Red Petunias!

These red petunias have really flourished since I planted them in this blue pot. They've grown so quickly! Always remember to pinch off the spent blooms because that encourages new blooms to pop up!

Sunflowers Growing!

These sunflowers are going to be giant!! They are the "mammoth" sunflowers and the blooms will be about 1 foot across! They are going to be awesome! I've got a row of about 16 growing!

Hostas

I am a big hosta fan! They are bulbs and that is my favorite kind of gardening! Because you plant them once and they come back every year! Hostas grow great in really shady areas and last from spring until fall. They can take a little bit of morning sunlight only. They are grown for their beautiful leaves. They do have blooms during summer, but they are not that spectacular so I choose to clip them off and let the nutrients go to leaves instead. Afterall, I love them for their leaves! I purchased all of my hostas last year in 3 gallon buckets pretty much already grown. I planted them in some shady spots. This spring when they came up... where I planted 1 plant, 5 to 7 shoots came up in it's place!! I'm sure, as with most bulbs, after a couple years I will need to dig them up and divide them. But it's worth it because it's like getting FREE plants!!

Here a few of my hostas... excuse the powdery 7-dust on the leaves but if I don't keep them dusted something will have a buffet on them at night.

This first one is called "Paul's Glory" (I think!)


This beauty is called "Sum & Substance" This is one of the giant hosta varieties. These leaves can reach a foot across!! I can't wait!!


I don't know the name of this one.. anyone have an idea? Faye?? =)

This one is called "Francie" (again, I think)

New Turtle log

David put this big cedar log in the pond kinda close to the deck so we could get a better look at them! This isn't the best photo, but it was just a quick shot. They hopped on it the first day it was out there!

New Blooms!

A few new blooms in the garden! This is my crimson mandevilla!

My Herbs! 2 Cilantros, a basil, thyme and rosemary! Cilantro is my most favorite herb in the world, I love to cook with it or eat it plain!

Beautiful pink cala!

Quilling

I just discovered this new craft called Quilling. You roll up skinny pieces of paper into rolls and scrolls and pinch them and shape them. Mine look very elementary but it is fun! These were my first trys. They are mini little creatures, I put a penny to show the scale of size. I might try something on a larger scale.

Lizards

Just another day in the garden!

Haircuts!

The girls spent the day at the beauty parlor and got their summer haircuts! They also got new dresses from Granny! Francie's dress says "Little Miss Attitude!"

Emma's dress says "Little Bit Country!" She is such a Daddy's girl! She and David are so tight.

Garden Shed Yard

What a beautiful day! Things are warming up quickly! I picked up these 2 chairs from the Plunderosa! Laura and I took Granny to town and had lunch and did a little shopping. I got these for $9.50 each. David tighten them up a bit and I plan to refinish them and paint something pretty on them!

Daylilies in bloom!

This was the first daylily to bloom this season! Of course when I bought these bulbs I didn't realize they where the asiatic daylilies. I was wanting the traditional variety. Anyway, I'm delighted with how beautiful these are! I can't wait to see the other colors!

Inside my Garden Shed

Here are a few shots of the inside of my garden shed. It is still a work in progress. The windows and doors all came from a trash pile on the side of the road! Of course David saw them as instant treasure!

Butterfly House

I bought a butterfly house "kit" from Hobby Lobby and put it together myself! (it wasn't difficult!). Then I painted it on all sides! The lid is attached by a single nail, you can swivel it around and put a banana peel inside! This is suppose to attrach butterflys!

Man's Territory!

I made this sign for David's tool shed. Everytime I go out there he says "be careful this is 'man's territory' it's a non-democracy!" So, I thought I would make a cool sign for him to hang on the wall in there!

I used 4 sticks and drilled them in the corners, then wrapped the jute line around the corners. I then took a real (not faux) chamois and used a wood burning tool to burn in the letters and along the edges. I then took an exacto knife and cut a few holes to thread the leather string around all the edges. Pulled it tight then tied it off. He loved it!! =)

Happy Easter!

Red Bird rescue

Another little birdie hit my window today. It happens too often. Does anyone have any suggestions for this problem? I sat with this pretty cardinal until he felt better. Unfortunately, sometimes they aren't so lucky.

Pretty Emma!

As we sat in my Garden Emma jumped up on Laura's lap and I thought she looked so pretty and soft with her hair getting long. The girls are about to get their hair cut short for summer. I love her pink tongue! Emma is a sweet and loving child.

Pink Dahlia

Beauty!

Indigo Bunting rescue

Laura and I were upstairs looking out the big windows and I saw the brightest bluest bird on the feeder. At first I thought it was a mountain bluebird. It turns out I was able to get a closer look and was able to determin that it was infact an Indigo Bunting. As it left the feeder it flew right in our direction and hit the window. We both screamed and I grabbed my little camera and headed outside. I was able to snap a few pics before I sat it on a branch at the edge of the woods. We watched it for a while and then flew away! =) I hope he stays around for the summer! We later saw it back at my feeder next to a bright red cardinal and a beautiful yellow American Goldfinch!! What a sight to see those bright colors all sharing a meal at my feeder!! I used to have a Painted Bunting that hung around my old house in Florida, now that is a colorful bird!

Cornmeal Blini Bites

Granny & Priscilla came over for lunch today! I had a surprise here for Granny ... Laura!! She came in town 2 days early and stayed with David and I. We finally got one of our guest rooms ready! (I'll take pics soon!) These cornmeal blini bites were a hit! And so easy! Everyone loved these delightful surprises!

1 8.5oz box corn muffin mix
1/2 cup milk
1 large egg, beaten
Olive Oil for shallow frying
Cream cheese (or another cheese you like)
seedless grapes, halved
Honey, for drizzling

1. Whisk the muffin mix, milk and egg together until smooth.

2. Heat a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add 1/4 inch of oil to the pan and heat until shimmery. Working in batches, drop teaspoons of batter into the oil to make small pancakes, about 1 1/2 inches wide. Cook until bubbles appear on the tops and the bottoms are golden, 1 to 2 minutes. Flip and finish cooking, about 1 more minute.

3. Top each blini with the cheese and a grape half (or 2). Drizzle with honey and serve WARM!

A walk in the woods...

A couple weeks ago David and I went over to a friends house and took a walk through the woods. You can see so many things if you just take the time to look. Enjoy a few photos from our adventure.

Do you know what kind of track this is?
Email me or make a comment below this post to take your guess! If you have no idea! I will tell you!



The dogwoods are in blossom! So pretty against the (really) blue sky!



We found the remnants of an old community store from the early 1900's, actually 1904 as you can see on the sign. The old shelves were still on the wall inside.



Here is an old barn we found not far from that store. Love how the foundation was made of logs.





I love walking through endless rows of pine trees!