Short Leave of Absence

To my faithful visitors. Jer n I are getting ready to take a road trip. Sunday morning at 6am we are hitting the road to Ga/Fl. We will be staying in Ga for 3 days and 2 days in Fl. Gran-daughter Brittny is graduating from high school on June 3. I am taking my brain out of gear and will not be looking at the computer. Hopefully if all goes well, we will be back here in Pa. early evening on Friday June 5. Have a wonderful and Blessed week. xoxo :~)

An Unwelcomed Guest

WE have a groundhog in our midst. Once again this year we have a varmint living under our neighbors shed. I am keeping a close eye on this big fella, he likes to eat my flowers. Last year he ate my (just about to bloom) Yarrow, down to the ground. If I had a gun, I think I would have shot it.

Lets Have some Fun

Here is a little something to put a smile on your face. Have fun with it....just click on the link below
This is amazing !!!!

LET'S GO, WHO CAN FIGURE THIS ONE OUT.?????????????
http://www.regiftable.com/RegiftingRobinPopUp.html

Wordless Wednesday

Warm Sunset

Happy Memorial Day

Let us never forget those who gave their lives to preserve our freedom. God Bless the U.S.A

Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11, and was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873. By 1890 it was recognized by all of the northern states. The South refused to acknowledge the day, honoring their dead on separate days until after World War I (when the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war). It is now celebrated in almost every State on the last Monday in May (passed by Congress with the National Holiday Act of 1971 (P.L. 90 - 363) to ensure a three day weekend for Federal holidays), though several southern states have an additional separate day for honoring the Confederate war dead: January 19 in Texas, April 26 in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi; May 10 in South Carolina; and June 3 (Jefferson Davis' birthday) in Louisiana and Tennessee.

Welcome New Family

We have a family of sparrows in our blue bird box. At first I was a little upset that the sparrows chased away the blue birds that were checking the house out. But I got over it. I opened the door and saw the neatest nest of a little bit of everything, like straw, lint, feathers, paper and string. I wish I had taken a photo of it. I kept seeing a sparrow fly in there and I thought to myself, I bet they laid eggs. Well I was right, yesterday while sitting outback in my swing and enjoying the nice weather, I heard all this commotion and looked and this is what I saw. I quick ran and got my camera. Don't you just love watching the birds??? I am keeping an eye out for their first flight, hopefully I can capture the moment.

I Miss you Mom and Dad

Once a year on Mothers day I go to visit the grave site of my parents. They are buried in a military cemetery. They both were born in the month of March and passed away in the month of December but 45 years a part. My Dad was a mere 34 years of age. He left behind a very young widow of 33 and five young children, three boys and two girls. I was seven at the time. Eleven years went by before I visited my Dads grave for the very first time, our family had no car and the cemetery was pretty far from our home. Since my Mom has passed I go very year on Mothers day weekend. It is so peaceful and beautiful at this cemetery, everything is well kept. It really gives me comfort in knowing that my parents are in such a lovely setting. Also the fact that they are finally together after all those years. Rest in Peace Mom n Dad!

Wordless Wednesday

Rhododendron

Whats your Pleasure

Mariposa has stepped up to the plate this week and is hosting Fun Monday. Here is what she wants us to do.....

let us share each other's self pampering stories...may they be from little pleasures to guilty pleasures!

I don't really have any pampering stories to tell, but I can share with you my one guilty pleasure.

I love chocolate sundaes!!! Most of the time I try very hard to eat healthy and exercise, but every now and then my will power goes haywire and I treat myself to this most marvelous treat.

click here to see some more pampering stories. Thanks for hosting this week Marisposa.

Getting Older

THE SENILITY PRAYER: Grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked anyway, The good fortune to run into the ones I do, and The eyesight to tell the difference.

This is for all my older and not so old blogging buds. I just had to share it... too darn funny!

Fun with the Girls

Last Saturday my two daughters, four gran-daughters and I, went to Westminster Md for their annual flower mart. It's just a half hour down the road from our homes in Pa.

It was a beautiful warm sunny day. Main street of Westminster is a typical small town flavor. Lots of small shops n restaurants. Its a neat little town to visit, it has a lot of charm. They have several events throughout the spring, summer n fall that attracts big crowds. The kids had a blast with the free activities that were provided along with lots of free little trinkets. Face painting is always popular.

We went to the local Pizza place for lunch and to rest and cool off.

After lunch, we looked in the shops and made our way back to the car. A good time was had by all.

Wordless Wednesday

NOT A CARE IN THE WORLD

Whats in your Garden??

Vinca

FUN MONDAY

Faye is our gracious hostess this week. This what she wants us to do....

I'm asking you to think about gardening. Do you consider yourself a gardener? Or, just the lawn keeper? When you think of your home, is it important that there are growing and flowering plants in your home landscape? Regardless of where you live--from a city apartment to a farm--do you need to grow something, even if it's a pot of geraniums on the patio? Do you grow your own food or have childhood memories of helping parents or grandparents grow a vegetable garden.

First of all, I must say... I Love Flowers. It is very important to me to have flowers in my home landscape. I have a lot of perennials planted that mostly bloom all summer. Tulips and hyacinths are my spring bloomers. Every year I plant in my containers, geraniums, petunias and dahlias. These plants do very well in the sun as my home gets sun at every angle at different times of the day. My perennials are, coreopsis, sedum, azaleas, rhododendron and dianthus. The only annual flower I plant in my beds are vinca, it is so hardy and drought tolerant and the bunnies leave it alone. To work in my flower beds gives me much pleasure. To plant a flower and nurture it to grow is very rewarding. As far as a vegetable garden goes, years ago I had a huge one. I had green beans, tomatoes, corn, peas, potatoes, broccoli, spinach, cauliflower, cukes, zucchini and even had a strawberry patch. I spent most of the summer, weeding, picking, canning and freezing the crops. After 7 years of doing this it just got to be so time consuming and we had to plan vacations around when the crops were coning in, it was no longer fun to us. Now I just plant one tomato plant and that's it. (Kudos to all the Farmers our there)

Annual (pictured above)
Vinca or Periwinkle is a prolific heat and drought tolerant annual, perfect for hot, dry areas. It's easy to grow, and requires little or no attention.


Coreopsis

Coreopsis: Zones: 3 - 9
Colors: Pale Yellow
Height: 18"' Width: 12 - 18"
Bloom Period: Mid-Summer - Fall
Exposure: Full Sun

Azaleas

Geraniums

Petunias

Now go on over to Fayes to see whats in everyone elses garden!

Happy Mothers Day

God could not be everywhere and therefore he made mothers!

Happy Mother s day to all my Friends, Family and Blogger Moms!



ORIGIN OF MOTHERS DAY

The second Sunday in May is traditionaly celebrated as Mother's Day not only in the United States, but also in other countries including Denmark, Finland, Italy, Turkey, Australia and Belgium. Mother's Day in fact is celebrated in more than 40 countries around the world. Wearing a white carnation is to honor a dearly departed mother, while wearing a pink carnation honors a living mother

Nest in the Dogwood

Last year a pair of yellow finches build this nest in our dogwood tree. I am just wondering if, they will reuse the same nest this year???
Lately I have seen some finches checking it out. So I am really going to keep an eye out to see if they reclaim this old nest. How do you like my little chickie I imposed onto the nest...cute isnt it! LOL

Wordless Wednesday

Funny Stories

Today's FM hostess is the fun loving karisma and this is her assignment.........

Your task.........We all know our kids and pets are often a great source of amusement to us at the best of times. I want to hear a funny, silly or just downright cute story about your pets or your children. Have they ever done anything to totally embarrass you in public? Have they done something you thought was outrageous at the time, only to laugh at it later? Have they outwitted you in some devious way, only the way a kid can? Come on, out with it! Lets hear the juicy gossip!For those of you who are too lazy to write, how about posting some funny pictures instead! (Must be of your pets or offspring though!) Have fun with it.

I had to really think about this one, while I have many funny stories through the years, this one keeps popping into my head. Its about being put on the spot by your Kid!

Once upon a time way back in 1978 our family went on a camping trip in Pa. We were big campers back then and always enjoyed our time outdoors. Our two daughters were 6 and 9 at the time, the perfect age to learn about nature. Usually we would go to the state Parks and the ones in Pa. were the nicest. They always had activities for the kids, like nature hikes, bird watching and our favorite was........................

the group campfire. A park ranger would tell stories and sing camp songs. This one particular time, the ranger in charge asked if anyone knew a song about nature. Well, my youngest raised her hand and said, my Mom knows one. So you guessed it, I had to stand up in front of the crowd and sing this song... talk about being put on the spot. I am just glad I remembered all the words and here it is after all these years....

The Little Skunk Song

I stuck my head in a little skunks hole

and the little skunk said well bless my soul

you better take it out or you'll wish you were dead

remove it!

Well I didn't take it out and the little skunk said

you better take it out or you'll wish you were dead

remove it!

Well I didn't take it out and the little skunk said

you better take it out or you'll wish you were dead

well I didn't take it out and the little skunk said

pfffffffffffffff, I removed it!

incidentally...it STINKS!!!!!

Thanks for the fun Memory Tray!

Now go see some more funny stories click here

Diapering a Toddler 101

How do you diaper a very active two year old who doesn't want to lie still??? You sit on her!