Who Gets The Credit?

A few things that made me smile this week.

Lunch across the street at Eclair Paris.
This is their club sandwich with chicken ... wonderful herb sliced chicken.
The book (Bearly Departed) is the first book in new cozy series,
 A Shamelessly Adorable Teddy Bear Mystery series by Meg Macy.
I love teddy bears and really enjoyed the book.
Like all good cozy books, it is set in a small, idyllic town
and has wonderful places to shop, quirky characters, dogs and cats!

This dragon-lady will never have enough dragons.
This one was made by a favorite artist of mine who I also consider friend,
Kate Tracton.

It was much easier to grow succulents in New Mexico.
But look, my first successful succulent bloom in the tropics!

Speaking of blooms,
a volunteer that came up in the garden.
Not sure which bird or squirrel gets the credit for bringing in the seeds.

I found this sign on Birch Lane
and really did laugh out loud.

Wishing YOU well, much joy and a big smile.

Little Things Thursday

Share Your Cup Thursday

Mosaic Monday

Keep In Touch

It's All About Trader Joes!

It's been a This and That week.

First, the plumber made a visit.

Then the AC guy made a two day visit.

Hopefully, I'll be cool in the 100+ weather.

My yard/pond guy (the wonderful Cody) tried to fix my
irrigation system and has to get a part.
He has hooked things up so I can water. 
Good thing.
It's going to be a scorcher this week.

Early this morning I headed out to Trader Joes.

Their flowers are always so pretty.

"My" TJs gets their flower shipment in on Sunday.

Too many pretty flowers to pick from.

I picked up two orchids and some zinnias.

I love zinnias. 
They remind me of my Granny.
She always had a flower bed full of zinnias.

I planted zinnias last year and hoped they would reseed.
They didn't.
I won't make that mistake next year!

I also picked up banana bread from TJs.
When I got to the checkout I said,
"I didn't know you carried banana bread."
Checker told me it is a new item.
It's good, too.
Beats heating up the kitchen in the hot summer.

I didn't set out to write a post all about Trader Joes
but sure looks like I did!

Wishing YOU well and much joy.

Keep In Touch

Little Things Thursday

Share Your Cup Thursday

Mosaic Monday

This and That

It was one of those "this and that" weeks.
Heat records have been set all week.
It's not even UGHust! 


The last Rice U baseball home series has come and gone.
I found these at the grocery and thought they'd be fun at the tailgate.
They were!

Mother's Day with the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park.
I do love Orbit and all his shenanigans.
He must be one of the best major league baseball mascots.

Lots blooming in Musashi's Garden.

Coneflower

Miss Amelia Day Lily

Persian Garden Day Lily

Mini Pearl Day Lily

I order all my daylilies from Oakes.
I've been very pleased with the plants and the service.


Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Little Things Thursdays

Willy Nilly Friday

Keep In Touch

Tra La! It's May!

It's the magical month of May.

I couldn't resist a lovely May Day bouquet.

I have several pots of Lantana blooming in
Musashi's Garden.
I hope the butterflies like them as much as I do!

The crocosmia blooming came as a surprise.
I didn't see the plant at all last year.
Yippee!

Another amaryllis is blooming, too.

May also means that I start preparing
for my six month summer hibernation!
I have plenty of yarn for projects.
Never too early to start holiday gifts!

It's already hot and humid.
Smoothies are definitely in order.

It's also time to think about hurricane supplies.
I've started loading up on water
and will think about what canned goods I might like.

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Little Things Thursday 


Willy Nilly Friday


Amaze Me Monday


Mosaic Monday


Keep In Touch

There Is No Doubt That Summer Is Here

It is hot.

And it is humid.

Feels like temps (in the shade) well over 100.
There is no doubt that summer is here

and I'm already tired of it!

*

I'm still celebrating my May birthday.

This time with the Mother of my god-children 

and one of my sisters-by-choice.

We went to one of our favorite spots:

Morningside Thai.

I had garlic eggplant and she had basil-eggplant.
We were both smiling and "yumming".

*

Not only did we have a lovely lunch,
I received a lovely gift, too ...
tea pot and matching mug
by Emma Bridgewater.

I love Emma Bridgewater.
The pattern is called Wallflower and is described as a
Cheerful, purple and green floral pattern that was inspired by
Emma and Matthew's love of a flower bed that overflows with wallflowers every May 
... perfect for an "Emma lover" with a May birthday!

*

I also received a surprise in the post.
When the box arrived I wondered what I had ordered that I'd forgotten!?
No, it was a surprise from a dear friend who knows I have a thing for owls.

Aren't they great?!
I'm lucky -- good friends and more great mugs for tea drinking!

I made an early morning run to Trader Joe's
(before it got too hot for man or beast).

In addition to food, I came home with flowers ...
peonies and tulips.

So pretty!

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Willy Nilly Friday

Five on Friday

Mosaic Monday

Amaze Me Monday

SaveSave

Purrfect!

My kitties (with a little help) knew just what to do for Mother's Day.

Flowers!

Gerbera Daisy, Hydrangea and Dianthus.

To top it all off -- a new owl mug. 

Purrrfect!

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Mosaic Monday

Monday Social

Let's Party!

"Spring is nature's way of saying, 'Let's party!'"

~ Robin Williams

My Freesia are blooming.
I have them in pots on the balcony.
I know spring is here when they start to bloom.

I love the yellow ... such a happy color!

I found some more freesia bulbs well after the season last year.
Such a small little bulb to make pretty flowers.
I bought them and added them to the pots.
The pretty red is one of the new ones.

"Spring won't let me stay in this house any longer! 
I must get out and breathe the air deeply again."
~ Gustav Mahler

Freesias are strongly scented. 
They have five to 10 single or double flowers.
Stems are usually 10 to 18 inches long with little or no foliage.
The bell-shaped freesia blooms up to seven days and comes in
white, golden yellow, orange, red, pink, mauve, lavender, purple and bicolors.

I'm joining Sun Lit Sunday

and 

Mosaic Monday.


Wishing YOU well and much joy!

The Sun Came Out!

The sun came out this weekend after
four days of rain.
The white camellia was blooming.

I went grocery shopping and found these lovely roses.

I'm hoping I find some daffodils next week!

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

A big thank you to Karen for hosting Sun Lit Sunday.

Hyacinths For The Soul

If of thy mortal goods thou art bereft

And of thy simple store two loaves of bread alone are left

Sell one, and with the dole,

Buy hyacinths to feed the soul.  

~ Sa’di

In one brief period of sunshine, I caught the sun before it disappeared again.

Warmth, peace and calm inside.

Wishing YOU well and much joy.

Thanks, Kim!

A big thank you to Karen for hosting Sun Lit Sunday.

September Days Are Here

...September days are here,

With summer's best of weather,

And autumn's best of cheer.

~Helen Hunt Jackson

Last weekend I put the Autumn wreath on the front door. 

It was an effort to get Autumn to make an appearance.

And guess what?!

It worked!

At least for one day.

Lows in the high 60s and a high today in the low 80s.

It may not sound like much to most of you, but to me, it was bliss!



I made a trip to Trader Joe's and came home with some goodies including these:

Such pretty fall colors!
Mums, Protea and Eucalyptus.
They should last awhile (I hope).
I love Protea and I don't splurge on them too often.

They provided some playtime, too.

The produce bins were full of squash and cooking pumpkins.
I came home with these:

Delicata Squash
Small and cute!
Have any of you tried them?
The sweet girl who checked me out said she'd tried them and they were very good.
She put a little sea salt on them.
I'll let you know what I think.
At one dollar, I couldn't resist!
And, I liked that the label said Product of the USA.

After my trip to TJs I walked into my Village.
Had lunch.
Checked out the 2015 calendars at Half-Price Books and walked home.

Cubs baseball now and then football.

That's it for me.


Today I'm joining the lovely Judith for Mosaic Monday
and The Fabulous Fall Party. 


Wishing YOU well and much joy!

"Delicious Autumn!
My very soul is wedded to it,
and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns."
~George Eliot