A great Saturday

As I'm sitting here on Monday morning,I'm still picking dirt out from under my fingernails. We went to Nashville to visit with Elena this weekend!

First of all,we went to the Opryland Hotel to a quilt show and had a ball!We enjoyed the atrium almost as much as the convention.Don't look very close at my bag or you'll see where we 'pruned' a few choice plants! Yep,we couldn't resist! Now,I'm not encouraging the breaking off of plant material in public places,but these looked kind of scraggledy and we thought they needed a little cleaning up. (yeah,right)

Then....we went back to Ellen's house and she proceeded to load me up with more stuff.I have begonias,persian shield,polka dot plants,lantana,kolanchoe,passionflora,ivy,...you name it! We did all of this in 102* heat too!Her gardens are a dream and she's such a wonderful hostess. She's also got the sweetest cat and dog ever!

Oh, Mel - I'm so sorry I missed ya'll (it was just one of those weekends where nothing went according to schedule...

It sounds (and looks) like you gals had a great time!!!!

You'd have loved it Terry...maybe next time. The show is every year there at the Hotel...maybe we can make it an annual event.

sounds like you ladies had a grand ole time....

Mel, did you get into Elena's attic to rescue those quilts?? She probably isn't talking to me - I still owe her some rose starts. Fall is coming! Sounds like you had a great time.

I didn't see no green stuff hanging out no where...nope not even a leaf....I think your on to another annual ritual.

"eyes"

So great to see ya both again looks like ya had a great day!

Kathleen,we talked about the attic quilts,but it was blistering outside. I think 102* on Sat. Those quilts will have to wait another month or two I'm afraid. None of us were up to braving a hot attic in those temps and another few weeks won't matter at this stage.

Wish you could have been at the show.We need to get a group together for the Paducah show or this one.It'd be fun.

By the way...Ellen went to Gatlinburg with her daughter, and won't be around till wed.She'll pop in when she gets home.

I have been busier than a one-armed paper hanger lately. I just got an email message from Mel telling me that she had posted this and I hadn't even seen it. She should have told you that the picture was taken in my garden in front of my mansion. LOL! No one would have believed that though since I am the "Queen of CHEAP AND RECYCLE".

I think I shocked poor Mel when she broke off a tiny bit of the plant and I proceeded to get a limb. She recovered quickly though and hid the plants promptly. I am going to need to give her some more lessons in snitching plants. Maybe you will all be able to visit us in jail after the plant police get us. Melody went home and accidentally left the snitched cuttings so I promptly potted them in my little Dr. Pepper bottle greenhouses. (Do snitched cuttings root better than legally gotten ones???? We will have to wait and see about that.) This saga will continue as the plants either root or die.

We had a wonderful day with Melody and her dear, dear husband Keith and her precious mother. I know they aren't really our family but they surely do feel like it. I have never known nicer people in my life. We just love them and they are welcome here any time they so desire to come and Melody can have any of my plants that she wants. Well, most of them. I would put up a pretty good fight for a few of my choice ones. Yes indeed, as the old timey small town newspapers used to say, "and a good time was had by all."
My attic is full of antiques and quilts and many, many other treasures. If I don't clean it out before I die my kids are going to be stomping on my grave after they find what all is stored there that they have to clean out.

Melody and her Mom found the neatest quilt chests for sale at the quilt show. She has pictures of them and maybe we can talk her into posting one of them. I am going to ask Albert to make me one as soon as he completes the huge "Honey do" list that I already have for him. I am not sure he is going to live long enough to complete that list though. It is really awesome. LOL

I love my doggie and kitty and am glad Melody loved them also. Her Carley is one of the sweetest dogs on earth also. If they ever get tired of her, she has a home with me.

Terry, I am sorry you couldn't join us. We can all get together any time and do other gardening stuff. There is a lot going on in and around this city and in Melody's area. You guys just name the day and we can all continue the fun.....and who says it has to all be gardening? LOL!

Kathleen, if you have been as busy as I have been the last few months you would know that I haven't had time to think about roses I don't even have. I have been just trying to save the plants that I do have. Between the black spot, the Japanese beetles and the drought, there hasn't been much enjoyment as far as the Hybrid Tea roses and the climbers have been concerned. I think some of the battles are slowing down a bit but there is still a lot of struggling left before the fall rains start. If I had it to do over, I would never have bought the hybrid teas. I haven't the heart to let them die but feel like digging them up and giving them away many days. If they do die I won't be replacing them with any more temperamental roses, that is for sure. You have never told me what you would like from my plant collection. We need to try trading this September. Plants should make it in the mail once this heat has subsided.

Good to "see you", Pebble, Eyes and Mystic. You all can come see me too. (We are just trying to save the plants now so they don't succumb from the terrible heat and drought. They will look good again once the rains start.) Just let Melody and Terry know so they can come too.
Love to you all,
Elena


This message was edited Tuesday, Aug 13th 8:12 AM

Beleive me Ellen, I know what you mean about the roses!!! Just so disheartening!! But like you, I will baby them, and hope they survive. Tanks for the invite, probably next year, I'll take you up on it!!!

"eyes"