Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Spring Bling

So many great things are happening in our garden  ! It is fun to see the flowers we planted coming back to life, budding out and flowering... even the succulents are giving it their all.


 If you took a walk through our garden today, you would see many things blooming right now. There are Daffodil, Manzinita, and Crocus...


 



daffodil, primrose in several colors, wind flowers, tulips, hyacinth also in several colors, iris, mascari, anemonies, coriopus, helibore, stock and a few others I am having a hard time remembering right now.

There are quite a few flowers just breaking ground too... Like the peonies, gladiolas, allium, it's my fun time !!

Monday, March 7, 2011

Help us out here, please !!



This is what I consider a place (in my mind) I would be daily, given my druthers !
I found it on one of my favorite blogs http://memoryboxcreations.blogspot.com/ written by Helena White, (a most worthy to follow blogger friend of ours.) I don't yet know where she found it but I can write eight to ten poems off the top of my head , just from what I see in this , LOVE IT !!

So rather than only Bandit and I doing it, how about we make a game of it... with you !!
Let's see... how about we do a few of our favorite prompts

1) Use these words...  Give the first word that comes to your mind, (we need five words that relate to this picture)

2) First and Last line... Give the first line you think of looking at this picture

3) Use this line... (NOT THE SAME AS #2) This is a line that can be used anywhere in the write

OK if we all do one of each that would give us a good start... Don't you think ?
OURS ARE...

1) Gnome, wonderland, sleepy, pleasure, auroral

2) Tender is the cradle

3) as the night gently sways

Well that is our take on it, hope to see you joining in too !
This post will be copied to our other blog http://dodgewrites.blogspot.com/
YOUR TURN
ENJOY
JL&B

Saturday, March 5, 2011

WOO HOO !! I recieved the Spring Hill shipment !!

I was so happy to see the box filled with the grab bags Wayne and I bought from Spring Hill Nurseries... Three grab bags, in all there are twenty-two plants, of which I had to ask for four of them to be replaced. The clematis was the heart breaker in the four, because it was broken from its root base and I have never grown one before so I have no idea if it will come back or not. Two of the four are fountain grass, which I refuse to allow in my garden just for the fact that they tend to reproduce in places that I don't want them to grow, not to mention the fact the park prefers that we not plant invasive plants, which leads to the forth plant, VINCA !!  Very invasive, in fact it has taken over in the park and we pull it out when we see it coming up in our yard.

So after a half hour or so on the phone with a very nice lady named Charlot I was able to get the replacements for the Clematis and will be receiving some toad lilies and master wort for the grass and vinca. I have to say I really love shopping with the Brecks/Spring Hill/Michigan Bulb Nursery's , they have good products that they guarantee for the life of your garden, and back it up with a full money back or replacement guarantee. You know you just wont get that from your local garden centers.

We normally stick with bulbs in our garden because they are great for reliable plants...
I love the way bulbs reproduce each year to fill the beds up ! This year we are trying out a few perennials that we have not had before, and are hoping they will bring as much joy as our bulbs ! Our frosts are hardest in the 20 degree range, so we do our homework to make sure the plants we plant will make it through. Not all of them do though and I get heartbroken when I find something I like and it doesn't work in our garden. It is all a game of where things will work, just like any yard we have 'problem areas', like we have an area the frosts harder than other areas and areas where the water just evaporates faster than others, so we are finding plants to work for those places.  This is the first plants for this garden so we just have to wait and see what will happen with them. Right now it doesn't even look like there are plants they are so small, but over the next few months they will show what they are made of...LOL I hope they all like their new home...(Grow, babies, grow !!)


The pictures will be posted as the season progresses... fingers crossed they will be happy and healthy !!

Today's Prompt tease is Triolet
come join in the fun @
http://dodgewrites.blogspot.com/
ENJOY
JL&B

Friday, March 4, 2011

I follow you

You might think to yourself that I may be one of those that are easily led. You would be wrong... LOL
I have been known to follow along with things a time or two for love, so you could say that I paid for my innocence learning to be guilty, where emotions are concerned. That is to say I have had my share of tears and fears through the years, now have what I paid for with those years of tears, it bought me more love than I thought I was worthy of, THANK THE SPIRITS ABOVE !!

On that positive note...
I came to the conclusion that I am fond of positive, friendly, sometimes unable to be all the time people, who write what they see, feel, enjoy or dislike, in lyrical or rhythmic fashion and share it willingly with the likes of me.
WOW that was a mouthful, but I think you get me there, all to say if I have chosen to follow you, it is because I see all that in the things I have read on your blog and thank you from every inch of me, for following here too !

so this is for those of you ...

You bring me your world
through the words that you write
share in the smells of spring
warmth on a winters night

How you plant your garden
with love and great care
or the loved ones you miss
wishing they were still there

Walking with a fairy
or beneath a shady tree
I find myself enraptured
being in your company

When I'm feeling lonely
it's just like you know
and brighten up my day
with the words you sew

LOVE YOU ALL !!

Today's Prompt is NONNET
see you there...
http://dodgewrites.blogspot.com/

ENJOY
JL&B

Thursday, March 3, 2011

I'M BACK !!!

I feel like crap still, just so you know, but I no longer want to allow these headaches to run my life. I'm tired of feeling like my head is going to explode and I don't like feeling the queasiness, but I am going to work my way through it.
I thank you all for the loving messages and the healing thoughts sent my way, you all rock my world, I love you all !!

This month is one of the busiest months for Birthdays in our ring of family and friends, on average we have a birthday every third day this month ! That is a lot of birthdays !!!
We hope that all of you have a great month, you have enriched our lives so much and we love you all beyond words ! HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARCHIES !!!

The flower of the month is Jonquil, AKA Narcissus or Daffodil. They come in a large variety of colors and sizes and are a great addition to any garden. On average they are one of the first flowers of spring and multiply every year on their own.  They make a wonderful bouquet all by themselves or with other flowers. I prefer the bulbs to the cut flowers, because each year brings a new bouquet !! So if you know a March Birthday, send them a bouquet of Jonquils, They will love it !!!

Today's Prompt tease is Senryu Poetry
Hope to see you joining in too...

http://dodgewrites.blogspot.com/
ENJOY
JL&B

Monday, February 28, 2011

I'm trying to feel better friends....

I have had a rough few days and have to appologise for my abscense, I have done all I can just to get out of bed the past few days. I am trying to feel better, but am still having a hard time. Please forgive me, I will return soon !

ENJOY
JL&B

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Another E-mail

I love inspirinh stories, these are some that we all can keep in mind....
ENJOY


 1 - First Important Lesson - Cleaning Lady.
 
 
During my second month of college, our professor   
Gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student
And had breezed through the questions until I read
The last one:
"What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?"
Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the
Cleaning woman several times. She was tall,
Dark-haired and in her 50's, but how would I know her name?

I handed in my paper, leaving the last question
Blank. Just before class ended, one student asked if
The last question would count toward our quiz grade.
"Absolutely, " said the professor.. "In your careers,
You will meet many people.  All are significant.. They
Deserve your attention and care, even if all you do
Is smile and say "hello.."

I've never forgotten that lesson.. I also learned her
Name was Dorothy. 


2. - Second Important Lesson - Pickup in the Rain 



One night, at 11:30 p.m., an older African American
Woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway
Trying to endure a lashing rain storm. Her car had
Broken down and she desperately needed a ride.

Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car.
A young white man stopped to help her, generally
Unheard of in those conflict-filled 1960's. The man
Took her to safety, helped her get assistance and
Put her into a taxicab.

She seemed to be in a big hurry, but wrote down his
Address and thanked him. Seven days went by and a
Knock came on the man's door. To his surprise, a
Giant console color TV was delivered to his home. A
Special note was attached.
It read:

"Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway
The other night. The rain drenched not only my
Clothes, but also my spirits.  Then you came along.
Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying
Husband's' bedside just before he passed away... God
Bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving
Others."

Sincerely,
Mrs. Nat King Cole. 



3 - Third Important Lesson - Always remember those

Who serve. 



In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less,
A 10-year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and
Sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in
Front of him.

"How much is an ice cream sundae?" he asked.
"Fifty cents," replied the waitress.

The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and
Studied the coins in it.
"Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?" he inquired.
By now more people were waiting for a table and the
Waitress was growing impatient..

"Thirty-five cents," she brusquely replied.
The little boy again counted his coins.
"I'll have the plain ice cream," he said.
The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on
The table and walked away The boy finished the ice
Cream, paid the cashier and left..  When the waitress
Came back, she began to cry as she wiped down the
Table.  There, placed neatly beside the empty dish,
Were two nickels and five pennies..

You see,  he couldn't  have the sundae, because he had
To have enough left to leave her a tip. 



4 - Fourth Important Lesson. - The obstacle in Our Path. 


In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a
Roadway.  Then he hid himself and watched to see if
Anyone would remove the huge rock.  Some of the
King's' wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by
And simply walked around it..  Many loudly blamed the
King for not keeping the roads clear, but none did
Anything about getting the stone out of the way.

Then a peasant came along carrying a load of
Vegetables.  Upon approaching the boulder, the
peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the
stone to the side of the road.  After much pushing
and straining, he finally succeeded. After the
peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed
a purse lying in the road where the boulder had
been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note
from the King indicating that the gold was for the
person who removed the boulder from the roadway.  The
peasant learned what many of us never understand!

Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve
our condition. 


5 - Fifth Important Lesson - Giving When it Counts... 



Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a
hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liz who
was suffering from a rare & serious disease.  Her only
chance of recovery appeared to be a blood
transfusion from her 5-year old brother, who had
miraculously survived the same disease and had
developed the antibodies needed to combat the
illness.  The doctor explained the situation to her
little brother, and asked the little boy if he would
be willing to give his blood to his sister.

I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a
deep breath and saying, "Yes I'll do it if it will save
 her."  As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed
 next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing
 the color returning to her cheek. Then his face
 grew pale and his smile faded.

He looked up at the doctor and asked with a
trembling voice, "Will I start to die right away".

Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the
doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his
sister all of his blood in order to save her. 


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As I said these are all from an Email, but the lessons are great !!!
ENJOY
JL&B