O (little) Christmas Tree, O (little) Christmas Tree...

How lovely are your (little) branches...



This year I didn't get out the big tree.
I'm supposed to be packing to move.
So,
I didn't want to set up the tree when I was really going to be packing up stuff.
(turns out, I didn't pack anything either:/, but that is a different post.)

Sooooooooooooo...
I bought a little second hand tree ($1.50),
added this years (.25 cent) angel and called it good.
THEN I added a string of gaudy star lights ($1.00),
and blue beads ($1.00).
Not good enough.
THEN I added gold foil stars (.50 cents),
covered the base with tissue paper,
and attached this years 'couple' ornament Mr. & Mrs. Claus (.25 cents).
(gotta do my part for the economy and supporting my local thrift stores)



Ta Da!!! Perfectly Shiny and Gaudy!!
This little tree will go to its new home in the camper when I find the perfect box.

Merry Christmas,
Big or Small,
To One and ALL!!!

Temptation Thy Name is Home Depot...

I have purposely been avoiding plant nurseries.

See, I'm moving from my home of two years to my "dream" home (on my mom's property on the lake).

So, no more plants.

NO MORE.

(famous LAST words)


Well...hubby was shopping at the Home Depot, and I thought looking at the plants would be safe.


After all I already have everything Home Depot offers.

Right?

Wrong...

Our Home Depot is now offering a dwarf Chinese Fringe bush, a Purple Pixie Loropetalum.
Something I have dreamed of...


AND a red to purple dwarf nandina:

(this photo shows new Flirt Nandina, Harbor Dwarf Nandina, and Loropetalum)

I.MUST.HAVE...I.NEED.THIS.

..ok...

actually...I...don't...NEED...it

...but...I...sure...do...WANT...this

...B.A.D...


Fertilizer Friday

Son-Day: "Lead Me"

“Lead Me”
Sanctus Real

I look around and see my wonderful life
Almost perfect from the outside
In picture frames I see my beautiful wife
Always smiling
But on the inside, I can hear her saying...

“Lead me with strong hands
Stand up when I can't
Don't leave me hungry for love
Chasing dreams, what about us?

Show me you're willing to fight
That I'm still the love of your life
I know we call this our home
But I still feel alone”

I see their faces, look in their innocent eyes
They're just children from the outside
I'm working hard, I tell myself they'll be fine
They're independent
But on the inside, I can hear them saying...

“Lead me with strong hands
Stand up when I can't
Don't leave me hungry for love
Chasing dreams, but what about us?

Show me you're willing to fight
That I'm still the love of your life
I know we call this our home
But I still feel alone”

So Father, give me the strength
To be everything I'm called to be
Oh, Father, show me the way
To lead them
Won't You lead me?

To lead them with strong hands
To stand up when they can't
Don't want to leave them hungry for love,
Chasing things that I could give up

I'll show them I'm willing to fight
And give them the best of my life
So we can call this our home
Lead me, 'cause I can't do this alone

Father, lead me, 'cause I can't do this alone...

Good Golly...

Can you believe this?
Totally untouched, and it STILL does not do the color of my sunset justice!!

Thank you, God, for sunsets, for colors, eyes to see it, and my heart to rejoice!!

Have a Great Great GREAT day!!

Son-Day: "Shall We Gather At The River"

Shall We Gather At the River?
Words & Music: Robert Lowry

Shall we gather at the river,
Where bright angel feet have trod,
With its crystal tide forever
Flowing by the throne of God?

Yes, we’ll gather at the river,
The beautiful, the beautiful river;
Gather with the saints at the river
That flows by the throne of God.

On the margin of the river,
Washing up its silver spray,
We will talk and worship ever,
All the happy golden day.

Yes, we’ll gather at the river,
The beautiful, the beautiful river;
Gather with the saints at the river
That flows by the throne of God.

Ere we reach the shining river,
Lay we every burden down;
Grace our spirits will deliver,
And provide a robe and crown.

Yes, we’ll gather at the river,
The beautiful, the beautiful river;
Gather with the saints at the river
That flows by the throne of God.

At the smiling of the river,
Mirror of the Savior’s face,
Saints, whom death will never sever,
Lift their songs of saving grace.

Yes, we’ll gather at the river,
The beautiful, the beautiful river;
Gather with the saints at the river
That flows by the throne of God.

Soon we’ll reach the silver river,
Soon our pilgrimage will cease;
Soon our happy hearts will quiver
With the melody of peace.


Yes, we’ll gather at the river,
The beautiful, the beautiful river;
Gather with the saints at the river
That flows by the throne of God.

Blooming Tuesday: 05/11/10 Clematis

I'm so happy to share all these Clematis blooms!!!
First multi-blooms I have EVER have!!
I think I planted this two years ago, and not only am I happy its alive, but even more happy about the blooming!!
WooHoo!

Happy Blooming Tuesday :}

Son-Day: "Through Heaven's Eyes"

This song has really been on my mind lately, so much I had to dig out my vhs tape and watch the movie it came from, "The Prince of Egypt".
I'm so aware I can't see the whole picture, or my part in the 'plan', but my Heavenly Father can, and does, and is right by my side as I travel, just waiting for ME to turn to Him for guidance.
Thanks God!!
God bless...

Through Heaven's Eyes

A single thread in a tapestry-
Though its color brightly shine-
Can never see its purpose
In the pattern of the grand design.

And the stone that sits on the very top
Of the mountain's mighty face-
Does it think it's more important
Than the stones that form the base?

So how can you see what your life is worth
Or where your value lies?
You can never see through the eyes of man
You must look at your life,
Look at your life through heaven's eyes.
Lai-la-lai...

A lake of gold in the desert sand
Is less than a cool fresh spring-
And to one lost sheep, a shepherd boy
Is greater than the richest king.
If a man lose ev'rything he owns,
Has he truly lost his worth?
Or is it the beginning
Of a new and brighter birth?

So how do you measure the worth of a man-
In wealth or strength or size?
In how much he gained or how much he gave?
The answer will come,
The answer will come to him who tries
To look at his life through heaven's eyes.

And that's why we share all we have with you,
Though there's little to be found.
When all you've got is nothing,
There's a lot to go around.

No life can escape being blown about
By the winds of change and chance,

And though you never know all the steps,
You must learn to join the dance-
You must learn to join the dance.

Lai-la-lai...

So how do you judge what a man is worth?
By what he builds or buys?

You can never see with your eyes on earth-
Look through heaven's eyes.
Look at your life,
Look at your life,
Look at your life through heaven's eyes!

Stephen Schwartz's comments

Question (posted on his forum at stephenschwartz.com) ... Do you have any interesting memories or things you could share of either the process of writing the lyrics and/or music to Through Heaven's Eyes and/or the process of getting it recorded? And did you choose Brian Stokes Mitchell to play that role or did somebody else?

Answer: ... "Through Heaven's Eyes" is my favorite of the songs in PRINCE OF EGYPT. It was actually the fourth song I wrote for that spot in the movie! The first three were more comedic and were essentially plot-driven, encompassing Moses' time in Midian. The first was called "All in the Attitude" and was kind of a comic number about how poor they all were, and the next two, called "Don't be a Stranger" and "One of Us", were about welcoming Moses into the tribe. For a while, we were going to go with "One of Us", but as the picture developed, Jeffrey Katzenberg began to feel that we needed something more philosophical and thematic in that spot. As we all began to think about it, one of the directors, Steven Hickner, came in with a poem called "The Measure of a Man", and I based the lyric for the song on the philosophy in the poem. The casting of Stokes was partly at my suggestion, since I knew him a bit, but it was a group decision.

Some of the specific images (the "stone on the mountain-top", for instance) were certainly influenced by my trip to the Sinai desert in Egypt.

Crazy Lazy Daisy...

My Shasta Daisies are blooming...

(Shasta Daisy with Texas Betony)

Blooming like crazy, flopping and laying on everything, you could probably call these stringy,
Must be because of all the rain we have had.
These are in a pot, when I put them in the ground, I think I'll put them with a 'stiff stem' plant to give them some support.
Daisy says spring, so it must actually be here!!
(Really its ALMOST the dreaded summer for us:( )

Fertilizer Friday at Tootsie Time

Peggy Martin

Most roses, in our part of Texas, LOVE our cool spring and fall season.
They survive the hot, humid summers, and when fall starts cooling, they really show off.
Some bloom all through our cool, wet, winter.
My only roses are thorn-less,
'hopefully' fragrant,
and if they have any hopes of living, they are tough as nails.
Peggy Martin qualifies.
I found out about Peggy Martin, repeat cluster bloom, completely thorn-less, rambler and just HAD to have one.
(please read her interesting story below)
With all the rain we have had, this darling is really showing out...
Meet Peggy Martin Rose...


"Current Status of "Peggy Martin Rose" - Spring, 2008.

The "Peggy Martin Rose" was one of only two plants (the other crinum) surviving 20 feet of salt water over the garden of Mrs. Peggy Martin, Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, after the destruction of Hurricane Katrina in late August, 2005.

Since then, it has been introduced into commerce in the United States and has become a symbol among gardeners and rose lovers of a tenacious plant associated with a spirit of renewal and regrowth in the aftermath of a devastating blow of Nature against those living and gardening in the Gulf Coast area.

Dr. Bill Welch shared cuttings of this rose which he had taken from Peggy Martin's garden in 2003 and established at his country home near Burton, Texas with six growers who have made the rose available to rose lovers everywhere. The growers are:

Antique Rose Emporium
9300 Lueckmeyer Road
Brenham, TX 77833
800-441-0002
http://www.antiqueroseemporium.com

Chamblee’s Rose Nursery
10926 US Hwy 69 North
Tyler, TX 75706
800-256-ROSE
http://www.chambleeroses.com

Petals from the Past Nursery
16034 County Rd. 29
Jemison, AL 35085
205-646-0069
http://www.petalsfromthepast.com

King’s Nursery
Hwy 84 East,
Tenaha,Texas 75974
409-248-3811

Naconiche Nursery
12082 Hwy 59N
Nacogdoches, TX 75965
936-569-2247

Treesearch Farms
7625 Alabonson
Houston, TX 77088
713-937-9811
www.treesearchfarms.com
Fax 713-937-1224 Wholesale Only

These growers are generously donating $1 per plant to the Greater Houston Community Foundation, with the purpose of assisting in the task of garden restoration projects in New Orleans, Beaumont and other Gulf Coast locations. With its good looks and healthy vigor, the "Peggy Martin Rose" is well on its way to becoming a classic garden mainstay for those wanting a mannerly climber that is thornless, with abundant pink clusters of small flowers. After it has become established, it reblooms in the fall when the hot temperatures abate."

Taken from "Peggy Martin Rose"

Fertilizer Friday

Very Straw-berry

Soooooooo pretty!!
I'm loving watching these plants go from bloom to fruit right before my eyes.
My plants are fruiting very quick, probably because,
all though they were healthy adult plants,
were root bound and underfed in the old pot they were in.
Now they have room, good soil, and plenty of water.
Queen Uno suggested the strawberry tower for Blooming Tuesday today.
You will notice she takes it upon herself to personally to over see the growth of hubby's strawberries.
(I'm hoping to have some fresh ripe ones for when he comes home later this week.:)

~This message has been approved of by Queen Uno~

~Long Live The Queen!~

Happy Tuesday!!

Blooming Tuesday!!

Cats On Tuesday!!

Basset Luv

Our pretty red basset girl,
Reba Marie Waddlebottom,
has not been well.
Seems a cut on her tummy became infected causing fever and need for meds.
Who was the first to notice she wasn't well?

Her beau, Roscoe P. Coltrane.

{By the way, Reba is ALL better now, and back to her bossy self:}

Hound dog Thursday

22 years of Indian Paint Brushes

Every April 11th, for our wedding anniversary, my sweetie picks me my favorite wildflower.
One bloom for each year.
Hubby teased that he is working his way toward two dozen.
They don't last long in the vase, but they are SO pretty!!
Happy 22nd Anniversary sweet heart!!

Blooming Tuesday

Cuteness Runamuck: Chewy Monster

~Grandboy Jeremiah is SIX months old!!~

Son-Day: "Unclouded Day"

Unclouded Day

O they tell me of a home far beyond the skies
O they tell me of a home far away
O they tell me of a home where no storm clouds rise
O they tell me of an unclouded day.

O the land of cloudless day

O the land of an unclouded day

O they tell me of a home where no storm clouds rise

O they tell me of an unclouded day.

O they tell me of a home where my friends have gone
O they tell me of that land far away
Where the tree of life in eternal bloom
Sheds its fragrance through the unclouded day.

O the land of cloudless day

O the land of an unclouded day

O they tell me of a home where no storm clouds rise

O they tell me of an unclouded day.

O they tell me of a King in His beauty there
And they tell me that mine eyes shall behold
Where He sits on the throne that is whiter than snow
In the city that is made of gold.

O the land of cloudless day

O the land of an unclouded day

O they tell me of a home where no storm clouds rise

O they tell me of an unclouded day.

O they tell me that He smiles on His children there
And His smile drives their sorrows all away
And they tell me that no tears ever come again
In that lovely land of unclouded day.

O the land of cloudless day

O the land of an unclouded day

O they tell me of a home where no storm clouds rise

O they tell me of an unclouded day.

~God Bless~

Josiah K Allwood was born 7/15/1828, Harrison County, Ohio. He was a circuit riding preacher for the United Brethren in Christ. About 1890 Allwood is said to have been returning home on a clear moonlit night when he wrote the words and composed the melody to the song “O They Tell Me of a Home Far Beyond the Skies.” He died 1/13/1909, at Mo­ren­ci, Mi­chi­gan.

Fertilizer Friday: Spring Promise

Last Saturday, I had three of my grandbabies, and the two oldest kids I babysit.
Its warm enough now to plant flower seeds outside, but I really like my little loves seeing the miracle of growth.

First we "fluffed up" the peat pots (fun fun fun), then planted: four 'o clocks, sunflowers, different types of zinnias, marigolds, balsam, and 'bunny tails' or better know as bachelor buttons.

Less than a week some are already coming up.

(Rebecca, Kaylie, David, LauraJune)

I'm filling in the empty spots with these easy annuals. My five and four year old darlings I babysit remember doing this with me before. That's what its all about, seeing and remembering. We WILL do this every year.

Thank you God for the miracle of growth, and my eyes to see, and my little ones to share with!!

Fertilizer Friday

Peace Ambassador

Peace Ambassador BeBe,
who has a wonderful working relationship with the Princess Froggee,
has initiated peace talks between the felines and canine countries.

Tiring work for sure...

but well worth it...

Hound dog Thursday

Water Quality Control

Yesterday, as I took some Blooming Tuesday photos,
Queen Uno decided to point out the state of the pond...
(Queen Uno, ever the lady, drinks from her paw)

Although the water was clean,
it was getting a little low,
and the weeds surrounding the pond were getting a little tall,

After I tidied up last night, she and I surveyed the progress this morning.
We were both pleased to see the growth on the clematis this year (to the left).
Queen Uno thinks the angel could stand some touching up.
(I personally find her charming)
I agree with the Queen that the mirror behind the angel REALLY needs painting this year...


The button bush, and clematis on the right are doing well too
(I'm so excited, one vine is FULL of blooms, first time ever:)

So is the artemisa, thank goodness this pushy plant is in a pot.

The two water lilies look pretty happy too.
Queen Uno commented on the clear water,
but recommend some of the mossy stuff be removed.
Most of our pond stuff came from a local lake (the mossy, mucky stuff at the bottom) so our water tank/pond stays clear.

The bog pot is submersed half way in the water, so the soil is always wet.
The new addition of water cress is doing great.

All tidy, and ready to let loose!!

(notice my ONE bloom so far?)

Thanks to our resident Queen for the 'reminded' the pond needed attention.

~This message has been approved of by Queen Uno~

~Long Live The Queen!~

Cats on Tuesday

Blooming Tuesday

Son-Day: "Jesus Hold My Hand"

JESUS, HOLD MY HAND
by: Albert E. Brumley

As I travel through this pilgrim land there is a Friend who goes with me.
Leads me safely thro' the sinking sand, it is the Christ of Calvary.
This would be my pray'r, dear Lord, each day to help me do the best I can,
For I need Thy light to guide me day and night, Blessed Jesus, hold my hand.

Jesus, hold my hand, I need Thee ev'ry hour,
(Blessed Jesus, hold my hand) (Yes, I need Thee ev'ry hour)
Thru this pilgrim land Protect my by Thy pow'r.
(Thru this land, this pilgrim land ----By Thy saving pow'r.)
Hear my feeble plea, O Lord, look down on me.
(Hear my plea, my feeble plea, Lord, dear Lord, Look down on me)
When I kneel in pray'r I hope to meet you there,
(When I kneel in prayer)
Blessed Jesus, hold my hand.

Let me travel in the light divine that I may see the blessed way;
Keep me that I may be wholly Thine and sing redemption's song some day.
I will be a soldier brave and true and ever firmly take a stand,
As I onward go and daily meet the foe, Blessed Jesus, hold my hand.

Jesus, hold my hand, I need Thee ev'ry hour,
(Blessed Jesus, hold my hand) (Yes, I need Thee ev'ry hour)
Thru this pilgrim land Protect my by Thy pow'r.
(Thru this land, this pilgrim land ----By Thy saving pow'r.)
Hear my feeble plea, O Lord, look down on me.
(Hear my plea, my feeble plea, Lord, dear Lord, Look down on me)
When I kneel in pray'r I hope to meet you there,
(When I kneel in prayer)
Blessed Jesus, hold my hand.

When I wander thru the valley dim toward the setting of the sun,
Lead me safely to a land of rest if I a crown of life have won;
I have put my faith in Thee, dear Lord, that I may reach the golden strand,
There's no other Friend on whom I can depend, Blessed Jesus, hold my hand.

Jesus, hold my hand, I need Thee ev'ry hour,
(Blessed Jesus, hold my hand) (Yes, I need Thee ev'ry hour)
Thru this pilgrim land Protect my by Thy pow'r.
(Thru this land, this pilgrim land ----By Thy saving pow'r.)
Hear my feeble plea, O Lord, look down on me.
(Hear my plea, my feeble plea, Lord, dear Lord, Look down on me)
When I kneel in pray'r I hope to meet you there,
(When I kneel in prayer)
Blessed Jesus, hold my hand.

Blooming Tuesday: 04/06/2010

Today's beauty: Minnow daffs blooms in Shasta daisys, Dragonwing leaves in Obedient plant, Arugula blooms, Keria (?) blooms, and of course Bridal wreath spirea

Hope everyone is having a beautiful Blooming Tuesday!!

Minions...

Sometimes, just sometimes,
Minions must be reminded they are minions...

~All Hail Queen Uno~

~Long Live The Queen!!~

Cats On Tuesday

Son-Day: "As I Have Loved You"

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God;
and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
...If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
(1 John 4:7, 11-12)

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye ^alove one another; as I have loved you, that ye also ^blove one another.

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have ^alove one to another.

John 13: 34-35

~Happy Good Friday~

How to train your dragon...

BeBe, dragonslayer...err...trainer...


Hound dog Thursday

Cuteness Runamuck: I Shall Call Him Smoochy...

Smoochy Grandboy, Jeremiah, is 5 months old!!

Quality Control

I finally got around to buying our old basset an actual doggy bed.

Hubby (who is old basset, Mellow's best bud), has been pestering me to get him one for years.

I wanted sturdy, washable, dark colored, and (of course) cheap.

(Mellow is very camera shy, so pictures of him doing anything but sleeping or retreating, are rare)

I found the perfect dog bed, and as a surprise for hubby, left it on the table for him to see.

I came back through to see this, cats on the table.
My cats aren't allowed on the table.
Guess they thought I had finally wised up and given in.
Good news, the dog bed meets the requirements of the Good Queen Uno.
And, around here, that is all that matters.
(she is such a 'paws-on' ruler)

~This message has been approved of by Queen Uno~

~Long Live The Queen~

Cats On Tuesday

Where there is a will...

We went to the beach (20 hour drive) for a week, and on the way back, "just happened" to drive right by some plant nurseries.

(happy happy joy joy)

At the first nursery I bought a couple of beauties, both in 5 gal pots, which hubby made room for in the back of the truck by laying them on their sides.

Then I made a mega haul at the next nursery.
"Where will you put all that?" hubby (always) asks.
"Oh I'll find a spot."
Some road in a empty corner, some in an empty cooler, some in a bucket-under the black tent bag.

This Gerber Daisy (a freebie from the first nursery) rode up front,
these treasures in the bucket,
Hubby put the tent bag on top to protect them...

The Hawaii Hibiscus started out in the back, but due to the FREEZE warning in Austin (it NEVER freezes in Austin, TX), this baby was moved up front, to ride in the cab of the truck.

Luckily (for me) we had taken extra coolers, just in case they caught lots of fish, and after emptying out all the dirty clothes we had stuffed in the cooler...
It was filled with more treasures...

These hardy babies rode well in the corner for the 20 hour road trip home...

Finally home, everyone was unloaded fawned over...



I don't know what is more fun,
buying new plants,
finding a place for them at home,
or actually getting in the dirt.

I added a new begonia (dark maroon in the middle) to my kitchen window pot.

I bought a lot of different colored pothos, which I call arrowhead ivy, and added them to my kitchen table spider plant.
I also added in a purple leaved shamrock. I'm interested to see how these do together.



I added the Gerber Daisy to my tropical pot.
Can't wait for spring to really be here, and take this pot back outside and watch it go wild!!
Inside, I have to keep cutting the poor thing back.



Most of the other 'stuff' was just put in this pot with my Hawaii Hibiscus (which I cut all the way back).
Later I will spot light what is what in this pot.
Curious who will do well, and who will need to be moved here too.



Not sure what this is (not hardy, not a spirea), later it will go in my tropical pot.


My 'purple' blue bonnets smell yummy...

Beautiful and sweetly scented...
my hardy orchids (white and purple) are wonderful.

Uno was out this morning, overseeing the photo taking,
ever helpful, that's my old girl.
Have a Lovely Blooming Tuesday!!!!