What a Weekend...:o(

The weekend started off with a bag of problems...
First one the fridge decided to go on the blink again..(2nd time this month)...calling the Insurance company was fruitless...the company they call to fix it...the guy was SUPPOSED to be sick!! I don't believe it..We think it's because he won't get paid for the 2nd visit because his work was to last 30 days ...So here we are up the creek without a paddle...
Sometimes you just have to grab control...and we did...Went to Home Depot and was able to get a nice "GE" a company we were used to using..I'll never buy another "Maytag" anything..it's been a pain in my lower neck.and not worth the money I paid for it...plus insurance $140.added each year...ugh!
Second the A/C started acting up...the outside freezes up meaning it needs some freon (or whatever the stuff is called) getting someone on the weekend forget about it...Windows open until the heat of the day...and then reopen around 5or 6 should keep us cool until we get that fixed...the cross breeze in the house and the fans working is pretty good...
I woke up this morning about 6:30 (a very rare occasion)and thought how nice a dish of geens would be with some cornbread :o)..for "Breakfast"
Cecil turned over and thought it was a good idea :o)...So out of bed we got and into the garden that had just had a sprinkling of rain...and Cecil picked some greens..just enough for breakfast without leftovers ...

One thing about having your own garden , you can go pick greens in your P.J's :o) cook them when you want them .. Cecil and I agree , you can't get anymore country than that...we promised in the next life..he was to be "FILTHY RICH" and "MORE HANDSOME" ;o)and I would still be a little cutie pie :o)..and be the Queen of the Castle and his pocketbook :o)...That's one of the changes I demand to marry him again :o)

"A Hint of What makes my Garden Grow"

You know how you feel every time you get all that junk mail !! Well, remember that old saying "If life gives you lemons make lemonade"! That's exactly what I did with all that junk mail I'm always receiving (every day) ..it is so annoying...I found something good to do with it...
I shred everyone of them and put them into a bag when my shredder is full...then Cecil takes the bags and puts them in the shed...when fall comes he will put the shredded paper and the leaves and the left over garden waste and turns it all over in the garden."Compost"..last year he added some cow manure and the deer came looking for food...they ate some branches off the Apple tree...This year he will do it in the fall when there is nothing for them to nibble on...As you can see the Garden did very well this year...and over near the trees when grass wouldn't even grow..it is very fruitful there with the squash...We didn't plant Zucchini just squash and cucumbers there...and a few pepper plants on that side too.

Baby Plants new Spot

I put her on the corner just about underneath the tree..she will get enough Sun in the morning and shade by the heat of the day...her Mother plant always seem to faint in the heat of the day..so maybe she will fair better here...Maybe she will over shadow the Gerba Daisy in time....

Blue Hydrangea

I am so pleased with the growth of this Hydrangea and one of these days I'll find the little slip that gives it's true name...it was a hard plant to find , but I found one and when I did I jumped right on it ;o)...going back means you lost! A close up will show four to five white flowers surrounding a cluster of blue buds, which makes it just a beautiful bush to look at...
The next view is one of the newly planted Hydrangea that doesn't grow as large as as the blue one, but it also has a pretty flower (I'll show it when it's full)...that's why I chose that spot for it...I have other "blue babies" growing and I already have a couple of spots chosen for them..how wonderful to fill the yard with sucklings (for lack of knowing terminology) of favorite plants and watch them grow...
UPDATE: This Hydrangea is from the spieces "Lace Cap Hydrangeas" The name of this one is "Hybrid Blue Bird"..I wasn't too far off calling it Blue Hydrangea..how blessed I am to have it....

The Expected Great Grands Parents (it's a girl")

Say hello to "Renee and Louis" they are pregnant with our first Great Grand Daughter.
They came to spend the 61st Anniversary with us..and so we could see Renee pregnant:o)..she is tiny but I bet she will have a big baby..isn't that always the way...
They are the reason I didn't take time to blog...we sat around and chewed the fat and they were enjoying the time as much as we enjoyed having them...He loves to eat and he and Cecil had a field day...I cooked some favorites that I was too busy to take picture of for the blog...I made a large Lasagna,(which I had to freeze the rest. a "sock -it -to- me -cake". Pear and Apple cobbler and they were pleased it was from their Grands tree..Chicken and Dumplings ..greens from the main garden (first crop too), and fried cornbread, they called "johnny cakes"..my "Spaghetti Medley" and breakfast included biscuits, brown and serve sausage...didn't have time to serve my homemade sausage...I did a lot of cooking..and they enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed cooking for them...now to take a rest ...maybe :o)

Rape growing in my Side Garden

Hope you noticed I said MY SIDE Garden< I had some beautiful Patriot Hosta's there and I don't know what happened but they just died off (except two).. I plan to separate those into more plants eventually...but for now..it's my side garden..I planted some Rape greens there...and this morning I treated myself to the first pickings of them to "thin them out" I don't think they needed thinning, I just wanted to eat some they looked so young and tender...I ate them with some left over Fried Corn Bread< which my Grandson called "Johnny Cakes"..No matter...they were Ginny's Cakes for breakfast :o)...and the greens were so tender I ate the stalks too!

The little Plant that grew

Last year I snapped a piece of one of my favorite Hydrangea's (they are all a favoriet :o) and planted it in a pot ...I showed you that it lived the first of this Spring...and now she is really ready for her own spot...and Cecil promised to plant her today...maybe I have a green thumb..I have several others that I want to put in a permanant spot also...Seems they like growing in shade best and I have a spot for it ...

Little Sugar Snap Peas

I got my greenhouse a little late...but decided to try and make use of it...and I tried a package of Sugar snap peas I had from last year...Well , needless to say they are preforming great...I was able to steal some space in the garden and on my side garden and these I planted in the box so if I could find more space..they would be planted there...I heard Cecil telling the Grandson, that next year he was going to dig up another three feet of garden space across...whoopee!...I planted that seed and now like most Men "it's his idea" < I don't give a crap as long as it gets done :o)

The Potato Plants have Flowers (or Blooms)

If you do a close up...in the extreme right of the picture in the back you can see the potato plants with a flower (I think I should say bloom :o( on the top...(I don't know what that means, I think it might signify that they are making potatoes ...anyway, they look strong and healthy and I can't wait to see what they look and taste like ...We are such farmers :o)...

Cranberry Beans (October Beans to some)

Whoo Hoo! ..Those beans are looking good..They are all across the garden, but I only snapped a small section..We love those Cranberry beans before they are dried...like a lot here in NC love those Pinto Beans...I want to cook them and put them up in jars for a ready meal when I'm busy weaving, knitting, sewing or just plain lazy :o)...We are also hoping that we can plant a second crop...oh Joy! Country living is the bomb!

Here at the right side of the garden, MY TOMATO plants are looking good..they are heirlooms that I just had to have..Cecil wasn't too keen on them, (bet he eats the most when they are ready,) just like the Hen in the nursery rhyme who couldn't get anybody help her make the bread, but all wanted to eat it.My Pepper plants are being hidden right now but they are also thriving ...I put in some Red sweet peppers just because I could :o)...and I wanted to see how they would do ....
We had enough tomatoes last year to last until this year...mostly from friends garden..this year hopefully ours will produce abundantly...it looks like they are on their way :o)...

Spuash Blooms showing :o)

What Joy this cool and quiet morning to take a walk down to see the garden and find a delightful surprise...Blooms on the squash plants and the cucumbers too!.(in case you don't know, they are the yellow flowers underneath :o)..look a little closer and see the blooms on the Cranberry beans :o)..Mother Nature does her job during the night quietly and just!!...All the work put into the garden during the winter shows the health of it now...

We have lost our 25 year old Cement Lions...

Usually the time flies by or just creeps when your in a hurry....I don't know what happen to this week...it's been a busy trying one...
Cecil got his injection on Monday...and is feeling much better...Dr explained to us both that the injections would probably take 2 or more Weeks to get rid of the pain and no guarantee as to how long it will stay away!...Well we both feel better in spells and then all of a sudden the pain shoots up again...but we do feel better..

We are having company for Memorial Day and you know how it is ...there is always some special shopping and cleaning to do....We both have been doing what needed to be done...and nothing extra...I went to the beauty parlor the other day and thought I was up to shopping in the store..(wrong) should have taken my butt home and sat in the chair...that little hour wore me out :o(...I remember when I shopped til I dropped all day and half the night...pushing that right leg was not good...

This morning about 8:30 Cecil went to the store...I was in the kitchen getting the bacon ready for breakfast he was back about 9:15 and announced that in that time someone had walked up the driveway and taken the two lions (one from each side of the driveway) we had for 25 years, we brought them with us from NJ...:o(...
There is more to the story...but we can't accuse what we didn't see...We did call the police to report it...If I see them ...I will know them...there are some special marks that I'm not telling....

A Special Birthday Wish

Happy Birthday, Gentle Reader.

One of the many things our birthdays symbolize is a fresh start, just as we had on the day we were born.

May this be a year of fresh hope, fresh ambitions, fresh faith, and much laughter (which, as we know, doeth good like a medicine).

Thank you for loving Mitford. Please know that Mitford loves you back.

Faithfully yours,

Jan

I've gotten a lot of Birthday wishes from a lot of "Special" people...and this one was a complete surprise... it may go out to many others,and I don't care...this one was for me :o)and I appreciate the thought...
I don't know what the rest of the day will be...now it's raining and I'm reluctant to get dressed and go out...stay tuned...I never know what I'm about to do :o)

It's in it's Place

My Mother always said.."There is a place for everything, and everything should be in it's place" < that was the regular Saturday cleaning statement to clean my room..being anal :o) it has stuck all my life and being a typical old lady..I can make room for anything new :o) and this is the perfect spot for Ladydi's gift, on the side of a food cabinet in the kitchen...I will see it everyday and so will others,:o).. you can see there is no room on the fridge..that's reserved for Dr appointments,etc reminders...seeing it there makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside :o) to know that I have touched a life that feels mine was worth a thought...:o) ..(wipe your nose, your sniffling :o)...

What a Day!! Good News and Bad!

...First...Cecil and I both went to the Dr..to find out the cause of our pain.
both had levetee leven (that means many) X-Ray's of our hips, knees,and back..What a surprise..both our knees were in good condition...Dr said Cecil knees were better than some younger man :o)...Cecil's head popped to the ceiling :o) (that means it was swollen with pride :o)...but darn it ..his L.hip bones are rubbing causing him the pain..he is going to get a shot to see if that will help before we think about surgery..
As for me, I was given a shot in the knee...in hopes that will help, my pain is radiating from above and below previous back surgery...the pins are in place but a note of bulging is detected above and below them...oh crap! always something..the price of growing old..
Now the Good News
The Mailbox was loaded with good wishes from family (my sister in law) and Blog friends "Jilly" and "Ladydi"..The picture above shows the beautiful Quilted "Home Sweet Home" with little Gingerbread looking buttons, one is me and the other is Cecil..they are so cute and what a wonderful, thoughtful idea..Ladydi, your a good little quilter..maybe it's the water you drink :o)...and thank "Larry" for drilling the holes for the buttons :o)...You are training him well :o) (the devil made me say that). Hope you notice the FAT Bouquet, and I didn't skimp on the cake..I think I made it too big :o)...my Grandson doesn't get here until next week..Cecil will probably take care of this one :o) Thank you all for your thoughtfulness, what a blessing you all have been....Me!!

Opposite side of Peony Row

This was to be Wednesday's Post...but we got busy
Usually I look at the Peony's sitting on the Patio...and don't usually go to the side of the house unless I want to cut more or see how the Canna Lillies are doing!
What a surprise!! the view of the Peony's was spectacular from that side..you could see so many blooms waiting to pop out...
Cecil busy yesterday taking out some old lillies from the front ..and I was busy falling all over the garden (literally ;o) and the side of the house trying to get the Sweet pea's in the ground ...it looked like rain and they needed to be planted..It's nice to get old but it's tough to remember you don't move like you used too! plus your bottom is fatter :o) and wants to act like a magnet to the ground...I was rolling all over the place cause I couldn't be on my knees..ugh!

Right side of Peony Row

the right side of the Peony Row you can see the Persimmon tree did live ..I don't see any buds for fruit ..I think it might still be too young to bear fruit...hope I'm here to enjoy some of it...
The "Day Lillie's" haven't bloomed as yet...in this yard there is always "waiting" for something to bloom...so by the time they all do ...the season is finished and the Fall begins :o(

Left side of Peonies growing

You can see (if you do a close up) there are lots of blooms ready to open on the Peony's and I can't wait to pick a bouquet for inside the house.
Also the two Pear Trees are looking good ..the one on the left will be the one to bear the fruit this year...I think Nature causes them to alternate...that's good because the two at the same time would be overwhelming for me to "Put up". (Can)...I'll have enough to do with all these fruit trees , I'm not complaining....

How does my Garden Grow :o)

It grows by love and attention,Cecil planted a lot, and I think he used the space wisely ...This Left side has squash, cucumbers, Peppers , Cranberry beans (October beans to some).. potatoes , green beans...
This is the Right side of the garden, where I was allowed my own space :o) Heirloom tomatoes :o) and some red sweet peppers and all the cranberry beans we could squeeze in ...we both love them fresh and not dried..in the Jars they will go :o)

This is a team effort (with my supervision)...We are making each inch count..and the Rape on the side of the house is doing good, but the Spinach isn't thriving too well.
My little Sugar Peas are growing fast in my little Greenhouse...don't know yet where I will put them..maybe in back of the collards on the side...maybe dig up another 3 feet for garden space.(I should have sneaked and bought that tiller :o(

There were these flowers also in the Fruit Basket

I thought they were pretty and would add some beauty to one of my favorite summer hats...I wear these hats all the time..keeps the Sun off my head which I need...makes me Dizzy in the noon day Sun to be bare headed :o)
Sometimes a small Card carries a lot of weight inside :o)...Everyone does something differnt and I get a lot of pleasure ...and bragging rights...

Unvailed the basket had lots of goodies underneath that you couldn't see..They make a pretty nice basket anyone would love as a gift...

Mothers Day Gifts a coming :o)

I Love these Holidays that honor Mothers :o)...I make out like a bandit in May...
Everything I celebrate is in May..Birthday, Mother's Day,..Wedding Anniversary (61) this year...
My Poor kids go broke in May...plus there are others in the family that celebrate birthday's and Wedding Anniversary's ..but because we are the "Seniors" we get the first goodies :o)...most to the time all the goodies..
I say like what's his name "Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what your going to get" :o)...Well I got a nice box with chocolates, fruits, cheeses etc.
From "Harry and David" not only are the items delicious..but the basket itself is a treasure..
The picture doesn't show all it contained.. the bottom was loaded with Pears (9) to be exact..the Apples showed on the top..

Cupbard Stocked with Ham Stock :o)

I showed you the Chicken stock...well, that put me on a roll :o)...I had this Smoked Ham left from Easter and it was a nice bone still full of meat.. Cecil and I had our fill of it ..I made sandwiches galore...and for once (just for a little while) I got sick of Ham Sandwiches :o)...So into the stock pot it went..all night simmering and then into the jars..there was still a lot of meat on it for seasoning with the first 7 jars ..so I cooked it more ..I ended up with a total of 12 jars of stock :o) pretty good..or it will be once I add it to a pot of beans, soup or whatever...all at my finger tips and better than the stores stock :o)..I think that's pretty good all out of a $15. Ham

First Bouquet of Peonies

Once the Iris begin to fade I can look forward to the blooming of the Peonies...I was glad to see them bloom this Spring...like little people growing up :o)...
I had many in NJ and it has taken a few years for them to mature here in NC..but at last they have taken good root and are preforming well....These are my rewards for the yard work I did :o)...

Isn't this a lovely First Bouquet of Spring :o)

Sunday was a good day..I picked my first Bouquet from the yard and was surprised that I had a few nice choices...My white Iris finally multiplied this year and it wasn't heartbreaking to "pick one" for a bouquet...
Another good thing , Cecil and I were anxious to "taste" the chicken that was canned to make "Chicken with Dumplings" Well, surprise, surprise...it was on the money..I'd like to make a few more jars of that...it was so easy for me...I even made my own dumplings I felt so "Country" :o) (one of my favorite feelings besides sex :o) whoopee! just the thought excites me :o)....I feel naughty today..must have drunk to much water :o)

Another return in Spring

Often you can forget the beauty of a flower if you don't look at a picture during the winter spell...but it's all renewed when Spring unfolds and they begin to peek out at you and show you such beautiful colors...the Jacobs Coat Rose and the Spider Wort has such delicate colors ...Nature is certainly the best Artist..

Giving you just a little peek at this farmers Rape

I'm so happy to see the Rape coming up in the spot that the turnips did so well in..I hope they taste as good o)...I planted some spinach in my side garden also , but it doesn't look like I have anything yet...the seeds were fatter than the rape..and what I see almost looks like grass...except it has one of the seeds on it..I have to wait and see if its spinach :o)...

The Canning was successful

It's a lot of preparation and time to do "Canning" but when you have the work completed and in front of you it is very rewarding..It seems to me everyone these days are thinking "Green" and doing all the things to save their own personal economy.
Prserving food isn't something new...we all just went about it in different ways...Some never bought unless it's on sale...(I only stock up with things I use)...
Some buy "just because it was on sale"...That ends up not being a bargain to me..but we all have an opinion about that...
I don't like running to the store...that temps me to buy something I can do without, especially these days ...and I try to eat before I go shopping..when I'm hungry I shop like crazy...my best shopping is done with my list...sometimes I run into something I forgot or there is a sale on an item I use a lot...then there I go :o)...but most times I can go without certain items ...until next shopping trip if my stock is in good shape. How did I get here talking about canning? Older ones do rattle off ....:o)