Oddly enough, my blog title was going to be Thanks. This time of year is really my very favorite around my yard. My flowers love springtime in Georgia. So does my lawn. Even though it begs to be watered and wants trimming every week, which my husband lovingly obliges.
Today I wanted to say THANK YOU to special people who shared their flowers with me over the years. They now make my yard so pretty, which makes me so very, very happy and always bring back wonderful memories.
Thank you, MaMa Kimball, for this beautiful lamb's ear. I can see them growing all over your yard. Wherever the wind blew a seed, the next year a sweet lamb's ear would be growing. Thank you for showing me that a "lady" can get her hands dirty digging in the dirt. What would I give to sit on your porch or walk around your yard with you, you carrying your "grubbing hoe." I miss you. Thank you for sharing your lamb's ear with me. They're beautiful this spring.
Thank you MaMa Howell. These hen and chicks came from her plant, through my Aunt Theresa. They grow where nothing else will grow and require very little attention. And to me, that's kinda the way MaMa Howell was. She shared and gave, and asked very little in return. I'd sure love to sit on your front porch with you again, you in your rocker, rocking the special way that I remember. Thanks for my hen and chicks. As you can see, MaMa, they're doing so well. I've planted them in a strawberry pot and placed it in my rock garden. That's the hottest, dryest place in my yard. They thrive there.
Thanks, mom, for the pot of ivy. It has completely taken over the area around our swing. It's lovely and so cottagey. The ivy, too, likes to be left alone. Doesn't ask for much attention, but spreads and shares its beauty. To me, ivy is a little comforting. I think that's why it's so cottagey-feeling. And what's more comforting than your mom? Thank you, mama, for giving me the everlasting gift of comfort. In winter, spring, summer and fall, the ivy grows.
A few years ago, Jean gave me a few hostas. She hates waste and wanted to share the glory of these sweet plants. Thank you, Jean. They have multiplied and multiplied and multiplied. I have worked in them some this year and prettied up the spot they're in. If the deer and rabbits don't eat them, they'll be very pretty. I guess the deer and rabbits know you don't like waste. They figure a green, tender hosta would be a terrible thing to waste.
Thanks, sweet Auntie Theresa, for this little flower. Theresa gave me several different kinds of plants a couple of years ago. This one and the hen and chicks are the only ones to have survived. This plant is just like Theresa. Always there. Winter, summer, spring and fall. Always. There. Thank you, Theresa. I planted some begonias and some other things along with it to keep this little cutie company.
Thanks great-Aunt Louise, for my prized hydrangea bush. She shared with me a cutting and I brought it home and planted it. I didn't really know if it would grow and I certainly didn't know how big it would grow. It grew huge. I separated it and planted another cutting and it, too, is growing huge. And beautiful. I love my hydrangeas very much.
My sweet neighbor growing up, Ms. Roberts, who passed away a short while back, always had the yard of my dreams. Flowers, ivy, a small fish pond, lovely pavers for her little patio, an outdoor brick grill, pretty wrought iron benches inviting you to sit in the shade. It looked like a yard from an English cottage. Several years ago, she gave me a cutting of this oak leaf hydrangea. I planted it alongside our swing. It grows with the ivy and looks so nice. Thank you, Ms. Roberts. It's got lots of blooms on it and they stand so majestic and strong. They make nice arrangements to take inside.
Coincidence that these plants have a likeness to the sweet women who gave them to me? Coincidence that this blog came to my mind just days before Mother's Day? I think not. What do you think?
Coincidence that these plants have a likeness to the sweet women who gave them to me? Coincidence that this blog came to my mind just days before Mother's Day? I think not. What do you think?Till next time...
But we can't be kids forever. Here is my mom with two of her three brothers. They look pretty good, don't ya think?
The following weekend was Easter weekend. Another exhausting, but wonderful time. Easter Sunday morning I went to my first-ever sunrise service at the square in McDonough. It was another gorgeous day and when the sun was rising in the sky, it just gave me chills.
In case you didn't get the subtle clue, this is me! I'm in a bridesmaid dress I borrowed from my Aunt Theresa. And back in 1983, you didn't wear a wristlet, but instead you carried a big bouquet! Anyway, I remember the night well. I was very excited. I remember where we ate, what we did after the prom, but I remember nothing about the prom itself. Must've been pretty boring. Last night was my nephew Joseph prom. It was held at the Georgia Aquarium. I bet that was a lovely place to have it. I wish I could've seen it. My dad brought over his prize possession; his fully restored '55 Chevy. He brought it over for Ross, Joseph, and today will be Cam's turn. I took 106 pictures before they left. There was not one bad picture of Kelsey. I do believe she's one of the most photogenic girls I've ever seen. These are a few of the pictures I wanted to share with y'all. Kelsey, Joseph, and my dad. 
My dad with four of his six grandsons. So dang proud. I'd have given anything for Ethan and Eli to have been there. 
Joseph and his sweet mama, my sweet sister, Crystal. 
We all drove over to 
Yesterday I spent literally ALL day going through hundreds of pictures. Cam graduates in six weeks and I'm picking out pictures to use for his party. I wanted the first day of school for all twelve years. I finally finished last night after 7. And I started at like 10 in the morning. And worst of all, I still can't find his ninth grade picture. The search will have to continue. But not today. My heart can't take looking at any more old pictures. Looking at the old days makes me so sad. Anyway, a word of advice to all you moms out there. When you have a picture of a special day or a picture that you just really love and think you may want to use again someday in the faraway future, put it in a special folder on your computer and back it up, of course, on something external. Or print it and put it in a special box or something. Oh, how I wish I had done that. 
So we stopped. Got a dozen hot donuts. I think I ate five. Maybe six. I don't think I want anymore for a while. I woke up Saturday morning and still felt crammed full of donuts. Luckily, I was hungry by that evening because we went to Outback for dinner. Oh, those cheddar fries are to die for, aren't they? I got my fall and winter clothes put away and brought out my spring and summer. That was a job that took a couple of hours and one that I have been dreading. Glad to have that done and over with. Now I need to go shopping. I'm asking myself what in the world I wore last summer. 
Jeff doesn't enjoy fishing. If he walks down to the lake with me, he usually looks for a shady spot to lay back and enjoy the peacefulness of the lake. 
Yesterday, while still on our staycation, I walked down to the lake. Look at this nice bass I caught. But don't look at me. I have on no makeup and look dang old. I was on staycation after all. 
