Growing a Clematis

I tried several years ago to grow a clematis vine. I planted one tiny root in a pot and have been watching and waiting for years now. I had no idea what I was doing wrong because it never did anything year after year. Until now. It's still in the pot I planted it in. But it has 3 buds on it. Hopefully I will see some clematis flowers shortly. It's kinda spindly and weak looking.

I've researched it to see what I need to be doing or what I should have been doing for it. (1) It needs full sun. I figured that. (2) It needs something to climb onto. Something tall that has less than 1/2 inch diameter rails to attach itself to. I figured that, also. But I had not given it anything to climb on. Research says that if the vine has nothing to attach itself to for climbing, it will stop growing. Umm, I didn't know that. And (3) needs moist  well drained soil..

Also, they usually aren't mature to start blooming until 2 years old. Which is why, I guess, mine is ready to bloom now. Certain varieties do grow well in pots. The larger varieties should be planted in the ground because they will reach 10-20 feet. Umm, I don't know which variety I have. 

So I scrounged around till I found an object I can use as a trellis for my clematis. If I follow my research and give it what it needs I hope to have this is the future. 

gin

The Best of the Weekend

Most of my weekends are spent at work. But I do get to throw in an hour or two of self-indulging acts of treating myself to a little bit of happiness.

We ate at a drive-inn the next town over while running some errands. Sitting in the truck listening to intercom songs overhead. There are more places like this than just Sonic.  The car hop even asked if we wanted refills on our already super large drinks. Yea, why not.

Company arrived and we strolled the mall a bit. Made a visit to the MIL. And ate a late nite "breakfast" supper at Cracker Barrel. And who can't resist the shopping there. Always cute stuff, but I managed to be strong-willed and didn't cave in to buying anything.

Threw in some must-do house chores like laundry and sweeping and ending the weekend with a late nite TV movie "GhostTown".

I'm linked with Night Owl Venting and Monday Mingle
gin

Rambles

I usually play strictly by the rules in the work force. Lately I have become brave. I run work related errands at my job. I now take care of my personal errands, too. Today, as I was passing Walgreens, I stopped in to get my photos that were waiting for me to pick up. I print my cell phone pictures to a Walgreens app.

I have a beautiful vision of how I want my flower garden to be. Lush green plants filled with color lining winding paved paths. A fence with same blooming green plants. Climbing blooming vines on arbors. Little concrete bench for squirrels or rabbits to stop by and rest. Slowly I am putting my vision into reality. I have the bench and one arbor.

Joined up with my co-workers for Relay For Life event. It's on a Friday nite running a track race. There will be a band, food, and sponsor tents.  I'm gearing up for it by increasing my walk/run routine to every evening. I want to be the fastest of my team.

I need a decor re-do fix. Thinking of new drapes for the living room/dining room windows. I'll need 4 sets for the 4 windows. I've started looking around. I might surprise myself on the outcome.

gin

Happy Earth Day

Earth Day is being celebrated all around the globe today. Not just today but everyday we should take care of the planet that provides our food and water.

Our earth is really a beautiful place.

Feels Like A Weekend: Day 4

Awwwww my unplanned 4-day weekend has come to a screeching halt. Wish everyday was filled with fun and no work.


Babies  -------------------------

Cooking ------------------------

Eating  -----------------------------

Shopping  -------------------------------

Good Nite! -----------------------

Feels Like A Weekend: Day 3

It's officially the weekend. If you are keeping up with my topic Feels Like A Weekend, it's Saturday, day 3 of my unplanned 4 day weekend.

It's a crawfish boil today.

Take one of these and multiply it by two bags of about 100 pounds.

Put them in a big pot of highly seasoned water.   Add staples like potatoes, corn on the cob, mushrooms, lemons, onions, and sausage is optional.Poor out on the table and dig in.










Enjoy outside dining.


gin

Feels like a Weekend

Thursday feels like the weekend.

 Chef Husband grilled on a Thursday making burgers for lunch and dinner.

His own recipe with him taking over the kitchen for preparations.

Call it flame broiled if you wish.

 All lined up in a perfect circle in their own choreographed performance.

A cookout on a Thursday with no cooking for me is just as good as calling it a weekend.

Look out Friday,  Saturday and Sunday. Seems my weekend will seem like a nice 4 day weekend starting with a cookout on Thursday. I'll see how I can make the other 3 days just as sweet somehow.

I'm linked with
                       


gin

It's Ok To Be Happy

  Even with the frightening events in Boston yesterday and the sadness that people there are facing, it's still ok to be happy.

Happy that we are in the USA. That we pull thru the tragedy and  support each other and pray for each other. Knowing we can become stronger.

While in the city at work today, I noticed several American flags flying where there usually aren't any.

God Bless the USA.

Today I am linked with Oh What a Happy Day Party. , with Bloglovin Hump Day Hop

gin

It's A Win Win For All

I'm sharing in crock pot recipes for a chance to win a digital crock pot at My Turn (for us)

I am sharing a recipe that I have used from 40 Shades of Pink blog that is the simplest and the tastiest of all. It's so good, I've prepared it twice in one month. It goes a long way for unexpected dinner guests and last for a day  for leftovers.

I give credit where credit is due and have actually asked her permission to share her recipe.

Fast dinner in crockpot

My quest for fast but healthy dinner continues.     
I threw a pork loin into the crock pot 
(much leaner than a pork roast)
 with a bottle of KC Masterpiece BBQ sauce
 and a cup of water, let it cook on low all day, 
shredded and put on wheat hamburger buns. 

Fast and delicious and pretty cheap since we
 had a lot of leftovers, that were perfect to pack
 for lunch at work.







Everybody wins with access to all the crockpot recipes.
My go to recipe person wins with me sharing her blog post recipe.
Someone's going to win the crockpot. I hope it's me.

Enter here and check out other crockpot recipes.


gin

Hungry

Waiting patiently for the crawfish boil cook-out of the season. A meal in itself. This picture was from last year. This makes me hungry.

Me at my SIL's house with her cute grandchildren at a birthday party. The best way to end a day with buffet food and birthday cake.

.

Check out  Meet Me Mondays Blog Hop.

gin

Pinned

gin

News About Nothing

Saturday should have been a funday instead of a work day for me. It was quite the boring day.

Husband came into town and met me at BK for a quick lunch. While there I recognized someone whose picture I see on my FB newsfeed occasionally. I was completely in shock, knowing I never see anyone I know in a restaurant here. Technically, I don't know her either. This lady and her 2 children were exactly who I see on the fb newsfeed. On fb she always has cute sayings about her children and always bragging on them and  and coming across as a super mom. Well, not today. She was constantly fussing at the children and never smiled. She must have had a bad day. I didn't know whether to approach her and say aren't you so and so's fb friend,  she's my friend too. No, I just watched her. She's not my friend anyway. 

The eliptical has been sitting on the back porch unused since the 5K self-training back in February/March.  With springtime here I have been walking/running 3-4 days a week instead of using the eliptical. Still making a mile each time.  So, why haven't I seen a drastic look in my body? My older jeans in a size smaller have been dug out of the bottom of the closet and fit just fine, but I look the same.

I prepared a chicken meal in the crock pot for a hearty supper. Ummm, I forgot to turn it on. So, sandwiches with more tomatoes won. 

Hoping the new week is more fun.

gin

Friday Smiles

The Next Holiday

Every month except August and either March or April (depending on when Easter is) has a major holiday. The next holiday is Mother's Day.

This year I am putting a fresh new spin on Mothers Day. It's the two girls first Mother's Day and I want to make it special for them. So my mind is in full gear thinking of something special for them. Although, technically, it's not my place to. They are not my mother. But I want to show a little appreciation to them for being such great moms to their little ones. Any suggestions? Leave your suggestions in the comments for me, please. Help me be the best loved mom and mom-in-law in the whole world this mother's day. It's kinda my own self-contest I have going here.

So time to hit the mall and find the best gifts.
 

me at the mall

a food court stop

stopping in every store

I don't really want  a gift or a big to-do over Mother's Day. Just being content that everything is well, that everyone is happy and healthy, and being together is really all I need.

I do have a MIL that I will make a little fuss over. She is old, she has been kind to me thru the years. I have to think of something special for her, too.

I am participating with NoBloPoMo in the month of April's theme fresh.
gin


 

Mid-Week

              

  

Middle of the week is a joy in itself.
 Half way to the weekend.
     Two days left of the work week.
     Feels like the week gets in full gear.

This mid-week afternoon day found me re-potting a few plants and watering flowers in the flower beds that are beginning to bloom.

Adding a quick no-cook dinner with a big salad with the tomatoes from this past week-end and a sandwich just makes the mid-week more relaxing.

As dusk draws near, the flowers and plants take on a different look. These are of my old fashion running seven-sisters rose bush on an arbor. They look totally different in the night light.

I trimmed all the old rose blooms off, re-trained some of the running limbs into the arbor, and watered and re-mulched it.

The next two days will be the end of the week. It can only get better.

I am linked with Linkin With My Ladies and Oh Happy Day.

gin

Dissecting life

I saw this somewhere on the www and liked it a lot.

 I like #2 "what others think of me is none of my business."

gin

What's red and green and soft all over?

Monday in the kitchen is all about fresh. Fresh fruit and veggies. Fresh strawberries. Fresh tomatoes.
I stopped by the farmers market. Fresh produce is just now gearing up for spring and summer freshness.

                                   










This is really all we need for a few days added to what is already in the pantry. Strawberries to eat by their selves or as fruit with morning breakfast and desert for dinner. Tomatoes are just as versatile. Cook with them in stew, soup, chili, or pasta. And use them in green salad and on sandwiich.

These make for an easy menu for the week. They'll be used at every meal. Delicious. Nutritious.

I'm linked with Meet Me Monday's.
gin

Sunday Smiles

D O G S

Our family pets take center stage in our families along with all the other family members.

Here's a doggie show of our pets I took pictures of                    

Top row, left:  Butch and Bella                Top row, right, a stray                        
brother & sister, inseparable                    I saw him in a parking lot,
                                                            and he is exactly like another
                                                            family member named Butch


Middle row, left, Molly                          Middle row, right, same Molly
thinks she is still the baby of                  did not adjust well to the new
her family, riding in the baby                  baby in her house
stroller.


Bottom row, left, Macy                        Bottom row, right, Poochie
aka Ms. Queen of the day,                    does not like anyone but her
everyday, always has her way               human father

I just wish I had a cat.

gin

Friday Nights

This is probably the closest we'll get to a date night anytime soon. We left the city at 5pm after work.

We had "fine dining" at a drive thru, eating on the go.

 

Stopping at a state line welcome center was part of the night. We don't stop at these too often. They can be a little eerie and scary. But this one had been re-vamped. Was rather nice and a lot of people in and out. Must be the spring breakers.

We made it to our destination and back by midnght.

                                                        

The Ridicu-list

No self control here. It's ridiculous how I can get away with some things lately.

Today, two McDonalds ice cream cones were consumed by me. Only 150 calories each. But high in sugar and fat. I blame  (a) my no-self-control;  (b) the lovely McDonalds Easter gift card I received; and (c) the chance to be out and about running errannds for work. It's ridiculous the bad choices I made. If I  just didn't have to go past McDonalds again on the way back.

                                                            


While running errands for work, I also took a personal side trip to Walmart. Remember the half-dead clearance rack of azaleas yesterday? I planted them in their new home yesterday and realized that 4 more would look really nice there, if they survive.  I couldn't wait to get back to get more, just incase someone else was there to by all the half-dead clearanced azaleas that were left. I made it in time. There were plenty left to buy.




This was a most ridiculous weather day. It's suppose to be after Easter, spring time, air filled with pollen, which should be warm and sunny. Yet, it's cold and rainy, and cloudy and dreary.





I was a little later getting back to work than anticipated. What with all my personal errands mixed in with work errands. It's ridiculous that no one noticed how long I was gone. No one said anything or asked any questions. It's ridiculous I am not missed at work.

Hoping to Survive

While inspecting my flower garden, I am aware I need to freshen and spruce things up, to add a little here and there. And possibly a little watering and fertilizer wouldn't hurt.

On a whim, while in the city, I stop by Lowes and Walmart to check out their hardy, evergreen, flowering varieties in the garden center.

Several chosen species that came home with me were two hibiscus to display in pots. And, two spireas, aka bridal wreaths. I have always wanted bridal wreaths added to my garden.

I also needed something evergreen that blooms, I have had my eye on peony's in flower garden catalogs. But  have been unable to find them locally. And have also considered rhododendrons. Both are new to me, but I love their large flowers. I found no peony's. I did find rhododendrons in a large container. And at a large price of $24.98 per container. What if I pay that and then they do not survive?

I settled for the clearance section of half dead azaleas. Azaleas are evergreen. Azaleas are flowering. Azaleas are hardy.

I am hoping they survive and get re-freshed when I set them in their new home.

I am linked with Oh Happy Day and Owl Always Blog.

gin

Planning A Vacation

 Ready to pack and get away for a few days or a week? It's time to plan a vacation and get a fresh start on the spring season.

That is something we haven't done lately. Unless you count 2 years ago we had a weekend vacation in Destin. The big plans there were for daughter's wedding on the beach. It was both a little vacation and a lot of work.

We haven't had a planned vacation since the kids were young. We've had our share of vacation trips to Disney World, vacation trips to the Florida beaches, vacation trips to the mountains, and week-end side trips to nearby places.

So let's plan a vacation, shall we?

What is your favorite environment? What time of the year do you like to vacation? And of course, the budget?

For me, it's easy. I don't have to think about it. I love, love, love the water. So anywhere on the water or beach in the hot summer sun is all I need. And I don't need a lot of money. I can be frugal all week and forego the splurges and just have necessities like a hotel room, food, gas and vehicle, and a few sight seeing expenses.

Though, husband would chose The Smokey Mountains for sure. And that would be nice.

Planning begins!!

beach from last year

I am linked with Oh Happy Day and Owl Always Blog.
I am participating in NoBloPoMo for the month of April's theme  fresh.

gin

Tracking Plans

Sometimes things don't go as planned. But they work out anyway. You  take the plan and the not so planned.

Sunday ended not exactly as planned.  One group arrives at 12 noon, starving, ready to eat Easter dinner. Next group arrives at 1 pm with a fussy baby with a temp cutting first tooth. Another  group telephones and explains they're not coming, baby woke up sick and on their way to after hours clinic. Then MIL telephones and wants to come visit her grands and greats, but needs someone to go get her because thunderstorm advisories are out (she doesn't drive in the rain), but not to pick her up till after 1pm when she got home from church. At last, those who arrived are seated and fed, and MIL is ready to leave.

My Easter plans were everybody together, bright sunshine, green grass, and 2 happy babies with Easter eggs and baskets for pictures of the day, Not happening. Thunderstorms have set in, one baby not here, one baby fussy.

Called to check on other group with sick baby. Their response, "can't find anywhere to get  good take-home food for Easter dinner after leaving after hours clinic" and "this is not how we planned baby's 1st Easter."

I am sad.

 Saturday was not planned but we left on a trip about 45 minutes away to baby #2's beauty pageant her mom put her in. She won 1st runner up, most beautiful, prettiest eyes, and people's choice queen. A very good day for this little one.

Back to Friday with me working an unscheduled day, even though I needed to grocery shop and clean house. So stayed on the phone giving husband a shopping list and begging him to clean or at least do a few things in the house for me. That worked out better than I thought or planned. I might do this more often.

When things go array, one may have to take a fresh new approach. It may not be what was planned, but may have to move to Plan B.

I am participating in NaBloPoMo for the month of April's theme fresh. 
I am linked with Meet Me Mondays Blog Hop.

gin