Best/ worse/ ? did you learn today #59 visit with friends...

LOL Carol,

Hope your right!

...giggle, that was quite the route...but, I learned from that too.
for map quest I think.

Anyways had a ton of fun with the Carol and Betty show....

to be contuinued..

Thank you for sharing your visit with Betty, Carol. How special that was! I can't wait to meet her. Carol, your gardens are breath-takingly beautiful! I've seen your arbor before and think it belongs in a magazine layout of Better Homes and Gardens. It certainly is located at one!

Hmmmm.....did you notice Betty was wearing "high heels" all through her walks in the gardens????

Betty--you are such a Fashion Plate!! Always looking just SOOOO.......beautiful.....
Your top blended perfectly with some of Starzz's flowers.....You were just one of the "Blooms"....

You know, I hadn't...
But, my goodness, backtrakked and

my what a pretty frame in the back round with the heart and house in frame.

the heals are pretty too.

Hi Girls..
Thanks so much for the lovely compliments Cordeledawg..

Gita..I told Betty that I hoped she had some walking shoes..but she said she was ok with those sandals..they had wedge heels..but I bet her toes felt wet and squishy..but Betty is a real trouper..

She sure did blend beauitfully with the garden....a real bright spot.
I think I got some really nice photos of her.

Judy..Betty really liked that spot..in the Nook garden..she said she would spend a lot of time in there...just a small place to sit under the apple trees....with a few hostas and lily of the valley in there..

On a hot summer day it is a nice cool place to sit for a rest after doing the "Tour"..but of course we haven't had many hot summer days this year..LOL

I'm home, love the photo's Carol and yes I've many to share...Judy Thelma lead me right home, no detours, no extended sightseeing tours...home safe and sound..mind is just a whizzing from the beauty I have seen today...

Although Carol has shown us photo's of her gardens, NONE can compare with the beauty of seeing it in person...I've been on many garden tours, municipal gardens open to the public but all pale to those of Carol's...

Could say I was impressed, but that doesn't even come close to it, I was in awe...if there was ever a heaven on earth it would be found in Carol's garden...

Guess I mentally put her garden as to being quite a size, know I've 2 municipal lots and that's a lot of land for a town..Carol lives in the country in what once was an apple orchard...to tell you how big the area is, I had forgotten my beautiful hydrangeous, which are already in a crystal vase on a bench in one of the gardens, so while Carol got things together in the kitchen I took a walk, thinking to myself know they were here??? ah yes in yet another room in her garden..thought I could possibly get lost that's how immense her gardens are....as I have about 8 garden areas, I can't even count how many Carol has...each with their own personality, laying beneath trees so beautifully decorated with treasures...OMG there are no words....think of the nicest gardens you've ever visited, now put them all together and you have Carol's....

How very odd, yet not, that you can walk into someone's home, never having met and feel so very welcome and comfortable as thought you were visiting after a short absence..catching up of general gossip in each others lives...truly feeling like friends...

What is Carol like, her photo's don't do her justice, she's adorable, petite, GOOD COOK, hostess with the mostess...and we have so much in common...I just wanted to hug her to death...

Carol, when we were walking through the gardens in the nursery area just before the goat pen, I was in awe and thought I'm going to go and give her a big HUG..but then there were people all around, not knowing our circumstances I'm sure they would have thought we were 'mates' lol...so my better judgement prevailed...

I also purchased several plants, couple I would say are more shrubby types, was going to go to visit mom and drop one off but it would have added at least 1 hr. to my trip and they'd probably be in bed anyway....so came straight home, now I'm thinking to myself, I'm keeping both, and where shall I plant them...lol..can't wait till tomorrow morning, have a swap to pick up as soon as the post office opens AND I get to plant more plants into my DG friendship garden...

Told Carol that many of my friends when I've planted what maybe 3 or 4 trees over past few years have said, no trees, you don't want to many, now that I've seen how lovely Carol's are (they are mature trees) I WANT trees...so watch out nursery, I'm going to be on the lookout...

I am tired, been a long day, an exciting day so will wait until tomorrow to post my photo's...so everyone, thanks for joining Carol and I..it truly was a dream come true...

Just before I retire for the night I have to add that when I was saying that I felt I had been friends with Carol for ions, I did with Judy/Liz and Susan (101) on my visits with them...guess although this is cyberspace, the caring,love and frienship is felt through every post....

Night all...

I'm laughing Gita, I do mean gardening her with heals...lol...

I haven't posted here before but I did learn or at least discern something in a wonderful younger friend. We were at a museum and I asked her if there was anything I could do right not. She was quiet for minute and never really seemed to have a particular chore to ask me to do.
I later realized that she either didn't think I should do whatever it was that needed doing (there's always something) or that I wasn't well or strong enough.
I am constantly insecure about my volunteer job there ( chairman of the museum committee) which means helping to decide on exhibits and put them together.
In all, I think I realize that I am being paranoid and that can be very inhibiting.

evening,

carol, how nice you could visit! she is a remarkable woman!
seems like it was years ago for me since i was visiting ,
one of the best trips i ever could of taken!!
hey judy, staying out of trouble lol
im not! he he

Dropped back for another post...

Linda Kay, know you were operated on today, you thought you might be home tonight if all went well and that DH was going to make sure he catered to your every need..hope that's happening...

Look forward to when you are feeling better and can keep me company during to day..you know how I just love to gab....lol...all kidding aside, sending prayers...

Woodspirit1, how lovely for you to visit, always room in our gardens for more friends...how exciting to volunteer in a museum...working with displays and exhibits...I'm sure they wouldn't let just anybody do the presentations, you must be excellent with displaying! Please tell us more..how about what the exhibit is that you are working on now????

Ear ache again, need meds for it and a good night sleep, you just know that I'll be posting more photo's in the morning....

P.S. my car looked like a semi craft room...had my knitting of baby afghan with me and all the bags of paints/brushes and the insert I'm working on...soon there will hardly be a flower in the garden so I'm starting to paint them ....

Guess by some of my rambling you can see I'm just wound for sound..let's hope I'm not up all night trying to figure out more garden designs such as Carol's...

once again
night/night

Just caught you on-line Liz...Judy sent me a photo of the 3 of us just after I arrived...oh/oh almost same outfit except for the trousers..you'll probably think I only have 1...not...how are you doing sweetie..not late in your neck of the woods is it...what kind of mischief are you into??? hope it's fun mischief and the the troubling mischief...have your butterfly house sitting on the back deck nestled amongst the flowers...so pretty...saw how pretty Carol's designs are with birdhouses/feeders set here and there but can't bear to put my hand painted butterfly house out in the elements...the other birdhouse I received from you last year I think it was, sits pretty next to Laura's Rose book...speaking of roses...OMG you should see all the roses out in bloom in Carol's garden...I'm so gabby because I'm so up..that's how it is when you've spent part of your day in 'heaven'...

Oh Betty....so good to hear you got home safely and not detours.

Well I am certainly feeling puffed up with all your glowing comments about my gardens.
Thank you so much. It was such a good day..and so nice to savour it in one's mind over again.
I look forward to seeing your photos Betty..
sleep well.
I am off to dreamland too.

Hi Liz,
Yes..Betty certainly is a remarkable woman.
Hmmm ..you sound like you are having fun at not behaving LOL

Hi Woodspirit....be good to yourself...

Bye for now.

The current exhibit is "The Land of Waterfalls." We have over 1,000 waterfalls in our small county and about 250 are major ones. We show the falls and a map to them, but also how many different ways the power of water impacted our county. We must have had about 30 grist mills, other mills including one that made linsey-woolsey fabric and one that ran an iron works. Of course they were used to generate power, too.
Of course later, lakes were added and we became a tourist mecca. Thank goodness over 1/2 the county is either part of Pisgah National Forest, The Blue Ridge Parkway, or 2 state forests.
We also several smaller exhibits on many different subjects throughout the museum
The next big one we are planning now is "That's a hard row to hoe" which will be all about farm life. I found a great looking plastic cow (full-sized for the window) along with some hay, farm tools and other items.
Inside we will have more farm equipment but also horseshoe equipment, some shoe lasts for people, and general kitchen equipment.
We have been fortunate that artifacts are coming in nicely. We have nice panels explaining things, but needed more artifacts because we only opened on May 24.

Woodspirit1, your exhibit is a yesteryear exhibit of how life was in NC years ago? Sounds so nice. I'd love to tour all the waterfalls. Nothing is more relaxing to me than seeing moving water. Except maybe the water in Galvaston right now of course. Prayers go out to our Texas neighbors.

Betty, looking forward to seeing your pictures from Starzz's home. Both of y'all are sweetie-pies.

Morning all, when you spend a day in 'heaven's garden' all is well with the world and I've even slept in..imagine...noticed that with being gone from home from early morning to late night I have some animal dust bunnies floating around so will have to do quick clean-up, normally that would be my first priority but not today...MUST share photo's...

Again Carol, thank you from the bottom of my heart for the gift/plants and hydrangea's...all very special...

The most beautiful hydrangea plant I've ever seen, each flower over 1ft. in length and I was shocked that she would actually cut me a bouquet and not enjoy them on the shrub each day..I will find a special place to display the arrangement and will tell everyone it comes from 'heavens gardens' - I'd better paint you a sign that says 'heavens gardens' -put that on my 'to do' list...lol

There were little areas, actually rooms in themselves decorated with taste which caught your eye as you walked through the orchard...trees/trees all around making you feel warm and cozy and like Alice in Wonderland (this time Betty in Wonderland) walking through mazes, one after each other..now I don't mean from a few steps of each other, long walks to enter each and every one of them...

And yet another...

This might give you a better view of how large these gardens are...at this point we've walked and enjoyed many of the rooms and yet before us layed a carpet of green inviting us into yet another secret room, one which says 'sit and enjoy' which we did but for only a few seconds, who could sit, wanted to see/see/see and enjoy more...

am sure Carol with her tea or coffee enjoys this area, a place to sit and reflect and she what beauty the work she has put into it has produced along with Mother Nature and God...3 do go together you know!

Entrance into yet another room, with fall here the view I enjoyed was spectacular, can't help but imagine what it would be like in summer...another 'must' trip if Carol will have me next year...

Yet another beautiful place to sit..one of the things that kept going through my mind, 'what a place to have tours and weddings' maybe Carol you should open up yourself a business...just think of the hardscapes that would want to come home with you!!! lol

OMG, forgot to tell you about her home...beautiful - tell you what girls it's hard to find adjectives, my mind is just everywhere...and Carol was right, the basement family room was all decorated for Christmas and you know me and my Christmas..nicest time of the year and I love my decorations, and floral arrangement and absolutely everything about it..well Carol leaves her basement decorated all year long as she does not use it...what a marvellous idea, except I have every room done to the hilt..wonder if I could ever be brave enough to just leave it out 'year round'..maybe Carol I could do Christmas Tours in the summer while you do 'garden tours'...

I viewed my gardens in a different way this morning..a bit of disappointment as I don't have enough acreage to do similar to Carol's, but then a thought came, we all can't get to heaven's gardens at once now can we? Am sure there is a long long line up, so there are gardens along the way to house the waiting and perhaps that's my garden...so I'll enjoy what I've accomplished in 3 years and look forward to what the years to come will bring...

I'll have to take photo's of the most scented plant I shall have in my garden..looks very much like a butterfly bush but not...

Went and unloaded my vehicle...plants and more plants filled the back, thank goodness for seats that recline right Carol..

So, cannot play till house is in order, still in jammies, will quickly go to Post Office to get my 'swap' parcel - new treasure for me...stop at Harware Store, pick up proper screws as I'd like to finish the 'Diner' birdhouse so I can cement it in tomorrow....

Grass is cut, Cathy was here left me a note to say she put Carot Cake in the refrigerator for me...hope it's as yummy as the piece I enjoyed at Carol's...

So will be back later, you've all would me up....


Woodspirit, I so often pass through that area when travelling south, enjoy it's beauty..guess a person should designate a day or so during their travel to just stay and enjoy...your volunteer work brings joy to many I'm sure...
Will come back and read more of your posts when I'm a little less of a scatter brain..perhaps by this aft. I'll be calm...not likely but let's hope...

Ohhh Betty,
Only you could enthuse about my garden so well. I have never had such high praise.
Thank you....
You see it as only another gardener would .
I think only other people who love gardening really appreciate it.

I am so happy you enjoyed our time together.
I spoke to my nieghbour Art this morning..... he said you were a really nice lady and he felt like he had known you before.....he said she is a real people person.
Of course I wholeheartedly agree!
It would be fun to have you come back anytime..but especially next summer as you mentioned..when the clematis is in bloom over the gazebo and the Oriental lilies and daylilies are blooming. Late July is a great time in the garden.

I like the phto of me wiht the Hydrangeas..they are big aren;t they?

have a great day everyone.

Cheers,
Carol

Good Morning!!

Wow, Was wonderful to viist with you and Carol last night and once again this morning. "Heavens Gardens" how fitting a name for your splender...I am in agreement your gardens shouldn't be a secret, should be in a magazine! I am so smiling, cuz you should be "puffed Out" so cute and so deserving.

Thank you again for sharing your afternoon, evening. Betty glad you had Thelma to guide you home, no problems...LOL, You have a beautiful piece of heaven to Betty and it's been awsom to watch bllom throughout the year.

Well, my yesterday was so very busy as was the rest of the week. (on home front) lol did my laundry so i can play. I'ts a very good thing because it's been pouring down rain since 3AM and I have a basement full of water...yep waterfull down the stairs coming in through window. We've water buiding up all around house...DH not home, LOL of course! But he will be shortly and there is absolutley nothing I can do until it stops and gets a chance to drain. So, LOL it's movies and my flag...Im sewing. Oh my gosh i sure hope our friends evaccing hurricanes are allright. Also, Shars family made it to her house safely.


LOL, Hiya Liz, your so funny, Well, what can I say, try not to get into tooo much trouble. I'm behaving, Oh my gosh, I am roasting here. going to go change and see what I can sink my hands into while listening to my indoor waterfal! LOL.

OH...Welcome Woodspirit! I do love waterfalls, Must be grand to see everywhere out in nature! I hope your exhibit continues nicely. sounds awsom.

Well i'll be back in a bit, hope you all enjoy your days!

Hi again...
Well water is rising! now up to first step!
...Thankfull we moved the fan we normally have at the botton of stairwell.
Got no TV at the moment either the sateligte messed up.
Sigh...still waiting for it to stop, they said it's going to go until about 10.
OK...DH just arrived home. Said the roads are under water, thank goodness for a big van.
Lots of small cars are not making through so they have been abandoned at the moment.
We've a river in the yard, and running down the street...
LOL, and the kids sleep on...

Judy I hope and pray you don't have any water damage. All that water coming in doesn't sound good. Your spirits are up though. That's a good sign. Please stay home until the water subsides. Driving on flood roads is so dangerous. Bless y'alls hearts. Now I'm going to be worried about y'all the rest of the day.

Awe Deborah, Thank you...We Please don't worry though, We have had this on a couple other occassions.
All our stuff in basement is in plastic bins...Geesh, i am just glad I spent the other night in the basement straightening and picking things up. Could be alot worse.
I just hope we don't loose power or well really be in for it.

Water is at 4 inches now.
I feel real bad for neighbors without a basement as they have this in their living spaces.
Our neighborhood looks like a ginat simming pool, Kids are have fun puddle jumping!
While generators are pumping out water from homes...

...I took a few pictures, but the icky thing is this is just the beginning, Will post them later.
I can't bring myself to do anything pacing floors watching it build.
Wondering how our friends in the middle of this are doing...Lets Pray they are safe, and for the tremendous loss they are facing
in the wrath of this on going hurricane...
e safe EVERYONE.

Crissy?? Shar, How are you doing??
Who else oh my BEV are you home??

How is everyone else doing???
Please check in if you can

Judy I so understand your flooding basement problems. We usually have a midwinter thaw and rain. Well the waters run from the field towards the house. You guessed right into the basement. One year our chest freezers were floating a bit! Wish I had gotten pictures.

Another year DS was home and he helped get and keep the water flowing down the drain ditch. DH has also done that.

The neighbor that farms our field had someone come in and do some bulldozing so the water would run differently. It has only been a couple of years and we haven't had those conditions yet.

Whenever we get heavy continuis(sp) rains we have rivers in the basement.

I am just thankful that is the worst that has ever happened to us. Well the chimney fire wasn't fun! But nothing like a hurricane. I think I will live up north where I am. I will gladly deal with a cold snowy winter over a hurricane. We all love the places we live no matter the flaws.

Betty and Carol TY for sharing your day together. Was one of my highlights this morning.

Need to go and get another cup of coffee!

Hi all. Yes Judy we are home but expecting up to 10 inches of rain from IKE!!! tomorrow. I will have to let my blk lab in the house but thats ok. They said 8 inches with Gustav and we dodged the bullet so lets hope. Feel so sorry for them down south.Pray for all. HUGS BEV
Golden Rod

Judy, to answer your question....we have no rain here, and my family did arrive safely on Thursday, thank you for mentioning that. It looks as if their home/town might be devastated since they are in Orange County, very near Galveston, Beaumont, Port Arthur...etc. They have had no communication with any body there since last night. We keep the computer tuned in to their Beaumont station, and get updates every 30 minutes. It does not sound good.

They have a handicapped daughter and had to get her out of there. He looks exactly like Bob, so when he walks into a room I am stunned for a little bit. Talks like him, too....well, he is Bob's older brother, it's just that I didn't realize how much they were alike. But they are safe, and that is the important thing.
Thanks, Judy.

OH MY Gosh,
Thank You Shar and Bev. I am so glad you all ok.

OH golly Ves a floating freeezer, yikes, that is some water intake.

Ok, well rain subsided and now picked back up--Unplugged the appliances downstairs
Geesh...just got to pray we don't loose them.

Lots of other folk with wrse problems, soI'll not go onabout minute by minute

Back later.

Good morning! I'm ok, Ike is in the southern most part of the state, it's supposed to be here this evening. Strong winds, up to 5" of rain, and isolated tornadoes are in the forecast. I hope Dave doesn't have to go to work tonight...

Nice pictures!!!! I bet you two have a blast together!

Sorry to hear about all the water problems.....Please take care and don't take any chances, OK?

Betty, I wanted to tell you that the blooms of the PG Hydrangia can be hung upside down in an airy place to dry. Then you can do a dried arrangement, or a topiary with the blooms at the top and remember Carol's garden for a long, long time.

Ok1 Gotta go to work! Gita

Dropping in for a few secs. Busy day around this household, started with Greg dropping in to pick up my chop saw, had new floors put in, getting new kitchen cupboards put in on Wednesday and needed to get all trip put on since all was painted..short visit with him, then Sheila dropped in, then Dianne, and then Ann, in comes Cathy, all at same time, thought we had a hens party going on, theey were just leaving and DIL Melanie dropped and Noah dropped in, call from Kyle saying he and Noah wanted to visit..Suzanne and Lenny just left so am off with the boys to Barrie to have supper at the Market Buffet...so must run..

Shar, thank heaven your family are safe with you, can understand how your BIL's visit must bring back memories, know when Robert was at the office this week for a visit, I was amazed at how similar he and Roger were, made me lonely as I'm sure you will have similar feelings...Judy, how terrible..lot of damage? Glad Steve is home to help out, am sure it has to be a family effort, but would imagine with rain still coming down in the next few days you will have more water to contend with..bet this isn't how you would have wanted to spend your days off...

Vicki how right you are, we have the storms to contend with, blizzards, freezing rain..not a lot of damage to home though although we worry about our well-being when out in it, but we can stay home....can't imagine living year to year with the fret of losing everything..saying prayers for all...

Bev and all others do be safe, guess Ike is playing havoc, we who are safe are worrying about you all...

Photo of my jar swap goodies and the stone that Carol gave me, how true!!!

Well my angels are patiently waiting for me, think I'll take an off route visit to see 20 Ann Street, want to know if indeed we do get the Barrie office what stores, restaurants and location it will be..good excuse to take the boys out...lol

Talk later

Well, today a friend shocked me more than you can imagine. My spousal unit and I have a very fixed income but several things have happened lately that were costly and we have been very concerned. Mainly my phyical showed some problems that cost 3 new prescriptions. We knew we couldn't make it through the month without running out of most foods.
An old friend dropped by the museum, where I was working my shift, and left a "get well" card but asked me not to open it until she left. We had visitors in the museum and I had to deal with them so didn't open the card until about 1/2 hour later. Inside was a lovely note but also a $200 grocery store gift card and $300 gas gift card! I couldn't believe my eyes. I have a couple of bills I needed to pay (including my phone bill) that I was afraid to pay for fear of running out of food money.
I have never been very patient with this friend. She tends to ramble on and on and call me about every little thing when we are working on something together. I have even been short with her before. She was also very messy and it was hard to go behind and work at a desk she used because you couldn't figure out what she had done and what needed doing.
Still, she was sweet and kind and harmless and in time I learned she was a great researcher, which museums need. I grew to like her out of having respect for her first.
What did I learn from this? Patience, tolerance, and to be more aware of a person's worth and stop being a jerk.

Woodspirit, I'm a firm believer that 'earthly angels' walk the earth, when you are most in need it seems they are sent your way...isn't that the nicest thing to happen to you..and yes, it seems sometimes when we are impatient, or find someone annoying that if we just take the time to understand them, to learn their worth, we find in them a wonderful friends...so glad she was there to help you out...

Ooops did press send rather than browse...

My best today of course has to be spending time with friends and family...

Worse..not sure there is one, my plans to relax and play changed from the time I got up this morning till now...lol..some days are like that...must be appreciated...

What did I learn...never plan a day beforehand...must be flexible and enjoy...

Here are grandma's boys..

Noah explaining to grandma that when dropping off Kyle at Cadets they were talking to one of the leaders who said a 'short hair cut' was a must...as you can see by his expression he's telling me 'not in this lifetime grandma, nope not me, I'm staying away from there'...

Kyle is always so reserved..keept Noah and I in line..lol