Vote For Happy Cow: Soo

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Pick Soo, She's got Soul!

WW: Bubble Machine

GS David the Hambone

Join Dixie at the French Lique, Texas for Wordless Wednesday for more:)

Bloomin' Tuesday: 04/28/09

Rainy week in our forecast, really great for my plants who were starting to wonder if they would ever get water again:)

Rat-tail Radish (more on this later), in bloom and forming seed pods

White Lil Henry Garnet Sweetspire(Itea virginica X 'Sweetspire') starting to bloom,
pink Chinese False Indigo starting to bloom in back;
also in this grouping, obedient plant (right), loosestrife (left), and see the little peek of purple on the left?

It is Red Dragon Fleece Flower (Persicaria microcephala), and I'm so thankful it came back this year.

Isn't it wonderful?? (my fleece flower and loosestrife are not the invasive type)

Amaryllis in bloom:)


Bright White Geranium (from the clearance rack at Lowe's last week)

All new combo, filling in, these are supposed to bloom til frost:)

Little daylily and creeping sedum window box, the sedum blooms yellow and drapes beautifully

Little Daylily buds:)

Beautiful onions from my recent thinning (the other Texas Super Sweets are getting really big)
Growing, harvesting, and using these onions is part of my goal to 'actually' eat what I grow:).

WooHoo!!

Happy Bloomin' Tuesday!
I'm joining MsGreen "thumb" Jean for Bloomin' Tuesday! Come join in or see others!

Lunar Fringe...

I am an official Lunar (not to be confused with a Luna-tic) Gardener.

On Mondays I will post what I learned, or did (or both-lol ).

Soooooo, this week, just what is Lunar or Moon gardening?

"According to a National Geographic news article more gardeners today are turning to the moon for sage advice on the best time to plant, prune, weed, and harvest. The practice, known as moon or lunar gardening, centers on the moon's gravitational effect on the flow of moisture in soil and plants.

Gardening by the moon is as old as time. Long before man (and women!) ever had a watch on his wrist or a calendar on the refrigerator, everything was governed by the phases of the moon." Says Marion Owen of Planting by the Phases of the Moon.

Simply, the 'phase' of the moon, determines the best time for certain activities.

Normally, if something requires serious mind-stretching (intense learning), I avoid it.

I have always wanted to learn how to do this, so that I could do it on my own with out relying on someone else.

SO, this year, I'm learning (this and the book of Isaiah).

This is big stuff for me.

I am also following Grammy (the EmptyNester) at It's Green Day as she chronicles her 'adventures' planting by the moon, as well as other planting adventures.

As I learn I will follow the below chart taken from Farmer's Almanac website:

{I noticed Blogger cut off the 'by the moon phase' of the chart-follow the link to see your own, for your own area}

Outdoor Planting Table for 2009

My location is in Region 4 on the map.

This outdoor planting table shows 1) Planting Dates that reflect safe periods for planting in areas that receive frost and 2) Moon-Favorable periods. For above-ground crops, plant during the light of the Moon (new to full Moon); for below-ground crops, plant during the dark of the Moon (from the day after it's full to the day before it's new again). See our Moon Phase Calendar for these times in your area.

Take note: This is a broad-based system that divides the United States and southern Canada into four gardening regions. Your location in a region, topographic features, and frost dates (for the United States and Canada) should be considered to determine the most reliable plantings dates.

In this chart, crops designated as "plants" refer to vegetables that are usually transplanted and not started from seed. The other crops are better off started as seeds.

NOTE: Above-Ground Crops Marked * -- (E) Means Early -- (L) Means Late

	Plant	Time	Planting Dates	Moon Favorable
*	Barley		Feb 15-Mar 7	Feb 24-Mar 7
*	Beans	(E)	Mar 15-Apr 7	Mar 26-Apr 7
		(L)	Aug 7-31	Aug 20-31
	Beets	(E)	Feb 7-28	Feb 10-23
		(L)	Sep 1-30	Sep 5-17
*	Broccoli plants	(E)	Feb 15-Mar 15	Feb 24-Mar 10
		(L)	Sep 7-30	Sep 18-30
*	Brussel sprouts		Feb 11-Mar 20	Feb 24-Mar 10
*	Cabbage plants		Feb 11-Mar 20	Feb 24-Mar 10
	Carrots	(E)	Feb 15-Mar 7	Feb 15-23
		(L)	Aug 1-Sep 7	Aug 6-19, Sep 5-7
*	Cauliflower plants	(E)	Feb 15-Mar 7	Feb 24-Mar 7
		(L)	Aug 7-31	Aug 20-31
*	Celery plants	(E)	Feb 15-28	Feb 24-28
		(L)	Sep 15-30	Sep 18-30
*	Collards	(E)	Feb 11-Mar 20	Feb 24-Mar 10
		(L)	Sep 7-30	Sep 18-30
*	Corn, sweet	(E)	Mar 15-31	Mar 26-31
		(L)	Aug 7-31	Aug 20-31
*	Cucumbers		Mar 7-Apr 15	Mar 7-10, Mar 26-Apr 9
*	Eggplant plants		Mar 7-Apr 15	Mar 7-10, Mar 26-Apr 9
*	Endive	(E)	Feb 15-Mar 20	Feb 24-Mar 10
		(L)	Aug 15-Sep 7	Aug 20-Sep 4
*	Kale	(E)	Feb 11-Mar 20	Feb 24-Mar 10
		(L)	Sep 7-30	Sep 18-30
	Leeks		Feb 15-Apr 15	Feb 15-23, Mar 11-25, Apr 10-15
*	Lettuce		Feb 15-Mar 7	Feb 24-Mar 7
*	Muskmelons		Mar 15-Apr 7	Mar 26-Apr 7
*	Okra		Apr 15-Jun 1	Apr 24-May 8, May 24-Jun 1
	Onion sets		Feb 1-28	Feb 10-23
*	Parsley		Feb 20-Mar 15	Feb 24-Mar 10
	Parnsips		Jan 15-Feb 4	Jan 15-25
*	Peas	(E)	Jan 15-Feb 7	Jan 26-Feb 7
		(L)	Sep 15-30	Sep 18-30
*	Pepper plants		Mar 1-20	Mar 1-10
	Potatoes		Feb 10-28	Feb 10-23
*	Pumpkins		Mar 7-20	Mar 7-10
	Radishes	(E)	Jan 21-Mar 1	Jan 21-25, Feb 10-23
		(L)	Oct 1-21	Oct 5-17
*	Spinach	(E)	Feb 7-Mar 15	Feb 7-9, Feb 24-Mar 10
		(L)	Oct 1-21	Oct 1-4, Oct 18-21
*	Squashes		Mar 15-Apr 15	Mar 26-Apr 9
	Sweet potatoes		Mar 23-Apr 6	Mar 23-25
*	Swiss chard		Feb 7-Mar 15	Feb 7-9, Feb 24-Mar 10
*	Tomato plants		Mar 7-20	Mar 7-10
	Turnips	(E)	Jan 20-Feb 15	Jan 20-25, Feb 10-15
		(L)	Sep 1-Oct 15	Sep 5-17, Oct 5-15
*	Watermelons		Mar 15-Apr 7	Mar 26-Apr 7
*	Wheat, spring		Feb 15-28	Feb 24-28
*	Wheat, winter		Oct 15-Dec 7	Oct 18-Nov 2, Nov 16-Dec 2

11th Heavens Homemaking Haven for Home Maker Monday
As for Me and My House for Making A Happy Home Monday

Son-Day: "Believe"

Mainstay - Believe

I don't know if I still have the strength
to get up again
I don't know if I can face my own reflection
Jesus, take this heart that feels
so cold again,
and make it new
I hold this hope inside
that you'll never leave me
When all around me starts to fall,
and when my faith it seems so small
Even in my darkest hour,
I will believe
I don't know how I could turn my back and walk away
All I really want is for your love to hold me
Jesus, take this heart and make it whole again
I know you'll never leave me
When all around me starts to fall,
and when my faith it seems so small
Even in my darkest hour,
I will believe
Even if the sun begins to fall,
Even when I feel nothing at all
Even if I'm all alone, I will believe
I believe
I believe
I believe
When all around me starts to fall,
and when my faith it seems so small
Even in my darkest hour,
I will believe


AMEN....

Son-Day: "In My Arms"

Thankful Thursday

....Provision...


In My Arms ~ Plumb

(I find this song very haunting...)

your baby blues
so full of wonder
your curly cues
your contagious smile
and as i watch
you start to grow up
all I can do is hold you tight

knowing
clouds will rage up
storms will race in
but you will be safe
in my arms
rains will pour down
waves will crash around
but you will be safe
in my arms

story books are full of fairy tales
of kings and queens and the bluest skies
my heart is torn
just in knowing
you'll someday see
the truth from lies

when the
clouds will rage and
storms will race in
but you will be safe
in my arms

rains will pour down
waves will crash around
but you will be safe
in my arms

castles they might crumble
dreams may not come true
but you are never all alone
because I will always
always love you

when the
clouds will rage up
storms will race in
but you will be safe
in my arms

rains will pour down
waves will crash around
but you will be safe
in my arms

in my arms...

Christ said:
"I will not leave you comfortless:
I will come to you."
John 14:11 KJV




My goal this year is to soak it up, to bloom where I am planted, and enjoy the ride...
Counting my many blessings naming them one by one...
Join Spiritually Unequal Marriage, or Women Taking A Stand to join in or see more.

Camera Critters: Mellow & The Backscratch Boogie

Check out Camera Critters to join in or see others:)

AND
Join Dixie at the French Lique, Texas for Wordless Wednesday for more:)

Bloomin' Tuesday: 04/21/09

Angel Wing Begonia bloom-loving this draping action...



21 Indian Paintbrushes-almost gone
(my sweetheart gives me Indian Paintbrushes for our anniversary, one for every year-I will be shaking the seeds in the yard in hopes of starting my own stand of my favorite flower),
new little bottle for little weed flower bouquets-today full of dandelions,
and a newbie...





I took the Jack-N-Beanstalk vine out of the peek-a-boo pot,
it will go outside this week...



And put my new orchid in to enjoy in the kitchen window ...



Den. Orchid NOID, fragrant, I will call her "21" (for our 21st Anniversary)
Loving the light green and purple blooms:)


Out my front door:
orange pot-new combo,
black pot-tropical pot (cut WAY back),
orange urn-Maple Sugar Hibiscus,
gray pot-see the purple iris?!?!?!, white pot-mint and snaps...


All new babies:)
On the left fancy Zonal geraniums...



New combo:
Sunbini-Sanvitalia, creeping zinnia, yellow blooms, green foliage, full sun, 6-10", not hardy, full sun;
Purple Clover-Oxalis vulcanicola, yellow blooms, 6-10", full sun, not hardy


I decided the asparagus ferns needed some jazzing up this year (on the steps), so I added geraniums, hopefully three different colors
(all my geraniums were found on clearance at Lowe's:)


Oxalis in bloom-love my purple clover:)


Ebb Tide Rose-very different bloom from last year, but I noticed my purple roses (which are repeats) have different shades depending on the coolness of the weather.
BUT Ebb Tide here looks just like my Midnight Blue rose. hmmmmmm...


This boat is currently full of 3 Midnight Blue Roses, a Wine Cup Rose, and onions.
Up front that messy onion is a walking onion in the process of making baby onions from its bloom. The bloom turns into baby onions, gets heavy, falls over, and roots, 'thus walking onion'. All the rest are big sweet onions (which are doing GREAT!!). I will be adding rose moss later. Don't these purple rose blooms look like that Ebb Tide???


Wednesday-is my planned yard work day-I can hardly wait!
Happy Bloomin' Tuesday!
I'm joining MsGreen "thumb" Jean for Bloomin' Tuesday! Come join in or see others!

Vote For Happy Cow: Jenn

I know this mother:)

Son-Day: "We Believe"

...And We Live What We Believe...

1. We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
2. We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression.
3. We believe that through the atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
4. We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
5. We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.
6. We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.
7. We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.
8. We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
9. We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
10. We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.
11. We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.
12. We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
13. We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul--We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.

The Articles of Faith
The Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Camera Critters: "Bad To Da Bone(s)"

!CHOUMP!

Check out Camera Critters to join in or see others:)

Happy Birthday Aaron!!!

Aaron's birthday was last Friday, April 09, 1985!

I met my step-son Aaron right at his third birthday 21 years ago.
From the get go I was amazed at his outlook and determination.
In middle school Aaron decided what track he wanted to be on, and has, in true Aaron attitude, followed it gun ho!
Go, Aaron, conquer the world!

Happy 24th Aaron!!!

Love ya man!

Bloomin' Tuesday: 04/14/08

I'm excited about this one, it is a 'rat tail radish'.
Supposedly the seed pods taste like radishes.
If so, I think you would get more 'fruit' because you don't have to pull up the plant and eat the roots.
We will see:)

Fireworks Clematis, early bloom, part sun

Pretty huh?
I really thought this was a Nelly Moser(?),
but the tag says different:)



No tag Clematis, early bloom...


Same plant, newer bloom...


Shasta! First bloom this spring on an old plant...

Pretty red dianthus

Yellow Blooming Weed: Golden Ragwort/Senecio aureus
See my red petunias? :)

Midnight Blue Rose!
First rose bloom of 2009!
I love how healthy rose bushes look in spring before the heat of summer gets them.

Angel Wing Begonia in bloom
(with the coolest flowers)

(blurry-sorry)
Grandma Matney rose is starting to bloom!
This was brought from cuttings from Grandma Matney's homeplace in Kansas!!
We are so proud:)

~Cyclamen~

Healthy...

Trying...

Surviving...

Compost:)

Happy Bloomin' Tuesday!
I'm joining MsGreen "thumb" Jean for Bloomin' Tuesday! Come join in or see others!