Underground Railroad

Our city just unveiled another work by sculptor David Poulin. The Underground Railroad Tableau consists of three bronze statues The first, Silas Sherman, was a leader of the Underground Railroad line. He hid fugatives and gathered money and supplies for their journey. He also arranged their transportation to the next station.

The nameless runaway slave who embodies all those who passed through Jamestown seeking freedom in Canada.His clothes are torn and his hand is outstretched to those that aid him on his journey.
Catherine Harris,a born-free black woman that operates the central depot for the Underground Railroad. She sheltered 17 slaves at one time, under her roof. She is bringing a blanket to put around the shoulders of the fugitive.
Catherine Harris and Silas Sherman both lived in the area where this tableau is placed. It is in a small park on one of the main city streets. A large portion of our black population live in this area so it is the perfect location.
This tableau has been in the works since 2000. It is absolutely beautiful! Visiting it was a very emotional experience.
Click here to see another bronze statue recently unveiled and here to read more about this local artist.

Road trip

My daughter and I went on a road trip to several nurseries this week. It was a great way to spend some time together doing something we both love.

This is at a ladies home out in the country. She has fields planted with rows and rows of perennials and she sells them for $2. a shovelful.
I haven't seen a white cranesbill geranium before.
We just happened upon this one but I bought a couple things there. I got a new fern and a purple astilbe.
We each bought a couple starter plants at this one.
This is several miles from home but we try to go every year. It is at her home and we love to check out her gardens.



This is my favorite place close to home. It is at the home of a retired couple and they both have an amazing knowledge of plants. They have a good selection and are very reasonable.

Walk right into the woods to find the shade loving plants.
Did you notice parts of the blue cruiser in several pictures?
These are the plants I bought. I'm hoping to plant them on Sunday.
All and all it was a super day. If you'd like to see more click here.

Picnic basket

My niece asked me to paint a picnic basket for her to give as a wedding gift. It did please that she considered a picnic basket a good wedding gift because that is my standard wedding gift for family and close friends. I try to paint something that reflects their decor or their likes and collections.

I have found that to get the best basket for the money I need to go to the source. My source is the Greenfield Basket Company which is about a 40 minute drive from my home. The Greenfield Company has made quality baskets since 1933. The baskets are still made the old fashion way, hand woven and machine stapled. They carry over 80 varieties of baskets.

I love the look of the factory. Just like it has looked for years.
When you want a basket, just walk in the office,
look around at the walls,
pick what you want
and they will go out into the factory and get it for you.
I got a basic 2 pie basket with a shelf inside .
Now all I have to do is get it painted!

Super Heroes

Here is the bat-no-more-mobile and all the bat removal tools.

Does this look like a Super Hero to you? He is to me! This is Batman! Here is his trusty side kick Robin, up on the roof. He's fixing a hole where some molding rotted and fell off the roof. He also caulked around all the windows.
Let me tell you, they are heroes to me if they got rid of the bats! They found 2 good size holes along the roof edge but think the bats were coming in the louvers on the front of the house. That area is covered with screen except enough room for them to get out.
Batman will be back next week to see if they are all gone and to close up the last hole. I'm already much more relaxed as I sit here at night. What a relief!

Thank you!

First, I would like to thank you all for my birthday wishes. I had a great day spent in my favorite way, with my kids and granddaughter.Next, I would like to thank Early Bird for giving me my first ever blogging award, the Rockin' Girl Award.

She said " This woman's thumb is sooooo green. I just wish I had a fourth of her botanical talents! She is a hard worker and a devoted Mama and grandma!"

If I am remembered for anything, it would be for the last sentence! I know I'm supposed to pick 5 new recipients but that is impossible! I read so many blogs but all for different reasons and I would be hard pressed to pick which ones I like the most. That changes on any given day depending on my mood and what I need that day. I say we're all "Rockin" Girls" for whatever our passion is! So "Rock on Bloggers!"

Last, but certainly not least, I like to thank my kids for another great birthday!

Chris made us beer can chicken. They tell you how here.
We also had potatoes on the grill and a family favorite, zucchini casserole.
Jerzie sat up to the table and ate right along with us.
The meal was topped off with Laurie's homemade cheese cake!

Everything was delicious!
I got the saw I wanted, although Chris wasn't sure it was the safest thing to give me! Plus a handle for my battery trimmers so I can stand up to trim. (Actually, so I won't be as apt to cut my fingers!) Also a pair of warm up pants that I asked for.

I also got this beautiful shrub rose. This rose is a testimony to the importance of blogging! I had commented about some one's shrub rose and said that I had always wanted one. Well, my daughter read the comment and told Chris they would have to find me one for my birthday! I told them when I saw it that I had just commented that I wanted one and she said, "I know" and started smiling. I would have never gotten a shrub rose if I didn't blog!

Thanks, everyone!

A good day!

Since my daughter is already advertising it, I might as well fess up. Today is my birthday. I'm spending it in the best way I know of, with Jerzie! Tonight we're all going to Laurie and Chris' for dinner with (hopefully) homemade cheesecake for desert!

As expected, it didn't take long for Jerzie to decide that she liked her pool after all.

Look at the water everywhere!


I'm off to spend time with Jerzie!

Ferns

Since I just did a fern project and said how I love ferns, I thought I would do my Green Thumb Sunday post on ferns.
I love this fern. I seem to go for any plant that has a burgundy color. This Japanese Painted fern fits right in. It only grows 12 to 15 inches but has a big impact because of it's beautiful color.
Autumn Fern is another colorful fern. Click on it to enlarge and you can see burgundy, golds, and rusts. It's a larger fern (up to 24 inches) and it's leaves are quite shiny.
This is a traditional American Maidenhair fern. The first 2 are the only ferns that I purchased and these others I either dug up in the woods or just happened to grow in my shade garden
Can you see the slight difference between these two? I like the effect of one seeming to grow from the other.
This fern seems to grow wild here. It is not in a clump like the others but will just sprout a stem or two here and there. As you can see it is a brighter green than the others, too.
Ferns form the back drop for most of my shade garden.
I didn't realized until I did my fern project that I take these plants for granted, especially the solid green ones. Do yourself a favor and really look at your ferns. Notice the many shades of color, the lacy delicate shapes and the elegance of all the different types. If you don't have any maybe you should think about getting some.