2nd Annual Garden/Tea Party

I Think that the kittens stole the show! But I still loved sharing the garden with my friends.

We all enjoyed the day, eventhough the weather last week was going from above average temperatures that reminded you of July back to springtime with temperatures with lows in the mid-50's and highs in the upper 70's.

Everyone came out that morning to visit and share their favorite tasty salad or desserts. It is so much fun to see what they bring every year, I am never disappointed. Also, most all made it home with not only some new plants for our garden, but more importantly new friends.

Until next time.

Blessings,

Laurie

Happy Mother's Day

Won't be doing any gardening today, instead will be sitting comfortably on my chaise lounge. My my oldest daughter bought this as a gift 2 mother's days ago. I placed it in a strategic place, so I can just lay there and enjoy the fruits of my labor.
Until Next Time.
Blessings,
Laurie

Tying Up Those Onions

To tie up your onions you will need a ball of twine and some scissors.

Cut about 40" of twine. Leave 8-10" of one end to tie into a loop to hang your onions.

Now lay out your freshly picked onions that you want to tie up, then tie the long end that was left after making your hanging loop around the first onion.

Go under the onion, over the onion, and through the loop.

This will tie the onion snuggly onto the twine.

Continue to do this until the string is used up. You should be able to tie about 8-10 onions onto the twine before it is used up. Leave 1-2" between each onion to give enough air circulation in the drying process. When you come to the last onion, secure the string by tying the loop several times.

Now you are ready to hand your newly tied onions. Place on a secure hook, somewhere outside in a shaded area or in a laundry room, or shed to dry. These onions will last up to one year, just cut one off as you need it.

Until next time.

Blessings,

Laurie

Friends & Family Are Blooming All Over the Place

It is so wonderful when a cutting from a dear friend not only takes root, but grows and blooms. It was so exciting to see this little yellow rose, back in the Fall my friend Kim was gracious enough to have shared a cutting. It came from her 100 year old historic home. This rose to our best knowledge, was originally planted by her front porch in the 1920's.

I can look all around my garden and remember family and friends that have shared a cutting, or divided a plant for my garden. There is the crium that my husband's Paternal Grandmother gave me some 16 years ago, that in July blooms a bright hot pink flower. The shrimp plant that my friend Mildred shared that feeds the hummingbirds and makes me feel closer to her since she lives out of town. Even a rose bush that was one of my Father In-law's favorite from his home. Also, the sweet peas that train up my lattice, that came from Ella Vee a friend and neighbor, a long time gardener for over 50 years. I love the scent from these little flowers, to me they are just divine and one of my favorites.

Some of these people are no longer living, but their plants are. So when I feel melancholy, I can stroll around the garden and perk right up. I highly recommend you consider this as a way to get your flower beds full of garden memories.

Until next time.

Blessings,

Laurie

Skitter Repellent or Just Plain Silly?

My daughter and I were out in the garden the other day and were beginning to be bothered by mosquitos. Large, ugly Texas sized ones. I just kept swatting them, but my daugther decided to come up with her own idea to keep the pests off. Besides applying the repellent this was her solution:

Well, she did keep them off of her. Maybe they decided anyone crazy enough to wear such bizarre socks in the garden was worth leaving alone.

Until next time.

Blessings,

Laurie

Spreading A Little Sunshine!

Not much to say, just wanted to share my excitement in how well the garden is doing this Spring. Even with wind, no rain, then lots of rain, freezes when we didn't expect them, then unseasonably hot temperatures. Oh, that's right l live in Texas, now don't I.

Any hope you enjoy.

Until next time.

Blessings,

Laurie

Honey Wants to Be a Momma, Too!

Lovey "The real Momma cat"

Honey

"The wanna be Mom"

I know this has nothing to do with gardening, but it was too funny ,crazy and endearing not to share.

We have a house cat, Honey, and we have outside, barn or garden cats. One of our outside cat, Lovey, had 4 kittens of her own and adopted 4 kittens. Their mother died and she has taken care of 8 kittens for the last 3 weeks.

Yesterday, the kittens seemed restless. They have been inside our laundry room with Lovey and we let them come into the living room to play. We weren't quite sure how Honey was going to react to the little balls of fluff.

See Honey was rescued, she was abused as a kitten and taken away from her mother too soon. So she has had socialization problems with people and other animals.

Here is what she did. You can see for yourself in the above photos, not only did she like the kittens, she loves them. So much so Honey decided to be a surrogate momma. Crazy cat is even trying to nurse them, how I'm not sure. She is fixed and isn't lactating.

Anyway, it's amazing how some animals and even people surprize you with a compassionate side you didn't know was there. Lesson: never give up hope on those that seem hopeless.

Until next time,

Blessings,

Laurie