A Rootdigger's Sunnyside

Who needs outdoor temperature gauages?

2012-01-28T11:46:00.000-08:00

Hi, How are you doin?
I hope it's starting to feel like spring by you, it is here, although we recently got about three inches. The three inches are melting as we speak with all the sunshine. I don't mind all the snow, since it doubles the light receiving factor.

Who needs the outdoor temperature gauges?
Not me!
The only thing I do mind about the warmer weather is the increase of the box elder bugs. It seems, I don't have to check my weather page anymore, I just look to see how many boxelders came into the house and if they are in the inside of the window. Those are my clues. Cause you know just sometimes the sunshine can be a bit misleading.

I know, now you can tell I have an older home, unremodeled, but I don't care.

In any case this hermit is venturing forth happily today. See you later.

Tips of Things Worth Knowing

2011-11-04T07:22:00.001-07:00

Hi, How are you doing? I myself am really busy getting ready for the daughters birthday party this sunday. As I was cleaning I found a page from an old little booklet named 'THE HOUSE OF GURNEY' I thought I would share a tip or two from that page

" THINGS WORTH KNOWING"

--To keep ants moths and other insects out of closets or pantry,sprinkle the shelves and cornerswith Sassfrass oil, l and they will soon bid you goodbye.

--Blue Ointment and kerosene mixed in equal proportions and applied to the bedsteads is a unfailing remedy as, as a coat of white wash is for a log house.

--If you value your own and your family's digestion, don't serve tea with fish. The tannic acid hardens the fibre and makes it indigestible. It should not be offered with any form of fish including lobster and crabmeat. Iced tea and soft shell crabs for example, are a combination that should be avoided. [In those days of the past there was not such a thing as Instant Iced Tea]

I suppose the housewife back in the forties kept a little bottle of the oil in her cleaning pantry. Don't you wonder how she got the sassfrass oil and if she made up the oil herself. Maybe she would get it in a little jar from her druggist.

I find so many of the tips outdated. But they are fun to read anyway, so I'll share a few more soon.

Well, as the supermarket clerk says "Have a good day"!

Dreams Are Made From Gardens Like This

2011-07-10T08:40:00.001-07:00

The Jan Harvey Garden

In the year 2004 Jan Harvey's garden was featured in the annual food Pantry Garden tour. Years laternow, the Garden tour is sponsored by the same organization, but with the new name - Stepping Stones. I was unable to attend at that time. In the mean time I had driven by and saw the possibilities of this garden's realities / fantasies for my own home . I had seen similar gardens in the Better Homes and Gardens magazine, and had hopes of what could lay behind the gate. It was my nature to dream of having such a example dream of a garden in my own yard. If the opportunity came , I could do similar since I had a small side yard like this on the south of my house where it receives sun most of the time except in the front where the roses would be.

In the mean time I was dying to see inside this garden to see, if I had similar ideas/ fantasies as the reality of hers. I was almost sure it was so. There was no way, I would miss seeing what was beyond that gate.
{ No I never went to the fence and peeked in. Wish I had thought of that. But then there are limits. lol}

Those photos that I saw of similar gardens gave me something to desire. It was a soothing to my soul. I have always thought that surely this garden is like those photos and I was right.

The owner of the garden offered explanations of the plants with Numbered locations corresponding to the additional phamplet they gave us at the registration entrance. I regret not checking the name tag of one of the hosts there, who was exceptionally accommodating to our questions.

Click the pictures for the enlarged images, otherwise you really miss out. The small photos do no justice to the garden's merits. Most of these are not edited. To do so I would have to darken. I am sorry the light colors do get washed out. It's my camera and my abilities, which you will see are not so good.

The beginning with anticipation

Seen and unseen the walk contains Malva, Talictrum, Allium, Penstemon, Lysimachia, Filipendula, Astilbe, Lupine, Anemone, Alematis [maybe Clematis] , Tanacetum.

Which will lead to this circular bed ..........

Looking back to the entrance I am now being followed by a couple, which limited my dalliance over each awesome find. The garden walk was as it should be, a narrow path and I couldn't side step to allow them to pass.

A gorgeous lavender Clematis, with Pink and white. The daisies are perfect. On the opposite side I see she has the coveted Josephine. [I welcomed the opportunity to see it up front.]

Ahh, Poppies, foxglove, campanula, Lobelia, Lilies, I was so glad to see them. Imagine the Lilies evening fragrance.

All the colors and romance of a greeting card. All that's missing are teacups and saucers. Possibilities of a few well done crystal totems I probably would have inserted here.

Just love that coral pink color with the blue. One can never have too many poppies as far as I am concerned.

In this case, one has to stick with thin plants, with the other combinations. This works out just fine. This was the year to see all versions of the Creeping jenny in nearly all the gardens.

I didn't get to ask if her foxgloves and some other plants reseed themselves. I love them in the summer time. I may just have to have that lily.

Isn't this to die for, it almost makes me get into the Victorian mode. I certainly would swing into a Jane Austin mood. It takes a little work to keep those Hydrangeas blue. Unless they are the Nicky variety. [ Hope I have the name right] There is a similar one near the exit area,

You have to click this one to go ' ahh' gaga over those blue Hydrangeas! In addition to the great blue of the Hydrangea, there are touches of the yellows in their greenish tints and a bit of coral tinted pinks. Here seen and unseen are alchemilla mollis, Cornus below the steps are yellow barberry schrub, two and species of Carex, two species of Thalictrum, two species of Aruncus [ goats beard], Astilboides, and Korean Angelica.

These were exactly the color and plant combinations I had hoped to see and those I love. It lived up to my expectations and more.

So here now, we have arrived to the circular bed, just where I said we would. In the tour I went past here through an arbor down to the Hostas and other more shaded plants. Some areas are a little romantic and worthy of my little tour here, but sorry, this where I end it today, since I was mainly showing what I liked of her examples for my side garden, if I ever were blessed with the opportunity of creating something of my dreams made from this garden.

Now I see having a little shade there in the front of my house is not so bad.

You might get a glimpse of a photo or two later, when I do a post on the fencing ideas that I liked about her garden.

If you didn't click, you missed out. Really.

just me jo

More on the Harvey property in the Garden tour

2011-07-09T13:21:00.000-07:00

More about 2011 Stepping stones Garden tour.

This is the one special garden I have been waiting to see. Here it says she has some rare Hostas. She admits to collecting. I think there is a special breed of Hosta gardners who do that and even more so raise their hostas from seed. I would think you have to be a dedicated hosta gardner to do that. I can't wait to see the native flowers she said was there when they moved in.

Lets see if the street view embed. works.

View Larger Map

If not how about trying this link.
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=514+oak+parks+circle&hl=en&ll=44.859211,-91.923026&spn=0.000622,0.001357&sll=44.858966,-91.923185&sspn=0.006295,0.006295&layer=c&cbp=13,198.11,,0,6.97&cbll=44.859232,-91.922953&t=h&z=19&iwloc=A&panoid=Tpc78imHG9fBxKBTLpPHJw

.................Harvey's rare Hosta plant, which she plans to name Milky Way, is believed to be an offshoot of the spilled milk hosta. Once it is registered, Harvey will name the hosta and also can choose to sell divisions of the plant or create a tissue culture from it and make it available to other hosta growers...............

...............In addition to the Milky Way hosta, another unique hosta in Harvey's garden is the Sadie Hybben Harvey, a plant Harvey named for her late dog and for Menomonie photographer Pete Hybben, who helps her in the garden.
Harvey tries to recycle as much as possible in her garden, using leaves and pine needles for mulch............

I am sure to enjoy it. I can't wait to see ponds and the use of rocks. It could rain. Which could be good news.

There has been curernt articles in the papers and an appearance on the local news.
Links about the tour:
http://chippewa.com/dunnconnect/variety/article_f34b429c-a424-11e0-bb65-001cc4c03286.html

http://steppingstonesdc.org/2011GardenTour.pdf

Last year and this years local Garden Tour

2011-07-07T06:24:00.000-07:00

Click on my pics today to see some of last years garden tour - I don't get a chance to share them often enough

And later I will tell you just what kind of Flower Beds I will see this Saturday on the annual Garden tour that I just might share here?

I have been very excited about going to the annual garden tour this weekend. The money is money used for the local food pantry, so it's for a good cause as well as our enjoyment. I went last year and after that, I have posted a few pictures. I took many, and the little I have shown are merely a snow flake in a blizzard.
I have kept my pictures on the camera disk despite the little room I had remaining for this summer pictures of my own garden.

With the tour coming up,I have been worrying these last few days about lack of space on my card in my digital camera. I am going to have to hurry and figure out what I am going to do. I want to protect some of them. A few years ago my computer burned out, and I had no opportunity to save my pictures off the hard drive. So I was thinking of finding a program of some sort something like photo like photo bucket. Or even entering them all into Picasa where all those from our blogs are stored. But no matter, it's not your problem. I'll figure it out.

As I was glancing through the different garden photos the topic for this blog post came to me. The types of the various gardens seemed be running similar.

Last year there seemed to be a lot of gardens with raised planted spaces.
As you see here in her back yard it's raised due to a buried waste system. Their garden disguises it well. Her little hill curves around nearly half the back yard.

In this case she raised the bed next to the shady woods, which she also landscaped.
It's so much easier to see the detail. I wonder if the deer can reach them. Would they jump up there to reach them, probably not.

It's gorgeous anyway with the added rock and moss. In the photo above it is much lower than the previous raised bed we just saw. But still she couldn't resist more rocks and moss.

Another clever gardner made good use of space. What I like about this plan besides the arrangement of plants on the slope; is the fact that the door gives an exit under that Deck.

This is the same slope but further down. I love the Pink roses and surprise of unusual plants.

They may seem a little busy with so much but, If I remember right I think this was also a Memory garden.

Again instead of the box store type preformed rock like building material she has used real rocks which gives her a wall, and a ledge with lots of personality. I especially like those fuzzy white like plants. Kind of like angel feathers.

Well that was last year and it did include some pretty Hostas and falls and ponds.

Now this year I get to anticipate some thing other than raised beds. Okay flat ground, well not in Wisconsin. Not all through the garden. This year there will be some sunken garden spots and ponds and water falls and lots of Rockery.

So we will be looking down rather than up.
And Hostas galore, one can never have too many Hostas.

More tips,tricks and ideas are always nice. I am glad I saw this picture from last year, it reminds me to make some wire cages for my phlox.

So now, I had better leave you and get some disk clearing done. As well as a few other things, if I am going to be off playing garden lady Saturday.

Art in the Garden

2011-05-22T10:30:00.000-07:00

Rusty Art in the Garden.
Your thinking, now I know Jo has gone nuts, that's just a part of a wheel thrown in among plants. That's not art. Maybe jo a rootdigger should stick to genealogy?
Yes your right, of course, would you believe me that it's not trash thrown there; but it's there because of its rusty color. I think it coloring blends in nicely with the plant selection in that area and it balances this other art object a short distance from the other two.

An Armadillo art piece.

Did you notice the burgundy or rust color plant in the above picture,I think it helps to keep the eye going from there to other spots of the color around the very large garden from the entrance to the end. To me her art and the color rust in the garden help tie the garden all together. This Midwestern Gardner creates some extra interest with her use of Rust color or that shade of brown. I'll just have to show you what I mean.

At this right side of the garden slightly below the wheel placement you can find more rust placement. See the line of poles with the little birdhouses and the rusty colored hen ornament in the foreground behind the yellow flowers on our right in the picture. I think Gray weathered wood and rope is another color and feature she uses to tie to the log building.

She has done the same at this other left side of the entrance to her garden. Naturally the rope has it's practical side, because the garden path is rather steep. The Line of the color leads us up the path. She leads us and gives us little perks as we spy each interesting piece of art all through the garden walk. Kind of like playing 'I spy'.
Did you notice that the building below, which is a house, that has the same hue of Rust.

I have never really had a desire before for the rust or burgundy plants for my garden, but seeing them in her Yellow combinations of plants, I now have had a yearning to try something like this on my own.

More of the same rust color with lights and yellows and in this photo with some lavenders and pink tones. Often she includes some gray tones with her accessories. I really love this color scheme, can you tell.

Go ahead and click on the photos, you'll enjoy the colors more.

Back to the right side of the garden, where she alternates between the rusty art with the rust or burgundy colored plants to set off her pallet scheme of the yellow. Now you can see why she ties in the gray hue.

This snaped shot location is not far from the old wheel. I hope it shows you that the selection of this creative art piece is intentional. Sometimes as in the case below, some pieces are hard to see, but not so in person.

Sorry, I did try to take decent pictures at the last minute of a tour, which was about five o'clock. I had no choice of time. And my camera is not that great. Nor my skill with it. lol.

This is one of my favorites. I think what makes it for me is the color of that carpet she uses through out the garden. Were looking from the left to the right and maybe south to north. [ Sorry roads in Wisconsin twist and turn, one quickly loses direction.] She said it helps to keep the shoes free from mud and dirt. It does look new for the tour. The color makes me think of a pond viewed from a certain angle.

I bet by now, your thinking that the garden is the same with the same colors through out - rust, yellow, pink, lavender, creams and whites. But your wrong!.

[Does that make me jo arootdigger right? Yahoo!]

See, I couldn't leave these out, I find the blue Delphiniums so beautiful. Do you see the art piece? What's so special in it's use? Want a better look. [ Sorry my camera just lacks the ability for the good detail the garden deserves. ]

Ahhaa you say, rust and gray in an old farm tool placed at the perfect spot.

And you find that she used a little gray here and there. I am not sure if the log chunks have a purpose, or why they are there, but I like them there. You know one just has to break up the view of just plants.

In other spots she has used all kind of weathered wood bird houses.

I just had to share my love for this garden. With its use of all the rust pieces, which are better appreciated close up, of course. I kind of wanted to emphasize that your garden art doesn't have to be shny and new. We can re purpose and be green at the same time.

I hoped you clicked on the pictures for a larger view. I find them so breath taking.
You saw side views, views looking up and part way down. There are more beautiful different colored flowers. Those will wait for another day.

I found it to be so much fun to see what old materials from old machinery and 'what nots' were used to make up the rust color art pieces that she used in her garden.

Thanks for stopping by today. Maybe you would take time to stop and comment and tell me what old pieces from the attic or elsewhere that you have used or seen in a garden. I'd love to know.

just me jo arootdigger at sunnyside slope

See you later, I have some more garden art the next post.

For more reading on garden art:
http://shabbygardencreations.blogspot.com/2011/02/flea-market-garden-magazine.html

http://fleamarketgardening.com/2011/05/22/win-a-free-copy-of-flea-market-gardens-magazine/

I AM NOT EMBRACING

2011-03-31T05:17:00.000-07:00

No more AM I EMBRACING
one of gods creatures, the box elder bug here at sunnyside slope. Last night, two of the little red devils flew in and landed on my head, while I was sleeping. I am such a light sleeper, I was able to detect them each time and smacked the little devils. Before these last months it's been hard for me to kill anything so directly during the waking hours, but in semi unconscious state, they met their fate. Several months ago, I consciously declared war. and have been making some
attempts to get them out of my house or remove anything tempting them inside.
The dark red box elder bug can be a rather endearing curiosity in the daylight. That's why I am ashamed to say that they have made themselves too comfortable in between the kitchen windows s and a few have worked their way to the inside of my kitchen window on the south side of the house. Especially those who have seeked me out.
I think they must have built in heat sensor, because they definitely crawl around to where it is very warm. Despite the coldness of the outdoor temperature lately, I have kept my heat in the house to be cool, and have donned sweaters and blankets, as I am doing now. Earlier when they emerged it was warm enough at my house temperature, so they
wouldn't need to seek heat like they have. Occasionally, I hear them banging a light
bulb, which would be too hot to crawl on long. I have noticed them on my
coffee maker and my hot lap computer while I am using it.
My hot laptop is a magnet to them during the day, if they choose to wander away from the security of the window area. They used to crawl up my blanket even onto my hand pause, and look at me. There seems to be no fear in them at those times before my
declaration of war. I speak to them in such loud voice to remove themselves
from my presence, since I do not wish to tolerate them any longer , but it seems
my words and meaning fall on deaf ears. I merely flick them away and it crawls back
several times, dare I say with a limp. Yes, on that sight, I feel such distracting guilt.
Guilt
that evades me when they land on me during the night. The ones smacked at night
surely may be the ones who had the blind trust. Surely the others heard it at the time
of the smacked death.
Yet there were two last night.

Such tenacity and braveness of their nature has me wondering how this creature is out in the wild world of nature. Who is it's enemy in the higher level of the pyramidal food chain. Would the box elder bug seek out other large animals and sit on the animal for a time where it's tail can not reach them. It makes no attempt to bite, pinch like some ants or sting like the bee.

I have wondered after moments of reflection on Gods little creature that it is possible that they seek their fellow bug's dead body. Perhaps it is why they brave this giant to crawl around my blanket here at my chair to look for the deceased. Haven't you seen ants carrying the deceased somewhere. I have and I find that a curious nature of theirs.

What nourishment do they seek. I haven't notice if they come to you at the smell of food that your eating, such as dairy or fruit like a fruit fly or a house fly. [ Although house flies don't live long enough in my house to be observed] I do have spider plants at my window and I do see them perched on them. They are rather ratty looking anyway, so I don't know if some of it is from them or otherwise from my attempts of horticulture. I am not the most tidiest of the human race so there are tidbits here and there. I rarely see them on my stove. but I do see them by my fruit, which I intended to leave out in the open. I detest the thought of them crawling on them, or into them, so it's nothing I care to do often while they are around.

It's almost seems as there are two separate actions of the Box elder bugs so far in my house. The occasional Box Elder bugs at my side who show no fear, while I am busy blogging and browsing; and those who remain in the kitchen at the window and a few occasionally on the coffee maker. Earlier I mentioned that they seek us out anytime, but lately in my war on their presence they seem to have spread the word of my elimination attempts down my kitchen sink or in an awaiting glass of soapy water. Now when those at the lower areas of the window see me they hide behind my ornamental bottles on the window ledge, maneuver under the coffee maker or behind it. Some even seem to have enough intelligence to know they won't be bothered high where I do not bother to reach them. [ So far, they can't read minds] One of the techniques of those upon their site of my giant presence is to immediately drop down. They seem to know my grasp is meager at times. Then too that window [ which will be remedied of that error soon] needs caulking badly at the edge of glass, so maybe they hope to exit there, where they may have entered in the house in the first place.

Sometimes it seems as if they forget that they can fly. You will find that they crawl or walk rather than fly to their destination. Their obvious flight is noisy like a fly.

Once upon a time I was able to catch a fly in the air with my hands. I will say, it rarely can happen now nor do I catch the box elder bug on the window that easily. I usually drop them into soapy water. If my vacuum hose was longer or my vacuum lighter, I would try that method. I have used the soapy spray, but it leaves my window ugly to viewers. the spray residue on the window, doesn't seem to drive them away, either.

I have wondered how they would do with a venus fly catcher plant.

Maybe they have a time sensor based on the heat temperature from the sun, because it seems they disappear out of the window at night and only emerge to the window again during sunshine. Hopefully they can find their way out as it warms up outside. Would they? Which is more important to them, being in a luxurious life, which leads them to be a target for terrorism.

The first thing on my 'to do list' as the weather warms is to learn to caulk, fix air leaks, and other general methods to fix the windows so that the box elder bugs can no longer enter. Secondly, I may talk it over with the dh. about taking away the Box elder tree. We have several other kinds of trees and I see no need for it. However, there are power lines of many types in that very area, it may not be anything we want to tackle. So my efforts before Fall will involve cracks and crevices that they can enter.

Because, I am not embracing the Box Elder bug.

A flower dressing for the bed, just like a pillow

2011-03-29T07:55:00.000-07:00

Browsing, and found a unique idea or two. : )
Here goes:

eclectic bedroom design by media and blogs Dreamy Whites

From this little gal at Houzz who practically begs you to put them in your idea file. She even offers a idea file subscription. Actually the picture is from Dreamy White who has the most wonderful blog.

Isn't that lovely. Maybe one wouldn't want to lay one's head on it, but I would certainly love looking at it, even on a white couch.

A gypsy soul

2011-03-26T23:31:00.000-07:00

Get images at the Graphics Fairy and Magic Moonlight Free Images

What a delightful find. A shepherd's hut wagon. I have to say that I wondered if it were for real. You need to browse this a bit for yourself.
It is subject for a little fantasy and what a subject for art.

Just like the author of the link, I think I also have a gypsy soul. I would love something like a gypsy = GRV. To do up like the olden days. Just go wild with it. It surprises me that they had such a tiny stove and even a stool. Naturally it was a gentleman's shed, and way different than a ladies gypsy wagon. There probably was a special place for his pipe and his sheep dog too.

My everlasting love affair.??

2011-02-14T10:05:00.000-08:00

Does any one remember this photo from and old issue of this magazine. I bought that magazine purely for that kitchen article.

I was a sucker for blue and white and a dash of pink more than a dash of yellow. It caught my fancy.I was in love with that room.

My love affair is still lasting after all these years.
I've wanted to do this in my dining area for years. I have the book cases in place. But how could one get it to the year 2011. Actually I would have to paint the book cases. Move the books. in order to get this look. around 1974 I started getting blue and white dishes. A few years ago I started picking up some pink flowered plates, and tea pots in the two colors.
I love blue transfer ware, but never got any. Which is perfect for this.

If one had no doors in the kitchen on the cupboards, I suppose it would be similar. But I have no room for a table and chair.

I know it was a country cottage feeling. But well I still live in a cottage. I just don't know what to do with all that oak that I have. You see that is what has kept me from doing this. [Also the fact that I love black looks too.] As for Oak, I like my Buffet as oak, though I have seen it painted a creamy dreamy white and it looks good. I couldn't paint the tall Hutch though. I could move it.
My adjoining kitchen is still white with dashes of blue and pink.The Pink preference
is coral pink.
The pink in my magazine shows a slight tendency to have some coral hints.

My love is pure, but my mind over heart has won so far.

What do you think of the room?

Have a Happy Valentines Day

Somehow I always know when I am lying to myself.

2011-02-11T08:56:00.000-08:00

Oh my! I think from Monday to Thursday " On Friday I am going to work hard and get a lot of house work done, then on Friday what happens. I sit down here to finnish the work from the night before and do one more thing Then One more , and just one more won't hurt and then guess what it's afternoon. Then I think, I can't start something now.

Good Grief, Charlie Brown..... Start. Do something. Anything is an improvement.!

I used to reward myself, but how often I wonder should I do so.

If I reward myself with a piece of cake or a dish of ice cream, I have to sit down and eat it and I can't sit down with out the puter??

Lately, I have tried to only do puter reading or blogging only at meal times.

My goodness snack/ lunch breakfast sure can be a long time for some people around here.

Well I can motivate or discipline or threaten myself. I do better under pressure.

Okay, I am going to threaten myself.
" No puter till you get the kitchen floor scrubbed!"

Somehow I always know when I am lying to myself.

Oprah will leave, who will replace her in our lives?

2011-02-04T13:43:00.000-08:00

Oprah hit our world so big. Her impact so large.

I ask you, who do you think will replace her in our lives?

I have recently found Nate Berkus show, but I doubt for spiritual speaking about life as Oprah did about life, he falls low.

At least he comes on tv early and then done. I would always foget to watch Oprah on my days off or late on evenings.

I Was Missing One Chritmas Gift of One Million Bucks

2010-12-28T18:58:00.000-08:00

Heres how the event went.
I just couldn't make it to shop Black Friday to get the good deals in games and videos. So I had made up my mind to gift money, which they would need anyway after all the christmas shopping they had to do. I think they still have something to open if I can present this in an interesting and creative way.

Then I didn't make it to the bank on the few days before Christmas. No big deal, so I wrote a check. I have done so before.
and took out one of these specially purchased Chocolate Candy wrapped in wrappers that says "1,000,000 BUCKS" or "1 Million Bucks" from my wooden train car. I folded it in half length wise and folded it until if fit the package molded shape.

I dropped one into my daughters large bag first to be on the bottom. I did not add the tissue until much later, since as usual, I have to hunt for hidden away gift items purchased earlier in the year. Or some last week. I think I need to get a 'designated spot'. [Because two different gifts are still 'lost in space' from purchases earlier in the year.] I wanted Snuggies for the kids and possibly the sons girlfriend, but I failed to go to the Drug store. So DH. got them for me on Christmas eve day.

I had already did my sons, but I wasn't sure what was what with a couple extra items . As I had a couple extra people to gift and maybe even a mother of a nephews girlfriend. I didn't make that many cookies and candy, so I couldn't give that either.
So I shuffled and rearranged sacks a bit for the son. I kept the same gift sack the same for the daughter.

Long story now getting short. When they opened their sacks, neither child found the gifted money carefully wrapped in the Million Bucks chocolate wrapper. It was not to be seen. I looked around. I said one was on a white bow, and another was on a red bow. I rewrote them. And I told them if they found the original one, they get to keep it.

Late christmas night the daughter told me she found hers attached to a white bow.

Maybe I had thoughts of visions of the son coming back and vacuuming and picking up more around the dining area in hopes he would find the missing Million Buck. Nahhh that did not happen.

As I was filming this story, I found the second one. I felt like I found a lucky million bucks.

It was behind the box of my gifts and on the floor between the wrapping paper.

On the back of a bow which was not Red, but Green.

Mystery Solved.
THE END

Christmas

2010-12-27T21:29:00.001-08:00

2010

Time for Prayer before the meal which comes first.

She loves her gift from Crystal. A Hooded frog towel.

Special gifts.
SheShe gave her a Camera, which she evidently loved.

Correne watching her husband Ron

Old favorites new again.

Rockem / Sockem

This couple from Milwaukee said they had not gotten as much snow as we did.

The little photographer gets into action.

Nic gave his friend Crystal a gift that she will use in her graphics endeavors. She had to work hard at opening it. Nic has a sense of fun.

Party is over. Christmas is Done for us. I hope you had a good one.

MERRY CHRISTMAS PAT, Wayne, LOLA, AND ROSE

2010-12-23T11:02:00.000-08:00

PERHAPS MY CHRISTMAS CARD WILL BE COMING, AND MAYBE NOT. JUST IN CASE CONSIDER YOUR SELF GREETED.

MERRY CHRISTMAS MINNESOTA FRIENDS.

I want to leave something for Rudolph!

2010-12-22T05:57:00.000-08:00

So your all ready for Christmas

Are you?

You have your story books for later.
You have something for your child to leave by the tree for Santa Claus.

But, What if your child says
I want to leave something for the Reindeer.

What?
No problem, right,?
We all have Apples, carrots in the refrigerator. I think they would suffice.

Hmmm why does Santa get the good stuff. How about a little dessert for Rudolph.
I mean I know for a fact that they would love a few phlox, or tulips, maybe some petunias. But they happen to be out of season.
Maybe your special houseplant might be what they would want. But I am not sure about that. Most house plants are off limits around cats, and so I am not sure about deer. I think cut flowers are your best bet.

To be really safe and ready, I think I would have a bouquet of Lilies or roses. Then all you would have to do is leave one out [thorns removed of course]. I know for a fact it's their dessert. Santa will love your family for it. And where is there a better reason to have a bouquet around for Christmas.
No Problem.

Have a beautiful Merry Christmas.

For Genealogists.-- Books - articles on Agriculture ; Stock raisers and Breeders- Hybrids and Pedigrees

2010-10-26T11:10:00.000-07:00

Treasures and joy at an antique shop.
Once while I was returning east from somewhere over a three hour trip, I stopped for gas at a RED BArn Antique shop for a little break from driving. It was located in an area not far from Baldwin, and maybe not in the jurisdiction of Baldwin city. . It also had a little cafe known for their delicious pies. [I like to make little stops along my way to my destinies, which never happens when I travel with my husband, so I guess it's a little treat or incentive I give myself for taking the long trip alone.]

I searched among the rows and rows for my one treasure I would take home for the day. I can't even remember what it was I purchased that day, sorry. But as I handed my check to the clerk and we off handily conducted that business of identification, etc, you know the drill; the clerk noted my name and asked me, if we were the ones, who raised such and such breed of cattle. [sorry I have forgotten the breed] I was surprised that anyone would know my husbands surname. This lady knew because they also raise the same cattle. I have since learned that a few of my husbands other cousins did indeed live further west of there! As I was telling my husband and wondering what uncle had this special breed of cows, I realized too it was his dairy farming uncle Mick and aunt Ann who lived many miles east of Baldwin. And it was true of course they stuck to that special breed of cattle that not everyone had.

I have told you before, it was the same for my grandfather at the Sunnyslope Farm who had a special breed of sheep. You can read about it at the link.

Just as I know other farmers and breeders have their special likes and dislikes of certain breeds of various animals they raise. It can be swine, horses, hunting dog, cats, pets, etc. They have recorded history or record associations, International livestock exposition. Sometimes something called a Herd book, Stud book.

This Post may as it goes further may sound like a repeat, but it 's not. Not exactly anyway.
I just have to bring to your attention anyway the advantages I find in google book search. It's something Minute as a book on the breeds of various livestock - [sheep or cattle,swine or hogs]. some farmers had their minds set on favorite kinds of Hybrid or breeds of animals.

The American Shire horse stud Volume 7 - Page 403Charles Burgess- American Shire Horse Association - 1910

Duroc-Jersey Swine Record Association: Volume 61 - Page 7
V1 QUEEN'S BRIDE— Farrowed April
18. 1917. In litter 9, raised — hoars 0. sows 6 Bred by EE Handley. Carroll. Iowa, sold to JH Saucke.

The Iowa engineer: Volumes 7-8 - Page 130Iowa State College - 1907
>Fred Coates, Farnhamville, Iowa. FAB Paterson, Fairmont, Minn. Enamel Concrete Co., Des Moines, Iowa. Orin Ruffcorn, Des Moines, Iowa. HF Flanagan, Des Moines, Iowa. Electric Cement Post Co., Lake City, Iowa. RE Smith, Lake City, Iowa.

Iowa engineer: Volumes 5-7 - Page 103Iowa State University, Iowa State College - 1905 - Full view
CALHOUN COUNTY WL Skinner, Farnhamville. Earl Skinner, Farnhamville. CARROLL COUNTY 0. W. Carpenter, Coon Rapids. CASS COUNTY Milo II. Cook, Griswold. CEDAR COUNTY R. Brewer, Lowden. CS Hollingsworth, W. Branch CERRO GORDO COUNTY Geo. ...

Once while I was browsing through books like these, I was surprised to see names of place in England and Germany poping up as Breeders /Hybrid suppliers for people in Churdan, Farnhamville.and other towns. I never seem to run enough of them through a search.

And I have found special advertisements through google search of certain special breeds of dogs, say for hunting or some other aspect they are known to have. Breeders associations, the breeders or sellers have lived in villages I have a special interest about to wade through hyprids and pedigree charts, but well we are used to those, aren't we? . Unless I make an effort to search into these aspects, I won't know. It is time consuming though, to just broadly search the names of your towns. Should I call it fun?

I have looked newspapers sources over for ancestors name not nearly enough, often useing quotes or phrases, but next time I am going to remember that articles have been written in the past about the farms and livestock of our farming ancestors. I see too, that they don't have to live in rural areas.
Lutheran almanac and year-book - Page 66
United Lutheran Church in America - 1899 - Full view
Richter, Prof F Clinton, Iowa. Richter, FL, Fargo, Cass co. N Dak. Richter, HR, Denham, Pulaski co, Ind. Richter, Otto C, Evansville. III. Richter, Otto E, Melrose, Minn. Richter, Wni, Appleton City, Mo. Rickels, Farnhamville, Iowa. ...

ROSTER AND RECORD OF IOWA SOLDIERS - Page 688
1911 - Full view
Residence Perry, nativity Iowa. Enlisted April 30, 1898, as Second Corporal. Mustered May 25, 1898. Mustered out Oct. 30, 1898, Des Moines, Iowa. McVay, Charles. Age 28. Residence Farnhamville. Enlisted July 2, 1898. ...
books.google.com

The Iowa official register - Page 104
No cover image
Iowa. Secretary of State - 1892 - Full view
... in Twin Lakes 133 516 90 555 271 Gar fleld township lg) 482 593 233 602 697 488 208 1478 940 822 377 544 144 Reading township, including Farnhamville town 807 137 197 Twin Lakes township, including part of Roc

Disputed ground: farm groups that opposed the New Deal ... - Page 135
Jean Choate - 2002 - 232 pages - Preview
In June of 1935 the National Union Farmer carried an article on JH Saucke of Farnhamville, Iowa, who said he killed 42 pigs so that he could be in compliance with his corn-hog contract. The article, accompanied by a picture of the dea

Gemeindeblatt-Kalender auf das Jahr ...
1951 - Snippet view
Domsch, John T., Box 166, Farnhamville, Iowa. Donahue, Wm. F., 12 Du Bols Ave., Valley Stream, LI, NT Dora, Harold, B. S„ BA, R. 2, Box 6962, Redding, Calif. Dorn, Herbert P., 341 Beulah St., SE, Grand Rapids 7, Mich. ...

A history of the origin of the place names connected with the ... - Page 145
William H. Stennett - 1908 - 201 pages - Full view
Farnhamville, Calhoun County, Iowa. Little Lake, Marquette County, Michigan. Fennimore, Grant County, Wisconsin. Hetland, Kingsbury County, South Dakota. Lak

The Lutheran witness: Volume 51

Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod - 1932 - Snippet view
... in St. Peter's Congregation, Farnhamville, Iowa, by AO Bleeke. — . ... NN, Iowa, Varions Missions, 8.00. NN, Michigan, Home Missions, 25.00. Rev. C. Eiss- feldt, Memorial Wreath for AG Brauer, Home Missions, 3.00. Per Dr. F. Brand, ...

Descendants of Nathan Spicer, 1735-1811
Jean B. Grube - 1979 - 708 pages - Snippet view
On 24 December l884, in Dallas County, Iowa, he married Rosetta Evans, born l4 December l865, Henry County, Indiana; ... Farnhamville, Iowa; died l0 April l973, Fairmont, Minnesota. On 29 June l929, at Brownsdale, Minnesota, ...

And of course at the same time there are books bearing the names of your town other various subjects including churches and local events; Business reports; railroad reports; Associations such as Medical Associations; Insurances; Stock holders; science; Geology; Farmers co operations, farmer directories; electrical power associations; Commissioners Inventions; communication services; Libraries, Post offices Clubs; munincipal aspects; agencies; societies; Commercial and finances; Industrial; Conventions; Military; government; aspects of transportation, commerce; atlases and maps; Funeral Homes; construction; Travel, commerce; weather; state fairs; Census; unions; hunting trapping; patents; Pilgrims of Iowa; Music; homeopathic; heritage books; books of biographical nature; education aspects; bar or law associations; Historical books of other areas with one person from your village; perhaps something in the line of Agriculture - horticulture or Feed, grain or Seed. I have notice some local books are being copied. More on that at another time.

Did I leave anything out?

Good luck with your many searches.

My inspirations

2010-10-24T10:06:00.000-07:00

After reading the last post of the new Design Star Emily Henderson; I started browsing to see what tacky ideas she was referring to that are online. As far as bamboo goes, I agree, since I am not into that look. Though I believe one can alter anything and they are hollow so there are many uses for it.

A bee comb look

I really like this look, though is it a tad bit seventies?
As usual once inspired my mind follows a path and did get into some interesting ideas with twists following some inspirations I saw online.
I have a few ideas I saw worth a comment or two.
This one from this site.
http://www.sirwal.com/search/curtain+room+dividers+ikea/

She mentioned string, and then I see possibilities of that after I saw this fence here.

I could see doing that between say two wooden vertical beams say like in a loft or a basement.

Now if your a genealogist with a complicated family tangled web, think of it done this way. http://genealogyofoldendorfundnahrendorf.blogspot.com/2008/10/web-creativity-of-ghrde.html

You could get as creative as you want with your materials. I was going to say with ideas with burlap, bleached burlap, canvas, painters cloth, muslin, string, cording in the sewing section, clothes line.

I love the web made of cording because the web idea made from cording ties with my tangle of family webbing idea so well.
Now especially in this Halloween day season I have been frequently thinking about the cording or a heavy string in thickness that can be very visible from a distance strung between two objects whether trees or fencing to well create a visual barrier or fencing.
My all time favorite.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8146415@N08/1572789910/
by Tho Guenther
I have used this picture before and I will not do so once more to show you that it has been done. Please just follow the link of an example of others in a forest. If you don't you miss so much of my intentions today.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8146415@N08/1572776636/in/photostream/

Okay now lets move away from the cording idea and trail along the idea of burlap. On someones blog, I saw the idea of tassels made from burlap. It was an interesting idea.

Think of again the ragged wrinkled look of tassels again with the idea of strips of thin fabric falling in streamers, flowing loosely or stiffened and weighted?? Because I have seen tassels done with rag strips as well.

Again all these ideas could be done as screens, folding or not.

Some others suggested windows and I like the idea if it was artful. by that I mean arched like window with beveled glass or even antique stained glass. Which of course would strain the budget.

If money was not such a object, I would say artistic substantial statues of some sort, similar maybe group of three or some mounted on pillars.

I know this little post is hasty and choppy. I just had to input some ideas taking off from Emily Henderson's last post on some ideas she was working out for her Design Star show series.

It's Time

2010-10-22T06:15:00.000-07:00

IT'S TIME

Farmville zynga 2009

It's time to appreciate what we have had this spring and summer.

Yellow wild violets

It's time to choose and follow the new path!

And to put it behind you and begin anew.

So long summer dreams,

And the Summer schemes

Yes, It's time to put away summer

Flowers with warm weather visions must hibernate,

Summer activities must be winter dreams when we anticipate spring.

So many chores to do!

Winter is around the corner. We have to be ready.

Are you in a rut?

2010-10-20T10:00:00.000-07:00

Are you getting into a Rut. I have the answer. It's simple.
On the same day of every month change the side of the bed you sleep on. After awhile, you can change the day to another day.

Let me know if it helps?

2010-10-13T08:25:00.000-07:00

ello

Sometimes don't you wish you knew what people were thinking? Or wonder what they were thinking that made them do what they did?

I took this picture of my daughter in the blue and orange [ she is further back]. This girl stranger in front knew I was taking the picture and sat there almost deliberately. There were other spots she could have sat. Perhaps her mother was going to take her picture too, I knew she could be edited out,, I stepped back and included her. Why you wonder. Because she seemed to match the daughter.

Every since the day she did that and I see the photo, I can't help but wonder what was in her mind. Was it because she knew I
could edit her out anyway.
Was she being a little stinker? .

My daughter said there was a sign somewhere which said we were not to take single posed pictures. She thinks the girl thought I should be abiding by the rule on a sign I didn't
see at the time.
Was it because she knew I could edit her out anyway?.

I think she matched with my daughter and she knew it and felt she should be in the picture. Probably some future designer in the making.

I'll never know what she was thinking. What do you think motivated her?
Comment away!

Our Reflections of Ourselves

2010-09-18T13:41:00.000-07:00

How do they reflect from you?

Is it clear, diffused, blurry, not as intended. Could it use some definitions or explanations.
~~ I think so ~~

~ It's Not Black and White On Either Side ~

2010-09-18T12:03:00.000-07:00

Okay, so it is in this picture,but there is the gray areas too.

Today I embarrassed myself.
Yes I did, because I sent a woman almost running to her car.
Now don't judge me until you hear a little more of my side of it.
I don't think it is a matter of black and white. There is some gray area here!.

Isn't that the rule. I get a fair judgement [in my trial].

There is no Privacy if you live in town. There is nothing to stop a stranger from coming to my door and banging on it like some where there is a fire or an emergency. Unless I posted a sign that says no solicitors allowed; [I am not sure if my unwanted or wanted guest was a solicitor.] or keep an angry dog running around the front lawn; they have a right to knock on my door and try to say their piece. But do they have the right to enter my house and go to the second entrance door.

Sorry folks no answer means in grouches words "Go away! That Welcome on the mat is not meant for

you".
Not on my day off, when I escape from people and the world to my little world in my house or my garden. When I am involved with what I want to be, how ever messy I happen to be, as I want to be, where I want to be, I will not go to the door, I will know who it is and decide. Leave your card or a message after your knock and be on your way. It's my door not yours,

The same goes for phone calls about buying something, or the elections. Leave your twenty messages and forget me. If I want more information, I have the means to know how to call back, look you up and find out for myself. Please leave me to my foolishly imagined privacy.

If however, that is not good enough for you, then by all means suffer the consequence. I did not ask for you to come to my door or dial my number , because you mistakenly believe this is a good neighbor hood to hit for donations or answers to your violating questions.

She said "Who are you going to vote for?". She was violating my American right and I got my dander up. I could have said it's not your business, I just said disgusted unfriendly like, "I didn't know and probably wouldn't at all." Since I knew it would tick her off for sure. Perhaps a few more words about not having time for this. And away she hurried leaving me a phamphlet and crossing my name off of some list?

Well lady, if you knew me from the AFC. union, you should have identified it. Yes, I would love to know more about who to vote for, but not standing by my doorway in my very messy porch , where I had just layed the garbage bag prior.

Okay, I hinged on rude, saying I had no time, withdrawing my smiles, when I truly want to be a gracious person. I have chores, and they are still waiting now as I write. I am a christian. If I were in her shoes, how would I want tobe treated? I doubt I would be, since my knowledge is not the same as hers, and I would not think of attacking someone door to door except with the children at Halloween. Nor would I stoop to telemarketing.

Perhaps I happen to believe wrongly that you don't ask someone who, you say instead "do you have an idea or know who you want to vote for....", etc. Other wise why bother putting privacy curtains around you as you vote.

And as for predicting the election, what's to stop me from telling you I am voting for someone I have no intention of voting for in the election. It's what you deserve for violating my public privacy.

But on the other hand, could I not make more use of that opportunity that just was gifted to me.!!

I think there has got to be more ways to let people in on information, than door to door. Would I attend a brief uncomplicated voluntary nice timed meetings, probably. Would I watch something on tv, maybe, if it was well publicized and clear where it's located. If it was online. Yes definitely, if it again was exactly clear where. It costs nothing for online information.!!

I guess I have been silently debating with myself about whether I should have been posting some politics on this website. When I know so little. In order to help my occupational cause.

Hopefully, There is still time to step out and educate myself. There is still time to decide.

Now truly it is time to get that sink full of dishes done!!

Note : I really must make a sign to be near my door.
Beware of Me.
Or
"Don't ask me, who I am going to vote for?"

Note: When editing the white is white print.

Sure Enough -- Who Do YOu Think YOU ARE-- is On Tonight!

2010-09-03T15:28:00.000-07:00

Who Do You Think You Are?

Tune in tonight at 8/7c NBC I think, for you to see Brooke Shield's find royalty in her ancestry!
YOU see emotions, research and nice scenery.

I hope you like it. Let me know what you think.

I shall edit in a place / blog I saw where you can view it online.

This site roots television offers some great entertainment viewing.
http://www.rootstelevision.com/index.html

My Love of the Hydrangeas. With Pink or Blue?

2010-08-22T07:44:00.000-07:00

Click on the pictures for larger versions for a better impact. Sorry, white flowers and my camera just don't work well together.

In the last post You were shown my pink lilies. I hope to save the bulb or corm and plant them beneath the Pee Gee Hydrangea tree more in front of the bed and directly behind the chairs. . I don't always have the table in this spot. sometimes I have an umbrella standing overhead the table.

-1- Annabelle Hydrangea.
How about right in front of the Annabelle Hydrangea Bush. I do like my hydrangeas.
In some books, lavender and purple are called blue.

I know my lily plants were tall enough and beautyful, but each year, I understand that they get smaller and smaller. At a garden tour this summer, I saw some that were really full and quite the giant compared to mine.
-2- Peachy pink and yellow lilies on the giant side.
I think the trick is in the nourishment of the corms or bulbs constantly or after flowering. I should read more about it. I hope I am successful with it. I think it would be such a romantic spot then with those lilies amongst the ferns. Imagine the aroma there too from the lilies.

I coud never make up my mind if I wanted blue in that area
-3- Can not forget the best blue of the forget-me-nots.

-4- Name unknown of voilet like plant.

or If I wanted pink blends.
-Some pink annuals-
-5- Impatients

-6- Coral bells on the shorter side.

-7-- Caladiums from bulbs or corms-

- pink on the taller wild side-
-8- Astilbe flowers also comes in redder tones and whites

- or both- Tall Phlox here

-9- Short summer Phlox -it comes taller.

I suspect these Day lilies may take a bit more sun or are less tolerant of the shade in order to bloom.
-10- Daylily

I have a hydrangea that flowers pink or blue depending on the amount of acidity that it absorbs. I like both and went pink with it this year. I'll have to see if I can get a picture for you. It does get east sun dry, but you saw an amount of sun coming in on the chair so maybe it might work here. Wouldn't that be idea. I could decide the year before if I wanted pink or blue.??

I really like the look of hydrangeas and Hostas with ferns. In the -1- photo above the little flower is the lady bell, which was rather plentiful here. It deepened my love for Campanula and other shade flowers, though she can take sun as well, that's what so wonderful about her. I know that this spot is too shady for the clematis to do very well. I have one on the other side, It is just too shady. My neighbors sapling tree grew too fast and tall for my liking. [I think he pulled a fast one on me]

-11- Hydrangeas and various Hostas.

- sometimes with evergreens

-12- small evergreen
-13- Large blue evergreens.

I was just showing my pictures centering around the dilemma of having pink or blue in my sitting spot by the views of the Annabelle Hydrangea [and the taller Pee Gee Hydrangea next to the bridal wreath] bush. They do get large as you can see and may need a bit more space than I have provided. I seem to ween out any plant that reproduces into another spot. There are some newer varieties now too, I could try.

I still have my mothers memorial Snowball tree to plant yet too. I have yet to decide on where it should go.

- just me jo -

Sources : for pictures, my camera and the 2010 Garden tour, and my garden.

Saturday -- The Power of Pink

2010-08-21T14:23:00.000-07:00

Your seeing here a light Pink oriental lily from the Walmart garden center, which came in a pink package which said some of the proceeds was going to cancer charity. They had lots of the pink packages of various bulbs marked in that way. It was one way I knew I would receive pink instead of yellow or orange.

What you see below in the small photo is the shamrock looking plant that has tiny little pink flowers gown from the little bulbs that I also planted in early spring. I am sorry that this portion of the photos that I cropped from the larger picture is so blurry. I had planted a glad in the middle, I should move it back more into the sunshine so that it can bloom soon.

I know the table set up below is not the proper way to use it, but I kind of did it that way this summer. Rather than putting on the glass topper.

I have always loved pink. I seek it out where ever I am. I think it's presence adds to my happiness in a day.
However, I have always thought that it is a color that can't stand alone. To me it looks great when it's added to a spot of other color. In any little scheme one should repeat the colors around. But the one lily does okay here enlarged anyway. [Wink]

So with that said, it would have been nice for more than one flower, but all the same I wish to show my little pink sblotch of happiness. Up closer the darker pink lily flower supplies the power of pink much more than the lighter flower. Each bloomed at different times.
I HOPE YOU ENJOYED A LITTLE PINK HAPPINESS TODAY. SEE YOU LATER.

2010-07-29T08:21:00.001-07:00

Now I lay me down to sleep.
If I should die before I wake,
would one of you please vacuum
before you call authorities.

I added to my reading list some blogs about design star

2010-06-26T21:51:00.000-07:00

Warning the language in this blog is bad. Just so you know. It is about design star. But a potty mouth writes it.

MyFavoriteAndMyBest.com ----

I know, now, some of you will hurry on over there. Shame on you as my mother would say to me.
..........................................................

Here is the link to utube. they are very interesting.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPQPlrMNBQQ&feature=related

One of them mst have sent in all her bloopers. Even her tape was not good. background noise, low sound, unpolished. etc.

I know, now some of you will hurry on over there.Shame on you as my mother would say to me.

Rose chafers like my weed tree!

2010-06-20T11:05:00.000-07:00

I have tons of these trees. I have to stop and think about who likes rose chafers in the food chain. Moles maybe. The bug is poisoness to the birds.

I give up!

My tree keeps trying to escape my garden!

2010-06-14T06:20:00.000-07:00

I am going to show you my runaway Weed tree again. I believe it is an Indigofera. But that is as far of a classification I have made so far. So you might find it a bit boring. I am trying to show you that something so lovely is not all that perfect. Just like anything we plant in the garden. Right? Especially in my garden. I have a lot of wandering plants. They try out new places or take over others territory.

I believe that is what the bush is trying to do here. He has expanded his territory a great deal.

They really are not like a azalea or a Rhododendron which is bright and hold their own in a view. I think the bush here tends to wash out in the view of it's mass. Even alone it needs repeat color around to help the scene.

I suppose it can be blamed on the camera and the editing, but still it seems to me a bit washed out. Perhaps with the right contrast planted in front and to the sides of this bush, so it is used as a background. Perhaps then a larger impact of a view.

I planted this one above the rocks along that small trellis to keep trimmed to resemble wisteria.
I suppose in dream land it works. The branches are very brittle and do not bend all that well to be fastened to the trellis. It's a rapid grower, especially with all that nutritious dirt and sunlight. It likes excellent drainage which it definitely has here.

The problem is it's suckers. The plant shoots out about three inches below the surface a root like an umbilical cord. It tries to make a runaway or just take over a territory. In this photo above you can see masses of rock which makes a big curve. The suckers have been emerging above to the left on the grass more by where you see that potted pink plant. That is a lot of rock and a lot of earth. But still one finds the tree suckers at the end outside all of the rocks. It tunnels it's way through irregardless the block. It gets mowed off every month, but it still persists in the same areas or new areas.
I could try containing it in barrels one of these days and see how it works. A project for 'someday'.

Unless I block it or remove it in my less agile older age, it will plague me then or the new residents of my home. [ smile]

I'll end on the up side. I planted it by the house, because I love the leaves and how it can seem tropical like a palm or the ferns that I love. I think If I thin the ferns a bit more, or even some smaller hay ferns, I may like this a bit more. the colors are lovely together when the peony blooms its pretty pink along with the white version. I didn't mention how great that magenta looks with some purple and lavenders. All in all it's a keeper despite it's attempts to escape.

Have you seen any good displays of Lamiums?

2010-06-02T06:45:00.000-07:00

I know today is Outdoor Wednesday, a very cool day too, after so many hot days. So have you seen a good use of Lamiums. Besides me of course. Mine are growing and spreading. I would like to see other gardens with a clever usage of them.

Looking around the garden I would say that my weed tree [ at the top of the page ], which I believe to be a Indigo bush will probably not be in full flower. It looks like it suffered something that made some dried up beginning growth at tips. However, it can flower all summer long. So I suppose I will see an occasional bloom.

Animals at the Como Park zoo

2010-05-19T11:45:00.000-07:00

There is more to the park than just plants and flowers. Lions sleeping in. Tigers, Snow Leopards.
Shy Ostriches.

It Only takes One Person To Ruin It For Everyone

2010-05-08T08:01:00.000-07:00

Have you had to bare something cause of one person ruining it for you. An older sibling, a
class mate, a citizen in your town.?

Didn't we learn that in Kindergarten, if we hadn't already learn that at home. And it was a rule we see all through life. I will discount rulers at the moment. They are excused from this. I was thinking of this the other day for some reason. I am not sure how the thought of my grade school teacher and our music class of playing Tonettes popped into my head. It came with delayed anger {smile}
Let me clarify.
In Minnesota I think it was the way the young students learned about music. How to read sheet music and maybe something about rhythm and timing. We all were divided into three classes and had three separate teachers. Each class room teacher was responsible for their class instructions. Though they followed general requirements and guidelines. The more capable students and bright students got the best teacher and most interesting programs. At least I thought so. [ Other schools and other classes had other kinds of tonettes]

As I said we were all set to learn to play our tonettes. We had our little sheet that came with it that told the basics. We had read our mimeographed sheets of music and instruction. Some of us were anxious and had practiced at home. We were being delayed and we were anxious. One little tiny toot happened. The day it happened our teacher must have been having a bad day. Or was she not equipped? After hearing a few little breaths of a toot she announced that there were going to be no more toots and that she wanted it quiet. If there was any sound of a toot, it would be over. And somehow there was a toot sounded. I never made note of who it was, nor did I care.
Cause all I know is we had to put them away and we were off on another subject. It did not happen at all that week. I think we had a substitute teacher after that. Maybe she attempted to have a class, but seeing we were behind schedule she had anticipated it didn't happen again.

Sadly it was over and so was our music instruction. It was charts on the blackboard and maybe something said during a song. My instruction was lacking for sure. And I don't think I absorbed much from it with out hands on classes.

I forget even who the teacher was. the other day thinking on it I was mad. All because one person ruined it for the rest of us.
I saw other classes learning, I have seen younger students proudly show their tonettes and well, I looked away, knowing why we suffered.

If you think on it, It was poor judgement on the part of the teacher to issue such a threat and have to follow through. The threat is good for somethings, but not for that. I mean wasn't it like a state requirement and she threw it out the window.

My folks some years barely had money for new shoes in the fall, let alone by a tonette we didn't get to play. though it wasn't that lovely to listen to, even if we had the right tempo. I would have been mad as a parent. but as a parent sometimes what can you do.
We all have to make choices as to what to ignore and what to do about something.

What fired me up to blog about it was the incident of getting my disposable camera pictures developed. I used to drop them off at my favorite drugstore, which is suffering the economy along with everyone else. They stopped developing photographs. Especially overnight prints photo developement. So I went to walmart. As soon as I joined the man behind the counter and told him I had not been there before, he said they don't do Overnight or 'next day printing' anymore. I am a Why person so I said why? He told me cause one party sued walmart in California or somewhere and walmart stopped doing it.

Ahh now you see. One person can ruin it for everyone. Disregard the fact, I didn't even care if I had it the next day. But I might have, If I had the privilege.

Deer in Menomonie's Stout Ale House Have Developed A Taste for Ale

2010-05-04T08:34:00.001-07:00

I'd like to stay on my May third blog, cause I am wrapped up in the pictures, especially on those that click large. But something new always presents itself. I happened upon this little tidbit of news on Face book so I copied the link for you to view by a click.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-AQBI1ETDs There are several to see.
And the Stout Ale House hosts their own.
http://www.stoutalehouse.com/

It seems those cute nasty deer are not satisfied with the treats we leave them in our gardens and landscapes. I think some of my offerings are good desserts for them and well remembered, because they return for seconds often. Evidently the Hops and some Creeping Charlie they have sampled in our yards has led the little buggers to develop a taste for ale. They wandered into the Stout Ale house for a little something. I jest not, see for your self by either link.

You know, this might be a good thing. If they all develop this taste for the brew, maybe they will be hanging around out there and not at sunnyside blogspot's lawn and garden. Maybe then my hops might manage to get high. My sons Blueberries might give berries for us. They can pass by with no more phlox munchies!
Hmm maybe I can set up a little brew bar by the pines and they'll sloth
around and never make it further. Now there is a jesting happy thought. I can just see it. Soon they will have to make a wall hanging of deers playing poker stealing the popularity the dogs playing cards have had for years.

Comments:
Of course everyone has their own perspective when it comes to this story. ch ado about this since the Buck game was on television at the time. So it has been picked up by many sports minded reporters. It's mentioned even at Hotmail. I haven't read any of these, and I only watched one video. I shall give you some links.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8659651.stm

http://www.kypost.com/content/wcposhared/story/Wed-Rather-Bowl-Than-Vote-GMTS-Newsletter/mb_wZnmtKEKQOr2d7F_-tw.cspx

http://www.freep.com/article/20100504/SPORTS21/5040364/Score-Tiger-Woods-clubs-for-just-a-quarter-million

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/05/04/1414537/sports-today-your-guide-to-whats.html

* http://www.chippewa.com/news/local/article_957b55b4-5702-11df-a0e8-001cc4c002e0.html

http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/sports/nba-111728-assists-playoff.html

Interesting that these accounts say it's sport related!
Stout Ale house link -
http://www.stoutalehouse.com/

Como Park Conservatory Spring Tour

2010-05-03T21:00:00.000-07:00

You will find here my appreciation for the old art of the Victorian garden. Your visit is free there, but here the charge is a comment. [Smile]

You can see it was a busy day here at the sunken garden in the Como Conservatory as everyone waits and is respectful and then they try and get their shots, coming from their own ideas of Perspective.
Eventually you will see photos at one time or another with people in them. Your going to have to ignore them and concentrate on the flowers.

Also you will notice the reflections in the ponds of the ceiling. It makes it unique.

First of all I just have to clarify that I never plant orange in my garden except for the few old fashioned tiger lilies and the orange typical farm lilies. They are similar to this color I think.??

My daughter took the time to make these nice shots with her digital camera. It was up to me to try and reduce the size for my blog.

I don't know what this vine is, but it's beautiful.

I love ferns, moss, which is lacking here. I also have a thing for Maidenhair ferns and well rocks!

I did ruin the shot, I am sitting on that bench. You can buy a post card like this one, without me in it! Water adds so much charm to a garden. but art adds even more. And then too, what would the picture be with out the palm trees in the background.

It would be so very colorful after a long white winter.

This shot does show how fantastic and Victorian this conservatory is.

The floors and the rock work is gorgeous as the flowers are. I really love this photo about the best. The bright blues were really dark Purple. If something shows as purple it is really magenta. I really like these border type plantings.

The Saint Francis with the comforting sound of the trickle of the fountain
Perfect Art for the Perfect spot.

And a little more of the huge rock wall waterfall. Below it there was a little stream with black rocks.

I can't wait to go back for the Summer views.

I just love May. May Day, Birthdays, Mothers Day,

2010-04-22T02:59:00.000-07:00

MYBLOG'SBIRTHDAYBLOG'SBIRTHDAY

A ROOTDIGGER'SBLOG'SANNIVERSARY

I love May, I love days in May, how about you?
The sunshine has really perked me up, I have gotten a little more ambition.
How about you. what has the sunshine done for you. [Or is it the lack of snow?]

I have just been sitting here thinking and thinking, trying to figure out what to do for this next week. My blog Anniversary for A rootdigger is coming up pretty quick. Not this particular blog at sunnyside. But the main one. that the others take off from. I am at loss in what to do to celebrate it. If you have done so, what did you do? Any suggestions for me?

I am expecting May to be a great Month, like I do every year. Since May third is considered arootdigger's birthay, my daughter has made plans for me for May 1st on a saturday. We will be doing a charity event in the twin cities at Como Park. I am of course taking my camera in anticipation of great sites. Which means I shall have to delete what is on my card before hand and have plenty of batteries.

I plan on spending some time finding my umbrella.

Just for something Extra, I am going to do a little research on orchids or lady slippers in this next week. I had seen something online a few years back about a place by the Mississippi river. I always think of that arboretum place in Northern Minnesota where they grow wild plants that I would love to see at this time of year.

When I get back we need to celebrate my sons birthday, he suggested a cookout, but I think Not. I wish I could with all my heart give him his birthday wish this year, but it won't be this year.

I should plant more than hops now too.I hope too, to get my lettuce and beets and pole peas. planted. WE have had such an early spring, I am not sure if I should plant my pole beans. I have to hunt up my seeds. I should have put the roses I saved back in the ground already. I will see how they have done in that abandoned state in the porch. I hate to find out.

To top it off the plant stores have been open already, and I haven't even stopped. It sure sounds like a good reason to go on the north side, to me.

Plus, I really must get to my Office hoard piles and get a little more done. I also need to buy some paint for a couple of projects.

Now you see why I love May. The sunshine has really perked me up, how about you. what has the sunshine done for you. [Or is it the lack of snow?]

Garage Door Blues - Time to plant and Pot Up.

2010-04-15T08:53:00.000-07:00

Potting up and also moving plants around this spring is the major plan. Yeah, I did a little editing. I just love Fun Effects by Kodak.

You will see where I am going with the Hops. I have so many invasive plants, though lovely and economical is no longer working for me. Neither is indecision.

Yes, I have been tinkering with some photos to show you where I am going to plant the hops vine. I am also thinking of the corner which you can not see. It would be a great spot. I have to keep in mind the garage has to be torn out very soon. But the support post at the east side could remain or be substituted with something else for the hops vine if it were planted there.

I am going to take out those nuisance vines which are so invasive. They did the trick at one time. But I tire of the labor they cost me. I have some roses in mind for that lattice. Unfortunately my edit just does not seem to have the right pink for me to show. My rose you see has a touch of lavender, but I would like a clear pink. Perhaps in several shades of pink. I always have lady bells in this spot and the phlox. In front of the roses are some pretty pink bee balm and some peonies for the scent. The little bush you see at the east side of the lattice is usually cut down for less shade over the pond below. I could use advice for the right shade of blue. I want french blue I think or powder baby blue.

I could actually remove that bush that has magenta flowers and go with the hops vine there. I only put that bush in a few years ago. See older post. The hops could go there.?
Or the other spot I have I mind.

You see below the tree before I cut off the top branches. It shall only be a support, not a tree in growth. It is a constant trim process each spring and summer, but I think it will work.

I am not sure how much root system it has. I hope it would leave enough room for the Hops underground progression.

I cut up about two feet above the top of the ladder. As you saw in other blogs, I am in the process of adding more sunshine to my spot. I had planted this homemade woods, but well, I need just a little sunshine. If you have seen Monet's garden at Giverny interpreted by Dereck Fell you know one can have some charming paths, without all trees. Arbors and poles should do the trick. [ I like his shade of blue green too, but not by the old garage.

I am not sure where I got the picture, I saved it for the color combination and so I could accurately find that color blue paint.

Comment: I kind of like the colors I put on the other door where I added the coloring of the lady bell purple flower. Perfect here in the small photo. I also like the color of the bottom blue on the garage door.

What do you think. can you help me decide?

If only we were Quick enough to keep the dominoies from falling.

2010-04-14T10:22:00.000-07:00

If I understood this language I would ask for permission to use his picture. I would like you to see the little one at the top. Humorous at best.
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://fotosa.ru/stock_photo/Rubberball_JI/p_792632.jpg&imgrefurl=http://fotosa.ru/ru/stock/search.asp%3FID%3D792632%26anchor%3D24&usg=__uDaNPwT7OjIq9gvcoXrkljRIQ9s=&h=387&w=580&sz=22&hl=en&start=11&sig2=BjcWLMiavBqDatIJrX16Hw&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=c5o7HrNUb3mVuM:&tbnh=89&tbnw=134&prev=/images%3Fq%3Ddominoes%2Bfalling%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26sa%3DX%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26tbs%3Disch:1&ei=2fXFS9mKDqOqM9yV2PUN
http://fotosa.ru/stock_photo/Rubberball_JI/p_792632.jpg
Just as fun.
http://fotosa.ru/stock_photo/Rubberball_JI/p_792631.jpg

If only we were quick enough to keep the dominoes from falling.

just me jo

Hops for Beer Making

2010-04-11T09:01:00.002-07:00

Beer maker demands Hops!
Stay tuned as I try to grow Hops this spring.
My son has been brewing for a year or so. I knew it was a matter of time before he got to the hops. I had always wondered if I would like the vine. Now I get to find out.

We will also get going on the raspberries, and the Blue berry plants. We have to make them inaccessible to deer.

At the back of my mind, I keep remembering that there is some weed that they brought over for beer or wine, and it creeped all over where it wasn't wanted. Was it creeping charlie or that white vanilla scented small plant that grows in the shade.

Now to learn more about this Hops.

Happy Easter

2010-04-02T11:30:00.000-07:00

'Now is a gift, and that's why it's called the present.'"
Have a nice easter.

I noticed the scillia and the Daffodils blooming. How nice it is raining to bring out the rest of the little bulbs to light.
Oh happy days.

Decisions And The EAsy Way

2010-03-24T11:04:00.000-07:00

Were choices being chosen to make oneself unique, different, oneself.To make it easier, for Rebellion, I can't decide.

I am trying to make a decision about which tree to use for a symbol of my family tree. In doing so I had begun to explain a little about my ways of choice in many matters. But I tend to copy and emulate others, and probably would be doing so without any controversy at all in my choice. I could play it safe, which I have always tried to do in my life except for a few reckless abandoning moments in my life. It wasn't exactly rebel moments or were they.

By playing it safe I may mean taking the easy road in life. Which did or did not actually make life in those moments easier. And later moments.

And is that maybe some kind of rebelness of the normal. way?

Examples of the easy path I have taken.[ Some with regret, I guess.]

I got married rather than remain single.

I spoiled my children in some ways, rather than not.

When I travel to family in Minnesota, I rarely take the same way twice. And I stop a lot on the way to and back. Enjoying the trip as I go.

When driving through out my town, unless I have an ulterior motives about the route such as it running by my favorite garden, or my favorite food stop ; I rarely take left turns.

I rarely go to the north end of the city until I have to do so. And the path I have to take is so restricted to two set ways that leaves me little choice in which road to take or how.

I once took the back roads all the way to the Mall of America. Yes and it was not easy crossing the Mississippi. There are only so many ways in which I can cross from my area of Wi going to that area of Mn.
a- Red wing area
b- Hastings area
c-Hudson area and further north and further south crossings such a by Lacrosse and Winona or Wabasha. Looking back, I remember I think I figured I would cross other than the Hudson route and from there the back roads began after I crossed. -Merely got by in some things, rather than challenge myself more often to do a bit more.

........................................................................................

I must say that that back roads trip to the Mall of America served me well enough. I discovered places I was not aware of and would not have, if I had not done that. The Mormon church of the Golden suburb of Minnesota.

.........................................................................................

The rebel in me. [ Again not always the easier outcome]
By playing it safe I may mean taking the easy road in life. Which did or did not actually make life in those moments easier. And is that maybe some kind of rebelness of the normal way?

It emerges in my showing the in- laws and partner that my families ways were not so bad. That particularly may not have been in my best interest in the long run.

A good deal of my life's decisions.
I planned and had a rainbow wedding, which was not that sophisticated.

I stuck up for some one considered the underdog.

I went to college.

I have other ones too numerous to mention. One I suppose is that I don't have favorite color but combination of colors. One has to depend on something else in order to qualify. Black and white and pink or blue and white. with another color.

Choosing a tree with character for a symbol rather than the usual kind of tree.
Blogging and computer work rather than housework all the time.

Chatting with people and groups rather than obstain from all the dangerous people in blogosphere!.

Making up my own words.

If you read me, you will notice various rebelness. ........................................................................................

Well enough about me, how about you?

Which Tree Is To Be The Symbol For Me?

2010-03-24T08:28:00.000-07:00

I have been kind of running around with a snicker in my eyes. I have been holding back some ideas I have had about Family tree symbolism.

In genealogy we seem to represent our family with a tree. One symbolistic picture is used for Who Do You Think You Are television series. I noticed a nice young specimen with perfect branches all around.

It's nothing like this larger tree which is not spreading out all uniform in shape. Though I see hints of past bandages that suggest an accident of some sort. which led to it's limbs cut off. This is a sunny golden Happy glorious pic of a Maple. Was it a planned planting of a bred maple or did it just sprout up, adopted, and got transported to this spot in front of that house? But it is the kind of tree that is well loved by children on first sight for sure. You have to get under the canopy of leaves to see it is close to the ground and spread thick apart just enough to be perfect for climbing as children do. I would have to show that in the photo of my tree if I were to pick it. Would I want it to represent the love of the youth only. And for which it stands in the mid west to most of us.

I suppose it could be edited and changed and I could use it, if I wanted it for my various posts about my tree.

I haven't decided on a tree yet to represent my take on my family tree, because Iam finding that the decision is so personal.
And well, I have a problem making decisions at this age of life.

I don't know horticulture of trees all that well, but I have formed opinions and I am going to go with those today and my other posts without a lot of research involved. This is just for fun.

Is the tree to be an image or representation? . Often times it is the mighty biblical sturdy oak that is used. A nonsense type tree of distinction.

I am considering some others. I have set the rules too. No bushes.

Mighty Oak tree. Is he the old foggy with character, can he be hip or fun. Is it necessary that he be so. He is handsome young and graces with distinction best as he adds the years. He shares in his glory by historical traditional stories of his glory. He evidently is a survivor and must be rather worldly too. Yes, he is definitely a nice choice with his well bred looks , handsome distinguished demeanor. She can be a Clever matron as she has sent forth only the might tiny little acorns. But do they grow on their own, or must they be helped for all it's reputation of mightiness.

I have never had the opportunity to plant this tree, but I have observed it in admiration.

Is this the tree for me? Can a oak tree represent my family tree? I am not sure yet.

In the Next post I'll have a few more trees.

Some Jello jiggles for St. Patricks day.

2010-03-17T09:58:00.000-07:00

It's Nothing New, Just Old Fun.

Jello Jiggles giggles.

Have a little fun with the kids tonight. As they say better late than never. Inexpensive and easy. You and the kids can take a cookie cutter mold and cut into some jello molded into a jelly roll pan or brownie pan.
And cut away. with a little luck from the wee folk of the Irish you can show off your work.

Then you have the Jello Jiggle.
I hope you have just some old giggling fun.

just me jo

Are you ready to get outside and dig, plant and reap

2010-03-15T19:09:00.000-07:00

Me too.
Nothing like a little sunshine and warmer weather to bring forth my gardening desires.

Monday Madness - A Never Ending Blog Post Nightmare

2010-03-15T09:34:00.001-07:00

Have you heard of the old never ending song, the never ending story?
How about never ending blog post?.
The thought of a never ending link is kind of funny, right?
No. Not in the day light of reality.

Gosh, I just have to share this.
I have been daydreaming of suddenly being a short post blogger. And I have been a night dreamer of the same goal.
I bring my day problems into my night dreams, don't you?

Well recently, I had this dream where I went and took my long blogs and created read more links. I had the main blog on with 'read more here'. That took me to another link which said read on more here, which took me to still another one. And so it went on still with about two more links. Yes, a night mare of something like an April fools prank. Maybe my dream was trying to tell me my blogs get a little long. I feel I have things to say and it has to be said, or I get no nourishment from the blogging. My dream is telling me I am working on solving my issues, but I am still lost in the fog.........

The thought of a never ending link is kind of funny, right? But in reality maybe for the reader it would be long and boring. It would have to be one great blog to keep me clicking on forever.

Yet, when I go to a new blog, I scroll all the way through. If they are short, I read each one and keep clicking older, and older, until I get the craving to visit yet another blog and leave that one for another. On my designated day of sunday reading, I will be visiting some of the blogs that I am following. I find that when I do, I can catch up easily with a number of them. Especially if they are in a cluster on a page.

I have noticed three styles.
-Page - The very short blog with a link to the longer version. Nothing else on the page.
-Page - A medium length post of satisfactory length and no clicks to read more. But on the whole page is about five or six days worth. For another page of reading one can just click older. or go to the archives.\
-Page - A collection of very very short posts with each one giving directions to read more. Again one can explore older work by archives or clicking older if it is provided.
-Page -A collection of postings of long and all sizes. But many longs.

Solving the issue.

On my blog posts, I can cut the repeat an develop my thoughts, but bits of reactions and thoughts still need to have to be said. Points taken.. After all this is where anyone should be able to pick up and take off with the search if they know the points about what has been done before. And in return maybe I will get other relatives will read my thoughts ideas and questions and maybe will give me some pointers or ideas through comments..

I will need to analyze and go with the main thought and possibly as I like to do with the second point. Data is the most important part. I can keep it slightly personal. For further reading click here.

Green things on a Wordless wednesday -- Well Almost Wordless

2010-03-10T07:26:00.000-08:00

What another street view. I know. too much of a good thing can wear out quickly. But I just can't help myself. After the rain one wants green plants or flowers. I am in the wishing stage. I want to see Plants; Nurseries. I haven't even placed any orders yet. I have got to get on the ball here.

So I think am going to pop over to the Bobolink nursery and see what's there. I wonder what they have. they should be open any day now.
Let's see.

Größere Kartenansicht

Ahh yes, there is one small problem, Isn't there? . All the words are in German. Just maybe I will have to change back to english for google street view [map] for local search. Ohhh come on it was funny to me. [tee hee]

just me jo.

I Am Playing Around. ........... with Street view maps

2010-03-10T05:58:00.000-08:00

Wow!.
I am set with German search at google! Now I can really cruise. I changed my google search settings last night. I had noticed it said English only. I thought how did it get to that. I never want English only. But this morning, I noticed that when I googled map street view, google was .de. The nice part is it mentioned Germany and street view. Maybe not all over, when I translate it, I will let you know.

It rained last night. I hope it didn't freeze. I sure hope my car doors are not frozen shut. I have a big project planned for today that requires a little cruising to get' it' for you.

Yes, I am playing with street view again I have had this intention of sharing a particular view off from stout road or Highway 29, just as it enters close to Crescent and Main street. near sixth street. Now the object is not there. So that means the filming was done a couple of years ago.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Stout+Rd,+Menomonie,+WI+54751&sll=45.527517,-91.485901&sspn=0.515676,1.123352&gl=us&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Stout+Rd,+Menomonie,+Dunn,+Wisconsin+54751&ll=44.877483,-91.920623&spn=0.001019,0.002194&t=h&z=18&layer=c&cbll=44.877524,-91.920523&panoid=S2_bBP6cOKtKgjVkJ8cXGw&cbp=12,345.78,,1,2.92
It was a bit tough to get the little guy on the highway. And it works. Yup. A view of a tree

View Larger Map

Keep your eyes on that tree. Okay I'll let you know when to look somewhere else.

Okay! Now! Look below!
I managed to find this photo. I found it at My Menomonie at face book. I hope to get my tag accepted.

These photos are from Terese Wentworth who had contributed them to the website My Menomonie. I was searching for a photo to be in the newspaper and then this picture more or less fell right into my lap. I asked and she consented to let me use them. I thanked her and hope she knows how much I appreciate having it here.

I just have to learn how to save the map and make that street view like a photo. If any of you readers knows how, you can pass the information to me. Maybe then the page would load a little faster for you that way.
Anyway, thanks for joining me as I played around with the map feature of google street views.

just me jo

For more on the subject.
Chain saw art.
http://www.allbusiness.com/humanities-social-science/visual-performing-arts/12983026-1.html
http://www.dunnconnect.com/articles/2009/09/04/variety/doc4aa1a7587c21e804553620.prt
http://www.dunnconnect.com/articles/2010/03/05/video/956carver.txt
http://www.tree-carving.co.uk/
http://wsuit.com/wcw/links/indv-link.shtml
edit this

Map Madness - Gardens

2010-03-01T06:55:00.000-08:00

So you long to drive by really slow at a local known show garden, but didn't have the nerve. Do you want to see if Rachel really has that garden she claims she has? I have many landscapes and homes I would like to view and see if there is any special curbside appeal. I guess to do this all at home without leaving home one can just do street view with google maps.

When my mind gets on a subject with the adhd advantage it races along on the subject and brings up many ideas. On this monday, I just worked on 'Multi maps on Monday' over at the arootdigger.blogspot. It was rapidly racing because there I mentioned the possibility of getting a glimpse of Metz and a possible chance to view the place my ancestor spent time as a prisoner of war.

Of course it can only be where the vehicle traveled with the camera. Some day, they may come up with an inside off the street view.

With that take, the possibilites blow this bloggers mind. Where would you want to go with street view for viewing pleasure. Now would I want to spy on anyone, old friends in Minnesota just to see where they live. Maybe sometime I might. But my first thoughts have not been as a spy feature on anyone. No way. It's this link that made me see the possibilities.
http://google-latlong.blogspot.com/2010/01/new-countries-new-countrysides-in.html

One could drive by famous places and then with viewer submitted photos you can explore special landmarks and places. Sure even the entrance to Sea World is worth a view, right. How about the route to the Zoos, or along San Antonio streets. How much of the River Walk can you see. And maybe a view from the street of a movie stars home or music idols home. The Jolly Green Giant along the highway at Blue Earth, Minn.

And that is nothing compared to the grand finale, of where to view. The gardens of England. Oh gosh, where one could begin??. And if someday they get outside inside views, [ some people could have to start restricting cameras] wouldn't that be something. It would be nice to see the street views of these places. Monets garden, drive by the Eifel tower! See big Ben from the street. Oh just wait until they get to italy.

And if it is summer, even better. The other day on Hgtv international homes, I saw the most gorgeous views of some property in spain. It had these gorgeous planter boxes mounted on the walls not under windows. The buildings siding was rock, it was so gorgeous. Worth a photo. I captured some of the views on my tv recorder. I definately wish I had paid more attention to where in spain these houses were by the sea. Maybe with a little research at their site, I am sure I could find out. Then I could try a little drive by with satellites help.

I confess to be a night time drive by viewer of some of my favorite homes by my street on the way to the market, etc. I would strain my neck looking in the window with spread curtains admiring the wall paper and her decor. Sadly she moved and the new home owners modern taste wasn't worth the view. I bet that would deter any night drive by satellite views even if well it streets. [ tee hee, But it would be nice for say the millon dollar homes or those special outlandish homes we have seen on special programs. ]

I have to find out when our town was done, there is a relatively new feature along the highway, I would like to capture as drive by.

In my own immediate area, not for publishing, I have thought of some peoples gardens who have lent it for viewing for garden showings. On of my favorite ones I slow down for nearly every time I go up the hill is not far at all from me. Too bad there is not a lake views or river views.

View Larger Map

And now if you are able to save any view you get to your hard drive and want to use these in your blogs, I wonder if there is any copy right issues to be aware of here. I guess I'll have to read a little more and see.

My daughter was home yesterday and is leaving to go back home pretty soon. We talked late in the night. I slept rather uneasy, I am hoping to catch a cat nap maybe later or at least make breakfast before she goes. So I had better sign off for now.
Thanks for stopping by today for my map madness.

just me jo

Further reading try here.
http://www.crunchgear.com/2009/09/30/make-your-own-street-view-rig-for-fun-and-profit/

Is this how Real Estate obtains their pictures?
Road side america.com
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/2127
To view Jolly Green giant try I 90 exit 119, CR-104/Fairgrounds Rd,giant drive, and my map says 1172 us 169. On another highway view going west as you go on over pass you can look out and down and get a better view. Evidently trees are planted to obstruct the view.

View Larger Map

No more books for me, I have plenty to read for the time Being.

2010-02-16T11:33:00.000-08:00

Recently at the Health Care Center the book sale began in the large common area of the Basement. After work a work buddy and I began to search through the books. I started with the hard covers. Last time I was rewarded with finding Uncle Dick Whooton novel. For me that was a real find. So now, I never ignore the hard covers there, though finding and seeing them all is a different story.
I was torn between wanting a paper back to read and a big hard cover book to use for some craft projects. Those large ones were the condensed, you know four in one books. [But nicely finished, if you know what I mean.

In the end I chose the paper backs knowing I would be returning for another look at the hard cover books.

I brought them home and resisted any start of browsing into them, because I can't put a book down, if I get drawn into them. [ I have too much to do to let myself start reading.]

Instead, I went on the internet to follow through with all my internet connections. There I find that I have plenty of reading material after all. Much more than I knew I had. There is Google readers, and books on line to read, all kinds of reading material. I mean I also knew there was a lot to read at Genea - bloggers and have from time to time. But sometimes the amount was enormous, to wade through for the time I give myself to read, so I usually posponed this sitting and reading until a better time, then I would forget shortly after. I was there this last week and my computer windows / tabs overloaded, so it cut me off. Then I went to work and forgot about it due to the work situation being so strongly on my mind.

So what reminds me now of the reading material available at geneabloggers, you ask.

It's a little long story. - Well, I was working here and at my Oldendorf / Nahrendorf blog all by a rootdigger at gmail connection. I returned to the main blog for some link or information and while searching the edit page, I saw I had comments. I published them. Like usual after publishing them, I view the blog page to see how it fits all in and if anything needs fixing, and what I might say or add to them, etc. Somehow, I forget how, I noticed I had fifteen new followers added to the one I been sporting on all my blogs through arootdigger.

Like I said at arootdigger blog, I was uplifted. I had been in a mellow mood about the Health Care Center my job changes and the atmosphere. [ Some of it self inflickted] So this sight was immediately uplifting from the previous mood. Imagine me having sixteen followers. Amazing.

I didn't do a happy dance. Nope. I had been working on a project, which I put aside right away, so I could dive into all the reading!

Did I tell you I usually have four at miminum tabs open at once? And as I started to see, who was behind all the faces.[ Farmville and well the Home page of Facebook] I just couldn't wait to explore them and Firefox can be tempermental these days. . I wanted to read, I wanted to see more. I have tried more today. My adhd keeps distracting me from finishing or exploring each one in depth. I have to say, leave their choices for another day. Leave the reading for later.

Lucky for me I had yesterday off from work, so I had the time.

So I have added myself as follower to most of them. And it will be so nice and convenient to be able to go to their blog, see what's written, what pertains to thoughts I have on a certain day.
Isn't living in 2010 just wonderful?

I will have to keep up now with my postings. Maybe more than I had been doing just before the new year began. [ Smile] I may have to lag more at Farmville, but then I was thinking of doing that anyway. I am not sure, if I will enter their games, though, as I have so much sorting and cleaning to still do with my materials in boxes.

Cause it's just me jo to do it.....

Home made Marshmallows!

2010-02-13T08:20:00.000-08:00

I was browsing a newly discovered blog [ Maisy's], which had a cup of hot chocolate and home made Marshmallows. And wow, I did not know there was such a thing commonly made at home. So of course like a term paper, but with delight, I was off to check this out. You have to get your mighty google tool and away you go.

I have been told that the most visited place will be at the top of a googled page, so I guess I started there.
Actually it was located further down on the web page, because of the list of ingredients, I will start here.
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tyler-florence/hot-cocoa-and-homemade-marshmallows-recipe/index.html gives ingredients as:

Homemade Marshmallows:

3 tablespoons (3 packets) powdered gelatin*

2 cups cold water

2 cups sugar

2 egg whites**

2 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted, plus more for dusting pan and marshmallows

Butter, for greasing pan

..................................

Ahhh egg whites is the clue, were going to swirl these and bake like meringue right.

Nope, we leave them sit out for at least three hours. If you know me I have bragged about this delicious Peanut butter, Chocolate Pie with raw eggs, and I have then already told you that I quit making it for the reason of the raw eggs. I was at a standstill as to how to change it. Perhaps, if we consume them all right away there is less risk of Salmonella. Refrigeration and drying maybe don't mix.
Sounds fairly good to me. My favorite valentine's day pie was made with moms fresh eggs. [A Pillsbury recipe]

--Google Food network produces Al Brown --

Ingredients

3 packages unflavored gelatin
1 cup ice cold water, divided
12 ounces granulated sugar, approximately 1 1/2 cups
1 cup light corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
Nonstick spray

And this time a mixture is cooked then set for four hours or even overnight. I wonder if there is the bad corn syrup in purchased Marshmallows.

-- Joy of Baking.

http://www.joyofbaking.com/candy/HomemadeMarshmallows.html

-- From Slash food --

http://www.slashfood.com/2006/10/24/how-to-make-homemade-marshmallows/

Uses corn syrup. And the makes it Picture look oh so yummy.

--And a huge endorsement, maybe from Oprah --

Oprah and Martha Stewart's name involved at this site:

http://www.oprah.com/food/Homemade-Marshmallows

Homemade Marshmallows

Ingredients:

2 1/2 tablespoons unflavored gelatin
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract
Confectioners' sugar (for dusting)

Sounds like a great plan if you want something nice for valentines day, and just maybe you don't even have to leave the house if you keep a well stocked kitchen.

My Comments
My first thought besides the hot chocolate, was, do they use these in Rice Crispie Marshmallow treats? How are they in S-mores.? They claim the store purchased ones are tasteless and these have something more. That is reason enough I think to try it. Will I personally, maybe if I need them quick sometime, at Thanksgiving and Christmas and my supply is all dried up. Maybe. Well the reason is because I never dipped much into meringue type whipping in cooking, since i have been doing my stiring by hand most of the time. That was up until last year and then hubby gave me a mixer. But still I am going to let you try it and tell me true, okay.
just me jo.

Springs Scheme of Things to show for the Spring Garden

2010-02-10T06:58:00.000-08:00

I thought I would study a little at this photo and maybe muse a little at the possibilities for the little bed for this coming spring. [ I wish I had more pictures to illustrate this] It is my sunniest spot on the whole property, if I can keep my weedy tree in check.

It's pretty, it catches my eye, I really like how it turned out. But I have taken note that my eye uses and incorporates that background chair 'stuff' as a lavender or even blue lavender color and maybe this has to be worked in as a flower or object of right texture as well at precisely the similar location for the proper view.

I am attracted to this because of the Peony and mostly because of the dark fragrant lily. I am mentally questioning this scheme, because I failed to plant my lily bulbs last fall. I am hoping to find those again in pots like last year at Bobolink nursery. I did plant some assorted lily bulbs the year before last year which turned out to be a different color. I was able to enjoy these in other parts of the garden, as well. [ One doesn't know the colors until they bloom in the fall.] I am hoping they emerge satisfactorily again this year.

But
you know that dark bulb lily planting will bloom in the late summer early fall season, and will it fit with it's scheme of Fall of whites and Purples? The color maybe would only work thrown in a pot at the proper time to be brought out to grow and bloom perfectly with spring. [ Or should I indulge in these loved color schemes each in entirely different spaces?] Though, easily enough the same scheme could be converted to fall by changing out the Hesperis Matronalis to White Phlox, [ Perhaps the vivid pink shades] and going for a Rose in the color of the Peonie. [ a real challenge to find it] Not to rule out delphinium rebloom, Dahlias and the Monkshood shades of some flowers.

If only that peony would get bigger faster, I could divide it and spread it out more. Last year it sported three blooms. I think it may need more nourishment?

I did find a Hardy Geranium last year, which I added near this plot. I forget if I thought it matched. It's name and color was new to me. But close enough to maybe supply a repeat necessary of the bright color. And ohh how I was in love with an azelea I found once while spring shopping for just one azelea. I chose white, but I wanted one that sported a color similar to this Peonie or Lily. [ I am not remembering if this is the stargazer lily or if it has a different name]

Yes, I am attracted to this scheme. [ A collection of the garden bed plans in your yard can get so there is no variations of color, though ] I seem to be always creating these two - three week views and then they are done. I am not sure why I do that. It's true, though, most of them are based around one dominant items time of bloom. So are all destined to be maybe upcoming projects? . Or just viewed for that particular timeand location and make the green design of it important for the rest of the time and move on the next three week design in it's three weeks of bloom in another location. Enjoy it for that and move on again? . Hopefully not all in the same blooming time. [Could be spring except for my lavender and white late summer/ fall scheme!]

As the yellow dominant color summer scheme unfolds I can then remove the pots to another part of the garden. Our colors later in the summer would be the Annabelle Hydrangea with it's white and lime green; May Nights Purple Salvia; East Friesland dark purple Salvia; White Delphiniums; White Heseperis Matronalis coming up all during the early summer. Some sport the right light blush of pink hue.

Spring Schemes
Each year to add more of the spring blush of pink and white; I had added the lovely foxgloves. and each year I hope they bring forth the little seedlings the next year [one can only hope]. The foxgloves are just dreamy in those magenta colors and the lovely whites.. [ Love, Love them.]

At the extreme sides and behind on the right will bloom the Purple and Yellow Iris. Closer though is a Iris, which blooms as it turns out in the ugliest dusky pink color that I have ever seen. [ It had to be a mistake with the labels in the pot, when I purchased it.]. Perhaps irises could be replaced in a form of the maybe Cesear bro. siberian iris in the right shade of purple or even some of my white Irises would work well here. [ I have been looking for some like I see in catalogs, but won't get them until I see them in front of me.]

Would I be tempted to throw in some small Shirley Poppies and the wild oxeye Daisy in the perimeters just to complicate the scheme? Yes, definately, should I. [** hmm Perhaps the double poppies carry the right color.] Also there is a Further complication back by the yellow iris will grow the wild flower in it's blue hue used for it's root for a substitute of coffee. And through caution to the wind with white like monkey grass?

Spring Schemes - Paler colors, Maybe of the Magenta color.
Still though, I love this [in photo below] Paler lavender and pinks scheme of colors, no matter the season.
As for less purple tints in colors like the May night salvia, maybe more lavender color in the spring, possibly the balloon flower [Which sports white as well], lavender to Purple Delphiniums [ which can bloom twice] We find all shades in the Irises for early summer. [ Should I add bell flowers, balloon flowers, Campanulas]

As summer unfolds the bed sports pretty yellow flower echoeing the yellow irises above this bed you can see the Irises captured in a photo at the right.

Once the peony blooms, that scarlet color is gone. I was thinking of adding more of that same scarlet burgundy color the only possibly for that I think is a Rose for summer and maybe a close hue in the Dahlias in the fall. and in the annuals I have seen it in the Carnation family. Possibly for Petunias or geraniums in the pot. I believe I have seen a new hardy geranium sporting this hue. Hopefully there is some flowers I have overlooked in those colors. [But as I say all this will the color work as it goes from spring to early summer, middle Summer and late summer, and then fall. a subject for another posting I am sure]]

That does seem to be the major problem gardening scheming holds for me. An ongoing process. I think it stems from copying this one and that one I admire from pics I have seen. And then not thinking them through for each season. It will take time to fix it if I want. But it could be done. Right?

Chris_Sevigne work at right.
She has a lovely blog -
Roses in the Gardens
He said this:

Last year I saw Lori posted a picture of a combination of some of my favorite plants: Roses, hardy geraniums, Allium Christophii and Nigella. I already used this combination in my own garden, but I saw that using a little more Nigella created a very airy, dreamy effect. Very, very pretty! And great inspiration, that is easy to create in your garden. I prefer the blue flowered Nigella, but the white ones are also useful. Nigella is great to use in bouquets. Most often the seed capsules are used and they can be dried too. I prefer not to let them selfseed in the fall. It is possible to get Nigella to last longer, if you sow 4 weeks in between. Oh - and do get yourself some more of those pretty Allium Christophii next fall!

Hat tip to Lori for inspiring me (and hopefully you) to sow more Nigella. The rose in her picture is the bourbon rose; Madame de Sévigné, A repeatflowering old garden rose. Other roses I recommend using in this combination could be the Austin roses: Alan Titchmarsh or Princess Alexandra of Kent. Posted by Niels Plougmann at

Another favorite lovely picture of variation of the flower colors white; variation of magenta; and the lavender color; and all the colors in between [ smile]

This season I am also looking to plant more of that lavender catmint that I planted last year. It looked fantastic there. [ I Needto see how large or tall it gets] Also more of the color seen in the peony in the picture above. Probably it will come from Roses. I just reminded myself of how in love I was with the dahlias last year at the farmers market. Mixed in with purples and other pretty flowers.

If I get some Easter lilies and cut them off and plant them, they should be blooming in time for the fall. In the photo above those alliums are just dreamy to die for.! [sigh]
And the dominant color to me is not a scarlet burgundy color, but a gorgeous different color. [Similar to the Dahlias in the photos above.]

Maybe, I should sow some Alysum seed in little jiffy pots, I am not sure, if I have the hoped for room to do so. But, If i go out and sow in middle to late April, I could take a chance on my luck. It just burns me to buy the irresistible plants in the spring, when they are so easy to throw together to plant, if only I just thinks a little ahead of time.

Well, I think, I kind of know what I want to look for now at least for this little plot in the big backyard landscape. And possibly one of a similar note hinted / mentioned above. In my catalogs and the nursery plant lists of what they carry. I can bet out my colored pencils and draw up a little pattern chart of the colors, placement in my design and can decide more so after that.

What do you think, so far. If you have suggestions, ideas feel free to give them to me by commenting down below. I love discussions on gardening.

..........................................................................

Nursery Store
With that in mind, there is Good news, I dropped in to the nice practical logical local garden BOBOLINK nursery site online. First off, everyone says ohh you mean that red barn store. They do not remember "bobolink", but "red barn".

I noticed they advertised a ten per cent off coupon. So I am going to spread the word. What' s that fifty cents of of a five dollar plant. Better than nothing I guess. Oh, I know they have specials, and well so does fleet farm and the Market Place.

It's just that they built big or so it seems with all new store and land. and that means they have huge bills to pay back. I am a firm believe in buying my products locally, but well, l when it comes to plants, you better deliver the products, cause there is always the trusty mail delivery.

I miss the old Plant store at Stout Road. I knew what he would carry, but I stopped in now and then to see if any new perennials came in. I stopped in to see a plant in bloom to see if I liked the color or if it would fit in my scheme of things. Or I should say to see if I could resist something new. I also stopped in to study his often breath taking arrangements of his pots.

Since I did not take the local newspaper, I didn't know the sales. I have found that it is too bad more people did not advertise in what is free advertisement of shopping available to us at our price. Yes, free papers with the ads is great! Or online. But it's no help, if I your up town and want to stop in to check the sales with out running all over town. Fleet farm used their freely available brochure as does K mart. Walmart's just does not come often enough and regularly.

I decided to see, if the new local nursery has posted a prospective plant list, so us Gardner's can decide, if we want to get it there or if we must order our plants. After all, there are free plants in the deal if we do so early enough. Of course they are not as big and lush and expensive as theirs. Though our catalog plants can be as nice in a few years.

When I got to their home site, I found a great site.An About us [ couple on the retail side of life] and something under every category, except a prospective plant list. And yes their main angle and goal is permanent plants and a supply of the most popular annuals. By permanent plants, I mean shrubs and trees.

Actually the lack of the prospective plant list means and explains it all to me. Just like the popular plant catalog, there is the basics. Occasionally the nurseries offer the new breeds, but it will be properly zoned and you can be sure if you do the right care, it will survive. the basic perennials you find also at Walmart, Kmart and Fleet Farm.

You can tell their angles immediately. There are plants in rows and categories and some selected few regularly displayed together around a landscape feature as all good stores would do. But arrangements were not their game. Not at this new stage, anyway. I am not sure if they even do so, if asked.

And don't get me wrong, I know this is good business. I visited Arnies regularly too in the past years. He would be very helpful, even look up a plant for you in his books, etc. I loved his selections of Begonias and a few different flowers. I liked the Yard decorations they had on hand. And it all seemed to be at common prices. When the new owners took over, they added many more quality decor items, and prettied up the place. Suddenly with out comparing prices, I felt like it was more pricey. I am not saying it was. It just felt that way because of the new set up. And well I saw very few displays than I had expected to come from such a set up.

I am always checking our local Fleet farm for fountains and ornaments that go in the garden. I mean benches, statues, etc. to see if they fit into my low beer budget of coarse.

Budget shopping
How I shop now is by budget. Over the years I limited myself to just a few splurges, cause I can't resist the pink or purple of the plant. Now I know I need to preplan my pots and beds. Cause I am going to limit myself to just a few carefully selected plants. It's all I can do now since my budget is extremely low these years. For some plants on my scheme of things, I just have to wait until the next year.

I see I failed to plant my lily bulbs, so I am hoping to find those pictured above again in pots like last year, I would order the bulbs but never order them full grown. I might seed a few plants if I can find the proper space.

I like the atmosphere of Menards for some reason, their new store. I like the running water and the chirping birds. There at Bobolink it is missing something. And it's a barn! Bobolink had running water, it was very roomy and nice inside.

I happened on to a fantastic store in Hudson area one year, and loved it. Loved the atmosphere and loved the unusual perennials I found. the same for the stores i visited in Minnesota whenever I had a chance. I think it's the fountains, running water, roses, Mandelas and such and the atmosphere. It's not like a fleet farm, Kmart, walmart experience. And believe me if the color is right with the right price I am there and will be of course.

I think I shall be looking now for the right rose bushes, and some bulbs and the new lilies with ruffled edges. And that is half the fun. The dreaming and planning that goes with the planting and chores. Last year this store had the old standbys that get me every time. Oriental lilies, forgetmenots, foxgloves, unforgettable Delphiniums.
I am only going to name a few. But nowhere could I find the white Delphiniums. Until Late Walmart had huge ones in amazing range of colors.[ I was so pleased I broke my budget to get some, and I guiltyily knew I could plant the seeds.]

And well we are influenced by the media we have filed away in our minds, are we not. The shopping depends on what we read or saw on say the new James Dury show. My ideas are developed from the favorite glossy magazines at the grocery stores [ The garden store could sell those kind of magazines], gardening shows [few to find] on television. Hgtv message boards, other online sites, and from the great pics on my favorite blogs.

..................................................................................

I reminded myself of how in love I was with the dahlias last year at the farmers market. They were Mixed in with purples and other pretty flowers. I am also remembering the combination of some of these and the display they had of zinnias weeks before. That is the perfect fall flower for a different look altogether. , I don't believe Zinnias were in the pic below.

Roses.
I am also looking for roses inother colors than stated above. But in the colors so many brides select that of the clear light pinks, wonderful darker Pinks. Not Barbie blue pink or mauve pink, or the funny colors some of the new hardy roses sport. Also some small white Delphiniums, which I may have to order, because i saw them no where last year. Sometimes a label doesn't specify color??? It'sa gamble at the right price, probably. [Walmart as I stated above.] They had been so plentiful the year before in the plant store in the old Dairy Queen building. Oh how I loved that store for selection. I think though it seemed so wonderful, because everything was crammed in together and in bloom in the sun.

So expect a few reports back here about sites and examples I see that fit the bill of plants and Ideas I have in mind for spring.

And well all the schemes of the spring gardens are for later still. So until then, I'll be signing off. Right now, if I had a foolish ambition, I would be running to walmart or Kmart floral to see if they have any flowers I like. Usually about now, there are hard to resist pinks of all sorts in the small azelea bushes. Sooo very hard to resist.

Credits: The two unidentified photos I have been carrying with me for quite awhile. I am drawn to them over and over. I only kept them to help myself find something as lovely as the picture. If I had proper location to give credit I would. I know Christ Sevigne is attached to the photo of one and I failed to get her permission. She just might have some communication through Photo Bucket. And I am not sure if it is embedded in the other. I purposely kept the photo so very small because of that issue. I carry them here to say how lovely they are and that I use them to illustrate my hope and dream for my spring planting.

Note: proper term of hue and tint must be learned.

just me jo signing off from a long blog about hopes and dream schemes for her spring garden. It probably will be edited to shorten it again.

Print not printing so great at this blog.

2010-02-09T09:56:00.000-08:00

I went to print off this blog and one of my other ones. The print was so light it couldn't be seen. As much as I like that blue I had, I decided to change it to this darker blue, I can always go a step lighter if I want. With the dark background I did like how it looked. At least I did not use white type. I shall probably be experimenting with colors to find the best for my taste and show.

Actually this blog is mostly stuff you wouldn't want to save or print off, so I am not too worried about it. Pictures are what they are. So that's why the change.

On the other hand, Miss Martha Is Said to have Married A Saint!

2010-02-09T07:46:00.000-08:00

Iss Martha married a Saint.

I tell you, it's true. It says so at the Latter Day Saints church page.
Martha Burgess married Thomas Saint.
Married 4 January 1727/8. See for your self Here.

Okay I took liberties with names. but didn't they? Just look here.
http://www.familysearch.org/eng/search/frameset_search.asp?PAGE=/eng/search/ancestorsearchresults.asp

Worse here.
http://www.familysearch.org/eng/search/frameset_search.asp?PAGE=/eng/search/ancestorsearchresults.asp

Well enough fun for one day. I know they were Indian names, and serious to boot. I guess you'll never take me serious now, huh?

As for love and lack of love read here.

Poor Minnie Meyer, She Married A Worm

2010-02-09T06:46:00.000-08:00

Marriages were arranged in those days. You married whom ever your parents selected for you. If He was a Worm, then you go to your grave and are buried with the Worms. [Smile] The Worms got her.
http://www.familysearch.org/eng/search/frameset_search.asp?PAGE=/eng/search/ancestorsearchresults.asp

His parents and Grandparents were naturally, Worms themselves.

Minnie [Wilhelmine] Meyers
Sex F.
Birth * about 1840 Germany
Parents unknown.

Spouse:
Marriage
Carl August Worm

Buried at South Joseph, Indiana

Parents:
Father Hinnrich Henry August Worm
Mother Hanna [Anna] Dorothea Catherine Danielsda or Danielowsk

Well with all the Victorian hearts and flowers, I just felt like taking a small break before I begin my Victorian sweetness. From ohh so nastiness to sweet. Won't it seem more sweet when I begin with hearts and flowers and lots of sugar? Hopefully it's a little nastiness with humor. I apologize to the Worm family I just hope they can take Jokes. Now speaking of Jokes Yokes we have a few in our family tree. tee hee. It's definitely true.

For more like this photo you must visit here.
http://victorian-vignettes.blogspot.com/2009/04/adorable-couple-hugging.html
Tell her how much I appreciate her generosity.
just me jo

I will have a little more spare time again to blog!

2010-02-04T13:27:00.000-08:00

A few posts down I showed some pictures of my new position. I am afraid it only lasted a month. Now I return to my old position because the other girl returned to her old position. So I am part time again, and on nights. I am not sure what they all have done with my job. But I think the boss has been doing it and will be glad to give it back to me.

I suppose I won't mind the change they have made. I hope.

I now I can spend the time I now have back wisely. Cleaning and finnishing up my paper work. I want to be done by spring. Maybe later I will work on improving my blogs, even consider getting another part time job if there are any. ,

Touching up a photograph

2010-01-30T10:48:00.000-08:00

Silhouettes from a photograph.
Maybe if I touch up this creation a bit more, I can use it for a Valentines card. There is something off at the eye level and I suppose I could fill in the blouse to make it a true Silhouette. At her facebook account, her hair is longer. There maybe should be hair at the sides of the chin. And her bangs are a fringe not thick.
At this stage it is her. Maybe not one hundred percent accurate.

The basic photo I turned into a drawing. I whited out the background. Should I keep in the bulky sweater or alter it. I suspect it may not be too flattering with the hunch and the sweater.
Below is the untouched photo as a black and white drawing.

I think this results from another photograph, but very similar. We can see already the forehead is not correct nor is the hair length.

Not sure how well it is done, but it is nearly done. I am unsure about the forehead and well the shoulders. She had on such a bulky sweater.

Silhouettes

Her again, which might be worth a try for the longer hair look.

Serving the Residents at the Health Care Center.

2010-01-19T06:48:00.001-08:00

I thought maybe you were due for a little update on the posting I did awhile back on the Serverie at the Health Care Center. At the first of the year I took on the full time position serving breakfast and dinner in that little Serving area on the second floor. It also extends to serving an outer cafe not in the room. There is a second one the same way on the first floor.
I'll refresh your memory a bit, if that's all right.

This is inside the small kitchen serving area. The Cna's come in and wait on the residents who sit along this wall at the five tables. It is very close and warm in here. At the earliest it is usually the men who like to be at the hub of action.

The table is set up pretty much like we do, only three place settings and there are the sugar shakers [ substitute as well] with the salt and pepper shakers. And where the red spot is marked is usually a decoration.

As much as I enjoyed waitressing many years ago in Minnesota, I am behind the counter in this little corner instead. The needs are still met behind the carts.

See the x spots that is where I stand. I marked that just for you. On the right is the sink by the Refrigerator, which I have to keep my cottage cheese, applesauce, assorted fruit, salads, and special juices and such. The Cna's are not allowed past the Refrigerator door area, except to wash their hands with the sanitizer. So I have to get the juices and ice cream. [ I try to have some juices on a tray in the Refrigerator ] At the left is the Freezer for our waffles and Ice creams. it is pretty cramped quarters. When I make the coffee. which is slightly to the left of the Juicer, I have to watch myself and my feet. In Front of the Refrigerator is the two carts containing glasses, special needs, trays, mats, milk in a special tub. On these trays I do Room trays off of tickets submitted by Cna's.

If I am not considered a Screwup on the job and if my body can take this eight hour day, I hope to remain in this position until I retire. As you know there are budget cuts in the counties all over united states and we are no exception. We really could use a bit more time. I still have to hastily wash up pots and pans after coming down from each Meal.

Note: The county administrator has plans to build little buildings [greenhouse pods] to go with the main building. Also, he would like to have all related buildings in a cluster. His ideas is so that there would be less travel expense for county employees during their day. And it keeps them close at hand in the area for the others in the cluster. He will not say, but I believe the employee count would be thus reduced. See more on Green house Retirement homes.

My travel expense is not reimbursed. Is yours?

There is joy in moments of time. So I am sharing Joy today!

2010-01-18T18:11:00.000-08:00

My lovely daughter at the left. I hope she doesn't mind that I edited out all the useless garbage from the picture and made it just about her. I believe her inner beauty was released at the time of this photo taking.

She kept telling me about this scenic spot that she thought I would like. Had I not cancelled out that summer, I would have seen this in person. I would have loved to be there and then sad, that it was not close for me to drop by and enjoy it any time I wanted. She is so lucky to be able to do so. It was sweet of her to share them with me.

Shown here is the suspension bridge over the Falls.

This was my cropping and changing, cause I liked the blue of the water when I did it this way. I did darken up her efforts I guess I like the greeness of the foilage.

She does pretty good with her camera. Take a look at this well centered photo below of the beautyful falls and rocks which I love. I love how you can see down into the water. I am sure it is a wonderful place to be when you want to unwind and relax.

Now I can visit it here, when ever My little ol heart desires.

In this bottom picture I caught her in a female moment with her cousins child. The child is the first great grandchild of my husbands parents and is a grandchild of my husbands brother. [She is now much older.]

I love playing with the editing program I have. After christmas she and I had entered our pictures into it, That's how I ended up with hers with mine. That was a lovely unexpected gift.

Here's one more I had fun editing.

I love the cartoon fun effect. It makes the baby seem so doll like.

I am going to be making my own flavored yogurt.

2010-01-17T06:22:00.000-08:00

Do you like flavored yogurts. Yogurt is really better for us than some other sweets that we might select. Tasty Donuts, Cookies. etc. Were you concerned about modified corn starch and tricalcium phosphate?

I have noticed in the stores some special flavored yogurts emerging each holiday. I became particularly fond of certain ones, but they are gone before you can stock up with more. For instance in October and before Thanksgiving, I could find the Pumpkin spice flavored yogurt. [A flavor also yummy as a shake and as pumpkin fluff.] Since they are loved and gone so soon, I have been thinking of making my own. [Why deprive myself, right? ]

At Christmas all I could find left was the sugar cookie flavored yogurt. I had a tiny bit left and mixed it in my pumpkin spice fluff. I also added in a bit of my premade purchased whipped cream cheese frosting. I suppose it was loaded with calories, but it was tasty enough for me!

I had a friend who used to make her own Yogurt. Rose and her sister Lola were pretty thrifty and health conscious. [I had quite a few thrifty people in my life, wish some of that could have rubbed off on me. I speak of rose mainly here because she did make yogurt.]

Well I don't think I would go that far to make my own flavored yogurt. I have been thinking that I could surely flavor up some purchased plain yogurt for myself. I particularly want to do up a pumpkin spice or even that cola one I sampled. [ Hmm Pepsi flavored or Dr. pepper, or even coffee flavor???.]

So browsing this morning for methods of making some, I thought I would share with you one or two sites I found.
In this one it suggests placing the flavoring at the bottom, such as fruit preserves. You can extra sweetener if you go for the lowest sugar blends such as you find in the jelly department. Also if using purchased yogurt to mix it in.

I particularly would like to make up some of my own pumpkin pie spice yogurt. I understand you can mix in your own fruit. An old banana or left over fruit blend it and even end up with a smoothie mixture. I read that canned pie fillings work well.

Note: I read that some if closed and refrigerated might last up to eight days. I am not sure about with the added fruit.

http://www.dvo.com/newsletter/monthly/2003/june/0603tabletalk3.html
Note: Raw carrot yogurt. tossed salad yogurt. !!

I wonder if it would still be cost effective to maybe using purchased vanilla yogurt instead of very plain. Or try Vanilla extract. Can use Crystal light flavoring for bottled water. Flavorings for coffee has been suggested. Unsweetened drink mixes. [ perhaps koolaide,. [My idea is bits of saved powder of Jello from the package.]

And at this address the writer discusses making their own homemade yogurt.
http://www.dvo.com/newsletter/monthly/2003/june/0603tabletalk.html

Extra tips and ideas here.

http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf537205.tip.html

http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/000176.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoghurt

http://homecooking.about.com/od/dairyrecipes/r/bldairy8.htm

Honey Instead of sugar?

http://www.thenibble.com/reviews/main/cheese/yogurt/index.asp
Use for marinating meat!

http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/2008/10/you-can-make-yogurt-in-your-crockpot.html

http://eatdrinkandbehopeful.com/2009/11/16/
Green monster - tastes like Pumpkin pie.
Want chewy add pumpkin flax Granola [ There is cereal like that, but not granola.]
http://eatdrinkandbehopeful.com/2009/11/16/
While here at this link check out the sweet potato and chick peas. I am coming back later to check on that recipe.

Note: Avoid Grape preserves cause it does not mix in well with Yogurt for some reason.

Lets get off this subject before we are suddenly onto making our own yogurt Ice cream with a ice cream maker. Because I heard if you make yogurt ice cream half the recipes for frozen yogurt call for Dannon Lo-fat™ Vanilla Yogurt. Now I really must follow up by checking on purchasing some small containers for storage of my goodies to take for breaks.

When I perfect my receipe for myself, I can share it, if you like. I can't promise it will be diet or healhy, but I should try since diabetes is probably waiting for me around the corner.

just me jo.

Blog post removed ....Schlaphof, Schlaphoff and Mr(s) Anonymous ............................

2009-11-06T15:40:00.000-08:00

The blog post about a mystery Schlaphof[f] relative who stopped by to my blog http://arootdiggerblogspot.com/ a few weeks ago has been moved to that address. Click there if you came here to read it.

My Confession of My Guilty Love Secret

2009-10-30T12:33:00.002-07:00

.~. ~.~. OKAY, I CONFESS UP NOW ~. ~.
HERE IS MY SECRET PASSTIME.

Yes, my love is the facebook's very popular game
....................... Farmville

Caught here is what seems to be ghostly whispers.

I am quite proud of my Halloween efforts on Farmville at facebook. It came by accident. My little miss delayed in appearance. The sparkles happens when the plants are fertilized by your friends. It turns them big and gorgeous!

What we see below is the evident love.

This is my favorite one. Missy and her black sheep.

I am very proud of my fall planting. So, can you grow tulips now!

Ghosts appear when they want, or in this case in a slow reveal of the true picture.

Well Yes I had to come back and try it again to get the tombstones. It was a fun effort. The chance was short unlike the first accidental happening. admit it was the very first time I actually wanted the browser to load slow on Farmville game application. [lol] By the time I was done, my pumpkins had withered.

This one was a lucky shot too before the pumpkins had time to decline.

Some fall harvest in their colors. I really taken by the grapes.

That's all for now. Now you know where I have been spending my blogging time. Shame on me.

If I can, I would like to come back later and make the picture more computer friendly. I'll see if I can show Jo's farm.

Dunn county Health Care Center - Are We Ready to eat? Not quite.

2009-10-30T11:36:00.000-07:00

Actually it is not the full table setting. Missing is the glass of water, salt and pepper Shakers , a little center piece, and a few other things.

I realize the most striking need is a little picture or accessories on the walls. I am not sure why it has been omitted.

~~Working in the Serveries

2009-10-30T11:35:00.000-07:00

Working every day in the serveries, one could not help wish one had not eaten those brownies as often as one had. It is a little of a squeeze here. Unseen now , in the picture is the coffee maker which is on looking at the left of the juicer. To get to the coffee maker one has to go behind the cook to get to the coffee maker.

You see the stainless steel fridge. Now full of finger marks. [What is so good about stainless steel, I'll never know.] To the left of the stove and below it is the freezer for small amounts of ice cream in individual servings. The cook remains in front of the juicer at her stove and the helper is by the Refrigerator. There are several carts which many of the items needed for serving.

More later.

Serving the Retirement home Residents Resaurant style. ~

2009-10-30T10:34:00.000-07:00

~~~~~~~~~~No more tray line!

I did give you a sneak peak, didn't I. Well now it is up and running. Just as we are.

Complete with a turbo combination oven that we don't all know how to run. Sometimes one cook there and a manager in to help. There is one helper is all that are there in each serveries cramped quarters. Though opening week for a few days there were more than this as they took each day to learn how to plan this scheme all out.

At the end of September we had a sit down meeting/ training with Bill Lutz at how to classy waitress/ waitor the residence as they sit at the tables. One flat palms the dishes which I never did much as a waitress in the olden days. [ I should have]

They have two tray stands for the clean food arrival and dirty dish removal. A thing I never did before either.

The idea is that one suggests the necessary to them, so they will eat properly at the same time your seeming to give them choices.

They have the right to refuse healthy choices.

We began this with trial and error on the thursday following the training for the CNA's. There was very little training for the food service workers. It was truly an effort with trial and error.

We as food service workers take care of setting the tables and filling the room trays for those who elected to stay in the room area.

Plus for the special requests we may have to call down to the dining room for more food and special items.

Before supper started at five to five and under best conditions we were done dishing up trays by quarter to six. That was two floors. We served each patient on trays out of bussed up large food carts. About seven of these and one special care hot food cart. Three people behind a trayline and one cook who served and one other person who took everything up in the food carts. The third person on the end of the tray line was another cook that evening and had other chores.

Now with restaurant style dining, the residents wait for one of the tables and dine with others, by choice or no choice. The time lasts from five until seven. Each floor. [Some have learned they will have to wait longer to get the tray, if they have very unexpected special requests]

Some residents eat and stay longer than others. Some prefer this style treatment.

And others prefer to remain in their wing before the tv.

We were told that the resident's deviation from the basic choice menu, will last about three weeks, and then they will settle into the menu.

A lot just want Hamburger and fries which was not too frequent before.

[That's what I would want. ] And the deviation from fruit is usually ice cream in the evening.

Food service kitchen evening help stay about two hours longer than before just to finish and put the kitchen back to clean order. [Not overtime] It's a mess when they arrive because the morning help may not stay past check out time.

The head person[s] works day and night. Overtime pay.

Two people have left the kitchen payroll already. One did so by having a baby, Her water broke as she was beginning her shift at the serving area.!!...ahh maternity leave. { I might have to try that little scheme}

DIning and the Serving area - A sneak peak. Sssshhhh

2009-09-01T09:37:00.000-07:00

Hi,

I know it comes off as unfinished and maybe a little blah, but that is what it was -- unfinished.

In the same room as the above dining area we have the serving area on second floor. From there we venture out to the hall to what was once the nurses station. Now it will be a nice place for the residents to sit and snack.

I caught someone testing the table cloths for juice stains and laundry methods. I wonder how it came out. Pun intended. lol.

Okay that's it. That's all you get for our first sneak view of the remodel.

Maybe more later, If I get the chance. [smile].

Gosh! Now, I have this sudden craving for pizza.

2009-09-01T05:48:00.000-07:00

Hi,

I managed to take a few photos this summer.

You can see that I have been working on the shovel

with my blog name

A rootdigger.blogspot.

Also I am working on

my shovel with the words. Lets dig.

Should it read Let's dig.

This one is fine for Oldendorf/ Nahrendorf.blogspot.

Now I am debating which photo I should use and what

amount of cropping I still need to do.

Do I need all of the shovel?. Should it be narrower?

Should I black out the background?. Or white it out?

Oh no. I just thought about the two different famiies of blue. The aqua on the shovel and the baby blue background at the arootdigger.blogspot. It may not be the greatest looking difference. Perhaps I need to change it. The best place to do that may be where it came from in my Kodak account. I plan to use it next to brown background on arootdiggertoo.blogspot. It may fit in just fine there. Also it would be fine here at sunnyside.

I could take a few more photos at a different time of day next to the lavender / magenta phlox in bloom. The leaves are not that lovely on the plant, so I am not sure if that is what I need.

What do you think?

Which do you like the best?

a rootdigger

Rainbows means Hope

2009-07-09T21:52:00.000-07:00

Sometimes God sends the brilliant light of a
rainbow to remind us of his presence, lest we forget in our
personal darkness His great and gracious
promises to never leave us alone
- Verdell Davis

New posts may be a little slower at Sunnyside

2009-06-23T07:50:00.000-07:00

Sunny side is not nearly as sunny as it should be at the moment. I will have to take a little time from posting to sort through a few things.

You know how one can just get themselves out of order for various reasons. Then something happens to take them to a new place. It makes them step back and look at the path that they have been following all this time. It makes them question whether they should keep going along that same path or blaze through to another route.

I am not thinking about quitting blogging, but at the moment it won't be as often as it has been at this site.

I have some genealogy work to publish. Even that for a short amount of time won't be as much or often as I might want.

I am not planning on going away from blogging at all, cause I do really enjoy it.
I just really have to accomplish some other things with the family and around the house. I hope to be able to pick up a few more hours at work. In order to do that I may need to learn a few new parts of other positions so I can fill in with out their discomfort in my doing so. I feel like I have been neglecting what is important to me in my daily life. Perhaps I have been a bit selfish in my pursuits of self expression. I can resolve that, of course!

So with that said I know you will understand why I am not posting so many new posts.

It's kind of like my garden at the moment.

So many of my flowers have finished blooming. The roses are blooming soon to be finished. Just as the clematis, and Irises and my bushes have finished. The garden is few in blooms at this time. It maybe more time lapsing before the next ones show themselves. Kind of like my posting for a bit.

It's time to harvest some vegetables from the garden. And spend a little time cooking with them. Projects to attend to as well.

I suppose some of it will draw me here now and then.

I surely will have lots of ideas in my head that I'd like to share here as time goes on. My camera will be handy and taking pictures too.

Rose Chafer season is here. They're back.

2009-06-18T11:14:00.000-07:00

Those disgusting creatures of god are back again. I bet your thinking all of gods creatures are good. I suppose so. Maybe reincarnation of a bad person?
Any way, they are not good for birds. The little bugs have something in them that is poison to birds. They will be around for three weeks or so.

The plans of action are:
- trying to control the grubs in your sandy soil where they lay their eggs many times. But know that they can fly in from anywhere.
- cover your roses or peonies, daisies and other flowers with a cloth like cheese cloth.
- pick the bugs off or shake them into dish soap water, gas.
- vacuum them off your plants, if the flower can withstand the suction.

Here is more information at the Jerry Baker site.

http://books.google.com/books?id=UeDHKeYd0KcC&pg=PA139&lpg=PA139&dq=rose+chafers+bugs&source=bl&ots=gxUY8BGceb&sig=llH-QhrEqEwkzbQQ2U0O60b9fFI&hl=en&ei=-H46SpLsO9KGmQfkkLzkBA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4

I read that the bugs are attracted to fragrant roses, peonies, and some others. If deprived of flower they will sit on any plant with mates immediately and reproduce. I know daisies do not have that scent like the other flowers but they seem to prefer those, as well as raspberries and mo. Primroses.

I know it is enough of a hassle for many Gardner's to give up on roses. You can't escape them. They come back. Seven's dust is good too, I read.

Good luck. Now you know I will be busy in battle for the next few weeks..

Russian Lilacs in the neighborhood

2009-06-07T09:50:00.000-07:00

More Dames rockets across the street to my right.

Across the street and down the road by the park to my left.

After these are done, there is another mass bloom of white.

I guess other people love the heavenly scent and the mass of color in their gardens.

My neighbor back home had some dark purple ones in her grove in mass. It was my love at first site. Then I saw mom had them and so I brought a few back to sunnyside. The neighbor called them Russian Lilac. And some people call them Weeds. teehee.

A day in the life of Ramona - A morning in the life of Jo in the garden

2009-06-06T23:12:00.000-07:00

~~ A Morning in the daily life of Jo and her garden~~

Good morning, come on in I am home. I kind of want to relate and share this little story today.

A couple of days ago something like a memorable serendipity moment

happened as I took my walk around the property to see what I could: about what was blooming, for changes of growth, for new emerging seeds, make mental notes for what I need to see about.

As I passed the Clematis a tiny bird flew out as I walked over to chuck out the extra water out of my seeds.

Then I walked down to the rock garden area. I noted that the peony had opened up in the rock garden and the others were still in bud.

I proceeded down to the plants in pots, which I had done up for a fund raiser. There I particularly took note of and my little patches of moss growth. Sure they were doing fine.

I meandered to the weedy patch of the Siberian Iris.

I pulled a couple of weeds noting they pulled hard. I made a mental note to amend the soil, when I have a chance. At a close distance, I noticed a new hot pink bloom of the toad lily which was surrounded in weeds. I made another mental note to weed there soon. I really was anxious to see how everything was doing with all the rain we had. So, I particularly wanted to see the climbing peas. They were doing fantastic. And as I walked along at the exterior of the garden I did see the dames rockets at the edge accompanied by the yarrow nearly ready to show it's inner beauty. . .I glanced over at my 'make do' temporary spot for more peas and they were fine.
I again inspected the leaves of a unknown vine. I went back out the way I went in and continued down to the Rosemary Verey wannabe spot. On the way I noticed a white iris bloom just below the Indigofera. I really thought that this is a good Sunny spot for the Irises. As long as weeds don't creep in too much from the lawn. And then at the Rosemary Verey wannabe spot I right away checked to see if the cucumbers had emerged at all. Not yet. But surely it will be soon.
My eyes took in the new plants in the corner, and stooped down to pick a fresh crop of lettuce. Oh, a good handful of the more mature larger pieces. As I came back up and turned; I then took in the neighbor's children's voices and actions.

It is amazing to me how tiny these two tots seem to me these days in comparison to my own. Were they ever that tiny at age two something or three. They were small mind you, but these seem so tiny in frame. Anywaaay, they were peering down this little chicken wire hand made cage to the foot tall tree below. I don't remember exactly, if I noted exactly what they said. But it was as if they themselves were making sure it was okay, checking to see if it had grown, voicing opinions making judgements on it's growth. The father standing there asked clearly and loudly if everything was okay? They made comments that seemed to say it was fine and off they ran to play and spend the rest of the morning in their usual way.

I was thinking then of how positively wise and thoughtful those parents were to involve the children in that planting of the little tree. I have not yet glanced fully enough to see what it could be. My best guess with out even looking is that it is a lilac bush sucker from their tree. i say that because they loved picking the flowers earlier, when their bigger bush had been in bloom. Or it could be an apple or one of the other trees which has been declining. Mostly I was thinking about those possible future Gardeners in the walk back, so much so that I failed to check or note anything else on my way back to the house.

I was musing over the Irony or humor in the similarity of those youngsters and myself. We each had checked our little gardens. Theirs very tiny as themselves, but all the same procedure and interest as myself. And I knew I was also going in to spend my morning as I usually did maybe in play on the computer, and attending to normal tasks about the house and the rest of the day. Just as they did. I felt contentment in that little pleasure of the discovery.

And then today I was reminded of today's featured blog I had discovered a few days back. I had intended to share this and why not the two together. I really love it when things match up!. Her words here seem to reflect my thoughts about my feelings of Serendipity that day.

So now you can go off and check out the rest of her blog. Thanks for stopping by.

A Day in the Life of Ramona: "Thursday, May 21, 2009
Serendipity In The Garden On A Thursday Afternoon

Serendipity...

~ the effect by which one accidentally discovers something fortunate,

especially while looking for something else entirely ~

~

Guess what I discovered while weeding in our yard today...weeding wasn't the boring chore I thought it would be...instead I felt completely grateful for a garden full of goodies. I guess you could say ~ I had a serendipitous afternoon in the garden...cha"

Well thanks for stopping by and do come again.

Where should I plant or Place this Pink Potted Petunia.

2009-06-02T22:59:00.000-07:00

Pink, Pink, and more Pink. Can too much Pink be a problem?
At our cottage yesterday, I received a couple gifts for our Wedding anniversary. One of them was this pot of petunias in this gorgeous almost bubble gum color. It is pretty close to the same color of that potted geranium that he gave me for Mothers day...

It has taken him many years to understand that Pink is wonderful and works with me. Red not so much. You know how they are brainwashed that they're suppose to give red roses to a woman.

I have only one little problem with these flowers... is where do I put my potted pink petunia. What place is the perfect spot. Everything needs a perfect spot. I seem to be having such problems making decisions about my garden spots these days.

So yesterday, I went around here and there amongst the borders to find the most perfect spot.

This one came to mind, cause it was so enhanced with the coral pink flowers in that pot. [Which I really must pot up today, if I can.] The pink colors are very different. I really do like the snow in the summer [cerastium tomentosum] near it. After I feed it maybe manure tea, it should fill out much more. I could remove the other Pink flower too, to see if that makes a difference worse or better. but I think this is the best spot for a potted coral Pink Begonia.

Note: Most of these pics are clickable for enlargement.

My next logical choice was the white bridal wreath border where there is now a decline in the blooming of the bleeding heart. I like it fine here. The white enhances this pretty well! but as I gave it a wetting down where the lilies are trying to grow, I noticed the blooming of this bush is nearly over. After a good rain or a wild wind the bush will be done. Later the tall phlox come into bloom as a light pink. The Potted Pink petunias do blend well with the Dames rocket in flower and the little chives plants. Soon the Dark purple Siberian Iris by the mail box will be in bloom.

The Peonies will soon be blooming light pink. Perhaps there may be a conflict of Pinks. For the time being it would work just fine. ???

I walked down my little hill to the back yard to my hand made rock garden oasis. Just tilt your head and see how this blends in quite well. I know I know, the church is not placed very well. This was a beginning of a fairy land awhile back. but now not so much. I can tell you why later.

Everything is so lush again this season, and the ferns have been moving here as well. And so has that Indigo tree! I have a lot of work to do here yet to get the bed in shape. I have to cull the plants still. Fertilize regularly.

Again for now this would be a great spot. There are foxgloves to bloom, along with the Annabelle Hydrangea. I have already moved the many types of Salvia with it's purple spikes.

There probably would be a conflict again with pinks.

Peonies again will be in bloom top and bottom of the rock garden very soon. Also the lavender pink roses will be blooming soon by the trellis. Up there in that jungle the Monarda will come out a pretty medium pink too.

Yes, I am walking that pot of pink too on the strawberry pot. Last year it contained the most beautiful pale pink lily. There is a gorgeous Hardy geranium in another blend of pink behind these Hostas. Again we find the wonderful scented light pink Lavender rose in the corner soon to pop a bloom. The Iris has finished it's lavender and maroon bloom. Later the obedient plant will bloom. It has been traveling pretty well in that corner. I see it needs a little weeding as well. I have always liked a little pop of dark pink here as well. [ but I am cutting costs now] Around this corner by the door that we saw in the above photo is the reverted phlox hopefully it will be in full flower in that reverted magenta color.

Do I like it here. Honestly, anything goes well with the Hostas. Later it will be in conflict with the pink roses, I think. Also, I see no spot to really have it in a pot.

Here in the little cottage border it's a mix of a lot of tints and hues.I moved the Geranium over here instead of the Potted Petunia. Just to look.

You can see why I want a punch of bright Pink or a blend of Purples with white. Again the light pale lavender Pink roses will be in bloom soon. They are everywhere, aren't they? But soon the Hesperis Matronalis will be done, and trimmed. I still haven't put out my bright purple big goofy bird. It could be too much.

Ahh now the pond rockery again and the pot petunia has landed on the half rustic barrel. Once, My aim here was for a french market type setting. French blues predominate. That has laxed . No time yet to take that up. Instead we have the magenta taking over while in flower. If one views from straight with the tree head on; the Petunias flowers in the pot mingle with the flowers of the tree.

But I do like it there against the old gray garage, which may be gone by next year.[ That's a Hint of a problem upcoming for another blog, is it not? lol] [The Garage is falling down] More of the porch as well as the rest of the house needs a good painting. we were going to do siding, but well you know how that goes.

I was trying to photo another angle. [Please ignore our desperate for help windows on the porch.] Maybe, If I did not accidentally weed them out, my single daisies will come up. Also here should be some flowers in blue in July.

Should I mention that crawling along the rocks at the right are some more of the same rose. that kind of reminds me of Ninfa. I have been contemplating planting some clematis to lend a little bloom to sprawl there instead of that forever moving Virginia creeper. Wisteria somewhere?

High up by the garage is the perfect spot where I often indulge a few Morning glories. Possibilities for clematis, if I got the right color. I would love sweet peas, but maybe another year.

I am not sure about here. There is a lot going on with the Irises right now.

Amongst the rockery which is more rustic natural looking, I am not sure about a potted Petunia. Though the color enhances quite a bit. It helps balance the tree. The color should be in threes, I think?

Speaking of french and unnatural looking, my little boy fountain that you have seen in front of the house goes up at the top of the rock garden by the door in the fore front of the Indgo tree.

*Note : Once I remove the potted plant, I realize suddenly the places seen not so much that great. Once again I know that I need to spread my plants around to balance colors. Maybe do a little browsing and searching to maybe find perennials in this pink color that can bloom, when I need them too in the perfect spot.

What do you think.? Which location should I choose.

It sits here now. Did you choose that one?

The right corner of here has crossed my mind as well. I will have to see where I could move the pot that is already there in that corner. In the mean time the watering can geraniums get to stay.

Did you notice that I stayed away from the woods and the Rosemary Verey garden spot wannabe?.

Well thanks for listening and 'the walk around' with me. I think now I am almost ready to get the purple bird out and set him up.

just me jo.