~SEASON'S..

Garden butterfly...

*******
Do I miss the seasons...yes.  I do.
A dear blog friend, SaucyKod,  mentioned how much she would miss the seasons if she lived where they did not happen, no matter how nice it might seem to have milder winters..with no snow except in the mountains or high desert.  She would miss her seasons.  I completely understand.

And, yes.  I miss the distinct season changes, the quiet of the falling snow.  Sometimes I long for it, but not enough.  Not enough.

 My froggies...some of them and a dinner bell on my potting bench.  A gift from eldest son and his sweet wife!
*******
Yes, I miss those gorgeous changing colors...the red robins..the lilac's that hung over our porch,
I miss the tulips that grew along side our home and the smells of canning peaches.. and that is why I wanted all those fruit tree's planted.

 Finally got the potting bench cleaned and organized and the hanging plants in the right place...
*******
I missed the changing seasons so much when my family left Oregon and  returned to California in the 1940's.
I was just seven years old but I complained to my mother of not seeing the mountains black with tree's in the distance..
the northern lights..the changing colors..I hated my home state...

 Little concrete bunnies that my Maryalice gave me years ago..
*******
But now I love it.  Yes, I miss it all, the beautiful changing of the seasons, I do, but...not enough, not enough!

I love these tin pictures that hang in our patio..
********

I am a California girl, born and raised in San Diego California. 

No...I have to stay home and will probably die in California.  I actually cry when I am away from it for awhile.  Homesickness is a very strong illness.
I took a week's trip to Connecticut to see a dear friend once about seven years ago..and didn't get warm from the time I left LAX, until I stepped off the plane again in California.   It was October..my favorite time of year.  I was too darned cold to even enjoy the gorgeous colors. I literally shook and just could not get warm.  But I've never forgotten the beauty, cold or no cold!!
Still I completely understand the love of changing seasons. 

We have them.  They are just...soft.  That's the only way I can explain.  They are soft as a baby's bottom.

I wish you love.
Mona



~YARDS AND YARDS OF YARD..~

Look, new little plum tree has little plums.. just plain makes me smile!

:)

You probably don't remember those tiny little 8 or 9 inch roses I sent for, do you?  Well, here they are doing beautifully and nearly to the top of the arbor.  They are called AMERICA. 

I can see one little rose up at the tippy top and many, many buds.  One day soon...

Sweet dear husband is out there mowing and mowing...

The flagstone walkway will soon be set into the grass and will run from the back gate clear around the front of the house to the driveway.  (Can hardly WAIT!)

 ...and mowing..AND smiling!! 

I just wanted you to see how close they are getting to the top of the arbor!!

See?  Neat, huh?!

(*sigh* that clover or whatever it is has to go..

Our beautiful Redwood trees just keep getting taller and taller and one day they will be soooo big a car can drive right through them :):):)  

Yep...from the gate...right along the wall flower bed , past the gas meter..

Bless his heart! Rain today, the news said.  WHERE??

LOOK! and it kept right on going up to 99 degrees!  Time for a break I think!!

So...I think THIS was in order, don't you?  A bit of warmed banana nut bread and ice cold lemonade!

Gotta keep that man smilin'....

Can you just see the stone pathway from just in front of the flower bed to the corner of the house and around and down to the arbor of ROSES!!!  :):)  I can. 

Thanks to Joyce and a couple of other sweet bloggy friends..I've had some wonderful suggestions for vines to plant on the trellis's that will be on the side of the house.  THREE white ones with..you'll see!

All our effort is paying off, I think.  Lots more to do though.  LOTS!  Maintaining a home yourself isn't for wimps..that's for sure!  The California heat is on it's way and that is always hard on the plants and flowers.   

Luv'n hugs!!

Mona

p.s. Those rains did come for a bit...but on Thursday morning.  :) 

~A DESPERATE ATTEMPT..~

Yes.  This is a desperate attempt at a late night post. 

Speaking of plants,  :)  I always think that if it is rainy outside that I don't need to water..and so days go by and then I wonder "what in the world is WRONG with those plants?"  Well, the problem IS, the poor plants are under the patio roof!  Sheesh!

Same thing today.  It's been overcast yesterday and today so I didn't water.  Yep..once again the plants were drooping and when I checked they were dry.  Our air is so dry here that it takes just a bit of no water and the plant can wither.  A lot did during my time in "la la land!

And PLEASE don't call me dumb!   I already know it!!

So...

Here is that little peach tree that was planted last year at about this time.  It's growing so fast!

See the peaches???  Now this might not be much to some..but it is my first ever peach tree!  I say mine because I chose it..and insisted on planting tree's, tree's and more tree's!

I go out every day and just look at them!

Ok, it's morning.  I'm not tired and cranky or selfish this morning. :)  Patient Husband ..bless his heart..they are his too.  Indeed they are!  What a terrible thing to say!!  NOT my best side in the middle of the night.. 

See?  :) Aren't they sweet li'l things?!

This has always been my hanging plant of choice..Ivy, fern, that sort of thing..

...then sweet daughter #2 gave me this one and I just LOVE it!

It hangs to the chair seat and has to be moved to another location on the patio...

Mele Kalikimuka dozing in the sun.  Yep, that's her little name.

She was a Christmas present.  We just call her Mele. 

Luv'n hugs!

Mona 

P.S.  Is the new google faster for you?  Does the interface thing, or does ANYTHING make the photos download any faster.  It takes me forever and I wonder if I am doing something wrong?

~I'M A BAD PLANT MOM..~

I have had this plant, sometimes call a "Mother in  Law's" tongue, and since Patient Husband has been helping with the watering..he doesn't know which ones to water lightly, not at all or daily!  It's not his fault.  Plants have never been one of his strong points he says. 

Yeah..I know!  A real mess!

So when I discovered this mess I decided to try and save it.  I pulled it all out and let it dry out.

I repotted it in fresh soil and saved most of my old friend.  It's so old I don't even remember where it came from. 

I tucked this little piece that was left into the little tin bucket on the red bistro table..it will be happy there and have lots of company.  Plants LOVE company, just like people! :)

The little table top is much more crowded now as you can see in the photo above.   But the more the merrier, I say.

With seven children, you probably already know that about me!  :)

..Ahh well..now where was I?

Oh yes,  I need to be a better plant mom.  Would you look at that POOR fern under the table?!  It has been like that forever, but I just cannot throw it out.  However..it's on very thin ice right now.

This beautiful little hot house rose was a gift..and I thought it was dead.  I sat the pot on this little ladder out in the warm son...and I just noticed..it is singing it's praises to the Lord! :) 

No wait!  That's me! :)  I was so happy it lived! 

I think these little step ladders make great end tables on the patio.  See?  See how much it's grown in just a week or two?? 

This is my most favorite table top..my hutch.  I fiddle with it..but my Brambly Hedge tea set and books stay right here.  They belong together..and the china was a gift from my children..a piece or two at a time.  First came the dishes...then the tea pot and so on.  I found the set of books at a garage sale.  25 cents each!  The hutch is nearing 40 years old now.

Tha, tha, that's all folks!  My tabletops for Tuesday.

HI MARTY!  Thank you for hostessing this neat blog party!!  I love it!

Love,

Mona

I'm joining our Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for Table Top Tuesday!

~IT'S SPRING AND PATIO IDEA'S ...

... just keep coming.. I was up at 5:30 this morning outside puttering. 

Yesterday my sweet daughter gave me another of her arbors that she can't use anymore,

...my mind began to start to wonder what to do with it.  We don't exactly have a ton of space in our yard..so my daughter suggested I sit it right next to the patio..and I agreed!  So that's where it went...and then...but..on the grass???

..then my sweet son in law suggested that he lay more flagstone under the arbor..and then we can

just move the bench back under the arbor on the flagstone and...

(see? do you get the idea?)  just push it back and then..

plant several of these sweet Black Eyed Susans, or whatever they are, on both sides and let them climb over the arbor..covering it in no time flat.  Ok, so it won't be overnight. But

won't that be a sweet, shady, cozy, extra place to sit?? 

I thought so too! :)  This vine is just gorgeous covering an arbor.  The yellow and greens will look wonderful I think.

Now I can't wait to get started on that...(tap, tap, tap..)

I can see it all now..can't you?

Luv'n hugs,

Mona

~IT'S FINISHED..THANK HEAVENS..

Ok..so if you are not bored to death of the subject of my "patio set" ...here is the finished product.

While out doing the garage sales this morning..a call came from Matty, my wonderful and patient seamstress, that my cushions were all finished and ready to be picked up.  She said she had a surprise for me.

Can you see the little honey bee there on the leaf?  The pattern is slightly raised, embroidered, I guess, from the back.  Anyway..when I got there she told me she had been able to get ALL the covers out of my yardage and that the other material was not needed!  I was so happy! 

This large deserted nest was in my daughters courtyard. She was so upset that the mother bird never returned to her nest.  Sometimes birds do build their nests in odd places.  The nest sat all that year and they finally removed it to find that the little eggs were still in it after all that time.

It makes me a bit sad to look at it..but I cannot seem to throw it away and neither could she so she let me have it.  The nest is heavy and well built.  I've had it for a couple of years now..and I decided to put it out on the table for Spring. 

DO you know what my sweet son in law told me today when they were here?  (Of course you don't..)Well..he told me that I could go to Lowe's or Home Depot and I can change the tiles in my TABLE!

He said that are all different colors...I mean, for heavens sakes, I could put frosted tiles??  Or terra cotta?  No, not white..but..

  Who knows what joys are there to be discovered!!  And ..he said that most were just a dollar each!!  Can you just believe that? 

I mean ..I am ..happy with what I have.  I am!  I like that it sort of matches my new flagstone patio but I just want to go look.  Wouldn't you?

Anyway..so tomorrow I thought we would just drop in and take a quick peek.  Not to buy anything..but just to look.  You know...

So..do you like the finished product? 

:):):)

I'm so happy I could dance a ..a...Polka!  Or something.

Have a wonderful Sunday.  I'm gonna sit at my table and drink lemonade  with sweet and patient husband.

Luv'n hugs,

Mona



~A PRAYER..AND A TASK COMPLETED..~

I was asked on my last post, what was written in this picture that I hung on my garden gate.  I tried to enhance it a bit so you can see. 

It says:

In a

corner

of my

garden

I often go

in prayer

I feel

such

peace

and comfort,

I see

God

everywhere~

This is it.  The last piece and you can't imagine how relieved I am that it's nearly over!

The temp here today is 98 and climbing!  I got up early before heat and before the breeze came up and got it done!

No more painting for awhile.  Funny how just using a spray can kind of wears you out..but then..

I think it's the tension of making a mistake.  Choosing the wrong color..

How's that for being secure??  :)

The tiles are cleaned and polished and back in place!

...and here it is, all done.  Finally!

I couldn't be more relieved to have a project over.

The sun makes it look lighter..but the previous photo is the true color.

All done, all done,

... thank heavens I'm all done!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Love,

Mona

            

p.s.  I'll show you the cushions when they are finished...unless they look horrible..then you can just forget it!  LOL

~TAKIN' MY ACT ON THE ROAD.. ~

This was a real trick, but I was desperate not to put this on the grass OR the flagstone, so...I carefully balanced it.  Then didn't breath!

Should I take my act to Vegas? No?  :) 

You can see a little of my test color yellow ...  but not for long.

Now it's all done and back in place by the patio table which is beginning to look worse and worse.

No call from my sweet seamstress yet, thank heavens.  HOW I wish I'd had enough material for all of the cushions.  I am taking a chance..but, it's too late now! 

Gets uglier and uglier!

The chair in the photo is now done..and tomorrow the last remaining chair and the table!  Big job but there is not turning back now. 

At least no one else will have a patio set like mine..and I can't say as I blame them!  :)

 (please God, let those cushions turn out decent..)

There is an iron garden gate back there behind the old wine barrel fountain..can you see it?

I'm still shuffling things around and decided to hang this garden picture and poem on the fence..

Yeah...I like that!

Yes, I finally got rid of that cord..but AFTER the photo.. :)

Should I paint this?  Maybe white or just leave it all rusty...I like both..

The swing is white..so...you know... lol :)

I'm on a "spray paint" kick here.

Huggers and love...

Mona

~I CAN DO THAT..~

After our wonderful day in the nursury...and my splurging on the lovely basket for the front porch table..I went out this morning..gathered up the little plants I had bought at the nursury and tried my hand at making something a little more special..

No..it's not much but it made me feel good and it looks prettier with a little extra.

I stuffed all those little lavendar and yellow pansies in around this topiary on my patio table.  Added a little Baby's breath..(not really the name of the plant) and was delighted at the difference!!   Then I spray painted the bird cage..

Hi sweetie pie!  Mom's girl is staying away from the paint spray...and not too happy about not being able to come close.. LOVE that little girl doggie..As I type this she right under my desk chair as close as she can get!   *joy* 

I should add some blue to the wheelbarrow shouldn't I?  :)

LOOK!   My little pot of baby roses I got for Easter from daughter Maryalice are BLOOMING!

Lots of sun!! At least five hours they say.. 

It was in the 80's here in Southern CA. to day...I mean..what in the world is going on.  The fireplace was blazing two night ago..and tonight ALL the doors are open! 

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my front porch...

The only thing I love more is bj's shelf that her husband made for her!!   I DO NOT COVET that shelf..OR Di's front yard, or....

No, honest..I don't!  I am very happy with what I have..and grateful.  Yes, GRATEFUL! 

:)

So...there it is.  Another day in paradise..

Luv'n hugs!

Mona

P.S. Has anyone an idea what to do about that awful bathroom window that is covered in plastic to keep out the cold?  It has those louvered (sp?) windows from the 1950's..yes..our little home was built back then.  :)