Grandma's Garden Springing to Life

 

Years ago, when we moved up from Louisiana and in with my mom's parents in WV, it was so cold!  My first day of school was cancelled because of snow!  A 'snow day' my mom called it.  What!?  For the first few months, I lived in a strange world, a COLD world, but slowly green things happened.  Beautiful green things.

 

In Grandma's front garden, Spring comes with surprises and constants.  A year or so after we moved up, Dad planted Daffodils down the driveway.  They have popped up and spread out every year since.  Shortly after the Daffodils arrive, Grandma's Crocus' show their vibrant colors.  Then in May, around Grandma and Grandpap's wedding anniversary, the Lily of the Valley sweetly scents the air. 

 

This year, the Crocus flowers are so vibrant against the dark greens of the arriving new garden and the brown leaves that still cover the ground.  The shocking purple of the Crocus is pretty to look at but this one decided to be different. 

 

When I popped in with my younger two boys to visit Pap, I luckily remembered to pack my camera in to the van.  I was able to explore the dawning of this year's blessings.  This one is my favorite find.

 

I believe I will print this one for Grandma's room at the nursing home to give her a bit of her garden.  Maybe, just maybe, she will find some peace with this small part of the garden she worked so hard in for years.  Now, it's my turn.  This year, the garden will be my job.  It's time to find Grandma's Garden again.

Gone Fishin'

Hubby and I took our boys fishing at the river a week ago.  No, we didn't catch any fish but I did catch a few good pictures!  This is my favorite! 

We are going camping next week and I can hardly wait!  I am so excited!  We have picked up a new tent for the two boys and camp beds for them so they are a bit more comfortable than sleeping on the ground.  Hubby and I have to catalog all our gear so we know we have all the fishing stuff.  FISHING!!!!  I can't wait!  I went fishing just a few times as a kid and always had to borrow one of my brothers' fishing rods.  I never  had one of my own.  Until now!  It's PINK!  Okay, it has pink ON it.  Hubby got me a 6' Shakespeare Ugly Stick and a beautiful caster reel!  (that's my rod in the photo)

This is going to be an awesome trip.  Even if we don't catch any fish!

Making time to take pictures again.

Back Yard in a Bubble.

This my younger BIL's daughter.  I have tried to edit out the storage building and the grill but it changes the entire photo.   You loves that whimsical, carefree feel of her running through the yard, chasing bubbles.

So long...

Life has had its ups and downs during my time away from posting. I won't bore you with unnecessary details but I will share some recent photos (that have finally found their way off my camera card!).

The first is our second oldest graduating from the Le Cordon Bleu Pittsburgh with a degree in Patisserie & Baking. The rose is from my MIL's back garden. It started raining while I was taking photos with the sun still shining.

An Amazing Adventure...just a little look

The world of Music

My family loves music! Growing up, we had music surrounding us. From the family's gospel group, The Cousins, to the many years many of us have spent in band, we have grown up with music of great variety. Last week I watched the tradition continue.

This was his only concert he had for 5th Grade Beginner Band. He is also the only trombone player in the grade schools that feed into the Middle School in our city. You know, that trombone has been played by four different men in my family. My cousin Matt for one year, then my younger brother for seven years, my oldest son for eight years (WV schools start band one year earlier than Louisiana schools - where younger brother started), and now Mr. Rebel.

That weekend my husband and I woke up to a different type of music. We went camping as a dry run to prepare for this summer's trip to visit my brother and his family. It was wonderful waking up to the sounds of nature. As usual, there is more to the story than just the pictures but I am content to just post a few quick shots and get back to relaxing. I am exhausted! Lol!

A breath of normalcy

Yesterday, I had a rare day off of work. I spent most of it at the yarn shop with Mom and Miss Sandy visiting. I went to lunch with Hubby and then back to the shop. When the time came, I picked up the boys from the bus stop. Mom came with me since I volunteered to take her home and the boys got to spend a few hours running around Grandma's and Grandpap's yard. I got the much-neglected opportunity to take pictures! Oh, the joy! My cousin's husband stopped by to look at a few trees that Pap wants cut down. Since he and my cousin heat with wood, this will benefit both houses.

If you have a few moments during your day, please say a prayer or just think comforting thoughts for my husband's best friend. Her mother's cancer has spread and the doctor's have given her just a few weeks, if that. DH went to visit shortly after getting the call last night and didn't return til after midnight. It was bad. So, if you have a few minutes...

Better late than Never...

Just because...

It has been a while since I posted a picture. This was taken last year while visiting Grandma. Laying in her yard and looking up through the trees...just imagining the possibilities.

Anyone want a Grasshopper...

He's very photogenic. Very patient, too. I came home from running an errand with Jonathan, who is home from Pittsburgh while all the craziness of the G-20 is going on, and found this little guy sitting on the arm of one of my patio chairs. He sat there for over an hour. I have several good photos but this was a quick edit and looked perfect for a post.

A few firsts...

My two younger boys (Mr. Rebel on the left and Mr. Pirate on the right) got up bright and early this morning. Today was their first day of the 2009-2010 school year. It is also the first year that they go to school by themselves. Previously, they have had one or two older brothers with them. Not this year. Mr. Magic Hands (yes, that's the oldest...the Massage Therapist) and Mr. Chef (the second oldest...and his moniker is self-explanatory) are both off exploring the world in their own way, though they do manage to find home every once in a while. We do enjoy that.

*sigh* Those two look so much like their dad...

This was another first for me. An ORANGE SKY! Yes, that is true-to-life color. I double checked and triple checked. The sky was ORANGE! We had a pretty serious storm roll through one evening. The sky started to go green (bad bad bad) but then apparently changed its mind and we got the most beautiful "orange push-up" color! The sun had not yet set on the other end of the weather system and the light was bouncing off all the moisture. It was beautiful! 20 minutes later we had white clouds, blue skies and a gorgeous sunset. Nature is so fascinating!

Ah, relief

The last week or so has been so humid, muggy, stifling, whatever you wish to call it. It's been just downright hot. DH and I have had to be creative to keep the kids cool enough. We made the decision in early spring that we were NOT turning on the window A/C units. One - we don't have the money to spend on frivolous electricity use; Two - we like having the house open and aired out (despite the plumes of cigarette smoke that occasionally float in from the neighbors - the kids and I learn to just turn the fans around); Three - It's easier for the kids to come and go while they play if they don't have to constantly worry about letting the cold air out.

So, we have 7 fans going. Yes, seven (7), and my electric bill is still lower than last summer's bill when I did use the window units. I actually scored a great deal (for me, anyway) the other day. On Monday, we only had 6 fans in the house and the weekend's weather was just too much for me without another airmover. I packed up the kids and went to the store. Of the three big fans we have, two of them are fabulous high velocity fans. The third is just a bit better than a regular box fan. Anyway, I was off to buy another of the high velocity fans which are normally priced at $40. I hated having to spend that much money but DH and I talked about it and decided that it was a good purchase. The fans have been put through the ringer and are still working like they did the day they were taken out of the box. So, I bit my lip and went to the store.

Surprise! Surprise! They had them marked down to $32! Sure, it's only $8 but that's money I can use for my family on something else we need. Yay!

The relief we have been given is lower temperatures outside. We even got desperately-needed rain yesterday. Thank the good Lord for that.

A rare moment in my life...

My men. Completely unedited and spontaneous.

Having all five of them together at one time is such a rare thing anymore. The older two were openly thrilled to have their little brothers around, today. They played frisbie, chased them, took their hats... They love them. It's obvious, no matter how hard they try not to admit it.

Blazing Star

Thanks to my SIL, Dana, I have found out what that purple spikey flower is that my youngest took photos of at my Grandmother's.

Liatris. Also known as Blazing-star, Gay-feather, or Button snakeroot.

After reading Dana's warning about Lythrum salicaria (purple loosestrife), I started looking. One site that talked about invasive plants recommended replacing it with something called Blazing star. So, I went looking for that.

BINGO! That is exactly what is in my Grandma's front garden! I didn't think it was the Lythrum salicaria since it had not overrun the entire planting area (she still has loads of daisies and lilies that pop up and her tulips are as beautiful and strong as ever) but since I am not well-versed in plant life as Dana, I wasn't going to ignore it. Plus, Dana is just a fount of information anyway. I learn alot from her.

So, I know that my updates have been scattered, eratic, and random at best. I have been working through my yarn collection trying to get all the pieces I bought certain yarn and thread for completed. I recently completed another baby blanket out of bulky yarn (like the type Moo made our afghans out of, Dana) that was pink and white variegated. I am going to be making a christening outfit with some thread soon. Following that, I have some bamboo crochet thread I have been saving for a special project. Mom purchased a pattern book of purses and bags months ago. In it is a pattern for a reticule (a small, delicate lace purse) with a satin liner of any choice of color. I finally have all the things needed. Hopefully, I won't mangle the pattern too much.

I plan on making more cup cozies and coasters. Market bags and baby blankets are on my list, too. All out of worsted weight cotton or other organic material. My hands just can't deal with the acrylic. Maybe I can get away with Cotton-ease but I am not sure. For now, I will stick with my cotton cones.

An Anniversary Flower

Convallaria Majalis
(Lily of the Valley)

Simple Beauty

Bellis Perennis
(Daisy)

Unbelievably soft!

Artemisia
(Wormwood/Silver Sage/Silver Mound/Sagebrush/Mugwort)

Taking pictures again...

Calendula (calendula arvensis - field marigold) and Baby's Breath (gypsophila elegans). I am trying to learn the latin names for the plants and flowers in my daily life, so work with me. The Calendula is unedited except for my watermark. The Baby's Breath is unedited except for cropping and my watermark.

These are growing in my MIL's backyard. We were there Saturday for my BIL's birthday party and I was bored, so I took pictures. Since I don't drink alcohol and don't smoke cigarettes (Myself and my two youngest sons are allergic to cigarette smoke and prolonged exposure will trigger our migraines), I couldn't sit on the back porch and relax. Something I really wanted to do on my 11th Wedding Anniversary. Taking pictures kept me from mouthing off at my BIL/SIL about their treatment of my MIL. Sometimes I really hate my Etiquette Button. It kicks on at the most inopportune times. *sigh* Yes, Grandma M., I played nice.

Anyway, I am going to put these two photos in the Fair Photography Contest this year. I think. Still not sure. All I DO know is that I have to get Little Pirate to take some pictures. Since he has discovered this extreme fascination with rocks (he's found some real nice ones, too!) maybe him taking some macro shots of them could be an idea. Of course, it will be done on a tripod so that my camera lens doesn't somehow end up in the middle of a rock pile! Lol!

WV Birthday - June 20 - 146 years old

My two youngest sons ran around our community with my mom and grandparents. They explored a local historical home complete with archeological dig, Fostoria Glass Museum, The Mound Museum, and the former WV State Penitentiary. They had a blast! My 10 y/o took this photo from the top of the Mound.