Blooming!

Blooming In Musashi's Garden

Roses from Musashi's Garden

Miniature Rose, Gerbera Daisy, Sun Flare Rose

Gerbera Daisy With A Visitor



Thank you to Mary at Mosaic Monday
and
The Tablescaper at Seasonal Sunday.

Wishing YOU well and much joy.

Daffodils

"For oft, when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude;

And then my heart with pleasure fills,

And dances with the daffodils."

~William Wordsworth

A big thank you to Karen for hosting Sunlit Sunday

 The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sunday

and

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Zoo Lights

Holiday celebrations in Houston just got a little wilder
with the start of a new tradition at the Houston zoo.
Lions, Tigers and Lights -- OH MY!!

Lights depicting many of the zoos animals are located near their habitats.

Thousands of twinkling lights, lighted animal sculptures, holiday projections, carolers,

Christmas music throughout the zoo.

You can work up an appetite strolling through the zoo.

There's hot chocolate, funnel cakes, cinnamon rolls, gingerbread men,

pizza, sandwiches -- all those good holiday treats that make your mouth water!

I plan on going back several more times.

It was just too much fun!

Thank you to our hosts:

Seasonal Sunday

Mosaic Monday

Our World

Wishing YOU well and much joy during this holiday season!

Just Around The Corner

I'm looking forward to fall

and right around the corner is

Halloween.

I'd like you to meet Henry Higgins and Eliza Boolittle!

I found them at Tuesday Morning.

They were pushed to the very back of a shelf.

I almost didn't see them.

Good thing they called to me!

You can clean your pantry out with this Black Bean Pumpkin Soup

from Pillsbury's Halloween Best Recipes.

Halloween Best Recipes by Pillsbury 2011

BLACK BEAN PUMPKIN SOUP

Servings: 9

1 teaspoon olive oil

1 medium onion, chopped (3/4/ cup)

1 clove garlic, finely chopped

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon chili powder

2 cups vegetable broth (from 32 oz. carton)

1/4 cup white wine, if desired

2 cans (15 oz each) Progresso black beans, drained, rinsed

2 cans (10 oz each) diced tomatoes with green chiles, undrained

1 can (15.25 oz) Green Giant whole kernel sweet corn, drained

1 can (15 oz) pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)

1. In Dutch oven, heat oil over medium-high heat. Cook onion in oil 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tender. Add garlic, cumin and chili powder; cook 1 minute.

2. Stir in remaining ingredients. Heat to boiling: reduce heat. Cover: simmer 30 minutes or until thoroughly heated.

Another good recipe for Meatless Monday!




Thank you to the hosts of Seasonal Sunday and On The Menu Monday.

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Happy Mother's Day!

I thought sharing these images from Musashi's Garden

was the perfect way to celebrate

Mother's Day!

Enjoy!

Thank you to:

The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sunday

and

Mary for Mosaic Monday.

Happy Mother's Day!

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Celebrating Earth Day

Today I'm celebrating Earth Day.

Last year there were no butterflies in my garden.

I blame the horrible drought.

But this year, this fellow came to visit.

I had to take his portrait shooting through the patio doors.

Good thing they were sort of clean.

Isn't he handsome?

I'm so glad he liked the zinnia.

How are you going to celebrate Earth Day?

I'm going to walk to Reckling Park and watch a college baseball game.

I'm going to make my walk a treasure hunt.

I'll make it up as I go along!

Did you know that one person taking a shorter shower could save 20 gallons of clean drinking water?

Just think, if thousands of people did the same the gallons would really add up.

It's the little things.

Thank you to:

The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sunday

Mary for Mosaic Monday

and the wonderful hosts of Our World.

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

My World: A Study in Bloom

Most of you know I've been complaining this week about the cold I have.

When I don't feel well, I don't want to do much.

Staring out the window into the garden is about all I've wanted to do.

So, I decided to take photos of the amaryllis as it started to bloom.

I'm not good at keeping track of the names of my amaryllis.

This one is the first to bloom in Musashi's Garden this year.

I took photos every day, sometimes several times a day

to document its journey from bud to bloom.

I got up one morning and WOW!

The journey was done.

A beautiful amaryllis in full bloom.

Thank you to Mary at Mosaic Monday,

The  Tablescaper for Seasonal Sunday, and 

 the wonderful hosts at Our World,

and Sunlit Sunday.

Wishing you WELL and much JOY!

Month At A Glance: February

The beginning of a new month means it's time to take a glance back.

Here's a quick look at the month of February.

Thank you to our hosts: 

The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sunday

Mary for Mosaic Monday.

Wishing you Well and JOY filled week!

Lunch

Beautiful God Daughter (BGD) joined me for lunch to celebrate the Lunar New Year.

The food was delicious and the setting extra special.

The only place in town I can think of where lunch costs less than $8.00 a person

and the tables are covered with tablecloths!

BGD had the garlic chicken.

I had the Hunan beef.

My little friend joined us for jasmine tea.

Thank you to our hosts: 

The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sunday

Mary for Mosaic Monday.

Wishing YOU Well and JOY!

Lunar New Year

A big welcome to the Year of the Dragon and the Lunar New Year!

In the Chinese zodiac, the dragon is the only animal that is not real.

(Unless you are a dragon lady and believe in dragons!)

The dragon is a highly auspicious symbol and represents the unification of the ancient tribes in China.

The dragon is a symbol of power, superiority and wisdom.

Unlike the wicked, fire breathing dragons of Western mythology,

China's celestial dragon symbolizes power and can have a soft spot! 

Dragons are ancient, majestic, wise and intelligent and

dragon years are considered auspicious for new business, marriage and children.

Dragon years also tend to boost individual fortunes and the world economy.

Happy New Year to You!

Celebrate!

Thank you to our hosts: 

The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sunday

Mary for Mosaic Monday

and the lovely ladies who host tea blogs:

Tea Time Tuesday
Friends Sharing Tea
Tea Party Tuesday
Teacup Tuesday
A Return to Loveliness

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Wishing you WELL and a JOY filled New Year!

Santa Has Been Seen in Town!

Santa and his elves have been seen all over town.

In the forests, in the candy shops, in front of homes.

He's checking his list ... checking it twice.

Getting ready for the big night!

A big thank you to our hostesses:

Mary for Mosaic Monday

and 

The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sunday.

Wishing YOU well and a JOY filled week!

Day 3 of Snow People!

I'm sharing more Snow People that I found around town.

A big thank you to our hostesses:

Mary for Mosaic Monday

and 

The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sunday.

Wishing you WELL and a JOY filled week!

Christmas Memories

Welcome to Winter Wonderland!

I just had to share this shot.

It is the first thing you see when you enter Blue Leaf in my village.

Oh, my!

Christmas Overload!!!

On to the memories with some help from Blue Leaf.

A smile came to my face when I saw the Christmas Village.

I remembered being a little girl and visiting my grandmother for Christmas.

She had the most wonderful Christmas Village around the bottom of her Christmas tree.

All the different buildings were made from cardboard.

The roofs had batting on the top with glitter (of course) to look like snow.

There were churches and shops and lots of bottle trees all decorated.

She even had some small houses in her Christmas tree.

Sweet memories!

I'm joining The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sunday.

Wishing YOU well and JOY filled week.

Celebrating Halloween!

Coming up to the end of October and celebrating Halloween.

Here's a few more Halloween decorations leading off with an ICAD I made

(Index Card A Day).

BOO!

I'm looking forward to November 1 and going by The Blue Leaf to see

if they have any Halloween decorations half off! 

Shop, shop, shop!!!

Thank you to our hostesses:

Mary for Mosaic Monday

and 

The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sunday.

Wishing YOU a very Happy Halloween!