Truffles

Now let me introduce the newest member of the family. This is Truffles, she was born on Christmas Day. She was a gift from my daughter's (Katie) boyfriend. Her coat looked as if it had been dusted with cocoa powder but now that has all dissapeared and now her undercoat is grey and top coat is black. I often think of changing her name to Troubles. Here she is at 6 weeks old, a whole 3.5 pounds :)

I crocheted this doggie blanket for her. Yes she is very spoiled.

Here she is riding in her doggie car seat. And below she is pooped out from a hard days work, digging out what I planting in.

OMG 6 months since last post

OMG It's been 6 months since my last post. I go into hibernation during the winter time. Although it's a beautiful site all I can do is think about what plants may not come back in the spring. Snow

Snow

Snow

So far there are no signs of life on my Hidden Ginger (one of my favorites), Lantanas, Chili Pequins, Texas Star Hibiscus and Pride of Barbados. I've already started by seed most except for the Hidden Ginger. Oh well, I had already decided if certain plants didn't make it I was going to replant again. Farewell Hidden Ginger.

Wreath, (stripped of flowers and greenery by the birds) which was originally hanging over the window at the entrance below. I used it to hide that horrible gluded advertisment. Well, it hung there for the first three years and every year was occupied by of course, birds and thier babies. And what comes with babies? POOP all over my porch YUK! So this year I moved the wreath over my gate entrance into the back yard. I did miss the birds and was so excited when I noticed a cardinal (I just love cardinals) and her nest right outside my kitchen window in the redbud tree. Then a storm came and I looked outside my kitchen window and GASP! saw the nest hanging. So there I was in the storm, on a metal ladder, scissors and yarn in hand tying the nest back into place gently placing the only surviving egg back into the nest. Mamma cardinal never returned. Another week later, same redbud tree, only this time it was a dove, right above my mosaic table. More POOP. I just love doves. This one hatched. Another storm. Baby dove on my mosaic table. DEAD. I was begining to think I needed to put that wreath back over my window and live with the poop...

But look what I found. He's perfect.

Okay, I yanked out the Morning Glory. It looks a little bare but now my Pineapple Sage has a chance to do it's thing. And it will be beautiful.

What is it?! I just had to take a shot of this prehistoric moth looking creature. Any ideas anyone?

Well Nola I took a hint from you and created my own hideaway for storage. Some more of that tile. No more left. I wouldn't mind having more though. I should take a drive back to that little church and check it out.

Here's my version of your lovely pathway. Mine was made with some leftover Readi mix bags. I put it in special for the postWOMAN. She was creating her own path through the grass. This looks alot better.

The best prize is a sur-prise, and boy was it a surprise to find this beauty over the weekend. I ordered the Hidden Ginger from a catalog in the spring of 08. I didn't dig them up for the winter and was afraid I may have lost them. Then they finally emerged. They are breathtaking.

I've been waiting for a perfect shot of all 3 colors of this Mexican Petunia. Purple pink and white.

Rock Rose and Butterfly Weed in bloom. The Moring Glory is completely absorbing this flower bed. In the far back is a Pineapple Sage I hope will be more visible when in bloom. There are 3 tea cup saucers completely engulfed by the Mornig Glory.

Knockout Rose along with Mexican Marigold Mint which will be spectacular in the fall.

Hey Nola, here are those seeds for your Desert Willow. I hope I remember to remove them. :)

Ahhhhh... Mexican Oregano, gorgeous in bloom and absolutely scrumptious in a pot of pinto beans.

This is my 1st year with Clematis. Hopefully next year will bring loads more blooms.

Zinnias, who doesn't love them. Almost look like a fake bouquet bursting out the ground.

Caterpillars and fennel ...And Sunflowers and bees. I meant to post these the other day. So we're gonna pretend this is the other day :) . Isn't he beautiful?! The main reason I love to grow fennel or dill. The swallowtails favorite. And now the beautiful sunflower. A bold ray of sunshine. My daughter has informed me she wants sunflowers at her wedding. I sure hope she changes her mind. Late June or early July in Texas is not a good idea for a wedding. She's only 19, hopefully she has a way to go.

I got it, although it's not very good. I really do need a better camera. Every morning I sit outside drinking my coffee, waiting for the little creatures. Can you see him? Right at the tip of the shepherds pole. I sit waiting from about 6:15am to 6:40am, then I'm off to work. Yes Nola it is extremely hot in the warehouse. But catching a glimpse of these little hummers helps me make it through the day.

This is the view outside my bedroom window. I really needed a little more height in my privacy fence. So I took a baby crib apart ( I just happen to have lying around) and thought I'd use it as a trellis. Can't wait til it fills in. I have a Carolina jasmine along with Morning glory and Hyacinth bean to help speed up the process. This is on the south side of the house.

On the north I also needed some additional height. Again I just happen to have 2 chain link gates. I have a Salsa jasmine I'm thinking of moving to this spot. I guess I should have taken a picture of that too. Below is the making of a vegetable garden I believe this is what Nola referred to as soil solarization. I sure hope it works. If not, I guess if I can use a shovel and pitchfork to dig up my driveway. This should be a piece of cake. That driveway was compacted, this isn't.

I have 2 grills. The grill above is extremely special. The cinder blocks journeyed 500 miles. They are my little piece of home. those of you who know me I am originally from the Rio Grande Valley. Which is about 100 miles north of Brownsville, Texas. My mom, dad and brother made a trip up and brought these so I could build my very own. Of course it's mostly for sentimental reasons. But I do use it occasionally. Below, well 1 2 3 and you done. No dishes to wash etc. I think i'll go fire it up right now. See ya!

Patios Patios Patios

Earlier I mentioned my favorite spot to drink coffee in the mornings. Well below in the center with the mosaic is my favorite place to enjoy a glass of wine or 2 or 3... in the evenings. I've tucked a small patio here and there. Thank you Eddie for all my tile.

These tiles were a steal from a little church. I bought about 200 for about $50.00. And I have used every last one. The one below is in progress. My daughter, Katie was working on this one. It is about to hit triple digits now so we may have to wait til the fall. Tomorrow I'll show you my favorite grill.

Earlier this year I was blessed with irises, colombine and hardy glads.

Crinum, WOW when I purchased my home it had several large clumps. Not knowing what they were, how beautiful and how expensive they can be I gave most of them away. A little ray of sunshine with Coreopsis to the right. Moonflower, not very attractive during the day but oh breathtaking at night. I've never had any luck with the moonflower vine though but year after year I keep trying.

Knockout rose, I don't do well with roses they bite. This one however pretty much takes care of itself. I have planted a hedge along the right side between my neighbors.

Below :

Awwwh... Katie's mexican petunia. Can be pretty invasive. But as a border in a flower bed It's beautiful. And I have lots to share. I have purple, white and pink varities. As you can see this has volunteered between the driveway and sidewalk. I have volunteers everwhere. If their happy I'm happy.

Spiderwort, I found this growing in the far back yard. Did some research and now it has a place in the front flower bed along with my other faves. It would be impossible for me to choose a top 10 or 5 or 20. they are all so beautiful.