Awards (Off Topic)

I am honored to receive two awards from
Rebecca @ In The Garden
one the "Honest Scrap Award" and the other " Best Blog Award".
I am grateful for the awards and thank you Rebecca!
I am going to follow Rebecca's example
and combine the two awards together in one posting.




The first award is the 'Honest Scrap Award' and the
rules are as follows:

A. Brag about the award:

I am honored to receive this most wonderful and
magnificent award.
There that is done. Did I do good?
But I am in all seriousness honored to
receive it from a fellow gardener

B. Link back to the person who gave it to you:
Rebecca @ In The Garden is to blame for this
session of true confessions and honestly, scrappy replies.
Thank you Rebecca. LOL!

C. Share 10 honest things about yourself:

"Well no award is going to get me to confess all".

So I will tell some silly scrap's or boring tidbits about myself.

1) I am the mother of two wonderful adult children
(one of each) who mean the world to me.

2) Every job that I held is no longer in business and
I was once a Postmaster in my very tiny home town.
Scary huh. Want to hire me now?

3) I am a country girl who loved to hunt with my Grandpa
and of whom the Game Warden
(Who checked my hunting license)
repeated in the local town grocery store that
"did you know there is a woman hunting out the ridge?"
Where upon the proprietor
replied, "yes, and she can shoot and hunts every year".

4) I hate spicy or seasoned food so I do not grow herbs
for eating but for the blooms and I hate garlic.

5) I have had a Genealogy website called "Dust in the Attic"
with history and research for those seeking their
families from Hocking County, Ohio for the last ten years.
It is another passion of mine and I have been able to
help a few in their endeavors.

6) I use to sing in a Gospel Group that sang in different
churches and we were on the radio.

7) That I was bitten on the hand by a water snake as a
small child, once was trapped on a log by one with no
way around or off, stepped on one wading once,
and chased by a Blue racer snake through my
Grandfathers corn field once, so I found out
that I could run like the wind when younger
and forgive me if I offend someone but under the
circumstances I have a real hate for snakes.
No matter the size or kind if they are in my yard
they are a dead snake.

8) That I have fibromyalgia and a bulging disc in my back
which causes me pain so I cannot stand for long periods
but I still get out and try to flower garden because I love
flowers and it brings me peace and joy to be among them.

9) Pasta and chocolate are my weaknesses, next to flowers.

10) That I started this blogging on a trial basis and started
trying to find other gardeners. Now I have found such kind
and generous gardeners and blogging friends that I would
really miss them if I had to quit.

D. Give the award to 7 more bloggers who inspire you:
This one is hard because there are so many that I hate to
just pick seven so please no one be offended.
If you have been picked before please
forgive me and you are under no pressure to participate.


Rosey @ Dung Hoe is from the foothills of Colorado.

Sabrina @ Living With Plants from Ohio.

Patsy @ The Smith's Bennie and Patsy from Arkansas.

Adrienne @ Adrienne in Ohio.

Kanak @ Terra Farmer from India.

Janie @ An Obsessive/Compulsive Plant Collector
from Texas.
April @ Trials & Tribulations of a Southern Gardener
from Alabama.

The 'Best Blog Award'




The rules are to post the award on your blog along with
the name of the person who passed it on to you and a
link to their blog. Then be sure to leave them a comment to
let them know that they have been chosen. Choose blogs
which you recently discovered and you think are great and
pass it on to them.
Thank you Rebecca @ In The Garden

For Best Blog Awards:

Rosey @ Dung Hoe

Robin @ Life in Robin's Nest

Sabrina @ Living With Plants

Patsy @ The Smith's Bennie and Patsy

Adrienne @ Adrienne in Ohio.

Kanak @ Terra Farmer

Janie @ An Obsessive/Compulsive Plant Collector

April @ Trials & Tribulations of a Southern Gardener

Kelly @ Red And The Peanut

Colleen @ Colleen's Garden& Other Hobbies

Jennifer @ KeeWee's Garden

Becca @ A Southern Garden by Becca

Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams


Since some do not have the time, have already received or
just do not do chains or awards this is quite alright and the choice
is up to you to participate or not.



Also an update about the white amaryllis. I did take your advise
and contacted the Amaryllis Bulb Company and they are going
to send me a new Cocktail bulb so they were just great about
making the mix up right.

Happy Gardening Everyone!
Lona

I Heard Groans and Moans

I could hear you all yesterday a moaning and a groaning
from all of the turkey, ham and deserts.
Well actually that might have been me making all
of that noise.
I heard all of the physiologists, doctors, nutritionist's, etc.
explaining why or how not to overeat on Thanksgiving or
Christmas. That we should not make it an excuse for over
indulgence. My question was why not? Why shouldn't we
have two days in the year without the guilt of eating the foods
we like and that make us feel good. Why shouldn't we have a
day when the family can all get together and fellowship with
one another. One day to say "diet go stuff yourself ".
In a world that is so body conscious instead of family conscious
where everyone is scattered near and far, what is wrong with it?
I say yes to pigging out for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
What a joy to have a guilt free holiday!
Don't you all feel better now?


I awoke this morning hearing this tinkling against the
window panes and I just knew I was not going to like
what I would see when I looked out the front door.




Looking out and across the road to the field there was
these big white things falling all around.
I moan, " oh, no".
So I slowly venture to the back door to take a look out.
(Like that was going to make a big difference)




Nope, "drat". It was really snowing.
So I open the backdoor to get a better look and the little
stray kitten comes flying through the door as soon as I opened
it thinking it is really going to stay indoors.
"No little fella I am not going to start that, isn't it enough
that I feed you?".
So I run through the house trying to run him down
(these days that is a feat unto itself)
and carry him out onto the back step where it is freezing and
icy. So I know then the snow is not going to be melting as fast up
here on this hill until later this morning.
So alright blogger friends I guess I really have to accept
the fact that this winter thing is really going to happen.
Though some of you have had your big snows already
and that even in the northern part of the state there has been
snow, this is southeastern Ohio's first sticking snow.
I should not complain because we had snow last year on the
18th so we have really been fortunate so far.
So what does a person do but say 'alrighty then' on to
Christmas.
How many of you were shopping at 4 a.m. this morning?
Trust me as an old retired retail lady we do not share your
enthusiasm. Before the morning is up we both will be
shouting at each other ;-)

But this posting is not all about the weather, my lack of
enthusiasm or guilt free overeating.





The amaryllis 'Cocktail' that has been growing so fast has
started to bloom already with beautiful big white blooms.





The only thing wrong with that is that it is suppose to
be white with red variegation's or stripes. Now unless
that green center is going to turn red it may just be that
it was mislabeled for the nursery and I got another
amaryllis besides the 'Cocktail' variety that was ordered.





It is a pretty one but not what I ordered.
Now I am wondering if I should notify the nursery from
where I ordered the bulb from.




I do hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving.
And of course a guilt free one too.

Taking a Few Days Off

I am taking the next few days off on blogging

for the holiday so...........
Everyone Have A Wonderful Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving

Gettin' together to smile an' rejoice,
An' eatin' an' laughin' with folks of your choice;
An' kissin' the girls an' declarin' that they
Are growin more beautiful day after day;
Chattin' an' braggin' a bit with the men,
Buildin' the old family circle again;
Livin' the wholesome an' old-fashioned cheer,
Just for awhile at the end of the year.

Greetings fly fast as we crowd through the door
And under the old roof we gather once more
Just as we did when the youngsters were small;
Mother's a little bit grayer, that's all.
Father's a little bit older, but still
Ready to romp an' to laugh with a will.
Here we are back at the table again
Tellin' our stories as women an men.

Bowed are our heads for a moment in prayer;
Oh, but we're grateful an' glad to be there.
Home from the east land an' home from the west,
Home with the folks that are dearest an' best.
Out of the sham of the cities afar
We've come for a time to be just what we are.
Here we can talk of ourselves an' be frank,
Forgettin' position an' station an' rank.

Give me the end of the year an' its fun
When most of the plannin' an' toilin' is done;
Bring all the wanderers home to the nest,
Let me sit down with the ones I love best,
Hear the old voices still ringin' with song,
See the old faces unblemished by wrong,
See the old table with all of its chairs
An I'll put soul in my Thanksgivin' prayers.

- Edgar Albert Quest -

End of the Line Contest

This is my photo entry in the "End of the Line"
photo contest sponsored by 'Gardening Gone
Wild'.





This oak leaf has reached the end of the line as has
the green briers that it is trapped upon.
---------------------------
As I was going through my pictures I ran across
several that could represent the end of the line
in nature and the garden.




This could represent to some the end of the line
with no way under or over.

I am surrounded by woods so there are many
trees that are around that show the end of
their cycle here or the end of the line.

They are influenced by disease, insects or even by
human hands.




This hollowed out Honey Locust tree stands at the
edge of the property and by all rights should be
taken down. It has been this way for years and still
it stands. I have been tempted to stick a Gnome in it
or a Raccoon statue. Would Bilbo like this home DP?




Some meet their end by ice and high wind of winter
bringing them down.



Here in the State Park's there are many trails that seem
to have no end of the lines. They go on for miles.



Also there are old roads that reach the end of the
line where once stood the old homeplace.



Or maybe it is the last rose of summer.



Some may think this is the end of the line.




But I feel that just as in nature when something dies
or reaches the end of its line it only gives a new
beginning to new life....



so it is with the human spirit.

Rise and Shine

Did you ever have just one of those days?

I can rise and shine but it takes me
longer these days ;-)

We have had some wonderful days so far this
November. It has been nicer than October was
and warmer.

The mums have faded now so there is practically
nothing going on outdoors now.
The birds have been visiting more to the feeders
now also.
I love to watch them but around here they have
to be on the lookout for all the stray cats passing
through. This little Chickadee is on guard.
How do they manage to hang on to nothing?




Only one of the kittens remain now that grew in
my flower beds. The little black one has been AOL
for a week so I fear something has happened to the
little fella so only the little gray one remains.


It has rained a little the last two days (no the house
is still dirty) so I had to go slopping around in it to
finish up my Christmas shopping and it appears that
I was not the only one out looking for Holiday bargains
for Thanksgiving and for Christmas.
It was very busy in town today.
Of course I had to hit the garden center at the big box
store. I was hoping for some clearance flower pots
and I was able to came home with three and a new
bird feeder to replace the one the raccoons trashed.
Also I had to murmurer under my breath when I saw
the Amaryllis I paid $ 12 dollars for were only $ 5
dollars there. I consoled myself by saying my bulbs
surely had to be bigger or something ;-)

The only blooms that well be seen now is the
flowers that manage to put on a few blooms indoors.
This pink Gerbera daisy is blooming indoors but the
florescent lighting does nothing for her complexion.
Her makeup is looking a little orangish.

The Streptocarpus are still doing well and I
am loving this Roulette Red more all the time.

I want to thank everyone who have shared their seeds
this Fall. I am so thrilled to get them and start new
plants for the garden over the winter and making a
friendship bed next Spring to put them in.

Crazy For Blues.... Anywhere, Everwhere

Kiki over at 'Awake With Charm & Spirit' wrote
a posting on 'The Color Essence of Blue' which
was beautiful and extended an invitation to others
who are inspired by blue to join in.
Blue is a color that I dearly love not only in the
blues of flowers and decor in my garden but also
all throughout my home.
The siding on my home is even a light blue.
Inside my home blue is the main use in decor, from
the blue and white theme in my kitchen....







to the blue furniture and decor in my living room.
Dried blue hydrangea blooms...




Even the bathroom has a blue and yellow decor,
so yes, blue is a color I love.

In the garden I try to find blue flowers of every
kind to grow. Even in the choice of the seeds I
purchase I look for blue flowers.




Blue dwarf Morning Glory's are beautiful
while they last and shearing them back when
they slow down will bring them back for more
pretty blooms.



Shades of blue in petunia's run more to purples
I believe but for this winters sowing I have found seed
for a blue Celebrity petunia and blue alyssum.



Blue Browillia



Blue lobelia



Marine blue helitrope




And some of the perennials that are around in the
flower beds are this Clustered Bellflower.



Blue woolly Speedwell



Blue Hill Salvia is one of my favorites in the
sage family and I have it stuck in two or three beds.



It looks so pretty with the Crimson Bouquet roses.




Even Campunala bellflower Chettle Charm turns
blue on the edges with age.




Tall Phlox or Rockets



Blue Bird Delphinium or Larkspur



Even Jack Frost Brunnera has the prettiest little blue blooms
to start off the spring.



Blue creeping phlox cover the whole bank on the one
side of the garage.

Blue Chip Campanula



Hardy Geraniums which the name now has been
completely forgotten. Johnson??




The Nikko Blue Hydrangea that I had to go into
the archives to get a picture of.



While in the archives I found this picture of the dark
blue hyacinths that bloom in the spring.
I have more blue flowers than I thought.




The decor outdoors has a few touches of blue
added in by pots.



The containers I use to plant the flowers in,
and I will use about anything that holds soil,
are decorated in blue sometimes.
Even in the previous posting of the Amaryllis
that were just started were put in blue and white
flowers pots.



Even to the flags in the garden the blue comes into play.





Blue Birds are invited to the garden and their blue
houses.





Some of the blues that I planted this Fall to
bloom in the blue section of the woods bed are:

Eryngium Blue Sea Holly



An Oreo Iris



A Out of the Blue re-blooming Iris



Agastache Blue Fortune



And a Jacob's Ladder polemonium

Others that I have but have no pictures for that are
new are Mammouth Blue hosta, Columbine Aquilegia Alpina,
Campanula Blue Waterfalls, and Loddon Royalist Anchusa.

Would you say I am crazy for blue in the garden and out?

Happy Blue Gardening Everyone!