Side- Step Cards and New Bulbs

Today I thought I would take a break and stay inside and make some cards. The first card is what you call a side-step card. I needed a baby invitation so I thought I would give this one a go. I love the little dresser and babies. What do you think? I think it's a go!!

My next card I just starting playing around and came up with this cute little Halloween house and graveyard scene. These are made with various punches. It was fun to do. And when you fold these two cards flat the baby folds up and the tombstones fold up also. Kinda cute.
Then we're  getting ready for Card Club Friday on the 15th so I came up with this card to make. Something simple. It's made with a new set called: Bells & Boughs out of the mini. Catalog. Here is a Christmas card. Made with all Stampin' Up products. This picture looks awful, it really pretty. With glitter and beads and brads.  The colors are Cherry Cobbler, Garden Green, and Very Vanilla. It looks white, it's not...

And if I've held your attention this long. The Garden is a little crispy. The Cosmos and Joe Pye Weed are still blooming. Thursday we got 10" of rain!!!!! So today when we went out. I bought myself some bulbs, two bags of Red Tulips, and 1 large bag of assorted Alliums. I'm addicted to these bulbs. Can't wait to dry out a little so I can plant.  I can't believe September is GONE, where did it go?
Anyway time to look forward to fall and all it's glory.
Have a great evening and see ya' real soon......Joyce

Happy Independence Day

Happy Independence Day, Happy 4th of July, and May Old Glory wave her colors forever. It's good to be an "American". It means alot to me because this is all I know. And my father and husband are both veterans and flying the flag gives me great pleasure. Today is a day to gather with family and friends and celebrate our Independence. I don't know about you but I got my plans all laid out for today-woo who. Gather, laugh, hug, eat, talk about the good times, eat some more talk garden with my girlfriend and have fireworks tonite :) Life is good!!! And I am passing on great happiness for your day also!!

OK, on another note. My mystery plant turned out to be a beautiful White 'Gladiolus x hortulanus'.

I hate these I don't know how this got into the garden. It hasn't bloomed for two years so I probably forgot I even put it in. I do love the color "White" in the garden maybe that's why it's here. I thought I was going to have my first "CROCOSMIA" plant!!! Oh well, I guess I'm going to have to go to the nursery and purchase a one!!! Don't get me wrong this is a lovely flower and it has a hint of purple on the inside, I love purple. But just not these, they remind me too much of funeral flowers and I can't get passed that. I hope I'm not offending anyone. Gee you think I have strong feelings on this one!

Anyway on to something that makes me smile. That would be my hostas.Here is 'Sum & Substance' with flower in the early morning sun. You can see how she is a real nice pale green and is humongous sitting next to that real dark green hosta which isn't that small either. That one was a baby off of someone, don't know who.

And here is my 'Pink Crape Mrytle' that was destroyed a few years back by Winter Ice. She has come back nicely but I've neglected to trim her this year. So I will get to it!

And here is what Jerry and I have been working on this weekend. My Greenhouse. 1/2 day job my Aunt Fanny. The book says 2 people 1/2 day. They must not take into consideration of older adults. Who need to take potty breaks and water breaks and breaks from working with each other that stop the work so you can re-group your  thoughts in the hot sun :) So it wasn't too bad to get up, the only thing is that the foundation part of this is explained on page (30) after you have the dumb thing together. Then you level the stupid foundation and move the greenhouse back on top and secure. Then you have a load of nuts and bolts and braces to put on to stabilize the dumb thing. And pray like HELL that a Storm doesn't blow the darn thing away. Mine isn't GLASS but a poly something. So not operational yet. The Heat is coming back so we have to work after 4 in the shade. But my little house gets Sun all day until then. I still need supplies and you know me I have been thinking about what plants I want to place around my little greenhouse already. The ground over there is like a ROCK, boy I have my work cut out for me. I have alot of amending to do over there if I want anything to grow!!  Hey, it's a new toy.

Early this morning I painted this birdhouse I had laying around. Just need to clear coat and out it goes!! What do you think?   So I will leave you with that note. Thanks for stopping by me and my ramblings. Again Happy 4th of July and see you soon!!! And thanks for stopping by with my silliness.

New Vegtable Garden And More!!

Afternoon All. This weekend I'm out there again taking a little more of the "green stuff" away. I already  have a nice size raised Veggie Bed/Nursery but last year I noticed I needed more room for the squash and other vining plants. So I have made a new bed. And yes as always you always need more space-lol

This new  one is only 8 X 10, Jerry and I measured it out and placed poles so I new where to till the soil. We got "Big Red" out of the big shed and dusted it off and it started on the 2nd try!!! Jerry tilled the first row, but soon discovered his bad elbow and shoulders were taking a beating. So I glady stepped in.  I felt like "Tim Allen" more power. I had a great time (doesn't take much) rototilling the new garden area.

 When I was younger my father always had the best Vegetable gardens in the community and I know he was looking down giving me little tips yesterday :) Plus when I garden I'm always talking and thinking about him. I remember one time when he came over to our house and while  walking around I thought I would never hear him say, "Joyce, everything looks nice"  in his own kinda way but my Father and I had a connection to the gardens and we always talked  gardening that was his passion and now it is and will always be MINE.  Anyway- I got the tilling done and I only had 1 bag of Leaf-gro in the shed left so I threw that in until I can get to the store tomorrow. I swear as I used my "Hoe" I felt like a good Witch brewing up a stew the way the dirt just moved around in the garden. Now all I have to do is finish amending the soil and get a barrier for the deer and rabbits now that I'm on the ground level and then buy plants and I'm good to go!!

Here are a few other things I'd just like to share. Last year I put in a few new plants and wanted to share how they are doing. First off I wanted more spring color and I purchased just one of "Geum-Fireball Avens" (see photo)wow it's beautiful in the garden. Such a presence! A beautiful orange/yellow.

Next for the first time I put in "Allium Gigantica"(see photo) a beautiful magenta/purple globe flower. I'm in love with this one. And will purchase more this fall. Last year I also purchased (7) new hostas and all are doing well!! If you would like the names I will post. Also I just wanted to put a plug in for one of my favorite hostas "Sum and Substance" OMGosh this is a big fricking hosta. Mine is I think 3 or 4 years old and is now in the new hosta bed (See photo!)

Oh yeah, I almost forgot I'm down to (4) fish now!!! I have to put up the fishing line and just haven't, but I better if I want to keep my fish. And my beautiful frog (Herman) is back. (See Photo)

And I recommend  this awesome "TOOL" to help dig holes and break up the clay in some of the beds. I borrowed it from a friend. (See Photo)It is some kind of Auger that fits on the end of a drill. OMGosh, it makes digging a breeze and gardening!!!

So last Friday was a friends Birthday. She loves frogs so I made her a frog card. I had seen this punch idea somewhere on the Net so thanks. I added the inner tube around the frogs neck I couldn't get it around her body:) And we also went to this awesome Restaurant called "Brio" in Annapolis, I so recommend it. I'm still dreaming about my lunch!!! Go! You will return often :)

OK, I'll sign-out for now. And if you like my Blog please don't hesitate to post some comments.

Have a blessed week.. And "Happy Gardening everyone" I know I will. Peace Out!!

Here's The Plan!!-Garden Spring 2010

Afternoon All!! A new garden season is amongst us. The sun is shining, the temperatures are up and staying there and I've got a "Plan in my Head". See What happens when you give me Sun!!



The other morning for some oddball reason found myself dreaming about garden changes in 2010. I immediately awoke with a plan to take away more grass, move stuff around and beautiful my little corner of the world. So with that in mind I went into the office and started drawing everything down on paper, so I wouldn't forget what I had seen in my dream! Sometimes if I don't jot stuff down then it's forgotten about. And I really liked this one. Here is the plan:

I'm always changing with and in my gardens. If I were finished the garden would be done and then what would I do? Pick-up another hobby, oh no that's dangerous. I already have to many to speak of !! Anyway, come spring my mind is all about the changes to the garden before it gets too hot to enjoy. I love to create...and every year I sit back and think what can I do different this year to make it enjoyable..Ok here's a pic. of the "Before"...I took these photos 7:00am so the shade is still on the garden. And the big tree doesn't have all it's leaves.

#1-Big Picture














#2-Trellis Area, this will be moved over to make the Entrance to the side garden. Yes, the trellis it will be Painted!!!


#3-This area is under the big tree which I'm enclosing to make a big Shade Perennial Area. I will be putting a "White Hydrangea" in this bed. I love white flowers in the shade. They really pop!



#4-And the other project this year is to actually have a concealed "Compost Area" for my garden and PAINT my little shed. I'm leaving the shed "Tan" with a bright color to accent, not quite sure yet, maybe purple, maybe pink? I want this area to be fun and up-lifting. Have more projects in head like using "windows" and "Seaglass" and fun stuff.



Ok, well this is my plan I will keep you posted on my progress with photos and thoughts. I moved the 10 big rocks yesterday-ugh, have more to move today plus trellis so if I don't shut-up and get moving it's gonna take longer and I'll lose the SUN. Plus I have eggs to dye!!!

*If you would like to see photos "Larger" just click photo!!*