Just because

Lindsey had asked that I post some pictures of our little 'fantasy garden' in bloom. This started out as a small area to put gnomes and whimsical items along with Lindsey's old playhouse. The goal is to have self-sustaining perennials - sometimes we reach that goal and sometimes we don't.

We had just had a 'tropical' downpour when I took these pictures. Looking west you can see our pasture area (more like a pastur'ette' but llamas did live there once & horses). Day lilys are wonderful flowers - they are not the princess type that roses are. The little path to the playhouse is bordered on the left with ornamental grass and hostas (I LOVE hostas). I hope to make a fountain some day out of the white cast iron sink but for now it holds daisies.

Continuing north you can see one of the benches Pat added to our year old arbor.
On around to the east you can see my stock tank garden - I highly recommend one. Can't plant much but you can get to what you planted! We plant tomatoes, lettuce, radishes, dill, cucumbers, mainly salad items. We normally don't plant in the fire pit but when you start having the annual rainfall of the amazon lots of things grow where they weren't intended.

Back to the house and Pat's birthday glider from last year
and then once again back at the disheveled looking hostas. It is hard to tell but there are about eight hostas in the area - some small and some large but most blooming.
This is one of my favorite views

We debated on whether or not to put up an all weather
ceiling fan but are we glad we did!! Combined with the arbor and
shade cloth we use this back area ten times more than we did before.


Just a few fun shots





Thanks for visiting my fantasy garden -
maybe next time we can sit on the glider
and have a glass of iced tea or some wine.

Happy Birthday Mom & Bon Voyage Nick!!

June 27th we celebrated Mom's 80th birthday!! It was a wonderful party except for, sniff, the fact we were also sending Nick off to Los Angeles to test his fates as a chef! It is ironic that some of our bunch (Tyler, Jerilyn, Jackson & Natalie) are coming to the Midwest for approximately three years from Santa Barbara (longer if I have anything to do with it) and Ginny's youngest is headed out west. He is on his way even as I write this.

Anyway - the party was held at Ginny's house with wonderful food and a great opportunity for those of us who could make it to catch up. While lunch was simmering we had Mom open her gifts. Mom's legacy includes a love of learning. She started oil painting in her 40s and taught classes - encouraging those who didn't think they could possibly create anything artistic. She jumped right into computers - long before any of us owned one - and still keeps up e-mails with friends far and wide along with looking up whatever catches her interest. Recently she has re-tackled something that she tried years ago - watercolor painting. There is a world of difference between oil painting and watercolors. She is doing beautifully and we wanted to encourage her to keep up the good work. This first gift is a full spectrum light which will give her a better idea of her true colors since her studio is in her basement.

Her second gift from the three of us girls (myself, Ginny & Dana) was a fancy shmantzy chair for her studio. It does everything but paint! The seat will even tilt at a slant if she just wants to rest against it. As you can see from her expression she was slightly pleased. Keep going for a picture of her on her new 'throne'.

Every artist needs more space so all the grandkids went in together and bought her two six foot folding tables to use wherever she needs them. Nick is holding one of the tables and Dana is holding Mom's hand - she always was Mom's favorite ;)
Here is a very serious artist creatively sitting in her new chair.
We are lively bunch when it comes to parties. It was hard to keep these three from dancing on the tables!
Just the thought of being eighty drove a couple of the great-granddaughters to drink!

Nick did not realize the party was also for him. Here he is
opening up his California survival kit - sunscreen, beach towel
and water bottle.

Dana loves the funny singing cards - and so does Nick
I'm not sure what is going on here but the girls are watching
Audrey intently
Mom got to sit at the head of her new table for lunch
Audrey was learning a new game from
Mom - they were both enjoying it and it was
wonderful to see!

Neal took a family shot of all of us present
then he and Ginny slipped downstairs to print it off
and sew it onto an apron for Nick. Neal & Theresa's gift
to Nick was the apron - so he never forgets where
he's from (even if he tries). They also bought fabric pens
so we could all add our thoughts and wishes to the apron.

Grandma was impressed
Quilts have become Ginny's passion and she is
fantastic at it (Dana's is jewelry). This quilt
Ginny is hiding behind in one she made for Nick to take
with him. It is amazingly intricate - great job, Gin!


I love this picture of Nick and his Grandma

The two shared a split cake - the standard "Happy 80th Birthday"
& "Good Luck in California" cake. Ginny & Dana took
one of Mom's watercolors and had an edible copy made
and put on her half. Mom LOVED it - she has that section
frozen for all time in her freezer.




Wake up Nick - you have a looonngg drive ahead of you!

Happy Birthday Mom - it was so wonderful to be able to
celebrate such a milestone with you!

Nick - I look forward to visiting your chain of restaurants
when you put Emril & the others out of business!