Coffee and...part 14 :-D

Well, howdy...Cousin Balvenie!!

Darius, I'm glad you got home OK...and had a nice visit with Hayse and Edna...lovely people. Hayse keeps up with our family tree...and is the one that knows about Ole Dan'l. LOL Jo

No you just slice the bananas in with the rhubarb. Cook them together like any cobbler or crisp. The added sugar should be helpful.
M5 our frost date is supposed to be May 10 but I went ahead and planted some out today. Hope I don't regret it.
It is great fun working in archives and helping people research their families. I am beginning to get more inquiries from the internet than from individuals who drop by. However, all that will change when our new library is built and we move. Can't wait. It will be so much better being open regular library hours than just 2 afternoons a week.
The most fun I have is when a researcher finds a picture of a grandparent or great-grandparent that they have never seen before. Tears all around.

Got the ladder out to see what was going on way up in the wisteria/clematis 'tree' and was pleasantly surprised.

Then saw the neighbors Rhododendron in flower.Wish they lasted longer.

And it seems the Hostas have gone wild in the last couple days.

balvenie, now that there is an Encore azalea, maybe someone will hybridize rhodies to bloom longer too.

Darius... ((( ~ HUGS ~ ))) I can't even imagine what it would have been like to have my Mom around until she was in her 80's. Mine passed away of brain cancer when she was only 49.

Robert...Cool shots there! About the only flowers in bloom in my yard right now are the little Grape Hyacinths...and I'm mighty glad I planted *them*. LOL Next year I'm buying them by the bushel...forget about the 20-paks.

Good Morning everyone...I got a lot of planting done yesterday. And I really felt good about getting some of that stuff in the ground. hehehe Unless Mother Nature decides to put a really *deep* freeze on me, I think I have "it" covered...literally! When I planted the seedlings, I used the tops of the milk cartons I had from me Winter Sowing containers as little "greenhouses" to keep them warm and out of the wind. (Yes...I took the caps off so they wouldn't 'fry'. LOL)

You know, it felt especially *good* planting my own seedlings (and pretty good sized ones, at that) of varieties I'd ordered *plants* for last year, paid good money for, only to have them to become compost within days of planting. That point really hit me when I planted 8 or 9 Forget-me-Not plants. Last year I could only afford to buy *3* plants. The mailorder source sent raunchy rotted potted plants. This year, I started seeds I'd gotten in a trade here at DG and the "cost" was only my time and a few extra seeds.

I'm thrilled with the success rate I got from my winter "container" sowing...even though I didn't get 100% germination, I still have far more plants starting them from seeds than I *ever* could have afforded if I had to buy the plants.

Just thinking "out loud" there. :-)

I saw my first rabbit for the season in the yard yesterday. I immediately told DH "5 pounds of B-B's! In a HURRY!" Last year they were horrible! Everytime I planted something, it was as though I'd set a new item on a BUFFET for them. I guess today is as good a time to start using my "Liquid Fence" as any. SO...now you know what's on my agenda for today. LOL

~julie~

the rabbits are running amok here. It is mating season and they are paying very little attention to anything else, including their own safety.
I have a full planting day ahead but I still am the 15-Minute-Gardner. I work a little and rest a little (or do other stuff). So this morning I dug a hole for a brug that I got at the Ga Ru. Came in and ordered some vitamins on-line, then back out and planted the brug. I know it sounds silly, but I don't get tired or sore this way and I get things done inside and outside. Next the dishes, then another brug planting.....
Gonna have fun this weekend..............

Good Morning, GOB's!

Julie, my mother was 84 in January. We did get to spend some time together the few years I lives nearby when I was in my 40's, but because she didn't raise me we never had a close mother/daughter relationship. It was only after she became older and a widow that she became dependent on me. (Not that she followed my advice, LOL!)

Feeling a bit better and the sunshine helps! I'm SO looking forward to a good day outside!!! Because of a lot of leg cramping en route to Boone, I stopped in Waynesville and got some calcium/magnesium/potassium tablets at the health food store. The cramps started to abate somewhat in 1-2 hours, and I'm still taking it. (They had me on potassium in the hosp. just no follow-up orders for it.)

I'm going over to Andrews to look in my storage units and see what I can bring home to sell. I have a set of 10 dining chairs with 6-way hand-tied spring seats, something G2 would probably love! 2 old Miami Beach Deco railings (metal). God knows what else is in there, LOL. I haven't seen that stuff in 15 months.

I'm hoping I can find my mother's home lockbox and that her old diamond appraisal is in it. Not that the appraisal would be valid after all these years, but the description would be.

I think tomorrow I may be ready to look for the diamond. I believe it's here in my apt. somewhere. Not sure why I'm not ready to do it yet, maybe fear of disappointment?

Woodspirit, that's how I've been gardening this year. Dig a little here, weed a little there, put a load in the washer, check in at Dave's, back out to the weed grasses, [yuck] - then hang up the wash, pull some weeds under the clothesline.

Yeah, change the motion the body is making. I can get a lot more weeds pulled in a day done in spurts than weeding 'til I can't hold that position any longer. That HURTS.
15 minute gardener - great phrase. I'll borrow that. ~Blooms

Betty...LOL..."15 minute gardener"..."15 minutes" is about all I can muster on any *one* project indoors! Outside, it's another story. My mother used to tell me that she could get me to do ALL kinds of things 'outside' (washing the car, hanging laundry, sweeping the porch, etc.) as long as it was my *room* that I was *supposed* to be cleaning. hehehe I haven't changed one iota in all these years.)

Darius...those rails sound like something I'd be in the market for (*if* my DH would'nt have something smart to say about what I did with them!) You know, I wouldn't be preparing myself for too much disappointment where that diamond is concerned. I realize that a "diamond is a diamond" but it seems that the older ones may well have been a better quality. I know that DH gave me a rather small (by today's standards!) diamond for our engagement...and he didn't pay all that much for it. But we were told by one jeweler that he'd gladly swap *my* diamond for one 3 - 4 times the size because mine was perfect, and the larger ones had some sort of 'defect' in them. I'm not expert, by any means, but I'll bet you won't be disappointed!

Better get back 'out there'...I think the bind weed was waiting for me to turn my back so it could fill in the places I just removed it from...THAT stuff is FAST!

~julie~

I hate that feeling Darius.............. I think youre right.

My spousal unit said I should write a book called "The 15-Minute Gardener."
In 15 minutes you can dig a pretty sizable hole unless it is a new gardening place and there are roots and rocks. After I dig a hole and mix some good compost in the bottom, I take a 15-minute break, sometimes resting, sometime doing household chores.
Then I go back and put my plant in, cover up the roots, top dress with more compost, water mulch and there: I've used up another 15 minutes.
Them I'm either at DG, or playing Spider Solitaire or watching "Antiques Roadshow." LOL

Well, if it's gonna be a book title, I'll have to credit you when I use it?? LOL

right. and oh, don't forget my pen name, Elizabeth Aurora Stanaland. ( My niece said it sounded like I wrote romance novels).

Popping in to say hi, have missed you folk. Been nice, with some needed showers and is staying mostly cool enough so the the bulb blooms are staying a long time. My Rembrandt mix tulips are wonderful; the bleeding heart plants are full and the dwarf bearded iris have started.
All the talk of goodies-hmm and I am on tea and toast today--maybe tomorrow.
Will stop in later-hugs to all.

Or starred in them.

Oh, lol, I was hoping I wouldn't have to rethink that name. Elizabeth is my real first name (from which the nickname Betty somehow evolved) Aurora was a special aunt's name and Stanaland was my grandmother's maiden name. Seemed logical at the time.

Okay - finally caught up on the thread. DH and I are here in Mt. Home, AR at mil's and step-fil's for Mother's Day. Mom and I went to the Baxter County Master Gardener plant sale this morning. Next time we have to get there early. I got a nice catnip plant, 2 little leaf lilacs and 1 forsythia - all of which I don't have. Good sized and good looking plants - so very happy. Then we took Mom out to eat and went to Home Depot for here to spend her Mother's Day gift card - and I got another fuschia. Then we came back and napped and just finished strawberry shortcake with strawberries straight from her own garden. And now Mom just handed me a class of wonderful Cabernet Sauvingon - can't get any better than this! I'll get pictures tomorrow of her LOVELY iris bed and her veggie garden and post on the photos forum. Just love it up here.

Darius, my mom died when she was 68, I was 30 and it was hard, but she wasn't "lost" to me ever and for that I'm grateful. I'm thinking of you and hoping your next visit will be better. Also, hope you find a new place soon. You know it will all work out.

No other news for now....everyone have a wonderful Mother's Day and I'll posted again later!

M ;=)

Having all my family tomorrow for mother's day. So I have been cooking and cleaning today. DH took me out to eat tonight, as there was food all around, but nothing for tonight.I will have about 13 tomorrow. Always enjoy it, but I am the only one who hosts family get togethers. Wish I had had a daughter, then maybe I would be invited to her place for mother's day. Everyone have a special day, will check in on monday.

I've just spent about an hour researching being an Expat in Costa Rico... interesting. : )

Ginny, your rhubarb crunch just came out of the oven.It looks and smells wonderful.Can't wait for it to cool and add a dollop of french vanilla ice cream..Everyone,ladies,have a great Mother's Day.

That looks delicious, Robert. I'm not sure I've ever had rhubarb as an adult. At least I'm not sure what it tastes like.

balvenie, it looks delicious.... I may have to make another one soon.
My old friend who always gave me rhubarb, died last summer at age 94. They still haven't sold his house so his daughter told me to get all I wanted. I dug up a few plants to put in our garden, but doubt if they do anything because they're so old. His father had planted them. His daughter said he'd be so pleased to know I was getting his rhubarb. I hope so.

I went to the nursery yesterday and got a few flowers to be potted up. Normally I buy them at the farmers market. I can't believe that the few I got came to 38.00. They're nice plants though. Half of them are herbs.

Hope you all have a great mother's day tomorrow.

Ginny, I got some herbs today too, and some coleus seedlings. Never did get to my storage units because my friend Bud had company so we all just visited out on the deck.

I did get my Japanese Lantern, still in the truck.

Ginlyn, give it a dressing of composted cow manure. It'll love it. [the rhubarb] and if it makes it thru the summer for you it'll bounce back next yr.

Darius, Costa Rica??? Now, THAT would be different gardening. I had friends who went down there house building once upon a time ago.

YIPEE!! As some of you might know, I lost my digital camera about a month ago....and I took a gourd, some rocks and minerals over to my DD's house about 2 weeks ago and asked her to take pictures of them and email them to me...to use on DG...

A FEW times I mentioned the items that were still on her kitchen bar to be photoed...she "haven't had time yet".

Well...we had our Mother's Day family cook out this evening...guess who got a new digital camera???? DD's went together and bought me the Kodak Easy Share!!! I have wonderful daughters! The one that had my "stuff" to photograph would call the other one and ask...Can't I give it to her yet...she is P.O.ed at me because I haven't done her pictures! (I really wasn't but did think it would have been nice for her to go ahead and do them...she usually doesn't take this long to do things for me...)

Did ya'll have a good day? I sure did. Now, as soon as I learn to use it I'll be back with pictures. Jo

How great is that. wonderful Jo. great DDs. ~Blooms

double posted, my computor is a little ill. compute doc comes tomorrow.

This message was edited May 8, 2005 12:09 AM

I hear ya defo - I am hosting my umteenth mothers day gala and I have worked my fool head off cleaning and cooking. I would really just like to flop on the couch now and have the day over. I do it for my 81 yr old mom - once she is gone, I won't host it again. I too wish someone else would do it.....my only sister is 5 yrs away and a dud a far as having us all over. And I have two sons - what more can I say.

It was supposed to be nice, warm and sunny here, but it is cloudy and cool. Hmmm, I had planned on eating outside - may need to rethink that!

Spent the majority of the day yesterday at open houses for graduation - fun, but I really wanted to get home and get my hands in the dirt!!! When I did get home, I spent the rest of the day moving junk into rooms that the company hopefully won't see. I told my mom NOT to open any closed doors and NOT to get in my cupboards- honestly, I am so embarassed that I live like this!!

RR Yahoo- a new camera? How did you lose your last one???

I never can stick with things either. I start something, but get waylaid all the time. I often say to myself ' work for 30 min, then take a 15 min break.' My breaks however always end up being more than 15 min!!

We have a papa oriole visiting our hummy feeder - gosh they are beautiful and have the most gorgeous song.

Well, time to cut up the veggies (and would you believe I have to run back to the store as I wasn't planning on doing a veggie tray - need more of them) No rest on MD for me!!!

Happy Mother's Day!

My Mother's Day treat for myself (since I have no children) was some coleus. The college at Young Harris (that's a town nearby in GA) has a nursery-greenhouse operation and I stopped there yesterday. Got 5 packs of 3 babies each and 2 in quart pots. Also got 6 potted herbs (parsley, basil, dill, english thyme, creeping thyme and one other I've forgotten). They are still in the truck but it's supposed to get to 80º today and I'll get them planted.

I did get my Japanese Lantern back from Bud. Not sure I can carry the biggest piece, though. I sure would like to get it set up today.

Darius, even though you don't have children of your own, I suspect that many have adopted you as their "mom". Here at DG, I feel that I have known you a long time, and would love to be an adoptee. (you may be younger than I am!!)(58), but either way, it would be grand. My mother is 86, still in fairly good health, but is beginning to have dementia. So don't know how many more mother's days there will be. You have a good day and mother those plants!!

sarv, I feel for you... that's how I am on Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter, as those are the only holidays I cook for everyone. I think I work better under pressure, so usually wait till "the" day to get every thing done. I do have it all planned out though...down to putting little slips of paper in each serving dish to show what goes in it.( That helps when someone is helping to fill them ).

I'm usually so tired by the time everyone leaves that I can't think straight,LOL.

Jo, you certainly did have a good mothers day. Mine is starting out with DH cooking breakfast.

# 1 son and family came last night, as they are going away today. Brought flowers and basket of bath and body stuff. # 2 daughter called and wanted to know if I minded if she came tomorrow on her lunch hour. Of course I don't, as she travels down this way to work all week and then is tied up every weekend with her boys . One in sports and the 7 yr old racing go carts.

#1 daughter and #2 son, I expect will be by here today.
Oops...breakfast is ready!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY !!!

Nothing planned in our family for the occasion, but that isn't unusual. DH has already been outside finishing off replacing some patio pavers and taking his morning walk through the yard. When I got up half an hour ago, I heard "Happy Mother's Day" as he went down the basement stairs to his workshop...I didn't even see his face. LOL

Last night was so warm here that I didn't even have to close up the GH's! What a wonderful feeling knowing that the warm nights are well on their way and I don't have to worry about what will be frozen when I get up.

Sarv, I hope your Mother's Day bash goes well for you and that all your work is appreciated by those who will share the 'goodies.'

Jo! A new Camera! How wonderful! You certainly have a couple of daughters to be proud of!

Yesterday I started 'cleaning' out my GH units. I planted more of the seedlings that were ready (and able) to go into the ground, I sorted all the containers that had seeds but hadn't germinated yet into groups to be spilled out into the proper location *in case* they *do* germinate, and I got things organized that will eventually go into pots and hanging baskets. At least getting them sorted gives me a better idea of what to do next and what I'll be able to work on while I'm babysitting.

I guess the one thing I'll really be happy for is getting the geraniums in the ground. Those, alone, take up nearly a full 4 x 8 gh unit. :-D (packed tightly!)

Well, it's time for the morning routine, then back out into the "staging area" to dump more milk cartons, and probably do more planting and weeding. (OH the weeding *does* come first! LOL)

Have a GREAT DAY!

~julie~

Sarv & Ginny, I'm glad not to be doing your cooking today, LOL! For so many years I hosted Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners for family and in-laws, I think mainly because I had a long table and 10 chairs. : )

Jo, I forgot in my first post today to say Congrats! on your new camera.

defoecat, I will be 65 this November, so not much older than you. But I'll adopt you anyway!

Julie, what a good feeling it must be to get your GH organized and some things planted. Man, that's a LOT of geraniums.

Ginny...you tell Charlie that I wish I had been there to enjoy his cooking...he is a sweetie ...even when he doesn't cook!

Happy Day to all!!...even if you're not a Mom>/B>Jo