Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Winter Garden

Side sitting area with newly planted winter rye grass

Rustic Pergola with weaved Gladiola leaf partition and birdhouse on the Bean arbor

New Antique birdhouse on top of last seasons Morning Glory vines. The seeds will drop and start a new cycle of growth in the Spring

Field Peas planted in the bottom field which is better than sitting fallow all winter!

Thursday, November 10, 2011

More Fall Beauty...

I have about 4 chords so far... That should get us through winter


Big Red Oak in backyard. So many acorns...


Cayenne peppers are still producing, even after a few hard early frosts


The bottom field with newly planted field peas and winter wheat grass

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

The Burning Bushes Blazeth

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Optical Illusion

Friday, November 4, 2011

I'm a lil bit Country...

Hickory Smoking me some marianated beef and chicken



We have hens even in the house. Notice the egg basket and the hen that swallows eggs



Tuesday, November 1, 2011

11/1/11

Whatever be thy lot on earth,
Thy mission here below,
Though Fame may wreathe her laurels fair,
Around your youthful brow,
If you would rise from earthly things,
And win a deathless name,
Let all your ways be just and right -
Let virtue be your aim.

Though cherished friends may traitor prove,
Their kindness all depart,
And leave a mournful spell around
Thy sad and bleeding heart;
Though you may oft be scorned by men,
Or those who bear the name,
Let all your ways be just and right-
Let virtue be your aim.

~Let virtue by your aim ~ by C. Jillson

Monday, October 31, 2011

Happy Halloween

Rotting red cabbage in the garden looks eerily like a skull! Spooky and it freaked my kids out too :)

Friday, October 28, 2011

If only...

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: 'Hold on!'

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
' Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch,
if neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!

'If' by Rudyard Kipling

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Loving me some Autumn

Dreams and Hope


My father passed away several years ago but I pray for his soul often. He had a rough life and although he made my growing up years a living hell at times, he mellowed as he aged and I forgave him for all of those times when he hurt me and others in my family. We had a good relationship at the end.

Last night, I dreamt that I was at a large venue to see, of all people, the Pope.
Dinner was served buffet style and there was a long line so I decided to head back to my table and avoid the throngs of people. As I was walking past the line I met my mother who could hardly contain herself. When I asked what was the matter she exclaimed 'Your father is alive!'

At that moment, the crowd parted and there was my father with white hair in a white suit smiling at me saying 'Yes, I am alive!'. I gave him the biggest hug and felt so much joy to see him.

When I could finally contain myself, I asked him 'Where have you been all of this time?!'

His reply: "I was in Chicago"

Dreams are strange but I do remember at some point that I realized that it was only a dream and that I would have to wake up and he'd be gone again. I remember moaning in my sleep at this moment and eventually waking up.

My father visited me in my dream last night and he appeared to be doing quite well.

and so hope remains

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Wordless Wednesday...





Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Test iPhone Post

My cat, Bernadette

Monday, October 24, 2011

10/24/2011 Fall

Backyard garden in early morning sun

Thyme, Sweet Potato, and Raspberry are among the plants here

The Morning Glories have been my hardiest plant this year.
The blooms just keep on coming

The trees in my woods are starting their stunning display of color

It wouldn't be Fall without Pumpkins :)

My Morning Glory 'Dragon' in the back.
Vegetable garden in the front

The Morning Glory Pergola up close

Thursday, July 7, 2011

07/07/2011 Garden Photos

The corn is forming tassles

A lone Gladiola among the catnip

Gladiolas are blooming next to the sunflowers

Smaller sunflowers are now opening behind the rustic fence line

Gladiolas and Mammoth Sunflowers

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

07/06/2011- Wordless Wednesday





Tuesday, July 5, 2011

07/05/2011

The Crape Myrtle is in full bloom

All of these flowers are from the garden: Roses, Crape Myrtle, Summer Phlox, Purple Coneflowers, etc...

This strange looking beetle with big 'eyes' surprised us on our deck. When we came near it, it made a loud clicking sound with its body I guess as a defense mechanism, in addition to the 'eyes', as a way to say 'keep your distance!'
Just researched it and discovered that it is named the Click Beetle

Friday, July 1, 2011

07/01/2011 Garden Pictures

Rosemallow in the morning light

Ruth in front of the Morning Glory wall

Me amongst the glories.
I am wearing black because I am mourning the death of our country.
Dig the Tom Cruise glasses :)

Side garden panorama

In memory of my father

Butterfly bush and Roses in morning light

Morning glories, beans (bottom) and corn (right) panorama

Thursday, June 30, 2011

06/30/2011 Garden Views

String Beans coming up in the same place where I grew the spring peas. Potatoes are here as well as morning glories and cucumbers on the netting behind.

View of Sunflowers and Trellis from bottom of the hill

View of garden and Trellis from top.
The catnip has exploded with growth and is now flowering.