Alexander Trent

He is here! My nephew was born on April 29, 2008. We are going to Nashville this weekend so I can't wait to hold him. We were planning to go anyway so this is a bonus. Babyville has been a long time removed in our family.

Garden at Henry Clay's home

Roger and I went to the gardens at Henry Clay's home Sunday. It was so pretty. They always have a big compost pile out the back of the garden wall. You can see it in some pictures and I always like to hit it up and see what I can find that they are just throwing away to rot. I found some tiny succulent ground cover that should have a little yellow bloom, some amarilla bulbs (Ithink and hope) and some sort of variety of lambs ear or in the family. Always fun to see what is there. Not much today, but after some of the things blooms, who knows. It is just the thrill of the hunt! I'll be back....

Afterwards, we went to the garden shop and bought flats of annuals for mother for mother's day. She has been wanting her flowers in containers this year so we made several (12-13) and they were all lovely. I did not think to get pictures. I will later after they grow a bit. She was thrilled. It started to rain and when I got home and planted mine in the rain, in the dark. The neighbors probably think they have a "looney tunes" on their hands. Mom also gave me a red bud tree that her neighbor had given her and I needed to go on and get it in the ground. Hopefully it wll replace one of the ones that was cut. She also gave me a small flowering plum tree that she had in a small pot. The roots were so embedded I had to cut it from the pot. Hopefully it will do well. Another replacement for my cut down trees. Keep your fingers crossed. These are bigger so maybe that will deter whoever thought it okay to snip away.

 

Vince's Birthday!

We celebrated Vincent's birthday by going to Sonny's BBQ. He had been wanting their ribs for a while. All you can eat baby! It is hard for me to believe 25 years has passed. Seems like yesterday they placed him on my chest and I saw those dimples for the first time. We love ya man!

Travis' music page

Travis has added some different songs to his web page. Check them out. One is fairly new. The others he has had a while but had not posted them.

This was supposed to be a slideshow. I am still trying to learn by trial and error how to do these things and then remember how I was able to do it the time before after several unsuccessful attempts. Not all loaded. The swing was so everyone would see how I spend my lazy days (daze).

guppies

I am having some fun with guppies and snails that our science teacher gave me. The little tank at school was being over run with the critters so I divided them and brought some home. I got the tank set up that I used to have my frogs in. They both died this summer after having them for four years. Not sure what happened, but I think I may have accidently gotten the tank too clean for them. They were dirty little frogs and seemed to really have wanted to stay that way! The guppies are really growing and are fun to watch. I started with one snail and I have soooo very many now.

I have been trying to download videos. Not sure why I am unable to do so. Somehow, when I import them these days from my camera, they cannot be displayed until I open quicktime. I don't know how to open quicktime and select a movie to be uploaded at the same time... so... it never works. It seems like it is uploading and then takes forever just to time out. They used to just play from windows media. I am so illiterate where technology is concerned. It makes me miserable, but somehow I keep subjecting myself to the misery. I brought Mom to the house after her colonoscopy to recover a bit and trav serenaded her. If it does download excuse the mess. The chair is all scooted out, chair cushions were dragged in from the porch because of rain...etc. etc. etc.

Tree-What kind?

This tree is in the backyard and it is next to my swing which I seem to have become attached to... in the literal sense. The blooms are just getting started and the leaves turn a dark purple. My cousin thought it might be a purle leaf sand cherry but was kinda big for one. I am not sure. I love it though. The branches "weep" and hang down gracefully. I always feel sort of tucked in when I am sitting next to it.

Froggy

Froggy has a new composty/mulchy home! He is blowin' away , just welcoming the warm winds of spring. He needs a new ribbon though. I might just get him a new one today. It was supposed to rain but so far it has been beautiful. I am heading out to sit in my swing and possibly read until I become distracted by a weed or a job that could be done in the yard. I need to reset some plants. I just may take advantage of the weather to do that today. Wish me well.

Another one bites the dust!

Here are some pictures of my little tree seedlings that were starting to bud and had survived all winter. Something or someone keeps cutting them right down. No one has used the weed eater around them. We had not mowed before I took these pictures this morning, so I am perplexed. We mowed after they were cut down. They look like they have just been cut off. Could birds get that clean a snip? Is it a rabbit? I am soooo mad! I just love my little trees. Plus they cost $50.00 from the Arbor Day Foundation. Not sure what to do about it. I am thinking about leaving them and just seeing what will happen because they are still alive. Maybe a cover of some kind?

Spring Growth

Things are growing away.

Bananas

I planted a banana tree in the side yard the day before yesterday. I know absolutely nothing about how to care for it or what it needs. My assistant at school gave it to me and the ones she has get huge every year. You have to dig them up and save them over winter from freezing. I will post pictures as it emerges (hopefully). I will in the meantime try to research online what to do. If there is any crucial information that I need to know will someone please share? Well it's FRIDAY! Off to the grind I go. At least I can wear jeans to do it today! The kids think that is why Friday is my favorite day of the week. I get to wear jeans. Don't tell them it goes a little deeper than that.....

no longer empty nesters

Our little nest just revolves. It never seems to truly empty. Vincent and Susan just moved back in with us for a bit to save some money for a down payment on a house. He is working as a personal trainer while he is going to school to teach physical education. Susan has gotten a pink slip from Maxwell because of the funding cuts. Her position was soft money, so not sure when they will find out whether they have a job or not so the whole reading team that is non-tenured is seeking employment just in case. This can be so stressful for young families. Say a little prayer for them as they embark on this adventure.

Since everybody brought in lots of food and supplies, I got a little anal this weekend and organized food cabinets with labels so we will all know where to put things away. I think it will make it easier, if only everyone would follow the plan. They will try I think, so something has to be better than trying for an hour to find the coffee or the mug to put it in. Five adults definitely have different ideas about where objects should go in the kitchen. It sometimes takes an hour to find everything I need before I can start cooking. Wonder how long it takes before anybody notices the shelf labels? Don't anybody hold your breath now ya hear?

busy weekend

I have a family at my school who work with horses quite a bit. Dad is a farrier. they were able to give me two loads of the best compost! Black gold baby! We were so excited to start scooping that stuff right into the beds. I can't wait to see what some of my perinnels will look like in a few, not to mention my yummy, juicy tomatoes. I was just so thankful that not only did they give it to us, but loaded it up with shovels and delivered it to us each day when we did not even expect it. He even designed one trailer so the sides were bigger and he could fit more in. This is what the world is all about really. Lucky enough to be surrounded by people who truly care and give of themselves. Now hopefully, I can grow those juicy little tomatoes and turn it into spicy salsa for all to share. some people simply love my fresh tomato salsa and when they do.... I like to share it.

new sink and dishwasher

Here are some pics of the new sink and dishwasher. We love the tall handle on the faucet and it is so nice to have dishes that are really clean!

new kitchen stuff

This is the new stove. Got a new vent for the top in stainless too. I will try and add the new sink and dishwasher pics. I keep getting error when I try and add more than one picture at a time. They are all great. No more little sink that nothing will fit under! The spout of the faucet is nice and tall and the sink seems much deeper than eight inches. The other one was barely six and we kept splashing water out. At our other house we got an acrylic one that was 9.5 inches deep on one side which was great but it was sooo hard to clean. Kept chipping too. This one seems like it will do. Now if I will just be able to keep smudges and fingerprints off the stainless. It's always something. Complain! complain! complain! The dishwasher is the bomb though. It has a potscrubber spray nozzle all by itself that angle right at casserole dishes and dirty pots. Works like a dream. Baked lasagna came right off with no effort on my part. Ma Daddy got me the stove. Ain't life grand?

picture of the border

rain rain rain rain

We have had a boatload of rain the last couple of days. The ground was already so saturated that it was like a wet sponge. Now it is just sitting around in puddles. We are still trying to figure out our ground and soil make up around here. Best we can tell is that our backyard and side yard sits atop a ridge of limestone. On top of that limestone is clay...lots of clay. We have underground wires for electric, cable, phone and gas. So never sure where we can dig even after having the yard marked twice. The paint never lasts long enough. I should have taken pictures.... Duh.

We worked this week on adding some brick paver border around the front of the house and around the side of the house. I had put some castlegate walling up along the side of the house, but not too wild about the color choice after the roof was redone. So we pulled all of that up and we are going to use that to edge another raised bed. Raised seems to be the way to go to combat the wires and bad soil. So after we got it pulled up it started to rain and has not quit yet. Maybe next week we will have a reprieve. These bricks were meant to b e pavers so hopefully they will work as small retaining walls. I offset them, but may have to go along and run some silicone caulk or mortar. I ridged it in for the first row, I am just afraid I will knock over the second row when I am mowing. I am clumsy that way. I will try to post some pics.