in like a lion

March is shaping up quite nicely. never fear February ... I promise to fill you with fun and exciting adventures. but unexpectedly and quite joyfully, the month (which already lets us all be Irish) is already booked with a trio of diverse activities. and it's only January.

March 3
a bus trip to Waco. now you may say why Waco. and, believe you me, I asked the very same question of this town which was our introduction to Texas. allow me to digress. before the family moved the hubs came down to the great state. he drove. and as he passed through Waco he called me. 'there is a huge fire. I can see it on the horizon.' you may know where this is leading - the Branch Davidians complex was under siege. 'dearest,' I said, trying to stay calm. 'Please drive faster.' so that is always what comes to mind when I hear Waco. but in reality, it is a lovely city. home to Baylor University. history. parks and recreation. the bus trip will offer historic home tours. a tour of the Armstrong Browning Library. Cameron Park & Gardens. a dp float at the Dr. Pepper Museum. and refreshments along the way on a bus full of friends. delightful.

March 17
the 17th annual Herbal Forum at Festival Hill at Round Top. you have read of my gardening gals adventures a time or two on this site. let the fun begin again. the topic of this gathering is roses (yes, they are herbs too!). we are renting a little house nearby. just the girls. eating. shopping. and learning. together.

March 26 & 27
camp Georgetown. a two day session that brings experts in local historic preservation from around the country for intensive and high-energy (I quote the brochure) training. boring you say. not at all I respond. this is my cup of tea.

between now and then there is plenty to do. places to go. people to see. but it is oh so exciting to fill in the boxes on my calendar.

'and in today already walks tomorrow.'

ps

following my gardening day is my house cleaning day. the weather is chilly and rain is on it's way (correction. now pouring.). and as I take a break. check my emails. messages. new posts. this one made my heart leap.

please put it on your list.

'you are loved. So be the loved.'

(quote courtesy Chatting at the Sky)

during

it is a beautiful day in the great state. and I am one tired gal. but an oh so happy tired.

been working in the garden today. on that front bed that I wrote about here. over the past two Saturdays we've had a small crew here doing the really hard (ie not so fun) work. but now it is my turn to dig in. so I went to work removing a portion of a brick border that outlines the beds. hard work. yes (my hands ache. I can hardly raise my arms. goodness, I am so out of gardening shape). rewarding. absolutely. happy. positively.

next we'll be putting in the base for the brick walk. and amending the soil. then once the chance of frost has passed, the joyful planting. can't hardly wait for March.

'I have never had so many good ideas day after day as when I worked in the garden.'

good morning

the weather has been unpredictable here in the great state. but there is beauty in that. and one little poppy at my curbside gate thinks it's time to shine. bloom. glow.

how glorious.

'the flowers of late winter and early spring occupy places in our hearts well out of proportion to their size.'

please & thank you

the rule in my house is that appliances are acceptable as gifts (birthday, Christmas, Valentine's Day, et al) only when requested. and during the 2011 holiday exchange I received two much wanted and asked for items.

a dust buster. in all honesty, I didn't even know if they still made dustbusters. but to my delight the hubs placed one perfectly wrapped under the tree. I was thrilled. and I use it every day. with much gratitude.

a blender. I have had several blenders in my lifetime. but never one that would actually do a satisfactory job. during my stay while darling daughter was on bedrest we made smoothies. so I asked her for a blender like that. and voila! delivered.

now I have plenty of dust to bust. bunnies. crumbs. and the like. but I have yet to break out the blender. until tomorrow. when I will try this delicious concoction found on whoorlie. green is not my favorite color for a drink. but the ingredients and her raving reviews make it ever so tempting.

looking forward to the taste test. will keep you posted.

'life is trying things to see if they work.'

seconds

(image courtesy Joss & Main)

feeling a little fiesty (thus two posts - and maybe more - in one day). but ever so polite.

'what you allow, you encourage.'

worth mentioning

isn't it beautiful how we can make each other happy. this crazy world of unknown people sharing personal life altering moments. simple. wholesome. poignant.

that is what I found this morning as I read Cause & Effect at Confessions of a Pioneer Woman. Ree Drummond's (honest. witty. entertaining. exuberant. funny. heartfelt. Kleenex at the ready for tears of joy and sorrow) account of her life. adventures of a mom. wife. cook. woman.

it just made me smile. and say thanks. and take a deep breath and exhale. and say life is good. really. so very good.

'if you smile when no one else is around, you really mean it.'

the beat goes on

looking for a little inspiration today. from friends. from family. but mostly from inside myself. my to-do list has shrunk a bit, those easily attainable, achieveable things crossed off. but I should add motivation to my agenda. it is sorely lacking.

I am hurting a bit. some a self pity party. some for a friend. some for a family member. I have been talking to Him quite a bit these days. sorting through. weeding out. seeking. searching. asking. thanking. I get still. and think. and know. and wait. for good things to come. but I know that I cannot simply ask and receive. patience and focus and grace is the answer for me. but alas I am impatient. and unfocused. and all for saving grace. so I continue. one day to another. and wish. and hope. and pray. for guidance. for wisdom. for clarity.

I have a meeting tonight that I hope will give me some of those things. directly. indirectly. a meeting of creative minds. artists. doers. believers. the power of positive thinkers. I want that song stuck in my head.

'God respects me when I work; but God loves me when I sing.'

before

while I wait for my chalkboard paint to dry, another project is taking place at magnolia's end. my garden is undergoing a transformation. I hired a yard guy do the back-breaking work. tear out all the old tired plantings. unearth roots from long ago shrubs and never ending tendrils of spotty ground cover. expand the beds. repurpose old concrete walks.

and then. then. then. I can plant. play. play. play.

I am giddy with excitment!

yes. downright giddy.

my front garden is plain and uninviting. oh so boring and bland. no compliment whatsoever to the house. and they are long overdue to sing in harmony. beds brimming with (climate appropriate) cottage style. brick and stone paths. a little place to sit and chat and wine.

the planning. the purchase. the planting. every step delightful.














'anticipation is making me wait.'

in progress

it's project day around my house. and checking off my to-do list is my chalkboard wall. just finished the first coat and I am totally in love with the way it looks. but as with all good things (that come to those who wait) I must endure three days before I can write my first word.

but patience is a virture. and going from this ...












to this ...


















is very exciting.

'poured a cup of hot sepia coffee in a wisteria flowered mug, dandelion sunshine spilling through the periwinkle sky.'

I believe

(image courtesy kelly rae roberts)

it's been a bit of a trying day. not stressful. but cause for self-control. self-respect. faith.

so I will.

'there's a crack in everything. that's how the light gets in.'

up

this is such a cool idea. I've been thinking about the possibilities of vertical gardening. there is a wide variety of interpretations. and an equal variety of materials repurposed. gutters. cattle panels. ladders.

I've been seeing pallets used for a variety of purposes. tables. wall art. chandeliers. charming. rustic. and ever so environmentally friendly. I've considered tackling one or more of these diy projects (as I think about quite a few diy projects). but in the garden. in my garden. well delightful.

my yard is fairly small. with limited sunny spots. let's just say I'm pretty excited about the possibilities. and probably one of the best things about the pallet idea? it would give the squirrels more exercise as they eat and dig the fruits of my labor. share and share alike.

(photo and plan courtesy of innovativegardening)

'half the interest of a garden is the constant exercise of the imagination.'

list-ening

I will have a few days this week. all alone. just me and the furry boy. now I miss the hubs terribly when he is away. but me oh my how I love my quiet time.

and, as usual, I am making a 'to-do' list for my days of solitude. I always have great plans. schemes. dreams. a multitude of things to accomplish. and rarely do I check many off the list. but listen up self, I say today. this time it's going to be different. do you hear me? yes dear. I can do it. she says. humbly. hopefully.

maybe if I write it down. for the world (or the two of you reading this) I will prevail.

my to-do (tah-dah! cue trumpets please) list

~ get re-started on a neighborhood project.
~ finalize plans for a speaker.
~ notify our local garden group of the meeting this month.
~ paint my hallway wall (see here).
~ go out with my girlfriends for happy hour (this has already been arranged this morning. I do have my priorities).
~ determine how I want my new flower beds (my jack-of-many-trades is coming this weekend to dig. so. very. excited!).
~ continue my job search.
~ google for family reunion ideas.
~ call a friend or two or three.
~ loll away the time on facebook. pinterest. assorted delightful blogs.
~ read.
~ lounge.
~ write belated thank you notes.
~ walk.
~ clean (listed only as a last resort).
~ do other things already scheduled. meeting. meeting. bunco.

a lot to do (or at the very least, get a healthy start on) in four days. but I am in a determined state. anxious. eager. willing. able. wish me luck. I'll let you know how it all turns out.

'all the windows of my heart I open to the day.'

yesterday

the bright sunshine and a Craigslist ad beckoned. so the furry boy and I went on a little expedition. to Lytton Springs (a new destination for me as well) to do a little shopping. what did we find? nirvana.














now one of my friends described this as a scene from Deliverance. but to me it was a treasure trove of wonderfulness. eye candy. and oh so much inspiration around every corner. a garden of delight. artistic expression.

and the artist we met was equally delightful. she graciously toured me through her garden. her studio. her amazing creative world.

and if that wasn't enough. her posting offered some additions to my restaurant ware collection. and my search for red transferware has now expanded to a more eclectic array.














so come for supper. the food will be comforting. a mismatched table set. but the best part of the meal? the company gathered.

'pleasure is spread through the earth in stray gifts to be claimed by whoever shall find.'

thank you

hey there. I started out feeling a bit apprehensive about what the day would bring. what with being back to a 'normal' schedule and expectations of a new year. but turns out normal is a very good thing indeed.

a sunny day. several unexpected run-intos with friends. eating leftover holiday candy. and the posting of this sign by my wbbf (wanna-be-blogging-friend) has left me quite chipper.


















(image courtesy Kelly Rae Roberts)

you see my rlf (real-life-friend) E has a wonderful project in the making. and Kelly Rae's posting makes a joyful noise in that direction.

'it's not what we give, but what we share.'

one fine day

in my stocking I found this handy gadget. it's a stopper for a champagne bottle. santa left it because I was a very good girl. and because he knows how much I love champagne. and how sometimes I just want one glass and well, it's kind of hard to save the bubbly goodness. but voila! three cheers for science. this could, very possibly, be the solution to world peace if let into the right hands.

tomorrow I will start on the new year. happily running wild in a somewhat organized fashion.

today is for being lazy. sitting at my favorite spot on my pretty sofa in my little back room with the furry boy in his sunbeam. and a book.

cheers.

'the night they invented champagne it's plain as it can be they thought of you and me.'

the sequel

(image courtesy christina marie onto EXTRA MUSINGS on pinterest)

'a good book should leave you ... slightly exhausted at the end.'