Last Vase of 2006

This is everything that was left over--sticks, foliage, a few mums, seeded eucalyptus . Everything except the pine--I'm sick of pine, so I threw that out. Now I'm ready for crocus and daffodils. And with this 58 degree weather we're having, we might get those pretty soon too.

Eve of New Year's Eve Vase

This was a little hand-tied bouquet that we took to Grace's rehearsal last night. She's doing Grace Talk 4 tonight at First Night, so if you're in Springfield and up for going downtown on New Year's Eve, Grace is the act you'll want to see. And since we're such couch potatoes, thank you to Grace and Randy for the invite to last night's dress rehearsal--good food, food company, and a fabulous show!

Wednesday Vase

Merry Day After Too

Merry Christmas

Jamaica Pictures!

Rachel--that ocean shot is exactly what I wanted! Love you so much.

http://rachljones.blogspot.com/

Maxwell's Tree

As you can see, Maxwell the kitty, is so happy that PJ has his tree up and decorated. I hear that he's been waiting for years for the tree skirt to be finished. It's lovely. Just perfect for hiding and watching.

Silent Auction

Here's my donation to the empowerment committee's annual fundraiser. Chaplain Karen submitted the winning bid.

Christmas Basket

Karen has this pretty little red basket that she brings out for Christmas. This is our second year to fill it with flowers for the table in medical records. Something pretty to look at while you sign your charts.

Flowers From Laura

I came home a couple of nights ago to find a surprise box of flowers from Laura! They are just beautiful. The vase is great--ruby red glass and a sweet little teddy bear. Thank you, Laura--I love them!

And Here's Peggy

I've been going through old Christmas pictures this week. Here's one of mama when she came to visit a few years ago. It's one of my all-time favorite pictures.

Christmas Folk Art

by Peggy

Just Back from Lori's

The Kentucky weather, and her backyard, were just beautiful.

How Long Til Spring?

It was 50 today and raining. Snow, ice, broken tree limbs everywhere, but warm! I can't wait til it's spring and this iris blooms again.

Christmas Wreath

What Are You Reading?

Just finished Kim Edwards' The Memory Keeper's Daughter and I just loved it.

Tree-Form Hydrangea

This is a peegee, reaching for the ground due to the ice. Maybe it will look like a weeping form next summer.

Climbing Hydrangea

On the other hand, this climber is so strong that the ice didn't effect its shape one bit.

Shrubs

A big part of the lilac is lying on the ground there under the tree. The beautybush looks like it will be okay. It's on the right by the fence. And the viburnum, just to the left of the column, is pretty much on the ground. But even if they have to be cut way back, shrubs usually come back just fine.

Little Henry Nandina

Do You See What I Have to Put Up With?

Doesn't he look disgusted? Poor little guy. The stake is so far down into the ground that I can't get him to the back porch for the winter.

Walking Stick

Power Restored

After two and a half days without power, we finally have lights and heat. We are grateful for electricity.

Hardy Geranium Foliage

Pansies and Larkspur

This is what a week of 60 degree weather can do for a garden. It's been beautiful. Tonight's forecast is cold and windy with rain.

November Rose

Modern Bonica. The leaves are as pretty now as they were in summer. The bloom, not so much, but still incredible for November.

No Flowers to Post Today

so I'm going through withdrawal. In the meantime, here's a pie recipe that made a big hit here for the holiday.

Caramel Pecan Pie
Melt together: 36 unwrapped caramels, 1/2 stick butter, and 1/4 cup water.
(Be careful--this part is so good, you might just have to eat it with a spoon and forget the pie!)
Pour into an unbaked pie shell. I used the refrigerated Pillsbury dough and put it in a deep round baker so that there would be plenty of room.

The following is the pecan pie recipe from the old Kresge's in Paducah, per Cooking with Curtis Grace.
Beat: 3 eggs, 1/2 cup heavy cream, and 1 cup of white karo syrup.
Mix together: 1 heaping tblsp flour and 3/4 cup sugar and add to the beaten egg mixture.
Stir in 1/2 stick melted butter, 1 cup pecan halves, and 1 tsp vanilla.

Pour the pecan mixture over the melted caramel in the pie shell. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes to an hour. Everybody raved over this one. And Mark said it could use a few chocolate chips too, as if it weren't dangerous enough as is.

Too Much Turkey (and Pie)

Good Thursday

We had way way too much to eat, including four deserts--apple pie, pumpkin pie, caramel pecan pie, and cherry-pineapple dump cake. I wonder why no one ate the salad? We missed Rachel and Judson something awful. The dishes are all washed. Zoe, Lucas, and Nelly are sleeping. The guys are watching football. Happy Thanksgiving.

Two Turkeys

More artwork from the boys' school years. I'll have to ask Judson who Mary McBride is. Actually, it's three turkeys this morning--the third one is cooking in the Nesco Roast-Air oven.

More Pie, Please

I like this one better. Most of this arrangement is a recycle of the flowers from the last pie. Amazingly long vase life for those beautiful dyed sunflowers. And sticks improve any arrangement.

Posey

I'll have to leave the posey-in-a-wine-glass up to the Bonny Doon company. The posey is okay, but with the short stems it's top-heavy and really easy to tip over. Those ladies at BD must use a really heavy pedestal glass to hold theirs upright. The flowers at the florists and the grocery stores are pretty, but I miss my garden flowers something awful.

Pilgrim Woman

It can barely be seen, but Isaac signed this one, vertically down the lower right. Must have been from kindergarden or first grade.

Thanksgiving

Lately I have been cleaning out closets. Usually that's something I consider a chore to put off for years, but I've found the most wonderful things as we've been going through all this stuff. Here's a Thanksgiving drawing that Judson did back in grade school. I love the detail.

It's Pie!

Just a Few Months Ago

Missing all those beautiful garden flowers. Can't wait to see them again.

November 13, 29 Years Ago

This was taken a year or two before Tommy died. He's sitting on his brand new Harley and he is so happy, so proud of it. He loved riding motorcycles. A big one like this for the road, or racing little scrappy ones through the muddy woods. I bet he's still riding.

Re-Post

Still the best picture ever. . .

Serviceberry