Show and Tell Friday

It's time for Show and Tell Friday. If you would like to participate, drop over to Kelli's at There's No Place Like Home.

As many of you know, I have been working outside when I can to get the garden weeded, mulched and the porch area cleaned up. Along with the renovations, this is at the top of my to-do list. I can't work in the garden like I used to, but I've been making progress.
On Wednesday, I worked outside for a while just to take a break from household chores. I left the renovations up to hubby and the neighbor's son who has been giving us a hand. I tidied up the living room and then took this little boy garden ornament out, cleaned it up and gave it a coat of sealer. I always seal my garden ornaments. They last much longer that way. However, instead of placing him in the garden, I decided he looked nice on the glass-topped table on the porch. Then I took the snake plant that I thinned out early this spring and placed it beside him. I thought the effect was rather nice. So for now, this is where he'll stay.

I purchased this little guy at an auction a couple of years ago. He reminded me of the boys and their love of gardening. I love cute whimsical ornaments for the outdoors.

Take care and enjoy the weekend. Remember to take some time out of your busy schedule to enjoy the little things in life. ~Blessings, Mary~

Tour for a Cure Hosted by Sweet Annee

Deena, from Can I Be Pretty in Pink, also known as Sweet Annee, is hosting Tour for a Cure today. She asked that each of us show photos from our gardens this year and also post the click for a free mammogram button. Please be sure to visit Deena and check out Mr. Linky for more garden photos. Be sure to click on the free mammogram button just beneath my banner to help a woman get a free mammogram.

The first thing to bloom in my garden each spring are snowdrops. I love them and when they bloom I know that spring is definitely on its way. The are so dainty and pretty. The first signs of rebirth.

The second thing to bring forth beautiful thoughts of spring are the fragrant violets above. They are also dainty. They were given to me by my MIL and I love them.

Then come the perriwinkles. They grow in several places in my garden and also behind the house in the garden outside our bedroom. Last year I transplanted a few into the side bed. It was nice to see them there when I stepped out onto the side porch this spring.
Tulips and lavender. That lavender is trying to take over this flower bed. It spreads each year. Each spring I thin it back to almost nothing and the next spring it is right back to full size again. I usually dry a little of it to put in my dresser drawers to keep everything smelling nice.

Meet Desmerelda, Queen of the fairies. She sits in front of this rock in my side flower bed and watches over the sleeping flowers at night. She has a solar light that gives off a glow in the moonlight. She's so pretty and I can see her from the side door.
A new hanging basket this year. This hangs on the stairs that go up to deck on the back of the house. I have never had a hanging basket like that before.
The above hanging basket is scarveola. I have loved this since the boys first gave me a basket like this about 5 or 6 years ago. Each year I have a basket of scarveola hanging in this spot. In the background you can see my butterfly that hangs on my porch.
Red Oriental poppies. One of my favorites. Each year I wait for these to bloom. They don't last long, but I absolutely love them. A little bird left these in a deposit in my flower garden.
And above, one of the blooms. This one was about 4 inches across. They are so beautiful!

Then came the rosebuds. There were dozens of them and I knew I was going to have lots of red fragrant roses this year. We planted these when we moved here 15 years ago and they have never ceased to bloom. One year after a harsh winter, they were late budding and I thought I'd lost them. I really enjoy these roses.

The buds progressed quickly. Next they looked like this. I knew that the hot temperatures would bring them on.

Today they look like the photo above. They are plentiful and there are still lots of buds.

One of the red roses in a closeup. The color is actually darker than this. They are a darker red.
A closeup of one of my pink roses. They are highly fragrant and this one is about 4 inches across. I like to bring these in as they bloom and float them in a rose bowl. They fill the house with their wonderful fragrance.

The flowers above spread like wildfire. They are another that I thin out each spring and they just keep on going and going.
The iris above was given to me by my mother, who got a toe from her mother. This iris has been passed from generation to generation in my family. I enjoy it. It is the only one of my iris that bloomed this year. I think some of them need to be transplanted and given a bit of manure to help them bloom.
The above photo shows my red peony in bud. This is another plant that has been here for 15 years since we bought the house.

Above, it is in full bloom. These peonies and the pink ones below are all fragrant - the pink one more so.

Mini carnations. This was taken a week or so ago and they are finished now. They are pretty though. It's been so hot this year that none of the blooms are lasting long.
The above photo shows my clematis. It always has dozens of blooms on it, yet I do very little with it. I just water it when I remember. It has done very well.
The clematis was also planted the first year we had the house. It gets bigger every year. I love the dark purple shade of it. I tried growing a red one, but alas, it never bloomed and finally died the second year. I've been told that red clematis is very hard to grow, as is white. I'm not sure why.
Purple columbine. I didn't realize that I had so many purple flowers in my garden. There are quite a few.

Here is close-up of the blooms. They are so unique and below is a pink columbine. I don't like it nearly as well. It looks kind of washed out. I got a piece of root from Mom. The purple columbine root came from Aunt May. I'm hoping it continues to do well. It is also a favorite.

Some of my readers will remember my post about the stump I brought home when the City cut down a tree two doors up the street. You can find that post Here.
This is what I've done with it and I think it looks kind of pretty. I would have liked to have put a scarveola in here, but there were none to be found. I settled on this beauty.
Here is it from another angle. I do like the effect it has. We have lots of white clover in our lawn in the area. If you want a lovely natural lawn, white clover works really well and when it is cut, it is so soft on bare feet.
After I had planted the flowers in the stump, I got my garden elf out and asked him to stand guard over the lovely blossoms. He was glad to do the job and gives the stump a more enchanted look, I think. Of course the grandsons love this kind of garden decor and when I choose something, I keep them in mind. It was about eight years ago I bought the garden elf for the boys. Every time they walk past it, the Hi Ho song from Snow White plays. They about drove Grandpa nuts with it way back then.

So that is a tour of my garden. It is a little neglected this year because of all the renovations taking place, but I still enjoy all the lovely blooms. I hope you've enjoyed the tour. Have a great Sunday and remember to stop and smell the roses. ~Blessings, Mary~

New Yard Decor or a Crazy Whim?

About a month ago the city came along and cut an old tree that was two doors up the street. The tree was hollow and in danger of falling down. They piled the wood on my next door neighbor's lawn and told her that they would be coming to get it in a week or two and if she knew anyone that wanted any of it, to let them know.

Without my knowledge, the neighbor took five pieces of the hollow tree into her yard before the city came back. I had my eye on a couple pieces, but it was frozen to the ground. I figured I'd wait until the weather warmed up a little and grab a piece. Before I could get it brought home, the city came and picked up the wood.

Yesterday it was pouring rain and I was talking to my neighbor. I happened to mention that I would have liked a piece of stump from that old tree. She directed me to her side porch and told me to help myself. There was a huge piece there with a hollow in it.

So today, I coecered hubby into going with me to get it. He looked at me like I was crazy, but did my bidding and we lugged it home. I see potential in this stump and want to plant flowers, maybe a creeping vine, in the hollow part. On the flat end I think a sitting gnome or fairy would be nice. Watcha think?
Above, Meeko is sniffing around the piece of stump and examining it. At first he wasn't thrilled with it being in his part of the yard. Meeko is very fussy about what enters his kingdom, but Mama is the boss and I said the stump was going there and that was it.
After sniffing around it for a while, Meeko finally accepted the fact that it was staying and decided to go with the flow. Ha! Mama is the boss! Hubby had warned me that Meeko would christen it but he was wrong. Meeko minded his manners, just as I've taught him.
Here Meeko is laying and relaxing. It looks as if he is saying, "Well, if it must be here, I may as well get used to it."

Now, I've told you all this in fun, but also because I want your opinion. Is the stump an eyesore or is there potential in it? What kind of flowers should be planted in it? I value any suggestions here. Should I get rid of it or can it be made into something natural and beautiful? Your honest opinion will be very much appreciated.

In other news, things are really quiet around here. Tenant got his notice and he was a little bit upset. He has signed an agreement to be out by May 31, 2008.

Nothing else much going on around here. I have yard work that needs to be done. It rained Friday and Saturday and was chilly out today, so hopefully I can get more of it done this week.

Have a great week and remember to do a random act of kindness for someone. Being kind is good for the soul. ~Blessings, Mary~

Gardening

I finally got out into the garden for a bit today. Because of my hip and spinal injury, I can't do a lot at one time, but did get some of the debris out of my side garden. I knew it had to be done when I saw the tulips had bloomed. Yesterday they just had buds on them and today they are alive with color. I tried to take a photo, but my camera batteries had died once again. I recharged them and am hoping they keep their charge long enough for me to take photos tomorrow. I will then post them for Green Thumb Sunday.

My one lonely hyacinth bloom is spent. It was a lovely purple one. I had others, but suspect the squirrels feasted on them during our harsh winter. I don't have as many tulips as I did either and suspect they went the same way.

So, in honor of my tulip blooms, I found the graphic above on a public domain site and added the phrase to it so I could give it out to all my blogging friends. If you are reading this, please feel free to take a copy. You can share it with others if you wish. My blogging friends are certainly the blooms in the garden of life and I appreciate each one of you.

Please keep my hubby in your prayers. He has to see a specialist tomorrow morning. I do not have much confidence in this particular doctor and would like you to pray that he uses wisdom. If I am not happy with his diagnosis and treatment of hubby's condition, I am going back to the family doctor and asking him to refer him to the doctor that hubby saw two years ago for a similar but slightly different problem. I'm not sure why doctors refer you to someone different each time, but I like to see doctors in whom I have confidence. I don't hesitate to ask for a referral for a second opinion.
We were to have rain today, but it passed us by. We could have used an April Shower. The water levels have pretty much returned to normal and the gardens are begging for a drink. I thought first thing this morning that we would have rain. The sky was overcast until about noon and then the sun began to shine. It was a lovely day but this evening it turned much cooler. We are to have nice temperatures for a few days and then next week it is to get cool again. I'm hoping for some spring weather instead of it going directly from winter to summer. We just got rid of the heat bills and if it continues being so warm, I will have to turn on the air conditioner. I'd rather have a month or so without those bills. We need a break!

Not much other news from here. Brandon is back to school and his migraine is gone. Jordan is going back tomorrow. They will have some catching up to do.

Remember to pamper yourself a little. Spring is the time to get a little exercise and enjoy a walk in the park or forest where you can witness all of the rebirth that's taking place. ~Blessings, Mary~

A Bit of This and That

Girly Comments & Graphics



Yesterday I wrote about my appointment with the eye specialist. My eye pressure in my left eye was high and he was a little concerned. He phoned me Friday afternoon and told me that he would like me to have laser treatment. As I said yesterday, I really don't want to do that because of all the problems I had with my last laser, but he told me that there is a new laser treatment that is much easier on the eye. It doesn't cause the same inflammation and he says it doesn't get as hot.

This is what we agreed to do. I am going to put a sticky note on my bathroom mirror to remind me to put my eyedrops in each night before going to bed. I am going to put them in faithfully for two months and then I'm going to have the pressures checked again. If the left eye still has high pressure, I told him I will seriously consider the laser treatment. So that is the update on my eye situation. I'm would not want to be blind, but see very well and am not worried about it. I just have to be more consistent about using the eye drops.

I was out in the garden today to see what was growing. The tulips are in bud, but are not near blooming yet. It was a beautiful day and I enjoyed taking some time to witness the rebirth of my garden. My poppies are coming up and I am so glad that they are. Last year I was afraid I would lose them. Many of my tulips are not growing nor is my hyacinths. I only have one left and I suspect those little gray squirrels that race across our yard. I suspect they had a tulip and hyacinth buffet during the winter. They know exactly where to cross the yard out of Meeko's reach. He used to try to catch them but now he just ignores them. They are smart and know exactly how far he can go on his leash.

Once some of my flowers bloom I will post photos. The boys are coming over to stay tomorrow night and I'm hoping to put them to work in the garden. It needs to be worked up and all of the dead debris taken out from last year. The boys love gardening, so hopefully they will get a chance to give me a hand. The weatherman was calling for rain for the weekend but the forecast has changed and it's to be nice tomorrow and Sunday. The rain is now scheduled on Wednesday. We shall see.

Hubby came in from the mailbox today with an envelope addressed to me. Inside was the journal that Mama Bear from Bear's in Exile is circulating between a few blog friends. She did the first entries and it was so nice getting to know her better. I have already made a couple of entries of my own. When I've had the journal for two weeks and made enteries in it, I will pass it along to the next person on the list. Once all the people have made their enteries, I believe Mama Bear is planning on circulating the journal again so each one can see what the others have done. Thank you, Mama Bear. I really enjoyed reading all you had journaled and look forward to making my own enteries and passing it along.

Today hubby and I tackled the bathroom. Our bathroom is very small and we have a large vanity where we store our towels. We took everything out of it, sorted the good from the bad and tore old towels up for rags. Then we washed every towel in the house. Once that was done we put everything back and it is nice and organized now. Next we need to wash down the walls and get everything clean as a whistle. The bathroom also needs a fresh coat of paint, but really want to paint and paper the kitchen first. We shall see.

That's about all the news for now. Since blogger would not upload any photos last night, I didn't get a chance to participate in either Show and Tell or Flea Market Fridays. I was quite disappointed but there's always next week.

Have a wonderful Saturday and please remember to take some time for yourself. Today's society requires that we have such a busy lifestyle and we all need some down time. ~Blessings, Mary~

Green Thumb Sunday

It's time for Green Thumb Sunday. This is the day of the week when we share photos of our garden or house plants with our readers. Thanks to Tricia at As the Garden Grows for hosting Green Thumb Sunday. If you'd like to join in, just click HERE.

Today I would like to show and tell you about the red poppies that grow in my garden each spring. These poppies came to me quite by accident and I consider them a blessing. I love the deep, rich red color and the contrasting black centers. One spring about sevean years ago, a fern like leaf came up in my flower bed early in the spring. My husband was going to uproot it but I asked him to wait until we found out what it was. Lo and behold, this was what appeared a few weeks later. Beautiful, red poppies. I imagine the gift was bestowed on us from a bird's droppings or maybe the wind. I'm thankful for these beautiful flowers that bloom each spring in my garden. They are magnificient! One year there were 30 blooms on the plant. Since then, it hasn't done near as well, but is hanging on and this year produced ten blooms. Last year there were only four.

I can't believe that I still have flowers blooming in my garden. We've had a few hard frosts and also a bit of snow. It snowed today and as I write this, there is snow on the roofs of the cars, but little accumulated elsewhere. This is what my snapdragons and mums look like. I may have showed you this photo before, but things haven't changed.

Well, that is it for Green Thumb Sunday for this week. Join me here again next week for another episode.

Today's Thanks and Give Post

Today I'm thankful for the love of family, my online friends and the people in this blogging community. I blogged with another community where people were rude and mean. This community means a lot to me. The people here are loving and giving and so welcoming to all new bloggers. Thanks to each of you for your love, support and friendship.

Now for the giving. Did I ever tell you that I love to give? Giving brings me a lot of joy and I would like to share this lovely graphic with all of you. It is one of the postcards from my collection. Since taking this photo, I framed this postcard and gave it to a friend. I hope it brings you as much enjoyment as it has me.