Wordless Wednesday

Here is what is blooming in the garden.  Hope you enjoy!



Knockout Rose





Ladybugs on my River Birch Tree




blooms on Cherry Tree




Knockout rose - yellow





Lavender




George Tabor Azelea




Bridal Wreath bloom




Azeleas




Pansies




love the color of this pansy





Wysteria



Daisy

Have a great week.  Remember to be kind to one another.  Get your gloves out and plant some seed or a plant.  You will be glad you did.  Time to get all the herbs going, if you don't cook with herbs, you are missing out!  I have mint, tarragon, oregano, and rosemary, thyme, and chives so far that survived the cold.  I bought some basil and dill today to pot up tomorrow if it doen't rain all day!  Can't wait to get it going.

If you do cook with herbs which one is your favorite?

Carol-the gardener

Just Keep Going, You Got Nothing To Lose

We have forgotten how to talk to each other, no humanity no life...think about that for a moment. Take a few minutes to watch this video and think about it.

Just keep going...you've got nothing to lose. Be kind to one another.

Carol

Meet me on Monday

Here is more of getting to know you all.  Thanks once again to Java for hosting.

Questions:




1. What jewelry do you wear 24/7?

2. Do you twirl your spaghetti or cut it?

3. How many siblings do you have?

4. Were you named after anyone?

5. Coke or Pepsi?
 

My Answers:

1.  I always wear my wedding rings and a gold thumb ring.  Most of the time I have stud earrings but I do change them out.  In the summer I wear a gold anklet.  I love my jewelery but change it often.

OK,  only picture I had of my wedding rings.  The other hand is my Christmas gift from my Hubz.  I could not believe he really purchased this ring for me.  I love pearls, black Tahitian pearls!!  I love it but I have to be careful wearing it...not gardening while wearing this ring!

2.  I twirl it girl!!!

You gotta twirl!!

3.  I have one sister and three adopted brothers.  I always wanted brothers and just decided to adopt my first cousins.  They never had a sister and  life is too short so I adopted or we adopted each other.  I couldn't love them more.

Children of the same family, the same blood, with the same first associations and habits, have some means of enjoyment in their power, which no subsequent connections can supply... ~Jane Austen, Mansfield Park, 1814





4.  Nope...not a soul.  My Mom wanted to name me Janet Lynn...God!  I'm glad my Dad won that battle!!!

5.  Neither.  I really don't care that much for soda and when I do I like Root beer or Sprite.

Have a great week and remember to be kind to those you love and care about.   It might be the last time you get the chance to show them.

Carol-the gardener

Follow me on Friday

One of the guilty pleasures I afford myself......Fresh flowers for my table.  I'd rather have flowers now than when I die.

I hope you all have a great weekend.  Thank you to Java and Roz for hosting. 

Be kind to one another.  Take a little time to smell the flowers.

Carol-the gardener

Meet Me on Monday

Every week, I try to participate in answering questions in the Meet me Monday hosted by Java.  Thank you for hosting Java!  I've met so many nice people here.

Questions:




1. Do you have a fireplace in your home?

2. Can you drive a stick shift?

3. How many computers are in your home?

4. Are your taxes done yet? Do you do them yourself?

5. What is your favorite meal of the day?


My Answers:

1.  Yes and we love using it.  In our first home we had a wood burning fireplace, and we loved it.....however, we decided that when we moved we would prefer a gas fireplace for convenience.  Now we are hooked on the remote instant on and off

All decorated for Christmas.  I haven't done Spring yet.

No chopping wood.  No hauling wood.  No removing ashes or waiting for the fire to burn out before we feel comfortable to leave.  Instant heat!  Down side...no wood burning smell, no crackling roaring fire.  It's all about choices people!  Yep, we are getting lazy.


2.  Why heck yeah!  I haven't had a stick in many years but I am glad I know how.  Maybe my next car will be a sports car and I'll need that skill again.  You never forget.  What if you had to drive someone  car and it was a stick?  All my children learned how to drive on a stick and I always had confidence they could make it home no matter who needed to drive.

3.  Two computers.  One desktop and my laptop.

4.  No and no.  That's all I have to say about that.

5.  Dinner.  I'm not a morning person so I rarely eat breakfast.  Does cereal count as breakfast?  Anywhoo...I eat fruit or yogurt for lunch so yeah, dinner is my favorite meal.  When the Hubz retires I have a feeling we will eat earlier and that will be my favorite meal...we'll see.  We are already early bird diners...most of the time.

Remember to be kind to one another.  Take a minute to say a prayer for those who suffered and are still suffering from the earthquake last week.  You never know.

Have a great week.

Carol-the gardener

rapping flight attendant

You have to love what you do. It's all about perception. Not your typical flight attendant but memorable one indeed.

Carol-the gardener

Proud to be Southern

I am proud to be from the South - where tea is sweet and accents are sweeter; summer starts in April; front porches are wide and words are long; mac and cheese is a vegetable; pecan pie is a staple; Y’all is the only proper pronoun; chicken is fried and biscuits come w/ gravy; everything is darling and someone is always getting their heart blessed. Have a good day y'all!

Let me know if you're Southern to the bone too!

Have a great weekend everyone.

Be kind to one another.  Pray for Japan and all the people hurting in the world.  Do one kind thing today for someone .... just because you can.  Watch it all come back to you.

Carol-the gardener

New Wreath for the door!

A new ribbon, some sprigs of strawberries, and TA DA....a new wreath for the front door!! I admit...I'm a little bit obsessive about having something on my front door.  I have a ton of grapevine wreaths and I love to save them, and recycle.  I find the best way to do this is strip all the old stuff off and wash it down with the garden hose.  Let it dry in the sunshine and then the possibilities are endless.  So many pretty ribbons and flowers, and shells, and feathers....what ever your heart desires.  I recently found some pretty butterflies, ladybugs and bumble bees too.  You can do almost anything with a glue gun and some floral wire and tape.

I used to own a craft store many years ago and that is where my love for ribbons and wreaths were developed.  I find for a large bow you need a good 4 yards or more of ribbon.  Depending on the size of the wreath.  I'll have to do a video one day of how to tie a bow.  I used to teach people all the time...it is a skill that comes in quite handy.  The ribbon above is a vintage ribbon and it is hard to appreciate from this photo...but it's sweet.  I wanted something rather simple because I go over the top for Easter.

What's on your front door?  How often do you change your wreaths?

Now I can start planning one for spring and Easter!  That should be fun!

Remember to be kind to one another.  Hug someone you love.  You never know when one hug might be the last one.  Have a great weekend!

Carol-the gardener

Hand Carved Candles

It's all about creativity!  How cool is this?

Carol-the gardener

Camelllias in our garden Wordless Wednesday

Remember to turn off the music player at the bottom and click the black screen and I hope you enjoy the show.





Hope you all enjoy seeing the Camellias in our garden.  They are almost in full bloom now.  I couldn't help but throw in some of my favorite pansies as well, they are such hard workers.

Funny how things turn out sometimes.  We moved here in July and then Hurricane Ivan hit in September.  So, needless to say we had to re landscape as most of the fundamental plants were destroyed as were our trees.  We lost 27 trees on our property along.  It looked like a war zone literally.  Anyway, I had to replace a bottle bush tree planted in front of our home between to large windows.  I really didn't want another bottle bush tree so I set out to find a white camellia.  I went to a local nursery and purchased two of the largest camellias they had.  They did explain to me that all the tags were blown off their stock and could not guarantee the color.  Everyone suffered after the storms.  But, I am an easy going spirit so whatever.  The camellia planted to the right of the house is a beautiful white camellia and it blooms each November and if I'm lucky the first frost doesn't claim every bloom.  The second bush, is not white as you can see...but pink with a large yellow center. It blooms every March.  The weird thing is ....this is the exact same bush my Mother and Dad had our my childhood home.  How ironic?  Some things are just meant to be.  At first, I was a bit disappointed and then I thought about it....God must have wanted me to have that bush for a reason.  Now, I am happy it worked out the way it did, it reminds me of my childhood. 

Be kind to one another and have a great week.  Thank you for all the nice comments on my Meet me on Monday post.  It came from my heart.

How To Be Alone

I think this is so beautiful. I had to share. "Lonely can be healing if you let it. If you are happy in your head then alone is ok. Take silence and respect it."

Carol-the gardener

Elton John - Empty Garden my Tuesday Turnes

lyrics...

What happened here


As the New York sunset disappeared

I found an empty garden among the flagstones there

Who lived here

He must have been a gardener that cared a lot

Who weeded out the tears and grew a good crop

And now it all looks strange

It's funny how one insect can damage so much grain

And what's it for

This little empty garden by the brownstone door

And in the cracks along the sidewalk nothing grows no more

Who lived here

He must have been a gardener that cared a lot

Who weeded out the tears and grew a good crop

And we are so amazed we're crippled and we're dazed

A gardener like that one no one can replace

And I've been knocking but no one answers

And I've been knocking most all the day

Oh and I've been calling oh hey hey Johnny

Can't you come out to play

And through their tears

Some say he farmed his best in younger years

But he'd have said that roots grow stronger if only he could hear

Who lived there

He must have been a gardener that cared a lot

Who weeded out the tears and grew a good crop

Now we pray for rain, and with every drop that falls

We hear, we hear your name

Johnny can't you come out to play in your empty garden



I have no words.

I'm a gardener that cares a lot.  Someone took John Lennon's life.  You never know how long you have with those you love.  Think about it.

Carol-the gardener

Meet Me on Monday free recipe

Thank you Java for hosting once again this week.  So great of you to do this for all of us to enjoy!

Questions:




1. What is your favorite way to eat potatoes?

2. What was the last package that was delivered to your house?

3. What is your favorite scent that you love to smell?

4. Do you smoke?

5. Are your parents married or divorced?


Ok ...here goes...

My answers...

1.  My favorite way to eat potatoes?  Wait...I'm trying to get Forrest Gump out of my head for a minute....because I love potatoes.  It's kinda like asking who is your favorite friend or which of your children is your favorite.   I love potatoes...I love them fried, mashed, baked, Augratin, Potatoe salad, pancakes, you name it....because I'll never hush.

Here is my free recipe to share.  I'll warn you...if you make it...you will never go back!

Roasted Yukon Gold Potatoes with Rosemary and Garlic

 I love Yukon gold potatoes. They taste so buttery without any butter.  Here is my favorite way to prepare them, it is quick and easy and it should be fairly good for you.  First, I scrub them then I cut them into about one inch cubes.  Place them in a large bowl and give them a generous amount of good olive oil.  Fresh rosemary chopped and sprinkled over top and whole cloves of fresh garlic.  Salt and pepper and spread onto a baking sheet lined with no stick foil.  Give them lots of room to groove otherwise they will just steam and not brown well.   Bake in a preheated oven about 425 degrees.  Turn once about 30 minutes in.  Bake until golden brown.  Once you remove them grate fresh Parmesan cheese over top.  So yummy it is ridiculous.  Goes well with any kind of meat, fish, shrimp etc...sometimes I drizzle a bit of balsamic over mine, I like the acid.

2. The last package delivered to my house was from QVC.  I admit it...I'm addicted.  They have so many great things at great prices and I love to shop in my nightgown.  Let's just say the UPS guy knows me well.  I love to order makeup, clothes, household items, jewelry etc....I think the last package (last week) was WEN .... cleansing conditioner...in lavender of course.  You guys gotta try this it is great!  I just ordered sunglasses today!

3.  My favorite scent  .... that would have to be lavender.  I love the smell of lavender.  I also love the smell of fresh basil, rosemary and vanilla.  Go figure.

4.  Smoke???  Me???? NO WAY!!!!  I am soooooo allergic to smoke.  When we first married 100 years ago the Hubz did smoke.  They say love is blind, deaf and dumb and I guess you can smell either, because I didn't mind it.  Thank God, he gave it up about 13 years ago and it's a good thing because the older I get ...the worse my allergy to the smoke gets.   Here, in Florida, smoking is banned in restaurants ...thank goodness.  I can smell someone smoking out of site at the beach, and I just don't get it.  Then I can't breathe for days and I have to use all kinds of steroid nose sprays...yuck... I just feel if you want or choose to do it...respect others that don't want to smoke or smell it.

5.  My parents were married until death parted them.  As many of you know, I lost my Daddy when I was 22 years old.  My Grandparents were also married until death parted them and my Memommie told me that losing my Grandfather was more difficult than losing one of her children.  She lost a son at age 3 years old to Whooping cough.  She said losing him was like losing a part of herself....that always stuck with me.  I remember, packing up her things after her death ... I found a shirt of my Grandfather's in her closet,  and a pair of shoes and little outfit belonging to the child she lost.  We placed them inside the casket with her.  She kept them all these years (about 30) and it only seemed fitting.  That really touches my heart.

I wish I had made better decisions regarding marriage when I was younger.  I thank God that I am happily married now, and have been for going on 18 years.  I wish though I had waited, and never married before and I could say we had been together for 30 years today.  I was young and foolish and it cost me and it cost me part of my heart that has taken a very long time to find again.  Thank God, I married a very patient man.

Ok....that's it for me.  Now I'll go read your answers.  Hope you guys have a great week.  My camellias are blooming like crazy and I'm going to try and post some pictures on Wordless Wednesday.

Be kind to one another...give someone you love a big hug.  Send someone flowers this week.  Bake them something, anything to let them know they are special to you.

Carol

I was kidnapped at Margaritaville

I was kidnapped last Friday by the Hubz.  Here is a little movie I put together of our weekend get away.  It was so relaxing, the waves, the sun (high was 76) the sounds (Jimmy Buffet) and smells of the beach.




If  you are ever in this area, I highly recommend a night or two here.  You won't regret it..


Be kind to one another.  Do something nice for someone you love today because you just can.

Carol-the gardener

Wordless Wednesday

The weather here in Florida has been ....for lack of a better word....gorgeous.  I took a few pictures this Sunday afternoon of some blooms in my yard.  Hope you all enjoy them.  What's the weather like at your home?  What's blooming?



Red bud tree getting ready to bloom




Flowering Pear Tree





A favorite daffodil





My pink Camelia about to open


The down side is that their is so much pollen I am taking daily meds and two different types of nose spray.  I love this time of the year though.  So much beauty to be seen and shared if you just take the time.

We hit the beach this weekend and I am working on some pictures to share with you, hopefully I'll have them ready by Friday.


Remember be kind to one another.  If you love someone let them know, you may not have as much time as you think you do, or hope you will.

Carol-the gardener