Garden Whites

Spent Monday and Tuesday in the garden, cleaning up the winter debris

and putting down new mulch. I still have two more afternoons of planting,

(if the winds behave), and I should be ready for the warm weather.

I didn't shoot the full view of the yard, because I still have tarps, bags of soil,

and upended pots scattered everywhere, so I just shot little snippets.

I have old decrepit items scattered all over the yard.

I put this brick path down many years ago. It took me days,

but it was worth it. It was always a little soupy there after the rain.

The assorted birdhouses and containers extend the length of the wall.

Love my wheelbarrows. I have two in the yard.

One of my favorite birdhouses. It is huge.

Yep, it works. I replaced the 16 year old pump yesterday,

after it died on me last winter.

It sits below my living room window and the sound is wonderful.

I am perhaps the only country garden in this city. I have never

heard of another or seen any others around here like this. It is the

only way I can tolerate desert living.

This has a five foot stand and is also a favorite.

No, maybe this is my favorite, see the little door?

Too many empty pots, so much more to do. I had better get crackin'.

Please visit all the other WW's over there at Kathleen's link-------->
You must enter Kathleen's great giveaway. Click the Faded Charm link
to get there quick and enter!

Bird Necklace by Heather French

Here is the original necklace and the companion necklace
designed by Heather French, that I mentioned in the prior post.

They're just, well, dreamy... SO pretty and delicate.
Heather's designs are just wonderful, with perfect wraps,
(that I might perfect in the next 2 years or so.)
Heather is so generous with her time and her knowledge, and her
enthusiasm for this art form is contagious. Uh oh.

Creamy White Pearls

So here is the story.
I am not a beader, but I have several friends who are.
They are incredible jewelry artists and designers.
Heather French, an amazing quilter and bead artist designed a lovely bird necklace.
Several other friends, Suzie, Sarah and Jan were all getting together to make the necklace
and graciously included me, a total non-beader to join them. I had done some
minimal wire wrapping a few years back, but I thought I would give it a go,
besides the girls are fun and we would go to eat after....of course!
So, last weekend we all spent a fun day working on our necklaces and today while we were
together eating lunch (sense a theme here?) at Panera, Jan showed us her finished one.
Jan's is slightly different from the original design because we all used vintage pieces.
The pic was taken on the table top at Panera so please excuse the quality.
I just had to show you how talented and wonderful these gals are and as
soon as I get pics of the other ones I will post. Mine is a work in progress.

Please join all the other White Wednesdays over there-----> at the WW Link,
and congratulate Kathleen on her 500th Follower! Yeah Kathleen!

St Patrick's Day WW

This is the Furnessia
Service speed 14 knots, 1,359 passengers
445 feet long, 44 feet wide.
She sailed out of Glasgow, and arrived at Ellis Island Feb 19, 1903
My Great Grandfather Robert Carton(27), his wife Sarah(22), and my
Grandmother Nettie( 9 mo), had left Pumperton, Ireland for a new life.

When I look at this ship and realize what they dared to do, the bravery that was
required, the hope and dreams they must have clung to, I am in awe.
Ireland came to my children from my side and from their father's side.
It is the only place in this world that I yearn to visit. Does Ireland call
all her children home again?

This is not a typical WW I know- but here is why I MckLinky'd anyway:
To make sure you all knew about this site. If you have relatives that came through
Ellis Island, you need to try a search. Please let me know who you find.

When Irish eyes are smiling,
Tis like a morn in spring.
With a lilt of Irish laughter
You can hear the angels sing
When Irish hearts are happy
All the world is bright and gay
When Irish eyes are smiling
Sure, they steal your heart away

Rainbow Dance

Twice a year, the earth's rotation is on the right path, and the lack of leaves
on the ash tree out front allow a wonderful phenomenon to occur.
The sun streams through the front window, passes through these crystals,
and the rainbow dance begins.
This morning was the first day of the show and lasted a mere 20 minutes.

It begins across the floor, and up the sides of the chairs.

Rises up the front of the cabinet and sprinkles across the window sheers.

The rainbow colors expand and stretch across the blinds, deepening in color,
until

They disappear at the ceiling and are gone.

Now that is the way to begin your day!

Proof of Spring

Woke up this morning to my first feathery cassia blooms.

Little miniature buttercups

When I took the time to look up
BUDS
MANY MANY BUDS
on my 17 year old ash out front.
The tree that keeps the morning summer sun from beating down into
the front rooms.
The tree that my kids stood in front of every 1st day of school, complaining

"Hurry up Mom take our picture!"

Everyone who bought a house in this subdivision received one ash tree
and one pine tree for their front yards. Different pines, different ashes.
After 17 years, less than 50% remain.
Seems when people move here from other parts of the country,
they like to shed more than just their winter coats. They also shed the desire for yard work.
I would hear the loud chipper machines early in the day, and I would be so sad that another tree was falling. Over at oldgreymare I was making my yard as green as possible and increasing the yard work every year. My neighbors just shook their heads asking why?

This year, I removed all of my grass.
I did it because I knew it was the right ecological thing to do for desert living.
I did it with a very heavy heart.
It is not easy to grow grass here, and my beloved trees had grown so large for the small lot
that the grass was struggling more every year to stay alive. So I converted to desert landscaping. But I keep as much green and blooms as this small, water conserving, garden can take.

Starting with gazania ground cover with their sunny smiling faces
welcoming everyone to the front door.

White Wednesday Recalling Past Gardens

Darling daughter took some of these photos a few years back and when I saw
them today; I decided they were prettier than what I was planning to use.

They are all taken in our back yard garden.

All the roses I have were gifts from my children on my
birthday or Mother's Day, and the three trees in the back
yard are from Mother's Day .

Yes, I collect the pine cones from this tree every year and use them
for crafting and display. I have been known to gather the neighbors
cones also if they leave them too long on the ground.

This rose bush came from dearest son on one summer afternoon when he
was barely a teenager. Very unceremoniously he handed it to me with a
"here Mom, this is for you." It is always the first to bloom every Spring.

This big pine in the front yard is a haven and roost spot to many types of birds.
Every spring and summer it is filled with morning doves that coo
right outside the bedroom windows.

One of my favorite photos. This is at a nearby park

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Sudsy Surprise

Does anyone else get excited when they see a key in their mailbox.? Here it means you have something too large to fit in the regular mail slot, so they put it into one of the two large package mailboxes that flank the 20 others. Yesterday I got a key because I had a wonderful package waiting from the real soap company.

I had ordered four soaps just three days ago. The aroma that wafted out the second I opened the box, well, we need smellablog. I ordered Valencia Orange. Grapefruit Bergamot ( I think will be my favorite) Rosemary Peppermint, and the one you see here Oats Goats & Honey. I love the homemade look and texture.

I was impressed with the quality and care that Cindy puts into every bar and you must read her section on why she makes soap.

I had already decided that one bar would go into the powder room for my guests to enjoy. It looks wonderful don't you think? The other bars are affordable luxury bars just for me. Maybe I'll watch the Oscar red carpet from my tub with a lovely glass of vino. Oh, geez it's only 3:00. OK skip the vino.


Doesn't everyone have jewelry in their powder rooms? No?

Please visit Cindy at the real soap company soon.

hulu hooray

I may be the last person to come to hulu, but my addiction is first rate.

"Eventually I ran to Minneapolis, where it's cold and I figured I'd keep better". Rhoda:Rhoda and Joe, season 1, full screen on my Mac. One after the other.

Last evening, discontented with regular tv fare, I remembered darling daughter telling me about hulu and checked it out. I am not a fan of cop shows, murder shows, investigative after the murder shows, ( I do enjoy white collar but that is FBI) reality tv, teen comedy, teen pregnancy. OK you get the picture.

Now, do not misunderstand; I in no way consider Rhoda to be quality tv. But, just for the few hours I watched last night, the world felt calmer and safer and oh I don't know, I almost felt a tad bit younger.

There is photographic proof of me in my Rhoda days, head wrap scarf and all, the salvation for bad hair days. Those years were actually pretty cataclysmic for me so why they would seem soothing now, eludes me. Perhaps, even then they were escape.

I will be back there this evening, there are 25 episodes on hulu. What about after Rhoda you ask? aw c'mon you know "How will you make it on your own?" meow

Cindi weighs in on TJ's post 3/1

"Agree on most. But also ... the Trader Ming gyoza dumplings, stuffed with veggies, pork, shrimp etc. and just as good when you steam or microwave them -- they don't have to be fried to be yummy quick snacks. And the Greek yogurt. And the organic Chocolate milk. and the lovely cheeses. Can you tell I just got back from there????? "

I do love the cheeses too and the Greek Yogurt. I will try the dumplings my next trip. Anyone else?

A bit of white, a bit of wood

The cubbies are filling up





Smaller cubbies already filled years ago
It's all about the texture
New Quilt
Old Hat



Collection

Collections
Old Quilt
Older Quilt

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