black swallowtail

My first 'Black Swallowtail' in the back yard. I usually get Monarchs and Eastern Tiger Swallowtails the most. Interesting how each butterfly actually behaves differently while feeding.

tit mouse

I watched an entire family of titmice came to the feeder today. I am sure there were at least 2-3 babies. They were just playing away. After the feeder, they moved up to another tree and played around. I am so thankful for how the Lord blesses us with our bird population around here.

garden update

I am back! I know it's been awhile, but it has been raining, raining, and raining some more. Ugh. No time for projects that are fun, just organizing the house...maybe a much needed family vacation. Hoping for some mundane, house stuff for a few weeks. There is years worth to do. Seriously.

Here is my garden update. The weeds have taken over...again, but I am trying to keep it in check. I will revamp the garden next Spring, but for now, the zinnias are blooming and I am getting some zucchini, although I have to dress in a haz mat suit each time I step into said garden, due to the overwhelming amount of mosquitoes living there..I hope I don't get West Nile..
Long pants and jacket seem to help.

 This is a striped roma. It sits there all perty, teasing me, but it won't ripen up. 

Finally getting some broccoli. Trying to decide when to harvest this very small head.

Here is Janpanese Popcorn. We grew, harvested, and popped this for Damsel's bday party, many years ago. You can find that right here on this blog. I planted what was left, just for fun, and look! Some actually came up. 

None of my kids get very excited about gardening though...sad face...maybe someday it will kick in.

How is your garden? Please share.

Blessings to you and live life with Heaven in mind...

garden update

Yarrow is blooming beautifully....

Finally seeing some zucchini.....

A baby roma tomato....

The milkweed is in full bloom...with flies..yuck...

wordless wednesday

flower dye continued...again...

Day 4

Well, here is day 4.

It appears to have a general hue of blue throughout, although it is quite subtle.

The peony is on its last leg.

Next time we will add a new color after day 2.

What do you think??

flower dye continued

Day 3

Well, what do you think? 

My observation is twofold...

1. Peonies are not a great flower for this project in relation to the fact that this flower, quite frankly, does not live long outdoors let alone in a vase in the house...hence the droopiness.

2. I feel as though I am observing a slightly more intense blue at the tips, but not actually more diffusion throughout the petals.

What do you think?

See you on day 4.

flower coloring to dye for

DAY 1

DAY 2

We are experimenting with our beautiful peonies.  

The littles and I were at the Dentist's office last week and we noticed these lovely 'tie dye' tulips. 

They were amazing!

So, we decided to experiment at home, 

we picked our white peony,

added blue dye,

kazoom!!

Keep watching for updates!

wordfew wednesday

It's peony season!

Isn't this the most beautiful picture of God's creation? Look at the soft, layers and layers of petals.

my harvest

Isn't this pretty? I bought this as a seedling at the coop and is growing so nicely.

Loose Lettuce.
Cut and use. I have already eaten many a salad with these cuties.

Kale, getting bigger!

Hyacinths
No longer blooming today 

memorial garden bird feeder

The very next day after we built the patio, the Man wanted to go get a new bird feeder for our Braveheart Memorial Garden. We love it. Here is my first White Breasted Nuthatch at the feeder. It didn't take them long to feel at ease coming to the new feeder. We are so thankful for these birds that remind us of our boy and his love of them.

Enjoy a beautiful flower of God's creation, from beautiful Las Vegas.

wordfew wednesday

Ahhhh......here's a little encouragement....Spring is finally here. 

I am giddy with excitement, to see this marvelous little tiny flower poking through the grass.

Where have all my crocuses gone? Can they stop popping out of the ground?

Spring was Braveheart's favorite season. This I knew for sure. He has said it so many times. The Earth is teeming with life, always moving forward, even though my sweet boy is not here with us. Everything, as I look around, reminds me of him. His absence is still felt acutely. 

My husband and I often remind each other, like a blanket of comfort, that B is enjoying a perpetual Spring, in Heaven, happy as ever, serving his King.
It is fascinating how one can long to live, to care for those left to us here, love one another and yet, I can't wait to get to that Glorious forever home to be with a dear one, missing from our hearts.

Wordfew Wednesday

Playing with my new birthday present.

Do you like my new term for 'Wordless Wednesday'?  I love photography and I love posting pics and letting the picture speak for itself, but I can rarely refrain from commenting on said picture, so...I decided to call it 'Wordfew Wednesday'.

 Clever? or A Bust?

 I don't usually like using caps in my titles either, just for fun, however, I made an exception here, what do you think?

Do you know what this photo is? 

wordless wednesday!!

wordless wednesday

auntie zoo day

We had so much fun playing hooky and going to the zoo on the nicest day ever... both Aunts were present...what a joyful day!

This one just cracks me up.....

Damsel took most of the photos that she wasn't in and I think she did a fabulous job!

summer so far again...

I finally learned how to use my juicer which I didn't want to learn before but now feel VERY led to get on it so I can really help heal my body! If you get time try to read this book about juicing. You will learn some new surprising facts and it is a quick read. These veggies are from my garden or farmer's market.

Flowers from Aldi, only $4 and aren't they gorgeous??? I love to brighten the room. Not many to really pick from my own garden when I got these last week.

Found this a few weeks ago for our school room at Good Will, furniture was half off, retro, excellent condition and it SWIVELS!! If you know me, you know I have a strange weakness for chairs that swivel. I think I paid $3 something.

My pilot mom, being interviewed again for the Wanna Be a Pilot weekend! Wish I got photos of the cool jet plane and the Chinook helicopter!

Finally found a new place to pick our own blueberries. I only had two helpers available that day so couldn't get as many as we wanted. Our old place, just never can get in there now. This one you pick and just weigh and drop your check in the bucket...quite lovely. Braveheart adores these fresh picked ones over the frozen and they're local and cancer fighting!! A must have in this house. I froze them and they are almost gone already. I hope to get enough for the year next time.

wordless wednesday