pray for God to bless each and every person who has donated it.

Oddball Pet Snuggles

The Pet Snuggle Project is a charity, that encourages knitters and crocheters across the country to provide a touch of comfort, in the form of little blankets, to shelter animals as they await adoption. Members of Ravelry and knittinghelp.com have formed a group for this very purpose, called Oddball Pet Snuggles (you'll find a link to their blog in my sidebar). There are five group members per snuggle, each one knitting five inches before passing it on to the next. The last knitter donates the snuggle to her (or his) chosen shelter, and either begins a new one, or sends the needles back to our group leader. Since our local shelter isn't part of the program, my snuggles go to the Little Orphaned Angels Animal Rescue in Keller, Texas.
To make it easier to keep up with the blankets, we name them. This particular one is called "Bird Brain." At the time I signed up for it, I didn't know it was knitted using novelty yarns, so when I recieved it, I was a little concerned. The only novelty yarn I had in the house was some Fun Fur originally purchased to make Kloe a boa. I worried because the color is much more subdued than the other yarns used, but it was all I had. So I used it (Kloe considers herself too grown for a boa anyway). I'm happy to say that it worked out fine, and now Bird Brain is ready for the next knitter.

Foil Pocket Lunch

Today, I'm fixing lunch. I know that sounds scary, because, Dave normally does the cooking, but he has a appointment, and will be rushed for time, so it's up to me. One of the few lunches I know how to cook is the foil pocket. It's very easy, takes very little prep time, and can be customized to anyone's tastes.

Foil Pocket Lunch

For my foil lunch, I preheated the oven to 375 degrees, and chopped a whole onion. You can use half the onion if you prefer. You also need some potatoes, cut into bite sized pieces. I chose new potatoes, and had to use eight because they were very small...and because we both LOVE potatoes. Take out a sheet of foil for each meal (of course, we need two), and place a handful of chopped onion in the center. Season both sides of a ground beef patty (we use the lean beef, with less fat) and place on top of onions. To season my beef, I used salt, pepper, and adobo seasoning. Top the beef patty, with another handful of onions (optional), and potatoes. Add a little more salt and pepper to potatoes if desired, and wrap your foil around the whole thing. Place in the oven,and cook until the potatoes are tender, which, with our oven, takes 45 minutes to an hour (ours in the oven right now, as I type).

There are many ways to personalize this meal. You can add carrots, celery, or any vegetable you like. Dave likes jalapenos in his. You can also use ground turkey or chicken, which I don't really care for, but someone else might just love it. You may have a seasoning you want to try. The possibilities are endless, you have a nice, non-fast food lunch, and the best part, clean-up is a snap.

For My Husband

Today, I just feel like taking a moment to appreciate my husband. I've been diagnosed with depression, and anxiety, which would probably cause most men to run, screaming, as far away as possible. Not Dave. Last week was epecially hard for me, emotionally, but he was right there for me all the way. He is understanding, supportive, and wants nothing more than to see me happy. He always takes the time to pray for me, and with me. He's learned to love the cats. He welcomes my family and friends, and he supports all my hobbies. We can talk about anything without fear, and we laugh all the time. I truly believe I'm blessed to have found the husband God created especially for me, and I'll forever be thankful to God for bringing us together.

...This is my beloved, and this is my friend...Song of Solomon 5:16

New Azaleas!

Since the day we dismantled the big planting area to make it smaller, I've been keeping an eye out for the perfect shrub. It has to be a shade lover, evergreen, and hardy enough to survive, despite mistakes and possible neglect on my part. Today, we found that shrub...

Dave's granddaughter, Kloe, went to church with us today. Normally, we take her out to eat, and she stays with us until evening, but today, she had planned a fun, fishing trip with a neighbor. We took her home after lunch, and having the majority of the day ahead of us, we decided to take a road trip to Sherman, so we could check out Lowes' garden section. I was actually looking for annuals, but I decided to check out the shrubs while there. I'm so glad I did, because I found some very nice azaleas. According to the card, not only are they repeat bloomers, but they also attract hummingbirds and butterflies. I LOVE hummingbirds and butterflies!

We got them home, and planted them right away, and I couldn't be more pleased with the results.

Fall Leaves?

Another Drawback of having lots of big shade trees is the task of raking leaves. Raking is a job I put off, and I don't know why, because once I push myself to start, I don't mind it. In fact, it's kind of relaxing. This year, I was late with the last raking job of the season, but better late than never, so I got out there a couple of months ago to do it. I had raked and picked up the leaves in the front yard, and had planned to pick up the newly raked pile in the back yard the next day.
Those plans were changed when I saw that several of my outdoor cats had bedded down in them. They looked so comfortable I just couldn't take thier "bed" away. I told myself that maybe the leaves provided them some warmth during the cool months, and I'd finish the yard, when the weather is nicer.
Well, here it is, the middle of April, and there still lies the leaf pile. Scary Cat is the only one who stayed put for the picture, but normally there are as many as four out there, sleeping in the leaves. If you click on the picture to enlarge it, you'll notice the shapes of three other bodies smished into the leaves. I know that eventually, we'll have to mow, or pick them up, but for now, I just don't have the heart....

Hosta Heaven

Living in an older house, surrounded by mature trees is so nice. Not only is it a beautiful setting, but provides plenty of shade during the hot Texas summers. The only drawback from having all this shade is finding something to plant. Hostas, with the many different varieties of leaf color, and purple flowers atop tall scapes, are the perfect solution to the "too much shade" problem.

We found this wonderful specimen at a local nursury. I was so awed by the many leaf chutes pushing up through the soil, that even though I couldn't find a label, I just had to buy it. I'm so very glad I did....

...This is what the Hosta looks like now. With the opening of some of the leaves, I now know that it's dark green, with a paler green around the edges. Beautiful! I can hardly wait to see it in its full glory.

Next to this one is the solid green plantain lily most people are familiar with. I've always wanted one, and I found this one at Lowes. It's opening up very nicely.

These, I'm especially proud of, because they are the three survivors of the ill-fated plants from the front yard. When we dismantled that front planting area, we found 3 bulbs out of the 8 we originally planted there. I potted them up, not knowing if they were alive, and I'm happy to find that they made it.

This is the Great Expectations Hosta from last year. I posted an earlier photo last month, and this one shows not only its progress, but also the reawakening of the Japanese Holly Fern I planted in the pot with it. I may have to move one or the other, because, If I remember correctly, the fern will grow to overpower the hosta. At least that's what happened last year.

And there you have it. My hosta heaven.

A Bit Of Pampering

Getting a pedicure is one of my favorite things to do to pamper myself. Normally I have this done at a local nail salon, called Nu Nails, but it just hasn't been in the budget lately. Last time I was at Tuesday Morning, I found this product that removes calluses, so I decided to give myself one.
After I finished my yard work yesterday, and showered, I rubbed a small amount of this cream into my feet, consentrating on the heel area, where my skin is the roughest. After massaging it in a circular motion, I rinsed it off, as the instructions say to do. Then, at bedtime, I rubbed some Burt's Bees Beeswax & Banana hand cream into my feet (I don't like the BB foot cream. Too oily). Afterward, I covered my feet with socks and left them on for a couple of hours (I don't like to sleep in socks), and this afternoon, I painted my toenails. I even added a hearts sticker from a sheet of stickers I'd bought long ago, and there it is. My new pedicure. Of course it's not the same a going and having it professionally done, but it's still pretty nice to pamper myself every now and then.

Some Garden Updates

Here is an update on what's happening in my garden....
The hydrangea has filled out beautifully, and looks great. This plant was already here when Dave bought the house 11 years ago. I'm very proud of it.
The bee balm I planted two years ago is coming back for the second time. I love the way this plant smells, and the flowers are lovely.
The potted azalea is getting ready to put on a nice show. This was once planted with my other azaleas, but during the remodel, they had to dig it up, to make room for the central air unit. I potted it, and now I can put it anywhere color is needed.
The topsy turvey tomato plant is putting out blossoms. Only time will tell if I can successfully grow tomatoes with this, but so far, it looks very promising.
The Texas sage is looking better all
the time. And to think I almost threw this plant away, thinking it hadn't survived the winter.

And lastly, we have a new herb garden, with plants we bought Saturday from a local nursery just outside of Blossom. They had some of the more unusual herbs than I usually see when I shop at Home Depot or Walmart. I have chocolate mint, tangerine thyme, and Mexican marigold mint, mainly because it had flowers to add a little color.

And that's what's new in the garden so far....

The Shasta Daisy Saga

Today, I decided to finish setting the landscaping bricks in the last area of the side garden. This particular area contains shasta daisies, and I'm so pleased to say they are doing very well.
It was about two or three years ago when I got them, and planted them in a beautiful oval shaped barrel planter, not realizing at the time how fast they would grow and spread. They quickly ran out of room in the planter, and by the next year, they needed a home in the ground. I dug out this area especially for them, but I ran into another problem. I hadn't lined the wooden planter, and the daisies had rooted into the bottom and sides of it. I had to literally rip them out. By the time I'd finished, I had several shasta daisy portions and a broken barrel planter on the ground. Of course, the planter was unsalvagable, and I wasn't sure about the daisies, but some of them had roots, so I planted them, and hoped for the best. At first, they began to wilt, and I was sure they were going to die, but a good watering perked them back up.
I'm happy to say they not only survived the ordeal, but they continue thrive. When most of my garden dies away in the fall, this section stays green. Soon this little daisy bed will come alive with the familiar white blooms we've all come to know and love. And now they have a bricked off area all to themselves.

First Hummer

I'm happy to report that I saw my first hummingbird of the season. I had taken down the feeders to wash them, but since I had seen no activity so far, I was in no hurry to refill them and hang them back up. I was sitting on the back porch, crocheting on my afghan, when I heard the familiar sound of hummingbird wings. I looked up, and sure enough, there it was. I rushed into the house, got the feeders filled and back up. Maybe tomorrow, I'll see it again. :)

Needing A Touch

This is the day which the Lord Hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

I don't know why, but this week is proving to be difficult. Lord, please help me to focus on you and the good you provide every day. Help me to not see only my worries, but your presence in the midst of them. Help me to not lose faith that you are working in my life, that you care about me and what concerns me. Please, forgive me for my doubts, and help me to not lose sight of you. Amen.

It's never wrong to ask God for help and peace in a time of turmoil.

Team Effort Turkey Chili

Saturday, Dave made some macaroni and cheese that was just wonderful. He always makes a big pan of it, so we can have our mac and cheese that same day, then save some to mix with chili on another day. Today was that day. I'd been craving chili mac since he made this batch, so I decided today, that's what we'd have for lunch. There was only one problem...we didn't have a packet of chili seasoning mix.
Now those of you who know me, know that I have a few dishes that I'm good at, but beyond that, I'm not much of a cook. When Dave got home from lunch, I asked him if he knew how to make chili without a packet, and he told me he did (the big show-off). He didn't have as much time as he normally does, so as he went about his normal lunch hour routine, I chopped up an onion and a half, and browned 2 pounds of ground turkey (yes, this is a big recipe, but we'll freeze most of it to use later). After the turkey was browned, I added salt, pepper, and some adobo seasoning. I'm sorry I can't give precise amounts, but just season to your taste. By that time, Dave was ready to taste, and add the other needed spices; about 4 tablespoons of chili powder, 3 teaspoons of cumin. Again, these are just approximations. Use your own judgement. Then we added two cans of tomatoes, and let that simmer for about 10 minutes. Then a can of charro beans, and heat through. (I know. Beans in chili is the unpardonable sin for a Texan, but I love my chili this way). After the chili was done, he added some fresh cilantro, and there we are...Team effort turkey chili. We ate this mixed with the mac and cheese from Saturday, but it's just as good as is, with some crackers. Enjoy!

Cleaning Day

Today, I'm sorry to say, I woke feeling a little discouraged. I had stayed up last night, into the wee hours of the morning, and as a result, I slept until almost noon. Since I'm a housewife, I don't guess it really hurt anything, but I was disappointed. I had my days and nights mixed up throughout the whole winter season, but lately, with the coming of spring, and my love for gardening, I'd finally begun to straighten them out. Dave and I were getting to spend his lunch hours together again the way we used to, and I was getting more done around the house. I just have been feeling so much better, that I don't want to go back to sleeping my days away.

After Dave left to go back to work, I sat and brooded for a while, but that was getting me nowhere. I decided it was time to get myself up and do something. I put some music on and begun cleaning my house. I vacuumed the carpets then moved onto the chairs and couch, which were covered with cat hair. I dusted, then moved into the kitchen, where I swept the floors, cleaned off the counters and stove, and emptied the dishwasher. I had just put in a load of laundry, when I looked up, and realized how pretty and clean everything looked. My spirits were automatically lifted, because nothing feels better than a job well done. This has been a good day after all.

Now, off to sweep the screened in porch, while I'm still in the mood to clean....

Easter

But the Angel answered and said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for He is risen as he said..." Matthew 28:5-6

Happy Easter!!

Remembering Mom And Dad

Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. Proverb 31:10

My mother, I believe with all my heart, is the epitomy of the virtuous wife in Proverbs 10. She raised us with strong Christian values, and we never lacked for love. She loved to quilt, sew, and tend her home, where EVERYONE was welcome. She was always ready to bless others with a song, a prayer or an encouraging word when they most needed it. She always knew what to say to me when I was down, and I will forever be grateful to God for her, and all the memories in my heart.

So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudging or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 corinthians 9:7
My Dad was an iron worker by trade. He loved to read, garden, and build things, but one of his favorite things to do was give. He grew vegetables, and shopped for groceries in large quantities, just so we would have plenty to share. Over the years, I've grown to appreciate this trait in him. He is most definately a cheerful giver. I'll never forget what my parents passed on to me and my brothers and sisters, and I thank God that one day we'll all be together again.

Mom (October 28, 1932-April 9, 2004)
Dad (September 27, 1927-April 27, 2009)

Friday Evening Fun

When I posted earlier today, I was feeling disappointed at not getting to garden, but this turned out to be a fun day after all. When Dave got home, we went over to the radio station. My sister had an old cassette that our mother sang on, and she had asked him to put it on a CD. When that was finished, neither one of us was particularly ready to get home, so we decided to do a littls shopping.
We went over to Tuesday Morning, where I found some new garden gloves, and a kneeling mat in the shape of a leaf. It's really cute, and the gloves are so lightweight, I hardly know I have them on.
I also found some hand dyed, sportweight sock yarn. I'm really excited about this buy, because this particular yarn is supposed to cost $15 per hank, but we only paid $7.49. I love getting great sales on good products. :)

Next, we went over to Sears, to look at this refrigerator we've been eyeballing, to see if the stimulus for appliances would apply. They weren't sure, but gave Dave all the information he needs to find out. While he was talking to the sales rep, I found an MP3 player on sale for $14.99. It's not a particularly fancy one, but it holds 2 GB, which is plenty of space for me. I had been using my CD walkman to listen to music while I do yard work. This is lighter, and I think it will be much easier for me, as I wont have to carry it around the yard. Dave has already put some of my Monkees music on it, and I'm very excited about it. Tomorrow is supposed to be sunny and beautiful.

Camelea Blooms

I had such great plans for today. My sister is here for a visit, and we, along with our other two sisters, had planned to have an early lunch together before she headed home to Irving. Afterward, I had planned to work in my yard. I had purchased a spectacular hosta from a local nursery, which I wanted to pot up, and I was also looking forward to setting the landscaping bricks on the last area of our side garden.
I had a great visit with my sisters, and lunch was delicious, but my plans for gardening were changed, when I heard the prediction for storms all day. My husband and I were sitting on the screened porch during his lunch break, and I was feeling a little sorry for myself, when he glance out and noticed that our camelea had bloomed. I'm so happy about this, because this is one of the plants from the front planting bed we dismantled earlier. The other camelea didn't make it, and this one looked sickly to me. I just knew it was going to die, too, but this bloom, today, shows me that there is still hope for this little plant.

Monroe, Indoor Cats, and....Diet Coke?

I just couldn't leave today without sharing this picture. this is Monroe, one of our tame ferals. He sat at the screen door almost the whole time I took pictures. That is Abby looking out at him from the inside, and if you'll notice, sitting on top of the Kitty Condo, is Morty. Also, in the right corner of the top step, is my ever present can of Diet Coke. I've given them up more than once, only to go back to them. I think, deep down, I don't really want to give them up. That's the only explanation I have, because if I really wanted to, there's no reason I shouldn't be able to. I just love them so much, so I guess it's time to stop making excuses, and just say, "I, Jennifer, am a Diet Coke Drinker." Right? Anyway, to ease my guilt over not being able to control this habit, I donate the money from recycling cans to the church. So, see, something good comes out of everything.

New To My Garden

As I was walking around my yard today, I realized that I hadn't yet shown the new additions to my garden.
First, we have a closer shot of the primrose jasmine, previously mentioned. I just love the delicate look of the leaves, and can hardly wait to see the yellow flowers it is to produce. Then we have a basket of petunias. I hung this under the oak tree in the front yard for the hummingbirds. Normally, I put a feeder there for them, but I thought this would be prettier. Hopefully, when the oak leafs out, it wont be too shady for the flowers, but if that happens, I can just move it and return the hummingbird feeder. That's the beauty of a potted garden. :) Yes, people, it's a Topsy Turvy. I know it's silly, but ever since I saw the ads for this thing, I've been wanting to try growing tomatoes in this manner. Normally, I pot them in those big buckets cat litter comes in, with a tomato cage. Effective, but not very pretty. If this works, it will officially be my new way to grow tomatoes. Notice the wind chimes? I included them in the picture, because they hold a special memory for me. When Dave and I were engaged, I went with him on many of his radio remotes. One of those locations was a local business, that sold spas and spa accessories. Now, normally, I'm not a fan of wind chimes, but the ones they sold at this place made such a gentle, soothing sound, much more pleasant than any other I've heard. I bought this set, which was the first decorative item I added to this house. Now, everytime I hear them, I can't help but smile. Next, we have my new rosebush. I know, I know! I already have plenty of roses, but I just love them, and this one was just full of buds, ready to bloom...and now that it has, I'm even more glad I bought it. I took several photos, trying to capture the true color of the rose, which leans more toward purple than the pink portrayed in the picture.
This is a closeup of our two new shepards hooks, added this year. I love the deep purple color of the petunias. They, along with the addition of a hummingbird feeder, are sure to provide lots of entertainment, right from our window. Lemon Zest petunias, are one of my favorite new annuals. This pot is hanging right outside our screened in porch, along with another hummingbird feeder. I can just picture myself, sitting on my backporch, with a Diet Coke, and my knitting, enjoying the peace and quiet, as I watch birds. Ah, heaven.
Dave and I had gone to Dallas to visit my Brother-In-Law at Medical City. On our way out, we decided to stop by Calloways and look for shrubs. Well, we couldn't decide on a shrub that day, but I did manage to snag this bird's nest fern.

I hope you enjoyed this little introduction to my new plants. I'm sure this will not be the last of my garden pictures for this year. :)