Flowery Thoughts

Here in the midwest, we've had a few days of sunshine...finally! This spring has been exceptionally wet in so many parts of the country. In our area, it has created a perfect environment for tics. Yuck! They've been horrible this spring! If you haven't done so already, now is the time to get your pets treated. I can only imagine how nasty the mosquitoes will be this summer!

But on to more pleasant topics...flowers!

Sam made me this adorable flowerpot for Mother's Day. Isn't that sweet? I had a great day on Sunday. I worked in the morning and early afternoon, but I came home to a clean VW bug, clean patio furniture on the deck, and a wonderful grilled dinner of shish kebobs that we were able to eat outdoors. lovely!

I received some nice cards, too, but here's my favorite:



Sam made a card and drew a picture of me, smiling. I'm glad he thinks of me as a smiling mom. Some days, you never can tell. :)

My oldest son, Luke, is now home from college and ready to begin working this weekend. And did I mention that he'll be working at a garden center this summer? woo hoo! Flower discount! I'm so excited!

I'm going to try to pace myself a little in the gardening department this spring. I realized the other day that I practically break my back to get my flowers planted in May, and subsequently, I experience a recurrence of my chronic Lyme disease every May as well. I can see now where I have to be very careful not to let myself get rundown.

One change in my strategy will be to eliminate the vegetable garden. I just don't have an ideal location for it in this yard. The soil conditions are not that great, and the trees prevent the full sun that most vegetable gardens need. So I'm back to perennials and herbs and supporting my local farmers at the farmers market.

One thing that I can grow? Roses! They've doubled in size this year, and the bushes are covered in little buds. I can't wait to see them in full bloom!



Yesterday's Clean and Simple challenge was to make a card featuring a banner. The funny part? Nearly every card in the SCS gallery featured pennants instead. I guess that some folks think the two words are interchangeable. Of course, I'm picky in the grammar department. So I made a card using a real banner! I loved the monthly banners from The Saltbox Studio. So fun! My new neighbor across the street is a banner lady. She puts out banners for every holiday and season. I love to see the bright colors and pretty pictures. Banners are a lot like cards...pretty displays of artwork.

{recipe: stamps from The Saltbox Studio, Sweet Slumber papers (SU), old olive and kraft card stock, (SU), Martha Stewart picket fence punch, so saffron and black inks, prisma markers, baker's twine (Mark's Finest Papers) }

It seems that pennants and banners are all the rage in the craft world! Hmmm...maybe I'll make a pennant card tomorrow, just for kicks.



Hey, coffee lovers! This week, you can get a frappucino for half price at Starbucks every afternoon from 3 to 5 pm! I think I see a mocha java chip in my future!