Few Days Off...

Wow, I'm going to get a few days off...

I'm going to church camp. That means my husband will have to watch the home fires for a few days. I'm trying to get things so that he can batch it without much problem. I've got him his tv dinners plus lots of extras, his clothes are laid out for each day and the dog and cat have their feeders full. He just needs to check on them.

I'm so looking forward to spiritual refreshment and enjoyable times with family and friends. It's just nice to get a way.

At the home front... I got a little more garden in yesterday, right before the rain. The garden center owner in our area said lots of people are having a hard time getting their gardens in because of the rains. Other plants and seeds are in pots to put out when I get back because now it is mud, mud, mud.

I'm part of a Lady Beetle Project and have my little collector in the garden. I went out to see how it was doing this morning and there are a few bugs, but I didn't see any lady beetles. It just keeps raining and raining. Hopefully, there will be some dry times this week and I can get some beetles to identify. I'll talk more about this project later, probably, in August when I do my last test.

In closing, the laundry is about ready and all I need to do is clean a little before I leave. I'm looking forward to a great week and I wishing you the same.

Just When You Need A Good Laugh...

"Maybe this is the last year I'm going hunting."

Just when you need a good laugh, it arrives in the mail.

After going out to survey the storm damage so far we have 2 nice trees down and some barn roof off. While I was out checking things over I picked up my mail.

We received this card, but it took me awhile to figure out who sent it. But, being a mystery lover, I'm pretty sure it is from good friends Mark, Sherri, Ron & Elois on vacation. The postmark is in Arizona and they were going to Arizona. I'll let you know if I am right.

It's kind of hard to see, but it is an older gentleman hooked up to nourishment with his nurse in the back of a pickup truck at the edge of a wooded area. Come to think of it... there are many a man that I know that this would be fitting to send to.

Anyway, It's pretty cute!!! :)

We Got Rain...

Wow, we got rain. A little town not far from us had 6" in the streets, but at that time we did not get it real hard. Then, late last night it just came down in torrents with lightening and the whole works.

I unplugged my computer and monitor because I had already lost my laptop and a printer with a power surge a couple months ago and I didn't want to take a chance on losing my desktop and monitor.

I got my flash light, oil lamp, candles and matches out preparing for the worst. The lights flickered off a couple of times, but that was the extent of it. The wind was pretty strong and we have some turned over chairs and other debris but that's about it for us here.

We have 2 sump pumps for such occasions as heavy rains and they have been going almost constantly. So far, everything is working good.

This has been a good year for rains. I've had a hard time getting the garden in, but what I've got in is doing good. Right now there are puddles in the gardens and it doesn't look like it will be dry for some time.

Well, that's about it for here in my part of the country.

Have a good day!

The Beginning of a New Week...

I love beginnings Years, months and weeks all work... I guess it's just a new starting point. Of course, I like the end too, they are ending points, but that's another blog entry.

This is the beginning of a new week. I've got lot's that I need to do. I've been working on my goose neck plant. It's a big plant and I'm digging it out as fast as I can and transplanting it in other places, just like my hostas. I gave some of those away and I may just be doing that with the goose neck plant.

The day lilies are blooming nice. Also, the Knock out rose that I planted 3 yr ago has an abundance of blooms. It is so neat! Just keep dead heading and this rose will not disappoint you. The picture that I posted today is the first Knock Out rose that I planted. I planted one in my front flower bed this year as well as an Oak Leaf Hydrangea. I hope they do well there. I love the leaves on the Oak Leaf Hydrangea. They are so neat as well as the flowers. It's a nice all year plant.

I think I'm becoming the weed wacking queen. I have an electric charged Black and Decker weed eater. I start out first thing in the morning until it runs down and then I plug it in and use it again in about an hour. Works great for me because I wear out about when the weed eater does. I can go and do other garden work until I'm ready to weed whack again.

Yesterday, was my Phillips Family Reunion. Dad was one of 9 children and this has been a yearly event for many years. Now, that the uncles and aunts are getting older and passing away, our group is getting smaller and smaller. It is so sad each year because someone is gone. The Phillips family has always been one big loving family and I miss so many. But, it is such a treat to get to be with the family of aunts, uncles, & cousins that I love at least once a year.

Well, have a blessed day there is so much to be thankful for!

Our God Is An Awesome God...

Our God is an awesome God

He reigns from heaven above

With wisdom power and love

Our God is an awesome God!

Be Careful If You Scatter Thorns...

I was reminded of this saying "If you scatter thorns, don't go barefoot!"

How true? For sure, if you cause problems and dissension you will get stuck. A good policy is to be kind, truthful and loving.

"Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." Colossians 3:12

God's word says it best!

Another Busy Week...

Well, it's been another busy week. The rains have been a blessing for the seeds and plants that we got it. I've still got more to do, but that will be another day soon.

One highlight this week was getting to see a friend Cythina Winger from Calif. We went to school together and she moved away after she got married. She has several children like I do. It seems their family has lots of fun like ours. Big families are fun and they are more fun after all the grand kids arrive. After 44 yrs. we are doing pretty good. Anyway, it was so enjoyable getting to visit with her.

I have been able to weed eat and get a few more of my hosta's that I divided planted. The rain blessing is much appreciated because it saved me more work!


Have a blessed day!

Love The Knock Out Roses...

I love the Knock Out roses that I got I just planted. I have one of each that has been released. They are so neat. I can't wait until they start blooming. I will try to get pictures then. I also have a rose called White Out. It is not a Knock Out rose but it was bred by the Knock Out rose breeder and called White Out. I am anxious to see if it is as good as the Knock Outs.

I am getting over my soreness, so as soon as I can, I need to get a few more things in my spring - summer vegetable garden. I will share my plantings news with you as soon as I've got the job done.

Right now, I'm working in the flower beds, dividing and moving plants. My big issue is the ribbon snake that was in my goose neck plant. I've got to get that thing before it multiplies. I'm going to divide the plant and make it smaller to see if that helps. It just gives the snake too much hiding space. I DO NOT LIKE SNAKES... don't even tell me how beneficial to the garden they are. There are other ways to get flies and mosquito's. We just had too many frogs, but I don't hear them too much anymore, so I sure hope I don't already have a major snake problem. The good thing is that I have only seen one and that was only once. I'll let you know about this development at a later date.

Finally, Finding Time...

I'm finally, finding time to blog. I've been so busy in the garden and other work that I have not had time to blog, write or just relax. There is just so much to share.

Beth and I worked so hard on the garden Monday. We were out in the garden just a little after 9:30. That's good for me on a Monday morning. Monday mornings I do the slow working stuff and do not push so much. We called it a day at about 2:30. We are sore and tired from all that work.

I still have some finishing up to do, but the basic stuff is in. We will be able to can and freeze. :)

My mother gave me about 2 dozen more tomato plants yesterday, but I will probably go out and mud them in later today since it has rained and rained. Other things I am planting in pots or will just go stick the seed in the mud and cover with straw so that I don't have a brick like ground.

Anyway, I am so pleased. I am really happy for the rain so that I can get some inside things done. I started my laundry at 4:30 this morning. I have a kitchen to finish cleaning and then I'm going to see a friend from California that's in for her church conference.

Spring, summer and fall are busy, busy times, but I love it. I love the winter rest also, but that's another time and a later blog entry.

Have a blessed day!