SilverSpring Acres the Home of My Heart

Writers Block

2012-02-22T19:07:00.000-08:00

I set in front of the keyboard and stare at the screen trying to come up with something creative to write about and nothing happens...

Except that time keeps flying by. I think part of the problem is that I'm addicted to my art right now. Every day I head for the studio as soon as I can and only come out when I absolutely have to. If my hubby complains about me spending too much time in there, I drag my work out to the living room and semi-watch TV with him while I continue to "art" .

My skills in my art are definitely improving with all of this work. But the house is suffering and the bird feeders don't get filled as much as the birdies would like. So maybe I need to redistribute my energies to other efforts ...maybe. Once February is over I won't have to create something everyday....but I do still want to work on something every day.

So for now I'm going to have a spot of tea to unwind and decide just what I am going to do tomorrow.

After all Spring is around the corner and I must get ready for it :0) The gardens are waking up and calling my name.

Here's my latest art piece....

"Ladies of the Garden"

It's February Right?

2012-02-08T12:12:00.000-08:00

I took this picture yesterday as I was walking around in the yard...checking the winter damage.

These guys look like they are ready to bloom in a couple of days.

Woke up this morning and there was snow on the ground....and a dead camera battery :0( So I couldn't take their picture again as they stood there in the cold snow looking totally unaffected.

It's supposed to get even colder later this week so I don't know if they will get the chance to bloom or not.

In the meantime I'm planning my spring garden and ordering the seeds I will need.

I'm praying for a better garden year than last year!!! Keeping my fingers crossed and whatever other charm I can think of for better weather this summer.

I'm still enjoying the birds at the feeders and trying to get good pictures through my foggy glass doors.

Sometimes I'm lucky and they come out crystal clear..like these two :0)

I'm also staying very busy with my art :0) I have joined a blogland challenge of

29 Faces in February

We are posting a new face every day for the month. Faces are not my strong point so I need the practice and this gives me the motivation I need.

If you like you can check out my work on my art blog ...

http://silverspringacreslaborsoflove.blogspot.com/

So that is what's going on here...how are things in your world?

Camera Critters....Why do they call them Purple Finches?

2012-01-29T16:18:00.000-08:00

This little guy comes to my feeder almost every day. ...but it's hard for me to get a good picture of him.

I just don't understand why they call them Purple Finches? They certainly look pink to me.

Maybe it was a man who named them and he just get comfortable with the color pink.

No matter what they call him he sure is pretty....even if he is camera shy.

Running really late this week ...I've had to work the closing shift the past 2 days and it throws me totally out of whack.

Linking to...

Camera Critters

2012-01-21T21:14:00.000-08:00

I added a new feeder to the deck ....It's a silly feeder but most of the birdies don't seem to mind.

The Pileated Woodpeckers aren't too thrilled with it.....but they are giving it a good look so maybe soon they will be eating at it too.

This Red-Bellied Woodpecker doesn't have a problem with the new feeder at all.

It almost seemed he was even posing for the camera.

It has been a very busy week at the feeders and I'll have to pick up more seeds this week. It's worth every penny I spend on them though.

I'm thinking I just might have to put out a sign saying "take a number please" so those who have to wait for a spot don't get confused on who's next :0)

Check out the other Camera Critters by clicking on the CC badge above.

Ruby Tuesday 2

2012-01-16T20:18:00.000-08:00

Woody Has Finally Visited the Deck!

I guess he was finally tired of watching Willow eat all of the delicious goody's.

He really gobbled up a good sized chunk of the suet ......

...and then he dropped down to the deck railing and watch while other birds ate.

He watched for a few minutes and then he decided that he was still hungry so he chased off the other birds and chowed down again.

I put out another suet feeder tonight...one that they can actually set on and eat. So hopefully I'll have some more pictures tomorrow!

Linking to ...

http://rubytuesday2.blogspot.com/

It really is Winter out There !

2012-01-12T17:30:00.000-08:00

We have been so lucky this winter that it was easy to forget it's really winter out there. I mean yesterday I was outside without a jacket and today everything is cover in snow and it's soooooo....cold!!!!!!

I spent most of my day watching all of the birds battling for a spot at the feeders.

They look so cute all puffed up to stay warm.

It was definitely a high traffic day out there. With big birds and little birds and all the sizes in between.

Tomorrow I'm off too and I'm hoping to get more done around here than I did today. everyone needs a lazy day once in a while :0)

Ruby Tuesday 2

2012-01-09T20:15:00.000-08:00

We have a ton of Cardinals in our woods but I really don't have too many decent pictures of them. So I've decided to try and fix that.

The first picture was taken in the morning and it's pretty clear. Even if Mr. Cardinal wouldn't come out from behind the feeder.

The second one is in the afternoon and he is more visible but then so is the fog between the panes of class on the patio doors. So I guess the trick of getting good pictures this year will be to be up in the morning and camera ready.

Linking to..

http://rubytuesday2.blogspot.com/2012/01/leave-your-rubies-here.html

Thank you ever so much for keeping this meme going!!! It's one of my all time favorite ones!

Camera Critters Woodpeckers

2012-01-07T09:30:00.000-08:00

Meet Willow

We moved the suet feeders up to the deck this winter and I am so glad we did! We've had this pair living on the property for years but they rarely ever got close enough for good photos.

Since moving the suet feeders Willow has made regular appearances. At first she would fly off at the slightest movement inside the house...now she hangs around. The male has yet to show up when anyone is around to see him...but we do see him hanging out in the trees nearby . Hopefully he will eventually start feeding when I'm around with the camera.

Morning Visitor on the Deck

2012-01-02T19:28:00.000-08:00

I am so glad that I moved the suet feeders to the deck this year. I was almost late for work yesterday because I spotted this fellow out there. I knew we had Northern Flickers in the area...but never have I seen one this close....and he didn't even seem to mind me scuttling around the kitchen trying to find my camera. Or the swearing when it would focus in right.

He was eating fallen seeds from the other feeders at first.....

...then he flew up to the suet and stayed there awhile.

It would fly off to a tree limb close by and then back to the deck to munch some more.

It's looking like a good year for bird watching from the kitchen table :0) and a costly one for bird food. I have to buy more suet tomorrow and probably seeds too.

I am having trouble getting my camera to focus clearly so I have to figure out what the problem with that is....probably some sort of operator error.

My Favorite Winter Sport........

2011-12-28T16:43:00.000-08:00

Setting in my cozy home and watching the birds at the feeders on the deck and in the back yard! This year the pictures won't be as clear as in the past :0( with the arrival of cold weather we have discovered that the vapor lock in the glass on the patio doors has lost it's seal and it causes a fine fog :0( ....lots of sobbing going on here.

You may or may not notice the difference...But I DO....and it's driving me nuts.

This beautiful goldfinch was photoed with the door open.....

...the woodpecker wasn't. The first time I have had the chance to get such good shots of this critter and the darned glass is foggy....

They have never came to the deck before.....at least not when anyone was home to see them.

The least little sound or movement and they are history in a flash.....

Tomorrow when I go to work I am pricing the cost for a new sliding glass door with installation. Hopefully it won't be too much and they can get it done before really cold weather sets in. I'm afraid it will only get worse as the weather gets colder :0(

I did get lots of chuckles today from this crazy squirrel. He was determined to get on this feeder...he must have fallen to the ground 15 times before finally making it. Just in time for the dogs to discover he was on the deck and he had to make a rapid retreat to the trees.

I'm enjoying the peace of a quiet week between the Holidays. Christmas was wonderful and no where near as hectic as previous years. I have finally ...after 59 years learned not to over stress myself at Christmas :0) Hopefully I will remember to do that every year....it made things so much more enjoyable!

Now it's time for a cup of hot tea and cuddle time with the kitties.

Is It Really Only Three Days Until Christmas?

2011-12-22T16:31:00.000-08:00

Where has the time gone? I'm getting very excited to be making the trip to my parents home for Christmas. In all of my 59 years I have only missed one Christmas there. I had a very good reason for missing that one.

We always have Christmas with our kids before Christmas day. A day for us to have a family meal and exchange our gifts with out the confusion of the big crowd on Christmas Day. We had our day this past Saturday.

I'm terrible at getting good pictures at this event. I'm too involved in the activities to stop and get good pictures.

This will probably be my last until after Christmas ......so....

Merry Christmas to all!!!

Tis the Season to be FRAZZLED........FA...La....La...la...la......la..... :0(

2011-12-15T20:55:00.000-08:00

Christmas arrives at my house on Saturday....as in like..... less than 48 hours here and I AM NOT READY!

No where even close to being ready!

I still have two gifts to complete and the house looks like a tornado ripped through it and did a U-turn.

My husband has been working an ungodly number of overtime for a month now so all the prep is entirely up to me. Not a problem normally.....but this is not a normal year.

So I've cut way back on the decorations....I mean who really needs to put out 87 International Santa's and a Snow Village with more buildings than the town I live in..... and it's going to be a really low keyed brunch type meal .....in the early afternoon. I love brunch food 24 hours a day....doesn't everyone? :0)

Since I'm scaling back on everything else....I'm cheating on the blog postings too....don't waste your time going to my other blogs....I'm just going to copy and paste this one to it and call it a day....after I eat the over cooked peanut butter fudge that looks like crap but taste very good :0)

So if you don't hear from me till next week don't panic .... the sugar will wear off soon and life will return to something some what normal.

Merry Christmas!!!

2011-12-13T13:06:00.000-08:00

Lots of red showing in my living room these days. The walls are always red!!! I love them that way...they make the oak trim and mantle on the stone fireplace just POP!

The picture is to show off one of my Christmas gifts from my darling dearest..... It's the Himalayan Salt Lamp he ordered for me. I've wanted one for a very long time but the price has always been a deterrent...this year he told me to chose what size I wanted and to order it.....I jumped on the computer before he had a chance to even think about it :0) !!!!!

It's even bigger than I imagined it would be and I love it!!!!! I leave it on 24/7.

The framed leaf is fiber art from my blogger friend

Kathyinozarks

She hand dyes the fabrics using hand made dyes.

Below is a cute poem I borrowed from another blogger friend

BASTELMANIA

Christmas at Rock-Away Rest

Twas the night before Christmas at Rock-Away Rest,
and all of us seniors were looking our best.
Our glasses, how sparkly, our wrinkles, how merry;
Our punchbowl held prune juice plus three drops of sherry.

A bedsock was taped to each walker, in hope
That Santa would bring us soft candy and soap.
We surely were lucky to be there with friends,
Secure in this residence and in our Depends.
=
Our grandkids had sent us some Christmasy crafts,
Like angels in snowsuits and penguins on rafts.
The dental assistant had borrowed our teeth,
And from them she'd crafted a holiday wreath.

The bed pans, so shiny, all stood in a row,
Reflecting our candle's magnificent glow.
Our supper so festive -- the joy wouldn't stop --
Was creamy warm oatmeal with sprinkles on top.

Our salad was Jell-O, so jiggly and great,
Then puree of fruitcake was spooned on each plate.
The social director then had us play games,
Like "Where Are You Living?" and "What Are Your Names?"

Old Grandfather Looper was feeling his oats,
Proclaiming that reindeer were nothing but goats.
Our resident wand'rer was tied to her chair,
In hopes that at bedtime she still would be there.

Security lights on the new fallen snow
Made outdoors seem noon to the old folks below.
Then out on the porch there arose quite a clatter
(But we are so deaf that it just didn't matter).

A strange little fellow flew in through the door,
Then tripped on the sill and fell flat on the floor.
Twas just our director, all togged out in red.
He jiggled and chuckled and patted each head.

We knew from the way that he strutted and jived
Our social- security checks had arrived.
We sang -- how we sang -- in our monotone croak,
Till the clock tinkled out its soft eight-p.m. stroke.

And soon we were snuggling deep in our beds.
While nurses distributed nocturnal meds.
And so ends our Christmas at Rock-Away Rest.
Before long you'll be with us, We wish you the best!

Linking to .....

http://workofthepoet.blogspot.com/

late as usual :0(

More Gold Finch......

2011-12-10T09:59:00.000-08:00

I know I posted pictures of Gold Finch yesterday...but as I sat at my kitchen table drinking coffee this morning...I was amused by them again as they were jousting over a spot at the feeder.

I love it when they are so preoccupied with feeding that they don't even notice you moving around taking their photos.

These two were arguing back and forth as to who was going to get control over the feeding hole ...

This feeder was full two days ago and it's huge. It's going to be an expensive winter for bird food I do believe.

Linking to...

http://camera-critters.blogspot.com/2011/12/camera-critters-192.html

The Brighter Side of Winter

2011-12-09T14:08:00.000-08:00

I've filled the bird feeders and have started my favorite winter sport....watching the birds empty them as fast as they can :0) They can be so fun and sometimes vicious as they gather at the feeders looking for goodies.

Even though it never got out of the 30's today I spent a couple of hours outside. I finally managed to plant my garlic.....I know..I know....it should have been done a month ago ...at the latest...but it didn't happen until today. I'm just thrilled that it DID happen :0) I was beginning to think it wasn't going to happen....

I also finished lining the driveway with solar lights on reflector polls....aka painted rebar ....now when it snows I will be able to tell where the driveway really is. Last year was no fun with 24 inches of snow and I had no clue where the dang thing was. Just maybe I won't have huge ruts in the yard next spring from driving where I shouldn't.

Now I really must get off of here and do some of the dreaded house work that I promised myself I would get done today or else...the thing about breaking a promise to yourself is that you never get away with it. It's always there to remind you you failed :0(

Catch you all later....

Ruby Tuesday

2011-12-06T14:20:00.000-08:00

I don't know if it's because we got our first snow today or if I'm just dreaming of spring.

But I thought all of todays "tint spots" had images of flowers in them.

The first one just might be called Christmas Rose.... the second one a Poppy.

....and inverted tulip in the wind ....

and another Poppy....

...as for myself ..... I'm having a rather low keyed day...with no energy for anything. Slept very late and just can't get moving on anything. Good thing I had the day off so I could indulge my lack of energy. With the holidays around the corner I really should be doing something... but oh well perhaps tomorrow will be better :0)

Linking to ....

http://workofthepoet.blogspot.com/

I know I promised......but....

2011-12-02T11:33:00.000-08:00

I really do think I have a fairly decent excuse for being absent so long....really I do!

For the month of November I joined a daily art challenge...so all of my post for the month went on my art blog.... so if you really don't have anything else to do or are just plain curious you can check out my posts there...

http://silverspringacreslaborsoflove.blogspot.com/

Thirty days of creative bliss with a little bit of stress thrown in there too :0)

It was lots of fun and I'm so glad that I did it. I got to meet a group of fantastic artist and creative people and it really got me back into the mode of being creative every day...even if it's only for a few minutes.

I started the above painting yesterday with the intentions of her being an angel. She had other things in mind and became a dancer instead. She isn't finished yet so who knows what she will become :0)

It's been warmer here the past two days so I've been out in the yard again. Home Depot had their bulbs on sale for 75% off so I just had to buy some more :0)

The place will be awash with tulips and daffedills come spring. I still have about 80 bulbs to get into the ground ....so I guess I had better get myself out there and get to work .

Hope to be around more now :0)

Ruby Tuesday

2011-11-08T07:56:00.000-08:00

Ruby Tuesday once again!!

Today I'll be sharing some photos of tint splotches from work.

You just never know what kind of pattern is going to show up or if there will even be one.

And then there are those that just capture your imagination and take you off into magical places where anything can happen .

Linking to :

http://workofthepoet.blogspot.com/

Fall is Definitely Here

2011-11-06T09:41:00.000-08:00

This is my favorite fall color tree on our lot. It's a Red Oak and this was taken las week just as it was starting to change colors.

This is the same tree this week ...taken from a different angle and definitely much more colorful. Hopefully it will continue to turn and become deep red. Some years it does and some years it doesn't.

The rest of the Oaks on our lot just turn brown and fall :( and there are a lot of them so we have tons of leaves that need to be raked and put into the compost bin. I've raked once.... a week ago and this is what it looks like today.

Lots and lots of leafs everywhere!

I still haven't managed to get the garlic planted :( Have been down with some kind of virus all week. Hopefully next week will be better!

Tomorrow I have to take the kitties to the vet to be neutered....hope they don't hate me for it :(

They are getting so big and so cuddlely. Spell check says that not a word but it fits for these two. They want to be held all the time.... when they are not terrorizing the dog or attaching a house plant. They are great company. Nothing like a warm and fuzzy purring kitty cuddled up to you when you don't feel so good yourself :)

Have a Great day everyone!!!

When You have more ideas than time and energy...What do you do?

2011-10-29T16:21:00.000-07:00

Positive & Inspirational Quotes
‎"The power of imagination makes us infinite."
✿♥✿♥✿♥✿♥¸.☆¸.✿¸.•°”˜ƸӜƷ˜”°•.•.¸ღ¸
✿ܓJohn Muir

My mind is continuously boiling over

with creative ideas and projects.

I see things and I almost always think of something I want to do with it and it's usually not it's original purpose .

Like this inner tub out of an abandoned washing machine that was left on our property when we bought it.

I knew that I had finally found a use for all of the broken dishes and tiles I had been saving for years. I started it 5 years ago in the late fall. I was working in our basement which is unfinished and unheated. So when it got cold I had to stop working on it. By the time spring got here my Mother-in-law had gotten critically ill and moved in with us and I couldn't leave her alone to work on it.

The next summer she was healthier and I got to work on it some...but she still required a lot of attention and about the time I'd get all messy and grimy I'd have to stop and take care of her needs. So the project got shoved to the back burner and forgotten.

This summer we started cleaning out the basement ...which had become a giant catch all for everything we didn't want anymore or didn't know what to do with. Yes I have a problem with throwing out anything cause you just never know when I'll come up with an idea to use it on. So the mosaic pot was unearthed again and I am very proud to say that it is finally finished!!!!!!!!!! When spring gets here it will be filled with dirt and Elephant Ears planted in it. We'll probably place it by the fish pond.

This winter we are going to start finishing off the basement and build me a giant studio down there where I can actually spread out and work freely on all of my creative dreams :)

One of my future projects will be cleaning up this beautiful old wringer washer my Honey got for me this fall. It will become a planter too and I'm trying to decide whether I want to leave it rusty or clean it up super well and repaint it like it was new.....or do I want to do mosaic on it too?

Then there is the old water heater that I want to turn into a mosaic tower or bench...see my mind works so hard that I get confused on what I really want to to.

Not much going on in the garden now...the frost has finally gotten to almost everything out there. I do plan on planting some more garlic and some more tulips and who knows what else that I'll run across before the ground freezes :)

So I'm working on my art and planning that studio in the basement :)

See Ya all next time !!

Ruby Tuesday ----- Bloomin' Tuesday

2011-10-25T10:03:00.000-07:00

Tuesday is really glowing Ruby this week in the flower beds! I'm amazed at the number of flowers that are putting on a last minute show for the year.

My little Rose Tree is covered in more blooms than she's had all summer and they smell so good. Makes setting on the front porch very pleasant indeed...that is if the winds aren't blowing that sweet small away .

The Dahlias are still showing off :)

All of the Blanket Flowers are full and dazzling.

Even the Lantanas have filled back out again.

My first Pink Dahlias of the year.... seems so strange to have them blooming for the first time in October. What a strange trip it's been!

Last but not least the Verbena look good. Not exactly Ruby but pretty any way you look at them :)

I always get a little down the last part of October... I know the warmer days are almost gone for the year and soon everything will be brown and grey. Makes me ALMOST look forward to the " white stuff" that hides it all. I did say almost now Mother Nature...so don't get in any hurry to whitewash the landscape ....PLEASE!

Linking too:

http://workofthepoet.blogspot.com/2011/10/ruby-tuesday_24.html

and

http://msgreenthumbjean.blogspot.com/2011/10/its-bloomin-tuesday_24.html

To Pick or Not to Pick

2011-10-21T10:36:00.000-07:00

I don't bring a lot of cut flowers into the house. Mainly because I just don't think too and then there is that part where I just hate to cut a living plant even to enjoy its beauty more. Silly I know.

With the threat of Frost in the air though I brought in some last night. Trying to make the blooming season last as long as I can for me.

This morning I was happy to discover that the frost had skipped over us last night and I still have blooms outside to enjoy too :)

One of the other big reasons I don't bring in cut flowers is .....

My hubby greatly dislikes anything creepy and crawly in the house and this little guy qualifies for that. Me I just smash him and go about my business...unless it's one I can pick up and release back outside. He didn't qualify for that !

So now I have my inside blooms and my outside blooms to enjoy for the days to come. No frost predicted for the next few nights at least!

Ruby Tuesday...Blooming Tuesday

2011-10-18T11:20:00.000-07:00

Finally as summer ends and fall is in full swing....my Dahlias bloom!

These are dinner plate Dahlias and the plants are normally 5 to 6 ft tall with 10 inch blooms this year the plants are only about 16 inches tall but the blooms are still the normal size. I'm guessing the severe heat of the summer and the draught conditions we had for so long is what contributed to this. I'm just glad they bloomed before I had to dig them up!!

Linking to

http://workofthepoet.blogspot.com/

and

http://msgreenthumbjean.blogspot.com/

My Daddy's been sick

2011-10-15T09:14:00.000-07:00

I've been missing in action cause I've been franticly worried about my Daddy! On Sunday we got the call that he was at the hospital with an apparent stroke :( He was very weak and shaky and extremely confused. They had also discovered he had pneumonia and didn't realize it.

On Monday he was much better and they couldn't find any evidence of a stroke on the cat scans so there were ordering a MRI for Tuesday. Tuesday morning I packed my bags and headed north. They had assured me he was stable and I didn't need to make the trip...but he's my Daddy and I had to go. When I got there he looked rough and very shaky still.... I was about to get upset that they had misled me on his condition. But Wednesday morning he woke up almost his old self... The MRI the day before had shown no signs of a stroke but his blood levels were back and he is extremely low in Vitamin B and D and they gave him shots on Tuesday night. He will get shots and physical therapy everyday for a week and then he can go home. We are so happy it was nothing major and he won't have any permanent side effects. I took the above picture of him on Thursday before I left to come home...looks good for 82 and in the hospital doesn't he ? :)

Keep him in your prayers that he will recover quickly and that my mother won't get herself run down taking care of him.

My brother-in-law is constantly improving and doing great with the speech therapy. He starts his radiation treatments in 10 days so keep him in your prayers too that he doesn't have too many adverse side effects from that.

Hopefully I'll get back into my regular routines here soon. I'm loving this fall weather we've had :)

2011-10-07T12:00:00.001-07:00

My Sacred Energy

‎"Here's to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes... the ones who see things differently -- they're not fond of rules... You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can't do is ignore them because they change things... they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do." ~ Steve Jobs (Apple Computers)

Pumpkins Galore...Family and Fun!

2011-10-03T16:16:00.000-07:00

Sunday was family fun day here. My son and his family came over and we all went to one of the local pumpkin patches.

The high light of the day for the girls was the pony rides...they tried real hard to convince Grandma she needs to buy a pony :)

We all took our turns posing for group pictures. The girls first....

Then Grandma and Bobbo and the girls....

and finally Mom and Dad and the girls.

Mom and Dad do have names :) my son Todd and his fantastic wife Julie.

After walking around looking at so many cool fall decorations...Bobbo decided we needed to build our own scarecrow when we got home.

So we rummaged through the basement and came up with some cool items to put our scarecrow together with. It does pay to be a pack rat at times like this :) It was a lot of fun to put her together and pose her out front. She must be really scary cause the dog is still barking at her every time he sees her :)

After all of that fun and hard work we cooked brats and hot dogs on the grill and feasted.

The day ended entirely way too soon and everyone had to go home.

Miracle phone call this week!

2011-09-30T10:18:00.000-07:00

Yes I Believe in Miracles!

Miracles: an extraordinary event manifesting divine intervention in human affairs.

I talked to my brother-in-law on the phone this week and was able to understand him completely!!

His doctors are totally blown away with his progress and can't believe that he is able to speak at all so soon much less so clearly :)

We know it is totally the power of prayer and divine intervention that has made this possible!

Once again thanks to all of my friends and family that have included him in your prayers. It has definitely paid off.

Ruby Tuesday ----- Bloomin' Tuesday

2011-09-27T17:00:00.000-07:00

Not much blooming this week... but I'm still working on getting all of those Surprise Lily bulbs in the ground. When I started these two milk crates were full to overflowing! After tonights planting I'm down to the crate on the left :) Hopefully by the weekend I'll be finished with them. Just doing a little bit every day when I get home from work.

Speaking of work it has been very busy this week with tons of heavy lifting involved. So between that and planting the bulbs every night I'm starting to feel and look like the old woman in my latest "face" painting. I'm calling her "Feeling Old"

Thanks for stopping in :)

Linking to:

Ruby Tuesday

http://workofthepoet.blogspot.com/

and

http://msgreenthumbjean.blogspot.com/

Busy Busy Busy and getting No Where!

2011-09-22T19:34:00.000-07:00

First of all "THANK YOU" to all of you who included my sister and her husband in your prayers. He came through the surgery with flying colors! The surgery was 16 1/2 hours long and I think it was harder on my sister than him.

The doctors are confidant that they got all of the cancer and that he will be able to talk again with speech therapy.

He is home now recouping before they start the chemo and radiation treatments. He still has a long road to travel for total recovery so please keep him in your prayers.

I've been trying to make some Mummies for Halloween decorations this week.... the new kitties are convinced it's all a game just for their entertainment.

I really don't think she was trying to get her nails trimmed.... but I was afraid that was going to happen if I wasn't very careful.

He was contented to play with the scraps of fabric left behind ....

...and there she is again going for those skizzors.

Gee Mom...thanks for the cool doll to play with and we don't think it needs any paint or wrapping at all.

My art class is moving along nicely and I've been having fun with these left handed paintings. Who knew I could actually draw and paint with my left hand. Good thing they are not supposed to realistic :)

So me and the wild haired woman are ready to go on to the next phase of the class and that will be collage.....should be interesting :)

Hope you are all having a great time.

See you soon!

Todays Flowers

2011-09-18T17:09:00.000-07:00

Not too much is blooming around here these days...most things are going to seed and getting ready for winter

I'm sure we'll have a few more blooms when we get some warmers days again...it seems we went from blazing heat to late fall chills over night. The whole year has been cock-a-mamie like that

The volunteer sunflowers are still hanging in there and look fantastic :)

This week I'll start planting my fall bulbs...thanks to my dad I have tons to plant. He's digging up most of his bulbs and getting rid of them. So have I about 200 Surprise Lilies to get into the ground this month ...my back hurts already :)

I also hope to get two new Iris beds made and planted before winter sets in so I do have my work cut out for me. I will be taking some time off from work to get it done. What a way to burn up vacation days :)

http://flowersfromtoday.blogspot.com/2011/09/todays-flowers-161.html

Ruby Tuesday ----- Bloomin' Tuesday

2011-09-12T15:54:00.000-07:00

Ruby Tuesday!

Tuesdays are starting to become my favorite day of the week :) A day when I get to see all of those wonderful Ruby red posts and beautiful flower shots!

I couldn't resist adding my Ruby Slipper drawing this week. I saw these shoes in a magazine awhile back and fell in love with them. The price was way out of my budget.....$400.00 is way too much for any pair of shoes no matter who makes them...unless of course I win the Mega Lotto some day and then they are MINE!

Found this in the woods behind the house... I remember seeing a weird looking plant there this spring and meant to come back and take a picture and never made it. Now I will definitely have to remember to look for it next spring.

The Butterfly Weed has popped open and little seeds are floating everywhere. I plucked the other pod that was just starting to open so I can plant the seeds where I want them. Hopefully I'll have lots of butterfly weed next year!!!

After two days of rain several of the flowers have taken on a new burst of beauty. These Blanket Flowers are stunning!

...and the Lantana has perked back up and is showing off.

This is the best my Dahlias have looked all summer and only a few are even alive at all.

and the Verbena has rebloomed.... so at least the summer is ending in beauty :)

linking to:

http://workofthepoet.blogspot.com/2011/09/ruby-tuesday_12.html

and

http://msgreenthumbjean.blogspot.com/2011/09/its-bloomin-tuesday.html

Labor Day at the Farm or Should I say "RUST HEAVEN!" ?

2011-09-08T07:10:00.000-07:00

For Labor Day we went to a Cookout/ Shootout at a friends . They have one every year at the old family farmstead. No one lives there now but the still farm the land and use the barns.

The farm is 130 years old and the grounds are a living history of old farm equipment and new. I love the way the sun changes the color of the rust to an almost copper patina.

There is rusty metal everywhere.. a rust lovers dream come true :) Little disk and big disk...

New tractor accessories that have already developed the rust from use in nature...

...and old pieces that set and develop layers of rust and real character!

Repurposed items galore :)...

....and the "WOOD"!!!! Nothing has charm and life like wood that has weathered in nature for over 100 years.

...more rusty disks...

..more beautiful "WOOD" ....

...old plows that just set and look regal.

....barn styles that were built for horse and buggy days....

....more rusty stuff that I don't have a clue what it is...but I want it BAD!!!!!!!

.....broken and still useful...not to mention still styling :)

The back porch of the abandoned family farm house :(

...a peak thru one of the windows...I'm telling you it was a major feat in self control to not just climb right in and start grabbing items!

Peeling, chippie doors everywhere! Can you hear me moaning still?

..an old produce stand display shelf...made of solid steel with layers and layers of paint...this baby aint blowing over in the wind..

....old horse shoes left leaning against an out building... ones that were used in the game and who knows if they were ever on a real horse ?

... another barn full of old treasures...that old wringer washer in the background is coming to live at my house and will become a planter once it's cleaned up :) can you hear me shouting and dancing in the street !!!!

I may also be bringing home the old wood stove with missing legs.....I get so excited thinking about it I shiver :)

My brother-n-law getting ready for the big shootout...

.... my hubby dearest getting into the swing...no that would be chair .... of things :)

... couldn't resist this shot....

...taking a break in the barn...thats the owner of the farm.... the wonderful man who gave me the washer :) MY new Most Favorite Friend LOL!!!

I'm not really a lover of camo...but this I love :0 and let me tell you this little girl can hold her own when target shooting with the Big Guys :)

The "BIG GUN" of the day!!!

When this baby is fired ear plugs and hands over your ears are mandatory!

It was a great day!Lots of fun with friends and hours of wondering around the place falling in love with all of the fantastic eye candy. I can't wait to go back for another visit.

Sorry for the large number of pictures... there was just so much I wanted to share and believe me I took a whole lot more :)

Wordless Wednesday....Tree Sap

2011-09-07T07:39:00.000-07:00

http://www.wordlesswednesday.com/newhome/

http://cookinformycaptain.blogspot.com/

http://blog.aquariann.com/search/label/wordless%20wednesday

Ruby Tuesday

2011-09-06T09:39:00.000-07:00

Red leaves floating in the creek are just another reminder that summer is almost over and fall around the corner. Where did the summer go?

http://workofthepoet.blogspot.com/2011/09/ruby-tuesday.html

Macro Flower Saturday

2011-09-03T10:02:00.000-07:00

With the heat and lack of rain we've had this summer...even my pond plants have not performed as well as usual :(

I start the spring with 6 Water Hyacinth and in a normal summer by now the pond would be full of them and I would have thrown tons of them into the compost pile. This year I have 10 now and very few blooms through out the entire summer. But when they bloom they are beautiful.

The mini zinnias are bouncing back from the lack of rain....3 days of almost constantly running the sprinklers has perked some things back up.

Even the Ruby Echinacia that I thought had completely died...black leaves and stalks that snapped off at the ground in the wind..convinced me so....Now they are peaking out of the mulch again and forming a small bloom...but they are only about 4 inches tall this time around. Conserving energy I guess.

A few of the other plants are trying to respond to the constant watering and the temps are supposed to drop tonight and stay down for at least a week...hopefully for the rest of the season!

Hoping others are seeing recovery in their gardens!

Linking to:

http://macroflower-saturday.blogspot.com/

I Should Have Known Better......

2011-09-01T22:21:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I decided to take my camera down to the local creek and take a photo shot/ hike. Just me and my camera and nature...no work involved.....

Water levels are low because of the lack of rain this summer but there were still some deep pools and small...very small...rapids for lack of a better term :)

The pools had schools of little fishies darting about....

... and there were some really awesome chunks of driftwood to be found. I so wanted to drag this one home but it was too heavy for me to move :( ...maybe recruiting some help with that one on a later date.

....and then I starting finding rocks..

...and stacking rocks for the fun and beauty of it.... and then....

...collecting rocks :) and another piece of cool driftwood that I was able to drag out of the creek and into the truck...it's huge and all the critters around must have had a good laugh watching me tugging and pulling and lifting. At this point I put the camera and cell up in the truck... I had already fallen in the water twice and was lucky enough not to get either wet. Good thing I did too cause I fell again and this time in a deeper pool and I was soaked. But I got that big rock I was diving for. I know I'm a little clumsy ...but remember that creek bottoms are often covered with mossy, slimy rocks that are slicker than snot ...which was why I was falling so much. Not to mention some of the rocks I was juggling weighed 30 lbs or more. I ended up getting about twice as much as you see in the truckbed in the photo.

So after all of that I managed to get the rocks and driftwood home and unloaded and most of the rocks place where I wanted them around the pond

It's really starting to look good and I'm all excited to finish it.....if any yard project can ever really be called finished };-)

A few more loads of rocks and I'll be able to start the new flower bed in the wooded area. That is where the big piece of driftwood will be going ... I think any how.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-08-31T07:51:00.000-07:00

http://www.wordlesswednesday.com/newhome/

a second wordless Wednesday group..

http://cookinformycaptain.blogspot.com/

Blooming Tuesday-Ruby Tuesday

2011-08-30T16:38:00.000-07:00

Was so excited when these hardy members of the Hibiscus family bloomed. I bought them last fall at the end of the season at 80% off and they were almost dead and labeled as White " Marsh Mallows"

I bought four plants and they all made it! Two were the white they were all labeled and two where these Pinks! Love the deep red centers and the beautiful shade of pink. These babies not only survived...believe me I had my doubts they looked so pitiful when I bought them...but they are over 6 ft. tall. Apparently they are very happy where they are planted.

The Dahlias have not done so well this year at all. Some did not even come up and a lot of them are very short plants and no blooms :( This one is usually very tall and the blooms the size of large dinner plates. Not this year. It's only 4 foot tall and the bloom is only about 6 inches across.

The Rose Moss has done well in its containers this year. I think it loves dry earth and heat.

Some wild Phlox I saw on my walk down by the creek today.

Hope things are still blooming for you in world!

Linking to :

http://msgreenthumbjean.blogspot.com/2011/08/its-bloomin-tuesday_29.html

http://workofthepoet.blogspot.com/

Camera Critters and Macro Flower Saturday

2011-08-27T21:53:00.000-07:00

I think I must have a "gaZillion" of these butterflies in my yard this year. They are everywhere and they are not the least bit camera shy .

They seem to love the Mexican Sunflowers the best :)

Be sure to click on the photos to enlarge them and you can the interesting eyes these babies have.

Linking to:

http://camera-critters.blogspot.com/

and

http://macroflower-saturday.blogspot.com/

Yard Art Thursday

2011-08-25T12:21:00.000-07:00

I love gazing balls and I also have a deep fondness for blown glass. So I was thrilled with this new addition to my flower gardens this year. I also like the contrast in colors with the ball and the purple leaves. I have no idea what the plant is. My cousin gave me a few years and years ago. They are annuals but the self seed like crazy and I'm always finding them everywhere. They also happen to transplant super easy so I just yank it up and plop it somewhere else when it shows up in an unwanted spot. They do get VERY tall so it makes a great bank ground plant.

The other new addition to the yard art this year is my church bird house. I posted about it earlier in the summer when I first bought it and it was "Pepto Pink" :( I have finally gotten it repainted and hung in the woodland garden. Hopefully some feathered friend will move in soon.

It's absolutely beautiful out today so I'm going to go set on the deck and enjoy! Maybe I'll yank a weed or two while I'm outside :)

Wordless Wednesday

2011-08-24T17:28:00.000-07:00

http://www.wordlesswednesday.com/newhome/

It's Finally Here!!!!!!!!!!

2011-08-23T16:15:00.000-07:00

After waiting most of the summer....

The second shell has finally arrived.

I had given up on getting it because the trailer where it was had gone up for sale. Lucky for me the new owner didn't want it so my brother-in-law gave my hubby a call and told him to come and get it!!! :)

It even has another small shell attached to the side of it :)

It measure 33 inches wide and 22 inches across and is 16 inches tall from the ground to the ruffled edge. It's slightly bigger than the first one and weighs a whole lot more.

I don't know if this is where it will stay permanently...but I can tell you for sure it won't get moved too often.

I still have to scrub it up...it has lots of mud on it :( I couldn't wait to share pictures of it so you get crude and all .

I'll probably use it as a bird bath or a fountain....haven't really decided yet...lots of ideas going through my mind.

I'm just thrilled to have it!!!! My summer may have been hot but it's definitely been GOOD!

Blooming Tuesday

2011-08-23T04:18:00.000-07:00

Most of the flowers here are either really showing the stress from this summers heat or have expired completely :(

Only the heat tolerant ones or the shade gardens look good right now.

The Hens and Chicks are holding up well!!

....and this Coral Bells seems to be hanging in there while the others are all crinkled and crisp :(

These impatients are holding up but the rest of the old steps planters look very pathetic. The steps themselves will need to be replaced this fall too. Always something to be done around here.

Love the sunflowers that always pop up under the bird feeders.

The first canna blooms of the season that aren't all brown around the edges!!!

My favorite Sunflower this year! It actually survived the wild puppy from next door!

The Black Eyed Susans are doing great!!

But the Echinacia is showing some stress and the beautiful Ruby ones that I showed earlier this summer have expired :(

Had to cut them down completely.

Linking to ......

http://msgreenthumbjean.blogspot.com/2011/08/its-bloomin-tuesday_22.html

Yard Art Thursday and Prayers PLEASE

2011-08-18T07:34:00.000-07:00

We just found out that my sisters husband has cancer of the tongue. It is a very fast and aggressive cancer that is hard to beat and he will need all the prayers we can get. We are asking for support in his battle and know that all things are possible with the power of prayer!

Heat Dome Recovery

2011-08-12T21:39:00.000-07:00

Now that the heat has finally broken and we've actually had a couple of good rains things are starting to green back up. Even the little fishpond garden was looking wilted and the ribbon grass had turned brown.

The one plant that did seem to thrive in the heat was the Hens and Chick. I had given up on it last spring....it just set there looking pitiful and mushy. But the past two Hot summers have made it take off like crazy. I've actually had to divide it and start another group. Hopefully they won't be as slow to catch.

The Elephant Ears are hanging in there. They don't mind the heat but they require consistent watering.

Of course the dragonflies are always hanging out at the pond.

And this little feller had just taken a dip in the shallow end of the pond and then flew over to one of the tomato stakes to dry off in the sun.

He just kept turning and posing so I had to take a few pictures of him :)

So happy to have the cooler weather and being able to actually spend quality time outside . Maybe I'll even get to finish putting down the pea gravel and bring in more big rocks and of course plants.

Hope others are having good garden days too and praying for relief for those who are still caught under the Heat Dome.

Out of Control

2011-08-11T09:33:00.000-07:00

I can definitely say that this has been one of my most challenging years in the gardens! The Spring started out cold and wet and lasted "forever" Then the summer arrives instantly with extreme heat and dry :(

It wasn't long before the weeds took over everywhere and I just couldn't handle the heat to try and keep them under control.

We finally have some decent weather now and I've been playing catch up with the weeding and pulling out plants that didn't survive the "heat dome" :(

One flower bed is completely weeded now and I've started adding the shredded paper I hoard for undermulch. I'll add compost on top of the paper and mulch heavily with woodchips. Hopefully The weeds will never get that bad again!!!!

We're also suffering from another form of destruction in our gardens this summer.

Everywhere I turn there is broken pottery...

...destroyed garden art....

...missing and torn flags...

....more destruction and holes dug in unwanted places....

....tumbled pots and uprooted plants...

...and here is the cause of all of this destruction! To make matters worse he isn't even our dog! He belongs to the neighbors across the street and they let him run loose :(

He comes to play with our dogs ... who loves his visits... but who has started misbehaving right along with the MONSTER!

He's just a "puppy" and really is a sweet dog but I'm ready to start shooting him with the

BB gun! This morning he was running across the yard ....dragging one of my giant sunflowers he had broken off behind him.

I guess it's time to pay a visit to the neighbors and register a complaint. Of course these are the least friendly neighbors on the road so it just may turn into a confrontation :(

So keep your fingers crossed that all goes well and I don't have to start target practicing on the mutt.

My new Toy!!!!

2011-08-07T17:46:00.000-07:00

When I went to my parents in June for my birthday... they gave me their camping trailer that they used for road trips. We finally got back up there this weekend to bring it home. It's old and needs some upgrading but we are super excited to have it and can't wait to start working on it so we can take it out on the road!!!!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-08-02T21:33:00.000-07:00

http://www.wordlesswednesday.com/newhome/

Blooming Tuesday-Ruby Tuesday

2011-08-01T19:27:00.000-07:00

Hot, Hot, Hot

There is no other word to describe this summer and it's showing everywhere :(

About the only things that look good in the flowerbeds right now are a few of the wildflowers I've transplanted over the years. And some of them are not looking so good either.

Not sure what this one really is ...other than pretty and sturdy. Found it along the road at the side of our property and moved it to the "Cottage Bed" Sure hope I can find more some day.

We did get some rain on Saturday and a day of somewhat cooler temps. So I had to check out the mulch pile and sure enough more "mushrooms" and some poison ivy making itself at home too :(

The vine is gone...had to yank that out before it took over the woodchip pile.

With all of this heat I'm just not having energy for much of anything. I keep saying I'll adjust soon..but I really guess it isn't going to happen.

If this keeps up next weeks post will be of dead plants :(

http://workofthepoet.blogspot.com/2011/08/ruby-tuesday.html

http://msgreenthumbjean.blogspot.com/2011/08/its-bloomin-tuesday.html

Wordless Wednesday

2011-07-27T15:12:00.000-07:00

http://www.wordlesswednesday.com/newhome/

Blooming Tuesday

2011-07-26T14:58:00.000-07:00

We had a couple of days of nicer weather recently and then the heat returned :( It's getting harder to find decent blooms to photo every week.

here's another group of butterfly weed that doesn't seem to mind the heat at all...

....some of the Sunflowers are still hanging in there....

..the shade garden is hanging on ...but even it is starting to show signs of stress...

... I lost most of my Cannas this year....don't know if the cold wet spring did them in or what.... this is the only surviver ...

.....most of the day lilies are gone but this one always blooms later and helps keep that part of the yard pretty.... I have plans to dig up the day lily garden and divide everything this year and I'll have to remember to spread these around so they are in the whole bed instead of just one part of it...

...the Mexican Sunflowers are just filling out and they definitely don't mind the hot dry weather we are having...they are beautiful and huge!!...

...the BLANKET Flowers haven't been as full this year either but the ones I do have are very pretty so I guess the plants are just conserving energy by only produces a small amount of blooms this year.

With all of this heat I know I haven't had the energy to do much at all. Including posting here :( The weeds are going strong ...funny how they don't seem to mind the heat and dry at all either... and I don't have the energy to get rid of them.

Hopefully things will get back to normal soon... well maybe not normal cause August is normally hot and unbearable :(

Linking to....

http://msgreenthumbjean.blogspot.com/2011/07/its-bloomin-tuesday_25.html

Blooming Tuesday

2011-07-19T09:00:00.000-07:00

The heat is really playing nasty with the gardens this year!

The inpatients just kinda of set there looking all droopy....can't say that I blame them I'm feeling all droopy too and I get to go inside to the air conditioner.

The Lantana doesn't seem to mind at all :)

....but even the sunflowers don't seem to last as long.

The yarrow just keeps getting bigger and bigger so I gues it loves the heat.

But the dahlias are no where their usual size or vibrant colors.

The verbena is a little thin :)

.....but nothing seems to phase the Shasta's! They just keep blooming and blooming :)!!!

This is my Joe Pie's 3rd year in the flower garden and it is beautiful so I guess it must be a heat tolerant plant as well

The saliva's look good in the morning but are wilted like crazy by afternoon.

The black eyed Susan's are just starting to bloom and I know they don't mind the heat so we'll have color there for a while :)

The Purple Liatris are bloomomg but alot of them did not come back this year. Don't know why...I've never had trouble with them before. But we've never had a winter like last winter either ...so maybe that was it.

I'm excited to see the seed pods on the butterfly weed...means I'll be starting lots more of them next spring :)

The heat is suppose to last thru the weekend here and hopefully give us a break the first part of next week!

I need to weed the front flower bed desperately but I don't see that happening anytime soon :(

Linking to ....

http://msgreenthumbjean.blogspot.com/2011/07/its-bloomin-tuesday_18.html

Mushroom or Toadstool or just Plain FUNGI ?

2011-07-18T16:50:00.000-07:00

What ever they are they always fascinate me.

These are no little toadstools...they measure about 8 inches across and pop up after rains in July, August and Sept. here.

I love the shapes and textures and the interesting clusters they make.

Not being a "Fungi" specialist we just admire them in their natural state and take lots of pictures.

Sometimes I use the pics for drawing subjects later in the year when it's too nasty to be outside.

Last year we had beautiful red and some interesting golden ones too...so far this year just the white ones.

They start out as these adorable little buds and then grow up almost in an instant.

Whatever they are they make good "eye" candy :)

Wordless Wednesday

2011-07-13T17:05:00.000-07:00

Linking to ....

Wordless Wednesday

http://www.wordlesswednesday.com/newhome/

Mondays Harvest

2011-07-11T15:35:00.000-07:00

Today was the day for Squash and cucumbers! Guess I'll be making pickles tomorrow and shredding zucchini for bread :)

I also managed to pick a nice amount of blackberries and there will be more to come all week. I'm seeing cobbler and jam :)

Garlic was harvested last week and is drying in the shed before being moved to the basement for storage

This last pic was my first harvest of the year :0 ...always the favorite cause your so excited to taste something from your very own garden.

I know I've posted some of these before but I"m joining Mondays Harvest for the first time and I just wanted to play catch up with that group.

Today I also managed to till up another garden row for more green beans. Hopefully I'll get the fence up too before the rabbits devour this crop :(

linking to ......

Mondays Harvest

http://daphnesdandelions.blogspot.com/2011/07/harvest-monday-july-11-2011.html

Macro Monday

2011-07-11T00:05:00.000-07:00

So beautiful and so Deadly

They destroyed my grapevines in one day :(

http://lisaschaos.com/

Todays Flowers

2011-07-10T21:34:00.000-07:00

Day Lily Dreams

I planted my day lily garden 9 years ago and other than weeding it occasionally it's been neglected ever since. Bad ME I know :( In spite of this neglect it has grown and flourished and this year has been absolutely beautiful.

It is also extremely over crowded now too and will definitely need to be thinned out and redone this year.

At one point I knew all of the names of the different ones but I've lost too many braincells since then and only know that they are pretty and I do remember where most of them came from.

This one is my second favorite of all that I have have. My first fav is a lavender color which bloomed last week and I forgot to take a picture of it.

Most of my day lilies came from my friend Carol who lives in Springfield, Il. They are her passion and she is great with them. She sent me a huge box of them when we bought our house and property.

I love their vibrant colors and can't wait to start new beds with more varieties.

She has a special Hy-bred that she has developed that I am going to buy from her this year. I haven't seen it yet ...but I know it will be wonderful!

In the meantime every time I walk out onto the deck I can look out and remember my friend and enjoy the beauty she shared with me.

I know I'm late but I'm linking to ...

http://flowersfromtoday.blogspot.com/2011/07/todays-flowers-142.html

Camera Critters

2011-07-09T10:22:00.000-07:00

We have a couple of young woodpeckers that have been hanging around the deck ...they love the suet feeder I have hanging there.

The photos are slightly foggy because it's so dang hot and humid out there the lens kept fogging up :(

This particular one is so young that he's more curious of me than frightened and he hangs around and lets me get very close before he flies away.

Sometimes he just sets on the deck rail and watches me watch him :)

Linking to...

http://camera-critters.blogspot.com/2011/07/camera-critters-170.html

Favorite things Friday!

2011-07-08T09:45:00.000-07:00

These are a few of my favorite things...from around the place where I live :)

Me and the love of my life ...together and smiling!

My blue bottle tree garden .....weeds and all...

My drive way flower bed.....the good side that faces the street....we won't be showing the bad side that doesn't get the TLC it needs :(

My home where I live and love!

The butterflies that abound in our yard and gardens :)

The wild blackberries that grow out back and are just starting to get ripe. I see cobbler in the very near future !!

An abundance of jewel weed that grows wild everywhere in our woods. I love to make soap out of it for poison ivy...which also grows everywhere in our woods :(

Tomatoes that are growing like crazy and should have a few ripe ones very soon :) !!!!!

My bog garden with its elephant ears and canas that thrive in the wet clay there :)

My veggie garden which isn't as big as I hoped this year but still gives me yummy food for the tummy :)

One of my shade gardens with it's wooden mushroom and little glass cat figurine.

I could go on forever but I'll stop here...

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Stop and think about all the favorite things you have right at your doorstep :)

I Miss Cheep Rooms Thursdays :(

2011-07-07T12:35:00.000-07:00

I love Birdhouses!

I don't have many....but I'm working on changing that! Here's my newest addition :)

We have a great flea market in our area every Sunday and I love going there. The last two years there has been a vender there that makes and sells birdhouses. I have ogled and drooled and wished and once before I purchased one. Last week I bought my second one from him.

Let me tell you he makes the best birdhouses. The are heavy duty....constructed correctly and made of cedar or other great woods.

He just has lousy tastes in colors when he decides to paint them :)

This jewel will be getting a updo on the paint job before it finds it's permanent home! I'm thinking basic white with black trim and roof....anyone got any other suggestions?

Just a shot of one of the visitors at one of my feeders this week....

Maybe he was checking out the new birdhouse wondering when it would be available for occupancy ?

Ruby Tuesday-Bloomin' Tuesday

2011-07-05T10:01:00.000-07:00

Harvest Time has started here :)

Just a sampling of the yummy produce we are picking daily out of the garden.

I love the red checked napkins I've collected over the years and I use them for everything...and I really like the flag I made from paint sticks and I promise someday I will get stars of some kind on it :)

My pink and red Rose of Sharon is finally starting to bloom this week. I love this plant and have it planted in a big ole washtub cause I can't make up my mind where I want it's permanent home to be. Will have to decide soon though cause it has definitely outgrown the tub and needs to go into the ground.

I harvested the garlic over the weekend but didn't get to spread it out to dry well before the storms hit. Right after this picture I had to throw it in the shed REAL fast as the storm blew in with 70 MPH straight line winds! Lots of damage through out the subdivision and we lost power from Sunday afternoon until last night...no fun in this heat let me tell you!

I have more garlic than we will be able to use this year before it starts going bad...so I"ll be sharing with family and friends :)

Planted 3 kinds this year and can't wait to try and see if the taste as different as they look.

The yarrow is in bloom!!!!

.....and the Bee Balm that was gifted to me last year by my friend at work Donna!

I love when friends share their beauty!

linking to ....
http://workofthepoet.blogspot.com/

Camera Critters

2011-07-02T09:48:00.000-07:00

I love having Echinacea in the garden! It not only looks great but attracts a wide variety of bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Here's what visited yesterday.

Linking to:

Macro Flower Saturday

2011-07-01T18:34:00.000-07:00

Hollyhock with bee.
Linking to:

Recycled Deck Chandelier

2011-06-29T20:29:00.000-07:00

After thinking about it for days...I decided what the heck go for it!

I had an old milk glass and brass chandelier that had no home an old rusty set of chair springs and some solar lights.

I stripped out the wiring and remove the light bulb bases. Spray painted the whole thing with a Rusting kit and glues the springs in where the light sockets were.

Glued the tops of the solar lights...the actual light parts minus the poles and reflectors.... to the bottoms of vintage electric insulators. Then placed them upside down into the springs.

The insulators made the whole thing a little top heavy so I had to reinforce the clamp on Shepard's hook with Zip strips. I'll come up with a way of camouflaging those zip strips soon.

I love the way the lights kind of bounce a little in the breeze on those springs and it looks really cool at night. Very hard to photograph though.

Many shots turned out like this :)

Which is artzy cool but doesn't show off the lights well.

At any rate I love my new chandelier and I also have a couple of table lights that I love too.

linking to:

Frugal Friday

http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/2011/06/frugal-friday_30.html

Saturday Nite Special

http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/2011/07/sat-nite-special-88-bringing-indoors.html?showComment=1309629421090#c5583277828584294826

Ruby Tuesday ----- Bloomin' Tuesday

2011-06-27T17:31:00.000-07:00

Ruby Echinacea!

My favorite garden flower this year!

I know I showed her earlier as she was just opening.

Here she is in all her glory :)

I'm really hoping that she spreads well in the flower bed and that her seeds are true to form. I want more!!!

I also have a love for bees and just can't pass on a good photo shot of them. They are so vital to our gardens and are really not a threat if you just leave them to their own thing.

Linking to:

http://workofthepoet.blogspot.com/2011/06/just-touch-of-red-for-you-today.html

and

Bloomin' Tuesday

http://msgreenthumbjean.blogspot.com/2011/06/its-bloomin-tuesday_27.html

SilverSpring Acres the Home of My Heart

Writers Block

It's February Right?

Camera Critters....Why do they call them Purple Finches?

Camera Critters

Ruby Tuesday 2

It really is Winter out There !

Ruby Tuesday 2

Camera Critters Woodpeckers

Morning Visitor on the Deck

My Favorite Winter Sport........

Is It Really Only Three Days Until Christmas?

Tis the Season to be FRAZZLED........FA...La....La...la...la......la..... :0(

Kathyinozarks

BASTELMANIA

More Gold Finch......

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Ruby Tuesday

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Ruby Tuesday

Fall is Definitely Here

When You have more ideas than time and energy...What do you do?

Positive & Inspirational Quotes‎"The power of imagination makes us infinite."✿♥✿♥✿♥✿♥¸.☆¸.✿¸.•°*”˜ƸӜƷ˜”*°•.•.¸ღ¸ ✿ܓJohn Muir

Ruby Tuesday ----- Bloomin' Tuesday

To Pick or Not to Pick

Ruby Tuesday...Blooming Tuesday

My Daddy's been sick

Pumpkins Galore...Family and Fun!

Miracle phone call this week!

Ruby Tuesday ----- Bloomin' Tuesday

Busy Busy Busy and getting No Where!

Todays Flowers

Ruby Tuesday ----- Bloomin' Tuesday

Labor Day at the Farm or Should I say "RUST HEAVEN!" ?

Wordless Wednesday....Tree Sap

Ruby Tuesday

Macro Flower Saturday

I Should Have Known Better......

Wordless Wednesday

Blooming Tuesday-Ruby Tuesday

Camera Critters and Macro Flower Saturday

Yard Art Thursday

Wordless Wednesday

It's Finally Here!!!!!!!!!!

Blooming Tuesday

Yard Art Thursday and Prayers PLEASE

Heat Dome Recovery

Out of Control

My new Toy!!!!

Wordless Wednesday

Blooming Tuesday-Ruby Tuesday

Wordless Wednesday

Blooming Tuesday

Blooming Tuesday

Mushroom or Toadstool or just Plain FUNGI ?

Wordless Wednesday

Mondays Harvest

Macro Monday

Todays Flowers

Camera Critters

Favorite things Friday!

I Miss Cheep Rooms Thursdays :(

Ruby Tuesday-Bloomin' Tuesday

Camera Critters

Macro Flower Saturday

Recycled Deck Chandelier

Ruby Tuesday ----- Bloomin' Tuesday

Positive & Inspirational Quotes
‎"The power of imagination makes us infinite."
✿♥✿♥✿♥✿♥¸.☆¸.✿¸.•°”˜ƸӜƷ˜”°•.•.¸ღ¸
✿ܓJohn Muir