Gardening

We have been very blessed 

in our area to still have enough

 rain to keep the gardens growing. 

 The squash and peppers are doing well 

and the beans are now blossoming.

I had to plant twice to get things going;

as we had a hard frost then extreme

heat during germination of the seeds.

The dill is way ahead of the cucumbers 

... oh well ...

we'll take what we can get! 

I can't wait until the cucumbers 

start to climb the trellis. 

Although they look healthy 

the cukes are still hidden 

under those beautiful squash. 

If I were a fairy 

I'd set up housekeeping 

under this squash plant! 

This is the geranium 

that I kept alive throughout 

the winter.  

Tea

 Mrs. T found a Mrs. Tea

and being the good shopper that she is

she just had to go online and check 

out what a great deal she got

Now hold on to your knickers folks;

would anyone really pay 

$174.95 + shipping 

for a teapot?? 

http://www.amazon.com/Mrs-Tea-HTM1/dp/B000R06QTC

Not Mrs. T

she snagged it for 

only $5.00. 

That's right, five bucks!

Is she a shopper or what? 

Summer Fun with the Grand - loves!

I made a crystal fairy garden 
with baubles, glass chess pieces, 
little trinkets etc. 

then I went into my photo program

& made the sweetest fairies out of 

pictures of my grand-loves.

I laminated them and added little

sticks on the back to place them. 

In one of our rock gardens 

I added Grandma & Grandpa 

cuddling on a bench. 

So when the grand-loves came for 

the weekend they could play with

the figures, including going to 

visit Grandma and Grandpa

in their garden in a land 

far, far away 

just like in real life. 

Cowboys & Indians Chess Set

Any chess players out there?

Would anyone know the maker of this 

Cowboys & Indians Chess Set? 

It's heavy and has side drawers

for storing the pieces.

As you can see it's very detailed.

There are no labels or markings.

It is a beautiful set and 

we just love it. 

It is not wood, plastic or pewter.

Just so many questions

and so few answers! 

Transitions

We have several Monarch butterfly caterpillars now 

feeding on our Milkweed.  If you check back I will soon 

be posting pics of the Monarch chrysalis.  Hopefully

I will be able to capture the life cycle. 

Time and Patience

Some of you might remember when I posted with excitement when we completed our arbor back in July of 2009.  Well ... after several attempts to get grapes growing ~ it appears we are finally on our way. I type this with fingers, toes, legs and eyes crossed!  

We even fenced the area to 

protect it from critters! 

They aren't tall by any means,

but any sign of life 

is welcome AND they're growing! 

And check this out ~~~ GRAPES!

the most itsy- bitsy plant with the

teeniest tiniest grapes

go ahead, enlarge the picture

just click on it

Okay, so maybe I won't be 

making wine just yet but still 

Woo Hoo!!! 

I've been busy but I'm back now.

The first thing I planted this spring 

was a small bunch of carrots.

The weather held up nicely so ...

I built a new rock garden around 

the old stump from our ugly tree. 

A little rhubarb custard pie was in order

and another one is in order today! 

along with a little bird watching. 

This yellow-rumped warbler 

really enjoyed his bath. 

Then I headed to the garden 

My love, built me some more 

raised boxes (makes a total of 8) 

and then we decided 

to extend the 

garden and add a trellis for

cucumbers and squash. 

I helped! 

Look close ~

 I transplanted those carrots! 

\

The poppies opened the past 

few days! Enjoy! 

Memorial Day

We went out to dinner with friends on Friday night when suddenly an elderly gentleman announced that in honor of Memorial Day he would like to share something ~ the silence was broken with his beautiful tenor voice singing:

"I'm Proud to be an American" 

Every single table joined in the verse. It was very moving! It will be a memory I will hold for all Memorial Days to come. 

My heartfelt 'thanks' to all who 

serve or have served! 

Busy, Busy

It's that time of year when 

I'm as busy as a bee ~

and loving it! 

I'm too busy to blog

 & too busy to comment;

but never too busy to 

appreciate all of you!  

This week will be devoted

 to our garden and 

garage sale prep time! 

I'll try to catch up 

after next weekend

I promise! 

Spring!

 Another sign of spring 

Fresh Rhubarb Custard Pie 

Backyard Bird Watching

Male Northern Flicker 

He sure was a sassy little guy! 

Evening Grosbeak

Colorful Feeder! 

We've also had the Rose Breasted Grosbeaks hanging around but I haven't had the camera handy at the right times. 
But keep on watching because I'm on a mission to capture the bluebirds, hummingbirds, swallows, wrens etc. that frequent our premises. But first I have some yard-work to catch up on, then a garage sale to prepare for, and the garden to plant and ... and ... 

I'm Back ~ Did you miss me?

I just spent two weeks away from home.  Two computer-free weeks at that! Did you even notice? Well regardless ~ I'm back!


The first week was spent with my son and grandson.  Daddy had to work extra hours and Grandma was thrilled to spend a little one on one time with her little man.  We had so much fun together. What a great time! 

And look at the little shack his 

Dad made for him. 

Sean 

I am so fortunate that all three of my kids live within 10 miles of each other so that when we visit we get to see all of them and their little ones. 

Sloane & Sydney 

My son and both daughters had babies within a year of each other. These are our three youngest grand-loves. Our babies are growing up too fast.  All 3 will start kindergarten this fall.   

The second week was spent at my Moms. Another great week of catching up with my brothers and sisters and their families. And now it's back to yard work, cooking, cleaning etc. But I sure do love my lifestyle ~ thank you Lord for all my blessings! 

Something to Ponder:

I came across this verse by Gertrude Jekyll as I was planning this years vegetable garden.  I found it to be so true, no matter what you choose; be it a container garden, a wall garden, a field garden or raised beds ~ which happens to be what we do for the most part because of our sandy soil conditions ~ I wish you all a season of happy gardening! 

I do not envy

the owners of

very large gardens.

The garden should fit

its master ... just

as his clothes do;

it should be neither

too large or too small,

but just comfortable. 

Gertrude Jekyll 

And in advance; 

Happy Harvesting!