The Christmas Letter

This is not the traditional Christmas letter but a little update on the family.

Peter has a job.  He is a Courtesy Clerk at a Kroger grocery store.  In  a nut shell he bags, gathers carts, mops and cleans bathrooms.  I think the title is funny considering "courteous" is not how I describe Peter.  None the less he has had the job 2 weeks and as far as I can tell is fulfilling his roll.  I actually saw him interact with folks at the bank yesterday and was assured that the 2 years of Military School had not been in vain.  When required he does pull out those manners, shaking hands and saying mam and sir.  It is actually quite impressive.  I trust he is using those good manners at work and that he will continue to receive hours after the holidays.  It isn't the most convenient location but I am happy he has a job so willing to make necessary trips.  And we have the help of Mama Millie as well. He is pretty excited about the first paycheck.  He had the bank clerk give him a $100 bill so he could take a picture of it.  Then he traded it in for $20 bills because he owed me money.

Mom and Dad are doing well.  Dad actually is probably the best he has been in over a year.  He has aches and pains but his mind is pretty sharp. He walks the neighborhood several times a day weather permitting and works on his word find books.  I realized how well he was doing when the other night he was meddling in my business. He had not done that in awhile.  Mom continues to busily go here and there.  She spends a lot of time driving Dad and Peter, doing her volunteer work and being awesome.  Mom and Dad have taken a variety of trips this fall.  Presently they are talking about where to go next.

We anticipated that this Christmas might be tough as it was the first one without Larry. Mom and I have participated in several activities specifically to commemorate Larry.  We attended the Love Lights Ceremony at the local hospital.  This event supports Hospice and was a sweet remembrance service.  She and I also attended the Living Christmas Tree at her church.  Larry loved that event.  Attending it last year was actually his last fun outing from the nursing home. (The Nursing Home was quarantined last Christmas and he was not able to be with us Christmas day.)  The year before, I think Larry went to three performances of The Living Christmas Tree.  So although I have not been a regular attender of the event, Mom and I made an appoint to attend it this year "for Larry." Today Mom and I went to the nursing home to visit some of the nurses and residents.  It was the first time I had been back since Larry's death.  Though I wasn't sure I could do it when we first got there, it was a sweet visit.  Though I have not been particularly emotional about Larry throughout the holiday season, today was harder than I anticipated.  I just found myself a little on edge emotionally and kind of unmotivated.  I think that for me  grief's greatest effect has been in my feeling unmotivated to do things I might otherwise do.  I trust it will pass with time. 

 

So that's the Plants Status Report for the Holiday Season.

 

Merry Christmas to You and Your Family.

Empty Used Gift Cards

So I have been talking with a friend for over a year now about some recycled gift card projects. Yes I am talking about giving new life to those gift cards you use at the store and restaurants and then  throw in the trash when they are used up.  Well I really think this is the year that I am going to do something about that project.  I have recently taken a few steps towards this effort. I bought a few tools and have been playing around with my new craft.  So I am now collecting used empty gift cards - especially ones with pretty or fun design/pictures - Starbucks, Hobby Lobby and Michael's are my particular favorites.  So if you are a nearby friend or someone who likes to collect things to mail, I am happy to help you recycle.  And if this project is another one of those that ends up in my "having a box of old used gift cards stuffed under the bed", I will also let you know.  Right now I am in the hopeful stage and dreaming of needing lots of them.  And well this is the season to give and receive them.  I have started asking stores (that sell pretty gift cards) if they have any in their trashcans I could have.  (yeah I get strange looks and have to do some explaining.) However that is how hopeful I am about this new little hobby. 

It's begining to look like Christmas





Getting ready for Christmas - a Pictorial account.

 

The day after Christmas I put up my outside Christmas decorations.  Here is a sampling

My fake greenery wreaths and garland are all cast offs from the side of the road or a yard sale.

Last year I adopted the gold and green theme.

 

I repurposed this clearance sale nativity set brining it outside this year.
 I like the shadow box effect that the wine crate end table makes.

 

My book Christmas tree.  I got this idea from Pinterest and the books from a $5 a bag book sale.



Here they are all lit up at night.

 

The lights on the baby crib chandelier are year round. 
I added the lights over the door for a little Christmas zing.

This discarded baby crib railing has made for an awesome chandelier.
 I change out the hanging thingys according to the season.

Then the next day Dad went with me to a local farm to buy my tree.


So this is really Dad and I going for a walk after the Thanksgiving meal but you get the idea.

 

I put the tree in the stand that night and about 4 days later I finally got the lights and ornaments on.

 

I put up a tree so I can look at my ornaments.  I love my ornaments.

My ornaments remind me of people and memories. 
I look forward to the yearly walk down memory lane.



And since Pickles the Elf had no classroom to play in this year he has been wandering around my house.  This is his rendition of "Safari"

Note the Black baby Jesus in the plant basket.  I bought that for Peter. 
We have black angels on the tree (thanks to Aunt Edith) so figured we should have a black baby Jesus too.

 

Mascarpone

The Belgioioso Mascarpone cheese is "buy one get one free" at my local Publix grocery store. Since you really only have to buy one it is essentially half price. I bought one because it is yummy on bread, scones or simply in a spoon with honey and walnuts on top.

The internal plastic seal says:
"All natural product.  Made with the finest ingredients. Contains no preservatives.  For best flavor, once seal is broken, consume promptly. "

So I don't think it really meant within 24 hours but who am I to take chances. OK I didn't really finish off the first one in 24 hours - I gavea third of it to a friend with the scones I baked.  Then I went and bought another tub of Mascarpone! And I am working to make sure it is consumed while it has its best flavor!

So now you will know why if I look a little puffy in Christmas pictures.

Two Turtle Doves

Participating in the Lanier Under the Lights 5K has been a tradition for the past 6 years. Tonight I participated in the event with Melissa, Billy and Alex Bachman. When this year they announced that there would be a costume contest, Melissa and I began to think out of the box.  The result was we took 7th place (out of 10).  Melissa and I ran most the way and our time wasn't bad for gals who had not been running lately.  Billy and Alex had good runs with Billy taking 3rd in his age division winning the coveted Santa Bobble Head.  Another fun night running under the light.

 

Billy, Alex and Melissa

On the 2nd Day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
Two Turtle Doves

Fleece Dove Wings, Turtle Hats and some red duct tape letters.



Santa and the Doves

          A post race Selfie

Billy and his Santa Babble Head

 

What are you thankful for?

At the end of a book I was reading to the preschoolers, the question was asked "What are you thankful for?  So I asked the children that very question.  There answers made me giggle and I thought you might enjoy.  So with a slight change of the names, here is what my class of three year olds are thankful for.

• Mommy and Daddy - Anna
• My brother and sister - Wes
• Baseball! - Freddie
• Soccer - Lena
• Mommy and Daddy - Tori
• Mommy's going to the beach and taking me - David
• Baseball - EJ
• Treats - Preston
• My baby sister got teeth - Van
• My favorite book - Izzy
• Santa's bringing me a camera and a unicorn! - Mary

Just a bunch o rambling

Many folks who have "seen many birthdays" are known to flee to Florida or Arizona come colder weather.  My parents flew off to Colorado for the first week of November, go figure.  My parents went to join my Aunt and Uncle in their time share at Estes Park CO.  In spite of my initial misgivings it seemed to be a great trip for the folks.  The weather was better there than here, they were entertained by drives around the mountains looking for Elk and a sweatshirt for Peter and it appears a good time was had by all.  They were in good spirits upon arrival yesterday and looking for another adventure.  Know anyone with an extra room in Florida?

 

Tuesday night Restorative Yoga is great.  After some coaching from my "therapist," I learned how to move my mind from spin class speed to yoga speed.  Mentally I have started taking a VW bus on a trip to some peaceful place.  I visualize all the aspects and hear the sounds while I follow the slow movements of our Yoga poses.  Thus far I have taken a red VW bus to the SC beach and the NC mountains.  And last week I took a pale yellow one to the beaches of Tanzania.  It is amazing how this has helped me relax. As the class ends I am usually in the place of praying about a specific thing or making a plan for the evening.  I am looking forward to seeing where the bus and I go this week!

 

Once again God intervened in the perils of my Friday Night with a teenager.  The trend is Peter goes to the football game and tells me he is headed for a party afterwards.  A couple of times his team has lost thus meaning no party and after going to Taco Bell with a friend, he comes home.  This week his team made a triumphant win against a main rival.  But in God's grace to me, he sent a down pour that kept Peter from attending the victory party and had him home well before curfew.

 

Peter needs a job.  I tell him that regularly.  Every time he ask for something I respond with "get a job."  I know it is not an easy task to find a job, especially when you come home and sleep after school every day and spend the weekend at the grandparents watching football games.  He has filled out a couple of on line applications but has not shown very much gumption in convincing someone to hire him.

 

I am a bit of a Netflix junkie.  However so that I could get some sleep a couple of months ago I switched from Netflix streaming to Netflix disc. Thus I have a new movie or three or four TV episodes about every four to five days. (For further understanding we have no TV hook up of any kind at our house.) I have watched a variety of shows and movies via Netflix.  I like to find a good series to follow.    For awhile I was watching the new Hawaii Five 0 via streaming.  When I was at an outdoor craft festival this fall and I kept wanting to duck every time I heard the helicopters overhead, I decided maybe I was watching just a little too much. That is about the time I switched from streaming to disk and decided to try a new show. I have become a fan of  stuff produced by BBC and other foreign shores. Currently I am watching a series out of Australia called Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries.  If you enjoy period pieces and mysteries, this one is fun.  I watch three or four episodes at a time (usually over a couple of days) as they come on the disc.  This is much better then  three or four a night via streaming.  If you like mystery series I also highly recommend BBC's Death in Paradise. That one was lots of fun.  And if you want some great characters that make you laugh out loud and some crazy action adventure, I also highly recommend Chuck.

 

As for book reading I have really mixed feelings about Nicholas Spark's novels (and movies based on them.)  Basically someone usually always dies at the end.  And if I keep that in mind I am okay.  Problem is I forget and then I am sucker punched in the end when a main character dies.  I have listened to several of his books on audio - ones that have not been made famous by movie makers.  I was so angst by one just knowing the wife was going to die that when she didn't I was almost just as upset.  With that said, Ol Nick redeemed himself as I recently listened to The Wedding on audio.  Now first of all it was read by Tom Wopat (you know Luke Duke of Dukes of Hazard) and listening to him is NOT hard.  Second, no one died and the story was delightful.  It actually is a sequel of sorts to The Notebook.  So if you want to think a little more positively of Mr. Sparks or simply want a sweet story, I do recommend The Wedding. And you can double the fun by getting it on audio.  My new delight is a narrative style cookbook called An Everlasting Meal by Tamar Adler.  A delightful read plus cooking advice all in one.  This one just might change the way I think about cooking.

 

While I am giving unsolicited reviews on favorites let me give a quick plug for The Rend Collective.  A friend recently steered me in their direction.  I think it was the VW bus in the picture on their home page that led her to do so.  However after looking at their bio video and hearing the song Lighthouse, I have become a fan.  It is great worship music out of Ireland.  And the videos are fun.  If you are looking for some new worship music I highly recommend checking out The Rend Collective .

 

It's raining here again.  The good news is I think with all this rain, I may just get the moss garden to grow. Just need to mix up some moss/buttermilk smoothies to pour out in that spot.

 

So as I bring the rambling to a close let me share one of my recent favorite preschooler quotes.  This blond hair, blue eyed little three year old girl approaches me with great light in her eyes and says with extreme enthusiasm, "For my birthday I am going to get a camera and a Unicorn!" 

 

May your days be filled with the excitement and anticipation of a new camera and a Unicorn.

Trunk or Treat 2015

As so aptly said in the movie "27 Dresses," the best thing about this (bridesmaids) dress is you can shorten it (or not) and wear it again." Though often said it is rarely true.  However when Melissa chose this bridesmaids dress 25 years ago little did she know I would be still wearing it.  It was used for my Little Bo Peep costume 3 years ago.  This year it inspired this Little Miss Muffet costume and display for my church's Trunk or Treat yesterday.  Thanks to Melissa's dress, some Pinterest inspiration and dad's truck, it all came together for a fun display.

 

 



A bit of an arachnophobic nightmare.  In addition to the giant spider and the one on my shoulder,
there was 200 tootsie pop spiders and a dozen or more plastic ones.

 

Giant spider was made from a yoga ball, large garbage bag, black duct tape,
 pipe insulators and massive google eyes.
 



The kids got to pick their spider (tootsie pop or plastic)
or something from my curds and whey bowl.

 

I made 200 of these over the course of several evenings while watching movies.

 

I am not sure if I was aware at the time of the wedding that this fabric was Waverly.
 If so it was lost on me.  Evidently that is significant in my southern town by comments made yesterday.

 

With the tootsie pop spiders all gone, Spidey is all packed up and ready to go home.

 

Before Curfew

This is a follow up to the post "Tonight" posted 10/9/15

 

Well, so it did not rain Friday night.  It has been raining since but that is besides the point.  However Peter's football team lost meaning there was no party.  Although it wasn't immediately following the game he was home well before curfew.  He says he went to Taco Bell with a friend following the game.  Considering how much he stays in his room, I was actually glad he was out with people.  Thus one more Friday night of raising a teenager has been survived.

A week ago . . .



A week ago tonight I was on my way to my college Alma Mater with three of my college friends. As I was told would likely happen, these college friends have become lifelong friends.  I trust them with my life and well my death.  I consider them close enough friends that each have been named in my will to assist in the event of my death.  That being said I was a little nervous about heading out on a road trip with all of us in one car.  Leanne promised to drive safe and she did a great job getting us to Mars Hill and back in spite of the weekend of rain.  This year marked 25 years since we graduated thus prompting our  homecoming weekend road trip.  We were a bit surprised and disappointed that only one other classmate from our graduation year was in attendance.  Yet the low attendance nor the rain kept us from having a great time.  Melissa thought to bring the yearbooks.  (Not surprising considering she had been the yearbook editor one year.)  We had a lot of fun remembering folks we had forgotten and laughing at our hair and fashion.  During the weekend we found some great places to eat and had plenty of snacks. My mom even sent cookies for nostalgia purposes.  Mom was known for sending cookies.  We laughed and laughed.  To quote Melissa "It was fun to relive being 18 for the weekend." 

 

Here is a little pictorial review of the weekend.

Leanne, Melissa, Me, Tonya
In 1986 we were from 4 different cities in 3 different states.
Now we live within an hour drive of one another.
 

Leanne was our awesome driver. 
Packing her car was reminiscent of packing our cars to go off to college. 
We had snacks for a month and approximately 16 pairs of shoes
 

Melissa found us a great house to rent in our beloved mountains. 
It had a great price and was perfect for hanging out. 

 

The rain didn't stop us from wandering around to see remember the old and checking out the new.
The far building is now a library but we knew it as the dining hall.

The road on the far left leads to what we referred to as Women's Hill.
What a shock to learn that Women and Men are no longer separated into their respected sides.
They even have co-ed dorms.  Oh my!!!!

The Student Union with the famous view in the back.
Amidst so many changes it was comforting to see little had changed in the Student Union.
We even recognized some of the couches!

Homecoming Game
Again the fabulous view with the mountain mist.
We wont talk about who won the game.

In our day this Western Sizzler (now turned church) was one of the only places to eat. 
Now they have so many choices.  They even have a Waffle House!

Frequented more than Western Sizzler by us poor college students was the Texaco with it's snack bar.

Greatly saddened by the loss of this memorable landmark.

We knew Weaverville as a little stop between Mars Hill and Ashville.
It had a Roses and a Hardees.
What a shock to see the metropolis it has become with it's
Wal-Mart, Lowes, Aldi's and numerous eating establishments.
Had awesome meals at Stoney Knob Café and Well Bread Café.
Great Friends and Great Food - who could ask for more!

 

 

Tonight

Tonight I am the mom of a seventeen year old. 

 

Peter had his birthday yesterday.  He and I have had a rough week.  I would tell you it is him and he would tell you it was me.  I know it is him and well the more I ponder I realize a lot of it is me.  His birthday celebration at my folks immediately followed a big argument in the car.  And at one point in the evening I had to leave the house to make three laps around the block to cool off.  I have been hurt by things he has done and said.   I am also not proud of things I have said. I know a lot of it is rooted in my expectations and pride.  And I know I am in desperate need of grace.  As I receive it, I pray I can extend it.   Gratefully today has been better.  While on a little shopping trip (to spend the gift card he received from grandma) we actually had pleasant (as pleasant as it gets with a 17 year old boy) conversation.

 

Peter is at a football game and I am at home living through the anxiety of having my 17 year old "out on his own."  He does not drive yet he has plans to attend a party after the game with friends.  This is contingent upon their school winning the game and if it doesn't rain.  We have discussed curfew, not riding with someone if they have been drinking, etc.  Peter voluntarily showed me where the party is to be located. It is at the home of a boy who attended the military school for awhile as well and I know of the parents.  I believe I need to allow some freedom but it is a bit nerve racking none the less.

 

I am trying to be calm and cool and simply pray.  Needless to say I am praying for rain!

September 29th

Tuesday September 29th, 2015 marks what would have been my brother Larry's 51st birthday as well as the first birthday since his death.  Long time friends of the family have come to spend the week with my parents. With Larry's birthday Tuesday and my mom's on Thursday (October 1st) I am pretty sure the timing of the visit was not coincidental.

 

We will celebrate with a meal at Red Lobster on Wednesday.  In the past we have often combined mom and Larry's birthday dinner into one on the day in the middle.  (It also works well for me because I didn't really want to miss yoga on Tuesday.)  Red Lobster was a favorite and often chosen place of Larry's.  And  Dad and Peter are always looking for a reason to participate in Endless Shrimp.

 

They say the first holidays without a loved one are usually really hard.  I can at least say at this point that it is weird.  I keep thinking about "what to get Larry for his birthday."  And I found myself automatically going for the birthday card for mom from both of us as had been my habit the last few years.  Yet at this point I don't feel overly emotional or dreadful about the 29th.

 

I did decided that I want to commemorate or celebrate his life in someway.  So I am going to share in an adjoining post the Eulogy that I wrote and read at Larry's graveside service.  It seemed like a nice way to remember and share the memory with friends.

Remembering Larry

Following is the Eulogy I wrote and read at Larry's graveside service this past May.

Larry Plants  was an eclectic soul.  He was timeless.  At  50 years old Larry could relate to the fancy's of a child, a young adult and even an old man.  This was seen in his activities and interest.  He took great interest in the preschool children his sister taught and the antics of his teenage nephew.  He teased the adults he encountered and was comfortable with "old folks."  Larry's DVD collection reflected this eclectic interest as it included Disney movies, the One Tree Hill collection, many John Wayne movies as well as old Red Skeleton shows.  His music collection included Neil Diamond, Selena Gomez, Reba Macintyre, and the random Harp & Flute CD.  Larry collected many things including baseball cards, rocks, marbles, playing cards, and match box cars.  He was interested in civil war history, drawing, hockey, and any sport that had girls playing. Larry's interest were big and wide much like his heart.

Larry had a very tender heart.  He was compassionate, giving considerate, and sentimental.  Larry cared about people and what they were interested in or might need.  Larry was generous, giving to others.  He was thrifty hating to break a ten dollar bill when purchasing his own snacks but quick to share for the sake of another.  Larry made decisions based on what he thought another person might want.  Larry's family was very important to him.  His phrase "let's do it as a family" was frequent in his conversations.  Larry was very sentimental about his friends and family loving to share stories of the past and making new memories with them.

Larry's answers often road the fence.  His answer to how was your day was typically "good and bad."  He answered many questions with "yes and no."  And he more often followed up what he was thinking with "in my opinion." Though he was non committal in many such answers, Larry had a strong sense of right and wrong.  Larry was a person of integrity.

Recently a grade school friend shared that he remembered Larry having a strong character even at a young age.  Eddy wrote
"Larry is one of those guys with great heart and character of a man. It was easy to see even as a child. What stands out to me most was Larry’s strong sense of integrity and loyalty to his family, that made a big impression on me. He was the first person I knew who took personal integrity seriously ..who relied far more on the internal compass rather than what people thought. He had a great heart and I remember his great character."

Larry faced many challenges during his 50 years.  Over the years the count of surgeries, stitches and broken bones that he endure has been lost but they were numerous.  He spent more days at the doctor's office and hospital in his lifetime than he probably did at school.  Larry did not get to participate in most of the milestones of his peers. There were times he expressed his sorrow over this.  Yet for the most part Larry patiently took life in stride.  He rolled with the punches and found delights in the simple things.

Larry was not a "contributor" to the world in the way we often think of productive people.  There was much he could not do.  There was much that he needed people to do for him.  Yet Larry gave so much in simply being.  He was a great listener, listening with big smiles to our stories.  He loved to laugh, often making jokes and teasing.  He found delight in simple pleasures. Larry showed great endurance and patience in a fast paced and frantic world. People were important to him.  He cared deeply for his friends and family.  And for this reason we miss Larry and are sad at his passing.

However Larry spent most of his life in a body that was confining. His mobility and speech were slow.  His thought processes often delayed.  He was limited because of his physical body.  Yet from a young age Larry believed and trusted in Jesus with his heart and soul.  And it is because of this truth that we believe Larry is at last free from the limits of his earthly body.  Larry is dancing and singing in the presence of Jesus without confinement or delay. And for this we rejoice. For this we are happy to know that at last he is free. 

Napping Yoga

So when I worked at the Family Life Center (a church gym) on Tuesdays, I watched the women come out of the Restorative Yoga class and I would think, "wow they look relaxed and happy.'   I talked to the instructors, 2 physical therapist and I would think, "wow they sure are nice." And then I would think, "wow I sure wish I could take that class."  But the class was on the night I worked at the gym.  Then when I didn't work at the gym anymore, I got off from my afternoon job too late to attend the class.  This spring someone talked about the class saying how life changing it was - the weekly stretch and time of mental unwinding.  And once again, I was like "I wish I could take that class."  So what joy to discover that they now offered the class at a later time.  But on inquiry I learned the class was full.  Aww Man! Then to my delight, I receive a call a couple of weeks ago saying that there was an opening.  Yay! So last Tuesday I began attending a weekly Restorative Yoga class.  

 

Restorative Yoga  is not your typical yoga class.  I thought it was funny when the instructor said it was nicknamed Napping Yoga.  I didn't get it until I began attending.  So far I have found most of the class takes place while either lying on our backs or in some stretched out forward pose. And sometime the length of a held pose really dose afford one to take a cat nap. I did find my first class to be somewhat challenging.  I was reminded of how uncoordinated I am.  I know that I breath all the time while doing other things but somehow I often find it almost beyond my capacity to coordinate intentional deep breathing with forming the yoga poses as simple as they may be.  I started to have flash backs of 9th grade jump roping or college clogging class where I just couldn't make it all happen at the same time.  Then I would think about that AFLAC commercial where the duck is in the yoga class.  Or I would imagine my friend Helen's comments if she was in class with me and I would start to giggle.  Here we are with this light airy music in the background, lights dim, everyone in their zone and I am struggling not to laugh out loud. 

 

I am a more seasoned member now having two classes under my belt.  My breathing is a little more "yogafied." and I am less giggly.  It really is a great hour of stretching and "being."  I still have to really work on relaxing my mind and thoughts.  They still like to go Spin Class pace.  Yet I am determined to use this hour not only to improve physical health through stretching but also emotional and mental health by relaxing, releasing and being.  And well if I still giggle a little during class, they say laughter is good for one's body, soul and mind.

 

My many gardens

With Labor Day comes the official end of summer.  So I am starting to think about transitioning my outdoor décor into fall.  Before I began to dismantle some of it I decided to take some pictures.  Then I remembered that I said I would show you "my many gardens."  So here is a tour of my yard with its gardens and points of interest.  

Welcome to The Back Porch.

  Back between the house and the shed, follow the red brick path . .

 . . . . and the sign to . . . .

 

. . . . .Play Garden.  It is still a work in progress.  I am still working on getting a chalk board for the easel.  And no, the moss didn't grow.


 

The concept is a "build your own fairy garden."  There are all kinds of building materials and fairies and gnome for friends who wants to come and play.

.

The Fairy Retirement Gnome Some of the fairies had broken pieces.  I was able to get them for a "fairly" good price and well even broken fairies need a place to call gnome.

On the other side of the Play Garden is the Fire Pit with Seating that boarders . . .

 

The Gathering Lawn

The Archway to the Front Lawn

The Front Lawn. It is mostly weeds but even weeds look good when mowed.

The mailbox was painted with chalk paint. Since it lost its little red flag, sometimes I just draw it on when I have mail.  Or I leave messages for folks walking by. I forgot to take pictures of the shrubs that I worked so hard to tame. They are just above the mailbox (to the right), the length of the driveway.

The Entrance to the Porch

I got this $40 Gnome for $4 because his shovel was broken.  I just cover up the broken part with a rock.

The Retirement Herb Garden (plus a jalapeno and okra plant.)

 

I once heard that colonialist planted thyme by the back door because they believed that fairies lived on the thyme.  I figure everyone needs fairies that are "on thyme."  This fairy is not.  She is currently out of thyme.  It died.

 

 

This  broken $12 rain gage is now just a $1.20 happy frog embracing an invisible dream.

 

My Aunt Edith made these ceramic frogs, Edie and Reed when I was a kid.  They moved around with my mom and underwent several repainting's.  I inherited them last year and gave them a paint touch up and then put them out to enjoy the sun.

 

The Reading Nook

 

Mosquito net makes it a safe place for evening phone calls or reading.

 

The Eating Porch

This is the picnic table my dad built several years back and I claimed it during last year's move.  The chandelier base is the side of a baby crib that some neighbors left for the trash men.



And this is the Front Door.  Your welcome to come for a visit.