A new phase.

I'm starting another new phase of my life. Last Saturday I quit my job at the grocery store. Since the new owners, we lost all our seniority and vacation. We were told that we can't take any days off thru August. I asked for last Sunday to go to a craft show with my daughter and found out Friday that I didn't have the day off. My supervisor was down right nasty to me and couldn't find anyone to take my place. I needed time off next week and again in June and was afraid I wouldn't get the time off. It was a huge decision because of my health insurance. After weighing the pros of the job, good health insurance, savings account, against the cons, letting a part time minimum wage job rule my life, family time, the scales became totally unbalanced. Money verses family. No contest! I went to work Saturday night and quit that night. I would not normally quit that way but it was the only way I could get Sunday off. This time was more than a craft show, it is a Mom and daughter day that we get only a few times a year.

I have been very unhappy with the job and feel a huge load lifted, even tho I need to find new insurance. I missed a lot of my kids activities because I needed to work to support them, I refuse to miss my Sweeties growing years! This new phase is definitely a good thing!

It's Bloomin' Tuesday!

These daffodils look like they are crying but they are really tears of joy! We have had 2 days of much needed rain. The temps have been cool so not much more is blooming than last week. I have a couple small groups of tulips blooming. I think I like them closed as well as open.

The dark purple is really striking.
These would of been pretty if the neighborhood bunny hadn't been hungry! These are in my center garden. All the mulch was swept away in the flood last year. I'm trying to get rid of as many weeds as I can before I add new mulch.
I have clumps of forget-me-nots all over! I let them bloom and then pull them out. They are really pretty when they are all blooming but they would take over if I didn't keep on top of it.
The coral bells (heuchera) add color to the shade garden all season. Their blooms are small but the impact is large because of the lovely leaf shades.

Carmel

Green Spice

Lime Rickey

This is my one bloom on the Lenten Rose I planted last year. I thought it was white but love the colors. Much more interesting than white.
That's what's I have bloomin' in Western NY. I'm anxious to see what's bloomin' where you are planted! Add your name and permalink to Mr Linky and put a link to this post on your blog and join our spring garden tour. Don't forget, you need to sign up every week you want to join so you aren't committed to anything. Click the sidebar button for a choice of buttons and more information.

We want to see your bloomers!

Frogs!

I have another collection! I know, I didn't need another one but I couldn't help myself. I'm collecting frogs! No, not that kind of frogs!

I'm collecting flower frogs.I have a few glass ones, but my main interest is old, rusty metal ones. This dish of glass ones is on my dining room table.
I searched several antique shops and malls and couldn't find any so I had to go online. Of course, I had seen them at household sales before I decided to collect them.

(Click on the picture to enlarge and see details.)

They come in several sizes and shapes. They also have pottery ones but they tend to be more expensive. I would definitely buy pottery ones too if I liked it and the price was right.

It will be fun to look at flea markets now that I have a good start. I'll just pick up unique ones now.

The metal ones are on my old green table on the deck. They fit right in with my rustic look and are a good collection for a gardener.

It's Bloomin' Tuesday!

We had a couple frosts and some snow this week but it doesn't seem to have bothered the garden at all. I hope it slows down some or we're going to be all bloomed out early this year. I heard that the season is about 3 weeks ahead of normal.
I forgot to add the picture of this lovely tulip that Chris and Laurie gave me for Easter this year. I love the color.
The hellebore (Lenten Rose) is doing great and there is a bud on the white one.
I finally have a color of prim rose blooming besides pink and white. This dark blue is a favorite of mine so I'm glad it made it.

I moved the trillium to the shade garden last summer and a couple are blooming. I think I'll try to get a few more, they don't seem to spread very fast.

One of my bleeding heart is also showing some color. I moved stuff around in the shade garden when I enlarged it so I'm glad to see blooms.

I was drawn to the vibrant color of this spurge (Euphorbia martinii)..

I love the red centers and after reading about it, I'm happy that it came back.
It usually likes a warmer climate.

I was surprised to see this Fritillary meleagris (snakes head) because the stem is so thin and frail looking. I'd actually forgotten about them. Don't you love getting surprises in the garden?

Now that I've shown you all my bloomers, I'm anxious to see yours! Just add your name and permalink to Mr Linky and add a link to this post on your blog. For info and button choices click the button on my side bar. I was very excited to see some new participants last week and hope for more this time around. I'm also happy to reconnect with some old gardening friends. Wouldn't it be fun to get at least one person in every state? The only trouble is, I see too many plants I want and can't grow here! LOL! Thanks for sharing and for stopping by!

Superpowers!

My rockers! Gramma went clearance sale shopping. I can do it myself!

Jumpin' for joy and sand castle princess!!

Superpowers!

Conversation with Jerzie coming home.

'Gramma, the woods are really dark.'

'I know, that's why we have flashlights in the woods'
'Gramma, I need a flashlight but my Daddy doesn't.'
'Really?'

'Yea. I need a flashlight but my Daddy has lighted eyes.'
'What?'

'My Daddy doesn't need a flashlight 'cause he has lighted eyes and can see in the dark.'

You're what???

Happy 40th Birthday to my favorite son-in-law!Look what happens when you're hitting 40! You need to stop and rest during a family walk in the woods

. Stop over and wish Chris a Happy Birthday!

Jail!

Jerzie calls my front entry her jail. She loves to stick her sister in jail. I've just given up cleaning these windows! She even likes to put herself in jail. Honest! I didn't put her in there, mostly because they can get out too easy!

Dancing in jail to the music in your head. There most be a lesson in there somewhere!

It's Bloomin' Tuesday!

Welcome!I mowed the lawn for the first time tonight. Parts of it didn't really need it but other parts did. I does look better now.
This is the path thru the shade garden I enlarged last year. The prim roses are lining the stone path just as I'd hoped. Hopefully some other colors will bloom soon and all the plants will come back. We need rain badly, we're supposed to get some tomorrow.
The tiny blue flowers on the Brunnera, Jack Frost are opening. I love this plant but didn't know it flowered when I bought it.

The hyacinth looks pretty good this year. It usually gets snowed on and blooms funny. I enjoy it's lovely scent when it is outside. It's a little strong in the house.

Little patches of these blue and white violets have popped up all over.

They add a nice touch of color and I can always pull out the ones I don't want after they bloom.

A couple different daffodils bloomed this week. I like the bright orange center of this one

and the opposite pale color of these. I have no idea what any of their names are.

That's what's bloomin' here this week. If you'd like to show off your bloomers just add your name and permalink to Mr Linky. Please remember to add a link to this post and to sign up every week you want to participate. For more info and a choice of buttons click the button on my sidebar.

I don't know about you but I'm ready for a walk in the spring sunshine!

Jerzie-isms

Since this is a record of my family, I want to write down a few more of our favorite Jerzie-isms.

(These pictures are from Columbus Day weekend 2009.)

She insists in calling a back pack a 'pack-pack'. We've explained it to her but it's still 'pack-pack', just like a washcloth is a 'cough-cough'.

If she has a finger nail that is peeling off, she says that she 'has a nail'.

Anything that didn't happen today happened 'last night'. It doesn't matter if it actually happened months ago. Every time we hear a Jerzie-ism we all look at each other and smile. This is just a small part of that makes Jerzie Jerzie. I can't wait to see what '-isms' Payton comes up with!

Favors

I dug thru our stash and came up with a cute table favor for Jerzie and I to make for Easter.First we painted some wooden flower pots to look like clay pots.
Payton even got into playing with the stash!

We filled the tiny pots with grass

and some little pearly eggs.

Next we glued a flocked pastel bunny to the top. The girls bunnies are in front because their pots are smaller.

We had our Easter dinner on Monday because I had to work on Sunday so Jerzie got to help. She picked the tablecloth and the napkins. Jerzie had kept out little secret so she was very proud for everyone to see our cute surprises.