Tuesday, September 29, 2009

BT&OW: 09/30/09

~Sea Oats~

~Reliable, easy, and abundant~



Have a wonderful Bloomin' Tuesday!
Join MsGreen "thumb" Jean for Bloomin' Tuesday! Come join in or see others!

Also Outdoor Wednesday at A Southern Day Dreamer's

Monday, September 28, 2009

Cuteness Runamuck: Kitty Cheezing


Say Cheeze Kitty-Cat!!
Grandgirl LauraJune is a kitty squeezer,
like her mother,
and her mother,
and her mother.
Its tradition, poor kitty cats:)

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Son-Day: "Be Still My Soul"



Be Still My Soul Hymn

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change, He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake
To guide the future, as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
His voice Who ruled them while He dwelt below.

Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart,
And all is darkened in the vale of tears,
Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,
Who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears.
Be still, my soul: thy Jesus can repay
From His own fullness all He takes away.

Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord.
When disappointment, grief and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past
All safe and blessèd we shall meet at last.

Be still, my soul: begin the song of praise
On earth, be leaving, to Thy Lord on high;
Acknowledge Him in all thy words and ways,
So shall He view thee with a well pleased eye.
Be still, my soul: the Sun of life divine
Through passing clouds shall but more brightly shine.

~God Bless~

Saturday, September 26, 2009

"Memory"



Midnight
Not a sound from the pavement
Has the moon lost her memory
She is smiling alone
In the lamplight the withered leaves collect at my feet
And the wind begins to moan
Memory
All alone in the moonlight
I can smile at the old days
It was beautiful then
I remember the time I knew what happiness was
Let the memory live again
Daylight
I must wait for the sunrise
I must think of a new life
And I mustn't give in
When the dawn comes tonight will be a memory too
And the new day will begin
Burnt out ends of smokey days
The stale cold smell of morning
The streetlamp dies
Another night is over
Another day is dawning
Touch me
It's so easy to leave me
All alone with the memory
Of my day in the sun
If you touch me you'll understand what happiness is
Look a new day has begun
Memory
All alone in the moonlight
I can smile at the old days
It was beautiful then
I remember the time I knew what happiness was
Let the memory live again

~Just Because I Feel Like It Today~

Friday, September 25, 2009

Sharry Baby (Orchid) Is A Bloomin'!!

I bought my Sharry Baby Orchid with one spike.
Since then it has put another spike out under my care (insert big smile here).
Now she be a bloomin'!!

This orchid blooms on the 'spikes'.
This orchid, also is a beginner orchid (although I have managed to kill one before).
I said 'no more' but caved and ordered this beauty off of Ebay.
I moved her from the bathroom, where she gets perfect light, to the living room so I can admire her.
We will see how the lighting in the living room works.
I switched her from a bark potting mix, which I never can tell if I'm watering enough, or too much, to clay pellets.
Its called Semi-Hydro.
She was root bound (see below left), but because I didn't want to shock the plant and mess up the upcoming blooms, I just stuffed it all in the new pot as is.
After the blooms are done, I'll take her out, loosen up those tightly wound roots, remove ALL of the left over bark, and repot in my clay pellets.



She really seems to be doing great!!
Fat 'bulbs' are desired, and let you know if your orchid is getting enough water.
My Sharry has some lovely fat blubs:)
She has also put on some new growth since I got her (insert another BIG smile here).


First bloom of my Onc. Sharry Baby 'Sweet Fragrance'
Its about the size of a nickel, and hopefully the first of many along the spike!!
(I'm working on figuring out when is the best time to photograph it:)

W-O-N-D-E-R-F-U-L!!!



Have a great weekend!!!!
Show and Tell

Thursday, September 24, 2009

"Two Of A Kind"



Two of a Kind Working On a Full House
Garth Brooks

Yes, she's my lady luck
Hey, I'm her wild card man
Together we're building up
A real hot hand
We live out in the country

Hey, she's my little queen of the South

Yeah, we're two of a kind
Working on a full house

She wakes me every morning
With a smile and a kiss
Her strong country loving
Is hard to resist
She's my easy loving woman
I'm her hard working man, no doubt

Yeah, we're two of a kind
Working on a full house

Yeah, a pickup truck is her limousine
And her favorite dress is her faded blue jeans
She loves me tender when the going gets tough
Somtimes we fight just so we can make up

Lord, I need that little woman
Like the crops need the rain
She's my honeycomb
And I'm her sugar cane
We really fit together
If you know what I'm talking about

Yeah, we're two of a kind
Working on a full house

This time I found a keeper
I made up my mind
Lord, the perfect combination
Is her heart and mine

The sky's the limit
No hill is too steep
We're playing for fun
But we're playing for keeps

So draw the curtain, honey
Turn the lights down low
We'll find some country music on the radio
I'm yours and you're mine
Hey, that's what it's all about

Yeah, we're two of a kind
Working on a full house

Lordy, mama
We'll be two of a kind
Working on a full house

Kiss Pictures, Images and Photos
Love ya Hubby-Dear:)

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Happy Birthday Mike!!!


Mike is currently 'visiting' England with his Army National Guard Medic Group!!!

Have fun my Autumn baby:)

Happy 21st Birthday Michael!!!

Love ya BIG BUNCHES!!!

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Bloomin Tuesday: 09/22/09

First Bloomin Tuesday and Outdoor Wednesday of Autumn. I'm not ready for the growing season to be coming to and end. BUT I am very ready for cooler weather.

Last week I posted that I was VERY surprised to see this Lantana not blooming lavender... (honestly messing with my mind)
Well, imagine my pleased surprise when I saw this growing UNDER the other Lantana!!
Yep, Lavender Lantana, NEXT to the not Lavender one:)...

I went plant shopping last week:
Here is what I bought, all tucked in the flowerbed:
Hamelin Dwarf Fountain Grass and Maiden Grass...

Found the name of this one.
Sky Flower (Sedum Autumn Joy in background)
Bought two of these. At .82 cents I couldn't refuse.
They will give some needed height.

I treated myself to this beauty: Pink Cone Flower
Pink Cone Flower...(with White & Red Rose of Sharon)

New stuff, Lime Green Bluebeard, Serena Angelonia, Sky Flower, Pink Cone Flower...


Bluebeard, close up...

I think this will really jazz up this bald spot...

Straight on...


Close up of Sky Flower, Texas Betony (red), Crinum, Day lily, and Senrena Angelonia


I caved and bought Mums, two yellow, and one maroon.
Also Goodwill had these black pots.


Found an old yellow pot, and now I'm ready for Fall:)

Happy Bloomin Tuesday AND Outdoor Wednesday:)

Have a lovely week:)
Sky Flower info:
Scientific name: Duranta repens
Pronunciation: doo-RAN-tuh REE-penz
Common name(s): Golden Dewdrop, Sky-Flower,
Pigeonberry
Family: Verbenaceae
Plant type: shrub
USDA hardiness zones: 9B through 11 (Fig. 1)
Origin: native to Florida
Uses: border; mass planting; specimen; container or aboveground
planter; naturalizing; screen; reclamation plant; espalier;
foundation; attracts butterflies; cascading down a wall


Have a wonderful Bloomin' Tuesday!
Join MsGreen "thumb" Jean for Bloomin' Tuesday! Come join in or see others!

Also Outdoor Wednesday at A Southern Day Dreamer's

Monday, September 21, 2009

New Fall Fashions

I just saw on TV that chartreuse is the 'new accent' color this fall....

I agree:)

The new plant is: Summer Sorbet Bluebeard, Caryopteris x clandonensis 'Summer Sorbet' PP15935;

You know you are society when you have a patent number after you name:)

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Son-Day: "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms"



Leaning On The Everlasting Arms

What a fellowship, what a joy divine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.


O how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
O how bright the path grows from day to day,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.


What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.


Words: Eli­sha A. Hoff­man, in The Glad Evan­gel for Re­viv­al, Camp, and Evan­gel­is­tic Meet­ings (Dal­ton, Georg­ia: A. J. Sho­wal­ter & Com­pa­ny, 1887).

Music: An­tho­ny J. Sho­wal­ter (MI­DI, score). Sho­wal­ter wrote this tune and words to the re­frain after hear­ing from two friends whose wives had died, and asked Hoff­man to write the re­main­ing lyr­ics.

This song was sung in the 1943 mo­vie The Hu­man Com­e­dy, star­ring Mick­ey Roo­ney, which was nom­in­ated for Acad­e­my Awards in five ca­te­gor­ies, in­clud­ing Best Pic­ture and Best Ac­tor. Will­iam Sa­roy­an won Best Orig­in­al Sto­ry for the film.

Friday, September 18, 2009

Show & Tell: Loving Mike McGrath

Once, many years ago, I started treating myself to an gardening magazine when I went to the grocery store.
Money was tight then, and this was a big treat:) Texas Gardener, Mother Earth News, Southern Living and Organic Gardening we my favorites.

The editor of Organic Gardening was Mike McGrath, and I lived for his real life comments and articles.
He was TOO funny and so real!!!

Then they changed editors.
Still a great mag, but not as cool, for sure.

In one of Mike McGrath's articles, he mentioned harvesting alley trees to burn as firewood in his home.
I was wowed!! What trees were these?
He mentioned a book, with Robert Rodale, and himself, about a plan to stop world famine.
I was so interested I cut out the article so I could look for the book in 1/2 price book stores.
Then I lost it.
Had the stacks magazines, but no article because I had removed it.
On my own I checked bookstores for every Rodale Press book looking for this one.
No luck.


MANY years pass, and I have this great idea to google McGrath.
Found him!!
He has a radio show up north where he lives. (which I can't get)
I emailed him.
He not only emailed me right back, but knew exactly what trees, AND the title of the book:) From there I went to Amazon.com and found one for $4.00 total, including shipping and handling.
Robert Rodale didn't want it published under his publishing company, which is why I couldn't ever find it.
I received it Wednesday, and can't wait to just lay in bed and read it cover to cover!!!
What an easy, real, logical read!!
Thank you Mike! You.da.man!!!
The tree? Locust, the book? "To Save Three Lives" Robert Rodale.
(I'm going to review it on here later)




And since I was shopping, I bought:
Love and Logic Magic for Early Childhood (Fay & Fay): I have read this before and I love it, I highly recommend it for anyone looking for a realistic, easy, fun way to parent. I will be giving these to my now grown children as they have kids of their own.
Now Let Us Praise Great Men (Agee & Evans): Deep, this one will take some quiet time to read.
The Work And Glory Vol 1 (Lund): I have this whole set, but needed to replace vol 1. If you want to read a great Historical Fiction about the early Mormons, this is the best series out there. I'm feeling the need to re-read it!! Lund has a new book out that is on my want list:)
A Course In Miracles: This is the coolest thing!! All about God, Jesus, and living positively what you know and love!! Year long study, and I am loving it:)
Generous Women (Hamner): Easy fun read
Inside the Secret Garden (Collins & Eriksson): This is so cool! I would be great for mom's with girls who love the Secret Garden. Info, crafts, and recipes inside.


I love to read, and see some nice quiet time in my future:)


Have a great weekend!!!!
Show and Tell

Thursday, September 17, 2009

TT: A Lovely Day...

I have really loved this rain we have received. I measure about 7 inches since Saturday. No wind, no lightening, no tornado warning. Just rain. Some got too much, but for my yard, it was perfect.

I had yesterday off, and hoped to get outside and work in the yard. BUT the rain didn't let up. So I played inside. This morning the rain did stop. Oh, how I love to work under an overcast sky:)

My favorite thing to do during this type of weather is tidy up, and weed. Plants pull out so easy in the wet soil. I let this bed go 'wild' with wild Jew. I'm going to plant fall garden plants soon, so this morning was perfect!!

Man o man what a pile to take to the compost! (there is another pile at the other end). I love this wild Jew. It grows thick enough to detour weeds, blooms blue, and pulls up so easy. It also re-seeds. Totally carefree. The leaves do get ratty looking in late summer.
This is the wild Jew's bloom. One little boy I know called it Blue Bat Faces, I agree. (sorry I can't get a clear close-up) I have also seen it called Day Flower. I have two types, a low mat forming type that holds its leaves better. And a mounding wide leaf type with bigger blooms. Both are wonderful.


Ta-Da! All ready to fluff up and plant!!! That will happen on a drier day. I think I'll spend the rest of the day tidying the yard. No end to that for sure:) That is if it doesn't start raining again:)
Too wet to mow:)
Too wet to plant the new stuff I got yesterday:(.
But a lovely day none the less:)
I am SO thankful for the rain!! And the dirt. And the plant life. I feel the earth's energy and it revives me!! I am feeling good. I can't help but see where it comes from and who to thank for it!! I hope all are having a wonderful Thankful Thursday also.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

BT&OW: 09/15/09

We have had rain, glorious rain!!
Amazing how things come to life after a good rain.
My front deck plants are happy, happy, happy!!!

Pride of Barbados is fixing to bloom:)

My tropical Jasmine was full of buds, but the rain knocked them all off.
These are just pretty, and not smelly:(


My Maple Sugar Hibiscus turns a redder color in the cooler weather.
It got so tall, I moved it to the back of my plant line up.

Can anyone tell me what this is?
It showed up in this pot last year, so it is perennial...

in cooler weather older leaves have a purple tinge...


It will bloom tiny white blooms soon, I would love more info if anyone knows...

Man O Man I love my pond area!!

Cardinal's Flower Lobelia cardinalis
This is my first bloom this year.
I dug this one up from a local swampy area.

Sooooo pretty!
All my swampy plants are in a pot submersed in my pond.
I think the proper term is 'bog plants'.

Found this little guy by following the chirping,
but I wasn't him making the noise,
hmmm,
wonder who else is hiding out over in the potting area?


I planted 3 types of gourds in this pot, looks like only one lived.
Will it be birdhouse, egg, or dipper gourd?
Only time will tell (if it doesn't run out of good weather first:)

In my pond are lovely lilies.
I have two kinds, both plant swaps.
Neither have either bloomed in the year I have had them,
but they look very healthy!


This one's new leaves are bronze...

My Green and Gold Artemisia has gone crazy...it over hangs everywhere...


And under it is the other water lily...


Lovely spider appreciating the pond fishing...





This little tropical vine comes back every year, very late, and very small, but very welcome...


One Clematis bloom...

Looking back at the front deck.
This is only a one year old flower bed.
My front beds look great (back yard? not so great).
I so recommend lasagna gardening...

Tansy bloomed for me again this year:)
Woohoo!!


Sorrel, Day lily, and Powers Castle Artemisia-so lush!!


Thanks to the bug that ate all the leaves on my Pokeberry weed,
the berries really stand out now.
Loving this purple!!

See my pretty creeping Lavender Lantana??
Pretty huh?
BUT NOT lavender!!
I swear it was lavender when I bought it!
Oh well, this will do:)


Strawberry Grass, that came back from the almost dead,

I love when that happens:)
Welcome back baby!!
I am going to have to move this Taro (running Elephant Ear),
it is taking over.
Maybe I can plant an actual Elephant Ear bulb and get this look...hmmmm....

Milk and Wine Crinum Lily blooming again...love this toughy!!

I have really enjoyed this rain with no wind or lightening accompanying it. However we are maxed out, and in danger of flooding in many areas. So, its free to move on to more needy areas:)
Have a lovely week:)


Have a wonderful Bloomin' Tuesday!
Join MsGreen "thumb" Jean for Bloomin' Tuesday! Come join in or see others!

Also Outdoor Wednesday at A Southern Day Dreamer's