I Love Spring!

This azalea bush is pink but had one branch with white flowers.

Blossum Buddies

I stumbled across a blog - Maya Made that had a post about Blossum Buddies. She allowed me to take some of the pictures to share. She got the idea from a book called Blossum Buddies by Elsa Nora.

What a great project for the summer to share with your children, grandchildren.

Aren't these the cutest. I can imagine hours of fun doing this and kids would love it. Thanks Maya Made for allowing me to share your post.

Trip to Baltimore with a side trip to Pennsylvania

A couple of weeks ago I had an opportunity to spend a few days in Baltimore with my daughter who was attending a convention. Things have been so busy lately, that it was a welcome getaway.

Our hotel was located across the street from the Inner Harbor. One afternoon we sat overlooking the harbor with Starbuck's coffee and just relaxed and people watched.

This is another view of the harbor.

And another.

One day we drove into Pennsylvania to a town called Intercourse. The countryside was very peaceful and beautiful, with large farms like this one pictures. Many of them are owned and operated by Amish people. We saw some of them in the buggys and at the places we stopped. The Amish culture is very interesting. They seem to be very hard worker's and very diligent about their culture.

Here are a few pictures of some of the trees with the bright colors. These color changes are not something we see here in the deep South. The colors are so vivid and bright.

Other random pictures.

Flowers

A co worker received a bouquet of flowers that were so pretty. I had my camera with me and took these pictures.

Busy Memorial Weekend

I love 3 day weekends. I seem to get so much more accomplished with the extra day. Even though I went to the airport to pick someone up Friday night and attended a get together at my daughter's house Saturday afternoon, I managed to get some sewing done. I made two Emily dresses for two brothers I work with that are both expecting baby girls in a couple of months. Since they are big LSU fans, I chose a purple/gold plaid for the dresses and used solid purple for the pleated inserts. I still have the buttons and buttonholes to do and will add some bows at the top of the pleats to finish but should be able to complete them this week.

Sunday after church I went to Louisiana nursery outlet and purchased a few more plants for my courtyard and back yard. Things are finally started to take shape but there are still so many more plants I want. I keep telling myself this will be a ongoing project so I don't have to have it all done this year.

This bromeliad was on sale 20% off.

This bougainvillea has been cut back to form a bush rather than vine. This saved me from having to purchase a trellis for it to climb on.

I've been getting cards punched at the nursery and was able to redeem them Monday which amounted to a $9 discount on my purchase. As I was walking to my car, I saw this hibiscus and decided since I saved $9, I would get this also. There were many different colors but this one really stood out for me.

Monday I barbequed for my mom and dad and visited with them. They are getting older so I treasure the time we spend together.

While watering plants, I saw this bird sitting in one of my bushes. It allowed me to get very close to take pictures. When my mom came over and we were outside, it was still hanging around the bushes. My mom said it looked like a young bird that perhaps couldn't fly well yet.

This first picture you can barely see it peeking out from behind the bush.

I took this one from behind the bush.The hibiscus I bought a couple of months ago is doing great. It just blooms and blooms.

I also spent some time Sunday and Monday working out details on a new pattern. I think I have the design done and am ready to make a few for testing and instructions. Once I feel it is ready, I'll get some of my customers to test it also. This is going to be a very simple wrap dress with a hint of a cap sleeve. I made one but had to change several things and am anxious to make more with the changes to see how the finished project will look.

Fruit and Flowers

I'm slowly getting my back yard landscaped. I added a patio extension and fence a couple of months ago. Recently I had some flower beds done along the fence and side of the house.

This small bed I reserved for annuals and perennials. I planted the mixed colors of gerber daisies. Along the back are 3 plants with tiny purple flowers. I'm not sure what the name of them are but they caught my eye so I decided to add them also. I seriously considered only using yellow gerber daisies with the purple flowers to make it LSU colors but couldn't resist the other bright colored gerber daisies.


A few months ago I purchased two clay pots from Tuesday morning and have been looking for dwarf fruit trees to fill them. I found them at Louisiana Nursery Outlet. If you look closely, you can see that the satsuma has fruit on it.

Although the three blueberry bushes I planted earlier this year are small, they all have berries them. It is such a satisfying feeling to me to be able to pick flowers and fruit off the plants in my yard.
Each time I get something to put in the back yard, I think of 10 other things I'd like to do. I'm sure it will be a work in progress for many years.

Spring Flower Pictures

Here are more pictures I took of Spring flowers blooming now. After the winter, the burst of colors for Spring is so beautiful.

This is the first bloom on the new hibiscus plant I purchased for my courtyard.

This is a plant my mom has. She doesn't know what it is but saw it at someone's house and like it so much, they gave her a cutting.

This is amaryllis that is blooming in my mom's yard.