West Houston Swap continued...

I'm thinking a DG cookie swap, come the holidays, might be in order.

Well, I just wanted to brag about my little adventure for the last few days. Got to go to Austin with DH on Wednesday and Bubbles picked me up yesterday morning for a day around the town while DH tested. She blew me away with the Austin tour and her gardens (ya'll would be amazed!!!!!!!). She and Bruce hosted us last night for a wonderful dinner at a Mexican restaurant....the place was packed...there was a game this weekend. We got to go back to their house and enjoy their gardens some more, (and sleep in the prescious princess room), woke up this morning to a delightful breakfast and head to Lake LBJ for a wonderful boat trip and picnic on the water. It could not have been more splendid! These guys are the bestest. We didn't want to come home.

I have so many new plants, know so much new stuff. The plants come before the unpacking! I won't brag too much about everything but I will say I have both blue and white mist flowers now, and the BF's LOVE them! Sandi shared her lovely garden and she and Bruce were the most gracious of hosts ever.

We must keep this group going!

This message was edited Oct 28, 2007 11:34 AM

Kristi - sounds like you and BB had so much fun! So glad to hear you are home safely and that the four of you had a great time. A cookie swap would be fun!

Here's some good news - I "ran into" Ann - Plantladyhou on a recipe thread! I dmailed her to say welcome back and to see how she was. Here's what she wrote:
For a little old lady who's been to death and back I'm doing pretty good. I've gained a few lbs. so I'm about up to 110 lbs. now but all stooped over just like the little old ladies in the movies. Funny thing, tho, - my hair has never turned gray or white. Most people in their late 70's have at least salt and pepper hair. Not me. As dark brown as it ever was and thick. On Nov. 5 I go back into the hospital for a skin graft to cover this "gorgeous" wound on my stomach and I have to stay in the hospital for 4 days after that to make sure I don't get any cute little "bugs" that would hinder my recovery.
So, all in all I'm getting along really well and one of these days I should be back on the road again going to all the swaps and fun things.
The best to all of you and thanks for all your thoughts and prayers. I truly believe that's what has gotten me this far along.

Love to all,

Ann

I'm so glad to hear you are better,Ann. We will definitely be keeping you in our prayers on Nov. 5 and the recovery days following!

We did have a great time this weekend. And a correction: They hosted us at Guerro's Friday night, not the other way around...
Knolan also failed to mention she brought 6 bottles of wine for us to sample. This is what happens when neither of the DHs drink wine....who knew?

Great lookin' grass skirts - LOL.

Amazing what 6 bottles of wine will do. eh?

The winery will be bottling next weekend - I think Dave said the Il Bello, but we were into the second bottle of the Reserve Pinot, so who knows. And they finished bottling the Sangiovese (not reserve) but very good - would be perfect with pasta. AND there still are a few bottles of the Jalapeno left, but there will NOT be a December release of any more - next year sometime - no date planned.

Good news about Ann. Really have to watch out for post medical treatment infections. We have lost friends and family to them, most recently Linda's brother - killed the cancer, then pneumonia wiped him out.

The 26th Octoberfest in Galveston was great yesterday. Now to pack for Wurstfest - starts Friday. If y'all come we shouldn't be hard to find - we always go the first whole weekend.

Book - that's such good news about Ann. Thank you so much for letting us know. I'll send her a dmail.

Haha! Bubbles forgot to mention that we only drank 2 of the bottles and we still got silly! We behaved ourselves rather well, I think. Ooops...you hosted us at your lovely house. (Really, ya'll should see the gardens)! Beautimous!

Bubba, ya'll make me tired just reading everything you go off and do. Sounds like a lot of fun. I haven't been to Wurstfest since I was a teenager.

Bookworm, here's a pic of the Black Pearl Pepper plant. I forgot to give you some seeds, but I'll hang onto them until I see you next. I love the way it looks when some of the peppers start to turn red.

Great picture.

How hot are the peppers?

Wow, that looks like a Persian Shield with berries!

Knolan...would this be a good time to 'talk story' about you?

I took Kristi to an Austin nursery Friday afternoon that is also set up as a Haunted House at night for the season . As we're strolling thru, Kristi asked me what kind of perfume I had on, 'cause it smelled wonderful. I told her it wasn't mine, but to turn around and see the port-a-pottys behind us where the "delightful scent" was coming from! In her defense, they did smell purty good,.....but it was definitely not Chanel #5!
Tooooo funny not to share!
Sorry...............

naughty Bubbles...innnnn the wineeeeee

Heeheehee...well, in Houston, port-o-pottys don't smell pretty. That's a wonderful Austin thang. I'm gonna get you back! As soon as I can think of something.

What a strange new past-time - checking out port-a-potty smells?

Way to go, BB.

Randy...all I can say is.....I got corrupted at a particular swap in Houston.....haven't been the same since!

hahahahaha....I've been singing naughty bubbles in the wine all day!

What a GREAT Group!!

Happy Halloween, y'all.

Randy....Now I get it! You've been channeling Don Ho.........

Yes I have, with a few minor alterations....naaaauugghty Bubbles ...innnnnnn the wiiiiine, makes me happy, makes me feel fine...heheheheh

oooooooooooh,now i get it! don ho!

Ya'll are shameful! Shame, shame, shame!

Randy...I'm coming to get you week after next to take you to the market, finally. It's been crazy and haphazard here but it needs to happen. I'll dmail you on our schedules. Be prepared for a fun day. Mwah...hah...hah... (and we need to plan something for Bubbles)...I have to get her back but need your help. Something with papayas would be appropriate. Put 'yer thinking cap on and have a glass of vino...I'm sure you'll come up with something good.

I do a pretty wicked mango margarita....does that count?

Whoa,K........"get me back?"......after you mentioned I smelled like a porta-potti???? I'm probably going to have to check into some sort of therapy sessions. BTW, go to the brug forum and check out the shredded brug I posted so you'll know what your's will look like.
Randy...I'm soooo flattered, having my own drinking song! Now everyone's going to want one. I'll try to find you a ukelele for Xmas....

I have a ukelele you can borrow, BB. Good luck with the therapy.
I will never look at a port-a-potty quite the same again - somehow there will be this "strange music" playing in my head


GG, that mango margarita sounds great!

Aawww...Bubbles...you don't smell like a port-o-potty. (I'm still embarrassed). I'll go check out that brug now.

LOL, you know I bet Kristi did smell someones perfume...it just wasn't naughty Bubbles perfume.

Okay Kristi, yes I see that you have been busy. I have been too, have been picking up overtime on the weekends. Mabe by the time we go to market I'll have money to buy something!

Perhaps Bubbles would like a papaya tree?

Randy......Need info on Beaumontias Mutani or Grandiflora. Have one or the other and it's grown way up into an oak tree...but never bloomed. Can it be propagated from cuttings? I'm going to have to unwind it from up in the tree soon. I read your post about the dif. in the two, but I still don't know how to identify which is which! Any ideas?

Unfortuneatley the only way you can tell is the blooms..
the Beaumontia will have a trumpet like flower that looks similar to the easter lilly, the murtonii
will not have the trumpet but open more like a plate from the bloom. Murtonni is wider and shallower.

This is the murtonii
http://toptropicals.com/catalog/uid/beaumontia_murtonii.htm

and this is the grandiflora

Yes it can be propagated from cuttings..just use a little root hormone.
It is Cold hardy* at least to 30F for a short time

Thanks for info...I guess I'll have to wait till it decides to bloom. Have had it 3 yrs now without even a bud. We put up a temp. greenhouse around the pond where the vine grows, so it's sheltered and warm in winter. Maybe it needs cooler temps. Maybe I'll just have to put a good scare into it and start sawing off it's little arms.......piece by piece....

LOL!! BAD Bubbles...sawing off little arms.

Yeah I hear ya on that, both of mine are growing all over the place. I'm wondering if there is a maturity time for the vine. I know Rangoon creeper is about 3 years before I get a really good bloom.
I think this year will be 3 for the beaumontia and the 2 years for the murtonii. It climbed to the top of the 40 foot bamboo ladder by the deck and is on it's way down again. I'm looking for little arms too, Wayne wants to propagate some.

Bubbles,
You could threaten to pour some wine on it... That oughtta make it sing like Don Ho!

Anyone going up to ARE tomorrow?
Dave speaks @ 1:30 if you are!
:~)

Enlighten us Smockette! First, ARE? what is that...where is it, what is he speaking about?

Antique Rose Emporium, 20th Annual Fall Festival of Roses
1:30pm, Saturday, Nov 3
The card we got in the mail says:
'David Whitinger - Garden Watchdog
How the Internet Can Make You A Better Gardener'
He said last Sunday in Arlington, that it would be mostly about our 'Garden'.
I'm wearing my DG shirt with pride!!!
:~)

Sunday, @ 2:30 is Peggy Martin
"The Peggy Martin Story: A Hurricane Katrina Survivor"

Gracias

Hey guys, Don Ho is nothing compared to Bradduh IZ. Heard about him on the Tropical Gardening forum. Have downloaded 3 of his cd's from iTunes and it so beautiful. Randy, will make a cd for you. Makes you want to cry it is so wonderful.

LouC

Oh thankyou. I play newage Enya type Ronan Hardiman music out in the garden all the time.
Rj

Randy....time changed, you're up way too early...take a nap.....
Kristi...entered 'the brug' in flower show...1st place ribbon..
"slash and trash"ing the backyard today. cutting back and getting ready for winter...all 3 days of it..enjoy the sunshine!

Congratulations, Bubbles! You're #1! Can't wait til mine takes root. One of the cuttings is looking good the other needs more tender loving care. Everything else is doing great....waiting to get in the ground. That's tomorrow.

It'll just take a little time to root... watch for white nubbies...
I entered 5 plants and got 5 1sts. The anthuiums got best in section. Was a last minute decision. Just went out Sat morning in the dark. 'Only took what I considered "unusual." By the time DH was up, I'd already comandeered his truck and was ready to leave. Back this afternoon to help clean up, and then I'm going to breathe for a bit. Oh...and take down Halloween! Fun to put up...a pain to put away!