Mystery!

I have several of these plants in my garden. It is one of those plants that you only put in one and it sprouts up all over.

It isn't particular about conditions.

I love the texture and color of it.
You can definitely smell it.
Bright yellow flowers.
Kinda looks like bamboo, doesn't it?
The original plant is at least 6 feet tall.

What do you think it is?
I'll tell you tomorrow!

Jerzie Day

It's Monday and by now you all know what that means. Jerzie day! We've already gone for a walk, gone on the swing, played catch and gone swimming. Grandma's tired so Jerzie is down for a nap! Because you have already seen us do all those things I decided to show you some pictures from last weekend when I had her overnight.Do you know what these are? They are used to help little ones learn to feed themselves. As you have probably noticed, Jerzie is quite independant and head strong. When she decided she'd had enough breakfast I decided to let her try these.
Last time she tried, she got it in her mouth but didn't get the food on without help. She has it all figured out now. In the dish ...
...and in the mouth.
She only misses a little.
This was just for the camera! I'm sure she's saying "See, I knew I could do this!" Click to enlarge to get the full effect of this charming picture!

Green Thumb Sunday

We've had some much needed rain the last couple weeks. After the rain comes...

the rain lilies!
I love these. I have no idea their real name. I dug these up probably 20 years ago in my Grandmother's yard in Florida. They are bulbs and I tried every way to keep them alive. I finally put them in this wash tub (Well not this actual tub, I've been through a few in 20 years!). I put them, tub and all, in the basement in the winter and only water them a couple times.
I have separated them several times but they just keep multiplying.
They are gone now and when I deadheaded I counted over 40 blooms. When the conditions are right, they will bloom again, but it must rain. I can water all I want and maybe one bloom will appear. Get a good soaking rain and some hot weather and this is what you get. The blooms only last a couple days. I love the color and the simplicity of the flowers. I don't understand it, but I love it.

Do you have any rain lilies or know the real name for these?

I'm giving foxglove seeds to anyone who wants them. Click here for more information.

Another Bronze

I went to a local elementary school to check out their bronze statue by local artist, Dave Poulin.
He has captured the movement so perfectly that at first glance you think someone is actually jumping rope.
I love this back view with her skirt and leg movement and foot balanced on her toes. Local children have posed for several of Dave's sculptures.

Dave has sculptures in other areas of the country. To find out where click on his name above. To see other sculptures I've posted click here and here. We are very fortunate to have such a wonderful artist in our area.

4

I got this meme from Miss Flower and thought I would give it a try. I added a catagory at the end instead of tagging 4 people.
4 jobs I’ve held

1. short order cook and waitress
2. plastic factory (filed plastic pieces and assembled jewelry boxes)
3. hairdresser
4. grocery store cash office/ cashier

4 movies I could watch over and over

1. Benny and Joon (My son and I love this movie and Chris and Laurie think we're crazy! If you've seen it what's your opinion?)
2. Pretty Woman
3. Sorry, not a big movie watcher!
4.

4 places I’ve lived

1. Frewsburg
2. Jamestown
3. Back to Frewsburg
4. Back to Jamestown (these places are about 10 minutes apart! Doesn’t my life sound exciting?!)

4 TV shows I watch

1. Grey’s Anatomy
2. Desperate Housewives
3. Ugly Betty
4. American Idol
5. lots of various HGTV and TLC shows

4 places I’ve been on vacation

1. Florida
2. Williamsburg, Va.
3. Lancaster, Pa
4. Fort Lenordwood, Mi ( I guess this counts as a vacation. I drove there (2 days)alone to pick up my son from boot camp. I was there 24 hours and we drove back home.

4 favorite foods

1. Lobster tail
2. Cheese cake
3. Barbecued ribs
4. Ice cream

4 blogs/websites I visit

1. Miss Flower (daughter)
2. Pea’s Corner
3. Dawn (reason I blog!)
4. Teeny Tiny Cabin

4 favorite perennials

1 .Mullein
2. Foxglove
3. Japanese anemone
4. Solomon seal

This was fun so if you need a filler feel like doing it, please leave a comment so I can read yours. I'm sure you are all impressed by what an exciting life I have lived! I would love to hear about yours!

Foxglove anyone?

I have never grown foxglove from seed but I know there are some brave souls out there that enjoy starting seed. I collected my foxglove seed and as you can see below, I have quite a few seeds!
I wasn't able to separate colors so the seeds will be a mix of the foxglove in the top picture and the ones in the second picture. The purple looking ones in the second picture are really closer to the dark pink color in the first picture and since they bloomed so well this year I'm sure a lot of the seeds came from them. There might even be some pale yellow. Since foxglove are biennial, I would plant a few one year and more the next year.

If you are interested in some seed just leave a comment and e-mail (address in profile) me your mailing address and I will send them right out.

Lurkers are welcome to the seeds too but you'll have to show yourself with a comment!

Just stuff

My neighbor and I went to an estate sale on Tuesday. Lots of expensive antiques and not much of the "junk" that I like. I did find this ladder in the garage. It was painted green at some point but by the looks of it, it was several years ago. I thought it would fill the spot where my tree was in the garden. Next year I'll plant a vine to grow on it.
My girl friend gave me these cute wooden ducks for my birthday. The one on the right has a tube to measure rain. I put them on the church pew by the beauty shop door. I love their blue and yellow boots!
I took this picture at the basket factory. I loved the old weathered wood and the rusty thermometer. It's probably been there as long as the factory has!
Just resting under a tree while working in the yard.

more "Warm and Fuzzy"

My daughter called on Sunday and asked if I'd like to have supper together on Monday. I said sure, figuring something was up! Her next statement was, "I got some fresh green beans". So that's the catch! She wanted some "warm and fuzzy"(click for more info) cooking! She wanted green beans and potatoes, one of our favorite summer dishes. Here's how I do it. Boil potatoes.
Steam fresh green beans in micro.
When cooked, drain potatoes, cover with milk and add a chunk of butter.
Add drained beans.

Cook until milk is scalded (just before it boils).

Smash potatoes and cover with milk and green beans.We don't need anything else with it but I usually have some sliced tomatoes. I used to make a meat with it but the kids just wanted beans and potatoes.

(I hope I did it right this time Donna!)

For more "warm and fuzzy" recipes just put warm and fuzzy in the blog search engine.

While Laurie was here she took this picture of my trumpet creeper. I think I might need to trim it in the spring.These are the flowers on it.

Let's party!

Jerzie's Mommy and Daddy had a great 1st birthday party for her at a park on Sunday. The party had a doggie theme so Mommy and I made dog ears for all the kids. Jerzie's had purple bows to match her dress. I had given her one of her presents on Friday, her actual birthday.
Just look at her "reading "
her card! Admiring her gift.
I gave her a baby ring from my Mom's things. I don't really know whose it was but knew Jerzie had to have it.
On Sunday I gave her a rocking chair. One of my customer's husbands made it.It's made from cherry and I really love it.

They even made a pad, from material I bought, so she won't slide out of it!
I also gave her a "book" I made from my post in February about "Wrestling a Bear".
I used the same pictures and copied the words.
Her Mommy was real happy with it and I'm sure Jerzie will enjoy it when she's grown up.
She's sitting nice in her chair now but Daddy thinks he'll have to put a belt on it because she jerks back and forth to rock.

If you'd like to see how much she liked her doggie cake and get a good laugh click here.
All and all it was a great, but tiring day! She hadn't even left the park yet.