Rose Uproar, another zinnia from Parks.  This one's on the reorder list.

So Happy Together

Thanks to Laura for this picture from Clayton's collection.  Looking at Betsy & Kyle playing together now is like looking into a time machine from the 1980s.

Monday Flowers

Zinnia Time!

The zinnias are back!  They don't mind hundred-degree temps as long as they have enough water.  These little guys are called Swizzle scarlet & yellow from Parks.  They're really short, but so cute.

And meet Zowie!Yellow Flame, again from Park's.

Queen Red Lime from Park's.  This is the third season that I've had these, and I still love them.  I usually sow Envy, but this year I tried Queen Limes instead.  Several plants haven't bloomed yet, so hopefully they're on the way.

Strawberry Jam

Yesterday Rachel posted on my facebook wall:   So how did you girls make that yummy strawberry jam?  Kyle LOVED it.  He licked it all off his toast :)

That's why I love facebook.  Made me so happy to hear that my little Kyle boy liked our jam!  It is special jam, for sure.  For starters, the berries came from Grandma Peggy's garden and they were beautiful! 

PJ got onto me because I ate so many while we were picking.  She still believes in keeping the rule about not eating any berries while you pick.  I used to get in trouble for breaking that rule when mama and I went to pick at Mr. Faith's just off highway 60 in Paducah.  I've just adapted the rule a little bit--  pick two for the box and eat the next one. 

John wasn't worried about any rules--he walked right through the middle of the patch and held the box for us.  Laughing and giggling the whole time.  He is so cute!

My sister PJ is one of the funniest people I know--love her hair here :)  She'll be mad at me for posting her picture.  I think she's beautiful! 

So the recipe for the jam can be found in the Sure-Jell box.   Mama's jam is always good, but this batch was an extra-special good one because we had so much fun making it together.   She'll be so happy to hear that Kyle liked her strawberry jam.  Now I'm inspired me to plant a little berry patch here at Canada Garden too!  Let's keep the tradition going :)

Sweet Peas & Rose Bouquet

This year's sweet pea crop has been my best ever.  After all those years of trials and flops, I have to thank my friend and garden mentor, Gail.   She and The Farm gals don't direct sow their seeds.  No, really, they don't.  I was surprised too, but I'm definitely a believer now.  These sweet pea seeds were sown into individual peat pots and then planted in the garden in  May.  And so worth it.  Some of those stems were over a foot! 

I loved making this bouquet.  The spray roses didn't come from my garden, of course, but they set off my little darlings perfectly!

We're missing them so much already!  Can't wait to see them again in August :)

Happy Fourth

We had a lot of fun with Betsy & Kyle on the Fourth.   Kyle usually likes hot dogs, but he was into the cheetos here.  

He's the spitting image of his daddy, but sometimes he reminds me of Isaac too.   I called him Isaac several times.  Just like I used to call Isaac Judson.   

 Not sure what the issue was in this next picture--I love her different expressions!

 

Kyle wanted in on the badmitton game.

Betsy and her friend Rachel were so excited about the fireworks!  They could hardly wait.  Rachel was all about the sparklers and the smoke bombs, but Bets was a little more hesitant when the fire and the booms started happening.  She watched from the bench, sitting between me and Judson.

Judson:  Betsy, are fireworks scary?
Betsy (adamantly):  No, fireworks aren't scary!
Judson:  Betsy, are you scared right now?
Betsy (in a small voice):  Yea. I'm scared.

But of course, she loved it too and didn't want to leave even when it was way late past bedtime :)

Gift Topper

This design was made to top off a special gift that Greg made for his wife in honor of her Muni Guys and Dolls role this week.  I loved making it and I'm asking myself, why don't I ever think to put fresh flowers on top of a gift package?  Maybe because I rely on gift bags so much these days.  But I bet even a gift bag could be dressed up with fresh flowers--I'll have to make a practice piece.  Hmm . . . something else for my to-do list :)