Break Time

It's time to take a recess. Just like kindergarten!  Life has gotten busier than I expected with happy things. So, in lieu of stressing over my blogging, I am just going to take some time away from blogging. But, I'll be back. It's good to busy in the warmer weather and soon to be summer time.

Happy Days to All.

Mary

Memorial Day

Went to a fabulous Veteran"s Day ceremony and I'll have more about it tomorrow.

Mary

Another One-Of-A-Kind

While putting some dishes away following my Easter Dinner I realized that it might be nice to post about this lovely piece of Lace Pottery. This is another one-of-a-kind piece of art that I have enjoyed. I bought this Chip and Dip Plate at a Craft Fair long ago in the San Francisco Bay Area. In as much as I learned to crochet as a young girl I was very fascinated with this beautiful piece of art.

Look at the similarity of the imprint on the plate and the crocheted doily in the next photo.

It wasn't until today that I observed that the Crocheted Doily that I frequently use on my dining room table is a very close match to the imprint on the Lace Pottery Plate. I have had the doily since my mother passed away in the early 1990's and I believe that my mother may have crocheted the doily when she was a young woman. I think this is a pattern that was very popular at the time.

Needless to say, this realization stirred some interesting emotions for me. What are the chances of something like this happening. With out a doubt, this is a beautiful serving plate.

Hope you enjoyed my story. If you are interested in more information about Lace Pottery check out this website.

The weather in California is wonderful. Hope you enjoy your Saturday.

Mary

Heavy Rain Storm and Calla Lily

Yesterday was the second day in a row that we have had heavy rain storms in the afternoon while the Sun was shining brightly. I was on my way home from the grocery store when it started. It didn't last long but it was so heavy that I decided to wait until it stopped before bringing my groceries into the house. I think the photo does a good job of showing how heavy the rain was coming down.

On Mother's Day, my daughter brought me a pretty Yellow Calla Lily and it has started to bloom. I transplanted it into a nice flower pot and it is looking very healthy. Even though I do not generally wear the color yellow it is a favorite color of mine in the garden.

 

I hope your day is Bright and Shining.

Mary

I Have A New Tablecloth

And, I like it. A couple weeks ago I was near a TJ Max store and could not resist taking a quick "look-see". I have always liked dishes, crystal, silver, linens and anything related to setting a pretty table. And, since I have been enjoying looking at blogger's Tablescapes my resistance for table linens has weakened a bit! When I saw this "pretty" I had to think it over.

First off, I have a rather small round table and the cloth measurement was 60" x 82" oblong. No problem, I just cut it 60" x 60" square and hemmed the cut edge. Worked great. Looks great. I have enough fabric to make matching napkins from the fabric that I cut off.  Also, there was a package of four matching 15" x 15" square place mats available. The price was good and the linens are very nicely sewn and are Nicole Miller Home.

Notice the flower vase? I think it is stunning. I bought it several years ago after moving here to the foothills from a Potter in the nearby town where I go for most of my shopping and medical appointments.

The iridescent pink color goes exceptionally nice with the new table linen.

Very interesting shape - don't you think? It is most definitely one-of-a-kind. And, it is very difficult to photograph!

Thanks for sharing my joy of a new "pretty".

Mary

Enjoying The White Garden

There are quite a few white flowers that are blooming at this time. Since most of the time I am a "point and shoot picture taking lady" it is difficult to take a pretty picture without including plants that are past their prime. That is the reason that I usually take pictures up-close. If all the plants bloomed at the same time I would be able to get some fabulous pictures - but that would be so boring!

SURPRISE - This little sweetheart is my Great Grandson's little cousin at six months. The babies were born about five months apart. Those Daddys/Brothers sure make pretty babies!

She looks like a Little Porcelain Doll. Don't you think?

I hope your Day is Wonderful.

Mary

What Is A Paraprosdokian

Do you know? I have to admit that I was not familiar with this term even though many times I have heard them said and I think they are fun. And, I enjoy the expressions on people's faces when they realize the transfer of information in their brain of what they think they heard. Now, are you confused? I'm not!

Well, PARAPROSDOKIAN is wordplay where the latter part of a sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected in a way that causes the reader or listener to reinterpret an earlier thought.

• They begin the evening news with 'Good Evening,' then proceed to tell you why it isn't.
• We never really grow up, we only learn how to act in public.
• War does not determine who is right - only who is left.
• To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism. To steal from many is research.
• Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
• Money can't buy happiness, but it sure makes misery easier to live with.
• In filling out an application, where it says, 'In case of emergency, notify:' I put 'DOCTOR'.
• I thought I wanted a career. Turns out I just wanted paychecks.
• I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not so sure.

Do you get the idea? I think I should stop - - - or, maybe not!

I hope you have a FUN Day.

Mary

Garden Gate

This is another Lonicera Japanese Honeysuckle. I think it is called 'Purpurea'. It has leaves with purple-tinged undersides and flowers that are purplish red outside and white inside. So Pretty.

So, there you have it. All three of my Honeysuckle plants and they are all in bloom at this time. To say that I have a few hummingbirds in my garden at this time would be an understatement!  They sure love their honeysuckle and so do the bumble bees!

The plant at the garden gate is the oldest. Actually, there are two plants, one on each side of the gate. Can you see the size of the branches? Every few years I have to prune the undergrowth. I am a few years overdue for that job. Maybe, this year after the blooming season I will get to it. It is always a pretty messy job. If you looked close you would see that the gate also needs to be painted. Just, another job.

I hope it is a Beautiful Day wherever you are. ENJOY.

Mary

There Is No Denying It

Oh, how we change as the days, weeks, months, years and decades go by! For some reason I really like this picture. I am not sure why that is. Perhaps, it has my attention since I became a Great Grandmother.

(google image)

It doesn't seem possible that come next month my Great Grandson will celebrate his FIRST Birthday.

This is a picture of him at 10 months of age.

I could never imagined that I would every have a Great Grandchild. It is WONDERFUL. I just wish I could see him more often.

Hug The Ones You Love!

Mary

Into The Oven It Goes

Country Chicken Noodle Casserole

Out of the oven it comes, hot and bubbly!

What an easy, delicious and versatile dish. Be forewarned, it is not low calorie!

  

This recipe may have originated (in some version) back in the 50's - 60's when casseroles started their popularity. This Country Chicken Noodle Casserole recipe can be found here.

I had the canned ingredients (chicken and soup) in the pantry and wanted to use them. I chose to omit the peas and carrots because I wanted to make some steamed broccoli and lettuce salad to accompany the casserole. 

After you read the recipe you will be able to see where you can reduce the calorie count which I will be doing next time. The melted stick of better is one way to make some changes.  The casserole can be frozen and the second half served another time. 

Oh, I used Panko bread crumbs that had Italian seasoning and that added a very nice flavor. It was creamy yum-yum goodness.

What are you cooking?

Mary

Wonderful Day

It was so wonderful spending a very pleasant Mother's Day with my Daughter and Son-in-Law.

Today, I noticed that another Honeysuckle Vine has started to bloom. I believe it is Lonicera Japanese 'Halliana' Hall's Honeysuckle and it grows vigorously with white fragrant flowers that turn yellow. It is growing on the same side fence as the Trumpet Honeysuckle 'Magnifica' pictured below that I posted about a week or so ago.

Both of the vines are growing beautifully this year with lots of blossoms. And, there is one more honeysuckle plant in the garden that covers the little white garden gate arch. I will take a photo soon and show you.

Have a Great Day.

Mary

It's A Good Day

My Daughter and Son-In-Law are driving up again (they came for Easter) to the Foothills from Silicon Valley and we will be going out for Mother's Day Lunch here in Murphys. I think it will be a nice relaxing time together. We have patio seating and the weather is fabulous. I am so thrilled that they will be here.

I received a card with a lovely personally written message acknowledging the mother-roll I have often played in the life of my Granddaughter who grew up without a participating mother. I look forward to seeing her and her family when the next time arises.

And, I certainly wish a Happy Day to all the Mothers as well as All of You Today!

Mary

Some New Pretties For My White Garden

Another favorite of mine is the Cyclamen and I was fortunate to find this beauty at the grocery store with a reduced price. After taking it home and repotting  it, I was thrilled and I think the plant was too. Do your plants talk to you? Mine do!

And, I also found this healthy Geranium for a great price. Our local High School FFA (Future Farmers of America) have started to sell their plants at a few locations. The plants usually sell fast and they are healthy and nicely priced.  It is kind of "hit and miss" if you can find them.  But then, that is usually how I find most of my plants. I seldom have the luxury of going to a real nursery to buy plants.

I repotted this plant also. It is my plan to put the plants on some risers in the White Garden to fill in some of the spaces and come winter time I will move them into shelter, probably the garage. When I first moved here I did that with a lot of my plants and it worked very well. Especially since our winters of late have been more harsh I think I definitely will do it again.

What's new in your garden?

Mary

Garden Pics

Before Easter, I planted some annuals in some pots and they are starting to get settled and bloom. Pansies always go in this cement basket planter.

And, of course, I always like to have some petunias. They look like they will be in full bloom in a week or so. 

Gerbera Daisies have become a favorite flower of mine because I like the vibrant colors and the fact that they will perform like perennials if they are sheltered from severe winter weather. I think I have about seven new pots with different colors. Each year I try to have a container garden on my patio with plants that I can enjoy when I go out the front door.

The Rock Rose is going to bloom more this year than in the past. I have two plants planted above the rock wall that borders the patio. They don't get enough sun to bloom like they could.

This Rose 'Popcorn' is in the White Garden and gets a good amount of sun especially since the neighbors had to remove a large diseased Oak Tree a few years ago. What a difference sun can make for many plants - and me, too.

Just a little bright spot of Dianthus.

I have a small herb garden in pots. I am looking forward to getting some Basil so I can make some more Pesto Sauce this year.

This is Oregano 'Greek'. Looking fresh and healthy.



And, this is Thyme 'Lemon'. Coming along nicely.

The garden received a nice sprinkling of rain last night and the sun is shining. Yippee!

Take good care of yourself and others today.

Mary

You Must Try This Recipe

- - - if you like dessert!

And, the recipe makes two pies! If one is good, two is better, right?

This Caramel-Pecan-Coconut-Cream Pie (my name for it) was my Easter Meal Dessert. And, OH so Good! You can find the recipe Freezer Caramel Drizzle Pie here. It is really very easy to prepare and I like that it must be prepared the day ahead of serving. Just be sure you have enough room in your freezer.

My week has been very quiet by choice. Feeling quite a lot of back/leg pain and feeling very tired. Today is better and that makes me happy.

Pictures from the garden tomorrow. We had thunderstorms day before yesterday and may have more tonight so it has been a bit of a challenge to get photos of flowers that haven't been a little battered by the rain.

But, I have to show you just one photo that really excited me because this plant did not bloom much last year primarily because of lack of attention, especially - water. I thought it may have died. But, look at it this year!

This is Clematis 'Ernest Markham' (large, magenta-red flower that blooms June-Sept.) and it looks like there are many blossoms yet to open.

Two of my favorite activities - cooking/baking and gardening. I guess it is part of who I am. I know it is!

Happy Day to You.

Mary

It's Been A Good Week

Each day I have noticed how I feel stronger in body and soul. It is slow but wonderful to notice progress. My days have mostly been spent in the garden. And, that is exactly where I have wanted to be. What a glorious week it has been in my part of the country with a little warmer weather nudging flowers and shrubs to get on with their show.

Each year the gardens seem to have a different personality. Mother Nature apparently wants us to see some growth/color on specific plants some years and not others. This year I have been surprised with pretty blossoms on some plants that apparently did not want to come out and play last year. It is so much fun.

This Trumpet Honeysuckle 'Magnifica' has been a nice surprise. And, the hummingbirds love it. Many years it is plagued with insects. But, not this year. It is clean as a whistle and so so pretty. And, there are blossoms from top to bottom. What a show this year!

I have three different colored Honeysuckle plants in my garden and they look nice covering some of the wire fencing.

Wherever your day takes you I hope it is Happy and Healthy. Thanks for stopping by.

Mary

May Day

I love butterflies and I have been seeing similar ones in my garden this week.

Mary