Changing the Landscape

This flowerbed has been a sore spot with Lawman and me for years and years. When originally planted it was done so with one of those "kits" you can order from a magazine. You know the kind, you see the landscape plan and order box 1, 2, 3 or all of them. A kit of parts. Last year we were so fed up with it that we yanked the smaller plants out at the beginning of the season and just left it bare. Lawman took out the last of the big stuff this season.** I'm sure the neighbors hated it. This year we tackled it.

We had a lady that runs a local nursery come out and look at it and provide a rough layout and list of plant materials. We met with her Saturday and purchased the materials.

The morning was cool and breezy but Lawman and I were on a mission. We worked like dogs but the end result is so worth it. We're both looking forward to watching it grow and take shape this summer.

Plants include: Incrediball Hydrangeas, Golden Meadows Hosta, Pink Saucer Anemone, Daylily and peonies (existing).


**When one removes the big bushes, it makes it evident that the next project is going to be replacing the siding. Ugh. We did the opposite end of the house 2 years ago because it was in bad shape. Guess we'll be doing that again. There's always something.

reap what you sow

just a tiny little plot. enough to grow tomatoes, zucchini and peppers. it won't provide an over abundance, meaning i won't be canning. i hope it will provide just enough to keep us well stocked in fresh produce that we use regularly. it's starting to take shape. planting to take place next weekend.

are you planting? what are you growing?

its all about the tomato

Last weekend, my friend, Rechelle, organized a party all about the tomato. You see, she planted a garden and had far more tomatoes than she knew what to do with.

First we had a little tomato taste test. She grew multiple varieties and wanted to know what our favorite(s) were so she knew what varieties she should plant next year.



You would think that a tomato, is a tomato, is a tomato, right? They'd all taste the same. Wrong. Honestly, I could tell a difference. Who would have thought?

Then after she fed us as many tomatoes as we could eat, it was time for entertainment. Sarah gave a demonstration on how to can tomatoes. She was fabulous! I think she may have a cooking show in her future. She even tried to do this with a French accent.....maybe she was trying to be Julia?

Here are a few of her very attentive pupils. Look at that concentration.



She knew she had a lot of work ahead of her so she wasted no time.




Then she put the rest of us to work. We decided anything is more fun when you do it with your girlfriends. We also learned it's important to have lots and lots of pots available as well as really good knives.

Sarah even checked our work. She just dug right in there to make sure we were getting the tomatoes cut to the proper size and that we didn't leave anything in them that wasn't supposed to be.

She uses the hot-pack method. This is what her mother does and it's also recommended by the official Ball Blue Book.

At this point I think we've received all instructions and it's time to get these 'maters in the jars.

(no idea why my photos are suddenly left-hand justified...I'm too tired to try and fix it. sorry folks.)

When we got to a stopping point, Rechelle did feed us again and this time it was way better than tomatoes. Some fantabulous chocolate raspberry cake....oh was it good. Girls must keep up their strength when they're exerting so much energy in the kitchen. Right? I wanted another slice of that cake but didn't want to be the only one to over indulge in the good stuff. So, I was a lady and stopped with one.

Rechelle's got more pics and stories about this tomato party here. If that's not enough for you, there's more here too. Tomatoes aren't your usual party theme but Rechelle is one to bust out of the ordinary. It was a great way to spend an afternoon with my girls.

And, Sarah? The gal that gave us the canning lesson? She's my friend that has been sharing her garden bounty with me all summer.

Veggie Delivery

I had every intention of planting a garden this year. Really, I did. A teeny, tiny garden. I planned on putting tomatoes, zucchini and bell peppers in the ground. I love the thrill of finding a vine ripened veggie just ready for picking.

Despite my good intentions, the tiny garden didn't materialize. I don't have a good excuse either.

What I do have is a fabulous friend who has a fabulous garden and best of all is the fact that she is sharing her bounty. See those beautiful veggies up there? Yep. Sarah, bless her pea pickin' heart, brought those by yesterday. My girl, Madison, answered the door and then she called me to tell me what Sarah left. She knew I would be thrilled. Oh, that girl knows me well.

Simple Pleasures

I find pleasure in simple things. For the past week my mornings have begun with this beauty.

I wouldn't say that I have a green thumb but I do have pots on our front porch and back deck each spring and summer. Seeing them each day just makes me feel better. This is a plant I've not grown before.

A Ballerina White. It caught my eye at the nursery because it was such a large seedling. I've found pleasure in watching the first blossom. That first blossom became a bloom. It lasted only a short time but there are at least 5 more blossoms waiting in the wing.

I'll keep watching and enjoying these simple pleasures all summer long.

Welcome to the Big Top. Catnip served here.

I learned something about our cat last night. He apparently thinks our home is the Big Top. And, he's the star of the show. His specialty is acrobatics.

Here's how I came to know this.

This weekend, Lawman and I made a trip to the local greenhouse. While there I purchased flowers and herbs to plant in pots for our front porch and our deck. I love the smell of peppermint and spearmint (they're also good in tea) so I bought one of each. Next to them was catnip.

You know where this is going, right?

In my moment of kindness (weakness is more like it ), I suggested we buy catnip to put in with the spearmint and peppermint and see if our cat liked it.

The pots have been on the deck since Saturday but he only discovered it last night.

It's like a drug. Did you know that? I swear my cat is a druggie. A circus druggie. Living in my big top.

As soon as he got one whiff of that plant, (or was it taste?), he was hooked. He did back flips. Somersalts. He contorted his body just to get closer to it. He nearly laid in my pot. It was so funny that I hollered at the rest of the family to come watch this.

Next year I'm going to do an entire pot of just catnip. Cat will be stoned all summer.

April Showers Bring May (Day) Flowers

"'Tis like the birthday of the world,

When earth was born in bloom;

The light is made of many dyes,

The air is all perfume:

There's crimson buds, and white and blue,

The very rainbow showers

Have turned to blossoms where they fell,

And sown the earth with flowers."

Thomas Hood

Ah, Spring

Can you guess what I did?

I couldn't wait any longer.

Well, that didn't make sense. I'm still waiting but for BLOOMS....AH, SPRING.