How about a little laugh?

I have been so fortunate to meet so many wonderful bloggers out there in blog land. This little funny was e-mailed to me and I wanted to share with ya'll. I know some of my blog buddies are about my age so this will appeal. For the younger generation, just enjoy and know one day you will truly feel this way. So, without any further delay enjoy baby boomers. Make sure your speakers are on.

How about a little trim?

Well, it was time. These girls had just gotten a little shaggy with their hairstyles and needed a little trim. They were not too excited about it but after I told them it was either that or a cold night outside they gave in.See, not too bad! Sssh!! I know what you're thinking. What a lousy haircut! Oh well, you know the old saying, "It'll always grow back out!" Besides, now they get to sleep in a warm, comfy place for a couple of months.

Ode to the Butterfly

Below are 4 quilt squares my mother gave me recently. These squares were made by my grandmother who use to do lots of quilting. There were several to pick from but I chose the top two just because I thought the colors were pretty. The bottom two were scraps from two outfits I wore as I child. The blue was a little dress and the yellow was a little pantsuit. Okay, I never said I was the best dressed child but back then you went with what you had. My mom use to sew lots when I was growing up and when we out grew the clothes she passed them onto my grandmother who used them for quilts.

So, I am thinking of framing these and hanging them. What do ya'll think? If you have any other ideas they are welcomed.

So until I do something with them, in honor of these little butterflies I wrote this little poem. Keep in mind before reading, I am no poet.

Ode to the Butterfly

Precious butterflies sewn by hand
You'll never float across this land
But I promise you'll be seen
Across the room, from eyes of green

Colors of yellow, pink and blue
How happy I am, that she made you
Careful stitches, here and there
From a loving heart, full of care

And when I gaze at you across the room
I could never be filled with gloom
Feelings of warmth, love and peace
Will always be there, sure to please.

Plant Fest - Part II

As promised here's the vegetable edition from the festival. This is asparagus growing. It's very similar to asparagus ferns but a little more frilly and obviously a little more upright.
I tried a close-up picture but it didn't turn out too good.
I'm not a fan of Radicchio but this looks pretty good.
I've never seen papaya growing before. I have always wanted to taste this fruit and finally did this past summer. Truthfully, I wasn't too impressed. Neat looking plant though.I thought this was an interesting way to grow spinach. I've never heard of this type spinach before but I took a little pinch and tasted it. It was very good. It almost had a buttery taste.
We saw every kind of tomato imaginable but I have never seen a tomato plant this tall. My husband is over 6' and this one towered over him.These were probably the most beautiful collard greens I have ever seen.

I grew broccoli and cauliflower this past spring and trust me, mine didn't look anything like these guys. The amazing thing about this vegetable garden was there were no weeds or any type of mulch to help keep weeds out. Unfortunately we were not allowed to pick anything. They are having a u-pick day this Saturday but I have to work so, so much for fresh veggies.
Last but not least was the "cornmeal man". He was taking corn and grinding it into meal and grits.
I was so happy I was able to purchase both freshly ground corn meal and grits. Of course, what's a festival without boiled peanuts. I use to not like these but my husband has gotten me to liking them.

Hope you enjoyed the vegetable garden as much as I did!

Fall Flower & Garden Fest - Part I

Yesterday was a beautiful fall day and we decided to take a drive to Crystal Springs, MS for the flower festival. This is put on by the MS State Univ. Extension Service. We didn't know what to expect but we had a marvelous time! They had seminars, plant vendors, workshops, exhibits and demonstration gardens.
These two pictures are from the shade garden. The first was of various shades of impatiens. The second is a garden of coleus, impatiens and begonias. Just simple plants but beautiful colors.
This garden was made up of verbena, mums, Diamond frosts, and gaura. Once again simple flowers but just a beautiful display.They were doing trials of banana trees which are really neat. Got us to thinking maybe we need a couple in our yard.This is a bed of New Guinea impatiens they had grown out in the boiling hot sun all summer. Aren't they magnificent? This is a sunpatiens trial bed.I had to take this picture just because of the beautiful fall colors planted together.

I have never seen a morning glory bloom like this one. The bloom is obviously a double. I really like the raspberry color. Sorry the close up isn't better. The sun was very bright and I couldn't see well.I'm a fan of grasses and love this display of Muhly in front of the pampas. We have sold Muhly grass at work but I wasn't ever a big fan. Maybe I should change my mind?!?This is a new plant for me but probably not for a lot of you. I like the shrubby like growth habit and the color. This would be a great addition to a garden. It's probably a big hummingbird magnet.For the last flower picture I had to get this beautiful hibiscus posted. It was just so large and gorgeous. I do love hibiscus!

I hope you enjoyed the flower fest as much as we did. Next post will be about vegetable gardening. I have never seen such beautiful plants. You won't want to miss it!!!

Leapin Lizards!!

While watering my hibiscus the other day I noticed some movement within the branches. Upon closer examination I saw this pair of little beady eyes staring back. Of course what does any good blogger do, grab the camera quick! Luckily Lizzie sat still long enough to click a couple of photos.

I kept asking Lizzie where she came from but she just sat there staring silently; waiting for me to finish the photo session.
This is a plant I have to take indoors for the winter so I am faced with the dilemma of what to do about Lizzie. I could take her inside as well then she could eat all the spiders that seem to love my house. Of course, then who's going to eat all the other insects that the spiders eat? So in the meantime while I figure that out I just have one question!
Who told this little(actually he was pretty big) sucker he could chow down on my Iochroma? I cannot stand these things and have had to send many of them packing! No, I don't have the heart to kill them, I just put them in the drainage ditch beside the road.

A New Addition.....

You guessed it! Another great save from work. I know right now it doesn't look like much but I hope it will make a come back. Say hello to my new Magnolia. It's official name is Magnolia x soulangiana 'Jane'. This tree blooms early, early spring. It's the one you see with pink/purple/white blooms. It is hardy in zones 5-9. It grows 25' tall with a width of approximately 15'. It should be planted in full sun to partial sun.

I hope that if I give it some much needed TLC that it will bloom real pretty for everyone to see next spring.

Update on my Monarch Cocoon

Lisa from Raccoon Lover recently asked how my cocoon that I blogged about is doing. Well, there has been some change but not much as you can see. Notice the sides are more sunken inward. I guess it has turned a little more darker as well. While I was checking on my Moon flower vine I found another one. This one is much more darker.
If you left click you can see the wing and it's colors.
I sure hope I am able to see this little guy come out of his little home.

Let-tuce surprise you!!!

Do you remember my pot of lettuce I planted a few weeks back? Man, do I have a bumper crop or what? Actually, I have two types of lettuce and Romaine as well as cilantro and arugula. I have already harvested lots of arugula and now I just go out there and pull and eat, pull and eat. I probably look like a cow grazing!

The funny thing is when I'm doing this I get these little surprises........
These little guys starting hopping all about. This happens almost every time I do it. So, does anyone know what the correlation between lettuce and tree frogs is? They are so tiny and barely green. Some almost look translucent. And one more thing, they do not like having their picture taken. I did good to get a pic of this little guy.

Blues got you down? These blues will definitely make you feel better!!!

Been feeling down? Need a little pick me up? Well I thing I got just the thing!!! I went out into the garden this morning and just had to take a snap of this Sapphire Blue salvia. It was almost glowing with color. It was going to be disposed of at work so now it is planted in my Keepsake Garden.
My Bluebeard was standing there right beside it shouting, "Take my picture too"! So, how could I not? It's just as glorious!!
The pincushion flower was also shouting to me across my yard to get in on the action. So here's it's cute little face as well.And if you are still feeling blue, remember there's always a silver lining. I know, no bloom. But next year this Rudbeckia maxima should be tall and showing off it's blooms.
If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me," even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. Psalm 139: 11-13.

Look what I found!!!

A couple of weeks ago I was watering some plants and found this Monarch cocoon. This is the first I have seen. I was wondering what happened to all those caterpillars I had. They are just cleverly concealed and hopefully scattered all across my gardens. It looks so different than the swallow tail cocoon. Notice it's intricate little golden necklace. The cocoon is a minty green and smooth walled. This second picture was taken a day or two ago. Notice how it's getting darker and the necklace isn't quite as noticeable.
I just took this picture today. It's gotten even darker and notice the little gold dots. I'd say it won't be long till this little guy takes a peak at the gardening world.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Just a reminder that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Ladies, lets make sure those mammograms are up to date. Also, make sure you do your monthly self-exams. I worked for a plastic surgeon for over 18 years and know very well how important these things are.

Breast cancer treatments have dramatically improved over the years and the cure rates are higher than ever. That's great news!!! So, lets all take care of ourselves, okay?