Running Party

The Springfield birthday party was really a fun run 

with lots of cousins and friends!

And after all that running, there was cake!

It's All Right

The first daffodils of the season always make me think of the Beatles' song "Here Comes the Sun".   Was  George Harrison seeing the first daffodil of the season when he wrote that song to "little darling"?

The morning walks of the garden with a cup of coffee are back.  It feels like years :)

And here's a WoNdErFuL version of Here Comes the Sun sung by Nina Simone.  I think it will make you smile.  Good Wednesday.

Thank You

Gorgeous bouquet from my friends Michelle,  Des, & Abby at Petals & Co.   The card that came with them was so sweet:  "Today, think of smiling faces and warm places."  Thank you thank you for thinking of me and sending  the be-u-ti-ful flowers.  I love you!

A Rant of My Own

 I love Garden Rant.  I check them out every day.  They've made me laugh, they've made me think.   But today's GR post featuring a creative butcher's  meat-roses included a diss on cut flowers that has me ranting too.  Don't get me wrong.   That bouquet of meat is very clever.  It's just not necessary to disrespect a gift of fresh blooms.

There might be some who would like a bouquet of meat better than a classic dozen roses.  Even so, Mark would probably prefer his steak wrapped in the butcher's paper and ready for the grill. 

Here's my point:  There's nothing like fresh flowers to make my heart sing.  Yes, I know they are flown in from all over the world.  And during the summer, my very favorite blooms are ones growing in my very own back yard.   And I know there's flower abuse that is just plain wrong.  Like the roses that sit for weeks on end at the gas station.  Or the ones delivered in a box and left on a porch to freeze or fry depending on the weather.

But flowers well-tended by growers and wholesalers and florists who know what they are doing?  They make the world a better place. 

Flowers don't last?  That's why they're so special.  They're transient, fleeting.  The  feeling that I got  the moment they arrived?  That feeling lasts.  I'll remember exactly how that gift of flowers made me feel.  Another reason I'm glad they don't last?    I've accumulated enough stuff.    I don't need more stuff.  The beauty of a fresh flower--that I can use in my life.

You know what else won't last?  Those damn meat-roses.

Okay, end of rant.  Look what I got today!

Tulips in the Kitchen

 

Another picture of my fab new cab from my mom.  It's perfect for a February pot of tulips.

'Course, the window sill is also a perfect spot.  Mark's surgery went well yesterday.  We're hanging out watching Chicago on the new tv.  Today is V's birthday.  She's 74 years young.  To celebrate, we'll have more flowers and lemon cake :)

February Hyacinth

This little pot of hyacinths has been growing and blooming by the back door over the last couple of weeks.  They had been intended for the kitchen window sill, but the scent was so strong  they had to move outside.  Turns out this is a great place for them.  Every time I go in and out, I get to see them up close with just enough of their sweet smell.  Thank you to my mom and sis for bringing the cool plant stand from Michigan :)

 

If you get your hyacinths from the grocery store, take off that cheap plastic cover (the florists call them speed covers) and set them in a flower pot that has been sitting around with nothing to do since fall.  Or stop by your local florist and they'll have a great dressed up bulb garden just waiting for your back porch.

The window sill?  A pot of tulips :)  I'll show those to you next.

Kyle is Two!

Our little Kyle-boy is two today:)  We can't wait to see him in a couple of weeks.  That reminds me, we gotta order cake!

Love this picture with JD & Rach & Betsy in the background.  Neither Betsy nor Kyle  seem too confident of this whole idea of a haircut. . . .

So fun to celebrate a second birthday!  The mailman delivered a big mater truck from papa and the flower shop will be ringing the doorbell today with flowers and balloons :) 

And even though we're not there to celebrate with them, the forecast here is sunny & 58 degrees.  And I get to go to the bakery to order cake for the birthday party.  Now that's a good day.

Four ! ! !

Betsy is 4 today!  Four whole years.  Four wonderful years :)  You've probably seen this design before.  I found the container back when I was going to school at Richland.  We were expecting Betsy back then, and I knew it was for her the minute I laid eyes on it. 

I haven't been posting much lately.  Too busy at work, no time to blog.  Which is an excuse, like being too busy to exercise.  .  .  There have been some flowers around the house lately.  Mostly tulips.  And now there's a little pot of hyacinths--the fragrance  so strong I had to put them out on the porch tonight--and a new orchid.

 It's Friday night and the fireplace is going and it's Say Yes to the Dress night.  The mail lady has brought  a new Flowers & and Florists Review.  Life is good.

Happy Birthday to our Betsy girl.  

She makes our world go round :) 

Won't Be Long :)

January Betsy

Sittin' on the porch, talking about fashion shows and sticks. . .

I love this picture of Betsy that Rachel posted on facebook.  I can't wait to hear what she thinks about the latest fashions.  And the stick. . . well, if you're a regular reader here,  you know how I feel about sticks!  Yep, she's my girl :)

January Tulips

You  thought I had forgotten all about my blog?!?  Nah, I thought about it every day. . . but I do feel a little disloyal.  How 'bout that Pinterest?

These are what I call rescued tulips.  You know I believe in flower shops.  Real flower shops.  And I vow never ever to buy a flower from a gas station.  That's just wrong.   But these--well,  these were rescued from a big box that I love to hate but can't seem to live without.  

This is my first attempt to use the photo cube that Mark bought me for Christmas.  I wanted a big one so that I could put big pieces in it.  Putting it up is like boxing with a big white plastic cloud.  Putting it away is like trying to subdue a resistant two-year-old, except the noise is a little different.  But I love it.  And I'll figure out how to use it with some practice.  Photoshop?  Well, that's still a lesson in progress too :)

I just heard Elle McPherson say on the Golden Globes, "I get happier every year."  Now that's success.  Looking forward to 2012 and a year of flowers and family and happiness for us all.

Christmas 2011

Betsy & Kyle are both fans of Angry Birds.  Kyle just could not understand why my phone didn't have birds on it.  What good is a phone without birds??

If there's a gathering of the Jones boys, there will be tree-climbing. . .

Betsy thought her Uncle Ike was pretty cool. 

Cartwheel lesson. . .

Love this glimpse of Betsy's smile  as Judson gives her some frisbee pointers. . .

The weather was perfect for some sidewalk chalk art. . .

 

It was a beautiful Christmas--everything I ever wanted a Christmas to be.

It was Merry

We're back home, safe and sound, getting used to the quiet and missing our babies already.  It was a wonderful Christmas visit.  The weather was beautiful, the food was good, and the family time priceless. 

Merry Merry

 

It's pretty merry right now. . .

Looking forward to our little family

being all together this weekend!

We're blessed.

Tuesday Flowers

Are you tired of shopping yet?  I'm going for one more flower haul tomorrow and then I'm quitting!  Not necessarily finished, but still quitting :)

2011 Tree

Sometimes I think it's just too much trouble to get out all the Christmas stuff, especially if the kids aren't going to be here.  Then we stop by The Apple Barn, and Mark says, "do you want to get a tree?"  Then I find the angel tree topper that my mom made for me years ago.   I'm so glad we took the time.

Love these little boy angels.  Going through the ornaments that mama made just for us . . . my favorite is always the one that has my attention at the moment. 

December Saturday

Merry Tuesday Christmas

Monday Orchid

 V and I went shopping on Saturday and found this mini orchid at Greenview.  I dressed it up a little--every orchid could use a touch of wire, moss & ribbon :)  It's going   to work as a thank you to a very nice intern who has been helping us this semester.