Goodbye 2011

To tell the truth I am happy to see the backside of 2011 leaving. It was a year of extreme lows in many ways, though it is ending in a pretty okay way. We both have jobs, everyone has their health so far (knock on wood), we have a roof over our heads and food on the table. We are so grateful for our blessings, and our wonderful friends and family that love us.

The LORD bless you and keep you;

The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee;

The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.

Numbers 6:24

P.S. Thanks to the Tasmanian Minimalist for the bird ornament idea.

Toasty Toes

One of my Christmas presents this year was a lovely pair of Angora rabbit hair socks. I L-O-V-E them, and wish that every pair I had was like them. They are so soft and beautiful. And so warm that even I, of the perpetually cold feet have toasty toes now. One day I would like to knit my own Angora socks, but for now I will enjoy someone else's work. :)

What's Blooming - Christmas Edition

I went poking around the garden today, to see who is still hanging around. We have had some weather down into the 20's, but I still have a few plants that are soldiering on. The Blue Bells of Scotland are still gracing my front walkway, and I finally got a picture that captured their lovely color. Most of the time they come out looking white, but I guess the day was overcast enough to stop some of the glare coming off of them.

More surprising, my Peppermint clematis has blooms all over it. It retreated in the heat of the summer, but seems to be loving the cold weather. I don't remember it ever blooming in winter before, but I'm definately enjoying the show (and the 60 degree weather!)

Food Rescue - Malted Milk Balls

We are trying to reduce our food waste, so I have been trying to find creative ways to use food before it goes bad. I have been going through the pantry to find things that need to be used up. Today's subject is a bag of malted milk balls that we bought at Fresh Market. I bought them for the Gnomeslayer to try, but they had a really thick chocolate coating on them and she didn't like them. I didn't either. So they have sat in the pantry for a while now, until we get desperate for chocolate and eat one.

I remembered I had a recipe for malted milk ball cookies I saw in a magazine, so I decided to give them a try. I only had about a cup of the malted milk balls, so I had to reduce the ingredients. I used my Cascadian Farms morning bowl of fiber cereal, which is a mix of flakes, bran and granola. The cookies turned out great, crispy around the edges and soft in the middle. I highly recommend them.

Malted Milk Ball Cookies

1/4 c. butter, softened

1/2 c. packed brown sugar

1/3 c. granulated sugar

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/8 tsp. salt

1 egg

2 Tbs. cooking oil

1/2 tsp. vanilla

1 c. plus 1 Tbs. flour

1/2 c. bran cereal

1 c. malted milk balls, crushed or finely chopped

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, baking soda and salt. Stir until well combined. Beat in eggs, oil and vanilla. Add flour and stir until well combined. Add in the cereal and malted milk balls. Drop dough in 1 1/2 inch balls, 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 10 minutes or until golden.

The Next Big Thing

I have a lot of interests. It isn't quite ADD, but my attention span for doing things is extremely short. So much so that if I am going on a trip I have to bring several types of books, crafting projects, word puzzles etc. so that I don't get bored As soon as I start doing one thing I start thinking about the other things that I could or should be doing.

I love music, and I have very eclectic tastes. There isn't much music that I just do not like. I love Celtic, Rock, Blues, Classical, Ragtime...you name it. I took piano lessons for quite a few years when I was younger, but stopped when I was a teenager and hadn't played since then. Five years ago when I was traveling for business, I bought a guitar so that I would have something to do in the hotel. I didn't have time for lessons, so I bought some books to teach myself. I blundered around by myself for a few years teaching myself, and finally took some formal lessons last year. I have bought countless songbooks in different genres for the different songs that I want to play.

And the problem is that all I can think of is the other instruments that I would like to play. I'd love to play a violin, harp, flute, mandolin, maybe even take piano lessons again and get a piano. Since I taught myself guitar, I have a lot of bad habits that I need to break, and basics that I skipped and need to learn. If I started a new instrument, I could start out "uncontaminated" and work my way up, and really learn. Or so I tell myself.

But in many ways, the guitar is a perfect instrument for me. I have a lovely Seagull guitar that has a warm, beautiful sound. The guitar allows complex arrangements that many of the other instruments do not. And it is light and portable. It is also quiet, so I can practice at night when I get home from work without waking everyone up. You can play a wide variety of music on it, and sheet music is readily available for it.

So to start my goal list for next year, my goal is to work and practice at learning my guitar. I will practice every day, and try to apply some discipline to myself. And I will jerk myself back every time I start to daydream about the next big thing I could be doing.

They Are Watching

We were sitting at the breakfast table, eating our weekend pancakes when I happened to look at the treeline in the backyard. It was filled with birds on every available branch. I grabbed the camera and quietly opened the door. It was mayhem! The noise was deafening of birds calling back and forth to each other. Of course as soon as I closed the door the birds took off, so I had to stand there for a minute or two and give them time to settle back down again. Unfortunately there weren't as many in the picture I got, but there were still quite a few.

I'm Not Crazy After All

I was waiting patiently for my Tuscan Sun rose to come in, or not so patiently. The estimated shipping date I remembered had long since passed. I went through my e-mails to find the order receipt and number so that I could check with Jackson & Perkins. And I couldn't find one. At all. So I went through all of my e-mail folders, looked everywhere and didn't see one. I figured that I must have lost my mind and "meant" to put in the order but didn't actually submit it. Too bad, I guess I'll get one next year. And then I went out this morning and guess what was on my doorstep? I opened it up, and it even had flowers on it, which I have never had one show up with. Looks like it's going to be a beauty. :) And now I know I'm not crazy!

Roses

I vowed this year, yes VOWED, that I would take better care of my roses than last year. I was pretty unhappy with the results of last year, which had one a couple of them being dug up from...well...dying. I had high hopes this year, but ended up pretty much neglecting them. I didn't even cut off any to take into work, because my new job has a co-worker who is severely allergic to flowers.

And you know what? I didn't see ONE Japanese beetle on my roses this year. I didn't spray them with anything at all, didn't touch them with pruning shears. And they are putting out some of the prettiest flowers now. I guess my benign neglect thing is working. ;)

And although I again VOWED that I wouldn't buy anymore roses this year, and I did. Two in fact. I ordered 'Tuscan Sun' from Jackson & Perkins and 'Ghislaine de Féligonde' from Heirloom Roses. This is the first time I have bought from Heirloom Roses, and I have to say that I was very impressed with the packaging and the beautiful little rose bush that I got. So by now you should know that if I VOW something, like losing weight or starting to exercise...it probably isn't going to happen. Now to wait and see blooms!

Lost and Found

Tuesday evening after I got home from work, I was laying in bed trying to go to sleep. Suddenly the thought struck me - "What happened to that corepsis plant that I bought on Sunday"?

Flash back to Sunday...

We stopped by Home Depot to pick up a few bags of river pebbles to finish off my garden pathway, and some weedeater string for Q. The Gnomeslayer and I were walking through the garden area and I had no plans of actually buying anything because I am out of room. That is, until I walked by the lovely plant shown above. I do have (or did have, I don't remember seeing it lately) a golden colored corepsis, but this was lovely shades of faded pink. Needless to say it hopped into my cart. When we got home I unloaded the bags of pebbles and the plant, and took them to the back yard porch.

Flash forward to Tuesday...

I don't remember watering the plant. I didn't do anything with the plant. Considering how hot it has been, I was afraid it would already be dead. So I got up the next morning, went out on the back porch to find the dried out remains of the plant. And couldn't. Hmm...maybe I didn't bring it out of the garage. So I went to the garage to see if I set it to the side while I was unloading the car. No plant. So I went to the back porch again, nothing. Went back to the garage. There is nowhere else that it could be, WTF?? Then on my last trip to the back porch I noticed part of a gray Home Depot shopping bag sticking out from under the grill.

And then the Gnomeslayer says to me "Oh there it is, we were playing hide and seek!"

Sigh...

At least the plant is okay. It was a little dried out and the pretty flowers had mostly wilted, but it should survive. :)

Wildflower Wednesday

These little beauties are growing on the roadside close to our house. We'd always called them brown-eyed susans, but they are small, have five petals and are not pointy on the end? I looked up several wildflower identification sites and didn't see any that looked like them. Anyway, they are cheerful and happy, and make me smile when I drive by. :)

Backwards

I planted a Wildflower Salmon Gladiolus a few years and have been waiting impatiently for it to bloom. Unfortunately, the Gnomeslayer pulled it up a few times while she was "helping" me weed in the garden, and it never bloomed. I went outside yesterday and found that it had finally bloomed, and it was just as beautiful as it was on the High Country Gardens website.

But...

The blooms are facing into the clump of grass behind the plant and I can't get a good picture!

Reprieve (For Somebody)

Back when I was laying out new planting layouts last year, I bought a Sunset Foxglove to plant in the front flower bed. Then I realized that they were poisonous and didn't want to risk the Gnomeslayer being around it. So I went out, pulled it up and replanted something else where it was. Oddly enough, when I noticed that the replacement was getting ready to bloom, the flowers looked mysteriously like the Sunset Foxglove. Apparently some other plant was accidentally sacrificed. :P It truly is a beautiful plant, and I'm thinking of finding a place for it in the back of the garden so little fingers can't reach it. Unfortunately, transplanting is going to have to wait for a while, it is so hot that nothing would live through it.

It has been a while since I have posted, this hasn't been the best year so far and I haven't had much mental energy left. Add to that mid-summer in the deep South isn't the best time to do work outside, so I haven't been doing too much. I have still been working in the back garden, trying to redo paths and get it straightened up. It seems that I spend most of my time overhauling that garden, I wanted to rip it out and lay down some sod lol. At least I haven't spread out to more of a garden to neglect and have confined myself into that corner for now. Classes are going along well and I should graduate next spring. Just in time to have an unrestricted summer for my garden. I can't wait!

Alabama Jubilee

Yesterday we finally all had a day off together, so we headed over to Decatur to see the hot air balloon rally. We are usually gone on Memorial Day, and one year saw the balloons as we were driving by, but never actually attended. A friend of mine lives in Decatur and invited us to go with them, so we all woke up early and headed out. We set up our lawn chairs, got our funnel cakes and sat down to watch the shows. It was amazing to see the balloons go from being spread out flat on the ground to huge towering balloons capable of carrying people. The sky was soon filled with colorful balloons and it was one of the most incredible things I have ever seen. If you ever have a chance to go to one, make suree that you do. :)

A Gnome at Rest

Spring has definately taken over the back yard. The rose bushes are blooming like mad, and it is so reassuring to see that they made it back. In fact, I had a surprise return this spring. Last year I had to dig up and destroy my 'Neptune' rose. I was sad because that rose was such a beautiful and reliable bloomer. Imagine my surprise when I saw leaves that looked an awful lot like rose leaves. Apparently, 'Neptune' is staging a comeback from the roots. :)

I also finally got to see my Pheasant Eye daffodils bloom. I planted them quite a few years ago but never saw them bloom.

Trees in Silos and an Old Lotus Pot

Last year I bought a beautiful clay pot to grow my lotus in. It was not cheap, I paid about $70 for it. It was so beautiful and the lotus grew in it and bloomed. Fast forward to the winter. My husband and I were eating in the breakfast nook that looks out into the back yard. I thought it sounded like people were shooting in the field behind the house, and wondered what the heck they were doing. The next day, when the snow was gone, we found out what the gunshot noises were. My beautiful pot lay in pieces because I hadn't drained the water out of it before the freeze, and it broke.

Two things happened this spring. In our mad dash across the country too see my Dad, we passed through beautiful farmland. On many of the old farms, there was an interesting sight that I had never noticed before. Trees grew out the tops of old, abandoned silo buildings. I suppose that it does make sense, since trees fight up through thick forests to small openings in the canopies after all. Apparently there are other people whose interest was piqued, because there is a Flickr group dedicated to them. We also started renovating the garden in the back yard (again), and I wanted to find another use for my broken lotus pot. Thinking back to the trees in silos, here is what I came up with:

I pieced together the remains of the pot with the bottom up. I tried to think of what to plant in it, and found this plant. I thought it would be a neat thing to have cheerful orange flowers peeking out of the top. We'll see what it looks like when it fills in. :)

Spring Cleaning

I apologize for taking so long to write an update, but things have been pretty hectic. Since my last post:

• I got laid off from work. Being the only earner with a stay at home spouse and child, it was a huge blow.


• My mom's house burned down to the ground on the same day I got laid off. They all got out okay, but they are waiting on insurance money to get settled to figure out what they are going to do.


• My dad slipped on ice at work, fell down and hit his head. He had a concussion, seizure and went into cardiac arrest. He was in the hospital unconscious for a few days before he finally woke up. My sister and I went on a cross country trip - me to Arkansas to pick her up, and then we went to Minnesota to visit him.


• My husband found a job and is working again (thank you God), so we have benefits again. The Gnomeslayer is in preschool now, hopefully they have no gnomes to be at risk.

The job search continues for me, along with taking classes at night and trying to get our house fixed up (in case we have to sell it). Life has been better, but we are all healthy (knock on wood) and we are getting by.

So with that housekeeping out of the way, it's finally spring in Alabama! Actually it has been for a few weeks at least. When I left on my trip to MN, the cherry and pear trees were blooming and the daffodils were up. And here is what we found when we got to Duluth:

Let there be no doubt in anyone's mind why we live in Alabama instead of Minnesota. :) It was very nice to get to see family members that I have not seen in a long time. It was an impromptu family reunion of sorts, too bad my dad couldn't enjoy it more. He is at home now, resting and recovering. My step-mother had leg surgery about a month or so ago and can't drive either so they are getting to enjoy each other's company a lot. :)

I'm glad to see everyone doing well, I'm so glad that I can get in my garden again. I'm still anxious to see who will come back and who didn't make it, but at least it is fun to be outside again. :)

January Snow Day

We woke up to about 10 inches of snow in our back yard this morning. The weather has been calling for snow since mid-last week, so we were ready for it. I cooked a big pot of vegetable soup last night, and we have lots of hot chocolate and tea. We took the Gnomeslayer out for a while to let her play around, but it was hard for her to get around since the snow came up to mid-thigh. She played around with our neighbor's grandkids for a while, made snow angels with her daddy, and then we all came back in to thaw out. I think I'm all set with things to do...books to read, an afghan to work on, and possibly a nap. :)

600 Things

This doesn't really relate to gardening, but there isn't much going on out there right now. My husband and I were watching the news (sorry can't remember which channel or who said it), and they had a lifestyle coach on. She was giving people advice that they should try to clean out some of the clutter in their lives this year. Her advice was to get rid of 50 things a month. Or 600 things in a year. That sounded like a lot of things to me, but we decided that we would give it a try. So we were pulling together a load to take to the Salvation Army, and figured that would be a good place to start. Add in decluttering under the sink in the bathroom and our hall closet. So our first load has 81 things in it, and might be added to before it finally gets taken in. We'll see how we do on the other 519. :)